I'm making a rare foray into this section myself with some pictures I took at the recent UK 4 gathering in Kent, in late May 2008. Some of you may have read my full report from the same event held two years earlier, over in the Star Story section. This time, there were fewer Renault 4s present, in part due to the menacing weather forecasts provided nationwide the day before, yet on the day itself this corner of England produced a star turn with some scorching spring sunshine. Since I gave a detailed summary of the previous occasion at which I was present, I won't go into such depth describing the event this time around, and unlike my hazardous filming exploits of times past, my only attempts to capture the moment this year were a few snaps from the end point of the run, seen on this page.

Once again, the day was organised by Derek Flavell from the Renospeed garage, who is also a local resident of the north Kent area. He and his wife provided route details, and for those like me travelling solo, I just followed the car in front and hoped for the best, rather than attempt to conduct the dodgy duo of driving and reading at the same time. We weaved around small villages in a vague anticlockwise loop, before finishing here at Belmont House, near Faversham. We were afforded a special parking area directly outside the house, where all nine R4s, along with a couple of Renault 5s, lined up for the glory.

The cars weren't the only things lining up in the grounds that lunchtime, as can be seen below. During our guided tour of the house, it was explained that the ditch encircling the property was known as a 'ha-ha', and prevented gross intrusions of animals into the living quarters, whilst still allowing the residents a view of them all gathered on the grass outside, presumably whilst upper classes guffawed and clanked glasses going 'ha-ha' and pointing at the animals with a great deal of smug mirth.

Amongst the Renaults present on the day were an original Mk1 Renault Five, replete with dash-mounted gearstick, newly restored and resprayed in an authentic light blue shade reminiscent of early Seventies glam. Also making its first appearance in seven years was the bright yellow, home-made Plein Air lookalike, previous photos of which from long ago in 1993 can be found on this site; see number PP12 in this section. Another couple owned a white GTL very similar to my own Reflexia, only less rusty. They had acquired the car back in the mid Eighties and it was still doing them proud, to the astonishment of several of their friends and family who had each since gone through three or more modern vehicles in the same space of time.

I missed the 2007 run due to other commitments, but others present from my last visit in 2006 included Henry from Hitchin with his beautifully maintained 1968 classic. Mark and Aerial also returned from Brighton with their similar blue 1967, E reg model, sporting the original small front grille.

And of course, Derek's own Gordini van conversion, signwritten with details of his specialist London R4 garage, was the star of the show.

Thanks again go to Derek and his wife for their time in organising the day out. Hopefully a few more 4 fans can make it down to south-east England for more rallies in future years.