Sol Classic Car Club

Classics in the Serrania de Ronda

It was, predictably, a hot Saturday for the Club's July run and when members and friends met up outside Estepona the organisers, Chris Want and Ross Davis, had thoughtfully provided everyone with bottles of water. The route from the coast climbed up to the Puerto de Peñas Blancas into the pine forests and on to Jubrique, high enough to see the soaring griffon vultures against the clear blue sky and the white villages scattered across the distant mountain ranges.

This is a favourite drive with stunning views down to the coast and across into the Serrania de Ronda, though this time the damage on the sides of the road was equally impressive. Massive boulders had been dislodged by the heavy rains and there were tree roots hanging in mid air. Thankfully all the rock falls had, more or less, been cleared and there were several stretches of brand new tarmac which made driving a pleasure – a different story earlier in the year.

The coffee stop was at Los Labraos just past Algotocin and here several of the older cars needed to cool down after the slow climb out of the Genal valley through the cork oaks. Ross's bright red TR3A (1958) "Scarlet", got so hot that once she stopped the fuel was evaporating in the pipes making the engine cough and splutter and refuse to restart. Her engine is impressive with enlarged cylinders and 2" SU carburettors, together with an oil cooler, an aluminium radiator and electric cooling fan. It also has electronic ignition and even Xenon headlights. Ross says he has yet to find a cure for the fuel vapour lock problem, but he's working on it!

She had to be pushed under the trees to cool down in the shade. Drivers and passengers were also glad of the opportunity to sit under the awnings and relax with cold drinks. After a break of about half an hour everyone was ready to set off again and Scarlet was, like her namesake, "Gone with the Wind".

The final destination was the charming Molino del Santo in the pueblo blanco of Benaojan. Once an olive and flour mill, the hotel nestles against the hillside at the end of a jumble of houses and comes as a complete surprise. The mill stream flows alongside the garden wall, with a series of rushing waterfalls – a particularly cooling sound on a hot day, and very photogenic.

A delicious and leisurely lunch was served here under the weeping willows and ancient fig trees. It's easy to see why the hotel has earned such accolades at "Best Country Hotel in Spain" and "Hotel in Spain offering the Warmest Welcome". There was the added anticipation at lunchtime of a special raffle, the prize being a voucher for dinner, bed and breakfast at the Molino. This was won by Lynn and Sandra Lacey who plan to use it to celebrate their anniversary later on in the year.