EVENT REPORT

12 | ClassiC CaR WEEkly | Wednesday 15 January 2014 Wednesday 15 January 2014 | ClassiC CaR WEEkly | 13

Wirral to Llandudno

MiNi RUN North Wales, Sunday 12 January

More than 120 Minis began their 2014 season. DAVID SIMISTER joins in

The sight of scores of Minis lining up to take their place on Llandudno’s picturesque promenade after a gripping drive down the Great Orme proved the

highlight of this A-Series-powered adventure.Billed as the Mini fraternity’s first big event of the

year and organised by members of Wirral Minis, the Wirral to Llandudno Run saw more than 150 cars pack into the seaside resort, with owners from across North Wales bringing their cars to join 120 Minis which had travelled in convoy from the Wirral town of Bromborough.

A new departure for this year’s event – which

has traditionally seen the convoy travel along the A55 expressway from England – was the addition of a second, more scenic route, with the majority of participants opting for the winding lanes through Mold and St Asaph.

John Sanderson, the event’s head marshal, told CCW: “It was quite tricky to get the two different convoys to meet up at the same time, with the scenic route being about 10 minutes slower, but it worked out perfectly for us.

“I think for most of the Mini owners, the fun of the event is coming up to the top of the Great Orme, and then heading down the twisty road into

Llandudno – the Stelvio pass, we call it! It’s the first opportunity for most Mini owners to get out after the Christmas break, so it’s a chance to get the classic out and blow the cobwebs away.”

This year’s run, which attracted Mini owners from as far afield as Caernarfon and Kent, included a wide variety of Mini-based classics, with Riley Elfs, Wolseley Hornets, two GTM Libras and a trio of Metros joining in with the fun. The two convoys, which met at Rhos-on-Sea, headed up in convoy to the top of the Great Orme, before journeying to Llandudno’s seafront to show off the cars to the resort’s residents.

CCW’s Mini for the dayA big part of the Wirral to Llandudno Mini Run is being able to weave your way around the twisty roads of the Great Orme in a Mini – and CCW was determined not to miss out on the action.We borrowed this 1983 Mini Cooper homage from Great Escape Classic Car Hire, which charges £95 for a 24-hour hire of the car. The 998cc engine proved more than a match for the climb up the Great Orme, while its handling reminded us just why so many people swear by classic Minis for a cheeky B-road blast.n 01527 893733 n www.greatescapecars.co.uk

The run culminated with a chance for Mini owners to show off their classics on Llandudno’s seafront Cars from the two different convoy routes met at the picturesque seafront at Rhos-on-Sea before heading into Llandudno

Modified and standard Minis were all welcome, including Mini-based kit cars

Plenty of Welsh Mini owners crossed the border to meet up at the Bromborough Retail Park

EVENT REPORT Wirral to Llandudno Mini Run

12 | ClassiC CaR WEEkly | Wednesday 15 January 2014 Wednesday 15 January 2014 | ClassiC CaR WEEkly | 13

FOCUs ON ClUBs

North Wales Custom MinisWhen John Hughes, a Mini owner from Colwyn Bay, found out that his local Mini club had suspended their activities he decided to fill the gap – by setting up his own club.

A newly-established club which caters primarily for classic Mini owners in and around the Colwyn Bay area, the group is so far based around the group’s page on Facebook, but there are plans to host monthly meetings, and to attend Mini shows and runs across the country.n Search for ‘North Wales Custom Minis’ on Facebook

Wirral MinisThe driving force behind the Wirral to Llandudno Mini Run has more than 40 members from across Merseyside and Cheshire, and has been going from strength to strength since being founded in 1999.

The club, which has two meetings a month, not only attend most of the major Mini events across the country but also organise their own regular runs, and are keen to hear from anyone wishing to join.

Among the cars members had brought along was Mark Steward’s 1968 Wolseley Hornet Mk3, which acted as one of the event’s marshal vehicles.n www.wirralminis.com

Crewe’s MissilesThis very active Cheshire-based club brought plenty of Minis along to North Wales, including Lancashire resident Gary Blower, who brought along his modified 1989 Mini City E to the seafront.

The club, which is primarily centred on an online forum, regularly take part in runs and shows across the North West and further afield, and enjoys a healthy variety of both standard and modified Minis among its membership.n www.crewes-missiles.co.uk

Stunning scenery was a highlight of the run, taking in the narrow roads around the Great Orme that also played host to Wales Rally GB last November

A steep climb and bitterly cold conditions did little to deter Mini owners from heading to the top of the Great Orme, where they congregated to admire the view

Paul Hides, from Sandbach, has swapped the A-Series engine in his 1990 GTM Libra for a Honda Type-R VTEC

Rob Curson, from Burscough, has owned his 1992 Mini Sprite for three years and treated it to a string of mods

Tony Haslam, from Cheshire, spent two years restoring his 1964 Riley Elf Mk2 and now regularly takes it to shows

Ian Ashton, brought his barn-find 1974 Mini 850 along from Llysfaen for its first ever outing

Event marshals John and Mavis Sanderson led the

convoy in their 1967 Austin Mini Countryman Mk2

John Anderson has turned his 1977 Mini 1100

Clubman into this colourful 1275GT homage

Glyn Roberts and Aaron Cox came along from Caernarfon in this 1995 Mini Cooper Spi, which they are keen to show

Peter Hughes and Melanie Kane brought this 1990 Mini Cooper RSP along for the run from Flintshire

Andrew Thomson, from Warrington, was inspired to buy this 1986 MG Metro Turbo because his father ran one