That was the theme on this years Border Rievers Run - On Tour Yorkshire Raid.
We were under instructions to arrive at Whitby Abbey car park for 12 o’clock midday, as it happened, with a very good run up the A1 and across to Whitby, we arrived an hour early! As we arrived at the out skirts of Whitby we drew up behind a GT, just pulling into a petrol station. We waved as you do, and an arm appeared out the sunroof and a very warm wave was received back. We continued up to the Abbey where not surprisingly we were the first to arrive. We parked in the overflow car park on grass and took the dog for a stretch of his legs around the perimeter wall. When we returned to the car, two other Gilberns had drawn up alongside us on the grass. It was soon apparent that the grass area would be a bit tight to line up the 19 cars expected, so we all moved over to a tarmac section that was empty of ‘normal tin’, and reversed into the bays. Soon more cars arrived and joined the parade until all 19 were in a very impressive line up. So all marques bar one were represented, GT, Genie, MkI, MkII and MkIII, but no Estates. Also present were the modern Gilberns; a Noble and Lotus Elise.
It was an overcast day and the wind was getting very strong, a 20 yard dash was required to rescue a Gilbern cap as it flew off some ones head. You could feel the sand and grit in the wind on your face.
Richard and Hutch organised us into a group as the photographer from the local Gazette newspaper arrived to record the event. It was sunny between the clouds as we lined up, but as he asked for cars to be arranged, it disappeared behind the clouds and didn’t re-appear until he’d finished......hey ho.
As we all gathered around R & H for the drivers briefing the sound of the theme tune to Heartbeat was heard playing in the background and we were informed that it was a significant clue for the day. As the talk went on it was noticed that a rather large column of smoke was rising into the air beyond the hills around Whitby, Richard informed us that they were burning off heather on the moors and it was nothing to worry about......famous last words.....eh Richard!
The start was changed this year from the normal one minute intervals, R & H wanted us all to travel around the area independently and not in a convoy which always seems to happen when you are all trying to find and answer clues. So the first question was handed out, the answer to which was within walking / running distance, and on writing it down and returning it to them with the correct answer, you were handed the rest of the questions. Some jumped into their cars and shot straight off, while others read through the questions and planned a route around the locations listed. Tony Hayward flagged each car off while Diane McEwan took a photo at the same time.
Several locations and villages were visited, some answers you could find while still in the car, some entailed parking up and investigating steam railway stations, or village shops, Churches, Abbeys and Museums. Some were just map references to find where a single wooden bench sat on the hillside with a name plaque on! An excellent mix of questions. Roads to negotiate included hairpin bends on uphill 33% gradients and fast sweeping empty moor roads. As the afternoon went on, we kept passing Gilberns going the other way and a friendly wave always was given and received, fantastic. Locals and visitors alike to the area stood and pointed as these special cars were seen time and time again. It soon became apparent that something big locally was going on as we came across a fire engine parked up on a country lane, then saw Police cars traveling around.
As the questions were completed, and as the miles passed by, we were lead towards a local Gilbern owners farm way out on the moors. We drew up alongside the four cars already there, welcomed and told to go straight in and help ourselves to tea / coffee and an wonderful spread of home made cakes and scones. We sat talking amongst ourselves and we were told that R & H had to go out to rescue some cars stuck out on the moors as they had come across roads closed by the Police. Remember the smoke seen at Whitby?.......well as the wind blew stronger, the normal heather burning had got seriously out of control.
See here for the Gazettes report: http://www.whitbygazette.co.uk/news/Nat ... 5704600.jp
At the drivers briefing we were all warned that mobile signals in places were very weak and if anything went wrong and you couldn’t get hold of anyone, then return to the Hotel. This is just what some members did to be safe, the others were eventually rescued by R & H Recovery Services, a subsidiary of R & H Travel Inc. As things settled down, the Borders Challenge took place. The first part was for the drivers to play a single game of coutes, in the strong winds I might say, he who scored nothing! Then back inside for a demo of the second part with a rendition of the song Heartbeat by R & H Entertainment Services, a subsidiary of R & H Recovery, also a Subsidiary of R & H Travel Inc. (I think I’m going to buy shares in them as they expand in the current recession) with the music of heartbeat in the background. Unfortunately only two couples were brave enough to stand in a tightly packed kitchen and sing to us all. But it was well received with a round of applause from everyone.
The results of the Run and Challenge I’ll not reveal here and leave to the organisers report to appear in Rarebit as is only right.
Soon it was time to make a move on to the Hotel at Guisborough for the evening meal. We were told it was a 15 - 20 minute drive there and so we left. It soon became apparent that the lead car had been lost ahead somewhere on a blind bend, and the next two cars had no idea where to go. So a quick push of buttons on my new Sat Nav ( Thank You my dear wife for my early birthday present ) and we moved into the lead and proceeded to lead the way. The box of tricks said we would arrive in 15 mins, great! Then we came across a Police car blocking the road we wanted to go along, closed due to moor fire, hit the detour button and off we go again, deeper into the valleys and twisty roads of the York Moors. Predicted arrive time now 25 minutes, not so good. Along we traveled, then another closed road. This was starting to look quite serious as it got dark. Detour again. Now 55 minutes to the hotel. That was cutting it very fine for the meal, let alone checking in and changing in our room. But we did arrive, just in time.
Alison checked in, I took Bracken for a quick walk in the woods at the back of the hotel. As I walked into the lounge a pint was put into my hands, a very welcome pint at that and we sat down to chat over the last hour of stress. Soon we were hustled into the meal, some not getting time to get a pint, but that was soon forgotten as we all sat around our tables and the chatter started. The meal completed, coffee and tea in hands and R stood up to present the results and prizes and thank you’ and we all moved off to our very comfortable rooms.
The Sunday saw us meet up in the car park after a great breakfast and decide what to visit for those who wanted. The planned places were too near the fires still raging up on the moors, so it was decided to go slightly away from the area. Led off by the only GT to attend, we headed off to some Abbey ruins. On route through a small village a man with his Grandchild squatted down and pointed and said ‘ Look! a Gilbern ‘ ......’ oh, and another, and another, and another......etc’ The little boy waved to us. What a lovely sight to see.
We toured the Abbey, fantastic place. So quiet and peaceful. Said our goodbyes, and headed our different ways home.
This event has become a shining example of what owning and driving a classic car is about. Going to car shows is ok, but it’s very boring for the other half if they go with you, where the Border Rievers involves them in the treasure hunt, evening meal and the trip away. It’s become part of our holiday routine and long may it be so. Thanks to ALL who made it such an enjoyable weekend, not just the organisers, but those who turned up, without the cars it wouldn’t work, and especially those who were still working on their cars into the early hours getting them ready, oily fingernails proved this!
You coming next year?
An article is to appear in Classic Cars,out on the 15th October and Practical Classics out in early December.