Sharon Murrell was 6 months old when her mum and dad first took her camping in a tent on the Isle of Wight. Years later when she became a mum herself, she broke her own record and took her son camping when he was just 6 weeks old. It just shows you, you’re never too young to catch the camping bug and that’s exactly what happened to the Murrells.
With her husband Keith, they have camped, trailer tented and caravanned their way around Britain indulging their passion for cars and showing their immaculately restored 1937 ‘Rosso Red’ Ford Hot Rod at car shows and events.
It all began though thanks to Sharon’s Dad. A dedicated boatie, and life-long camper, after cutting their teeth in a tent on the Isle of Wight they progressed to an Atlas Van. The original mother of motorhomes it was blue with a white pop up roof where Sharon and her sister snuggled into tiny bunk beds at night.
When Sharon met Keith, they discovered a shared passion for cars and it was back to camping in a tent again to frequent car shows such as the Wilton Classic & Supercar Show, Victory Wheelers Rod & Custom Show in Hayling Island and Beaulieu. They upgraded to a trailer tent 22 years ago when their son was born who incidentally took his first steps at a car show. Their first trailer tent was a Conway Contiki and over time they traded models in and upwards; a Conway Cardinal next (bit more luxurious and spacious and easier to put up) owning three second-hand ones before buying a brand spanking new Conway Crusader. A trailer tent offered the option of sleeping off the floor on a mattress, with more room, comfort and space that a tent didn’t offer.
Stepping up from camping with their first trailer tent
As their son grew up and started to holiday on his own, they started to wonder what shows and holidays would be like in a caravan, as their trailer tents did need a degree of preparation and as they had always been governed by school holidays, they couldn’t be as spontaneous with taking breaks as they’d like to have been.
Cue the arrival of a caravan in the form of the Lunar Arriva – a first starter caravan which was second-hand to them at just 3 years old and in immaculate condition. It was like falling in love all over again with camping and the Murrell’s big moment came when they got the call from Chris Evans’ team at Car Fest inviting them to show their hot rod at Car Fest South in Alton in 2014 and compete in the hill climb.
Trading up from the trailer tent to their first caravan - the Lunar Arriva
A year later and there’s been another rapid change. The Lunar had done its job of converting these campers further along the leisure vehicle evolution chain and it was time to trade up the caravan as they’d got a taste for luxury. In stepped the Coachman Chiltington in 2015, used just twice by its previous owners it is more spacious than the Lunar with a large bathroom including shower, loo and ample storage, not to mention the temperature controlled heating, hot water, LED mood lighting and solar panel which provides power for a TV and fixtures when camping off grid. It’s one step closer to a home from home. When they now attend Beaulieu and Goodwood it’s with a vehicle as sleek as some of those on show.
12 months later and the Lunar Arriva is swapped for a Coachman Chiltington
Also new is that the Murrells have joined both The Caravan Club and The Camping and Caravanning Club. One of the first sites they stayed at, as a member, was the New Forest Caravan Club Centenary Site in Hampshire. Originally a second-world war airfield, it is immaculate, dog friendly and great value as a club member – these are all the things that are important to them.
Keith in conversation with American blues musician and petrol-head Seasick Steve at Carfest South in 2014
They’re planning on going further afield in their caravan and the Le Mans Endurance Race is high up on their list of destinations. Long-time tow-er Sharon is planning the route already and shares the load with husband Keith. “The new caravan is really stable, solid and you feel in complete control when towing” says Sharon. Would you go back to a trailer tent now? “No way! Nothing is coming between me and my Coachman”!