8th Preston & District MGEC Lancs Lanes Run 14/09

[G51 NAV]

Many thanks to Preston & District MG Enthusiasts' Club for organising a most splendid run, yet again, and for once again extending their most generous invitations to non members such as myself.

This was the 8th annual event and was supposed to culminate in the Club's attendance at the 22nd Lancashire Classic Car & Bike Show at Hoghton Tower. Sadly weeks of rain have waterlogged much of the showground, not helped because it is in a dip between two sizeable hills. This meant that the main event had to be postponed, until October 5th. However with the agreement of Hoghton Tower, we were still allowed to end our run at the ground, albeit parking on the grassed area at close to the entrance to the Tower rather than in the main sodden showground.

We started at Stanley House Hotel near Blackburn. It was pleasant to be joined on the run by another MMM owner, David Prescott in his absolutely stunning MG Maestro 2.0i:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/G51NAV/Lancs%20Lanes%20Run%2008/P9140139.jpg

Also for our delectation was a new unregistered MG TF500:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/G51NAV/Lancs%20Lanes%20Run%2008/P9140140.jpg

The run took us on a most picturesque route through the Trough of Bowland and the beautiful countryside of East Lancashire. The event organisers again had thoughfully peppered the route-map with areas to stop and have a break, even with a most welcome burger-van situated in what otherwise looked like the middle of nowhere!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/G51NAV/Lancs%20Lanes%20Run%2008/P9140141.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/G51NAV/Lancs%20Lanes%20Run%2008/P9140142.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/G51NAV/Lancs%20Lanes%20Run%2008/P9140144.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/G51NAV/Lancs%20Lanes%20Run%2008/P9140145.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/G51NAV/Lancs%20Lanes%20Run%2008/P9140146.jpg

Some of the hills on the way are deceivingly steep and are a real test of the driver's gearwork, even with the luxury of the MG EFi's torquey engine. En route there were also many tight twists and blind bends to test just how adept you are with the steering-wheel: Habitual understeerers need not apply!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/G51NAV/Lancs%20Lanes%20Run%2008/P9140147.jpg

[G51 NAV]

Because the main show was cancelled, a small number of participants drifted off quicky after the run was completed, but it was still good to see a great mix of old and new MGs parked up in harmony and unity:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/G51NAV/Lancs%20Lanes%20Run%2008/P9140172.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/G51NAV/Lancs%20Lanes%20Run%2008/P9140170.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/G51NAV/Lancs%20Lanes%20Run%2008/P9140149.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/G51NAV/Lancs%20Lanes%20Run%2008/P9140155.jpg

It was great to chat to other enthusiasts, some of whom remembered the EFi from last year when it was somewhat tattier in its White Diamond and Oxide Brown livery.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/G51NAV/Lancs%20Lanes%20Run%2008/P9140157.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/G51NAV/Lancs%20Lanes%20Run%2008/P9140160.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/G51NAV/Lancs%20Lanes%20Run%2008/P9140164.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/G51NAV/Lancs%20Lanes%20Run%2008/P9140169.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/G51NAV/Lancs%20Lanes%20Run%2008/P9140158.jpg

Thanks for reading!

[Stephen G]

Looks like you had a good day John.

your EFI looks lovely, Next time Wilma's up, il need to take some other pics on the Right Setting!

Stephen

[Austin-Rover]

Looks like you enjoyed a good do.

Some nice looking cars there.

[BIGLAD]

They (Longbridge) seem to be knocking those TF's out at a fair old rate as there was a 08 plate 1 driving round here yesterday, (I'm only 10 miles south of Longbridge) I was staring and the driver stared back at me in the Monty, judging from the reg. it was a factory/Birmingham registered car.

To be honest when I saw the thread about your restoration on the EFi I wasn't that taken on the colour.
The pictures on your "blog/thread" showed the car up close and I thought the blue to be a bit "too much". But when the car is shown against other cars I think that the colour looks well. Looking at the 2 pictures near the end of your post, the Flame MG looks very good and represents the era, but yours looks as good and the colour makes it look a bit more "modern", if that makes sense

[G51 NAV]

Looking at the 2 pictures near the end of your post, the Flame MG looks very good and represents the era, but yours looks as good and the colour makes it look a bit more "modern", if that makes senseThanks yes that was the idea, to contemporise it with a modern paintjob and badging but still retain the various visible cues which identify it as mid 80s MG Maestro EFi :)

[D87 SMW]

Great stuff, John. Both Maestros look spiffing. :cool:

Hoghton Tower is a lovely place, it's good of them to still allow you to end there.

[Jonathan]

Wow! Some fine cars and roads there. :cool:

I have to keep doing a double-take at that blue Maestro though.

You've had a more interesting day than I have.

[G51 NAV]

Yeah and the weather helped us a lot as well. Early clear skies gave way to a duller afternoon, particularly over the hills of East Lancashire, an area frequently blighted by cloud and relief rainfall. However the weather stayed mercifully dry, which is always a major Brucie Bonus for such events. Hopefully the Fair Weather Gods will see fit to also shine on us on October 5th.