Forum search & shortcuts

Hit the North – 20t...
 

UPDATE: Reviews section refreshed, redesigned, searchable: Go take a look

Hit the North – 20th Anniversary

Posts: 23451
Full Member
Topic starter
 
[#13536385]

 

 

We had a bit of bad news yesterday when we heard that one of the original crew, Rachael the caterer, had passed away. And it got me and Jason (terrahawk) thinking… Should we do it again?

 

Well, maybe not a full on 12 hour race because I’ll be nearly 60 and getting the permissions would be a complete ball ache, but mark the 20th anniversary in some way. Perhaps a ride out and an evening in the pub, or go large and hire the campsite, get in a bar, catering and a DJ and have a massive party, with a big ride out in the afternoon before it.

 

Like many good (and bad) ideas, we’re going to have a pint and discuss options.

 

The first question is… Would anyone be up for it?


 
Posted : 22/07/2026 10:55 am
ton, Bunnyhop and snotrag reacted
 nbt
Posts: 12620
Full Member
 

As reigning undefeated champions, I think you might hope to see @Binners and @Bunnyhop (Mrs NBT) attend such a celebration


 
Posted : 22/07/2026 11:01 am
ton and Bunnyhop reacted
 D0NK
Posts: 10678
Full Member
 

Absolutely


 
Posted : 22/07/2026 11:22 am
ton reacted
Posts: 57792
Full Member
 

You need to ask? As I’ve both won and finished last at HTN I’m literally a walking, Prestwich-specific pub quiz question 

IMG_3475.jpeg


 
Posted : 22/07/2026 11:51 am
ton, anorak and Bunnyhop reacted
Posts: 3252
Full Member
 

Everytime I drive round the M60 I always have a little chuckle as I drive under those two bridges near the park.

I only did one race, not sure what year but it was mega fun, one of the very first races I did. Pissed it down for 12 hours i reckon.

 

2008, maybe? 


 
Posted : 22/07/2026 12:34 pm
Posts: 23451
Full Member
Topic starter
 

12 hours of pissing rain?

 

That was 2008.


 
Posted : 22/07/2026 12:45 pm
Posts: 9745
Full Member
 

It snowed quite heavily at one of the races (I was marshalling at the time and it was a bit chilly and slippery).


 
Posted : 22/07/2026 1:37 pm
Posts: 23451
Full Member
Topic starter
 

That would be when TJ and a few dozen other spent an hour or so pushing cars up the hill.


 
Posted : 22/07/2026 1:46 pm
Posts: 12499
Full Member
 

Will Craig Charles turn up this time? (or was that always just to wind up gullible people line me!)


 
Posted : 22/07/2026 1:57 pm
Posts: 23451
Full Member
Topic starter
 

Did we ask Craig Charles? I can't remember. I think we wrote to Frank Sidebottom.

 

We also had BBC radio turn up with a OB car once.


 
Posted : 22/07/2026 2:14 pm
Posts: 5700
Free Member
 

I did 3 of the races....was there an 8 hour one? I did that....and a couple of the shorter ones....would be up for it again....not raced since 2013 like.


 
Posted : 22/07/2026 2:17 pm
Posts: 23451
Full Member
Topic starter
 

We did an 8 hour in 2010.

 

Maybe not a race this time. Just a massive social ride and a party.


 
Posted : 22/07/2026 2:26 pm
Bunnyhop and nbt reacted
 cp
Posts: 8980
Free Member
 

Yes please....!  

 

 


 
Posted : 22/07/2026 2:33 pm
Posts: 1050
Full Member
 

Did a very wet one many, many years ago.

Up for a social ride, party, etc, ..


 
Posted : 22/07/2026 5:38 pm
Posts: 5414
Full Member
 

 I will see if I can find my ‘Pedal you b@stards!’ sign…


 
Posted : 22/07/2026 5:49 pm
Bunnyhop reacted
 ton
Posts: 24346
Full Member
 

yes please.............. and i wont be a marshal this time.


 
Posted : 22/07/2026 5:52 pm
Bunnyhop reacted
Posts: 23451
Full Member
Topic starter
 

Good stuff. I've managed to get hold of Nick (Teetosugars), John (Junkyard) and Pete (Rusty Spanners) too, along with the MNPR lot and Chipps.

 

Need to round up the other "characters" from summer 2008.


 
Posted : 23/07/2026 10:26 am
ton reacted
Posts: 3252
Full Member
 

Posted by: Harry_the_Spider

12 hours of pissing rain?

 

That was 2008.

 

Found this on facebook, dated 20th July 2008. 

I think thats my 'type 2 fun' face. 

image.png

 


 
Posted : 23/07/2026 10:51 am
Posts: 9178
Free Member
 

Posted by: snotrag

Posted by: Harry_the_Spider

12 hours of pissing rain?

 

That was 2008.

 

Found this on facebook, dated 20th July 2008. 

I think thats my 'type 2 fun' face. 

image.png

 

 

We did the same year. Absolutely heaved it down. Went through a set of new brake pads in 2 laps and the mud stank of shit/sewage.

Would/could be up for a reunion ride or something.

 


 
Posted : 23/07/2026 11:18 am
 nbt
Posts: 12620
Full Member
 

I took a few photos at the 2013 edition:

https://flic.kr/s/aHsmudFSsw


 
Posted : 23/07/2026 11:27 am
Posts: 23451
Full Member
Topic starter
 

The organisers (all three of us) had been up for about 72 hours by that point.

 

Highlights included the non stop rain. Huge sections of the course needing re-marking because someone took the tape down and the portable toilet block arriving on the biggest lorry in the world and clattering every tree on the way into the site.

 

Also, the campsite marshall (that we had paid for) decided he was out of his depth and went home.

 

There was also the guy who joined the wrong queue and thought he'd turned up at a paintballing event.


 
Posted : 23/07/2026 11:30 am
Posts: 23451
Full Member
Topic starter
 

The afore mentioned shit was horse flavoured, not human. 

 


 
Posted : 23/07/2026 11:31 am
 nbt
Posts: 12620
Full Member
 

and I took some at the 2010 edition (at which Mrs NBT and Binners stood on the top step of the Podium, alongside Kiwi John)

image.png

The photo thread for that is here

https://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/htn-pictures-thread

 

Fotopic died, so I moved the photos to DPReview. That site also died at some point since then, but got rebuilt and the photos are still there 

[URL="https://www.dpreview.com/forums/media/albums/hit-the-north-2-0.15360/"][IMG] ?1762179687[/IMG][/URL]

and there was another discussion last year that threw up some other memories and videos

https://singletrackworld.com/forum/postid/13511051/


 
Posted : 23/07/2026 11:35 am
Posts: 5414
Full Member
 

 Check this out.


 
Posted : 23/07/2026 1:15 pm