The Great Dales Drive - Sat 14th Oct 2006

SpunkyM · Post by **SpunkyM** » Wed 04 Oct, 2006 13:05

Date & Time: 10.00am Sat 14th Oct (Confirmed)

Start / End point: Ripley Castle car park, outside the Boars Head pub, HG3 3AY

Route: 138 miles / 7 hours (including 90 min lunch stop). End time 5pm

Attendees

c_w (Z3 MC) - Yes

c_w friend (VX220) - Yes

Norwegian Blue + Sarah (Z3 M) - Yes

Titan + Dot com (Z3 2.2) - Yes

Deano172 (Z3 M) - Yes

Stu & Sylv (Z3 2.8s) - Yes

SpunkyM + Partner (Z3 M) - Obviously

Spokey (Z1) - Yes

Marvellous Mick - apologies
TrickyB - apologies
Big Cheesy - apologies
BartS - apowogies (in Japanese accent) - domo arigato gozai masu!!!
Alfie - apologies

Hi all, well I've been thinking about this one for quite some time now and I think it's high time I shared what I consider to be some of the very best and most interesting driving roads around Yorkshire.

I'd like to concentrate on the Dales as it's an area I know well and has some really spectacular roads to offer. I've lived here all my life and in travelling around most of the country I still feel the Dales is up there with the best.

I have already formed a provisonal route which will start at Ripley Castle car park and take a circular path through Pately Bridge, Grassington, upto Aysgarth Falls, across to Hawes then south past the Ribblehead Viaduct into Settle and back across to Bolton Abbey and return over the Blubberhouse Moors.

Will almost certainly need some liquid refreshment and a bite to eat at some point so the plan is to stop at the George & Dragopn pub at Aysgarth at around 12.30pm.

The event will be done in a series of stages or rendezvous points which everyone will be given details of before hand. This should mean that any faster or more confident drivers can go on ahead and wait at the next stage for the other drivers to catch up. This ensures that everyone drives at a pace they feel comfortable with and prevent waiting around at unsuitable places at the side of the road.

I'll update this post as things develop - if you are familiar with this area you'll know what a joy it is to drive through, if you are not then prepare for one of the best drives in the country!! Hope to see plenty of Z's there

Phil · Post by **Phil** » Wed 04 Oct, 2006 19:13

Didnt realise we had identical cars

trickyb · Post by **trickyb** » Wed 04 Oct, 2006 19:15

Shame

- i'm working the next three weekends after this, so arn't available until 4/5th Nov.

Hope you all enjoy the drive.

big cheesy · Post by **big cheesy** » Wed 04 Oct, 2006 20:54

Might be up for this one. Bit nearer than most of the runs. I cannot do the 14th Oct as it's Grand Final day. Weekend after is a distinct possibility
though. A pit stop suggestion for good grub & beer would be at the George and Dragon in Aysgarth good last I stayed that way in May.

SpunkyM · Post by **SpunkyM** » Wed 04 Oct, 2006 22:17

Bugger, sorry about that Tricky. I left it till late October on purpose as well so that you'd be back from the states

Big Cheesy - thanks for the tip on the George & Dragon, hopefully will check it out this weekend.

stu · Post by **stu** » Thu 05 Oct, 2006 08:56

Paul, I'm game of course

Can't come over Saturday, have to pick my son up from Hockey practise.

Sounds brilliant!

BartS · Post by **BartS** » Thu 05 Oct, 2006 09:42

Paul

real shame, can't make it, we'll be on a bullet train somewhere in japan at the time, trying to keep the same pace as in your cruize maybe?

Real shame, would have loved another run on the open roads in your part of the world.

Hope you have a good turn out though!

Bart

NorwegianBlue · Post by **NorwegianBlue** » Thu 05 Oct, 2006 11:13

I would be interested in coming along, will need to look at my diary when you get a firm date, at present the only one I may not be able to do is 28/29th but that may change.

Alfie · Post by **Alfie** » Thu 05 Oct, 2006 11:33

Well done for organising, SpunkyM.

It would be great to join you, but we're already fully booked around that time.

If it goes well, how about running it again in the springtime? With a bit more notice I'm sure you'd get a big turn-out.

Hope it's a grand success.

A.

SpunkyM · Post by **SpunkyM** » Thu 05 Oct, 2006 16:22

Thanks for the replies. Have another run over the North Yorkshire Moors planned as well which would be great in Spring, take the A166 out of York towards Bridlington but head off to the left at Fridaythorpe. Join the A169 at Malton and then continue past the Hole of Horcum which is great, as is the smaller road up past Rosedale Abbey. Get to Whitby and head west along the A171 through Guisborough and back south down the B1257 via Urra to Helmsley. Great

I'd have to say the Dales wins by a smidgen though for 'proper' driving roads. And of course absolutely ZERO speed cams in N.Yorks

Plod with laser guns is another matter however

Marvellous · Post by **Marvellous** » Thu 05 Oct, 2006 16:31

I might well be up for this, can't really confirm until a date is set. I'll keep an eye on the thread.

Mick.

SpunkyM · Post by **SpunkyM** » Thu 05 Oct, 2006 21:38

Would be great to see you there Mick. The date I proposed was Sat 14th Oct. I say proposed as if this is not possible for a majority of people then there is some flexibility. At the moment it would seem that only Stu and maybe Norwegian Blue can do the 14th but as I can't do the weekend after then I can't see how any other date in Oct would result in more attendees! I'm perfectly happy to run a small group though. Even if it's just one other car it will go ahead - I'm sure you will not be dissapointed for what I have planned.

How does the 14th sit with you? Any other takers?

Deano1712 · Post by **Deano1712** » Fri 06 Oct, 2006 12:19

Count me in for the 14th. 28th is OK as well.

SpunkyM · Post by **SpunkyM** » Fri 06 Oct, 2006 13:29

Counted - nice one!

Titan · Post by **Titan** » Sat 07 Oct, 2006 07:26

Dot Com & I should be able to make this one - especially the 14th
I am free for a recce today - you have pm

tags · Post by **tags** » Sun 08 Oct, 2006 20:40

I'd be up for this if it was on Sunday. Saturday is no good for me.

Tags

spokey · Post by **spokey** » Sun 08 Oct, 2006 21:24

Do we have a confirmed date for this yet?

SpunkyM · Post by **SpunkyM** » Mon 09 Oct, 2006 12:29

It's Sat 14th. No other date in October is available for me now and have my brothers bday party on the Sat eve so I'll be in no fit state on Sunday for sure (sorry tags).

I reccy'd most of the route over the weekend and I think it's fantastic!! I've tried to incorporate a good mixture of fast sweeping open roads, slower scenic bits and a few spectacular landmarks for photo ops (Ribblehead Viaduct is a great one for group shots

) The trip will hopefully be as interesting for passengers as it is for the drivers, well that's what I intended anyhow.

Also stopped at Big Cheesy's suggestion for a pub - the George and Dragon for lunch. Nice place, thought the food was a tad on the expensive side (I am a Yorkshireman afterall

) but decent sized car park and full of character. I think we will make this the lunchstop as it's perfectly located for us. I am going to phone them sometime around midweek to let them know the numbers so if you know for def that you are coming please can you let me know if you are bringing a passenger - all welcome of course.

Keep your eye on the first post in this thread as that's where I'm updating the attendees details.

As I said before, the route will be broken up into around 7 sections with rendezvous point at the end of each. Full details of the entire route will be going out later this week. Can't wait

stu · Post by **stu** » Mon 09 Oct, 2006 12:32

What's the starting & ending locations please?

I'd like to do a route to make sure we get there in plenty of time.

spokey · Post by **spokey** » Mon 09 Oct, 2006 12:53

Put me down as a maybe, too.

SpunkyM · Post by **SpunkyM** » Mon 09 Oct, 2006 16:08

Added - would be nice to see a Z1 there Spokey. First post also now updated with start / finish details.

Titan · Post by **Titan** » Mon 09 Oct, 2006 17:30

Sounds great - this wil be our first cruise so fingers crossed for good
weather. Look forward to meeting you all.

(PS - Dot Com's Z3 is a 2.2i which she sometimes lets me drive

)

NorwegianBlue · Post by **NorwegianBlue** » Mon 09 Oct, 2006 20:24

Glad to say myself and Sarah can now confirm, so looking forward to some nice secenery, good company and dry roads.

Neil

SpunkyM · Post by **SpunkyM** » Mon 09 Oct, 2006 22:17

Excellent!

c_w · Post by **c_w** » Tue 10 Oct, 2006 15:48

Myself and my friend are interested in coming to this, he will be in a VX 220 (came to the derbyshire run earlier this year), and I'll be in my Coupe

SpunkyM · Post by **SpunkyM** » Tue 10 Oct, 2006 17:42

Filling up nicely

Also, have a look at the weather forecast for Saturday... http://www.metcheck.com/V40/UK/FREE/day ... 04dr&day=2

...not saying a word! Will probably snow!

.

SpunkyM · Post by **SpunkyM** » Wed 11 Oct, 2006 22:33

OK, I've finished the route guide which will go out to all confirmed attendees Thursday evening. I also need to phone the George & Dragon pub with numbers Thursday evening. To be on the safe side I am going to assume all attendees will want lunch, so if you do not please let me know asap.

stu · Post by **stu** » Thu 12 Oct, 2006 09:15

SpunkyM wrote:OK, I've finished the route guide which will go out to all confirmed attendees Thursday evening.

Do you have my address Paul? PM sent!

SpunkyM wrote:I also need to phone the George & Dragon pub with numbers Thursday evening. To be on the safe side I am going to assume all attendees will want lunch, so if you do not please let me know asap.

I'll DEFINITELY be up for lunch!

Saturdays weather still looks good too.

SpunkyM · Post by **SpunkyM** » Thu 12 Oct, 2006 13:06

Could all confirmed attendees please check their PM's.

Deano1712 · Post by **Deano1712** » Sat 14 Oct, 2006 17:37

Bril day today. Thanks to Paul for organising. Good weather and scenery. Short video here of c_w on a more sensible overtake.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKJE1kPpm48

spokey · Post by **spokey** » Sat 14 Oct, 2006 19:00

Thanks Paul for a great day.

Thanks to Sylv and Stu for their hospitality and the melodic snoring.

I'm knackered!

Marvellous · Post by **Marvellous** » Sat 14 Oct, 2006 21:19

Hope you all had a great day, sorry I couldn't make it, ended up shopping with the family in Manchester.

Any piccies?

Mick

NorwegianBlue · Post by **NorwegianBlue** » Sun 15 Oct, 2006 09:32

Thanks to Paul and everyone for a great day, both myself and Sarah really enjoyed it, even if she said I did get a little close to those dry stone walls at times

In all the excitment we forget to take many pictures, so if anyone has some good ones, please do post them.

Not sure how fast we went, I was looking at the scenery - Paul?

c_w · Post by **c_w** » Sun 15 Oct, 2006 10:42

Deano1712 wrote:Bril day today. Thanks to Paul for organising. Good weather and scenery. Short video here of c_w on a more sensible overtake.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKJE1kPpm48

Woohoo some footage of me!!

Took it steady there until we got past the pedestrians and the sheep!

It was a good day all round, I think we all enjoyed the roads round there. Mat had to leave his VX due to engine power problems (there was none) and jump in with Matt in his Golf R32 who decided to come at the last minute.

I don't htink I've ever been on a set of roads with so many hidden drops and jumps, particularly following the Pheonix Yellow Z3M on one "jump"

there were a few times where the road slew sideways or dissappeared underneath

There were a few hairy moments too following Matt's usually very planted Golf with the back end skipping around on one part and on a faster section the back end took off

SpunkyM · Post by **SpunkyM** » Sun 15 Oct, 2006 10:49

Ahh, it was just "coming on cam" Neil !

I had a really great time and the weather was brill. Sheep, tractors and humps all kept the adrenaline going

!!

Here's a few snaps we got...

spokey · Post by **spokey** » Sun 15 Oct, 2006 11:40

Some photos....

SpunkyM taking this photo:

The Ribbleshead viaduct:

c_w does his famous "spider on a mirror" trick:

Seconds after the "sheep incident":

How does Stu like his donuts? With jam in! (And served in a pinny!

)

trickyb · Post by **trickyb** » Sun 15 Oct, 2006 14:50

Looks like it was a great day - so sorry i had to work

I kept looking out of the window - or rather at the CCTV screen of a camera looking outside! - and thinking of the Yorkshire Dales.

SAD? Yes, i know. Just to make up, i'm going to York on Wednesday; the road way.

Great Pics

Dot Com · Post by **Dot Com** » Sun 15 Oct, 2006 18:28

Thanks for an interesting day Paul !

Sorry for those that got held up behind us - trying to keep up with all those Ms on our first cruise was not the best of introductions.
However glad the brakes worked for that tractor

even if the acclerator was a bit sluggish.
Took a few photos. Can't match Spokey's, but here's one from the back of the pack.

bmwstuff · Post by **bmwstuff** » Mon 16 Oct, 2006 13:43

looks like you guys had a great day!
wish could have made it and represented the zed4's too. Darn work just keeps getting in way.

Great pics!
________
No2 vaporizer review

stu · Post by **stu** » Mon 16 Oct, 2006 20:22

Well, eventually got round to downloading the pictures, so here we go.

Huge thanks to Paul for organising this run first of all, some great roads, good food and quite a lot of cars to keep together on some 'interesting' roads.

It was great to meet so many cruise 'virgins' and I do hope eveyone enjoyed themselves. I thing we proved that some people can cruise whilst others don't and you can all end up in the same place together.

Hope the VX-T is well again, but the R32 definitely did a good job filling in!

Here's our pics of the day.

The residents of Ripley were a little surprised to be Z central, especially as loads of wedding guests started arriving, so it was clearly time to make tracks - late, with Paul leading the way in his nice shiny black S54 ZMR.

Followed by Norwegian Blue, who Spokey and I had hooked up with on the way up the A1M. Neil, we stopped in Wetherby as Spokey had turned up at ours with no cash. Spokey mate, where do you want me to send the invoice for the B&B?

Followed by Dot Com and Terry in their 2.2 on their first 'cruise' (and to think I said don't worry!)

and more M's than you could shake a stick at

Immediately, there was Bedlum!

As we drove up to the dales, unfortunately the clouds came down to meet us.

We passed some nice little cottages

The roads were a little greasy in places, which meant Sylv had to concentrate on here driving, as our none DSC can slithered around a few times, Sylv put her 'race face' on

I just love the contrasts you get in Yorkshire. Tried desperately to take some evocative shots.

Then all too soon we hit loads of traffic in a rush hour Pateley Bridge

After which, the traffic thinned out a little and the roads went back to typical Yorkshire style

Another 'arty' shot

and then some more Yorkshire driving hazards.

Put your hands up if you really LOVE sheep

Soon it was time for a stop at a beauty spot, but you know how popular places attract the 'wrong types', can you spot the odd man out (of the asylum)?

Anyway, what we stopped for was some bridge thing, but as anyone who's been to Yorkshire will know, if it's worth doing, you might as well do it propper

I happened to notice one of the 'southern' cars sporting this little emblem. Apparently, it's some sign that the driver likes it up t'ring, bloody southern poofta's get everywhere!

and of course by this time of the afternoon, traffic was becoming a huge problem......

which is when I took over the driving and Sylv went to sleep, so no more pics I'm afraid.

Great to meet you all!

spokey · Post by **spokey** » Mon 16 Oct, 2006 20:27

stu wrote: I happened to notice one of the 'southern' cars sporting this little emblem. Apparently, it's some sign that the driver likes it up t'ring, bloody southern poofta's get everywhere!

Well, the R32 was wearing one as well. Anyway, it takes a real man to like it up the 'ring, just ask Giles.