CHRISTMAS BEGINS EARLY IN CUMBRIAU MBRIA

Classic fans get into the festive spirit early – by braving the elements in the Lake District

’One of the wetter events we’ve had, but everyone managed to make it’

The chance to tackle 65 miles of Cumbria’s finest roads was more than enough to tempt more than 40 classic owners to take part in this festive-themed winter tour.

Entries ranged from a Morris Eight and Austin-Healey 3000 to modern classics including a BMW M Roadster and Aston Martin DB9, with participants being encouraged to don Christmas-themed costumes and decorate their vehicles in a Yuletide fashion ahead of the beginning at the Rheged Discovery Centre, near Penrith.

Rhona MacKinnon, who took part in the run for the first time in her 2004 Porsche 911, said: ‘It was all really good fun, and although the Cumbrian weather can be a bit unpredictable, it’s a good chance to get out and enjoy driving even in the middle of winter.

‘I enjoyed the costumes too – it’s all a bit silly, of course, but it gets everyone into the Christmas spirit a little early!’

While the most direct route between the Rheged start point and the finish point in the Lakeland village of Braithwaite is along the A66, the route quickly diverged onto quieter roads, heading through the fells around Caldbeck, and past Bassenthwaite Lake before threading through the village of Buttermere and over the 1093ft summit of the Newlands Pass, battling the changeable Cumbrian weather throughout the route.

Graeme Forrester, event spokesman, said: ‘It was one of the wetter events we’ve had, but everyone managed to make it around successfully. People come from all over the north of England to take part because it’s a great chance to drive some of the best roads in

Lakeland while they’re quiet – if you were to do something like this in the summer, you’d have a lot of tourist traffic on the roads, which would make it more difficult.

‘It’s quite popular too because there aren’t that many other events taking place at this time of year if you want to get out and enjoy your classic – and everyone loves the Christmas theme, too.’

Colin Pattinson’s 1970 MGB roadster, driven up from Preston to take part, leads Terry Sedgwick’s 1970 ‘B GT and Dale Sharp’s Saab 96 near Caldbeck.

The 65-mile run through the Cumbrian countryside is non-competitive, meaning the occupants of this 1973 Triumph Spitfire MkIV could enjoy the views over Crummock Water and Buttermere.

Richard Allen and Karen Davidson took part in their 1965 Austin Mini, which now has a 1293cc engine.