Haynes Motor Museum

[Rupertfinch 6]

Just thought I'd give a wee thumbs up to the Haynes Motor Museum in Sparkford. I'm down staying in Bournemouth at the moment and 2 years ago went to visit Beaulieu, aside from the landspeed record cars, I wasn't very impressed and decided to give such museums a wide berth. However, I noticed that Haynes were having a live action day today, details of vehicles were very limited but I thought i'd give it a go and I'm glad I did.

 

It seemed like there were so many more vehicles than Beaulieu and it took me a good 11/2 hours to look around them and that was not really spending too long at each one.

 

Then there was the opportunity to go on passenger rides in a range of cars including a mk1 mexico, dodge viper, elise, a few bentleys and rollers, a caterham, a DeLorean and some Skyline drift cars. These were hugely popular with quite a queue for them. There was even a 205 GTI rally car there, though talking to the owner (a very nice chap whose name I didn't catch - i should have asked him if he was a forum member) he only had 2 punters the whole day! It seems the lure of the drift car is what the kiddies are looking for at the moment. Yeah they were looking at about £20-30 for a ride but if I'd have had my way I'd have left about a ton lighter!

 

So there you go, a museum that seemed much less stuffy that Beaulieu, was better value and I know i got there on the right day but seeing the cars being used as nature intended really was the icing on the cake.

 

Good work Mr Haynes!

[AdamP 0]

Go this coming weekend and for £5 you'll get into the Retro-Rides show too

[lemmingzappa 75 1 Cars]

Go this coming weekend and for £5 you'll get into the Retro-Rides show too

 

Yeah i'm deffo gonna head over to the museum while we're there. Sounds promising.

[AdamP 0]

I meant to go in there last year but the sprint track was just too appealing and I didnt get time :-/

[Steve.C 0]

Haynes museum is fantastic! luckily it's only 45mins from me and I agree it is FAR better than Beulieu, the track is ok if you have a smallish car as it is basically a 1st and 2nd gear track.

[Sandy 191]

We used to use the test track alot and had many laughs there. The Museum collection is great and I'm glad you enjoyed it as much as we have in the past

[Miles 331 1 Cars]

Are so it your adding to all the trafic down here, Bugger off ,

 

Only joking!

[Rupertfinch 6]

Oh dear Lord if i'd realised how close you are Miles I may have exceeded my hand luggage allowance!

 

And as for adding to the traffic...I donlt know how you natives cope with these moron infested roads - I suppose it's only during the summer months?

 

Nice part of the world though, does it ever rain? As an Irishman, I miss green grass.

[Miles 331 1 Cars]

LOL,

 

Yes it's always bad down here and it's the rule that you never travel South/Southwest on Friday's or back North on Sunday's.

 

It does rain quite often, last year was horrid so at least we're making up for it now with a Summer you can call a Summer

[Matt Holley 11]

We used to use the test track alot and had many laughs there. The Museum collection is great and I'm glad you enjoyed it as much as we have in the past

 

They were good times, I never got round to looking in the museum as I was to busy spanking the car round the track

 

I did go when I was at school though and I really want to go back at some point.

[Wes 86 1 Cars]

my friend got married there a few months ago, was a very good venue for a wedding. walking round the museum with a pint of cider wearing a suit and no public was ace! i only live about 10 miles from there and go there probably 3-4 times a year for various events. met chris evans there about a month ago with a few of his ferrari's.

retro rides show there this weekend aswell.

[Matt Holley 11]

my friend got married there a few months ago, was a very good venue for a wedding. walking round the museum with a pint of cider wearing a suit and no public was ace! i only live about 10 miles from there and go there probably 3-4 times a year for various events. met chris evans there about a month ago with a few of his ferrari's.

retro rides show there this weekend aswell.

 

I didn't know you could get married there, that sounds ideal, cars and cider are my favorate things

[Wes 86 1 Cars]

yea they got married up one end next to the big old car that is worth over a million. then they had the reception at the other end in the massive function room that is behind the doors on the left opposite the red room entrance. is an ideal venue if your not that into churchs and into cars.