Monaco in Man 2006 Review

Friday
Our annual jolly started as usual at Liverpool Docks at 9.30am as we all gathered, new faces & old, to eye up the forthcoming weekends "competition". Once we boarded the Steam Packet ferry it was time for all day breakfasts and for us all to catch up with old friends. Derek & Ching were clearly excited about their new Guards Red Cayman while Neil, Keith & Pete could be found outside on the lower decks having a crafty smoke or two!

Our remarkably smooth crossing ended at 1pm in Douglass, where we ascended in convoy up to the Mount Murray hotel some 4 miles inland. Once everyone had checked in we were all free to explore the island's many roads, some choosing to take the lowland, others the mountain pass.

Once back to the hotel it was a quick wash & clean up before our 7pm welcome meeting buffet, which included champagne bucks fizz & a hearty welcome from Geoff Ives, our event co-coordinator. This was also an opportunity to welcome new visitors to the island and to hand out the itinerary, rally plaque's & welcome packs alike.

Tony Corlett and his team were also on hand from the regions PCGB to offer their kind assistance to the event.

Saturday
Saturday was a swift 7.30 breakfast in preparation for a 9am, 52 mile Carole Nash Regularity Run on the old 1905 circuit. Leaving the Mount Murray's arched reception foe in 20 second intervals the 28 car event took on a Monte Carlo rally type of affair with hotel guests and staff alike waving us off in single file. Over the course of the next 2 hours the tour became quite eventful, as rain & fog set in across the mountain making driving quite tricky and treacherous

Neil Sullivan had an untimely fuel crises in his 3.0 RS, just before the museum which saw Pete Nicholson in his Boxster, stopping to assist with a much welcomed Gerry Can!! For the less troubled there was just time to stop off at Peter's TT motorcycle museum on the mountain where he was on hand to offer tea & coffee before the heady jaunt back to Douglass, and our hotel, to watch the Monaco GP qualifying race in our big screen function room.

The rest of Saturday afternoon was spent socialising in the hotel, before heading up to the Creg-ny-Baa pub at 6.30pm to watch the first test sessions of the 2006 IOM TT.

After leaving Creg Ny Baa it was early to bed, before our infamous Sunday morning "Dawn Raid".

Sunday
6am on Sunday saw us all rising early and heading off to the TT pits in Oncan, for the now famous dawn raid lap of the current TT course, an ideal photo opportunity which saw unusually clear bright skies for the time of day!! This event was led off by our IOM PCGB contingent, who had kindly sacrificed their Sunday morning lie-in to ensure we had a speedy but safe run.

We were advised to obey the speed limits through the towns & villages and to obey our relevant guide car's pace at all other points. This resulted in a very quick and safe lap without any casualties, culminating in a brief stop off at the Creg Ny Baa pub car park situated on the descent from the mountain just before Oncan. This allowed us to catch our breath and take a few photo's before heading back to the hotel for a late breakfast.

11am saw us all gather in our big screen function room for the build up to the Monaco GP which was made all the more poignant as we each in turn signed up to our own Fantasy Grand Prix in aid of Sir Norman Wisdom's Manx Mencap charity. The stakes were placed on the drivers who you thought would position appropriately through the field at the finishing line (harder than it sounds!).

3pm was podium prize giving for Saturday's Carole Nash Regularity Run with 1st place going to Mr. R.Horsfall in his Boxster, 2nd place to Mr. T. Enos and his son in their VX Monaro (the wife had the 911 Cabriolet that weekend!!) and 3rd place to Mr. T. Roberts and his daughter in their 944 Silver Rose.

Sunday Evening saw our now traditional Gala Dinner which saw some 60 guests enjoy a smoked salmon & cold meat buffet. Our special guests of honour were the island's Peter Murray and his wife from the legendary Manx Motorcycle Museum.

After sweets, coffee's and public thank you's, a timely auction of memorabilia was held by Geoff in aid of Manx Mencap. Coupled with the Fantasy Grand Prix takings earlier in the day this totaled an astonishing £850.00, which given the size our event was overwhelming. At this point we would like to thank everyone at the event that helped in achieving this very generous sum.

Monday
An early rise (again!) saw most off us heading back to Douglass docks for the 7.30 am ferry back to Liverpool. This was made easier once the mandatory "all day" full English breakfast was served up on our departure.

This left time then for a few cheery last goodbye's and "I'll see you next year" partings as we headed into Liverpool for our last disembarks for another year.

All in all a very successful and enjoyable 1st "Monaco In Man" with thanks going to all who attended.