NORTHUMBERLAND COAST RUN SUNDAY 4th APRIL 2004

Members Attending: Michael Sheavills, Mac Sheavills, Jackie Sheavills, Joanne Thom, Fred Sanderson, Doris Sanderson, Steve Austin, Jo Austin, Gordon Moffett, Allison Moffett, Peter Key, Mike Johnson, Viv Allison, Lee Hall and Jo, Doug, Graham Crook, Mark Richardson, Sharon Richardson, Ian Woods, Ann Woods, Damon Herring, Sue Herring, Neil Jones, Vikki Sheavills, Luke Thompson

This is the 3rd running of this popular run. Its traditionally the 1st BIG regional run and a good chance to let the car stretch its legs after the long winter of little use. Fred and Doris Sanderson from Loughborough decided to attend and made a long Friday - Monday weekend of it, this is the right kind of club attitude we need. It was nice to see 'Flitzer' again, still looking as good as its owner!! Not only did we have members from the Midlands but also the North West with Mark and Sharon Richardson, Gordon and Alison Moffett and Neil Jones from Scotland and Steve and Jo Austin from North Yorkshire.

The run started bright and early at the Church Mouse where we had arranged to meet up with Fred and Doris who were staying there for the weekend and now regard this place as their second home. From there we met up with most other people at Washington services on the A1M and then at Kingston Park.

Our route through coastal Northumberland takes us past some lovely little villages and incorporated some great winding and twisty roads perfect for the MK1 chassis. We stopped off at Craster before heading off to Bamburgh to meet up with the Scotland members. Before we knew it barbies were lit and people were enjoying a great lunch stop before, yes, you guessed it, rain. We thought we might get away with it for the first time but no the heavens opened. After lunch we headed back through Wooler before joining the A1 just north of Cramlington. After we joined the A1 we all bunched up in single file, 11 cars, and narrowly avoided a serious incident. A van heavily armed with a roof rack full of ladders overtook us at quite some speed, the next thing we recall was ladders bouncing down the A1 with 11 MK1's hurtling towards them, how we didn't hit them and nobody got hurt is thanks to Mac Sheavills who narrowly averted the disaster. Mac was leading the pack and saw the van start to loose its load and was already breaking before the ladders came tumbling off. It was quite a scene, ladders all over the A1 with 11 MK1 MR2's directly behind them and the whole southern carriageway of the A1 blocked, with traffic at a standstill. As we got back to the Church Mouse a stiff drink certainly was in need and only then did it started to dawn just how lucky we all were.

A great day.

MICHAEL SHEAVILLS

NORTH EAST COAST RUN – SUNDAY 4th APRIL 2004

Attended by Doris Fred and Flitzer.

Friday 2nd April saw us on the road in Flitzer heading towards Durham to take part in the Coast Run together with the North East Group.

We had various other plans for the weekend, the first being a steam clean for Flitzer’s engine at the Concord, Newcastle Valeting Depot. They do a really good job.

We spent Friday night with Joanne Thom and Mike Sheavills at the Church Mouse, where we had a good meal and a drink together.

On Saturday we decided to have a run around the Keilder Forest park, and what a worthwhile trip it was. Even though it was a little wet the drive was spectacular particularly the forest drive.

The day we had been waiting for arrived, a lovely sunny morning as we met club members in the car park at the Church Mouse, 5 cars left to go to other locations to build up the group for the run up the coast.

A total of 14 cars were in convoy as we left the McDonalds car park North of Newcastle and headed off on the A1 to Morpeth. If you have never visited Northumberland or the Scottish Borders it is a must. We drove through quaint villages and traffic free country roads and lanes which we found really enjoyable. We were tail end Charlie on this section of the run as we headed for Graster where we stopped for refreshments.

The next section of the drive took us to Bamburgh Castle where we met members from Scotland. We all had a good natter plus BBQs and food all round. While we were at the castle we had lovely sunshine, but as we drove a mile or two down the road looking for a loo, the heavens opened up for a spell of rain.

Sadly the tide was not in our favour for a trip to Holy Island so we started back on our return journey to the Church Mouse. The weather returned to sunshine as we had a good steady drive south, all was fine until the dreaded white van appeared with a large number of roofing ladders on the top. We were cruising at 70 mph, but of course the white van had to go faster, weaving in and out of our convoy, finally passing Mac Sheavills who was leading. At that point the ladders parted company with the van and spread over the dual carriageway. A bit of very hard breaking saved the day. Happy to say all were driving at a safe distance apart and we all stopped without incident to clear the road of ladders, all well bent.

We arrived at the Church Mouse to relate the events of the day.

Eventually we all parted company to drive home, we were staying the night so we only had to go upstairs happy and ready for bed.

Thanks to the North East for a great weekend and Jacqui for our night out in Newcastle, but that’s another story.

Doris and Fred Sanderson