First Meeting for the New Year --- Longford Run

[spicooper]

Hi guys this was very good start to the year with nine cars and the auto test was great Fun with lots of interesting minis taking part. We even managed to sign up three new members and a nice Bini for Billy.

Thanks to all who turned up and may it continue for 2008

[66mini]

Sorry guys about not making the autotesting but it shows the need for the distributor shield. Davec and i got started and decided discretion was the best action in this weather. Just ordered the shield from Mini Spares. Good first shakedown run for the car though.

See you next outing.

David

[DaveC]

Well done all, good turn out considering the weather. Here are afew photos from the start at Lidl:

Twins
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/ ... 0001-2.jpg

Paul Smith
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/ ... 0002-2.jpg

spiCooper
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/ ... 0003-2.jpg

66Mini
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/ ... 0004-2.jpg

Rob's GT
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/ ... CF0005.jpg

Group shot
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/ ... 0009-1.jpg


Unfortunately myself and 66Mini got sidelined by the damp conditions. We decided when we got going again not to take a gamble on going to Longford, so turned back. Nice lunch in Maynooth though!

See you all again soon.
Dave

[kerryminigringo]

Got to Longford just as the twin sportpacks and the MINI cooperS were heading home,nice collection of cars.The auto testing was great crack and some really amazing skill being shown by some of the drivers,especially those in the mini,s and mini specials.Thanks to Neil and Mags for the hospitality and I even got to see two of the most reverred and mytical cars in the IMOC,cracked Zak GT and the Marcos.The wait for it,the Marcos actually started though light weight Billy could not stick the fumes and had to get out.And the SPI is looking sweet with the 10,s on Milton.

[DaveC]

Anyone get any photos of the action?

[The Marcos Graveyard]

I took a few pics , but I also got some video footage, it was taken on my stills camera, so picture quality isn't brilliant.

I'm putting a little sequence together, but just to get you in the mood, check out this link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzTep5phB_I

I'll post details of the full vid later.

[Billy]

Great craic for the day. We started off with a grand fry-up at chez Kilbane along with Joe and Liam Whyte. Because the event was part of a national championship, the standard was very high though there were a few bluffers there too, like the 2 lads with the red Starlet. Even so, they provided entertainment for the crowds as well, since everyone has to start somewhere.

The organisation of the event itself was very slick. Set in a big industrial park, there were 4 separate courses set around the estate and at any one time, there were cars in action. You wouldn't get the same experience out rallying as you are waiting for ages for anything to happen. The autotesting was different and the 4 hours of competition were very enjoyable. As the day went on, you got to spot the experts and we became gurus on the best approaches to different obstacles. If we had a club team entered ourselves, God know what slagging there would have been.

After the event, we went back to Kilbanes again armed with bread, ham, and spicy wedges and we were joined by John F Golden with his 5-litre TVR and Stephen from Cavan even got his cracked exhaust diagnosed.

Overall a great petrolhead's day out.

I'd go again.

Billy

[The Marcos Graveyard]

Just a few pics of some of the Minis that were competing.

http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y15/me ... G_2882.jpg

http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y15/me ... G_2885.jpg

http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y15/me ... G_2883.jpg

http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y15/me ... G_2884.jpg

http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y15/me ... G_2886.jpg

http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y15/me ... G_2887.jpg

Milton also has some pics, as does Black Se7en, so more of those later.

[The Marcos Graveyard]

More video


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlDgRK4cTGw

[DaveC]

Excellent

[The Marcos Graveyard]

Regular Cecil B. DeMille ain't I

[BlackSe7en]

Thanks to all that turned up. A good turnout for the day. One problem with taking the Motorway was it highlighted the problem of a breakdown no it. The two Daves pulled in with the Wet Dizzy problem.They were second last in the convoy, so by the time I noticed the flashing lights behind me a nd pulled in , the front of the convoy was a 1/2 mile up the Motorway, a bit far to try and reverse back along the hard shoulder. Luckly Milton was the last car and I had his Tel. No. so he could let us know what was happening. If not it was a 10 mile round trip to the next junction and back down the opposite side of the Motorway , another Toll and then pull in behind the luckless Mini. The use of the A /B/C roads would have meant that we all could have done a U-Turn and be with the 2 Daves in 2 minutes.

By the way, I ended up doing a bit of the auld Autotesting myself on the last roundabout on the Edgeworthstown By-pass, I slide twice having to correct myself both times and managed to stay on the road.
Did anyone else have a problem there?

[Billy]

"By the way, I ended up doing a bit of the auld Autotesting myself on the last roundabout on the Edgeworthstown By-pass, I slide twice having to correct myself both times and managed to stay on the road.
Did anyone else have a problem there?"

Where's TMG and the camera when you want him?

[mark mck]

myself and the girls enjoyed the day aine was most put out that we didnt do the auto test in smithy ijust told her that they did' nt allow minis with baby seats to compete

[keith]

i got as far as the on-ramp of the M50 at sandyford (about 2 miles form the house) when the wipers packed in.... Grrrr! glad to see you all had the craic!

[DaveC]

See you for the next one then Keith