St George's Day Rally - FBHVC Drive It Day 

Date: 22^nd April 2012, 11:00AM

Location: Mitton Hall, Whalley and the Ribble Valley

Clerk of the Course: David W G Bell

Tel: 0800 781 2167

Email: HonSec@LancsAutoClub.com

Regulations and entry forms are available using the links on the right.

The start of the St. George's Day run, 2011.

The 2011 St. George's Day Rally

Starting from Mitton Hall near Whalley in glorious sunshine, this years event, also known as The St Georges Day Rally, was again part of the National Drive it Day, or Ride it Day, if you are into motorcycles, the driving force, pardon the pun, being the Federation of British Historic Vehicles Club, whose aim is to keep old and interesting vehicles on the road, before the blighters in Europe and Whitehall decide we should all be driving euroboxes.

With a turn out of one hundred and ten cars the message is loud and clear,there is a terrific interest in classic and older vehicles. However, with a route of around some sixty miles through the stunning Ribble Valley crews enjoyed some great company, fun, and the odd ice cream or two en route, before returning to Mitton Hall for some more great company and lunch.

It really is wonderful to see so many period vehicles, in many cases with period drivers, gathered together. Well done to the organising team, a lot of work must have been done to get that together

EVENT REPORT 2009:

EVENT REPORT:

St Georges Day Run 20th April 2008

Martin and I seldom get to actually take part in an event. We are normally part of the organizational team either as course car or marshalling somewhere along the route. It therefore came as a welcome change to be a normal entrant with the opportunity to follow the route without any pressure and in our own time.

We arrived at the black Bull in Old Langho for the start a little early but found many cars were already parked up ready for the day’s proceedings. Now we had expected around 30 entries but it soon became apparent that the final total would be at least twice that. The car park and pub were both full to capacity with many of the later arrivals having a fair old walk from where they had to park to signing on in the Black Bull.

David Bell and Alwyn Davis as prime movers of the event were resplendent in suits and bowler hats. Some said they strongly resembled Laurel and Hardy. (Others said they looked more like Hardy and Hardy!)

Alwyn was signing people on and David doing his Clerk of Course stuff.

We quickly got signed on and went to look at the entry. There was an incredible range of cars and ages. From little Austin Seven Chummies through classic British sports cars to vintage Rolls Royce. The best of British was on display. As part of ‘Drive it Day’ we would be putting classic cars on display in the Ribble Valley. It was even more impressive when you think of the thousands of similar events right across the land that we had mustered such a turn out.

By the time we left the start some had already ‘jumped the gun’ and were well on their way but we left bang on time as car 1 closely followed by Neville and Tony in Neville’s wonderful red Cooper. Martin had no difficulty with the route instructions as we made our way through Ribchester and Longridge. A short diversion was made due to roadworks by United Utilities, essential works I am assured, and we made our way up the Hodder Valley towards Dunsop Bridge.

We had a short halt for mwe to take photographs before again following the route which seemed to involve a lot of Black Bull pubs. The route then swung into the Ribble Valley and on to Gisburn. The weather, and by now crowds, warming as the day went on.

Another stop for pictures led to a long wait with no cars, could we be a) lost or b) last? The whine of a transmission and squeal of brakes indicated neither applied as Mike Wood crested the brow of the hill behind us in David Bells MkII Cortina. Whoops sorry promised not to say that – correction Mike Wood gently and sedately came into view.

With some pictures duly taken we followed the route home through Waddington and on to the Moorcock where we found another group of enthusiast at the end of their own run from deepest darkest Yorkshire.

The event included an optional buffet which was one of the best I’ve had on a motoring event (usually we don’t get one as we are running the final control and all the entrants have scoffed the best bits by the time we get near the food. Marshalling isn’t all fun you know.

All in all it was a great day both for the participants and the Club. Here’s to 2009.

Chris Lee