Yesterday in Canberra was Battle of Waterloo day – an annual challenge between the British and French car clubs to see who can muster the most cars at the coldest time of the year.  The weather organiser knew it was on because after one of  the driest Autumns on record and about 2 months without precipitation – Yep it rained.  Nevertheless a number of hardy souls braved the showers and coerced their cars along.    

The British contingent included the various Triumphs, Minis, Morris  Minors, MGs, an Armstrong Siddley, Lotus Europa  and two Rootes cars – Andrew MacLean’s Alpine II and my HC Hunter.  On the other side were various Pugs (mostly modern, which I feel is cheating), Citroens (including a tin snail) and  Renaults (even an Alpine – or is that “Alpeen”.

At the end of the day (or rather at 11.30 when they counted cars) the fiendish French had assembled 29 and the Battling Brits 25.  A technical win to the frog eaters, however If you had added up the collective ages of all the cars the Brits would have won hands down.  But most importantly, the Brits won the wine raffle.  Shannon’s Insurance had provided a dozen bottles of red to be distributed by a ‘free ticket on entry’ draw – the Brits took home about 8 of these bottles – so,  outnumbered but  still victorious!  No photos to show unfortunately because rain stopped play shortly after the wine draw and we all went home.

Cheers, Vic

Canberra, Australia

1963 Series III Alpine

1969 HC Hunter