The Summer of '69... with a Caraboot

Remarkably, some of the best comments here come in from Australia. This one about a Bulanti was great, or how about the tale of Jack Kaines' Ecurie de Dez? Now, Doctor Rudy Rencoret of Sydney is next. He dropped me a line or two about a holiday he and his wife Sylvia undertook decades ago. He wrote: "In the Summer of 1969 we went around England and Scotland for about six weeks in my Caraboot. I rented it from a Mister Theobald in Preston, Lancs, who I might have found when I was looking for a caravan to pick up in Lancashire. This after I passed (successfully) my specialist medical degree in London. It was a marvellous holiday, starting in Windermere, on the Lake District, up to the Highlands of Scotland, down to the East side of England, then the Midlands, South of England, the West Country down to Land's End and up again on the West side this time, including Wales and finishing in Liverpool. We spend the boat a full day sailing on Coniston Water on the Lake District. The only inconvenience with the boat was that it was quite heavy, and so were the oars."

"It was only in Dorset when I was attempting a rather steep road beyond Portland that the little 850cc Mini engine decided that it was a bit too much and stalled. When I was going up that hill I started in 4th gear, then I had to engage 3rd, 2nd and finally, 1st gear, as the steep part of the road was too long. The poor old 850 cc engine stalled, and I could not go any further. I asked my wife to leave the car and with great difficulty I reversed it in that very narrow road. I could see a steep fall into the Channel on my reverse mirror and the little brakes were hot and unable to hold it. Had I reversed the other way I would have finished in the English Channel, Caraboot and all. But in the end we made it and continued with our trip. I may add that the engine temp never went above normal that afternoon. The Caraboot behaved splendidly, low on petrol and created a little sensation wherever we went. When we stopped for shopping in a small village and came back to the car we usually found it surrounded by people who wanted to know all about it. A number of people thought we were a bit mad, and so we were. But it was just wonderful." And so is the story, thanks again Rudy!

The Caraboot and a young Mrs. Rencoret, somewhere in the UK in the Summer of '69

Picture courtesy Rudy Rencoret

The Rencorets in the place where they spent much of June and July of that year: in the Caraboot

Picture courtesy Rudy Rencoret

Mini based camper was a joy to drive, says reader. Only trouble was to tackle a Dorset hill 

Picture courtesy Rudy Rencoret

Great holiday memories include cooking in the Caraboot's tiny kitchen

Picture courtesy Rudy Rencoret