ISLE OF MAN RUN - FEBRUARY
2005
I started taking bookings for this event as early as
September 2004 and come the day there were 13 confirmed bookings. As the
Ballacalin Hotel only had 10 rooms I had sourced a B&B (the ‘Cronkmoor’)
located just down the road from the Ballacalin to cater for the remaining 3.
Those who came were: - And so it was, on the morning of February 18th I was parked in the Heysham
Ferry port holding area awaiting the arrival of the remaining 12 cars. They
started arriving at 11:30, the last one arriving at 14:05. Now, bearing in mind
that the ferry was sailing at 14:15, this last car was extremely lucky to get on
and had I not rang him at 12:30 I doubt he would have made it, the conversation
went along the lines of: - By the time loading began there were 9 MK1’s and 3 others, unfortunately
Wayne was unable to bring his Mk1 as were Tim and Lee Ditcher (Tim’s was still
missing a few pieces and Lee was experiencing somewhat of an insurance
nightmare). We drove onto the ferry in convoy at 13:30, found a large clear area
in the passenger lounge to make ourselves comfortable after which I proceeded
out to the open deck to try and spot Jims red MK1. After a number of fairly
hectic phone calls to his passenger, the by now a little frightened Mary, and
calls to the terminal assuring them that the last of my group had promised they
were only ‘5 minutes away’ I finally saw a flash of red approaching the
terminal. Boarding cards were quickly issued and on they drove. Naturally, a
round of applause greeted Jim and Mary as they entered the passenger lounge with
the not surprising comment from Jim of “what, I was always going to make it!”
The Ben My Chree sailed on time at 14:15, weather conditions were fair and we
arrived at Douglas just after 18:00. After a quick regroup we set off toward
Dalby stopping firstly at the Cronkmoor, situated up a narrow and rutted track,
to drop off Tim and Lee Ditcher and Kevin & Lisa Taylor. This was the first
of my weekend errors as I thought there would be enough space at the top of this
track to be able to turn everyone around: Wrong!! Once again, drivers reversing
skills were tested before finally getting back on the main road and heading off
to the Ballacalin, which was about a mile further on.
We were greeted with a warm welcome and it was quickly decided that my
planned night run would instead become a night rum! as we head for our rooms,
unpacked and head straight for the bar. Dinner was planned for 20:30 and we were
joined by Margy and Juan, a local couple, owners of a superb white import Tin
Top.
Dinner was fantastic, not only because the food was of a high quality but
because I was surrounded by over 20 friends all laughing and joking and regaling
each other with stories of past mishaps etc. The bar was eventually cleared by
02:00 with breakfast only a few short hours away (I think Chris was hoping it
was a day away!!)
Breakfast was between 8 and 9, yet again we were treated to delicious food.
It was during breakfast that I learnt that Jackie had picked up a bug so Mac
decided to stay and look after her for the day so, at 10:15 the rest set off to
the sound. This area has turned out to be a particular favourite of ours as the
scenery is fantastic and the roads leading to it provide a great source of
entertainment. This time we were following Margy and Juan who showed us (well,
nearly all of us heh John and Simon!) a back road leading to the sound.
Once there we made our way into the café for light refreshment then set off
toward Ramsey where we were to have lunch. Once again we were following Margy
& Juan but once on the ‘A roads’, a few of us decided to open the throttles
a little and head for the next stopping point a little quicker. The next point
was the infamous rally circuit that we attempted last year and had probably too
much fun but were hindered by a slow moving local car out for a day trip. This
year there were no other cars on this particular stretch of road and so off we
went taking care, once again, to avoid the dips where many a car before us has
grounded, judging by the deep grooves in the middle of the road. Some 10-15
minutes later we were all parked up in a line at the end and were stepping out
of our cars, only to be met with the smell of hot brakes and burnt clutches.
Fortunately, no one suffered any serious damage and so, once time was allowed to
cool things down a little, we set off for Ramsey.
We arrived soon after, parked up in a rather full car park and made our way
to the same bar/restaurant we used last year on the Sunday. Once refuelled it
was off to Jurby to speak to the Dukes trackday people about a possible
Go-Karting session for the next day. During this particular leg we managed to
get split into two groups, following behind me was Jim and Lee (in his Corolla
GTI) with the rest taking another route. We all met up at the Karting track,
ascertained that it was going to be a bit too pricey so threw our cars around
the small section of the old airfield that is open to the public, well, we
didn’t all throw our cars around but one or two of us did, which reminds me, I
still haven’t checked for blackspots on my tyres yet.
After leaving Jurby, we head down to Tynwald Mills for some retail therapy
passing ‘en route’ a road called the ‘switchback’, a long and straight newly
tarmac’d single lane road with about half a dozen perfectly formed humps just
screaming to be taken as fast as you dare. Apparently this road is well known
locally for those who are heavily pregnant and don’t want to wait any longer!
Retail therapy over with and having met up with our old friend Kev from last
year, we head back to the Hotel via yet another rather interesting back road.
Dinner was at 20:30 and we were joined by Kev plus Marion Ashcroft, another MK1
owner living on the island. Once again the food was superb and a few had another
late night, needless to say, Chris wasn’t one of them.
Sunday morning and another excellent breakfast. By 11:00 we had all checked
out, destination Point of Ayre, the northern most part of the island. Naturally,
it wasn’t going to be the direct route! As Mac & Jackie had missed out on
Saturdays events, we made our way back along a number of single track roads that
we had used the day before with yours truly nearly ending up as a new front
grill on a Range Rover, and managing to break a large patch of ice on a quite
steep downhill section so that those behind me didn’t have the full fright that
I had upon hitting it!! (Although I obviously didn’t break enough of it as it
was a major talking point at our next stop). We did the ‘Switchback’ again and
finally met up at the beginning of the rally track only to see a red MK1 heading
in the opposite direction, thought it a bit odd that he didn’t stop when he saw
10 MK1’s passing by, but this was answered at the end of the circuit. Having
completed it once again and with brakes and clutch pleading for an easier life
(oh, and Wayne re-acquiring his faith in the Lord!) we came across the same Red
Mk1 about to do the circuit in the opposite direction. Turns out the driver
rallies another car and he was out taking preparation notes for a future event.
Having traded names etc it was off to the Point.
We arrived some 20 minutes later only to be reminded how cold this open
stretch of coastline is, needless to say, must of us did the obligatory walk to
the shore, threw a few stones then head back.
Ramsey was the next stop where we managed to fill the forecourt of the local
garage with MK1’s as most of us were running on fumes by now and then, what it’s
all about. Off onto the TT course. Once out of Ramsey, we all opened up with the
next meeting point arranged for Snaefell. This road is something else and I am
sure that everyone enjoyed the feeling of being able to to put their foot down
without looking for Speed cameras. The next stretch was to Laxey for lunch with
a quick re-grouping stop at a pub on the circuit.
Once at Laxey we parked up and made our way into a pub for lunch; about 2
hours later we head out, food having taken an age to arrive, won’t be going
there again next year. We set off on a quick drive to the Laxey wheel,
disembarked and had a walk around.
With the day now moving on quickly, it was decided to head back to the Sound
for our final stop before heading for the ferry terminal. We also decided to
stop at the TT starting grid on the way but, true to form, I managed to take a
wrong turn and managed to split the group up into 3. We did finally manage to
find our way to the grid (must have a better map reader next year!) and from
there made our own way to the Sound having realised that trying to keep the
group together whilst travelling through Douglas was impossible.
The journey to the sound was at a more sedate speed partially due to Sunday
drivers but I think the cars needed this having been driven hard during the past
36 hours. Once there and in the warmth of the café, the weekend’s events were
discussed and we all generally chilled out knowing there was just one more drive
out before boarding the ferry.
We left the Sound at around 17:30 and head for Douglas. I had to leave the
group temporarily in order to head back to the Ballacalin to pick up Waynes car,
so arrived in Douglas about 30 minutes later, parked up and waited for the
others who had found an Irish bar. We boarded the ferry at 19:00, said farewell
to the island with most, if not all of us, promising to return next year.
For next year I am planning to book a larger hotel so that we can all be in
one place. Anyone interested in taking part next year should contact me at ryan@mr2mk1.com . There will be no obligation,
I just need to have a rough idea on as to how many people/cars there will be so
I can choose the right venue. Prices etc will follow some time in
August/September.
Finally, I can’t end this piece without the following photo which says it all
(Sorry Mary, but it’s priceless!)
RYAN KEVAN
Jim* and Mary*
Mark and Sharon
Frogge* and
Celine
Mike* and Jo*
Mac* and Jaqui*
Kevin* and Lisa
John* and
Julie*
Tim Ditcher
Lee Ditcher
Chris*
Wayne
Simon
Myself*
* those who also went last year
“Where are you Jim?”
“oh, I’m just rolling a
ciggy on me sofa, I’ll be leaving at 1, should be there for 2”
“What!!! The
ship sails at 2:15, you’re supposed to be here an hour before!!”
“I’m on my
way”
