North Devon Grand Tour 2003
Well we have just got back from the best weekend ever...North Devon Grand Tour.
We started off 4.am sat morning to beat the bank holiday scamble to the west
country M11, M25, M3, A303 over to Taunton then on to Westward Ho arrived there
at about 10 O'clock and found our hotel near Clovelly. The hotel is a 13th century
coaching Inn which in itself was fantastic. I left Sandy and our friend Linda
there. Whilst I went off to find out where to register for the tour and to get my run plaque etc. Then went back to chill out ready for the tour on sunday morning.
The run starts from Bideford park, as we arrived there we found that it was already brim full of minis.The Essex mini club came over to say hello to us and we got to meet a lot of nice people all wanting to talk about minis!!
The run pulls out at 11 O'clock to the local band playing and the steets are full of
people waving and cheering, the event is covered weeks before on local radio
and papers all the roads are shut to let the convoy stay together, motorbikes
marshall the course and stop other traffic and once the run passes they race
further on to stop and close roads I think they enjoy that as much as we do
driving the route take us to lunch at Harland Point where we all park on the cliffs
there is a BBQ and a pub. When we leave there we then go on to a steam rally which
is packed with people waiting for us to arrive. 300 minis charge into the arena and
park up for the end of a great day.
Bank holiday monday starts at Westward Ho. Now there are 400 cars on the run plus
30 motorbikes we have never seen so many people lining the route from towns
to villages even the pubs we pass have their customers spill out onto the streets,
same at caravan sites, wildlife parks and so on, there just seems no end to the
support we are receiving
The Tour is in aid of the Childrens Hospice SW which we raise sponsorship for
and all the minis drive into the hospital grounds to give the kids a wave, we go
onto and through Lynton valley of the rocks to lunch at Lee Abbey
The roads are now getting very narrow with don't look down drops on one side
its quite a test some of those Devon Hills but the best fun you could have
behind the wheel (unless you just saw Angelina Jolie hitchiking and was going
your way!!!) anyway the run finishes in Ilfracombe with the biggest crowds
yet.....where can you go on a run with 400 minis in a line and not another car with you
apart from the odd german mini.
Sorry Riviera run,sorry London to Brighton - THIS IS THE BEST!!
We are going again next year anyone want to join us?
On the move.
Minis at Harland Point.
Lee Abbey.
Narrow Lanes on Exmoor.
On the Sea Front at Westward Ho.
Even BMW owners have a sense of humour!.
This report and pictures by Ray & Sandy Minchin.
RETURN TO MAIN PAGE