Saturday 3 February 2018

Run The Ring VW Charity Cruise 2017 (part 2 of 2)

This weeks blog review is the second instalment all about the 2nd 'Run the Ring VW' charity cruise', which saw over 700 Volkswagens of all descriptions cruise the 117 miles clockwise around the London orbital motorway, the M25. The original idea to cruise around the M25 came from a guy called John Emberton. John put a post on Facebook suggesting the idea and the response was incredible so John thought if this was to happen why not raise money for a charity at the same time. In 2016 the first RTR took place where just over 400 VW's both air cooled and water cooled assembled at the 4 designated service stations around the M25 and cruised around the M25 creating an amazing sight. In 2016 RTR raised just over £10,000 for the chosen charity, The Teenage Cancer Trust. In 2017 there were around 700 Volkswagens that took part (660 actually registered, but we estimate there were about 100 that just turned up on the day) and raised an incredible £25, 758.39 for the charity 'Scotty's Little Soldiers'. You can check the VW M25 Run the Ring Facebook page here: 
https://www.facebook.com/groups/M25VWRunTheRing/
I have taken part in both these charity cruises and although to some the thought of driving 117 miles around the M25 (known as the biggest car park in Britain) doesn't sound that appealing, they have both been really enjoyable. The atmosphere at the services both before the cruise and after is amazing, you can mingle and chat to other VW owners and take plenty of photos. As I did in 2016 I met up with friends of mine David and Angela, who are both from my hometown for the short cruise over to Hemel Hempstead where we had arranged to meet other VW owners before heading for the services on the M25.  A huge well done to John and Amanda (and all the other people who helped to organise this event who I don't know about) and a big special thanks and well done to the hundreds and hundreds of people who participated and who made this memorable event happen. You can find out more about the worthwhile charity that this event was all about here: http://scottyslittlesoldiers.co.uk/
To see more than 400+ photos of some of the vehicles that took part in the charity cruise, check out this awesome photo album from Ed Baylis that captured the essence of the charity cruise:
https://www.facebook.com/ebay.ebay/media_set?set=a.10155840931620396.1073741832.620175395&type=1&l=f138e62381&hc_location=ufi
To see all my other blog entries, go to ‘My Blog Archive’ to the left of this page. Simply click on an arrow for a particular year, then click on an arrow for a particular month, this will then give you a drop down menu for all the blog entries for that month.

This stunning beige and white 11 window split
screen looked gorgeous in the glorious sunshine.
The colour combination with the grey Empi 5
spoke wheels looked fantastic.

This lovely bus has been seriously lowered and
looks so much better for it. This really was a lovely
clean and straight bus.

This cool looking Golf had a collage of some of
the vehicles that took part in the first RTR back
in 2016 on the bonnet.

This was a really cool idea and it drew plenty of
positive comments as well as people trying to
spot their own vehicle.

I'm not sure how the owner stuck this fantastic
art work to the bonnet, but it did look good, and
my 1969 microbus even made it onto the bonnet.

A close up of my microbus on the bonnet of this
amazing Golf.

Fellow Wolfsburg Bus Crew members James
and Andrea, along with their daughter Caitlin
and their dog Archie ran the ring in their lovely
1958 ex-Swiss Army bus, named 'The Duke'

This gorgeous 1967 RHD white and sea blue split 
screen bus belongs to Susie and it looked great 
in the afternoon sunshine. This is Susie's daily
driver come rain or shine.

Just a couple of lovey buses parked up after
running the ring 2017. 'The Duke' and 'Lulu' were

getting acquainted in the services.

This burgundy 1970 beach buggy caught my eye
parked up at the services. I'm not sure what body
style this has but I liked the overall shape and the

pointed front.

This really was a cool looking buggy. I liked the
shotgun cartridges over the wheel nuts and the
small circular tail lights both of which helped to 

make this cool buggy unique.

Parked up at South Mimms Services after running
the ring 2017.

Facebook friends of mine, Jooles and Phil with
their son Archie came down for the day from 

the West Midlands in their camouflaged T5, and 
they had a fantastic time running the ring.

This years Run the Ring attracted so much interest
that many participants were driving a round trip of
400 / 500+ miles to join in this fantastic charity event.
However Lia and Esmee must surely take the long
distance recognition award as they travelled over
from Holland specifically to join the in cruise. The

Run the Ring was on the Sunday and Lia and Esmee 
set off from Holland on the Friday, 3 days before the 
event took place in their cool T4 Eurovan Transporter.

I do like how these Eurovans look, they look kind
of futuristic. So if two women can travel over from
Holland to take part, surely all those people that
live in the U.K who haven't run the ring yet have
no excuse for joining in this year, right?

Hats off to Lia and Esmee for such a fantastic
effort coming all the way from Holland. Of course

it's not just the distance from Holland, there is also
the ferry crossing, and a few nights in the bus,
so a very well done ladies... will we see you both
 again this year?

Parked up at South Mimms Services after running
the ring 2017.

Parked up at South Mimms Services after running
the ring 2017.

Parked up at South Mimms Services after running
the ring 2017.

Parked up at South Mimms Services after running
the ring 2017.

Parked up at South Mimms Services after running
the ring 2017.

Parked up at South Mimms Services after running
the ring 2017.

Parked up at South Mimms Services after running
the ring 2017.

Parked up at South Mimms Services after running
the ring 2017.

Those of you that have read the first instalment
will know that I travelled to the outskirts of London
to take part in this fantastic event with my good 
friends David and Angela in their 'Comic Relief'
1973 Beetle. They have owned this bug for as
long as I can remember and many people will 
have seen it parked outside the main entrance
at the Volksworld show over the years.

This old bug certainly stands out and always
makes people smile. David also has a 1966 split
screen bus but decided to give the bug a good run
around the M25 motorway.

Looking over the Comic Relief beetle towards
my 1969 microbus parked up at the South Mimms
services. with some other cool buses / vans.

My microbus was in some good company back
at South Mimms Services. My mate Ben's split
screen to the right and a cool T25 to the left. I
like this photo showing the different ride heights
of the buses.

Parked up at South Mimms Services after running
the ring 2017.

A better look at Jooles and Phil's cool urban
camouflaged T5. The design and colours are very
similar to my T4.

The man responsible for organising this great
fund raising event is John Emberton. This is John's
slammed 'UPS' themed T5. John's bus has one

of the best interiors I have seen, it's just a shame 
didn't get a photo...!

After a few hours chatting to everyone, Dave,
Angela and I decided to head for home. I followed
Dave out of the services.

That was the last of my photos that I took. The
following photos are all from the 'VW M25 Run
the Ring' Facebook page. Photos that I thought

caught the magic of running the ring.

Ringers relaxing and socialising at South Mimms
Services after completing a lap of the M25 
motorway. Photo courtesy of  Cheryl Caffrey

Me and my microbus running the ring somewhere
on the M25. Photo courtesy of Debbie Cox

My 1969 VW microbus Running the Ring 2017.
Photo courtesy of Debbie Cox

Running the ring, Photo courtesy of Gary's 
photography world pics.

Running the ring, Photo courtesy of Mandy Beesley

Running the ring, Photo courtesy of Mandy Beesley

I'm crossing the Queen Elizabeth II bridge in 
my 1969 VW microbus. Photo courtesy of 
Mark Lorentzen

A photo Mark Lorentzen shared of us both
running the ring somewhere on the M25.
Photographer unknown to me.

Three lanes of Volkswagens made for
an awesome sight. Photo courtesy of 
Nikki Cartwright

I love this photo of these buses running the ring.
. Photo courtesy of Rachel San-Segundo

Parked up at South Mimms Services after running
the ring. Photo courtesy of Russel Hutson

Parked up at South Mimms Services after running
the ring. Photo courtesy of Russel Hutson

Running the ring. Photo courtesy 
of Sarah Louise

Mark and I getting into the correct lane on 
the M25 motorway whilst running the ring.
Photo courtesy of Sue Bucland-Russell

So that was part two of two all about the
Run the Ring VW charity cruise 2017. Don't
forget to check out the 'VW M25 Run the Ring'
facebook page and join if you haven't already,
and don't forget to register for this years RTR.
Next weeks blog review is a special one-off 
bonus review about this event with a guest 
author, Rich Coxhill who has so many great 
photos that sum up the essence of this charity 
event perfectly. So be sure to come back next 
Saturday for a really special bonus blog review.


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