We met, slightly earlier than usual, at the Coffee Bus for Snacks and a chat. The first topic of conversation as we reviewed the fine array of vehicles that planned on making the trip was that they and we were in such good shape that there was no need to hurry, getting to Chiang Rai would take a lot less time than we had thought.

The group was joined by member Nico, Honorary Member & Mascot Roady and four very pleasant young people, as Nico’s family were visiting Thailand on holiday. They elected to set off a little earlier, leaving the rest of us to enjoy our coffee and make sure that everything was in good order and safe for the journey. When everyone was ready we left and proceeded leisurely as far as the Hot Springs on the 118, where we took a break during which Susan Stem took the opportunity to stock up on supplies of the excellent local honey. The next leg was to a slightly later lunch than planned at Cabbages and Condoms. We were all impressed by the quality, not only of the food, but the facilities, this surely must become a regular stop-off for refreshments on the way north? Then, suitably relaxed, we drove on to our destination, The Legend, nestling by the river in the heart of Chiang Rai.

At the hotel entrance David and Noy Hardcastle were on station to welcome the guest of honour, Chiang Rai’s Khun Pongrit Srismith and his Rolls-Royce Corniche convertible. This immaculate conveyance was already in place when our long distance convoy arrived. CCL and SKAL member Marc Dumur (who not only made the whole thing a smooth-running delight but had driven his modern car south in order to lead our convoy north in his duo-tone Beetle) rightly took up station opposite the Royce. David and Noy had been working in Chiang Rai for a few days prior to the event, so the red Giulia was already in place and soon complemented by all our other exhibits.

SKAL is an international club for anyone involved in any respect with tourism, and the northern Thai branch, centred on Chiang Mai, meets for a monthly dinner at different hotels and restaurants. ‘Away fixtures’ such as this are rare and few have ever attracted the excellent attendance of 40 members and guests who had booked at The Legend. In bright but cooling sunshine, welcome drinks and substantial hors d’oeuvres were served on the terrace amongst the cars. Many people posed for photos with the Royce and happily no-one was seen to park plates on bonnets or boots.

Having got to know all concerned it was time to troop into Marc’s dining room for a pleasant and varied buffet dinner, lubricated by generous quantities of red or white. David, also a SKAL member, had offered to sing for his supper, but happily for all present was persuaded instead to give a short illustrated talk on Rolls-Royce, the men, motors and myths. Here we learned that the factory (and discerning owners) always refer to the cars as Royces – after the engineer rather than Rolls – the financier and marketing man. Henry (later Sir Henry) Royce was a self-taught electrical engineering genius from a poor family with only one year of formal schooling behind him. Frustrated with the very poor ignition systems on imported French cars, he improved on them and by 1904 had built his own small 2-seater, 2 cylinder open car.

One of The Hon Charles Rolls’ many interests was selling imported cars in London, but he also yearned for better quality, ideally made in England. The two were introduced at Manchester’s best hotel and Rolls, anxious to take a ride in the smart little car, declared “Very well Mr. Royce, start the engine!” Royce turned to him and uttered the immortal words: “Mr. Rolls, the engine is already running.” Rolls wrote soon after that at that moment, before first gear was even engaged, he had “met the man for whom I have been searching.” Only a few months later the company was formed and similar cars were being sold – for less than 395 pounds each! Not all was plain sailing, however. Rolls-Royce were thrashed by Benz at the annual Alpine Reliability and Speed Trials, but returned the next year with the legendary Silver Ghost and won every award. From that success sprang the appellation “the best car in the world.”

Sixty years later, world beating names like Phantom, Wraith and Silver Cloud were due to be followed by Silver Mist, the first monocoque Royce. But an irate phone call to the factory from the German importer caused the name to be hastily changed to ‘Shadow’ at the cost of thousands of pounds. Marc kindly gave us the English version of Germany’s ‘mist’!! One of many RR myths was exploded when David showed that the famous badge was changed from red to black on the orders of Royce as a matter of “taste”, not to commemorate his death at the age of 70 in 1933. The Hon Charles Rolls had been lost to us as early as 1910 when his Wright biplane broke up in mid air over Bournemouth. He held the world land speed record (in a French-built Mors) at 93mph and was the first man to fly across the English Channel and back. Poignantly, he also became Britain’s first aviation fatality.

Khun Pongrit was surprised to know that it took one man one day to make his radiator, plus 5 hours polishing in the factory. Everyone was Amazed to hear that Royce hated the ‘Spirit of Ecstasy’ mascot (a decision taken while he was away ill) and refused to have one on any of his own cars. And we were all amused to hear that British owners refer to the flying lady as “Miss Thornton”, the lovely young lady who modeled for the mascot while the secret girlfriend of a major shareholder!

After dinner, Chiang Rai resident Count Gerald van der Straten Ponthoz (whose classic car weekend in November 2005 gave birth to Classic Cars of Lanna) treated us to a most enjoyable magic show given by some of the many hilltribe youngsters whose education he supports. For the Classic Cars of Lanna Steering Group the evening was crowned by both Khun Pongrit and his brother joining CCL as fully paid up members, our first Chaing Rai resident members!

All in all a memorable and varied weekend, for which special thanks must go to Marc Dumur and his excellent staff at The Legend.