Shut up and Drive

[John Morrison]

Hi all, 

re-inforcing a long held belief that a great time to be driving our cars is on a balmy summers evening, Top-Down and little traffic.

Twice this week, I've finished up on the shores of Ullswater, tootling home around nine, when the roads, indeed the world is ours.

If you don't this, you are missing out, but big time.

John.

[trchris]

Agree John  getting out later on for a spin is always a joy

Chris

[RogerH]

Spot on - very relaxing.      And believe it or not the pot holes go home at dusk.

 

Roger

[Ecosse]

Absolutely agree, from my point of view the best time to go out for a drive is after 10 pm, around these parts it does not get really dark at all in June and July. On my doorstep I have some great A and B roads which are basically empty at that time, except for the occasional like minded Historic owner, 'Cafe Racer' bikers, and even sometimes the Traffic Police. To my mind much more enjoyable than attending shows and it is what cars are for.

Cliff

[Charlie D]

There is also something romantic about the other end of the day, at certain times of the year.
A while ago I used have to work in "The city" in London, starting late at night and then, just at sunrise, driving back home to Hereford.
Like most big cities, London never sleeps, but there was a magical hour or so when the central London streets were quiet. On a good day you could get a glimpse of the sun coming up between the buildings, and by the time you got to the M4 you were heading home while everyone else was going the other way, into work.

[Steve-B]

15 hours ago, Charlie D said:

There is also something romantic about the other end of the day, at certain times of the year.
A while ago I used have to work in "The city" in London, starting late at night and then, just at sunrise, driving back home to Hereford.
Like most big cities, London never sleeps, but there was a magical hour or so when the central London streets were quiet. On a good day you could get a glimpse of the sun coming up between the buildings, and by the time you got to the M4 you were heading home while everyone else was going the other way, into work.

I've been (slowly) mapping out a London route for our local TR club to ponder. I used to live in Maida Vale and really enjoyed driving in London at night 1,000% more than during the day. Challenge I've been looking at is what's a "magical hour" when it isn't a slow crawl parking lot? If you set off from the Polish War Memorial on the A40, you can do quite a bit of the monuments however I need to stay up later to watch live traffic maps. 

[MilesA]

Steve

James Wheeler has recently organised a couple of night time tours around London for vintage cars. Last October, one started at The Spaniards Inn Hampstead at around closing time and more recently there was a dawn run leaving Kew at 04:30 on a Sunday morning before travelling around London. For more images and videos see his Instagram account (and probably other media).

Our cars may be exempt from ULEZ but think they are still subject to the Congestion Charge!

Miles 

[Steve-B]

Miles,

C/C is galling but must be paid.

I'll look up James, as I have started mapping places and compare. My thought was to start on the west of London, go to the farthest east point, and work back with a in the deepest of night tea/coffee stop at a cabbie green cabin. My waypoints so far are here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/hzTu2at3aocm7K6o6

If you have any suggestions let me know to add to the map!

[stuart]

The run along the embankment at very early AM used to be good fun, I used to do it a lot when returning from likes of the Circus Tavern back in the eighties for work.

Stuart.

[Trev Good]

I'm with Stuart there, but I love the country lanes around here before the tractors have woken up from their sheds, in the evening they are blasting around till 11pm!