Saturday 13th At around 10.00am, the coach left for Beaulieu and the annual two-day Beaulieu Autojumble, often referred to as Europe's 'Hershey'. During the day, there was an opportunity to tour the National Motor Museum and Palace House, the home of Lord Montagu who has done so much for the European Veteran, Vintage and Classic Car movement. On returning to the hotel, there was an evening welcome reception with the COCGB Chairman, peter Griffith, and Ivor Faulconer*, the great-nephew of Robert Faulconer, Cadillac’s co-founder.

Sunday 14th Again at around 10.00am, for those wishing to continue visiting the Autojumble, the coach left for Beaulieu. For those not having done so on Saturday, there was again an opportunity to visit the National Motor Museum and Palace House. The coach returned to the hotel at the end of the day’s activities, concluding with a short visit to Salisbury Cathedral and a relaxing evening in the town.

Monday 15th Guests left the hotel mid-morning to head northeast to Newmarket, where they spent the next two nights at the BEDFORD LODGE HOTEL. On the way, the coach stopped at Stonehenge, not far from Salisbury, and in the afternoon at the Imperial War Museum, with its special American Display. At the hotel, guests were able to relax in the spacious grounds after a long day's travelling and, that evening, dined either at the hotel or in the town centre close by.

Tuesday 16th The day started with a tour of Cambridge with its magnificent colleges, some dating back to the fifteenth century, followed, in the afternoon, by a scenic drive through Cambridgeshire, Essex and Suffolk on the way to P & A Wood. Here, guests were given a comprehensive tour of the works of these world acclaimed Rolls-Royce and Bentley restorers. On returning to the hotel, there was a get-together with the Newmarket Car Club, at which Cadillac devotees mingled with local enthusiasts whose cars ranged from Aston Martins and Jaguars through antique Morrises to the odd Rolls-Royce.

Wednesday 17th Mid-morning saw the coach heading south through London to the village of Dunton Green near Sevenoaks, where guests spent the final four nights at the DONNINGTON MANOR HOTEL. En route, the coach stopped at the American War Cemetery, dedicated to all those who died in the Second World War, before heading into the centre of London and viewing some of its famous landmarks. One of the highlights was a visit to the Royal Automobile Club** in Pall Mall, the home of the Dewar Trophy. That evening, there was a reception with Julian Bennett and others prior to the following morning's start of the centennial 1,000-mile Reliability Trial in the family’s original 1903 Cadillac. The re-enactment was carried out in aid of BEN, the Motor & Allied Trades Benevolent Fund.

Thursday 18th At the unsociable hour of 06-45, those wishing to witness the start of the Trial were taken to Crystal Palace. After its return to the hotel, the coach left for Goodwood, centre of Classic Revival Racing and the annual Festival of Speed, and for lunch at 'Cadillac Cafe' alongside the race track. A circuit of the course in the coach was followed by a visit to Brooklands, one of the earliest banked tracks and where Cadillac’s first Dewar Trophy challenge took place. That evening, guests dined both at the Hotel itself as well as a number of places nearby.

Friday 19th This consisted of following Julian Bennett to Eastbourne on the south coast on the second day of the re-run of the 1903 RAC 1000-mile Trial. After being welcomed by the Mayor of Eastbourne, the group went off for a 'good luck' lunch. The tour then visited the Filching Manor Motor Museum, home to Donald Campbell's Bluebird and 100 other historic racing and/or unusual cars. The return to the hotel was via Bexhill, venue of the earliest UK Motor Racing. At the end of the day, once again, guests were free to choose when and where to dine.

Saturday 20th An early start was made for the Cadillac Spectacular on the lawns under the trees at Crystal Palace Park adjacent to the remains of Crystal Palace Racetrack, closed in 1973 due to safety regulations. Cadillacs from all over England and some from mainland Europe gathered in the presence of world-famous racing driver Sir Stirling Moss to celebrate 100-years of Cadillacs in Great Britain. At the end of the day, coach tour guests enjoyed a Farewell Dinner at the Queens Hotel, in the foyer of which was the Queen Alexandra/Prince Olaf Baby Cadillac.

Sunday 21st Guests were ferried by coach to Heathrow & Gatwick Airports or to other destinations nearby. Before leaving, everyone received a suitable quality memento of a one off  and, hopefully, most memorable 'Standard of the World' tour.

* Ivor Faulconer played an important part in discovering Julian Bennett and the 1903 Cadillac.  81 years old at the time, he was still hail & hearty and very much enjoyed meeting everyone. 
** Opening the Royal Automobile Club to a large outside group is almost unprecedented in the club's long history, for which we are extremely grateful, but only guests on the coach tour could be included.