The document discusses taking a 1980 Chevrolet Corvette C3 Stingray on a drive along Blackpool's famous illuminated promenade in England. Cruising in the open-top Corvette allows one to fully experience the dazzling lights displays and take in views of landmarks like Blackpool Tower. While traffic has slowed the pace, driving the Corvette at night along the promenade amid the "gaudy glitz" is described as one of the most enjoyable drives one can do, perfectly suited to enjoying the Illuminations spectacle.

1. CLASSIC DRIVES
CLASSIC DRIVES Blackpool Illuminations
Blackpool Illuminations
Power to the
tower
36 | CLASSIC CAR WEEKLY | Wednesday 30 October 2013 Wednesday 30 October 2013 | CLASSIC CAR WEEKLY | 37
Stay here
Norbreck Castle Hotel Queen’s Promenade,
Blackpool FY2 9AA ■ 0871 222 0031
Eat here
Squires Gate Fish & Chips 9 Squires Gate Lane, Cartmell Fold,
Great Marton, Blackpool FY4 1SN ■ 01253 349261
If you’re hitting Blackpool’s bright lights, show off
some V8 muscle, says DAVID SIMISTER in a Corvette
At night, Blackpool turnsinto Las Vegas... almost
T
he glow of a thousand neon lightbulbs
pierce the black of the night sky as
I power the Corvette along Blackpool’s
windswept promenade. This is a classic
drive in every sense of the word.
There’s a gaudy glitz about any Chevy which
makes it perfectly suited to enjoying the world-
famous Blackpool Illuminations. Cruising behind the
wheel of an open-top burbler makes you the centre
of attention. Even though you’ll be lucky to hit
30mph and the only hairpins you’re likely to see
are atop the scalps of women in the resort on their
hen nights, driving this stretch of road is one of the
most enjoyable drives you can undertake at this time
of year.
In the daytime, Blackpool has a very British sort
of charm, encapsulated by its rock stalls, Victorian
piers and fish ‘n’ chip shops. But, when darkness
falls, and the six miles of lights are switched on, the
vibe starts to turn ever so slightly Las Vegas.
That’s why to get the best out of driving the
Illuminations you need a classic that’s brash, in-yer-
face and unashamedly proud of its heritage.
Something outlandish, open to the autumn weather
and audible with a hint of a small rumble – a
Chevrolet Corvette is perfect.
Once you lift out the twin panels on its T-bar
roof, fire up the 5.7-litre small block V8 and engage
its three-speed auto, you’ll discover this lazy,
loudmouthed left-hooker is more than suited to the
job in hand. You might think having the steering
wheel on the wrong side would be off-putting, but
as it’s unlikely you’ll be doing any overtaking, you
soon learn not to let it bother you. In fact it works
to your advantage, allowing you to indulge in a spot
of banter with the pedestrians as you thread your
way through the many traffic lights as you rumble
North from Starr Gate through the glittering lights.
The Corvette’s bright white paintwork, pop-up
headlights and the red leather lining the two-seater
cockpit place you in the chintzy mindset you need to
enjoy the spangled nights when this Lancashire
seaside resort turns peacock and struts its stuff to
thousands of visitors. Dazzling displays celebrating
everything from Doctor Who to old Routemaster
buses, beam from the side of the road. Occasionally
you’ll glide past vintage trams dressed up as trawler
boats and draped in hundreds of lights – probably
the only thing on the prom to positively outglam
the ’Vette.
Then, of course, you reach the jewel in this
seaside resort’s spectacular autumn tiara – Blackpool
Tower, which flickers and sparkles every few seconds
as it climbs hundreds of feet into the sky above you.
The staccato bark of the Corvette’s exhaust is its
audible reflection. Seeing this Grade One-listed
masterpiece gradually crawl up the wild contours of
the Corvette’s bonnet as you cruise along the town’s
Golden Mile has got to be the one of the best thrills
you can experience in British motoring.
Eventually, you’ll reach Bispham, the point in
Blackpool’s northern reaches where the fantastic
luminance of the display reaches its end, giving way
to street lights, which seem drab by comparison.
Naturally, there’s only one thing to do if you’re in
a Corvette and the whole of the Blackpool
Illuminations at your beck and call. Turn around, go
straight back and congratulate yourself on a drive
well done over some well-deserved fish and chips.
Blackpool
Bispham
Starr Gate
David’s face lit up at the
wheel of the Corvette
The Corvette we drove was a 1980 C3 Stingray,
which blends General Motors’ venerable 5.7-litre
V8 with a three-speed auto that offers easy-
going sports car thrills.
While it’s never going to offer you Lotus-like
steering, its well-mannered, torquey driving
experience makes it perfect for relaxed cruising.
The twin roof panels are easily unclipped and
stow neatly behind the two seats, transforming
the Kentucky-crafted classic from a cosy coupe
into an al fresco motoring experience.
The combination of bright white paintwork
and red leather interior is definitely an acquired
taste but is certainly in keeping with the brash
glamour of the Illuminations, while the power-
assisted steering helps ensure the sheer
size of the car and its left-hand-drive layout
never feel intimidating.
This Corvette is one of more than 80 classics
on offer from Great Escapes Classic Car Hire,
which has a number of outlets across the UK.
Founded in Worcestershire in 2006 by
Graham and Janine Eason, Great Escape is now
the country’s largest classic car hire company,
offering everything from small Brit favourites
like the Mini and Morris Minor to full-on
exotics such as the Ferrari 456GT and Jensen
Interceptor. Graham said: “Each of our sites are
owner-operated by classic car enthusiasts.”
■ 01527 893733
■ www.greatescapecars.co.uk
ABOUT THE CAR
HIRING THE CAR
Blackpool’s Promenade, which now forms part
of the A584 road, has been at the heart of the
resort’s fortunes since it rose to prominence as
a bathing resort in the 19th century.
With no less than three pleasure piers on
one side and the thrills of the Grade One-listed
Blackpool Tower on the other, there’s plenty of
great views to take in, although work by the
local authorities to introduce traffic calming
measures means progress behind the wheel is
now slower than in previous years.
Easily reached from the M55 motorway,
Blackpool offers distinctly old-school seaside
thrills, most notably if you temporarily ditch
driving your classic for a ride on Britain’s oldest
working tramway system, which runs alongside
the road and connects either end of the
seafront. In between, you’ve got scores of fish
‘n’ chip shops to serve up some cuisine entirely
suited to the traditional seaside feel.
You will not be found wanting when it
comes to hotels either. Ranging from petite
bed & breakfast properties to grand buildings
with hundreds of rooms, it’s easy to book
accommodation that’s right at the heart of
Illuminations action.
ABOUT THE AREA
■ Watch out for tipsy pedestrians in fancy
dress wandering in the road. Stag and hen
parties head to Blackpool throughout the year.
■ Pack warm clothes and a coat to deal with
the elements – the Illuminations are definitely
best experienced with your roof down.
■ Traffic lights and traffic calming measures
have been brought in along
Blackpool’s seafront, so keep
an eye out for red lights which
aren’t part of the displays.
BE PREPARED
an eye out for red lights which
■ DISTANCE 6 miles ■ CAR 1980 Chevrolet Corvette C3 Stingray
■ DRIVING TIME 25 minutes ■ HIRE THIS CAR FROM www.greatescapecars.co.uk
■ PETROL INCLUDED No ■ MILEAGE 200 miles ■ EXCESS MILEAGE £1.50 per mile ■ PRICE £229 for 24-hour hire ■ AGE LIMIT 25-75 years
■ THINGS TO BRING Both parts of driving licence, credit or debit card, warm clothes, mobile phone, Elvis Presley eight-track tapes
EXPLORINGBLACKPOOL
SEAFRONT BY NIGHT
David ‘Don’t Call Me Hasselhoff’ Simister and the ’Vette
This year’s illuminations get switched off on 10 November, so hurry
Thundering up the promenade in a V8 muscle car beats the trams any day
Ready for a roller coaster ride? Not in the smooth Corvette, of course