YDCCC
- Dales Trail 2016
Report by John Gill
The Dales Trail took place on a fine Sunday in September, this year the
members decided to adopt the Pancreatic Cancer UK Charity for our
fundraising in memory of Gordon Bulmer.
We were pleased that Gordon’s son, Stuart, brought along his dad’s
beloved MG and completed the run in it.
Members gathered at Romanby golf club from 10.00 am for a staggered
10.30 start. Before the start members viewed the cars on display and
enjoyed a coffee in the club house.
Sheila Mason’s granddaughter Lucy ran a very successful book stall and
raised £58 for the charity. We held a raffle and raised a very
respectable £178, thanks to members for their donation of prizes for the
raffle.
Stuart Bulmer and his wife Lucy were the first to set off at 10.30am.
The other 35 cars set off at 5 minute intervals. It was a lovely mild
day and I believe every car that had a soft top set off with the roof
down.
The route headed left out of the golf club towards Bedale then up to
Hackforth and on to Crakehall and Leyburn. We then drove to West Burton
where the going got tough! After West Burton the roads get a bit narrow
and very steep. Half way up the hill we met a car club coming the other
way. I am not sure what car club they were but there were a lot of
Subaru Imprezas, Fiesta RSs Astra’s with low suspension and big exhausts
and Japanese cars I did not recognise. One thing I did notice was that
the average age of the drivers was a lot lower than ours!
The views were magnificent as we drove over Bishopdale and down into
Buckden, a number of the crews had a picnic in the National Trust car
park at Buckden and enjoyed the peaceful views over the valley. Some
crews carried on following the river Wharfe up Deepdale and over the top
to Hawes where they stopped for lunch at the Wensleydale Creameries.
This is where disaster struck me and my Dad, our MGB started to cough
and splutter, it’s get up and go went!! The gear selector also started
to jam. With two issues we decided to keep going through Hawes and
abandon the rally.
Things got worse and the car died in Aysgarth, we were up.......
Fortunately our paddle was a phone signal and we were able to ring the
AA. The lady controller said they would be there at 3.55 and as the
problem sounded terminal they would send a rescue truck. It was pleasant
waiting to be rescued; the sun was shining in the Dales, the locals came
out for a chat and there were several other car clubs out that day so
there were classic cars passing in each direction. Our club did not pass
us as their route had turned off further back up the road. The rescue
truck arrived at 3.56, one minute behind schedule, not bad. Our MG would
not move as predicted so it was loaded onto a transporter and brought
home.
Our MG has never travelled from Aysgarth to home as fast as it did that
day on the back of that transporter, Dad was worried the car was still
on the back, on our arrival home he jumped out of the cab to check it
was still there!
We had been at home for about an hour and were having a cup of tea when
the phone went and the voice on the other end said “Hi this is Paul from
the AA I am in Aysgarth but cannot find you, where are you?” My
surprised reply was “we are at home having a cup of tea!” his response
was “how did you get there?” I explained “the AA brought us home.” “Oh
something has gone wrong with our system, I have been dispatched because
you could not be recovered, as long as you are home and safe I will sort
it out at this end.” It is good to know the AA care so much and can be
too efficient!
Back to the Dales Trail, the route had turned off the Hawes to Aysgarth
road and headed for Bolton Castle, where Mary Queen of Scots was
incarcerated for a while in July 1568. Of her retinue of 51 knights,
servants and ladies-in-waiting only 30 of her men and six
ladies-in-waiting were able to stay in the castle, the rest taking
lodgings nearby.
The route then wended its way back to Romanby Golf Club for a cup of tea
and the presentation ceremony. All of which was missed by me and Dad.
However our Chairman and Secretary were on hand to organise matters and
our official photographer Andy Ellis took the pictures.
We raised £862 for the Pancreatic Charity, thank you to all members for
their generosity particularly Tony Mason’s brother who sent a donation
but did not go on the run. Thanks again to Lucy for running a very
successful book stall.
Our Chairman Dave Simpson presented the Cheque to the charity and gave
the award to the crew that had travelled the furthest to take part in
the Dales Trail. This year the award went to Shaun Parkin who had
travelled from Gainsborough which is a distance of some 90 miles, second
place went to Mervin Hayward who travelled from Scunthorpe which is
about 87 miles, a close run thing.
Finally thanks to Dave Simpson (chairman), Sheila Mason (Secretary) and
their spouses who organised another successful Dales Trail.
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