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The early bird catches the worm. Especially on Sunday morning when the Thoroughbred Sports Car Club are hosting one of their rapidly expanding cars and coffee events at Down Royal Race Course. That’s a horse racing course, just to be clear. But the parade ring has never witnessed anything like the mechanical horsepower on show at this event. 

RMS Motoring TSCC Cars and Coffee Down Royal

As always, the everyone is welcome in anything that they can drive. So the latest technologically laden supercars, with more computing power than a NASA space mission share a car park with spritely little lightweight MGs. A testament to a bygone era, when lightweight and nimbleness was the key to sporting success. 

RMS Motoring TSCC Cars and Coffee Down Royal

The great thing about the Northern Ireland summer is that it offers an opportunity to pull the convertible out of the garage and go for some liberating, wind in the hair driving If you’ve got the right attitude. And don’t mind the prospect of rain. The threat of sustained rain didn’t put off the intrepid convertible owners at Cars and Coffee, though. Topless models ranged from classics like this Mercedes Benz SL to the rather rarer sight of a third generation Vauxhall Astra Cabriolet. 

RMS Motoring TSCC Cars and Coffee Down Royal

The ongoing local love affair with cars from Bavarian ensured that M cars were represented as normal. But a car from the famous tuning house of one of the other big German manufacturers caught the eye.  This incredible C63 AMG wagon looked mean and purposeful. The brilliant black showed off the bulbous arches and muscular lines. The engine sounded like the onset of the apocalypse. Possibly one of the best wardrobe shifters money can buy.

RMS Motoring TSCC Cars and Coffee Down Royal

But if a luxury barge is more your cup of tea, then nothing beats a Bentley. Yes, it’s the size of an oil tanker and has its own postcode. But it oozes presence and ridiculous opulence, whilst being far quicker that you ever thought possible. Just try and outrun one in a straight line. 

RMS Motoring TSCC Cars and Coffee Down Royal

If ride and comfort aren’t on the agenda and you like hitting the back way home, then there’s no more capable car than a JCW Mini. It’s amazing how the modern Mini can take on so may personas. From shopping accessory to hardcore weekend toy.

RMS Motoring TSCC Cars and Coffee Down Royal

So many cars, just not enough time. Next time you wake up on Sunday and need a coffee, grab the car keys and head for Down Royal.

Full event gallery by WR6Moto photography.

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Chris, known as Cess on the forums, is a long time RMS member. He is a fervent motorsports enthusiast and lover of all things automotive. He can be found on the ditches of most Irish rallies, at Mondello watching drifting or in front of the TV watching motorbike racing.