Trudi's Page - Bonnets Up

So where does one start with a trip to an International? Well to be honest we knew when we arrived at the little dealership in Højer that we were not only on holiday but we were with friends and fellow Saab nuts, even if we didn’t understand each other at first. This was Denmark and Søren and Kurt introduced themselves at the 8 o’clock meeting and the language of choice by all attending was English (thank goodness, my Latvian is worse than rusty). The event road book informed us about not only where we would be each day but how to get there and what to do during the day.

There was something for everyone, as in the first day being entertained by the owner of a 2-stroke museum in Svenstrup. At the back of the book was a thoughtful list of entrants. We were divided into groups for three different tours. Our group included seven nationalities (eight if you included Mike & Norma) - it turned out that the Spanish entrants in their 900 cabriolet were English. The Norwegian’s turned up a day late, and found us eventually, but the Belgians never arrived as far as I knew.

The 8 o’clock meeting was an important wind up of each day and an enjoyable part of the event. This gave Søren the chance to make sure everyone was happy with the route and what to expect with details of roads and campsite facilities. Kurt would tell us a bit about each stop-off suggested on the tour and others that could be of interest on the way, like the Robert Jacobsen landscape sculptures at Tørskind Gravel Pit. (Well, the kids and I liked them even if your chairman went and sat by his car with a mug of tea complaining about the waste of valuable scrap). Then there was the 11th century church at Jelling with its Rune stones in the churchyard. It was incredibly peaceful and cool on such a hot day. (Your chairman went off to find a shop that sold some decent beer and to wash the flies off the 95’s windscreen - not with the beer!).

Our first morning had Dennis and Edo (Dutch 900) help us bump start the 95 because the battery appeared to be flat, but after that we had no problems. But, after a ferry crossing to Fyn to our dismay, everyone disappeared as we set off into the ‘Danish Alps’. I had wanted to go to Egeskov Slot, a castle I had visited on a coach trip when I was 17, but we got slightly lost and ended up at a Skoda museum. Anyway, we drove on to Middlefart (yes, a very amusing name - but not pronounced as spelt!). After a pleasant day in this quaint little town we completed our shopping and set off for the campsite 1 km away. The traffic was heavier than we had previously experienced and Mark turned away hoping to find a side road to the campsite. We joined the queue to the old bridge only to find we were just were not going anywhere. Mark decided to pop-open the bonnet (on the safety-catch) and then pulled over to let the engine cool and wait for the traffic to clear. Apparently there had been an accident on the new suspension bridge so all the traffic had been put onto the old bridge - which, of course, had road works and traffic lights.

A kindly man came out of his house to offer some help so Mark asked him if there was any other route to the campsite. No there wasn’t, well not with a car. Casper, a Danish tour member, finally appeared at the nearby traffic lights so Mark ran down to speak to him. Next thing we knew we were following him in his 900 + caravan down a side road and after a few false turns we were on a cycle path that opened out to a woodland track, then to a single track road to the much needed campsite! (He had “phoned a friend” on his mobile who used his internet map to guide us in on cycle paths wide enough for the caravan) If anyone had asked - we were “lost tourists” and didn’t understand the signs. How Casper would have got out of it I have no idea….

The 8 o’clock meeting was a bit sombre, due to the Jonkmans’ 2 stroke having engine problems. It was decided to tow it the Saab museum where it could be repaired. So the following day as we all carried on towards the dealership BBQ at Århus. The Jonkmans were towed by Dennis and Edo’s 900 the 100 miles south again. We set off sight-seeing again, to Himmelbjerget the 2nd highest point in the Danish Lake District (mid-Jylland) with a spectacular view of the lakes below - obviously a popular spot with the Danes. Our hosts were all there taking a break from running around behind us. Søren told us he obtained a trailer for the 2 stroke so the trip for Dennis would be easier. He chased after the pair just after they left Middlefart and eventually caught up with a convoy of about 10 cars with Dennis in front. He weaved in and out of the traffic beeping and waving, flashing his lights but still they trudged on. Other traffic soon realised what was going on and eventually he finally caught up and pulled them in.

We continued into Silkeborg to see the ‘bog-man’ -a well preserved body from about 400 BC found in a peat bog. We had to see him. Then off to the finale with a BBQ at the last campsite at Århus meeting up with the northern tour, which really rounded off the trip.

There were Sonetts, 2 strokes, V4’ 99, 90’s 900 in every shape and form rolling in as the day went on. Then on Friday we packed and headed off towards Djursland and the International weekend. Of course because the weather was hot and V4’s do get hot Mark had the bonnet raised a little to catch more air. As we sailed along with the permanent interest of other traffic, teenagers taking phone-photo’s, tots waving (and adults giving the thumbs up as we gave them lessons on how to drive on the “correct” side of the road), there was the regular helpful soul who would cry “Bonnets up”. So to all the Danes who tried to teach us “Cheers” in Danish: “Bonnets up!” A trip well done.

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