3rd Anniversary Awards Dinner
Sunday 4th October saw the members of the Club Torrevieja Classics Cars meet in the Vista Bella Restaurant in Jacarilla to celebrate the Inaugural meeting of the club that was formed to bring together all nationalities who are interested in keeping old cars on the road as well as helping in the problems of driving in Spain. To this objective over 120 people have been directly introduced to the Classic Car in Spain by the club and as such helped with the many problems that the members from different countries have put to the club. This day the countries represented included Denmark, Spain, Germany, Portugal, Italy, Ireland and Britain.
When registering every member received a bottle of the freshly made wine from La Mata that is the first wine to be produced in Spain as well as being total organic and made by the local families of La Mata of Torrevieja. Then it was time to get into the club cars for a country run that took in the beautiful green lake of Pedera sparkling in the unexpected burning sun in the light blue sky. Turning off in to the campo with the fruit producing granjas that sit between the sharply cut out hills of the Orihuelas. This part of the Vega Baja always changes and always is breath takingly beautiful. Then the club began the drive through the villages towards Torrevieja and the main objective of the Awards dinner.
This year the venue was to be the magnificent Restaurante Queen Mississippi that rests on the brow of the pine dunes of La Mata that runs down to the sea. The restaurant has been made as the old Mississippi paddle steamers with an Octagonal cafeteria in front where the members congregated for a welcome cocktail while making new and old friends. Today Frank from Ireland joined the club even though he is only a regular holiday maker and soon made friends. John, also from Ireland, was to say that he wished the Classic Car Clubs back home could be as welcoming as this one is. While the cocktails were being consumed the members sat down in the wicker chairs as though in their own house to watch a film show by Keith Nicol and his son Branden depicting the 18 events held by the club over 12 months. Last year’s show was spectacular but this year was outstanding with the use of music to complement the photos that had special effects which gave the feeling of each club day. When it was finished most members climbed out onto the top deck of the restaurant to get a view of the natural pine park with the seascape that was unbelievable surprisingly beautiful.
At exactly the time that the club was formed the members went into the restaurant or should I say the paddle steamer with the huge steam engine in the entrance for the third Anniversary Dinner and Awards. This is one of the top restaurants in the Torrevieja area and we were to experience the professionalism of the waiters and chefs. The tables were arranged as if the King of Spain was coming. Every table had a window view and everything was what you would expect from the best Restaurant. Each table had a Club menu with details of the Awards and programme. The imaginative menu was matched by the beauty of the food that did not disappoint with the tasting. Foods were put together that surprised the diner. Many were to say afterwards that they would be back. Though every course was relaxing no one was kept waiting which is unusual in Spain especially for large groups. The club took up almost the entire restaurant which made for homely feeling.
As always the awards surprised the recipients with Michael Stansmore getting the Trabant Trophy for putting a smile on the faces of the members, Muriel Blackwell who worked tirelessly during the year to make sure every member no matter what language they spoke were enjoying themselves received the Hand of Friendship Award and the Outstanding Member Award went to our Portuguese member Albino Carneiro who not only attended almost every meeting and event but made sure he met everyone with a smile and then financed and picked up the brass Club Plaques from Portugal. The evening was finally drawing to a close and everyone trooped outside to watch the firework display under the warm night Spanish sky. Lots of noise and colour shattered the night and now time to say farewells. Heiko supplied 6 rockets and David 10 metres of Crackers and 24 firework display box. The owner thanked the club for a friendly and enjoyable evening which was nice. Our oldest member in his 70s driving his blue open topped Morgan reached home in Mazarron at 1.00am which shows that life is for living not for dying.
Trabant Trophy Michael Stansmore
Hand of Friendship Award Muriel Blackwell
Outstanding Member Albino Carneiro
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