Imp Run

[moose549]

Who would be interested in a run when we are all allowed to do such things 2021 or 2022 ? It would be based around Lancashire, Yorkshire and Cumbria we would take you on some proper scenic driving roads based around rally roads used in these areas, we will make sure they are all passable in a bog standard imp. We can do a day or two days with accommodation recommended and places to eat and drink with ample fuel stops en-route. We could do a split event so you can pick which day to do. It would be very informal and not over organised, you meet at the start collect a road book a quick brief from me on driving standards and what to expect and then you are on your own with a tulip road book (training will be given to anyone requiring it to read the road book) sat nav recovery points if you get lost will be on every section of the road book to get you back on track at significant locations. We would discourage groups of more than five cars driving nose to tail and potentially being a nuisance to other road users (there will be plenty of re-group places for people to stop for fuel, a brew, food, natter etc. There would be no timing other than closing times of cafe's etc. We could do it with a small entry fee to cover minimum costs of putting on such an event right through to block booking a hotel to get discounts on rooms.

[John A. Ross]

If we get the clearance Mike I would be up for it, I am guessing Jim, Pat, Paul et all would be as well.

[PMCG]

I've made a vow that when we can get out and about I'm on my way. :)

I'd be up for it, I'd skip any dirt track, gravel type roads as I'm a believer the little cars need loved and treated with care, just like me.

[Gary Whitaker]

Count me in if it's finished ?

[John A. Ross]

moose549 Mike, tried to share this out to Imp Comp Partts page as well but couldn't

[moose549]

John i will put it on comp parts page if there is enough interest from other forums etc. Patrick there will be no gravel roads at all it will all be tarmac ok you may come across some poor conditions if they are a permanent fixture when we are planning the route we will put a caution in the road book so you can slow down before it and slowly pick your way through. If when we are planning the route there is a small section of chippings or debris that looks like it will wash or be driven over and gone in the following weeks we will not put it in the road book. We will drive the route the day before or even the morning before if the we end up only doing a short run to check no trees have blown down and blocked roads etc if we find a surface has changed and there is a possibility if driven at 30 mph stone chips could occur we will mark everyones road book with the detail as they leave the start.

[moose549]

Thanks for the replies. your thoughts please


1. I meet you all at the start venue, brief, training ,road book issue send you on your way and see you at the finish at end of a one day tour, nominal cost for road book production and fuel for setting up. Those travelling from a long way plan their own accommodation etc etc.

2. Proper entry fee to include coffee at stops, lunch, overnight accommodation and meal at the end of the day so would end at a hotel for a proper sit down meal if enough of us.

3. Either of the above but over two days event entry would include coffees, lunch, two nights accommodation and evening meal. If you came up night before that is up to you to sort.

Pluses and minuses.The more people we get the bigger the hotel to accommodate us at the end of each day so cost goes up and restricts start finish points, more to organise like vegatarian options, secure parking, facilities etc to be booked up front and potential for mistakes so some people are disappointed compared to booking your own accom and food so if you are not happy that is your situation to deal with and not mine. We would be all in one place at finish each evening. Less for you guys to think about if it was all laid on.

My pick would be option one either one day or two. This would require me getting all the details to each person that enters in plenty of time to book individual accommodation (of course i would use my local knowledge to help you make choices from £35 travel lodge to a good local pub with rooms) You could all chose to dine in groups in various pubs/hotels in the finish town. The road book would recommend lunch halts in several places on route between say 11.00 and 14.00. Last thing we need is to overwhelm a small cafe with everybody landing on them at 12.00 onwards at minute intervals even if i do pre warn them, there is also the issue if i tell them 40 cars will arrive so 80 people to feed/brew up for and half of you decide to carry on past.

Any suggestions, hints and tips on what you want please post on here, the road book and the route is not an issue, it is making sure everyone gets out of it what they want. Obviously if this becomes a monumental task i will ditch the idea or just put on a very basic run. I do not want to go to a lot of effort and have to deal with the "roads were too wet, rough, dusty, busy,narrow, steep, etc the cafe was too slow, we could not follow bumper to bumper every one of the 20 of us from one area centre, the price of the beer was too much, if you know what i mean.


Cheers mike

[John A. Ross]

Mike, it is a mammouth task.

Pats comment on roads was based on us taking the original factory Mk 1 over the catlles grids, skiing down the hills in back of night on the Monte heritage run. The old girl did not fair well, lost a collet out the front shock and that was on standard "speedboat look" springs

Plus Pat drives it like my grandma would and the cars soul is not happy, I keep telling him if he hits the bumps faster it wuill be over quicker

I like the idea of a single meet, set ioff in stages with same road book.

To allow for stops are recommended cafes etc, parking we know will be an issue, 10 cars (or so) 30 min intervals could mean up to 20 people to stop, wee, eat and 10 car park spaces these days at small stops, about as much as you can get.

Retail parks with a few eateries might be places to look at, car parking wont be an issue and rather than drive past, as shops open again will still be a novelty, maybe a better attarction.

Need to see how many folks commit, if only 20 cars, everyone is off within an hour.

Scott mentioned some form of competition fun, could integrate that with some small award, if its 1 hour to first stop, see who can come closest to the 60 minutes, might keep the seperation more even. Small token for each "stage" and for overall.


Accomodation and final venues is a thankless task, folks will always complain about room, costs and especially beer prices !

Best just naming stops, leave options and let folks book overnights themselves. The likes of myself would come down night before.

A two day event, even better !

Just adding ideas here Mike.

[moose549]

Spot on John. As i have said the roads will all be passable in a bog standard road car it will not be a race so you dictate the speed over cattle grids and other standard obstacles you would find on country lanes we are not talking about stages like used on the old RAC ! As soon as there is any type of competition element it has to be an MSA approved event run under a permit and the costs rise. You also need marshals to man timing points, i can provide people to do this but then costs rise again covering their fuel costs. It is more about the lanes i choose and the old road rally roads do not take as crow flies which is what most people do when looking round the Lake district to get to significant areas like Windermere for example. The timing between releasing cars from the start would be dictated by amount that enter. What you are suggesting of the 60 min to first stop and who can get there bang on 60 mins requires time matched clocks at start and end point, time cards for each car, marshals and you will get someone who will go flat out to within sighting distance of the finish and park up for 10 mins and then roll in bang on time, the pace they could be driving at to have time in hand could cause us issues. The way it is done on the rallies that Scott and i do is they have secret marshal points round blind corners etc so you have got to stick to the average speed because if you arrive early you are penalised twice what you are early so 1 min early = 2 min penalty the marshals stop the clock when you pull up, if they are in a layby and you are 5 mins in front of your due time you cannot drive slowly enough by the time you see the timing point to lose the time you are ahead. So to do this requires more marshals.

So start would be within 20 mins of a well populated area so people can pick their own accommodation similar for finish venue/start for day two. Those that enter would be given all the details of local accom close by i would just make sure we have a cafe and petrol stop on the routes. Please all keep the suggestions coming so it can be an event for all to enjoy, I do not want Patrick to get stone chips and i do not want Scott to be bored!

[moose549]

Patrick just to reassure you here is the video of the last run i organised.

As Scott has asked for a competition element i have invited a friend over to give him a run for his money he might need to use the clan rather than imp to keep up with Frank, you can all watch this to see how you need to drive to compete on a regularity section average speed was 29.5 mph. Frank shows the technique for carrying corner speed, please pay attention to the use of the road book by co-driver.

[John A. Ross]

Pat PMCG now THATS how you drive an Imp

[PMCG]

Yes guys. I'll stick to my audition for the Miss Daisy driver in the next film.

In fact some of that driving reminds me of John and myself driving on the way to the pub when we were younger.
Then again you should have seen the driving on the way home.

[High_dan]

Sign me up Mike! Looks like a mammoth operation tho. If you need any help let me know.

[moose549]

Cheers Dan. Hoping not to make it a mammoth. Plot route, drive it, drive again in different vehicle to check mileage works out on trip, print road book, suggest accommodation start and finish. Everyone makes their own arrangements to be there on the correct date, drive route in morning to make sure all roads are open, I brief crews before leaving, offer help on reading road book at start (lesson will be included in road book) pre-warn fuel stations and cafe's that they mat be busy on the day. See you all at the finish! I hope lol