Fifteen MVs joined the famous Roger’s Road Run
on January 14 with a more advent- urous course featuring farm and park tracks. We met for breakfast at the iconic Jack’s Hill Café
at Towcester before quickly leaving the A5 for smaller lanes.
Unfortunately, just after leaving Litchborough
we suffered our first and only casualty when Richard Hall’s Jeep gave up. It
was towed to our soup and mince pie stop at Weedon Depot and, despite heroic efforts
to get it moving, it was eventually recovered by a breakdown service. Ironically
the component which failed on the 70-year-old Jeep was a relatively modern
alternator! Richard said: “MVT members showed their true colours in the way
everyone came to my assistance. I couldn't have been better looked after. I
was back home by 2.30 so all’s well that ends well. Please convey my
thanks to everyone, I'm just sorry I missed lunch.” The Weedon Depot dates back to the Napoleonic Wars and was
active right up until the 1960s. Originally it housed the central small arms
depot for the British Army and was served by a working canal and later its own
railway network, connected to the main line. After Weedon, it was on to lunch at The George at Brixworth
via some lovely small lanes and park roads.
Vehicles taking part were five Jeeps, three Land Rover
Lightweights, a Land Rover Defender 110, Range Rover TAC R2 Carmichael fire
engine, Dodge Ram, Army Fire Service Goddess, Land Rover Mine Cab, DAF T244
with Roger leading in his DAF YA66. Thanks once again go to Roger and Janet Higgerson and Gordon and Vicky
Beale for organising this much looked forward to annual event.
There's a short video on You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JkBHkABNdU&feature=youtu.be Words and pictures by Peter Clarke
Above: meeting for breakfast at Jack's Hill Cafe
Left: Waiting for the injured Jeep to catch up with the convoy
Roger's DAF leads the way
No battle plan ever survives first contact with the enemy . . . unexpect- ed road closure in the middle of Roger's Road Run Picture by Tim Hawkes
The canal and visitors' centre at Weedon Depot
Block two still has its original slate roof
All eight main blocks at Weedon Depot are grade two listed
This is how an MV should be left when on display . . . well done Tim Hawkes!
Trying to fix Richard Hall's Jeep
Faulty alternator is removed
This 1943 Austin K4 fire engine has an interest- ing history and at the time of our visit was thought to be for sale. It's left outside and needs rescuing soon.