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The Festival of Slowth is the best fun I have ever had with my clothes on!
Everybody has heard of The Festival of Speed but only the privileged few receive invitations to an exclusive annual event known as The Festival of Slowth. For those of you who think this sounds like fun, I am sorry to tell you that it is unlikely that you will find an invitation dropping through your letterbox anytime soon unless you have already been initiated into the weird and wonderful world of cyclecars. For those of you who don’t know, the characteristics of a cyclecar are bizarre design, inferior materials, inadequate power and a distinct lack of brakes. This coupled with unreliable engines and unpredictable transmissions help to unite the owners in their shared misfortunes.
Having said all that, The Festival of Slowth is the best fun I have ever had with my clothes on!
Recently the events have alternated between the UK and France so this year I have packed my beret and Breton shirt and have a string of onions ready to go on my steering wheel. Typically the French event is based around a very scenic campsite close to water but the most important consideration is the short and level distance to a quirky French Chateau where ‘speed events’ and driving tests can be held often with the accompaniment of an accordion or some such live entertainment, copious quantities of wine and delicious homemade food. The day is made up of breakdowns, non-starters and mechanical disasters which are pounced on by the luckier driver- mechanics whose own machines are still in one piece. The following day, we have an outdoor event followed by a trip to the local Brocante where the Slowth-ers dig deep into their pockets and fill their arms with unmissable Gallic bargains followed by a final long slow and delicious lunch.
Environmentalists generally reckon that the bumblebee is critical to man’s survival and the health of the environment and this is a view I share although my particular bee is not so good for the environment. Made in 1919 the Mills Busy Bee won my heart at an auction a few years ago and after some initial fettling of its AJS 800cc V twin, it burst out of hibernation. The first test drive was terrifying due to its direct steering and its excessive power to weight. I have now got used to the adrenalin rush and the ear-splitting exhaust so I am now looking forward to another adventure in France.
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This year we are looking forward to seeing some familiar faces with their cars. Lucy Hall with the AC Sociable that she inherited from her grandfather, Tim Gunn with his delightful Grafton and not just one but a ‘bouquet’ of three Sima-Violets. Sadly, the Mark Walker Bramble will not be making the journey to France so sadly we won’t have the pleasure of seeing him let down his feet to use as reverse gear. Nor will we see Ian Parsons laying his Bleriot parts down on the lawn as an exploded diagram/work in progress.
Well, that’s all for now from the Queen Bee and au revoir!
We from PreWarCar.com are one of the luckey ones to be there as we are parter of the event. In two weeks time we will do live report from this excusive event. Keep an eye on the website and on our social media!
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Words and photographs by Kate Clark-Kennedy.
Gepubliceerd:
maandag mei 18th, 2020
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Reacties
Paul Meacham
06 Mei 2025, 23:39
Helen
05 Juni 2025, 13:47
It would be good to have more events like this as it brings a smile to the face and amazing engineering. We may even get younger people interested and encourage them to take up these skills that will sadly be lost. Happy to be part of something over here along with our mad classic car fanatic family!
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bill Coates
18 Mei 2020, 16:51
Well done Laurens! That's the right answer. It was believed to be the only four wheel survivor or a Premier up to the late 80's anyway; since then it hasn't been heard of. It seems unlikely to have been broken up but there is no sign of it in UK.
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bill Coates
18 Mei 2020, 11:55
This was my introduction to Vintage motoring way back in the 1960's. It was owned by a neighbour & had a V twin engine. The rear cylinder seized with depressing regularity & I was recruited to help push ....and I have never lost my love of the things. Now, I know what it is but does anyone else? And more importantly where is it now?
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Laurens
18 Mei 2020, 13:11
Found it! 1913 Premier
https://www.prewarcar.com/about-quiz-409-premier
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https://www.prewarcar.com/about-quiz-409-premier
Laurens
18 Mei 2020, 13:09
Is that a Premier? pre-WW1.
I believe it was a quiz at PreWarCar.com some years ago.
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I believe it was a quiz at PreWarCar.com some years ago.
Tim Colledge
17 Mei 2020, 19:54
I would very much like to come to this festival,as it sounds like great fun! Among other things, I have a 1920s ATCO Standard lawnmower which I would like to bring along.
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Charles Walmsley
27 Mei 2018, 18:01
Ahhhh ! Please some kind person please educate me. What is that lovely rusty side car, if I may call it such ? Lovely piece of machinery
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Duncan Grimmond
27 Mei 2018, 09:14
I would dearly love to go to this meeting this year but there are no details available that I can find. The link to the festival still has "to be announced" on almost every relevant link other than the campsite.
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Jenny Fawbert
27 Mei 2018, 00:56
I’ve always been intrigued by cyclecars. My big chance to ride in one came in 1974 when a delightful elderly couple, Chris and Gladys Broadbent befriended me at the CHMC annual rally in Newcastle, NSW. For the return run of 34 kms from Maitland to Newcastle Gladys gave me her seat in their AC Sociable, while she lounged in the back of my 1930 Straight 8 Nash sedan, chatting with my parents.
What a change - from driving on of the biggest cars on the Rally to a riding in the littlest, a machine that on appearances looked almost fragile and more like a motor tricycle with a cosy semi-enclosed side-by-side seat for two fitted to it. As Chris deftly manouevred the AC out onto the open highway I overcame my sense that I was actually more sitting on the road then riding above it and I entrusted myself entirely to the skills of the man who restored the machine.
The AC settled into its natural highway pace, though Chris was always having to “drive it” as the AC seemed to take irregularities in the roadway surface or the slip stream of passing vehicles as cues for it to capriciously dart where it willed. At one stage the road ahead was almost ours and Chris decided to demonstrate the AC in full flight - my father following in the Nash clocked the AC at the giddying speed of about 30mph (with downhill assist!) - but in the AC it felt like we were really flying.
My other vivid memory is that we were halted, first vehicle, at some railway gates. As the train passed the little AC was well and truly rocked about by the gush of air, leading Chris to comment the AC was also prone to some kite-like taking off - seems they’d been turned-turtle previously so he he was most cautious about cross winds and truck slip streams.
Unfortunately I only rallied with the Broadbents a couple more times after Newcastle, and after Chris’s death I lost contact with them and the AC. I treasure the memory of that particular cyclecar and the wonderful couple who enjoyed their AC immensely.
Lees verder
What a change - from driving on of the biggest cars on the Rally to a riding in the littlest, a machine that on appearances looked almost fragile and more like a motor tricycle with a cosy semi-enclosed side-by-side seat for two fitted to it. As Chris deftly manouevred the AC out onto the open highway I overcame my sense that I was actually more sitting on the road then riding above it and I entrusted myself entirely to the skills of the man who restored the machine.
The AC settled into its natural highway pace, though Chris was always having to “drive it” as the AC seemed to take irregularities in the roadway surface or the slip stream of passing vehicles as cues for it to capriciously dart where it willed. At one stage the road ahead was almost ours and Chris decided to demonstrate the AC in full flight - my father following in the Nash clocked the AC at the giddying speed of about 30mph (with downhill assist!) - but in the AC it felt like we were really flying.
My other vivid memory is that we were halted, first vehicle, at some railway gates. As the train passed the little AC was well and truly rocked about by the gush of air, leading Chris to comment the AC was also prone to some kite-like taking off - seems they’d been turned-turtle previously so he he was most cautious about cross winds and truck slip streams.
Unfortunately I only rallied with the Broadbents a couple more times after Newcastle, and after Chris’s death I lost contact with them and the AC. I treasure the memory of that particular cyclecar and the wonderful couple who enjoyed their AC immensely.
Many thanks for your help.
Kind regards,
Paul