The 2010 National Rally is to be held in the grounds of Chatsworth House, the ancestral home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, situated in the heart of the Peak District National Park,over the weekend of the 18th & 19th of September 2010, Peak and Pennines have secured a stunning location directly in front of the house itself.
Like all past events, we needed to have a really special pre rally get together, and this year will be no exception; our chosen venue for the evening’s entertainment will be the Beauchief Hotel, www.beauchief-hotel.co.uk who has agreed a special rate for MX5 owners of just £60 per room, including a full English breakfast.There is another hotel we have chosen which is close by it’s the Sheffield Park Hotel www.pedersenhotels.com you will need to quote “MAZDA 18” in order to receive a special rate of £69 per room which also includes breakfast.
If however you prefer the feeling of canvas above you and the ground below you, then there is always camping!
And of course Derbyshire has many to chose from, however for convenience of location, cost, parking and amenities, we have chosen as our “A” site “Barlow Lakes” www.barlowlakes.co.uk here you will find trout and carp ponds and a small log cabin selling breakfasts at very reasonable prices., so if you fancy your hand at a spot of fishing, this one is for you.
Our second choice is for the more discerning, quieter and a little more expensive, is Barn Farm http://www.barnfarmcamping.com/
Please contact your chosen location direct to book either your room or your pitch.
Some other web sites which may be useful are www.peakdistrictonline.co.uk, www.visitpeakdistrict.co.uk and www.visitderbyshire.co.uk
Saturday daytime, we have arranged two organised drives through the beautiful Derbyshire countryside, however if that’s not for you, then you could always try some retail therapy in the nearby Meadow Hall Shopping Centre, or for the more energetic amongst you, there is a pay and play golf course within walking distance from the hotel, and a large national gym that will accept hotel guests for a nominal fee.
Later that evening, there will be a live band playing dance music in a private marquee situated in the hotels grounds; we have also laid on a home made pie and pea supper to help you dance the night away, you could even call it a “Northern Dinner Dance” for just £10 per person.
We are looking into arranging transport for Saturday night to get you from camp site “A” and the Sheffield Park Hotel to the party and return.
Early Sunday morning we take the 20 minute drive to Chatsworth for the Rally itself, for those who have never visited this part of the country before, Chatsworth is well renowned for its stunning location, fabulous architecture and magnificent gardens, the house is well worth a visit, and for MX5 owners only, on presentation of your membership card, they will allow you in at a discounted price.
If the house isn’t for you, then why not try the gardens.
You could enjoy a special picnic hamper, which would need to be pre-booked, prepared by the chefs at Chatsworth House, for £13.50 each, you could be tucking in to a crayfish and Caesar salad sandwich, farm shop pork pie with onion marmalade, Hartington stilton and pickles, a salad of haricot beans, green beans and roasted vegetables, piper’s sea salt crisps, strawberries and clotted cream and a bottle of Belvoir elderflower cordial, this is no ordinary picnic, this is a MX5 picnic.
If however you have brought your own food, then why not wander around the extensive grounds, where you will find a restaurant, cafe, ice cream shop, gift shops and a farm shop full of tempting luxuries. www.chatsworth.org
We are expecting many hundreds of MX5s this year, so rest assured, there will be our usual valued traders tempting you into spending your hard earned cash. G K Group will be bringing a few cars for us to view; MX5 parts will be there, Footman James, Mazda on Track and many more yet to be confirmed.
This year we have even invited a caricature artist, who will create a spitting image of you for just £10, however due to limited numbers, you will need to pre order to avoid any disappointment.
There will be a best in show competitions, raffles, and many more attractions to help you enjoy a wonderful day with friends in the heart of the PeakDistrictNational Park.
Oh, did I mention that it will be free for OC members attending in a MX5 to enter, yes free, no charge, how can you fail not to come?
Taken from Soft Top Hard Top February 2010 article compiled by Trevor Walker