A classic car rally honouring a proud tradition beginning during the era of the Morecambe Illuminations has paid tribute to a three-time former winner.
The Morecambe Car Club 'Illuminations Tour' follows in the wheels of the annual motor rally which used to start on Morecambe Promenade.
Each year the non-competitive tour adopts a particular occasion to commemorate or celebrate.
This year the club adopted the title of “One for Frank”, in memory of Irishman Frank Fennell, who passed away last October. Frank, who had achieved international acclaim in the sport, had been a longtime supporter of Morecambe Car Club, having competed on a number of the clubs events and winning the Classic Illuminations Rally on three occasions.
Derek Ormerod and Steve Latham
Thirty-six crews from around Lancashire, South Cumbria, West Yorkshire and two from Ireland, assembled at the Longlands Hotel, Carnforth on Saturday morning, for breakfast and pre-event briefing before setting off on a one-hundred and fifty mile, non-competitive tour of North Lancashire and the Yorkshire Dales.
Starting at one-minute intervals, the eclectic mix of vehicles spanning seven decades, and over twenty plus different manufactures travelled a route which as far as practical avoided main arterial roads.
John Vipond and Susan Smith
Initially heading south east via Caton and Quernmore cross roads and the Trough of Bowland via Dunsop Bridge and Slaidburn before turning north for morning coffee at Bridge House Tea Rooms, Wray.
Taking to the lanes to the north of Kirkby Lonsdale the crews travelled over Barbon Fell through Dentdale and over the bleak but very scenic Garsdale Common, then turning east to the lunch halt on the edge of the pretty village of Bainbridge.
Mark Stone and Karen Graham
The afternoon took the run via the moors overlooking Semer Water and on into the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, then through Starbotton and Kettlewell and then west through Arncliffe, skirting Malham Tarn to pause for a brief tea halt at the charming Helwith Bridge Inn.
The final hurrah was via Ribblehead with the ever impressive railway viaduct and then snaking through the complex of lanes to the south and west of Ingleton before the run back to the Longlands Hotel and the finish.
Nick Payne and Riley Payne
Along the way the crews were required to answer various cryptic questions relating to things they pass and record the letters from code boards put out in the roadside grass verges.
Thanks to Fred Bent, Clerk of the Course, and Tony North for the event information and photos.
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