Friday April 21st 2006 was the 80th birthday of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. On Saturday April 22nd, the Parliamentary Classic Car Run assembled at the Houses of Parliament and then, escorted by Metropolitan Police motorcycle outriders, drove to Buckingham Palace to line up on the Parade Ground in front of the Palace. On behalf of Her Majesty, the vehicles were to be inspected by His Royal Highness, the Duke of Gloucester.
For this very special occassion, the Run featured eighty British-built vehicles, the year of manufacture of the first being1926, the last being made in 2006, each one representing a year of Her Majesty’s life. It included commercial, military, public service vehicles and 
of course, motor cycles…. all the iconic products of the British motor industry. I was invited by Richard Burden MP, the Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Motor Group, and by Greg Knight MP, the Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Historical Vehicles Group, to represent 1946 with my Triumph 1800 Roadster, this being the year my vehicle was first produced. For this unique tribute to the Queen, I was permitted to bring one passenger with me so I asked Ria to accompany me. We were both very conscious of the great honour of being invited to take part in this most prestigious event. All drivers were asked to raise sponsorship funds for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), the charity nominated by Buckingham Palace. The event was a huge success an
d produced £11,000.
of course, motor cycles…. all the iconic products of the British motor industry. I was invited by Richard Burden MP, the Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Motor Group, and by Greg Knight MP, the Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Historical Vehicles Group, to represent 1946 with my Triumph 1800 Roadster, this being the year my vehicle was first produced. For this unique tribute to the Queen, I was permitted to bring one passenger with me so I asked Ria to accompany me. We were both very conscious of the great honour of being invited to take part in this most prestigious event. All drivers were asked to raise sponsorship funds for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), the charity nominated by Buckingham Palace. The event was a huge success an
d produced £11,000.Drivers were asked to arrive at the Houses of Parliament between 10.30am to 11.30am, displaying the very posh RallyPlate, without which admission may have been refused. In light of last year’s terrorist acts in London, security at both The Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace was extremely rigorous. A month before the Event, both Driver and Passenger were asked to complete a “Security Form” with personal details before acceptance was confirmed. We were also asked to provide photographic identification on arrival. On a lighter note, Buckingham Palace requested that all entrants wore the appropriate dress for the period of the vehicle. Where to get the appropriate dress? Fancy dress places did not have a clue. Pictures from the Internet showing early Triumph Roadsters with their drivers were very helpful. Having visited all seven charity shops in Epsom where I live, I was fitted out by Oxfam….a pair of grey flannels with turn-ups for £3. 99, a grey shirt for £2.00 and royal blue braces for £2.00. For another £8.00 a brand new Trilby hat from elsewhere and, using my old tweeds and lace-up shoes, I had the lot! No, I did not have a dummy cigarette dangling from the corner of my mouth because smoking, drinking and food consumption were not allowed whilst at Buckingham Palace. By contrast, Ria wore a very smart black pat
terned white dress with a white jacket.
On the day, departure from Epsom was at 9.40am to arrive at 10.30am but with some time to spare I slowed down and we took our time to get to the Houses of Parliament at Westminster in good order. On arrival our cars were security-checked ….interior, underside, under bonnet and boot. The marshals then asked us to form up in date order – 1926 onwards. We then wandered around admiring other cars. . The oldest entry was a Bullnose Morris Oxford Tourer representing 1926. The exhibit for 2006 was a Jaguar XK150. Anna Ford was in her Morris Minor. Ex Formula One racing driver, perhaps the greatest racing driver not to win the World Championship, Sir Stirling Moss, was in his Jaguar D-type. Chris Parham was in his rare 1981 De Lorean Others in the show included a Maclaren F1, Rolls Royce Silver Shadow, two Police cars, a 1944 Ambulance, and a WW11 Scout car. They came from far and wide... Newcastle, Derbyshire, Scotland and Devon... and Epsom.
At noon we were directed to the Marquee on the Terrace of the House, where tea and biscuits were served……but not before more security checks….airport style… photographic identity, handbags and pockets contents were scanned, walking through a scanner and a body search before a Pass was given. The scene from the Terrace was stunning, an ideal opportunity for a photo with The London Eye as a background. We were then briefed on Protocol…..The Dukeand Duchess to be addressed as ‘Your Highness’ in the first instance, thereafter ‘Sir’ or ‘Mam’…to rhyme with pam, not Marm to rhyme with palm! Yes, we got it. It was compulsory to use the brand new aluminium drip trays that would be provided at Buckingham Palace. Everyone used them, but you know, one would have thought every car had a leaking radiator seeing the positioning of them.
terned white dress with a white jacket.On the day, departure from Epsom was at 9.40am to arrive at 10.30am but with some time to spare I slowed down and we took our time to get to the Houses of Parliament at Westminster in good order. On arrival our cars were security-checked ….interior, underside, under bonnet and boot. The marshals then asked us to form up in date order – 1926 onwards. We then wandered around admiring other cars. . The oldest entry was a Bullnose Morris Oxford Tourer representing 1926. The exhibit for 2006 was a Jaguar XK150. Anna Ford was in her Morris Minor. Ex Formula One racing driver, perhaps the greatest racing driver not to win the World Championship, Sir Stirling Moss, was in his Jaguar D-type. Chris Parham was in his rare 1981 De Lorean Others in the show included a Maclaren F1, Rolls Royce Silver Shadow, two Police cars, a 1944 Ambulance, and a WW11 Scout car. They came from far and wide... Newcastle, Derbyshire, Scotland and Devon... and Epsom.
At noon we were directed to the Marquee on the Terrace of the House, where tea and biscuits were served……but not before more security checks….airport style… photographic identity, handbags and pockets contents were scanned, walking through a scanner and a body search before a Pass was given. The scene from the Terrace was stunning, an ideal opportunity for a photo with The London Eye as a background. We were then briefed on Protocol…..The Dukeand Duchess to be addressed as ‘Your Highness’ in the first instance, thereafter ‘Sir’ or ‘Mam’…to rhyme with pam, not Marm to rhyme with palm! Yes, we got it. It was compulsory to use the brand new aluminium drip trays that would be provided at Buckingham Palace. Everyone used them, but you know, one would have thought every car had a leaking radiator seeing the positioning of them.
The Police motorcycle escort from the Houses of Parliament to Buckingham Palace was carried out in four groups of 20 cars: 1926 to 1945; 1946 to 1965; 1966 to 1985 and finally 1986 to 2006, at ten minute intervals from 1.50pm.Because we represented 1946, we were the leader of our group and I had a moment of great pride, the best moment of my ownership of my Roadster, Penny when, to the cheers of the assembled crowds, we swept in through the gates of Buckingham Palace at the head of the procession, escorted by police outriders, and with no other car in front of us!
In beautiful sunny weather we lined up on the Parade Ground in front of Buckingham Palace to be inspected by TheDuke of Gloucester. He saw 80 cars in 40 minutes and, because of a recent motorcycle accident, he was walking with the aid of a stick. On viewing my car the Duke said, “What a lovely car. Do you spend a lot of time in Jersey? What isthe SVVS all about?” pointing to the Surrey Vintage Vehicle Society badge on the car. Pictures were taken of each entrant meeting the Duk
e and then off he went to the next car. We were relieved it was all over, or was it? Pride comes before a fall ...About a quarter of an hour later John Cole, the organiser of the event, strolled along to my car accompanied by a very pretty lady sporting a “RR” logo on her jacket, obviously a fellow driver of an ancient Rolls Royce! And he said to her, “This is Terry Mistry and Ria, and Terry will tell you all about his lovely car”, and then he buzzed off with another lady with a clipboard. “Well Terry”, the lady said, “How long have you had this car?........Did you have to do a lot of work on it since you had it Terry? ……… What a nice dashboard ……..the hood looks new ……I guess you drive with the hood down most of the time, don’t you Terry? This car is not very easy to handle is it? The colour is not the original grey is it? “ No, it is grey with a hint of blue” said I. “But what is the colour called? ..Where did you start your journey today? Very nice, very nice…..have a safe journey back Terry…..Bye.” It was all very, very casual. I did not ask her how herRoller was behaving, or whether she had been to Buck House before …or God forbid, “ I’m sorry, I did not catch your name?”. Just as well because, as she left, Ria gave me a nudge and told me I had been speaking to the Duchess of Gloucester Protocol had gone through the window; no bow, no ‘Mam’ and I was speaking to her with one hand in my pocket, leaning on my car. Well, how was I to know she was not just one of my Buddies? She could have been. I was thoroughly ashamed! I have often ben told "Can't take you anywhere
!” Quite.(To view text click on images)
At around 4.30pm the gates were opened and we had an uneventful journey home.
Terry Mistry
These two items from Classis and Sports Cars
