Lancashire Region – December PP Report
The full report on Jo & Alan Diamond’s Drive and Lunch arrived too late for Novembers Porsche Post. Only four Porsche left the meeting place at Bamber Bridge (BB) on a day that earlier in the week the Met Office prediction was for rain all day; were they wrong! We set off on dry roads and glorious sunshine. Leaving BB, we drove towards Hoghton Tower, then on to Salmesbury, Ribchester and our first stop at Bashall Barn for coffee just after 11 o’clock. After a 70 minute drive, the scones which were made just before we arrived and coffee were well received. Looking out of the lounge window at Bashall Barn, there was a fantastic view all the way down the valley with Longridge Fell on our right. Leaving Bashall Barn we went through Waddington, Chatburn and Rimmington before taking to minor roads ware even walkers would have to move onto the grass! These all had great surfaces probably the best in the England. Going down Stopper Lane to Whytha Road is where we negotiated 5 gates across the road before getting to the A682. After crossing the A682, on Stocks Lane towards Barnoldswick the view was fantastic. Admiring the view, we stopped and looking north, the flat top of Ingleborough could be clearly seen which is 25 miles away. On through Trawden and passed Widdop Reservoir where fortunately we didn’t meet many cars as the road is single track with passing places; for the passengers in the left seat, a nice 200 foot drop on the left! At Ridge Rough we had an interesting 1 in 3 with a left hairpin 160° to negotiate but once again we were fortunate not to meet anything. This was followed by lunch at ‘Nino’s at the Fighting Cocks’ near Cliviger, BB10 4RQ, a great Italian with a huge car park, and where our RO David and his wife Judy met us for lunch as they couldn’t do our fantastic run: what a great day.
On Sunday 7th October the monthly breakfast meeting at The Cornerhouse, Wrightingtom was again packed. There were a large number of Porsches present from R18, R5, TIPEC and even Horwich Porsche Club members, as well as some Porsches whose owners were not yet members of a club It was even commented that some attendees thought it was a Porsche event. As always there were a varied selection of other classic cars from PCGB members Hassan Isaji’s 1924 Bentley, Russ Howarth’s Rolls Royce, as well as a G40 Replica in Gulf colours, Ferrari’s, Astons and other a varied older classic cars. The next meeting at the Cornerhouse will be on 1st January 2019 and will, as always, be packed.
On 14th October Phillip Shaw organised another run to the Oil Can Café at Holmfirth. Philip had provided route instructions and maps of the route which I e-mailed to everyone who said they were attending. The maps were a bit on the small size but everyone kept together to arrive at the Hinchcliffe Arms, Cragg Vale near Hebden Bridge for an excellent lunch. We then set off using Philips, or sat nav., instructions, to the new Oil Can Café. Some alternative routes were actually taken and I even got to have a circuit of Halifax, and Huddersfield before finally getting to the Oil Can Café. This is a new venue as the lease on the old one ran out. There is still work in progress, and at the moment there were fewer cars there than at the old place. The café was as good as before with large slices of home-made cakes. As arranged we met up with some PCGB Yorkshire Region members for some light hearted banter. They suggested we join them at their2019 ‘Northern 100’ which finishes at Skipton. Watch out for the date.
Our October monthly meeting was a 2019 events planning meetings. We reviewed the events we attended in 2018 and suggestions for 2019 were made. It looks like we may have another full calendar
On Sunday 21st October many PCGB, TIPEC joined other Porsche owners who are not yet club members, at Lancashire Sports & Supercar Club Breakfast meeting at the Phantom Winger. As usual the car park was full and again the next door IBIS Hotel had closed off there car park to nonresidents. Again there was an excellent turnout of Porsche’s including a 964 Retro Targa, which had apparently been manufactured in Yorkshire. We were approached discreetly by the organiser to say that form next month the event would be split into 2 parts. All Supercars would now be meeting at The Ancient Oak, Merry Trees Lane, Cottam, PR4 0NZ, and all other cars would stay at the Phantom Winger. Both events would be on the same day from about 9.00 in winter. The 2 b venues are only about 1.5miles apart so you can visit both venues if you want. Hopefully The Ancient Oak has more than 1 coffee machine. We were told they would be opening up early to serve breakfasts as well.
I haven’t had any suggestions for venues to have additional nights yet, so if you have any suggestions we can check them out. We may even be able to use them for our normal monthly club nights instead of Garstang GC.