MGF Register South East Region

INSIDE THE CIRCLE

WINTER WARMER RUN

Sunday 30th November 2008

 

The Starbucks line up at Hooley

Is that water on John's TF ?

Yes...lots of it and on the LE500 as well !

Studying the route over coffee

ZR catches up with MGF

Ooer - dynamic moving picture in country lane

First watersplash from the LE500 cockpit

All the houses seem to have been replaced by cows.

Rudolf dropped by at the halfway point

...with a little 'un.

...and some Huskies...Storm would have liked these.

Waiting to see Father Xmas

Glug Glug

Horses...we must be near Epsom

See - even brand new LE500s like to get muddy ...

...but not quite as muddy as Dave & Michelle's ZR.

The Rubbing Horse....

...which is right on Epsom Racecourse

Tristan made it  - where's the mud ?

A side view of Murray & Christine's once crystal white LE500

Hi y'all - Tim arrives at the finish  last as usual.

  
 

 

2008 would be notable for the latest Winter Warmer Run we've ever done and for the torrential downpours prior to and during the run that turned those nice country lanes into flowing rivers and wild lakes. All of which , of course, just added to the fun. Graham had set himself the unenviable task of setting a run on country lanes inside the M25 circle - the heart of suburbia. And whilst we did pass a few white washed and fake timbered semis the predominant roads were indeed "in the country" - tiny lanes, open spaces and even cows and cattle grids - who would have believed it right on the edge of London skirting Croydon and taking us across to Epsom.

Full marks to Graham for working this one out and for not getting his left and rights mixed up this time !. I only noticed a couple of people zoom off in the wrong direction but they soon appeared again back on track. As can be seen in the pictures it was pretty wet and many of the roads were flooded which gave great opportunities for a bit of splashing. Even John in his nice blue TF christened the car with abandon through the mud and Murray with the brand new LE500 went wild truly giving this great new MG a dunking. It started in sparkling Crystal White and finished in a distinctive shade of grey (I'm betting it didn't stay that way too long though !)

Half way at Knights Garden Centre in Woldingham and Sant'a's reindeer were waiting for us along with a team of huskies and the old bearded chap himself. Unfortunately there were lots of little people about and we felt a bit churlish having to push them aside to sit on Santa's knee (we all wished for Murray's LE500 anyway !)...so we didn't and set off again and even contemplated putting the hood down (those of us without hardtops of course) as it had stopped raining. Contemplating was as far as we got though as it still looked a bit threatening.

The second half whizzed by as we splashed through more lakes and slithered down little lanes before emerging on to Epsom Downs and the huge white stands of the racecourse itself with the Rubbing House pub in its shadow. Time for a well earned lunch.

A special thanks to John for his generosity and of course Graham for setting another fantastic run.