Yorkshire Figaro Rally – Thursday 1st/Sunday 4th June 2017
In 2017 our club won an award for this rally outshining even California in the category Best Club Run/Rally at the Classic Car Show awards on 10th November at the NEC. The calibre of our annual rally caught the attention of the Classic & Sports Car magazine award judges, overtaking shortlisted contenders including TVR and the Sunbeam Tigers tour to the sunshine state.
The sun smiled – for the most part – on the 116 club members from the UK and Europe who travelled to the Yorkshire Dales at the beginning of June for our annual rally, an event which ran as smoothly as the 59 vintage engines.
More than half had never visited the Dales before and were captivated by the stunning scenery and generous hospitality, with many of planning to return to the area in future to retrace the routes and explore more of what there is to see.
Our colourful convoy made its way up and down the dales for 4 days following a route and busy itinerary showcasing the Yorkshire Dales National Park and taking in parts of Wharfedale, Nidderdale, Coverdale, Wensleydale, Littondale, Malhamdale, Ribblesdale and The Three Peaks.
After the Skipton Castle tour on the afternoon of arrival day, canal boat trips on the Leeds-Liverpool canal were laid on for the evening.
On Friday, after gathering in our Yorkshire themed fancy dress (won by Angelique Case from the Netherlands, hitherto known as Nora Batty) we set off a morning run followed by a choice of activities underground and overground before reconvening at the stunning Bolton Abbey estate where some of us rose to the challenge of the iconic stepping stones across the River Wharfe.
A mini-craft fair was laid on back at the hotel featuring local artisans and a charity raffle with celebrity guests The Calendar Girls raised £422 for Bloodwise. Our numbers had swelled by then as we all sat down to a fabulous Figaro dinner followed by entertainment from ceilidh band Spinning Jelly and local morris side, The Flagcrackers of Craven.
On Saturday the rally headed north rising to the challenge of hairpin bends and steep climbs to our mysterious destination, The Forbidden Corner. After lunch we were free for the rest of the day to follow two alternative routes over hill and down dale and find our own fun for the evening, spoilt for choice of options.
On Sunday morning we did a toot-tooting drive-past of the Skipton Car Show as we headed off for another spectacular run taking in Ribblehead viaduct before ending up at Malham Cove. The more intrepid of the party, armed with pre-packed lunches and hiking boots took up the challenge of climbing up Gordale Scar and round to the magnificent limestone pavement at the top, where they were rewarded by site of a rare peregrine falcon chick on its nest. The evening saw our final gathering in the hotel bar for a fun rally quiz, pie and peas and award ceremony.
The Rendezvous Hotel’s team were praised for the calibre of their hospitality, as were other venues along the way including Skipton Castle, The Riverbank Hut, Stump Cross Caverns, Parcevall Hall Gardens, Cavendish Pavilion, Kilnsey Park, The Forbidden Corner, The Saddle Room, and High Trenhouse – who gave each owner a bottle of alcohol-free G&T from the Temperance Spirit Company as they left.
Other Yorkshire sponsors who provided surprise items for the rally bags included Keelham Farm Shop, Whittakers Chocolates, Yorkshire Tea, Midgley Motor Company, Yorkshire Life, Dalesman, Aspire, Welcome to Yorkshire, Skipton Hand Car Wash and the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust. Each lady received a hand-crocheted Yorkshire rose by Louise Mappley and for the Sue Hales Memorial Run, a fresh buttonhole rose from club member Penny Williams.
The cars certainly turned heads in the Dales, with spectators turning out to watch the cars pass, some even putting out welcoming bunting and waving flags as the procession made its way past.
Watch our official video of the rally produced by Skylark Video
Enjoy this funny video taken by a Shaun Nelson
Watch more of our YouTube Rallies, Meets & Events
THANKS
We are indebted to a huge number of individuals and businesses who gave their time to help make the rally special and went the extra mile for us. Please do support them with your testimonials on TripAdvisor, their website or Facebook pages. They are:
Words, PR and event management – Jane Ellison-Bates and Clare Potter (Manifest Marketing Ltd.)
Design, website and master spreadsheet – Kevin Fagan of the Figaro Owners Club
Accounts – Sue Fagan of the Figaro Owners Club
Maps, MC and Quiz master – Mark Bamforth
Images for the rally book – Stephen Garnett, Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust, Steve Finch, Dave Oldridge
Printing – Auraprint
Photography – Dave Oldridge, Julie Janes
T-Shirts – Vistaprint
Filming – John Jameson, Penny Hart-Woods, Izzy Hart-Woods, Paul Coultas
Media coverage – Yorkshire Post, Living North, Craven Herald, Classic Car Hire North, Welcome to Yorkshire, Yorkshire Dales National Park
Goody bags – Louise Mappley – crocheted Yorkshire roses, Taylors of Harrogate – Yorkshire Tea, Keelham Farm Shop – Tipsy Pig, Whittakers Chocolates, Midgley Motor Company, Yorkshire Life, Dalesman, Aspire, Welcome to Yorkshire, Skipton Hand Car Wash, Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust, The Temperance Spirit Company
Skipton Tour Guide – Chris Bryant
Flowers for the Figaro dinner – The Yorkshire Dales Flower Company
Prizes – ‘The Girls’ production company, Maddie & David Pye, Terry Bamforth, Figaro Owners Club, Alfie’s Attic (Julie Janes), Choice Baskets, North & South Gifts, Francesca Garland, SJP Creative, Linda Hoyle
Venues/Attractions: The Rendezvous Hotel, Skipton Castle, Riverbank Hut, Stump Cross Caverns, Parcevall Hall Gardens, Coldstones Cut (Bewerley Parish Council), Skipton Boat Trips, SCAD Endeavour, Cavendish Pavilion, Bolton Abbey Estate, Kilnsey Park, The Forbidden Corner, The Saddle Room, Skipton Car Show, High Trenhouse,
Special Guests – The Calendar Girls
Entertainment – Spinning Jelly, The Flagcrackers of Craven
Proof reading: Ken Graham, Jean Ellison, Clare Potter, Laura Shuckburgh
Marshalling, registration and raffle: Emma Shepherd, Tom Powell
Walk leader: John Whyte
Bollards – The Dog People
Flags n bags – Flags & Flagpoles
Plaques – Industrial Labels & Nameplates
Stickers – Windowsstickersfast
Stalls – Amaali, Bloodwise/Calendar Girls, Francesca Garland, Linda Hoyle, Procanvas Studio, Roseland Creations, Rosedale Studio, SJP Creative
Buttonholes for the Sue Hales Memorial Run – Penny & Chris
On behalf of all of you, we thank them one and all!
MONEY RAISED
On Friday night, our charity raffle raised £422 for Bloodwise – so thank you all for your support.
Related posts:
CarFest South – Friday 26th to Sunday 28th August 2022
North East Figaro Meet Up – Saturday 30th July 2022
CarFest North – Friday 23rd/Sunday 25th July 2021
Festive Figgy Run – Sunday 11th December 2016
FigFest North – Sunday 20th September 2014
InCarNation Brighton – Sunday 6th April 2014
Lake District Figaro Rally – Saturday 7th/Sunday 8th September 2013
Surrey Show – Sunday 18th September 2011
