Manchester Rally #2

[D87 SMW]

Due to the success of the last Manchester Rally, I think it deserves to be repeated again this year.

Depending on how the Peterborough trip goes with 'GGT, he will be coming along.

So if anyone has any ideas on the subject, or if any new members would like to ask any questions, feel free to post them here.

With seven vehicles on last years 'Rally, it was a little hard to keep us all together... ;) so if separate groups are needed for the convoy, with meetings in between, this could be an idea too...

[Austin-Rover]

I thought you werent coming to this years North Run as stated in the "Show us your Maestro/Montego" thread?

Look forward to this summers's shows first anyway, its ages until the August bank holiday - plenty more shows to go to beforehand. think this years North Run is in the North Yorks Moors, quite a few people have said they fancy a drive out there.

Plenty of time to decide however! :laugh:

In the meantime....look forwad to this Summer's shows!

[MaestroMatt]

Originally posted by RDGelder
Look forward to this summers's shows first anyway, its ages until the August bank holiday - plenty more shows to go to beforehand.

When's the MG M show at Coventry? There were a fair few Maestys there last year.

[D87 SMW]

Originally posted by RDGelder
I thought you werent coming to this years North Run as stated in the "Show us your Maestro/Montego" thread?

Well I did have a change of mind, but now you can forget it. Go and organise it yerselves.

[Beaker]

Originally posted by MaestroMatt
When's the MG M show at Coventry? There were a fair few Maestys there last year.

The MG Saloon Day is Sunday 4th of July. Hopefully we will be attending this year, thats if nothing unexpected happens like last year :)

Yorkshire Dales might be a good place for our Northern Event this year, Malham could make a good photoshoot. Being a bit further north as well, it may encourage some of our more Northern members to attend. But then its a bit too early in the year to be making any decisions yet.

[e692wtt]

In the light of the 2 previous posts, I thought I'd seize command - just like last year - and start the ball rolling.

Skatiechik has mentioned the Yorkshire Dales, and there's plenty to choose from - there are plenty of back roads we could cruise (the B6479 north from Settle, onto the B6255 to Hawes [home of Wensleydale cheese, a la Wallace and Grommit] is a particular favourite of mine, taking in the Ribbleshead Viaduct [time it right to catch a steam engine???]), and a visit to Malham Cove would tie into this.

Or we could visit Goathland (home of 'Heartbeat' on the haunted fishtank) and Whitby and/or Scarborough?

Or a tour of the Lake District, calling at Keswick for the Cars Of The Stars Museum (see cars of the stars (http://members.aol.com/cotsmm/) )?



And what date? I fancy the August Bank Holiday again... but I'm not a 'one man band' so please make suggestions to repeat the madness of last year.



Also, how's about a North West Run, to Southport (Meet On The Beach) then onto Blackpool for a drive through the Illuminations? Although this would have to be in September or October, as this is when the Illuminations are 'on'.... just get your Rustproofing sorted beforehand!


Oh, and it's an, ahem, piece of cake keeping a Convoy together. I managed it for mebbe 70 miles on the inaugural Great North Run... :p

[Beaker]

For dates I am going to suggest the 22nd August. This is a Sunday. The reason being, one of the comments that came out from last years North Run event was the date, it was the day after the Knebworth event which wasn't particularly well attended. So to avoid this clash again this year, and clashes with MGOC Championship I feel the 22nd August would be the best.

I am still liking my idea of the Yorkshire Dales best, there are a few reasons for this. The Dales doesn't tend to be as busy in terms of traffic in comparision to the Lakes. The scenery is just as pretty, and their could be some very good photo shoots. There is also still plenty of activities to be had as well like Rich suggests, the ribbleshead viaduct, wensleydale cheese, etc.

Another idea for those people that would be interested is a pre North Run night, we could book ourselves into a campsite and have a BBQ the night before. This might then encourage members who perhaps don't live so close to participate as they wouldn't have to do all the driving in one day. Altho' if this was to happen we would need definite numbers for the pre-night event to be able to book a campsite.

A North West run sounds good, but will be better as another event as like Rich says the illuminations won't be switched on until later in the year.

I didn't see a problem keeping the convoy together last year either. Rich did a sterling job of keeping us together, and lets hope we will have more attendees this year. One thing that did make co-ordinating the cars easier last year was the use of PMR's. We have two and I know some of the other members own some as well. One other outcome from last years event that could have been better planned is contact numbers, incase any of our members do happen to get seperated a useful sheet of paper with people's mobile numbers on to be handed out at the start with the route would be good.

Anyway these are my thoughts and suggestions, and it would be good if other people could contribute where they would like to go this year, and what date they would prefer it on. As hopefully this years event will as much a success as last years.

[Jonathan]

Initial ideas sound really good to me, I quite fancy the Yorkshire Dales too. Ribblehead viaduct is a pretty impressive structure, although best viewed at about 14:45 on a weekday when the (diesel) loco hauled train goes over :laugh:

If there are going to be many more cars than last year it might be worth thinking about distributing detailed route maps and directions along with approximate timings, and make sure each car has a navigator where possible. It would be unreasonable to expect to keep a large number of cars in procession together all the time, certainly without being an obstruction to other traffic on busier stretches. Having people at the back, in the middle and at the front with walkie talkies and who can be contacted by mobile (not whilst driving of course) is also a good idea.

It's been a while since I've been to the dales so won't suggest any routes, but there are plenty of opportunities. Should be a good day/weekend.

[Austin-Rover]

If we're building on the experiance we had last year, it should be another great success - especially if its well publicised. We are a bit spoiled for choice up North for places to go, so theres no reason we cant build on last years experiances. I think the communication was the only thing to let us down last year, but some distributed walkie talkies like Jon says should help.

It seems though there are a few sites people are interested, just the gaps need to be filled in. And as Rich has started the ball rolling, maybe he can make us a nice route for the day as he did such a good job last year. :)

Here's to another Great North Run... :cool:

[G51 NAV]

Also, how's about a North West Run, to Southport (Meet On The Beach) then onto Blackpool for a drive through the Illuminations? Although this would have to be in September or October, as this is when the Illuminations are 'on'.... just get your Rustproofing sorted beforehand!

Sounds fine to me, but then I would say that, wouldn't I :laugh:

[MGTurbo]

Just a tad too far for me to travel :giveup:

[Simon]

I do quite like the sound of it myself, makes a change from all the flat East Anglian scenery. Some great photo opportunities too.

[Mat_C]

Might be able to go seeing as i'm oop north now, no way am I taking my car on a salty beach - thats just asking for trouble!!!

[tony]

put me down for one as well :)

[e692wtt]

After discussions with several people who attended last year's Run, how's this for an idea for this year's Great North Run?


Date: Sunday 22nd August 2004 (so as not to clash with the Knebworth Classic Car Show on 29th August if we had the Run on the Bank Holiday 30th August - this was a problem last year).

But: with the option of meeting up the night before (Saturday 21st August) at a local Camp site (local to the route start, that is) for a barbie and a few drinks (then people can travel at their leisure on the saturday and arrive as and when without having to worry about getting lost or being late while trying to find the start on the Sunday). Or mebbe we could find a hotel/pub/b&b?

Route: Leave Grassington and travel north to Askrigg on the B6160 to Aysgarth, then west on the A684 to Hawes, then South on the B6255 to Ribbleshead Viaduct then onto the B6479 to Settle. Then backroads to Malham and onto Hellifield where the Run will end. The A65 is then very convenient for travelling both east and west when we all go home...

This seems to be about 75 miles, with plenty of opportunities for stops, photos and country pubs to chose for lunch. We will visit Kettlewell, where Calendar Girls was filmed (the village), Hawes where Wensleydale cheese (as eaten by Wallace and Grommit) is made, and the Ribblehead Viaduct which is a spectacular piece of engineering in a very remote part of the country. The views and roads are spectacular!


Over to you guys... :)

[Beaker]

This all sounds good to me.(Books the date into the diary)

I will opt for the campsite option as it's cheaper and BBQ's are always fun.

We can always look for a campsite near a B&B/Hotel for those of us who don't like braving the outdoors.

I guess what will need to be decided is a date to have confirmation of those who wish to camp the night before as somewhere will need to booked. Anyone know of a good campsite around the Grassington area? That is assuming everyone is okay with the route?

Looking forward to it already :cool:

[Maria]

I may or may not make this one. Tough decision between touring cars at Brands Hatch and MM Rally :(

[Beaker]

We can all make that decision for you, the MMOC North Run :D The reason being it can't be recorded on video. ;)

[E_T_V]

Ooh the North run on video, now there is an idea! :D

[Jonathan]

I was really miffed to have missed the touring cars at Brands last weekend after seeing the coverage - FANTASTIC! Very tempted by Silverstone next weekend now...

BUT!

11 rounds of the BTCC.
Only 1 Maestro/Montego run!

;)

[e692wtt]

I've just noticed that the salient details are on the 'Events' section of the website (see great north run (http://www.maestro.org.uk/events/) and scroll down to 22nd August 2004) so thanks for that.

I will make enquiries about a campsite and hotel/b&b in the Grassington area in the next week or so as I am off work at the moment. If anyone knows the area better then me (not difficult!) please feel free to make suggestions of suitable places for the overnight stop.

:)

[Beaker]

Any news on a campsite yet?

We probably need to sort it out soon, as august can be busy for campsites and we don't want to find out that places are fully booked.