Sunday August 14th - Yorkshire Dales Run (early start)

[benjj]

When?

Sunday 14th August. Suggested meeting time of 6am ish aiming for a 6.15am departure.

Type of run

Challenging country routes (lots narrow), numerous steep climbs/descents

Distance

93 miles, approximately 2.5 driving hours

Key reference points on route

The route will be more or less a circle, starting and finishing in Skipton, North Yorkshire (20 minutes from Harrogate, 30 minutes from Leeds) and taking in some 60mph sweeping A-Roads to start followed by a lot of tight, twisty B-Roads. Taking in the Ingleton - Hawes favourite, Buttertubs Pass, Aysgarth/Kettlewell/Buckden/Grassington and a number of others.

Meeting point

Skipton main carpark - location (enter 53.962581,-2.014972 in Google Maps, green arrow)

Petrol stations

24 hour Skipton Tesco, pay at pump available - location (enter 53.956521,-2.019972 in Google Maps, green arrow)

Basic drive rules

I will be driving a left hand drive 38 year old Citroen which is used to cruising the Parisian boulevards at 8mph - this car has been prepared for long distance European rallies so I am hoping to see how it runs on the twisty stuff as well as the numerous hill climbs on the route.

i. Watch out for the car behind and ahead
ii. All speed limits need to be respected, especially in built up areas (not many of those in the route). The vast majority of the route is very narrow and national speed limit (60mph)
iii. When I have run the route I will suggest a couple of decent places to stop, take photos etc.
iv. Safe overtaking with plenty of warning/indicating please

I will be driving the full route before the run and will be able to report back on more specific timings etc as well as anywhere decent for some bacon. My wife is away that day so if anyone wants to finish up in Skipton and grab a coffee/breakfast then I know all the decent places (and where to park safely and for free...)

Any questions PM me here. Any cars welcome, I suspect that even the most modest of modern cars will be quicker than the DS...

[benjj]

I believe a list is how we do this. So:

1. Benjj. 1973 Citroen DS

[snotrag]

1. Benjj. 1973 Citroen DS
2. Snotters. Mazda MX5

[benjj]

snotrag said:

1. Benjj. 1973 Citroen DS
2. Snotters. Mazda MX5

I've never heard of the Mazda MX5 before, I'll look it up, I assume it is something far eastern...

[moribund]

1. Benjj. 1973 Citroen DS
2. Snotters. Mazda MX5
3. Moribund. Smart Roadster-Coupe (don't worry, it'll keep up - but happy to be tail gunner )

[benjj]

moribund said:

3. Moribund. Smart Roadster-Coupe (don't worry, it'll keep up - but happy to be tail gunner )

Looking forward to seeing that. Never seen one up close before.

[moribund]

Likewise, I'm looking forward to seeing your DS I reckon it'll be pretty well suited to those bumpy little roads? My Smart is the right size for them but suffers from short travel bouncy suspension at the back. I have an RX-8 PZ with Prodrive-tuned Bilstein/Eibach suspension and the wheel control is awesome on that car but it's just not so much *fun* on a sunny morning in the Dales!

[C3BER]

1. Benjj. 1973 Citroen DS
2. Snotters. Mazda MX5
3. Moribund. Smart Roadster-Coupe
4. C3BER. TVR Cerbera Red Rose LT.


Mmmmmmmm bacon

[leyorkie]

Wish I could join you but am in France on holiday
Remember that at that time on a Sunday morning the only other traffic will be Sunday bikers, take care on the roads to and from Hawes. Living alongside the A65 Ambulance sirens are unfortunately an all too common sound on a summer Sunday..
Still possible to have a good day out though.

[benjj]

Yes indeed, we'll be watching out for the deviants on their motorised bicyclettes...

[nakulan7]

Great route. I have not been to the Ingleton bit, but the rest of the route is very familiar to me. The good thing is you dont need to speed in those roads for it to be fun, well most of it anyway. You should include the Grassington - Greenhow - Blubberhouses section on your return route as that road is great in both directions

I dont know you personally on forum, but hope it is ok if i turn up on the day with the SLK 350, if i am free.

Do you have a Dash cam or something to record the run? I have one and will bring it along if i am coming.

[benjj]

nakulan7 said:

Great route. I have not been to the Ingleton bit, but the rest of the route is very familiar to me. The good thing is you dont need to speed in those roads for it to be fun, well most of it anyway. You should include the Grassington - Greenhow - Blubberhouses section on your return route as that road is great in both directions

I dont know you personally on forum, but hope it is ok if i turn up on the day with the SLK 350, if i am free.

Do you have a Dash cam or something to record the run? I have one and will bring it along if i am coming.

I know that Grassington - Greenhow Hill - Blubberhouses road very well, and as you say it it cracking, but something about the circle like route n my plan appeals. I'm sure those going back towards Harrogate will have a crack though...

Also, nobody on the forum knows me! Of course you're very welcome in whatever conveyance you fancy. As for a dash cam - nope, not got one but if you do ould be interesting to see. I will be bringing my new digi SLR to take some pics.

Cheers,

Ben

[benjj]

I'm doing a recce run of the route this weekend - bearing in mind this is the first PH run out I've been on (and organised!) anything I should be specifically looking out for?

[moribund]

I've only been on one large run (Evo triangle a couple of years ago) myself. The only things I remember being useful are places with enough space for to regroup/photo op/gaffer tape things back on.

[benjj]

Noted. Ta.

[C3BER]

Note anything that would cause a problem... Road surface, roadworks, petrol stations, bacon mmmmm not being available.

[moribund]

Quite surprised people aren't queuing up to join this run, but I guess it's holiday season

If anyone is watching and wondering, the "challenging and narrow" roads will fit proper cars down them while being a lot of fun, last time I did this was in convoy with a friends Boxster and he loved it. I don't know Ben (yet!) but its worth noting that his DS is a historic rally car in the making so we're likely to be "making progress" where safe. I don't think my little car will hold anyone up too much either (as long as I stay at the back, lol).

[Defcon5]

moribund said:

gaffer tape things back on.

Once lost half an undertray on a run out a few years back, which wedged itself under the car!

[benjj]

Just picked the car up, really happy with it. Will post pics tomorrow when on proper computer.

As for the run, don't expect too much from the DS! I just took it up to around 70mph on the drive home and it felt (and sounded) like doing 250mph

Really looking forward to this run, I'll be doing the recce on Monday.

Ben

[moribund]

Sounding good, can't wait to see it!