Cuckmere Valley -- February 200

The Cuckmere Valley is the only undeveloped river estuary in the south-east of England, located in the middle of vast tracts of land set aside as areas of outstanding natural beauty. Our nine Z roadsters and coupés soon shattered the peace and quiet.

The start of the cruise was Hickstead Services, some ten miles north of Brighton.

OK, so what's David chromed now?

It was still misty when we started but as we drove south on narrow lanes the sun soon came out. When Tim dry-ran the route the previous day the roads were empty, but as we started down single-track roads we came across pedestrians, joggers, cyclists, dogs, horses, cats, a chicken, some rabbits, cars, vans...

Heading east in the lee of the South Downs, we drove past a herd of llamas just before passing Glyndebourne Opera House. Our first stop was at Filching Manor Motor Museum.

Sensing a photo opportunity, everyone piled in front of the Manor House

Then stood around admiring the end result

Study in monochrome: Arctic Silver, Titanium Silver, Arctic Silver, Sterling Grey and Steel Grey

Comparison shots for the Z Color Gallery

(l to r): Paul/Sue's Steel Grey, Lawrence's Sterling Grey/Topaz interior, and Surj's Arctic M coupé with new SSSSSSSSurj plate

We were shown around the museum by former racing drive Paul Foulkes-Halbard (nicknamed 'the flying farmer') who has amassed a collection of more than 7,000 items of Campbell memorabilia. These include the fully restored Bluebird K3 world record breaker of 1937 and 1938, the prototype K7 boat built for the BBC film 'Across the Lake' about the life of Donald Campbell, and Donald Campbell's personal Piper Aztec plane.

But this is only a small part of the museum, which houses a variety of cars from each decade, motorbikes, and even the Halton Jupiter man-powered aicraft used for the flight across the English Channel. Also onsite is the Campbell memorial go-kart circuit, opened by Campbell's daughter, Gina.

Unique Alesso built specially for Juan Fangio

Turbo-powered BMW F1 racing car (>1200 BHP)

We then headed off for lunch at the Golden Galleon, followed by a tour round the cliffs from Beachy Head.

Golden Galleon in the Cuckmere Estuary

Beachy Head is some 550 feet high

We finished up at the Cricketers Arms in Berwick.

Tim Cullis