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Here is Brian’s report on this year’s Raid Tan Hill - (to be printed in the 2CVGB Magazine.)
On the Friday before the event we set off in our Picasso to check out the route, put up the way markers and deliver one hundred and fifty participation certificates to the Tan Hill Inn for the landlady to sign.
Although we could see snow on the tops, the roads were completely clear right up Wharfedale, over the Buttertubs Pass and all the way to Keld. It was only as we came over the top of Keld Bank that we saw the snow. Another two miles and the road was virtually closed with three vehicles already in the ditch! The top section of road leading to Tan Hill had not been ploughed. Luckily, just before leaving home, I had decided to put the snow chains in the boot.
We managed to assist one vehicle back onto the road and leaving the other two waiting for the breakdown truck we put on the chains and eventually arrived at Tan Hill. The journey from Leeds had taken us nearly five hours instead of the normal two.
After lunching and sorting things out with the landlady we rang Richmondshire Council and to our surprise they agreed to plough the road the following morning. On Saturday we spoke to Tan Hill and they confirmed that the road had been cleared.
Sunday morning dawned sunny and clear and at 8.15 am the Lawnswood Arms opened up to host the start of the run and provide much appreciated tea, coffee and bacon, sausage and egg sandwiches. By 10 o’clock the car park was full of “A” series vehicles and it was time for the first convoy to depart.
The weather was wonderful and the whole of the way from Leeds to Tan Hill we were treated to fabulous views of the fascinating scenery and wildlife that make up the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Stopping only in Langstrothdale to regroup and take a quick photo call we arrived at Hawes in record time.
After a twenty minute break for hot mulled wine and cake we set off to complete the journey and at almost exactly one o’clock over one hundred 2CVs and derivatives descended on the Tan Hill Inn.
This year there were lots of vehicles doing the run for the first time and some really interesting ones including –
- Richard and Matthew Hollis’ stretched limo 2CV – we will never understand how it got up Keld Bank!
- Jan and Dave Stephenson who arrived in an open Pembleton three wheeler
- Callum Beveridge who turned up in a really nice Burton
- Mick Williams who turned up on a Harley Davidson Electroglide saying it was “scary on ice”!
Several C15 vans and various assorted other non-“A” series made up the rear of the convoy mostly with the excuse that their 2CVs were “put away for the winter”. The furthest travelled was Michael Brown’s 2CV6 Special which travelled 405 miles from Normandy to join us. The oldest car (which registered) was John Blackall’s 1964 2CV4.
After meeting old friends, inspecting the cars and having lunch everybody congregated in the barn and all the certificates, stickers and raffle prizes were given out and it was time to leave. The general consensus was that it was one of the best runs ever.
We think that we were very lucky to get to Tan Hill at all considering the road conditions on Friday and then what happened overnight on Sunday! We are very grateful to Richmondshire District Council for their prompt actions in clearing the road for us.
About twelve of us stayed over at Tan Hill on Sunday night and at 7 pm it started to snow. The following morning all the roads were closed, the staff couldn't get up to the pub and we all had to muck in and help the landlady prepare breakfast! We then had to wait for the road to be opened.
We had a problem with our yellow 2CV Rico van because lots of snow had blown under the bonnet. After we had cleaned it all out and doused it with WD40 the landlord gave us a tow with his 4x4 and eventually we got it started and we all got away about 12.30 pm.
The road was a bit dodgy on the way down to Reeth but we all got down safely so we decided it would be a good idea to go over Grinton and down into Leyburn – this turned out to be worse than the road down to Reeth but we all eventually got home about 4 pm.
We were all lucky considering the road to Tan Hill was closed by snow on Friday, the council managed to open it for us on Saturday and it was closed again Monday morning!
Thanks to everybody who turned up, Tracey, Mike and all the staff at Tan Hill, all the Tan Hill team at “Les Hiboux” and especially Tony Shields and 2CV City without whose continuing financial support we would not be able to maintain the tradition of keeping Raid Tan Hill a completely free event.
Hopefully we will see you all again on next year's run which will be on the 10th of January.
An epic weekend!
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