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Cotswold Run 15 Aug 2004

Could it have been hotter?

Well, yes, the weather was not kind, but they did not let the rain spoil a wonderful weekend!

An action-packed weekend was organised chiefly by Soggycornflakes of MINI2 fame, with the assistance of DK (who played her usual role of mum and bossy old cow), and a team of event co-ordinators. The main thread of this event can be found on MINI2 via this link.

On Saturday night, the eve of the run, the car park at the Moat House Hotel in Northampton was jam-packed with MINIs. Over 91 MINI2ers had posted to say they would be staying overnight on Saturday. Big thanks to the Moat House, who allowed DK to store her picnic in their walk-in fridge overnight, thereby sparing DK the nightmare of another potential food scare.

For DK, the weekend started with a quick drink in the hotel bar, and then a stroll across the road to Bar L8, where she was joined by a hungry mob of 27, who led her to an excellent eat-as-much-as-you-like Chinese buffet at the Aroma restaurant opposite. Big thanks to the staff of Aroma who had to put up with a rowdy and hungry bunch of MINI2ers. DK had 4 platesful of her favourites, and pronounced the buffet good value for money!

After the meal, the mob returned to Bar L8 for more fun and games, to be joined by more and more MINI2ers as the evening went on. 

Around 22:00h, they all returned to the hotel for the Charity Auction in aid of Whizz-Kidz. Thanks to the kind donations and generosity of sponsors and individuals, nearly seven hundred pounds were raised on the night, leaving two sets of wheels and alloys still to be sold via MINI2. The list of items donated for auction can be found in the first post of this thread.

Thanks too to Trainman, who continued his birthday celebration from Friday by treating them to two yummy cakes during the auction.

After the auction the mob went back to Bar L8 for more good times. Big thanks to Bar L8 who cordoned off the back of the ground floor for the group, allowing them to enjoy ourselves until the wee hours of the morning.

Later on Sunday morning, DK and co drove to Cherwell Valley Services, the run's official starting point, to be greeted by a sea of MINIs.

As per usual, DK got lost soon after the start of the run, despite having walkie talkies set on 2 channels. Instead of trying to read the map to rejoin the run, she headed off to the lunch stop at Prescott Hill Climb on her own. On her way, she met with JANEY, who was also lost. DK and JANEY were the first to arrive at the lunch stop, to be greeted by goonery and cook1e, who did an excellent job as gate-keepers. 

DK and JANEY parked their cars half way up the hill on gravelled ground, which proved to be a wise move, since the sky soon opened. A good number discovered that parking on wet grass on a slope was not a good idea, and there were definitely some scary moments as cars slid downhill!

In total, 145 MINIs made the lunch time stop at Prescott Hill Climb. The food queue at the snack bar was horrendous. Allegedly, the management of the snack bar mis-calculated and has catered for only 50 people! It was also alleged that the staff had to raid the local supermarket for emergency provisions a couple of times! For DK, there was no queue - she had brought a picnic expressly to avoid the need.

After lunch, the run resumed, and it was with thanks to Harpo and Trainman that DK did not lose the convoy again. 

The run officially ended at Cherwell Valley Services, and it was as packed with MINIs as it was when they started, only this time, thanks to the rain, much dirtier.

After the run, DK and friends went for a much-needed de-stress drink, and a quick bite to eat before heading home. DK arrived home shortly after 22:00h owing to traffic jams along the way, tired but in high spirits.

The post event thread can be found via this link, where Soggycornflakes announced on Mon 16 Aug 2004 that a grand total of 1252.12 GBP was raised over the weekend for Whizz-Kidz!!!

DK would like to thank Soggycornflakes for a great weekend, since without him there would not be a "Cotswold Run". Thanks too to the usual suspects who kept DK sane throughout the weekend - you know who you are! 

Please click here to see a slide show featuring photos of MINI2ers and MINIs taken during this very enjoyable weekend.