The cars arrived outside the Mermaid on Friday evening and with their drivers took over the hotel for the night. It was the Rally des Fistons (fathers and sons) so each entry consisted of a father and son. Their route was taking them from Belgium to the Ashdown Forest via Rye. The cars all left quite early on Saturday, though some needed a bit of mechanical help, electrics seem better and more reliable in modern cars.
The drivers had booked the restaurant and the whole hotel and being Belgian, sales of Stella Artois were booming during the evening. The cars certainly made a splendid sight including Jags, a white Rolls Royce convertible, two or three E types, Austin Healeys, MGs and Porsches amongst others.
One other observation – these people certainly know how to park!
Image Credits: David Bookless .