THE MR2 KENT RUN - SUNDAY 17th SEPTEMBER 2006

Well, Sorry about the delay in producing this report but you know what they say? “Better late than never”!

A warm Indian summers day was just the recipie for a drive in the country. What the unsuspecting motorists of Kent didn’t realise was that on 17th September, over 40 MR2’s would be screaming along these country lanes!

It all started at the Eureka Business Park which is located literally just off the roundabout at junction 9 of the M20 near Ashford. By noon, MR2s from the Mk1 club. IMOC, MR2OC and individual owners had gathered together awaiting the signal to start. The start was delayed by almost half an hour to allow those who might have got caught up in the earlier closure of the M25 at the M20 junction due to an accident. However, it didn’t seem to matter as everyone was enjoying the weather, talking to fellow MR2 owners, meeting friends they had met on previous runs and taking photographs.

Eventually the signal was given for the off! The creshendo of noise as all the engines burst into life made the local wildlife dash for cover! Pete Mason with Kelly led the way onto the M20 heading south towards the next junction. A frantic dash by everyone behind to keep up, approaching the roundabout on both lanes and causing a bottleneck as we exited onto the country roads. There was a long line of MR2s as far as the eye could see, a convoy a least a mile long. As we passed cars coming in the opposite direction you could see their faces wide eyed and open-mouthed, gawping at the spectacle of roaring MR2s. When we passed through villages, pedestrians stopped and stared, some even waved at us, so they got a wave back. 40 waves actually! The convoy travelled down the twisty roads through the Romney Marshes and turned west following the coastal road passing St Mary’s Bay and stopping for lunch at the Pilot Inn near Dungeness. Kent was silent for a while we had lunch. But then it all started again. As we left the pub car park, everyone stopped and stared, amazed at the sight and noise of all those MR2s. The convoy continued east towards Rye, then turned north towards Tenterden and back down through Woodchurch towards Warehorne where we stopped at the Worlds Wonder for a short break before returning to Ashford to complete the run.

This was the best Kent run ever, so a big thanks’ to Pete and Kelly for organizing the route and stops. Everyone really enjoyed them selves and we are all looking forward to doing it again next year.

Marks report:

The sun was out on Sunday we were all set to go on our Kent run. We were due to start the run at 11.30am but the start was put back until 12.00 because of a hold up on the M25. At 12.00 we were ready for the off. We all followed each other down the motorway and then we came off the motorway and went down some country roads in a long line then we stopped for lunch by the sea. In the next hour we set off again some went home and the rest went on to the next stop.