`A WEEKEND OF DRIVING THROUGH SOME OF THE COUNTRY`S MOST SCENIC ROUTES!`
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2008
Hot Rods & Hills II
You wanna know what’s better than a static show full of trad hotrods? A rolling
showcase, that’s what. And y’know what’s better still? When that run takes place in
the famous Lake District - 885 square miles of pure natural beauty - the Lake District
is not only the UK’s most beautiful National Park, it is currently under review for
World Heritage Site status. Make no mistake, the stunning mountains, gorgeous
lakes, scented forests and tumbling streams and waterfalls, all criss-crossed with
tiny back roads and stone built villages and pubs, well, that’s a helluva place to go
cruising to a rumbling V8 beat….
The Lake Foot campsite is an excellent picturesque and spacious venue,
overlooking Ullswater, with decent toilets, showers, well-stocked shop, clubhouse,
restaurant, take-away, all on site, and more to the point, they are more than happy to
welcome a bunch of ne’r-do-well grease monkeys to roll in for the weekend.
Hot Rods & Hills is the brainchild of sole organiser Craig Dixon – just one man who
puts it all together, sorts out the cruise routes, makes sure everyone has a map and
run sheet, and generally makes sure everyone has a damn good time.
The Saturday cruise was a fun jaunt that took in deserted single track roads, a run
over the famous Shap road (some rodders may or may not have taken the
opportunity of 20 miles of a fairly deserted A6 to nail the pedal and go for a hoon.
Allegedly), and a trip over the notorious Kirkstone Pass (which doesn’t hold quite the
terrors it used to, we followed a few rods down then turned round and drove back up
to follow some more down for another photo opportunity – the things we do for CKD
readers…). Over 40 cars took part in the cruise, and if that doesn’t sound that huge a
number, well, cresting the rise for the regrouping point in front of the fairytale
Lowther Castle, and seeing them stretched out in the sunshine as far as you could
see was one of the most impressive sights I’ve seen in a while. A couple of pages of
photos can’t do justice to the 70 miles of Lakeland scenery we took in that day, and I
was just thankful to be in a roadster – open to the elements and with 360 vision has
to be the best way to experience any countryside.
Saturday night saw an absolutely cracking set by a band called The Catz. I’m not
really a live band man, but honestly, you couldn’t praise these guys highly enough –
a bit of rockabilly, a bit of rock ‘n roll, a bit of rock, all delivered with expertise yet fun.
Truly excellent – when was the last time you heard a band make even a Status Quo
track sound good for example?Sunday saw yet another cruise, this time around 20
miles out and rolling way way up onto the North Pennines to the Hartside Café, with
its stunning panoramic views right over to the Solway Firth of Scotland. Around 20 or
so hard-core rodders braved their hangovers and made this trip – late breakfast/early
lunch at the café to settle the old stomach before heading back down to pack up and
hit the road home.
Hot Rods & Hills really is a great event, with the emphasis firmly on driving. Craig is
adamant it’s never going to be a show ‘n trophy event – it’s for rodders, not pot-
hunters. In only its second year it’s already growing in size, and looks set to be a firm
date on Northern rodders calendars for the future. Oh, and rumour has it there’s also
a disused airfield not that far away from the campsite. Flag start drags next year
anyone…?
Odgie
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