Dawn raid, anyone?
Discussion
Evening All,
I’m a regular poster on this site, but I think I ought to exercise a degree of caution over what I’d like to propose, so have adopted another user name to remain anonymous. I know if this sort of thing has been mooted before, but at the moment I’m just really posting my thoughts on this subject.
I’m putting together a series of runs in Derbyshire for a classic car day. Derbyshire really does have some of the best driving roads in the UK.
Each of the runs are about 70 miles in length, and also a visit a site of interest, stately home etc, and this event will run in April.
However, by amalgamating the best of each run I could put a route together for PHers of about 120 miles and stuff the stately homes. This route would have good twisty stuff for the Lotuses and long open flowing roads for the TVR’s to stretch their legs.
However there is a problem.
Derbyshire is also very popular with walkers and cyclists, and much as many on this site may not be bothered about them, I feel that the roads get too busy to make a good PH hoon successful.
Early in the morning would be a different matter. I mean, very early, as in up the crack of Dawn.
I’ve been involved in road rallying, and can tell you that at night the roads I’m talking about are absolutely deserted. They remain so pretty much until 9 – 10am. So if we started out at dawn, say 5.30 in the summer, we would pretty much have the roads to ourselves. Not only that, but if we were lucky with the weather this would be a very special time to drive. The scenery in that light would be terrific.
For following the route, I could produce a set of basic roadbooks consisting of instruction and tulip diagrams. Those cars that have two occupants can navigate their way around, it really isn’t difficult, and those who drive alone could tag on the back of a co-driven car. Personally, I think I’d like to cadge a lift in a Tivver and/or an Elise. At least doing it this way the passengers can also be taking part in the drive.
The logistics – how to be there without driving through the night beforehand, which is getting a bit too serious. Searching the net, I’ve found a Travel Inn just north of Macclesfield. If staying somewhere the night before, we need to think about the fact that the cars would be parked outside, and might attract attention. This location does seem to be out of town, and thus would be safer, IMO. There is also a Harvester Inn on site, so that’s the evening (before) meal sorted out.
From that location we could head down into Macclesfield and straight out onto the Cat& Fiddle road, although that might lead us to a spot of bother judging by comments I’ve read re this road on other threads. I don’t know about that road, but when we do pick up onto the route that I’ve actually driven, I can say that at the moment the rest is scamera free. It perhaps might be better to get straight out onto the lesser known roads, but we can discuss this.
As I said, some – a lot - of these roads are really fabulous. The countryside can be very dramatic, the views are tremendous and the roads fast. There’ll be few hairpin bends as well – not continental type hairpins, but as many as you’ll get on one run in England, I would have thought. We can look to finish around 10am or so, wonder if we can find somewhere for a breakfast, then an enjoyable run home for everyone.
Thinking more about it, I wouldn’t need to produce road books. I just e-mail them out, and you all print them out yourselves.
Thing is, I do believe, by running at that time of day, we’d all get a real blat. For 100-120 miles or whatever. But the crunch is – is anyone interested in a really early morning hoon?
I’m a regular poster on this site, but I think I ought to exercise a degree of caution over what I’d like to propose, so have adopted another user name to remain anonymous. I know if this sort of thing has been mooted before, but at the moment I’m just really posting my thoughts on this subject.
I’m putting together a series of runs in Derbyshire for a classic car day. Derbyshire really does have some of the best driving roads in the UK.
Each of the runs are about 70 miles in length, and also a visit a site of interest, stately home etc, and this event will run in April.
However, by amalgamating the best of each run I could put a route together for PHers of about 120 miles and stuff the stately homes. This route would have good twisty stuff for the Lotuses and long open flowing roads for the TVR’s to stretch their legs.
However there is a problem.
Derbyshire is also very popular with walkers and cyclists, and much as many on this site may not be bothered about them, I feel that the roads get too busy to make a good PH hoon successful.
Early in the morning would be a different matter. I mean, very early, as in up the crack of Dawn.
I’ve been involved in road rallying, and can tell you that at night the roads I’m talking about are absolutely deserted. They remain so pretty much until 9 – 10am. So if we started out at dawn, say 5.30 in the summer, we would pretty much have the roads to ourselves. Not only that, but if we were lucky with the weather this would be a very special time to drive. The scenery in that light would be terrific.
For following the route, I could produce a set of basic roadbooks consisting of instruction and tulip diagrams. Those cars that have two occupants can navigate their way around, it really isn’t difficult, and those who drive alone could tag on the back of a co-driven car. Personally, I think I’d like to cadge a lift in a Tivver and/or an Elise. At least doing it this way the passengers can also be taking part in the drive.
The logistics – how to be there without driving through the night beforehand, which is getting a bit too serious. Searching the net, I’ve found a Travel Inn just north of Macclesfield. If staying somewhere the night before, we need to think about the fact that the cars would be parked outside, and might attract attention. This location does seem to be out of town, and thus would be safer, IMO. There is also a Harvester Inn on site, so that’s the evening (before) meal sorted out.
From that location we could head down into Macclesfield and straight out onto the Cat& Fiddle road, although that might lead us to a spot of bother judging by comments I’ve read re this road on other threads. I don’t know about that road, but when we do pick up onto the route that I’ve actually driven, I can say that at the moment the rest is scamera free. It perhaps might be better to get straight out onto the lesser known roads, but we can discuss this.
As I said, some – a lot - of these roads are really fabulous. The countryside can be very dramatic, the views are tremendous and the roads fast. There’ll be few hairpin bends as well – not continental type hairpins, but as many as you’ll get on one run in England, I would have thought. We can look to finish around 10am or so, wonder if we can find somewhere for a breakfast, then an enjoyable run home for everyone.
Thinking more about it, I wouldn’t need to produce road books. I just e-mail them out, and you all print them out yourselves.
Thing is, I do believe, by running at that time of day, we’d all get a real blat. For 100-120 miles or whatever. But the crunch is – is anyone interested in a really early morning hoon?
MOD500 said:
Yes, would be up for it.
From my limited experience with run-outs to the Peaks and North Yorkshire, its best not to post the route on line, and once a pretty much confirmed number are attending carry out all communications via e-mail. The runs where the route has been posted I've seen an unusually high number of the marked T5 estate police cars, when not posted I've just seen the odd astra country side patrol car.
On Ferrari Chat they have come up with a good idea; they call a run S1 or whatever, and the directions are posted on a website. Access to this site is only possible after e-mailing the organiser and getting the required address, etc.
Thanks
MOD.
Yes, I agree, been thinking about this today myself. I'm also very keen that the people I'm organising the classic run don't get wind of what I'm up to.
It might be best if those interested continue to put their names forward here, then I'll start sending out e-mails.
Been thinking about running it in June, then if it goes well we can do it again during the summer months!
Right, well there definitely seems to be some interest.
Now, we do realise what we're in for here? I'm thinking of a 5.30 summers morning start. That would mean, to keep things sensible, staying in a Travel Inn the night before, otherwise you end up getting up in the middle of the night. Travel Inn costs £44.50 quoted on website, could be split between two, I'll check on the amount of twin rooms they have.
Obviously breakfast would have to be what you bring, to be consumed in room. There ain't gonna be many refreshment opportunities out there at that time!
Next, mileage. What do we think. You'll probably be looking at an average speed of say 40 mph. Average speeds are always depressingly less than you think they would be. You've really gotta be going some to average 50 or more, and while there are some great hooning roads out there, some of the roads will also be a bit twisty.
So, if we work at 40, then 3 hours gets 120 miles, 4 hours 160. 3 hours of getting a move on might be enough for most. With the odd stop en route, we'll be back comfortably at 10ish, by which time the world will be awake and they'll all be out there. I would have thought 120-130 miles, but what do we think?
The Travel Inn I'm thinking of has a Harvester Inn on site as I said, so we could meet for a meal the night before, and I would imagine we could get a proper brekky on return.
Anybody any thoughts?
Now, we do realise what we're in for here? I'm thinking of a 5.30 summers morning start. That would mean, to keep things sensible, staying in a Travel Inn the night before, otherwise you end up getting up in the middle of the night. Travel Inn costs £44.50 quoted on website, could be split between two, I'll check on the amount of twin rooms they have.
Obviously breakfast would have to be what you bring, to be consumed in room. There ain't gonna be many refreshment opportunities out there at that time!
Next, mileage. What do we think. You'll probably be looking at an average speed of say 40 mph. Average speeds are always depressingly less than you think they would be. You've really gotta be going some to average 50 or more, and while there are some great hooning roads out there, some of the roads will also be a bit twisty.
So, if we work at 40, then 3 hours gets 120 miles, 4 hours 160. 3 hours of getting a move on might be enough for most. With the odd stop en route, we'll be back comfortably at 10ish, by which time the world will be awake and they'll all be out there. I would have thought 120-130 miles, but what do we think?
The Travel Inn I'm thinking of has a Harvester Inn on site as I said, so we could meet for a meal the night before, and I would imagine we could get a proper brekky on return.
Anybody any thoughts?
burriana500 said:
I agree that three hours would probably do the job, though you have to allow for the odd layby stop for a bit of a "DID YOU SEE...' and "HOW THE HELL DID YOU..." etc etc and maybe pics if the lights good.
Maybe Chim Girl could russell us up some bacon butties
Chim Girl, do you have some history on the breakfast front?
Well,
It's great to see there's plenty of interest.
FTO, I've road rallied all round there too. Map 119, much overused, IMO, but cracking lanes around there.
However, what got me into this was that I've got three routes in Derbyshire for a forthcoming classic car event. I've got all the pages with tulip diagrams on my PC, so I thought I could amalgamate them to create a suitable route for some PH hooning. I'm not talking about going daft, nowt stupid or anything like that, just a good straightforward foot down opportunity for a couple or three hours early in the morning when the roads are all ours! With complete observance of Her Madge's highway rules and regs, natch.
The route will be a mixture of some narrower lanes of interest along with some good straight cross-moorland roads which I thought were just fantastic when I drove them. I've found hairpin bends and knockout views. It can be really quite dramatic country around those parts.
The thing with having the roadbooks is that it'll mean we don't just have to follow each other, we can run at our own individual pace. As I said before, it'll mean that passengers can take a part in the proceedings also. Those who can't find or don't want to bring a passenger/lump of lard
can tag on to some one else and follow, but at least we don't need to have a long queue of cars, all waiting for each other to catch up after junctions etc.
It'll be just set off and GO!
I really think you'd all agree it will make for a terrific drive. It really is serious driving country. Like I said, a meal together the night before (easy on the pop of course) and perhaps a lunch afterwards.
I'll keep a lookout for somewhere to stop en route, but it may not be that easy. Some of the roads are quite remote, and many of the tourist establishments won't be open at that time. We're well out of transport cafe country as well. However, I reckon I'll be out on those roads at least twice before the Summer, so I'll keep an eye out. Any of our local members have any suggestions?
As regards a date, I'm a little wary of this site being monitored, as it seems to be. Any suggestions as to how we get around this? E-mail is the obvious thing, but what about infiltrators? Am I being paranoid? Has anyone seen the aforementioned FTO?
It's great to see there's plenty of interest.
FTO, I've road rallied all round there too. Map 119, much overused, IMO, but cracking lanes around there.
However, what got me into this was that I've got three routes in Derbyshire for a forthcoming classic car event. I've got all the pages with tulip diagrams on my PC, so I thought I could amalgamate them to create a suitable route for some PH hooning. I'm not talking about going daft, nowt stupid or anything like that, just a good straightforward foot down opportunity for a couple or three hours early in the morning when the roads are all ours! With complete observance of Her Madge's highway rules and regs, natch.
The route will be a mixture of some narrower lanes of interest along with some good straight cross-moorland roads which I thought were just fantastic when I drove them. I've found hairpin bends and knockout views. It can be really quite dramatic country around those parts.
The thing with having the roadbooks is that it'll mean we don't just have to follow each other, we can run at our own individual pace. As I said before, it'll mean that passengers can take a part in the proceedings also. Those who can't find or don't want to bring a passenger/lump of lard
can tag on to some one else and follow, but at least we don't need to have a long queue of cars, all waiting for each other to catch up after junctions etc. It'll be just set off and GO!
I really think you'd all agree it will make for a terrific drive. It really is serious driving country. Like I said, a meal together the night before (easy on the pop of course) and perhaps a lunch afterwards.
I'll keep a lookout for somewhere to stop en route, but it may not be that easy. Some of the roads are quite remote, and many of the tourist establishments won't be open at that time. We're well out of transport cafe country as well. However, I reckon I'll be out on those roads at least twice before the Summer, so I'll keep an eye out. Any of our local members have any suggestions?
As regards a date, I'm a little wary of this site being monitored, as it seems to be. Any suggestions as to how we get around this? E-mail is the obvious thing, but what about infiltrators? Am I being paranoid? Has anyone seen the aforementioned FTO?
Well,
There's been loads of interest. Sadly, there's a PH wedding near the proposed date, which means a couple of prominent members can't make it. I think I'll e-mail everyone with a choice of three dates and we'll go from there. I don't want to run too early due to unreliability of weather etc.
Will be contacting you all...
There's been loads of interest. Sadly, there's a PH wedding near the proposed date, which means a couple of prominent members can't make it. I think I'll e-mail everyone with a choice of three dates and we'll go from there. I don't want to run too early due to unreliability of weather etc.
Will be contacting you all...
davrian said:
Don't let the idea crash because people have other commitments. We could end up with a non event. Better to go for it and, following on from the success, running a second one later in the year
Yep, rather agree with that, but I'll try to contact everyone this weekend.
Am up early in the morning, 'cos I'm going for a reccie...
MrsS said:
Is there a date and time yet.
Yes, actually I've got a lot of info to relate, but just haven't found time to sit down and type it all out.
I think I want to stick to my original date, for various reasons, not least that if we change then it'll only mean someone else won't be able to go. I realise (and regret) that a couple of prominent PHers will miss out, but hey, we'll do it again. If it's a success, of course.
No maps will be required, you'll all be posted a full tulip road book to print out.
Give me 'til the end of the week, and I'll have all info ready.
NN
Right, I’ve finally got time to get all this down.
Just to recap: What I’m proposing is that the very best time of all to go for a blat is dawn, early in the morning, right at the start of daylight, making the most of it with not a second to lose.
To do that means, not unnaturally, an early start. Now, it would be nice to make an early start without having to get up in the middle of the night, so I’m suggesting we all check into a Travelodge, get into the cars at 0530 and hit the road.
Just got to sort the logistics.
I have a route which is just under 140 miles, around the best of Derbyshire and the peak district. It’s a bit longer than I would have wished, but I can’t reduce it without losing some really great hooning road or other. Most of this route is on good old honest-to-goodness hoonable roads. It’s got great views, and a few hairpins, as many as you’ll get in one run in England I would have thought. Not continental type hairpins, but good tight bends nonetheless.
Some singletrack lane is used, to get from one hooning area to another, or just because the view is great or some other point of interest. Also at one point there is a bit of turning left and right etc. for a while. This has allowed me to keep the route circular, without criss-crossing or using roads twice etc. except we’ll be using the Cat & Fiddle road twice, both in and out. Had to do this due to the mileage getting too long.
I did a full route reccie a couple of Saturdays ago. I have to say, I had a great day. It was one of those crisp clear days, once the mist had lifted. The views are terrific, it really is big country in parts up there, and really beautiful.
As I’ve said before, I’ve got the whole route on a tulip roadbook. Each instruction gives the overall mileage from the start of the run, an intermediate mileage, a landmark or location if possible, a tulip diagram which shows the layout of each junction and the direction to head in, and a specific instruction. There are 8 instructions to each page so each one is fairly large to see should you be in a car on your own. You could turn these into a set of instructions if you wish. I’ve included some warnings of sharp bends, but not all. You all will have to watch it, there are some delicious off-camber corners, or bends on brows etc. It’s unrealistic to include them all, plus it may lull you into a false sense of security. Be warned: they’re proper roads up there!
It is my intention to e-mail these out nearer the time for you all to print out.
I don’t really recommend trying to follow the route on your own, I think it would be better and more enjoyable for you if you just tagged on the back of another car. I know you might like to find one travelling at a pace to suit you, but you’ll be free to choose, obviously. I think if you did try it on your own you’d end up keep having to stop to check the route. Just IMHO.
The good thing IMO about using a road book is that you can bring a passenger and he or she gets to play a part in the process.
The Travelodge: There is a Travelodge 4 miles north of Macclesfield, at a place called Aldington, with a Little Chef on site. www.travelodge.co.uk/travelodge/location.php?hotel_id=152
The lodge itself is situated out of town, and the carpark is behind the little chef, so those cars that are there overnight aren’t on wide-open show, plus there can’t be too many passers-by from the pub etc. All the rooms there are Family rooms, which mean they can sleep 3 adults, apparently all can sleep separately – the beds come apart in other words. You can cancel up to 12 noon on the day – 12 noon that is, they’ve changed from 4 pm. There are 21 non-smoking rooms and 7 smoking. All are en-suite with tea/coffee facilities. Rooms cost £44.95.
I haven’t managed to find a café etc that would be open en route. I’ve found one that opens at 9am but I reckon we should all have been past there by then. To be honest, 140 miles at an average speed of what? 45 mph minimum means we should all be back between 9 and 10 am. That would probably mean we’d have to go back to the Little Chef for brekky and post hoon gossip as most pubs don’t open til 11-12. Perhaps we could ask them to save us a corner so we can all get together afterwards.
The date will be Sunday June 6th. For those that can’t make it, if it’s a success, we’ll do it again this summer. I’m already working on another route, which I promise will be just as good, if not better.
So, what do we think? A major 140 mile hoon on some of Britain’s best roads for not a lot of money. Interested?
Just to recap: What I’m proposing is that the very best time of all to go for a blat is dawn, early in the morning, right at the start of daylight, making the most of it with not a second to lose.
To do that means, not unnaturally, an early start. Now, it would be nice to make an early start without having to get up in the middle of the night, so I’m suggesting we all check into a Travelodge, get into the cars at 0530 and hit the road.
Just got to sort the logistics.
I have a route which is just under 140 miles, around the best of Derbyshire and the peak district. It’s a bit longer than I would have wished, but I can’t reduce it without losing some really great hooning road or other. Most of this route is on good old honest-to-goodness hoonable roads. It’s got great views, and a few hairpins, as many as you’ll get in one run in England I would have thought. Not continental type hairpins, but good tight bends nonetheless.
Some singletrack lane is used, to get from one hooning area to another, or just because the view is great or some other point of interest. Also at one point there is a bit of turning left and right etc. for a while. This has allowed me to keep the route circular, without criss-crossing or using roads twice etc. except we’ll be using the Cat & Fiddle road twice, both in and out. Had to do this due to the mileage getting too long.
I did a full route reccie a couple of Saturdays ago. I have to say, I had a great day. It was one of those crisp clear days, once the mist had lifted. The views are terrific, it really is big country in parts up there, and really beautiful.
As I’ve said before, I’ve got the whole route on a tulip roadbook. Each instruction gives the overall mileage from the start of the run, an intermediate mileage, a landmark or location if possible, a tulip diagram which shows the layout of each junction and the direction to head in, and a specific instruction. There are 8 instructions to each page so each one is fairly large to see should you be in a car on your own. You could turn these into a set of instructions if you wish. I’ve included some warnings of sharp bends, but not all. You all will have to watch it, there are some delicious off-camber corners, or bends on brows etc. It’s unrealistic to include them all, plus it may lull you into a false sense of security. Be warned: they’re proper roads up there!
It is my intention to e-mail these out nearer the time for you all to print out.
I don’t really recommend trying to follow the route on your own, I think it would be better and more enjoyable for you if you just tagged on the back of another car. I know you might like to find one travelling at a pace to suit you, but you’ll be free to choose, obviously. I think if you did try it on your own you’d end up keep having to stop to check the route. Just IMHO.
The good thing IMO about using a road book is that you can bring a passenger and he or she gets to play a part in the process.
The Travelodge: There is a Travelodge 4 miles north of Macclesfield, at a place called Aldington, with a Little Chef on site. www.travelodge.co.uk/travelodge/location.php?hotel_id=152
The lodge itself is situated out of town, and the carpark is behind the little chef, so those cars that are there overnight aren’t on wide-open show, plus there can’t be too many passers-by from the pub etc. All the rooms there are Family rooms, which mean they can sleep 3 adults, apparently all can sleep separately – the beds come apart in other words. You can cancel up to 12 noon on the day – 12 noon that is, they’ve changed from 4 pm. There are 21 non-smoking rooms and 7 smoking. All are en-suite with tea/coffee facilities. Rooms cost £44.95.
I haven’t managed to find a café etc that would be open en route. I’ve found one that opens at 9am but I reckon we should all have been past there by then. To be honest, 140 miles at an average speed of what? 45 mph minimum means we should all be back between 9 and 10 am. That would probably mean we’d have to go back to the Little Chef for brekky and post hoon gossip as most pubs don’t open til 11-12. Perhaps we could ask them to save us a corner so we can all get together afterwards.
The date will be Sunday June 6th. For those that can’t make it, if it’s a success, we’ll do it again this summer. I’m already working on another route, which I promise will be just as good, if not better.
So, what do we think? A major 140 mile hoon on some of Britain’s best roads for not a lot of money. Interested?
CarZee said:
I could be up for some of that... 
My new car should be run in by then...
Bit concerned about plod finding the details on here and deploying some early morning laser-monkeys..
I'd agonised over putting the date up, but reckoned if anyone wanted to know it wouldn't be hard to do so. I do have a slightly cunning plan however, but less said etc. etc.
tonto said:
Count me in (if there's room at the inn
Do we organise our own Hotel bookings?
Yes please, that's the thing to do.
By booking our own rooms, and me e-mailing the route when I've finished for you all to print yourselves, no-one has to stump any money up front or incur costs, so we're all happy.
I've heard from Oggs now, I'm accompanying him to find out what all this TVR fuss is about, so I shall book our room tommorrow.
Check out the other Dawn Raid thread for lodge details.
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