With the start being at Stokesley, just a short drive from home, it was a relaxed start to our day compared to other runs. We arrived in plenty of time to set up for signing on in the warm and dry thanks to Graham Howard for the use of his cafe in College Square.
Being inside meant we didn't notice that it had started raining but only slightly. Once on the road we ran into fog as we climbed over the hills to Carlton. Thankfully it was clear once we dropped down to a lower altitude and it remained fairly dry till later in the day.
54 out of the 55 entries made the start of this annual run organised by the Tyne Tees Centre of the MG Car Club. Unfortunately three didn't make the finish. I know two were from the same family who withdrew when the V8 MGB GT lost power and they had to head home for a trailer.
The lunch stop was at Hardwick Park near Sedgefield. The cars made a fine sight.
54 out of the 55 entries made the start of this annual run organised by the Tyne Tees Centre of the MG Car Club. Unfortunately three didn't make the finish. I know two were from the same family who withdrew when the V8 MGB GT lost power and they had to head home for a trailer.
The lunch stop was at Hardwick Park near Sedgefield. The cars made a fine sight.
The undoubted star of the day was the superb 1929 MG 18/80 Mk1 belonging to John & Janet Day.
They had driven up from the Bedford area yesterday, a distance of some 210 miles and would be travelling back the same distance on Monday. With its 2468cc long stroke overhead cam engine this car is very happy at 60mph and eats up the miles easily. Despite the cart springs, it's a very comfortable ride.
Even though this car is in stunning condition it's no trailer queen having covered some 45o,000 ( yes, nearly half a million) miles and has been to most European contries, some of them more than once or twice. The 99 miles driven today, even over some challenging roads, were obviously no problem.
John is the fourth owner and knows the history of the car from new. The first owner used to commute 60 miles each way to & from work. That's quite a feat when you consider what the roads must have been like in 1929.
There are no known records of this model being sold this far North, so it's quite likely that this was the first sighting of one in this area, and certainly the first time one would have been on The Palace Green at Durham.
Thanks to John & Janet for bringing it for us all to see.
The route then took us to Auckland Castle before winding across the countryside to the finish at The Palace Green in Durham
There was another surprise on The Palace Green which made Pam & I very happy. A friend of ours, whom I've known since the 1960s owned a TC back in those days. Sadly he had to part with it and has always missed it. The new owner, also a friend of ours, happens to be a member of the Tyne Tees Centre and was on the run with the car.
The original owner didn't know this run was taking place but happened to be in Durham and noticed all the MGs. He followed them and found us all on the Green where he spotted his old car and got to sit behind the wheel for the first time in over 40 years. The smile says it all.
Even though this car is in stunning condition it's no trailer queen having covered some 45o,000 ( yes, nearly half a million) miles and has been to most European contries, some of them more than once or twice. The 99 miles driven today, even over some challenging roads, were obviously no problem.
John is the fourth owner and knows the history of the car from new. The first owner used to commute 60 miles each way to & from work. That's quite a feat when you consider what the roads must have been like in 1929.
There are no known records of this model being sold this far North, so it's quite likely that this was the first sighting of one in this area, and certainly the first time one would have been on The Palace Green at Durham.
Thanks to John & Janet for bringing it for us all to see.
The route then took us to Auckland Castle before winding across the countryside to the finish at The Palace Green in Durham
There was another surprise on The Palace Green which made Pam & I very happy. A friend of ours, whom I've known since the 1960s owned a TC back in those days. Sadly he had to part with it and has always missed it. The new owner, also a friend of ours, happens to be a member of the Tyne Tees Centre and was on the run with the car.
The original owner didn't know this run was taking place but happened to be in Durham and noticed all the MGs. He followed them and found us all on the Green where he spotted his old car and got to sit behind the wheel for the first time in over 40 years. The smile says it all.
Just to prove we made it to the finish.
One more of John & Janets 18/80 on The Palace Green
As usual we had the video camera running most of the day and here's a short clip.
The great day was organised by Noel & Carole Lindford, assisted by Barrie & Sheila Hope and marshalls. Margaret, Bill & Dennis were the ones I noticed but If I've missed anybody, I'm sorry. They all should give themselves a huge pat on the back Thank you all.
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