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Moorland
and Coastal 2006
Entry
List 2006
The
third Moorland and Coastal Mini Adventure or M&C as it is now known
took place over the North Yorkshire Moors National Park. The event was
held at Rosedale Abbey campsite from Friday 19th May until Sunday 21st,
mini owners started to arrive Thursday 18th to get the best pitch, some
people take the opportunity to take a short holiday, in the superb surroundings
of the National Park, and the M&C has now become a much loved Mini
event in northern annual event calendar, with numbers increasing from
75 Minis in 2004 to 150 in 2006. The event this year sold out in 3 months!
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This
year it was our biggest M&C with a 150 Minis down on the list, with
over a 120 camping all weekend. Because of the number of Minis taking
part, it was decided to hold two treasure hunts this year so as not
to jam up the local roads with minis!! The routes of the treasure hunts
were about 90 miles each, with about 50 clues on each and consisted
of challenging routes over some of the most scenic locations in England.
Whilst looking for clues for the treasure hunts, Mini owners had a variety
of stops for lunch and to explore places of interest.
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Marshals
L-R: Simon (ticys), Phil (Limophil) and Martin (W90BHP) have a brew at
the barrier whilst looking after the Arrivals.....
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Above:
Michael (Slim) right, joins in for a brew during looking after the arrivals
Right:
Jonathan (Jonfozz), Andy (Mewy) and Col (Col!) offer assistance to the
ladies after their Mini suddenly started to be naughty!
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This
year the weather was against us, with one of the wettest May’s
on record, the watersplashes were a concern as the water levels were
considerably higher than normal. There was a lot of standing water,
and the wet conditions did take the toll on a few of the Mini crews
taking part, mainly over the fords, as the water level was high, some
minis electrical systems did not take to kindly to the conditions. One
of the Marshalls – Jonathan Forest (JonFozz) described the conditions
and some of the brake downs to be as challenging if not more so than
an Organised Rally – and has named the event as “1000 lakes!”
Whilst we did have some breakdowns the marshals did a fantastic job
over the entire weekend nursing the route, offering assistance in getting
recovery organised where appropriate, and managing the minis at the
campsite. It’s worth noting that the Marshals at the M&C are
all members of www.northernminis.co.uk Mini club, and spent most of
the weekend looking after the Mini crews in wet and windy conditions,
they are a credit and great importance to these particular kinds of
action Mini events.
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Whilst
the Saturday was very wet, the majority of Minis made it around the treasure
hunts and some of the early breakdowns were repaired and managed to complete
the routes. Early Saturday morning Doug arrived with the roast hogg –
a pig sat in a mobile oven! The 12 stone pig needed a good 7 hours to
roast to feed the hungry mini crews after a good hard days of navigating
and driving, with the rain still against us, the pig now fully cooked
was placed into the Northernminis Marquee, and evening tea was served
– roast pork sandwiches with apple sauce and jacket potatoes, you
had to smell it to appreciate it! |
Minifinity's
Hammy: having experience of camping in Rosedale from the last two M&C's,
Hammy always comes well prepared for this event! |
Above:
Janet kindly offers to assist Doug dishing out the Hogg Roast Sandwiches
for the Mini Crews......
Whilst
Gilly (Below) dishes out the Pork Crackling to the Wet and Hungry Mini
Crews waiting outside the Marquee for the long awaited sarnies. |
Following
on from the Roast, it was time for the raffle organised by Simon Tickle,
which raised a total of £200 which will be put towards the year
end total, proceeds going to Yorkshire Air Ambulance. To keep the Mini
crews children busy, Simon also put together a children’s colouring
competition, announcing the winners on Sunday morning, prizes being an
customised embroided Mini t-shirt of the winners choice.
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Sunday
Morning and The Sun is Shining! "Morning Campers"
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Sunday
Morning and camping Mini crews woke up to glorious sunshine which helped
raise everybody’s sprits. With the treasure hunts marked, it was
time to announce and give the prizes to the winners of the best voted
mini, winner of the children’s colouring competition, and the treasure
hunt winners. After the prize giving it was time to issue the pace notes
and brief the navigators for the start of the Moorland and Coastal Mini
Adventure 2006.
Left:
The club stand of the North East Mini Club who are regulars to the M&C
and always attend in force
Below:
Andrew Santon in his beautifully restored GT, awaits the nod from myself
at the start line to give the 130+ Mini departure a "Sensible"
pace for the first leg of the Moorland and Coastal 2006. |
With
over a 135 Minis queuing in two lines, it was time for the off, everybody
had a smile on their face and it was a great sight seeing the Mini’s
leave the campsite, with a large gathering of onlookers from locals and
visitors who came especially to see the Minis. From Rosedale to Scarborough
by the sea, the Mini’s headed through Dalby Forest drive a 10 mile
private tarmac forest road with delightful forest views, the scheduled
stop at Dalby Forest was cancelled as the field was waterlogged –
we didn't’t want any stuck Mini’s now!. |
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the time we had reached Rosedale, the wet weather had caught up with us
once again, and at times high in the hills the route became very foggy.
Despite the wet weather, everybody's feedback was very positive, and many
people looking forward to next year, the 4th M&C, which will be held
slightly later next year in late June – early July, as requested by
the majority in the feedback, hopefully we should have a little warmer weather.
The location
of the campsite surrounded by the superb attractions of the North York
Moors and Forestry along with the Yorkshire Coast have contributed to
making this event one of the most popular Mini Action events, and preferred
by some as an alternative to the usual sit in field show events.
Because of
the popularity of the event, we wont be advertising it but will be writing
to previous participants however all announcements and information, including
loads of photos can be found on this very site at www.moorlandandcoastal.co.uk
.Next years M&C will use the original treasure hunt route from 2004
(with different clues of course!) from the first event, visiting Goathland
& Robin Hoods Bay, and Sands End to name a few. As usual there will
be a DVD of this years events which captures the highlights of the events
including “The Mini Graveyard” scene at that famous watersplash!
Stay tuned
and we hope you enjoy the rest of the season
Roll
on 2007 and thanks to everybody who gave their time for the benefit of
others making the M&C a possibility – Thank you all
Next
M&C will take place between 29th June - 1st July 2007
The
M&C Gallery Back to Mainpage
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Site
Manager Steve and myself during the 2005 event. (note the good weather!) |
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