Charlie’s Birthday Meet

Dervy’s York Meet September 2003

I

t had been a while since Charlie and I had organised a meet, well a few months, and so we decided to set one up for the Saturday before Charlie’s birthday.

After some thoughts about what we wanted to do and achieve, we settled on a classic meet plan. We met up at around one o’clock just outside Thirsk, then drove to York via some country roads, some challenging ascents and descents, and some narrow streets. At York, we headed straight for the Frankie & Benny’s at Clifton Moot for a Birthday Celebration nosh-up. So, that’s the outline, now lets talk about the detail!

At Thirsk, we met up just behind a Little Chef to form our own section of the car park. Highlights included the chap in a Siecento, complete with viper stripes, attempting to impress us with his 1·1 litre Fiat engine’s smoky performance when he drove off. I suspect the chap felt embarrassed that twelve Kas, in various states of modification, were just opposite him in the car park!

We’re all leering at the Ka running a 1·7 litre Zetec-SE engine, as traditionally found in the Puma!

This is Craig’s Ka, which features two tone paintwork with some interesting, stunning, airbrushing. I like it myself – it looks even better on the move!

And, yes, that’s me looking at it!

Once we left the Little Chef, a brief stint down the dual carriageway was followed by a briefer stint in Thirsk itself, before we were heading out towards Sutton Bank on the A170.

Sutton Bank itself is a lovely 25% uphill gradient, with some nice twisties in the middle, just perfect for testing Ka kooling systems and engine performance. The sound of twelve Kas ascending the gradient, many with louder-than-normal exhausts must have drawn a few stares.

We regrouped at the top of the hill, with the only drama being Quiettype’s cooling system, which appeared to have sprung a leak. Fortunately, this was only because it was rather too full - we believe. Still, Quiettype’s face was a picture as he watched coolant dribbling out from under his car!

From Sutton Bank, a quick drive along the A170, and then we took the White Horse descent (which is featured here as a place to get brake fade).

Woe betide anybody getting in our way, like this unfortunate in a Renault 5!

Then, we skirted the southern edge of the Yorkshire Wolds, past the ruined abbey, to catch the B1363 back towards York.

There’s not much to say about the B1363. It’s a relatively bumpy, twisty section of road, indeed it’s bumpy enough to catch some lowered front spoilers (sorry Rikki!) and twisty enough to provide some entertainment. But my photographer, Tim Kemp, did get some great shots!

Once we arrived at Clifton Moor, just on the outskirts of York, we went to Frankie & Benny’s for our nosh up.

After the food, most of us went back to our place, to play “Squash” and drink tea and coffee. And of course, to fill our street with Kas!