Surrey Run 2009
The date for the Surrey Run is currently undecided, but will be anounced very shortly..
Further details of next year's Surrey Run will appear here just as soon as they are available. We have already started on the planning for the event and we will do our best not to disappoint. However, because of the popularity of the run, numbers will be limited to 250 on a first come first served basis. So please return soon to see what we have planned.
Surrey Run 2008
Surrey Run 2008 was on Sunday 13th July 2008.
And we went to the
This event started at Bocketts Farm, Fetcham near Leatherhead in Surrey. The scenic route covered a distance of about 85 miles and finished at the BLUEBELL RAILWAY in Sussex.
If you were with us for the run, we took a photo of your MG at the start. These photos are available to purchase for £5 each and all the proceeds will go to charity (i.e. for every photo, £5 will go to charity).
The photos have now all been printed and dispatched. If you have completed and handed in the request form (given to you at the start of the run) and given us or sent us the money, you should have received yours by 18th August. If you have not received your photo by this date, please get in touch by email. If you lost the request form and wish to receive your photo, please download the form here, print it out and, having completed it, send it to us with a cheque (the address is on the form).
There was special parking at Sheffield Park, the headquarters of the railway and home to the locomotive department.
If you wish to find out more about the Bluebell Railway, please follow one of the links above to their own web site
The following article appeared in the September edition of "Enjoying MG", The MG Owners' Club magazine.
NIGEL SWANN (Epsom Area MGOC Special Events Co-ordinator)
“SURREY RUN 2008”
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| Ready for the off | |
The weather during the early part of our summer left much to be desired. As time approached the magic date of the 13 July we were subjected to a continuation of wet days. This is great news for the gardeners amongst us but very bad news for the Epsom Area MGOC who have once again been planning for the traditional SURREY RUN event. But then, guess what, the 5 day forecast predicted that on the 13th of July the sun would shine. Sure enough, in true tradition, the good weather followed us all day for the Epsom Area “SURREY RUN 2008”. This event is growing each year and proving to be so popular that entry numbers have risen to record levels. Good weather also reflected the number of entrants who decided to register on the day. It is even possible that we may have reached a practical limit, and will have to consider only including pre entries for the future so remember that old saying, “book early to avoid disappointment” as it may well be appropriate.
As in previous years, our run is always planned to start at Bocketts Farm near Leatherhead, then cover a distance of about 85 miles through some of the most picturesque scenery in Surrey and Sussex and to finish at a place of interest. This is where the participants can relax and take in the features available making the most of their day. For this year our final destination was chosen to be the Bluebell Railway at Sheffield Park, which has always had that certain appeal.
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| Photo opportunity at the start | |
Those of us responsible for the starting arrangements at Bocketts Farm had gathered by 8.00am and were soon joined by the first participants including our guest Richard Ladds, the editor of “Enjoying MG”. Richard had left at the crack of dawn and driven down from the MGOC in Cambridge. Bocketts Farm is an ideal starting venue providing ample space and all the required facilities including a full English breakfast for those wishing to journey on a full stomach. Our reception team was soon busy as the MG cars started arriving through the farm gate, quickly filling the parking area. The “Registration Gazebo” was also a hive of activity as rally plates and route instructions were handed out following the checking of each unique run entry number. There was a buzz of excitement as many people were meeting up with friends and acquaintances or just chatting with other like-minded enthusiasts about their favourite topic, the world of MG cars. It was at this stage that the instruction sheets for their journey containing the typical “Tulip” type diagrams were then studied stimulating even more discussion. Having convinced a few of the more intrepid travellers that we had tested the route many times by different Club members who had all returned safe and sound, they seemed more confident. We waved the first cars off at about 9.30am, the designated start time, and a steady stream continued leaving until about 11.45. Every car had the opportunity of passing under the official start banner with the moment being captured by our resident Epsom Area Editor and Photographer Kim, who was ready to photograph each car as it set off on the run. If you have not already ordered a copy of your special photo, then please contact Kim Shrosbree with your registration number on 01372 802481. For a small sum she can still provide you with a memento of this occasion.
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| Arriving at the Bluebell Railway | |
Our Epsom marshalling team at the Bluebell Railway had set up the welcoming arrangements including familiar MG signs guiding the first arrivals towards a special entrance gate leading to the dedicated MG parking. There were some beautiful examples of MG models taking part this year with a vast array ranging from the 1930’s to present day. Once parked, the picnic tables came out and it was time to relax in the sunshine. The entry fee for the Surrey Run also included admission to the Railway and a special reduction on the actual train fares. Sheffield Park is the headquarters of the railway and home to the Locomotive Department. Here we were able to see a number of engines either awaiting restoration or being prepared for their tour of duty. The high standard of rolling stock was a delight to see. It does make you realize the scale of such a task compared to working on a motorcar. Time could be taken with many other interesting exhibits including the museum or visiting the restaurant and bar before taking a nostalgic ride on a classic steam train.
At the start, each driver was given a Prize Draw ticket containing their unique run number to be handed in as they passed the finish post. When everyone had arrived, our hosts at the Bluebell Railway
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Pat Watson organises the draw |
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conducted the selection of winners. Three tickets were randomly chosen as follows. Entry number 148, Neil and Clare Woolhouse won First Prize, a voucher for £25. Entry number 124, Peter Bolser won Second Prize, a voucher for £15, and entry number 86, Peter Joslin, won Third Prize, a voucher for £10.
On behalf of the Epsom Area I would like to thank Bocketts Farm and the Bluebell Railway for providing the start and end points of this years route. We are grateful to all our friends and MG enthusiasts for their continued interest and involvement with the Epsom Area MGOC. My thanks go to everyone who joined us for this event. The Epsom Area has always had a commitment to fund raising for local deserving charities. By taking part in the Surrey Run, you have provided valuable support in helping us achieve our goals for yet another year. I do hope that you enjoyed the day and I look forward to seeing you all again next July for the SURREY RUN 2009
Surrey Run 2007
_____________________________________________Nigel Swann (Epsom Area MGOC Special Events Co-ordinator)
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a
very comprehensive range of crafts, a miniature railway, entertainment
to keep the children happy, tea rooms and picnic areas. |
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weather for July has been the worst for 250
years, but on the 15th July the sun was bright
and good weather followed us all day
for the Epsom Area "Surrey Run 2007". This
year we were back in the large field at Bocketts
Farm, and in no time the registration gazebo
was set up and our resident Editor and
photographer, Kirn, was at the start banner
ready to photograph each car as it set
off on the run of about 85 miles through
Surrey's picturesque scenery. One of
the first to arrive just after Sam was our guest
Richard Ladds, the Editor of Enjoying
MG. He
had driven
down from the MGOC in Cambridge leaving at the crack of dawn. By 9am the cars were streaming in the entry gate. Everyone seemed in good spirits, with many asking how we managed the incredible weather. My stock answer was, "We have a special person on the team who always looks after us". By about 10am |
legendary) I started persuading all the participants to set off. This procedure took another two hours before we had cleared the site, so by 12 noon we started our own | obviously suited to our guests as they were reluctant to leave as the event drew to a close. There were favourable comments from many of the participants that they had enjoyed their |
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| Pursuit
vehicle, Carol and Graham Whyte with their MG TC in Police trim |
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 Gill and Terry Fidler's MG TD |
time with us. Each driver was given a prize draw ticket to be handed in as they passed the finish post. When everyone had arrived the draw was conducted by a representative of Bentley, Mr Barry Sutherland. Three tickets were selected as follows: Entry number two, Brian Butson won First Prize, a voucher for £25. Entry number 161, Martin Coakley won Second Prize, a voucher for £15, and entry number 11, Marlene Childs won Third Prize, a voucher for £10. On behalf of the Epsom Area I would like to thank Bocketts Farm and the Bentley Wildfowl and Motor Museum for providing the start and end points of this year's route. We are grateful to all our friends and MG enthusiasts for their continued interest and involvement with the Epsom Area MGOC. My thanks go to everyone who joined us for this event. The Epsom Area has always had a commitment to fund raising for local deserving charities. By taking part in the Surrey Run, you have provided valuable support in helping us achieve our goals for |
 Miss Allum's TF 160 with everyone chatting or taking full advantage of the facilities that Bocketts has to offer (the full English breakfast is |
journey
to Bentley Wildfowl and Motor Museum near Lewis in Sussex where the
run was to terminate. |
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yet
another year.
I do hope that you enjoyed
the day and I look forward to seeing you all again next July for the
Surrey Run 2008.
your
special photo, then please contact |
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| Joan and Colin Porter visit from Australia |  Flamingos among the wildfowl at the Bentley estate |
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 Barry Sutherland picks the winners |
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 Epsom's dedicated team of Marshals |
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Epsom have a particularly strong esprit de corps and this is obvious from the warm welcome you receive on arrival at the start point of Bockett's Farm and the way in which it becomes clear that every aspect of the day has been carefully planned from the route to the venues. The MGs were directed into a large field set high on a hillside with great views of the surrounding area and Bockett's Farm itself. It's an ideal setting off point with all the necessary comforts including a cafe. After chatting to old friends it was soon time to set off and as an added touch a photograph is taken of each entrant as their MG passes through the specially constructed archway. The
route book with its directions, tulip diagrams and all important
mileages is an essential part of the success of a Road Run. The destination of Bentley Wildfowl Trust and Motor Museum would be worth a visit at any time, the museum houses a large and well presented collection of cars and motorcycles while in the Wildfowl Trust, there are altogether 125 species of wildfowl. The site also had the benefit of all the usual facilities with a cafe and shop. There was ample parking and all the participants had plenty of room to relax, enjoy the venue and chat to each other. The
Richard Ladds |
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