Most of you have probably worked out that I went up north at the back end of last week.
The reason was to do a mag article on the BMW with Jim C and Nige
The idea was to compare my old girl with a bog standard one owner, low mileage 325i Sport. Jim knew such a car which was owned by a guy who lived not 100 yards from his outlaws house.
So Thursday afternoon I went to Jim's to pick the BMW up with a view to changing the wheels back to the road ones and driving it up North with Jim and family following about an hour behind. The trouble was the car had developed a noise which we found to be the handbrake so I didn't get away till about 3.15pm. Jim, Jude and Tom followed 15 mins behind. A very long journey saw us arrive way up North (Skipton ish) at 9.15pm. Nige arrived 15 mins later and ready for a beer.
We walked the 50 yards to the local and partook of a bitburger or two. What I didnt realise was that pubs shut so early in Scotland (or wherever we were) and we got kicked out at 10.15pm
A couple of beers later and we turned in at 2.30am Saturday morning I was up at 7am to change back to my track wheels and wash the car.
We took some static pics of my car outside the house before the other car arrived and we did the same with that.
I took a couple of B&W's, mostly because I like them and Jim hates them
Then it was off out for a drive to some of the nicest driving roads in the land. For some reason after a couple of miles Nige swung into a school entrance and was sick
Something hadn't agreed with him and he struggled for pretty much the rest of the day.
Down the road we found a nice spot to take some road side pics and have a few fast runs in both cars.
That done we stopped for some lunch as the weather was changing for the worse. Nige was looking increasingly ill
After lunch we moved on for some more statics prior to finishing for the day.
Back at the inlaws we took the dog for a walk over the hills before changing back to my road wheels and nipping out for fuel. Jims idea of nipping out consists of 80 flat out miles across the Dales. Great fun and I was suprised that the Jaffa cake was as quick as Jims M3 powered 316 in a straight line
After the first 40 miles I thought it best to steady things down a bit. My Marigold and star performance tyres had done well, but I didn't want to ride my luck too much, especially as it was starting to rain again. Still great fun and once again the Jaffa cake amazed me at how good it was.
Back at the ranch we had home made fish cakes and chips before tucking into a stella or two and a late nigth for me 10.15pm
Up bright and early I pushed the car out of the drive and down the hill for a 7.15am start on the 260mile drive home. 4 Hours later I was home again with the beemer not having missed a beat.
A great weekend. Special thanks to Jim and Jude for putting me up and Nige for using his photographic skills. Oh and to Haggis for bringing the sport along.
Obviously I have made sure that none of the best pictures are on this thread as number 1, I didnt take them
and number 2, they will be needed for the article