The Legendary North Devon Grand Tour 2009

Once again over the August Bank Holiday North Devon is going to be invaded by 100’s of Minis and Hordes of Motorbikes as the 15th Legendary Grand Tour takes place. This year will be a little more special as they celebrate the 50th anniversary of the little motoring marvel.

The car that has been loved by millions will bring out the people of North Devon in their thousands to wave at one of the last surviving British icons. The Grand Tour has become an institution and some say the organiser should be institutionalised. The logistics are a nightmare and the amount of licences that are needed seems endless but the August Bank holiday would not be the same in North Devon without the minis. 

The event is total unique and will see minis, from all over the country, driving around the Highways and byways of North Devon in a convoy escorted by their very special Motorbike Marshals.

The Minis taking part in the Grand Tour really are small cars with the big hearts. So far they have raised over £250,000 of which £220,000 has gone to the CHSW.  As well as controlling the event some of the Motorbike Marshals with pillion passengers will have collection buckets in aid of the CHSW precious lives appeal.

The weekend of mini events starts about 6-30pm on the Saturday evening with the Kebab run a short cruise from Northam Burrows to Bideford Quay.

Sunday morning sees them gather in Bideford Park, they will completely circle the park and at 11-00 am sharp the Mayor of Bideford will cut the ribbon for the Official start of the weekend. The Minis will make their way to Hartland Quay hoping there is enough room to park them all in their car park. Some how they just manage to get them all in because if they didn’t, it’s a long way down. After a bar-b-q lunch at Hartland the minis set off across country to Torrington and Dartington Crystal for Afternoon Tea. 

Monday is the main day and sees the minis at Westward Ho! The marshals will spend nearly 3 hours cramming 300 minis into Westward Ho! the road will be closed and every nook and cranny will have a mini parked in it. Westward Ho! will be alive and buzzing with visitors and locals alike.  Then at 11-00am the Piped Band will start, the Mayor will cut the ribbon and the minis will leave making their way to Lynton and the Valley of the rocks, Lee Abbey for a lunch break, Combe Martin and then onto Iifracombe for a prize giving.

One of the most amazing parts of the Grand Tour is a visit to Little Bridge House. They do not stop but just drive through one after the other until all 300 minis and Motor Bikers have gone through.

 When they go into LBH they see more than the buildings and flower beds and they do not sneak in and out very quietly.  When they arrive the special children are waiting for them, so are their bothers and sisters, mums & dads, carers, Little Bridge House is full of life and the children have been up early decoration the place. As the minis go through the children are clapping, waving laughing and trying to make as much noise as they can.

Each of the families has asked to be at LBH that week because it is the mini weekend one of their most popular weekends of the year.

The minis see a side of the CHSW that few people ever get to see. They see so many smiles and they hear a lot of laughter. They see joy and happiness and they can feel the excitement and through their tears, all they see is a lot of people having fun.
                                                
For a few seconds it is easy to forget that Little Bridge House is still a place where get well cards do not work and no matter how many hugs you give the special children, you can never kiss them better and all the magic in the world cannot change their diagnosis.
 Nick Harvey MP for North Devon said after witnessing our event “To be able to combine such a total for charity and to bring such a joy to the children was totally remarkable”

There are still a few places left for the event and we never have enough Motorbike Marshals.