London to Brighton 2008

Well with a 7am at Crystal Palace start due to Kirky's over exuberant meet time. First there was Neil followed by Doc, who really has no excuse as he lives only minuets down the road. Doc's Frosty wearing his brand new tyre after a quick repair from the blow out on the Riv Run. Everyone looking blurry eyed Kirky finally arrived at last in tow with Liane, Dan and hopefully new member Juju (Juiliete) in her fine black mini. The standard excuses came flying out. Traffic this, traffic that.

After a quick wonder round the campsite and the main set off point, it was fire up your engines and ready for the off. Now this in the point when some of us turn into little children. Being egged on by the steward he just couldn't help himself. Handbrake up and lighting up the tyres Kirky spins off in a cloud of tyre smoke which followed him down the road, closely followed by Doc. A check on the state of his A008 proved that this probably wasn't a wise idea. With no water on the road Kirky managed to remove about 2cm worth of rubber from his front tyres. Ah well you only live once.

So off to Brighton we head. A very spirited drive with lots of heads turning from passers by and plenty of noise created from the array of musical horns before the convoy split, those with official tickets going to find their spaces, the rest off to the marina to park up for the day.
As ever the show was a maze of all types of minis, shame about the Binis taking up valuable parking space. John Snr had come down with the mini cooper register and was found talking to strangers telling tales of past mini adventures. Ollie and Claire arrived a lot later with their alien looking dogs. The lost man was found when we bumped into Charlie sporting his beerbandits t-shirt.
Another success with no break downs, we must be doing something right.

Riviera Run 2008

Well the first event of the season was pretty much a damp squib. Luckily for us the drive down was a dry one.
Our annual stop off at the best cafe in the world led up to an amazing surprise. Our normal "really helpful, friendly" cafe owner was overcome for love with our convoy's furry four legged friend. To all our amazement the proprietor sat with us feeding Zack free sausages with a giant smile on his face telling us stories about his own pets. Amazing. The whole run down there was pretty insignificant, no break downs in our group. Kirky and Doc did there good Samaritan deed for the weekend. Seeing a black mini broken down on the A303 at the lead up to a roundabout, quickly pulled over, as the others rushed off, to lend a hand. A quick push of the mini down the hill and off the roundabout with a police escort and the black mini was safely parked up. The couple that had broken down were on their honeymoon to Newquay, a quality place and way to spend it. A quick dizzy change and all was good and we were back on our way, catching up with the convoy and off to the Trevelgue.
"Sunday and the heavens opened. They clear up for a bit and we all decide that a trip to Port Isaac is a good idea, except for Doc who was to be proved right. After getting lost as Mr Kirk couldn't quite remember the way we finally arrived. As we parked up on the beach the water began to fall. Everyone stepped out of their minis, walked to the top of the hill and got soaked. Unanimously we decided that was that and to head back with the words "no one every listens to me!" ringing in people's ears from Doc. The moment we sat back down in the minis and drove off the sun came out drying the roads and making the run look like a good idea
A good run this year well planned and a good length, which involved some good traffic cone slalom at the near road works. No space for any overtaking though.
That evening it was off for the traditional curry. Kirky yet again doesn't heed the warnings of last year and goes for something far too nuclear for his own taste buds, when will he learn.
Monday and the weekend had gone smoothly, so far.... No breakdowns for anyone in the group all weekend. That was all about to change. On the long journey home Doc has a tyre blow out, luckily on passenger side rear. A hair raising experience but a quick tyre change and he was back on his way and safely home.
A good weekend all round.