[mjn77]

Introduction

Hello and welcome to my 2025 road trip to the north of England!

This year saw the BMW Performance Car Club start their official calendar in the UK! This is the first time this has happened, and people were excited. Unfortunately, i'm driving solo on this trip, so no co-driver, which means fewer photographs. When i'm in the Alps later in the summer, my co-driver will be with me to assist with photos, route checking, etc.

The cars;

Marek from MDrives in his M2.



Dylan and his E46 M3.



Richard and his E63 M6.



Dom and his M140i.



Joao and his M2.



The E90 M3 twins, belonging to Matt and myself.



Jennifer and her E92 M3.



And last but not least, Scott in his E60 M5.

[mjn77]

Friday

We were all due to meet up at the Crooklands Hotel in Milnthorpe, put some faces to names, for the people that hadn't met before and to relax with a few beers and a meal. All but Marek and Dom, as there were local so joined us on the Saturday morning.

Car washed, all ready.



Boot packed.



Correct t-shirt.



Tank full.



Let's go.

Joao was travelling all the way from the Netherlands for this event, and had spent the Thursday night en route in another hotel.



We caught him up on the M1 / M6 junction and travelled in convoy to the hotel.

The M6 journey was awful, traffic, crashes, the usual for a Friday afternoon, but we arrived at around 5.30pm. Perfect, gave us time to relax, unwind, have a beer before our meal booked for 6.45.



Local beer, Crooklands Ale.



Everyone together...(well, except for Marek and Dom, and Matt who arriving later that evening)

What a handsome bunch!



After food, everyone went outside and stickered up their cars.



As the sun set, we all head to bed, ready for an early start.

[mjn77]

Saturday

Weather is looking good.









Marek and Dom arrive at 8am and sticker up their cars.



By 9am we're on the road, heading towards Broughton in Furness.



Doesn't take long before we turbn off the main road and use the back roads to tackle the Hardknott Pass and Wrynose Pass.







Just before we tackle the Hardknott Pass, we pull over for a short break. It was at this point i relaised i'd taken the wrong turning and instead of approaching the Hardknott Pass from the west, we'd end up on the east side! Meaning we either skip the Hardknott Pass and head over to the Wrynose Pass OR what we actually did, drive over the Hardknott Pass, turn around and do it again!!! I kept quiet! LOL







Sorry no photos of Hardknott or Wrynose Passes. From there we headed over the Kirkstone Pass which had just been surface dressed, so couldn't do more than 15-20 mph due to all the loose chippings.

We use the A66 to drive the Whinlatter Pass and head towards Maryport for lunch at the sea front.







From there we hog the coast road up to Silloth, then turn on to A596 towards Penrith and then on to the Hartside Pass. I've never driven this road before, so a first time for me! What a fantastic bit of road!













So good that some people went back down and drove it again!

As it was getting late, we headed back to the hotel for our 6.45 dinner reservation. And of course a beer reward.



And now everyone IS here!!



After food Scott and Dylan decided to head out and catch the sunset.



Now, to bed and we do it all again tomorrow!

[mjn77]

Sunday

Today we make our way over to the east coast of England.



Another glorious day beckons.







Today was an interesting day. Going through the cobbled streets of the village of Dent, i realised i missed a turning! I really need my co-driver!



Ended up causing the only traffic jam the village has ever seen!



The road ahead was closed due to landslide, so we did the thing no man must ever admit to and ask someone for directions! We headed back to Dent and took an alternative route.



Two cars had taken the correct turning and were miles ahead!!! And rubbed it in when they arrived at the Tan Hill Inn. Thanks guys, LOL.



Once on the correct route again, he drove towards the Ribblehead viaduct.









Almost an hour behind, we destroyed the Buttertubs Pass and made our way to the Tan Hill Inn.



The highest pub in Britain.



After lunch it is on to the A1M for a few junctions and to fill up. Again.

Good chance for a photo.





The Yorkshire Moors are now the destination. A quick rest stop before we tackle them.





Marek removing more bugs from his windscreen.



Still fantastic weather.







We head drive the A170 to Helmsley -> turn left up to Stokesley, right to Commondale, then down on to the A170 and acrossn to Pickering. And the final stretch from there to Whitby via Goathland. It was here that the E60 M5 decided it had had enough abuse for one weekend and threw an aux belt off. Scott had no air con or power steering. Thankfully, we were only 9 miles from Whitby and he was a local boy and had a short trip home afterwards.

In Whitby for 5.15 and all parked up.





Waiting for our fish n chips.



Final reward of fish n chips.



We said our goodbyes and headed home, but not without the E92 deciding to drink some oil. A litre in around 850 miles!!



In just over a week we're on our way again, this time to Bimmerfest.

Thanks for reading.

[mjn77]

Chasing Marek's M2 up the Hartside Pass.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJueN...JwcHhqeGlnbnpv

[BWBike]

Looks like a lot of fun!