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Author Topic: Pendine Sands, South Wales.  (Read 34311 times)
Manky Monkey
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« on: July 14, 2007, 01:09:47 PM »

Tazet & I were in Wales last week. Not in a Biblical, Jonah & the Whale kinda way, but the Land of the leek where Max Boyce is king.
We were in Cardigan -the town, not the comfy knitwear, to collect a panel for my Ford Pop project. Thought we'd take time out for a little sight-seeing on the way back, so called in at Pendine Sands, on the shores of Carmarthen Bay. Tazzie had been here before, albeit many years ago, but it was a new one on me. These days it's a very nice family beach -7 miles of unbroken flat sand. One of the longest beaches in the U.K, but back in the 20s & 30s it was Britain's answer to the U.S's Bonneville salt flats. In 1924 Malcolm Campbell set the World land speed record here in his V12 Sunbeam Bluebird. 146.163 mph. That must've been stunning in a time when horses were still regular transport for much of the population.
Campbell returned several times to re-set the record, but 3 years later in 1927, local man Parry Thomas was killed on the sands in his car, "Babs". Built around a hee-uge 27 litre V12 Liberty areo engine hooked up to a Mercedes gearbox with chain drive to the rear wheels, he'd already set a record of 171.09mph when Campbell pipped him at 174mph.
Parry Thomas modified his car, taking it up to nearly 600bhp & tried again. On 3rd March, 1927, he was killed instantly when he lost control on the sands at around 120mph. "Babs" flipped end over end several times before sliding for a quarter of a mile along the beach.
Bizarrely, the mangled aluminium bodied car was buried in the nearby dunes & stayed interred for 42 years, before enthusiasts unearthed it & restored it to full running order again. It now takes pride of place in the small beach front museum of speed at Pendine, alongside several Broughs that had raced along the same sands.
If like me you're a fan of history, love tales of derring-do by stout chaps who raced cars the size of lorries in nothing more than tweed jackets & flat caps -or just fancy a bag of chips & a paddle, Pendine sands are worth a visit.
To the East of Tenby, on the shores of Carmarthen Bay. Free parking & free entry to the speed museum.
« Last Edit: July 14, 2007, 03:28:27 PM by Manky Monkey » Logged

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Manky Monkey
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« Reply #1 on: July 14, 2007, 01:28:15 PM »

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« Reply #2 on: July 14, 2007, 01:29:53 PM »

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Manky Monkey
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« Reply #3 on: July 14, 2007, 01:30:53 PM »

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« Reply #4 on: July 14, 2007, 01:31:47 PM »

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BikerGran
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« Reply #5 on: July 14, 2007, 03:11:03 PM »

Saw a TV prog the other day about Babs and her current owner who takes her out for a run on the sands now and then to keep her happy!

Nice pics.
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« Reply #6 on: July 14, 2007, 03:37:37 PM »

Forum member Mr Giant was telling me at the Alton bike meet on Wednesday that he'd tried to take his little black Triumph, "The Pendine Flyer", (soon to be featured in BSH), onto the sands. He wasn't allowed without 10,000 pounds of public liability insurance.
Lovely "oil painting" sky the day we were there.
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Manky Monkey
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« Reply #7 on: July 14, 2007, 03:38:10 PM »

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BikerGran
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« Reply #8 on: July 15, 2007, 09:52:28 PM »

That exhaust is a work of art!
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« Reply #9 on: July 15, 2007, 10:05:07 PM »

I know. Beootiful ain't it.
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Chevy Rick
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« Reply #10 on: July 21, 2007, 05:56:14 PM »

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LAND-SPEED-RECORD-CAR-1927-BABS-PARRY-THOMAS_W0QQitemZ270145308550QQihZ017QQcategoryZ19066QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Babs is up for auction???
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Manky Monkey
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« Reply #11 on: July 21, 2007, 06:06:09 PM »

Doh! thought it was the real one for a minute. I was going to bid on it.
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BikerGran
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« Reply #12 on: July 21, 2007, 06:46:14 PM »

Of course you were.
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panthershaun
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« Reply #13 on: July 22, 2007, 08:10:24 AM »

just cause you've sold the flat,  Roll Eyes Roll Eyes Roll Eyes
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« Reply #14 on: July 22, 2007, 08:15:08 PM »

Saw a very nice scruffy black Lincoln at the Victory Wheelers show today for 4 grand.
Good job the money won't be available for about 6 weeks -assuming the sale doesn't fall through.
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