Land's End to Ness Point, Midsummers Evening 2021
Discussion
Personally I wouldn't try a route through London. I'd probably get lost (unless it's on the underground, but that's for a different forum)
I'd recommend doing it this year if you can. Also by leaving in until the 21st we (hopefully) won't have any restrictions in place so we can't be done for breaking covid rules.
I'd recommend doing it this year if you can. Also by leaving in until the 21st we (hopefully) won't have any restrictions in place so we can't be done for breaking covid rules.
cycysputnik said:
Personally I wouldn't try a route through London. I'd probably get lost (unless it's on the underground, but that's for a different forum)
I'd recommend doing it this year if you can. Also by leaving in until the 21st we (hopefully) won't have any restrictions in place so we can't be done for breaking covid rules.
My understanding is that the "stay at home order" ends on 29th March - so unless you're planning a meal or drinks indoors with more than 6 people I don't think 21st June matters.I'd recommend doing it this year if you can. Also by leaving in until the 21st we (hopefully) won't have any restrictions in place so we can't be done for breaking covid rules.
cycysputnik said:
I've also just found this post from 2017 from "No Ideas For A Name"
Hey, that is me!I don't think I will be there this year, but if you can, go for it. That run in to Lowestoft with a motorcycle escort courtesy of 'mad' Dave was fantastic.
I have front and rear GoPro recordings of the whole run... Must do something with it one day.
Completed it last year with a friend in my Mini Cooper SD.
Drove down Sunday afternoon/ evening from Sussex. No hotel stop etc.
Arrived at Ness point at 03:38 averaging 71mph over 430.21 miles (GPS tracked.)
Had a fuel stop at fleet services along with the only driver swap. SD only has a 40 litre tank. Still averaged about 45mpg over the entire near on 1000 miles.
Went a bit ballistic on the A303 as the first hour or so was very wet, chilled at 70mph on the 25 just to be safe and then a bit of a dash at the end on the A12.
Photo attached.
I plan to do the same again this year in my weekend/ track toy Mini JCW.
After finishing in just shy of 06:03, I wish to beat the 6 hour mark.
I do run the risk of having to fill up twice. The JCW will do 250 miles to a 50 litre tank on a good day.
I feel like we got quite lucky last year with the amount of traffic & issues due to coming out of the first lockdown.
I would 100% recommend having a co-pilot that you can trust. Co-pilot was glued to waze scouting for speed cameras ahead.
Definitely glad I did it after talking about it for years now.
Drove down Sunday afternoon/ evening from Sussex. No hotel stop etc.
Arrived at Ness point at 03:38 averaging 71mph over 430.21 miles (GPS tracked.)
Had a fuel stop at fleet services along with the only driver swap. SD only has a 40 litre tank. Still averaged about 45mpg over the entire near on 1000 miles.
Went a bit ballistic on the A303 as the first hour or so was very wet, chilled at 70mph on the 25 just to be safe and then a bit of a dash at the end on the A12.
Photo attached.
I plan to do the same again this year in my weekend/ track toy Mini JCW.
After finishing in just shy of 06:03, I wish to beat the 6 hour mark.
I do run the risk of having to fill up twice. The JCW will do 250 miles to a 50 litre tank on a good day.
I feel like we got quite lucky last year with the amount of traffic & issues due to coming out of the first lockdown.
I would 100% recommend having a co-pilot that you can trust. Co-pilot was glued to waze scouting for speed cameras ahead.
Definitely glad I did it after talking about it for years now.
That top speed starts with a 1 
Or maybe that one is in KPH? Yes officer. Definitely KPH. I'm not surprised really though, averaging 71 is a decent crack.
Sub 6 hours is very do-able but will need some big balls. I need my licence for work so I have to be very careful but it hasn't stopped me sitting well into 3 figures on the A30/303, it's just so easy to do!
This was a couple of years ago. Think we arrived about 03:50.
Or maybe that one is in KPH? Yes officer. Definitely KPH. I'm not surprised really though, averaging 71 is a decent crack. Sub 6 hours is very do-able but will need some big balls. I need my licence for work so I have to be very careful but it hasn't stopped me sitting well into 3 figures on the A30/303, it's just so easy to do!
This was a couple of years ago. Think we arrived about 03:50.
Edited by Kiribati268 on Tuesday 9th March 16:53
Edited by Kiribati268 on Tuesday 9th March 16:54
As I said, we went a bit mad on the a303...;)
Some random android speedometer app. On the way down we compared mileage, speed & Average speed from the car to gps and the car was massively out. cant recall what the difference was exactly but the gps was near on spot on recording 430.21 miles and the car was 440 something on the actual run.
I use this app in my other car on motorway drives as the tyre size is different from factory so speed is out 4mph or something along those lines.
Had my work phone on that the whole time, whoever was driving had their phone on waze or google maps for directions and the co-pilot had Waze on their phone to pre-warn of any cameras.
Some random android speedometer app. On the way down we compared mileage, speed & Average speed from the car to gps and the car was massively out. cant recall what the difference was exactly but the gps was near on spot on recording 430.21 miles and the car was 440 something on the actual run.
I use this app in my other car on motorway drives as the tyre size is different from factory so speed is out 4mph or something along those lines.
Had my work phone on that the whole time, whoever was driving had their phone on waze or google maps for directions and the co-pilot had Waze on their phone to pre-warn of any cameras.
6 Hours should be doable with a faster car. We struggled last year with bad weather for the first hour.
With double the power in a track set up car, it should be easy especially shaving off time weather dependant in the early parts of the run. But, the reliability is put in question over the higher speed longer sections.
I have linked a timelapse we filmed which does show the true top speed.
The car is just a 2.0 Diesel Cooper SD 143bhp etc .
This is an unlisted link only video posted AFTER the 6 months statute of limitations for uk road traffic before anyone tries to eat me alive.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAabniWoYRk
With double the power in a track set up car, it should be easy especially shaving off time weather dependant in the early parts of the run. But, the reliability is put in question over the higher speed longer sections.
I have linked a timelapse we filmed which does show the true top speed.
The car is just a 2.0 Diesel Cooper SD 143bhp etc .
This is an unlisted link only video posted AFTER the 6 months statute of limitations for uk road traffic before anyone tries to eat me alive.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAabniWoYRk
ToooomStuff said:
This is an unlisted link only video posted AFTER the 6 months statute of limitations for uk road traffic before anyone tries to eat me alive.
It doesn't quite work like that - It *can* be up to 6 months after the authorities become aware of it in certain circumstances.However, well done - surprised to see so many people at the finish... assume they were just there to see the sun come up rather than having been at LE 6 hours earlier.
We found it quite a challenge to get there in the time - but then we didn't go completely mental. Nearly 400bhp probably helped making up time when we could.
I've done a bit of basic route mapping on google maps. It looks like the M25 North (Clockwise) is only about 10 miles longer than any route through Central London / North Circular. Based on those number, I think it's the only sensible route.
Also been thinking about what happens if you are speeding. I presume that there are a few people doing this run on the night, and that they get a little bit spread out as the journey progresses. If one car is stopped by a police car, that would probably tie up that police car for 10 - 15 minutes, meaning others could get past unscathed. Would it work to have some kind of rotation, where one car spends an hour being "point" after which they drop back and let someone else take the lead / risk. The group could agree a GPS speed to maintain, and let the lead car get a minute in front - as an example. This kind of thing does work in an informal way on French Autoroutes (or at least it used to). I played leapfrog with a 911 most of the way back from Avignon.
Obviously I am not inciting people to speed, just wondering what would happen if you did.
Also been thinking about what happens if you are speeding. I presume that there are a few people doing this run on the night, and that they get a little bit spread out as the journey progresses. If one car is stopped by a police car, that would probably tie up that police car for 10 - 15 minutes, meaning others could get past unscathed. Would it work to have some kind of rotation, where one car spends an hour being "point" after which they drop back and let someone else take the lead / risk. The group could agree a GPS speed to maintain, and let the lead car get a minute in front - as an example. This kind of thing does work in an informal way on French Autoroutes (or at least it used to). I played leapfrog with a 911 most of the way back from Avignon.
Obviously I am not inciting people to speed, just wondering what would happen if you did.
I did the run on the same night as noideaforaname
We ran A30, A303, M3, M25N, A12.
We didn't run in convoy, mainly because we all had our own idea of just how to succeed
One guy, in a Mk1 Focus, coked to the eyeballs on something, seemed to think it was a race to get there first. He made it, in plenty of time, but went past us on the A30 at about 100mph; nutter.
One of the last to turn up at Ness Point was a guy in a new Volvo.
He'd had his collar felt on one of the motorways, doing 140mph!
We did the trip, with 25 - 30 mins to spare, without exceeding 85mph, but, I know the route, the cameras and the alternatives, so, we just had to drive.
A few, who, deceived by an erroneous claim of delays on the A12, did the Royston, Bury St Edmonds route, all failed to get to Ness Point in time.
All things being equal, we will be at LE on the evening of the 21st, ready to go
We ran A30, A303, M3, M25N, A12.
We didn't run in convoy, mainly because we all had our own idea of just how to succeed
One guy, in a Mk1 Focus, coked to the eyeballs on something, seemed to think it was a race to get there first. He made it, in plenty of time, but went past us on the A30 at about 100mph; nutter.
One of the last to turn up at Ness Point was a guy in a new Volvo.
He'd had his collar felt on one of the motorways, doing 140mph!
We did the trip, with 25 - 30 mins to spare, without exceeding 85mph, but, I know the route, the cameras and the alternatives, so, we just had to drive.
A few, who, deceived by an erroneous claim of delays on the A12, did the Royston, Bury St Edmonds route, all failed to get to Ness Point in time.
All things being equal, we will be at LE on the evening of the 21st, ready to go
Edited by Johner on Thursday 25th March 19:37
Edited by Johner on Thursday 25th March 19:41
I'd certainly be up for this if I can book the time off work. I like night driving anyway and it sounds like great fun. All things being equal, I'll be at LE on the 20th (Sunday). Greenwich says that the moment of solstice is 04:32 on the Monday this year, although the actual difference in daylight hours between setting off on Sunday versus Monday will probably not be big enough to make a difference.
I think I may have said this before, but, it's worth repeating;
Go with a co-driver.
Yes, I've done Chelmsford, Plymouth, Tewksbury, Cirencester, Bath, about 480 miles, all in one day, but,
there was no time limit
Most of the trip was driven in daylight
I had regular breaks
(Started at 04.30hr and finished at 19.45hr), so, no rush.
Boredom and tiredness are killers, especially when you reach . . . .ummm . . . Late middle age.
This will probably be my last one, so, I want to enjoy it.
No 1 son likes driving my SL and will be happy to take on more of the driving, if needed.
More importantly, a co-driver is company, who can keep an eye on you and your driving.
Go with a co-driver.
Yes, I've done Chelmsford, Plymouth, Tewksbury, Cirencester, Bath, about 480 miles, all in one day, but,
there was no time limit
Most of the trip was driven in daylight
I had regular breaks
(Started at 04.30hr and finished at 19.45hr), so, no rush.
Boredom and tiredness are killers, especially when you reach . . . .ummm . . . Late middle age.
This will probably be my last one, so, I want to enjoy it.
No 1 son likes driving my SL and will be happy to take on more of the driving, if needed.
More importantly, a co-driver is company, who can keep an eye on you and your driving.
Johner said:
I think I may have said this before, but, it's worth repeating;
Go with a co-driver.
Yes, I've done Chelmsford, Plymouth, Tewksbury, Cirencester, Bath, about 480 miles, all in one day, but,
there was no time limit
Most of the trip was driven in daylight
I had regular breaks
(Started at 04.30hr and finished at 19.45hr), so, no rush.
Boredom and tiredness are killers, especially when you reach . . . .ummm . . . Late middle age.
This will probably be my last one, so, I want to enjoy it.
No 1 son likes driving my SL and will be happy to take on more of the driving, if needed.
More importantly, a co-driver is company, who can keep an eye on you and your driving.
Sound advice. Stupid to risk driving tired; I nearly killed myself last year through tiredness. Dad might like to come along; he's never done it before and 7 hours of driving at some of the worst times for tiredness is fool's play without someone else who can take the load off you. Even if you're a He-Man who could drive for 7 hours straight, you'll want someone for the journey back.Go with a co-driver.
Yes, I've done Chelmsford, Plymouth, Tewksbury, Cirencester, Bath, about 480 miles, all in one day, but,
there was no time limit
Most of the trip was driven in daylight
I had regular breaks
(Started at 04.30hr and finished at 19.45hr), so, no rush.
Boredom and tiredness are killers, especially when you reach . . . .ummm . . . Late middle age.
This will probably be my last one, so, I want to enjoy it.
No 1 son likes driving my SL and will be happy to take on more of the driving, if needed.
More importantly, a co-driver is company, who can keep an eye on you and your driving.
Stevep4 said:
Saturday night for me ( and poss a Freind will bring his Evora as well )
Will drive down on the Friday night and hotel at Stonehenge.
Easy drive to LE on Saturday to explore the M3/A303/A30.
A few routes to Lowestoft to consider on the night.
Will drive down on the Friday night and hotel at Stonehenge.
Easy drive to LE on Saturday to explore the M3/A303/A30.
A few routes to Lowestoft to consider on the night.
If you need help with lowestoft routes ask away my dad lives near ness point and spends most fridays driving up from east london.
Gassing Station | Events & Meetings | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff