Southrun Three, 4th March 2001
"The Forest" Salisbury Plain to Bournemouth
S3
Photo Archive
Gavin Westwood's Report
Video Summary of the Day
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What a run! Against all the odds it still happened. For S3 we have a
report from Gavin Westwood and myself at the moment with possibly 
more to come. As you know the
group ended up splitting into two or three main groups and we have different experiences
of the event. Select a report on the top right of this page or continue for my report.
Well, we called it 'The Forest', shame we had to miss it out more or less completely, but it certainly didn't spoilt it for me. The day started for me travelling towards Stonehenge from Andover where I had stayed the night before. Almost at the start point coming over the brow of the hill before Stonehenge, and I see an Elise going in the opposite direction, and then a red Elan!! Argh, what's happening? We drive around to the start and see another Elise in front talking to the staff at the Stonehenge car park, both the start and the Stonehenge car park were shut, for me, the day is falling apart already. Foot and mouth getting the better of us?
As we head back down the dual carriageway Craig Tomes calls and informs me that he is parked in a car park just off the next roundabout in Amesbury, with about 40 other cars! Fantastic. Thankfully the staff at the Stonehenge car park had been redirecting all cars to the new start and saved the day, thanks guys!
And
what a starting point, locals coming to look around this event that just turned up from
nowhere, Elise's of all sorts of conversions, special editions, the two new S2 Elise's
from the dealerships, Esprit's, 340R, and that Ford engine custom jobby which I'm still
not quite sure if it has a name yet. As I look around, there are still more cars entering
the car park every couple of minutes. Craig Tomes has given me the official count as a
nice round 60 cars exactly, which estimates over 100 people. After much running around
with the camcorder and camera, chatting to various people, 
suddenly we're off, and the roof is still on! Simon Mawer quickly
helps me with the roof, I think we must have done it in around 15 seconds! For those of
you don't know, I have an S1 Elise, so that's not bad timing. I sneakily dive across the
car park and out onto the road. What a noise, some of which added by Simon's new Chris
Neil Exhaust!
As we get back to the roundabout and take the 'third exit', we suddenly find ourselves the only Lotus on the road and on the route. The first group had bombed off, and the group behind, well, I still don't know! Anyone take a wrong turning?
Anyway, we head down towards Andover and Wherwell and stop on the country lane corner car park where Amanda's (my passenger) parents are awaiting with a camera and inform us of at least 20 cars that had gone by, thank god for that, then around the corner, a group of about 8 cars including the custom car come racing around the corner with a scuffing sound of rubber, so back in the car and we absolutely metal it and catch up.
From what I've heard, you all liked the Wherwell hair pin. We head off onto the straight roads where the group in front up the pace and slowly move to the distance. So, most of the ride there on for ourselves was a cruising journt in the country side as we get stuck behind some of that Sunday driver traffic. Later on we do catch up but as before the group in front have a higher pace in mind and off they go. We catch up a little later in Romsey, the group just about 5 cars in front of us, but all taking the wrong turning, too far to shout. After a short stop at the Petrol station we head back on route and eventually get to the roundabout where we would have gone through the New Forest, and luck for us that we had planned around the Forest because of the Foot and Mouth epidemic, where the road was closed.
Down to Bournemouth and in to the town and the smaller streets, we finally find Belle-Vue Road which to our amazement has many Elise's going in the opposite direction with plenty of confused faces! We get to a roundabout where we decide I've gone too far and have to turn back when a bunch of Elise's coming onto the same roundabout follow on. So picture this, I'm going back up Belle-Vue Road, not entirely sure where I'm to go next, with about 10 or so cars following! I spot a sign saying Sea-Front or something of that description, quickly knock the indicators on and turn left, thankfully, everyone follows, and the turning was the right one!
Some of you parked in that
rectangle car park, well, many of you did, but it wasn't the right one, but as more or
less everyone was there, we stayed as more turned up. Simon Mawer at this point informs me
that his friend has phoned and told him there are plenty of spaces on the beach car park
and we should direct everyone there, so we hang around, and meanwhile get everyone to move
on from the Pay and Display. As we head down ourselves, in fact just around the corner,
everyone is parked up in the real finish which worked out just fine, plenty of spaces. Not
long after and not much chance to breath and everyone is off again, down to the front, so,
back to the car!
The beach car park couldn't have been better, plenty
of spaces, nice scenery and plenty of places to eat at the other end. The day worked out
well, Amanda and myself stopped off at that Surf cafe place by the pier with Craig T, Debs
and Co., we won't mention any of the table conversation here shall we Craig?
I heard so many stories about the event, the tail happy guy, the Ferrari 355, we always seem
to see one of those dont we. But I'll leave the others to tell these stories in their own
reports.
I've had plenty of positive responses that you all enjoyed the event, I really hope you did and that any new comers to the event, which considering the event has doubled this time means there must be, I hope you enjoyed the day and can come to the next event which will be sometime in the summer.
Thanks for coming along,
Craig D.