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Mr Ramon, the owner of the Hotel in Manresa where we had chosen to stay, is the proud custodian of a superb collection of cars, which are displayed among large potted palms and exotic plants in the hotel's entrance hall with an atrium and three floors above; breakfast alongside these exotic machines was a bonus - as was the magnificent peacock strolling through the garden.
There were 2 Hispano Suizas, a Model T Ford, a White Rolls, a Porsche and others- all of which were bought and driven by four generations of the Ramon family who own the hotel. One of the Hispano Suizas had taken part in last year's Paris to Barcelona Rally. However we were just as proud of the collection of micro cars in the hotel car park.....
Whilst all the cars were being duly admired - the co pilots enjoyed the luxurious bathrooms and the view of Montserrat from the bedroom window.
This was the 12th Manresa Micro car Rally (held biannually) and the organisation was superb. Our congratulations to the team, especially to Tony and to the Spanish traffic police.
The following morning we registered our cars in a leafy boulevard in the centre of the city, and in return received an itinerary, maps, meal tickets, a goody bag and a national flag, (which came in useful later at the Le Mans Parade of the Pilotes of Classic Automotive)
Then accompanied by a Police escort and also very well marshalled - 107 participants set off in a cloud of 2 stroke fumes. Dozens of Biscuters, Isettas, Messerschmitts, Fiat 500s, a couple of Bonds, Goggo coupé, and Goggomobils etc. took part. The Biscuters were equipped with some amazing designs - from a 200cc Villiers 2 stroke engine (as per the James motorbike of my youth )but with an oil filled oblong cylinder head to cool it - plus a lever starter handle which was pulled from the cabin to spin an eccentric in order to start the engine! Some even had an electric start using the principal of sloping pulleys to run the belt onto the engine flywheel to start - and have it thrown back when running. No cars had developed a ratchet driven starter because of the proximity of the fan. Even then they all had aluminium bodies. With a speed/pollution limit of 60kph they struggled up some hills but were more than 2 up in some cases....and we followed the blue haze of several dozen....no wonder it was good to overtake when safe! Persistant coughs followed.
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We drove through scenic countryside in glorious weather to an excellent Banquet lunch at Mon Sant Benet. After which, the organisers passed on a request from the Police Escorts - would all nationalities please obey Spanish road rules - drive on the RHS and do not cross solid white lines in the centre of the roads. We duly nodded in multi-national agreement and were subsequently overtaken on the brow of a hill by a Goggomobil towing a caravan.
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