FBHVC Road Run

The day started as any other, the sun made a vain attempt to show it’s face through the clouds at way too early o’clock for me to be getting up on a weekend. I had a quick wet under the shower then fired up the 4 door and head off into the murky morning. Due to the fact my regular wing man (or should I say wing woman) Debbie had other plans I went to pick up my stand in co pilot for the day, my good pal from the days of schooling Mark. We then headed for the M1 to make the journey in my seeming favoured Southern direction (every club event I seem to go to sees me heading down the M1
for at least some part of the journey). Stocked up with petrol station bought sandwiches and overly chewy knick-knacks found in the back of the cupboard we motored for an hour and 40 minutes to our starting location of ‘That McDonalds next to the petrol station just off of the roundabout nr Derby’ We were contacted on the way down from fellow club member Kev Frost who was rallying round his
posse and thought now was a good time to try and figure out which ‘McDonalds next to the petrol station just off of the roundabout nr Derby’ we were actually meeting at. We arrived at our scheduled starting point to be greeted by a number of very smart looking RS 2000’s Mexico’s and a nice looking blue 2 door MK1, although no sign of Kev’s Mexico or Kit and Rich. Kit and Rich arrived a short time later, then Kev made his grand entrance. His car shone in the rays of light that glimmered thro the clouds, the throaty raw of the exhaust rung out as it expelled unspent gasses from the……………..diesel engine???????? It seems that Kev had looked out of the window when he awoke that morning, saw a cloud in the sky and thought better of fetching his pride and joy out, instead his chariot of choice was his Mk4 Golf GT TDi. After all Kev’s pal’s gave him a good ribbing about the fact he’s blobbed on fetching the Escort out, we had a pre start talk given expertly by Rich Moore and set off on our merry way……well after push starting the Mk1.

The route followed the same line as last year as all agreed it was a top run out and required no amendments, our first stop was the village before 18 Tissington Ford, although the downside of this was that we must have got there earlier than last year as the café was closed and it was an hour until opening time!! Back to our cars we trudged with the bitter disappointment of the lack of cream scones filling our belly in the back of our mind. After the odd picky with all the cars lined up, and the obligatory toilet stop, we pushed on towards the Ford (literally pushing the Mk1)! One after another we delicately edged our way through, with Kit on the far side camera in hand shouting words of encouragement. All made it through safe and sound and after a quick ‘phew’ we fired up again and head on our way.

Off we went through the winding country roads, and up into the heavens to stop on the top of the world at Pym Chair Car Park for some snacks……well we did stop just short the 1st time when one of
the Mex’s conked out and spilt it’s guts on the road, but after getting it going again, we arrived at the car park. After a few sandwiches, the odd Pringle and a few running repairs, followed by mutual admiration of the fine metal that had got us thus far we set off again back down to normal ground level (again push starting the old MK1 into action).

Next stop was Morrison’s car park, the cars got many an admiring glance and comment lined up side by side. Another toilet stop and stock up of supplies followed, then after a quick push start off the
old MK1 we set off to our final destination just short of Ladybower Reservoir. Having all made it there safe and sound we stopped to review the journey, and have a talk about random crap with the odd Ford comment slipping into the conversation. It was at that point the Heavens opened!!! We all quickly said our goodbyes and fled to the relative dryness of our cars, to escape our separate ways……….with comments of ‘some other poor bugger can push start the mk1 it’s soiling it down’!! Looks like Kev might have had the right idea not bringing the Mex out after all!