NEWSLETTER JULY 2024
COMPTON VERNEY
NATIONAL RALLY
SUNDAY 9TH JUNE
As this was a special year in the club calendar the National Rally was staged in June as opposed to September. The rally was to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Owners Club and 35 years of the Mazda MX 5.
We travelled down on the Thursday before and the weather was better then expected. We stayed in the New Inn in Clifford Chambers just south of Stratford on Avon where we had stayed a few times before.
We took advantage of the weather and toured the Cotswolds on the Friday and caught the bus just outside our hotel for a trip into Stratford on the Saturday before getting dolled up for the Anniversary dinner at Walton Hall Hotel nearby. Parking was saved for us at the front of the hotel but it was still a tight squeeze, with so many attending.
The venue was magnificent with 120 guests and Tom Matano and Bob Hall as guests of honour. Roger Mead, the club Chairman, introduced them and they each shared recollections of the birth of the MX 5. Our table of ten included a very fun couple from Clacton and the famous Roadster Robbie who is quite a card once you get talking to him. The food was excellent and we wandered around the grounds afterwards and had a drink. All guests received a 30th Anniversary key ring which Iain Fleming handed out during the speeches. It was dark by the time we left but the hood was still down for our return to our hotel.
Sunday was another dry and fine day but quite a lot cooler as we left for the rally. Queues were building as we arrived but we were soon parked up and ready for the day. First people we saw were some members from Filey who came on the Lakeland Motor Museum trip and John & Carol Street from our group. Keith Coutts arrived soon after and as the queues were by now a lot longer, we pulled rank and got him in at the front thanks to Helen Wilkinson Area Liaison Coordinator. We had a wander and met quite a few from Yorkshire and some friends from the Midlands and Swindon, we also met the couple from Clacton again in spite of the huge number of people.
By now it was time to join the meeting with Tom Matano and Bob Hall for their reminisces which was very interesting. We had a wander afterwards and queued for ages to buy a fleece as the card reader was not working and it was all being done on a laptop as if we were ordering online. Now it was time to join the queue to meet Tom Matano and Bob Hall. People were turning up with all sorts of car parts to be signed with quite a few taking the fuel filler caps off to be autographed. I had a photo of our car up in the Dales which I had printed to 10×8 and got both autographs on it.
Finally, it was time to head home after a great day with like minded people but the engine light came on when we were nearly home. The car was running ok and when I put the diagnostic reader on it it looks like an O2 sensor so hopefully nothing serious. All in all, a great weekend away.
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SOCIAL RED LION POPPLETON
JAN & NIGEL PAMPLIN
FRIDAY JUNE 21ST
A glorious day weather wise and ideal for a top-down run to the Red Lion at Poppleton. Unfortunately, our car was poorly so it meant going in the tank. A stop en route for fuel and quieter roads than expected saw us arrive very early but we were still not the first as Ruth Bell and Steven Clay were already in the beer garden!
Sadly, it started raining but just a few drops before it ceased.
Eventually people started arriving and the conservatory became a hive of welcomes and chatter. A new member was among the first to arrive, Louise Turner and her daughter, Katie, who had been nominated as navigator from York. Really, she was just moral support for Louise, not surprising when she had no idea what to expect. Another new member arrived, Gillian Elders, who had ventured over from Scarborough for her first encounter with us. Last but not least our final “not new” but returning members, Ralph Shepherd and Janice Thomspon.
At last, we sat down to eat and what a treat, Good sized portions of lovely food served on HOT plates. It was a good job the food came when it did as it gave us all a bit of peace and quiet as we are not the most timid of groups.
Jan and Nigel then held the usual raffle with some lovely prizes and some very happy winners. Gradually people drifted off home as Yorkshire is such a large area and some had several miles to travel home.
Thanks go to Jan & Nigel for hosting the event and The Red Lion did us proud.
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CHIP ‘N’ DALES RUN
PETER & MAUREEN WEST
SUNDAY JULY 7TH
Nineteen cars met up at Hawthorne Farm, Yeadon on a finer day than forecast. It was good to see new members attending too. The route was one we had done before as the intended route had at least three road closures so that one has been shelved until next year. One or two early birds were tucking into the great value breakfasts on offer including Shirley and Tim Pickett who were out in their 5 to wave us off. Nice to see them and Tim enjoying driving.
After a quick safety briefing, we set off through various Dales via Pool, Beckwithshaw, Summerbridge and Pateley Bridge, before turning off in Lofthouse to travel up Trapping Hill, before descending towards Leighton Reservoir. A left turn took us on to our comfort stop at Brymor Ice Cream Parlour, where we were met by Carol and Ken Carter and Sarah and David Bamber. We had an hour here for ice cream and/or drinks ready for part two.
The next leg took us through Middleham and left into Wensley towards Aysgarth before turning off for Kettlewell. This part was not on the original route as the road over Cam Gill was closed! A shame as this is one hell of a road and suits the fives but it is a fifteen-mile stretch with no way to avoid the closure, just end to end. The weather was kind to us and we only had to put the roofs up at Cracoe, just a few miles short of the finish. We ended at The Trawlerman in Crosshills for fish and chips or whatever people fancied. Despite Maureen booking all the food orders beforehand and giving the staff a spreadsheet of who ordered what the staff still cocked it up. However, once food was sorted it was very good and didn’t spoil the atmosphere. One bonus was the cabaret! Gayle Doyle was unable to attend so Peter brought a colleague to navigate. It transpired that he was a walking “dad Joke” encyclopaedia and had us in stitches, much to Peter’s embarrassment, and Rosie was laughing fit to burst.
We finally went our separate ways and feedback was positive on what was a bit of a Heath Robinson run.
Thank you to all who attended and introducing new members, Elliot Hitchcock, Louise Turner, Mike Senior (no not that one) with Linda Cross, and Laura and Adrian Marks. Always good to attract new members and hope to see you all again in the future. Nice to see Lindy and Neill Harrop again too.
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CROOKED BILLET SOCIAL
TIM & SHIRLEY PICKETT
FRIDAY JULY 19TH
Tim & Shirley organised another excellent social evening at The Crooked Billet in Saxton featuring the superb fish and chip special (£20 for two people). It was a gorgeous day and we travelled over to see Norma & Rowland Kassell with the roof down before heading out to the venue. Sixteen of us eventually sat down to eat albeit a tad late due to roadworks and traffic. In fact, we hit three sets of roadworks in the first four miles! Sarah and David Bamber didn’t manage to get there at all.
The food, as always was very good and served hot with efficiency. Plenty of chatter, (although not while we were eating) and the usual anecdotes ensuring a fun time. Shirley organised the customary raffle with the help of Maureen with most people taking home a prize.
We welcomed two new members, Belinda & Simon Lindley, who had travelled from near Huddersfield and they seemed to enjoy their first evening with us. We will see if they are brave enough to join us again!
Finally, we all set off for home (well some did). Our car had a dead battery so we had to wait for the AA to sort us out and we headed off with him following us for a couple of miles to check everything was ok. It was quite surreal sat in a topless car at 11.00pm watching the bats and owls. Fortunately, it was a lovely warm night for it. We arrived home safely at about 12.30pm. Credit to the patrol man as he was very obliging and very impressed with the car.
Thanks to Tim and Shirley for all their hard work.
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DÉJÀ VU RUN
STEVEN & RUTH CLAY
SUNDAY JULY 28TH
Eighteen cars turned up at Morrison’s car park in Skipton for Ruth & Steven’s Déjà vu Run. One or two had tea/coffee in the café while others mingled in glorious sunshine. After the briefing we set off along the A65, turning off in Settle for the road up to Ribblehead, dodging cyclists along the way. Plenty of motorcyclists but obviously they didn’t hold us up. A left turn at Ribblehead took us down into Ingleton for a quick stop for bladder relief.
Suitably drained we then headed back along the A65 for 2.5 miles before taking single track road towards Clapham Station, which, incidentally is about a quarter of a mile from Clapham.
The next stage took us through the Trough of Bowland, which is in Lancashire!!! Eventually we arrived at Slaidburn car park for our picnic stop. Unfortunately, our passenger side window decided to stay down so we left early to start stripping it down and await a new regulator. Apologies to Catharine & Peter Watson for abandoning them as we were guiding them on their first run. Sorry.
At this point I’ll let Steven Clay take up the story.
After stopping for the picnic in Slaidburn we continued back to Ingleton via a single road over the moors to Bentham where we passed the Great Stone of Fourstones, originally one of four, obviously. The other three are believed to have been broken up for scythe sharpening stones. After arriving in Bentham. The parade of seventeen cars was reduced to twelve as we had lost 5 of the single drivers who under the leadership of John Street went straight to Billy Bob’s Parlour missing out on the ride to Hawes. Thank you, John, for stepping up.
The drive from Ingleton was eventful after we passed the scene of a biker who had been involved in a serious RTC near White Scar Cave. From Hawes we took the road past the Wensleydale Creamery to Gayle and over Cam High Road to Oughtershaw and on to Buckden. The road down Wharfedale was a welcome stretch of wider road where we could manage some faster driving after the twisty and single-track roads.
We finished at Billy Bob’s with a welcome ice cream and after saying our goodbyes carried on home.
Me again. The part we drove was excellent and we will finish it once the new window regulator is sorted.
We welcomed new members Catharine & Peter Watson, Tim Jagger and Simon Wilson, always nice to see new members getting involved.
Thanks to Ruth and Steven for all their planning and hard work., these events would not be possible without the commitment of dedicated members. Looking forward to seeing some of you again on future runs.
Thanks to Steven for the additional write up.