Buxton and The Peaks, UK
2015
Organiser David Wiggins and Harry Irvine
Wonderfully organised by David and Harry, this year's UK Gathering of Costello MGs saw nine cars meet in the rugged Peak District of Derbyshire, UK.
Attendees on this Gathering:
Harry and Janet Irvine (Mk II Roadster)
David and Wendy Wiggins (Mk II GT)
Laurie and Pat Way (Mk I Sebring GT)
Brian and Barbara Perry (Mk III Roadster)
Roger and Gay Anderson (Mk II GT)
Andrew and Alison Johnson (Mk I CGT)
Roger Cook and Vince Harding (Mk II GT)
Jurgen and Heike Hauber (Mk II Roadster)
Richard and Carole Wood (Mk II GT).
Richard Fairclough (Mk I Roadster) gets a very honourable mention; his gearbox failed just a couple of miles from Buxton and he had to return home as a guest of the AA. He will no doubt be reading the Technical Section of mgcostello.com as he searches for the best 5-speed gearbox for his Costello :)
In the midsummer’s evening sunshine nine Costello MG's gathered in Buxton, Derbyshire with drivers meeting at wine bar of the Old Hall hotel. Costello-related anecdotes were exchanged, experiences shared and much good food and drinks consumed, the forecasted rain the subject on many minds.
Wet weather greeted the group as expected on Saturday morning as the cavalcade burbled its way through Tissington and Ashbourne for a first breather. A scenic drive to Langley was enjoyed especially around the rock-climbing area of The Roaches. After lunch, the procession threaded through the Goyt Valley and down Winnats pass with spectacular views across to Castleton.
A hearty meal was enjoyed at Saturday evening at the Columbine restaurant, Buxton, where the group filled the entire ground floor. Owner Kim had an entertaining verbal exchange with Roger Cook which tested all his investigative journalistic experience!
On Sunday, a post-breakfast mechanical consultation was convened to investigate David Wiggin’s sticking throttle (Mk II GT) - during Saturday’s run he struggled to pass three cyclists stating it was ‘like driving with cruise control permanently on’ - he couldn't keep up with the Costello pack. Brian Perry (Mk III Roadster) identified tension in the throttle cable, and with Laurie Way (Sebring Mk I GT) loosening the retaining lug, all accelerator control was gratefully restored. David was once again able to overtake the two-wheelers.
Alison and Andrew Johnson (Mk I CGT) were unable to join the group on Sunday so headed home happy to Rutland. The rest of the group, after convening in The Crescent, departed Buxton heading for the hill climb route through Harpur Hill, Longnor and Monyash, before rolling in a stately cordon through Bakewell (too early for a pudding, let alone a tart) and stopped to visit the historic water-driven Caudwell Flour Mill at Rowsley, with a guided tour by Lance Oldham - another MGB owner. The mill's mechanism is in working order, and very intricate – similarities noticed with the Costello cars.Progress towards the lunch stop included a tour through the immaculate Chatsworth estate, and the rolling hills from there to Monsal Head reaching the spectacularly sited Hobbs Cafe, where a congenial lunch was enjoyed.
The undoubted highlight of this afternoon was the arrival of Richard and Carole Wood in their very elegant, previously unknown to mgcostello.com, black MGB GT MkII. The Woods had made the journey up from Leicestershire having heard of the Gathering via the website. A ‘vetting committee’, led by Roger Cook, huddled around the car quickly declaring the mint MG to be very much a genuine Costello, complete with Weber carburettor and all the other expected features, plus a neat finish of flared wheel arches. mgcostello.com welcomes Richard and Carole to the Costello community and look forward to their presence at future Gatherings in the UK and Europe.
On Sunday evening we had our last evening meal at the Bar Brasserie, Buxton. Food was consumed heartily as the owners are father-and-son French and bring their culinary expertise across the Channel. Monday morning dawned with brilliant sunshine and, after our last full English breakfast, we all said our goodbyes and departed from Buxton and the Peaks.
