LAKES RUN - SUNDAY 19th FEBRUARY 2006

The run was organised by the North East region and Mac Sheavills in particular, and what a fantastic job he did!

The day started with all the cars journeying up to Penrith ‘Little Chef’ on the A66, I must say the car park was full but the restaurant was empty! Apologises to Little Chef!

When the North West convoy arrived the number of MR2s swelled to 19! plus a Ferrari and a Maserati. I say MR2s and not MK1s because our number was swelled by five MK2s from the IMOC membership who had seen this event being promoted on the IMOC events forum.

We left the Little Chef and headed towards Keswick on the A66, leaving at Braithwaite to start the journey proper. It was slightly worrying to see ice on the road, ice that was very slippy, but also very visible. I was keeping up the rear, but was very surprised how the quickly the pace was. The day was starting sunny and the Mountains were beautifully lit.

Lord’s Seat

Turning into Lorton Vale the roads started to get narrower and twistier, did I mention the inclines? No? Yes there were some steep hills, second gear foot to the floor hills. Being in the rear I was fully aware of the smell of hot engines burning petrol at high revs, followed by the aroma of even hotter brakes on the down hill stretches!

At this point I must thank two groups of people, 1, the drivers of cars who pulled over to let the convoy though, and 2, the runners in the ‘fun run’ who had to put up with us! The looks on the runner’s faces were either contorted with agony from the run or full of amazement as the nineteenth MR2 passed them!

As we headed into Buttermere, the roads got quieter and twistier; plenty of short straight sprints followed by hard breaking and gear changing intermingled with stunning scenery.

Heading into the Honister pass I found the only gears I could use were second and third, second 90%, third only as I realised I should be back in second!

It calmed down as we cruised into Keswick for lunch.

We parked up on the car park next to Derwent Water for lunch and a wander around, (there was a surreal sight of a girl walking two Llamas’s though the car park!) The weather was starting to close in bit with light rain as we all formed up.

We left Keswick and found and overwhelmed the local BP petrol station heading south to Grasmere on the A591 the straightest and properly the slowest part of the run because of other road users enjoying the Sunday afternoon drive. At Ambleside we headed for the Kirkstone Pass via the locally known ‘The Struggle’ and steep piece of road, well I never got it out of first for some time! Blind corners, locals in Landrovers, 25% inclines, all part of the fun! I do remember a sign stating “1500’ Summit- Do not attempt in winter conditions’ we were nearly into the snow, but not quite! I heard that a MK2 Turbo had misjudged one of the undulations in the road, got it a bit quick and registered some ‘airborne’ time!

Heading though Patterdale and Glenridding in the twilight, we picked up the bank of Ulswater on the A592 and headed into Pooley Bridge for a final stop and drink come chat by the fireside of the local pub.

All in all a Grand day out!

I’d like to mention a few people, firstly Mark and Sharon Richardson, who have been stalwarts of the North-West meetings, good friends and an all round help, they are emigrating to Canada, and this was their last MR2 run. Good Luck in your new adventure!

Mac and Mike Sheavills for the organising, Jo Walker for letting me do this report, thanks Jo!

To all the drivers and passengers, I hope I got your names!

Jo and Garrick, Wayne Duncan, Gary and Brian Call, Jim Leddon, Bill Hulme, Frogge and Celina, Bruce and Nicole, Lee and Debbie, Steve and Kelly, Mr and Mrs Mac Sheavills, Steve and Andrea Reatigg (Helios T-bar for sale!) Mark and Sharon Richardson, Michael Sheavills and Joanne, Mike and Viv Johnson, John Suoda, Stu Wilson, and last but not least me, John Redmond.