Veteran car enthusiasts enjoy the local roads
NEARLY 50 veteran car enthusiasts ended their first rally to Guernsey in a decade with a visit to Sausmarez Manor where they displayed their century-old vehicles.
The De Dion-Bouton Car Club is a 250-strong international motoring club that has been running since 2006. It goes on annual visits to different locations with their cars which range from the 1890s to the 1930s.
‘When running a motoring event it needs to have three aspects, interesting scenery, historical value and challenging roads. You want to try put your car through its paces, it’s satisfying to see them do so well up hills,’ said former DDBC chairman Michael Edwards.
‘The cars are well made and stand the test of time.’
The group featured members from Belgium, Holland and the UK and visited sites including Hauteville House, the Occupation Museum and the Little Chapel, as well as completing a round-island circuit.
‘The people are great, the variety of nature in the countryside is great and the quality of beer is great.
‘I tried the Little Big Brew and loved it,’ said Xavier Durieu, secretary-general of the Royal Veteran Car Club of Belgium.
De Dion-Bouton was a French manufacturer which operated from 1883 to 1953, with its range of vehicles also including railcars, engine powered tricycles and steam cars.
Sausmarez Manor seigneur Peter de Sausmarez welcomed the group on its tour and was impressed at the range of cars on show in the garden.
‘It lifts the whole place up and it’s just astonishing to think that something that old is still is such great condition.
‘Some of these modern cars could take a leaf put of their book,’ he said.
The rally came to the island with Condor, transporting their veteran cars to the port in the UK in trailers.
