PH south wales - brecon run - october 06

[sorrento205]

Hi Guys, after recent success with the wales motor show, i've been bitten and want to do another run out. As with the last brecon run, we'll go up the a470, take some pictures, find a pub or cafe to stop and chill out for a bit and drive home. Ive got a vague route in my head, but i'm by no means experienced on the roads north of the m4 so if anyone has any ideas im willing to listen.

Im thinking of doing this on Sunday October 1st, thats a months advance notice to dump the kids with the missus or clean the car etc whatever your preferance!

Pictures from the last Brecon run, way back in december 05!, can be found here www.wpce.org/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=20 as you can see Craig aka Dominitry is a very talented and experienced automotive photographer and best of all he doesnt charge like some people do.

Regards, Ben

[sorrento205]

junction 30 (Cardiff Gate) services like last time, its easy enough to spot everyone and a short jaunt down to the a470

[sorrento205]

Its going to be a quiet one then?

[sorrento205]

LuS1fer said:

I'm going to try and arrange things and my mate will bring his Z06 too. I suspect Chris will bring his Griffith and at least one other from the American contingent may well attend also. Only we lost him on our last run so he may not want to. LOL. In any event, the fewer the better as it's easier to keep the buggers together.

yes, the last run was a bit quick.... hence i figured if i'm at the front i cant get left behind

[sorrento205]

its a defo from me. and theres more than enough people to still do it even if for some reason i couldnt make it. i still havent worked out a complete route yet as its mostly uncharted territory for me, so if anyones has any ideas?

theres a place on the a470 i want to go first to take some pictures, then perhaps head up to brecon, once we have something to eat and drink there, back down the 470 taking the a4059 to hirwaun and eventually joining back onto the 470?

i spoke to mikey g today and he suggested going even further up to elan valley nr Rhayader.

what do we think blokes?

[sorrento205]

meet @ 10 to leave by 10.15

everyone happy with j30 (cardiff gate)? we could meet at j32 but its a bit more congested in the asda carpark

[sorrento205]

BobM said:

sorrento205 said:

everyone happy with j30 (cardiff gate)? we could meet at j32 but its a bit more congested in the asda carpark

Which way you going from there? Anyone (like me) coming from the west might prefer to try to hook up with you further west. Spose it's not far from 32 to 30 anyway ...

would be going to j32 (coryton) and up the a470. its only 4 or 5 miles between the two, but cardiff gate is an easier and nicer place to start from.

This thing is a bit bigger than i was expecting now, and i dont really want to appear a tit by getting us lost. Richo sent me a route which looks good, but i have no idea of the reality of it, so if anybody would like to lead i'll gladly step down. just aslong as we have a good drive and stop to take photos i will be happy

[sorrento205]

burgervan suits me too. so does anyone want to take the reins? i dont know where im going and mason, whilst good at photography, sucks at map reading!


i'd like to suggest some rules for the brecon run (they may seem obvious but you'd be suprised what some people will do when the adrenaline starts flowing)
1. cruise at sensible speeds (max 80mph) on m4 and dual carriageway sections of a470
2. reserve excessive speed for catching up with main convoy and the way home
3. no baiting, tailgating or cutting up
4. indicate all manouvres
5. enjoy it

[sorrento205]

map of richo's route:



the carpark just to the northwest of here www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?lat=51.8758&lon=-3.4976&scale=10000&icon=x is a nice place to stop and across the road is a half decent place to take pictures...

Edited by sorrento205 on Tuesday 12th September 23:26

[sorrento205]

i guess wherever we go, most of us arent going to be familiar with the route. and the convoys make the trip more fun. im really looking forward to this now, albeit very nervously

[sorrento205]

of course. more cars there are, the more chance you have of following someone i guess

[sorrento205]

any clues as to which edition? i cant remember there being a south wales route tbh, but then my memory sucks at the ebst of times.

[sorrento205]

logie said:

This months edition (October 2006 evo issue 96)

Ive had a flick through and couldnt see anything :/

AR said:

I really would love to have a photo, lunch, piss break.

Any chance?

Cheers

AR

Yes definately a good idea, but as i dont really know where im going its hard for me to plan! If all goes to plan this weekend ill be back in s.wales by tuesday with my new engine and the rest of the week off work, so im up for some investigation and exploration

Ive found a great looking pub already for the next PHSW run out, i just need to figure out an intresting route rather than endless miles of M4

[sorrento205]

yeah lol just hope i get home in time. I'm still stuck in bedfordshire trying to get my new engine to play ball :/

p.s. all are welcome

Edited by sorrento205 on Monday 25th September 22:33

[sorrento205]

thanks for your continued intrest. the weather is looking very dissapointing, and thus it might be wiser to stick to the main roads.

As it stands i have no definate plans, and the way things look im going to be extremely lucky to make the run under my own steam. Having problems with my car this week. I'll keep you updated

[sorrento205]

that would be cool cheers. I'll see how we get on with getting my 205 working again, but if i have no luck i'll be letting you know cheers

Ben

[sorrento205]

right. my only dead cert plans are to stop at a carpark grid referance 51°52'40.62"N 3°29'42.69"W (use google earth) and then head on up to brecon.

In brecon there is a carpark by the theatre www.theatrbrycheiniog.co.uk/ grid referance 51°56'38.26"N 3°23'18.24"W which we used last time and would do us again. Ive only been to brecon twice so not overly familiar with the roads, but shall endevour to stop here and find somewhere to get food/drink/toilet break.

from brecon im willing to listen to ideas, there are a couple of options as i see it.

1. west over to sennybridge and then down south over one of a couple routes depending how far west we wish to end up

2. east over the bwlch and to abergavenny then down south going past pontypool and cwmbran

3. further up north past builth to rhayader and elan valley returning back down the a470 or alternatives if suggested?

[sorrento205]

wwesty, its a little bit past story arms teh place i ahve in mind.

isnt story arms opposite one of the reservoirs with the large layby's? i wasnt intending on stopping there but we may need to so everyone can catch up.#


timmer, if i can make a success out of this one (like pulling a rabbit out of my hat) then i'm all for organising another one next year when the weather looks a bit brighter. Inbetween my nurburgring trips that is


edit: and yes we should aim to meet at j30 services by 10 so we can leave 10.15

Edited by sorrento205 on Thursday 28th September 19:14

[sorrento205]

well the good news is that i should be present in my 205 (many thanks to Mikey G for coming to the rescue, twice!).

The not so good news is that the weather is most likely going to be terrible. not that we didnt already know. I suggest we stick to the tried and tested a470 area for minimal suprises.

Also i had an email from Tom aka Venom500 that he wont be present


reminder of my personal rules:
1. cruise at sensible speeds (max 80mph) on m4 and dual carriageway sections of a470
2. reserve excessive speed for catching up with main convoy and the way home
3. no baiting, tailgating or cutting up
4. indicate all manouvres
5. enjoy it

[sorrento205]

Many thanks to everyone for coming, i was expecting to be standing in the services on my own in the rain thismorning. Im assured craig's pictures will be up a bit later tonight so thats something to look forward too.

Also thanks to Jamie & Melanie for leading us after Brecon, i didnt have a clue where we were, your local knowledge came in very handy. Mind you, that road via upper chapel and lower chapel was i had a few lift off moments i'd happily not go through again! Until that point i was quite happy to give it all 7000 rpm even in the rain, helping me get better aquainted to what essentially is a new car to me.

Journey home was intresting, each junction not knowing if my brakes were going to go through the floor, still manages to keep the mustang, vette and griff in my sights for atleast a minute!

All in all, fantastic day out if a little hairy. As soon as we start seeing regular dry spells again (next year i suspect) there will definately be more outings