944 30th Anniversary 2012

[Copperman05]

Plus one vote for the Lake District, or North Wales. I love the roads in the Highlands too, but being in Aberdeen I'm spoiled for opportunities to drive up here, so I'll be selfish and vote for a bit of contrast. I'd also enjoy the excuse for a bit of a road trip to get there!
My car is in Aberdeen Porsche Centre getting a full set of new shocks/struts right now, so will need to run them in!

 

[Frenchy]

Let me know what you want if you are interested in the Lakes, we did a very succesful Titanic meet years ago. i am away 23rd August and LM Classic 4/10th July but apart from that available.
I can look at block booking hotel discount and can probably get us a meet with coffee etc at our local OPC (Kendal)
Willing to organise something for the weekend Saturday/Sunday with an overnight Saturday and some good driving with a few breaks along the way.

 

[Copperman05]

I said before the only request I make is that we hold it this side of the Le Mans Classic (Early July) as after that I'm going to be pretty tied up with 3 months of Olympics and Paralympics, so sometime perhaps May or June? Of course if this is not suitable for everyone then the trip will have to proceed without me.[]

I hear what you are saying Paul re the 944 and frontrunner events but TBO if they arent that attractive in regards of event location and held in the later months of SeptOct I'm not surprised that they are not well attended. I dont expect the club to be particularly interested in celebrating the 30th year of the 944 as its pretty low down the pecking order of Porsche models and as we know fairly undervalued. That however does not stop us organising something of our own and I'm sure the club would support us in what we might want to do. Perhaps they could provide some car stickers, or other memorabilia to signify the event? + put event in PP

It seems a couple days drive and nights in the Lake District or Wales is a popular choice and I am more than willing to assist organising with James French. The lakes will probably be the more picturesque location whilst Wales may offer more assessable and quieter driving roads at this time of year.


Edd

 

[zcacogp]

Keep me posted with events and dates. Although (being a Londoner) I would prefer it not to be way up in the Highlands (fuel bill would make it prohibitive!)

I could be up for this one!


Oli.

 

[andy watson]

Would be up for this, sounds a good plan if we make our own 30 year celebration it wil no doubt be a whole lot better as well.
The Lakes or Wales would be good, anytime after 16th June if that suits.

Once date has been decided, let me know if any help is required.

 

[pauljmcnulty]

I hear what you are saying Paul re the 944 and frontrunner events but TBO if they arent that attractive in regards of event location and held in the later months of SeptOct I'm not surprised that they are not well attended. I dont expect the club to be particularly interested in celebrating the 30th year of the 944 as its pretty low down the pecking order of Porsche models and as we know fairly undervalued. That however does not stop us organising something of our own and I'm sure the club would support us in what we might want to do. Perhaps they could provide some car stickers, or other memorabilia to signify the event? + put event in PP

It's difficult, Edd. We moved Frontrunner to the end of the season because people complained it was too close to all the other events. We get a good bunch out in Jan/Feb every year to Rutland, so why Sept/Oct is an issue I don't understand. It used to be a copy of the Cotswold Rally; based at Cornbury House with a great planned drive through the villages. But people complained it was too similar to the Cotswold and they would like to get cars up on ramps in a workshop, and have technical advice on things like rust prevention. So, we did that and they didn't come! [&:]

Other possibilities are for something like a technical day similar to the 993 one that worked very well, but again so few have supported the last attempts at workshop-based meeting (Porscheshop, RAS etc), that it's possibly a lot of work and cost for a small number. We could hold a day somewhere but again you have to decide where and when, and have a committment to a lot of people coming. This year's Frontrunner could easily be themed around the 944 30th anniversary if that's what people want.

My instinct is more to have the Register meet at the bigger events like Silverstone and the National, and local groups get together where and when they like. What would be nice is to get advance notice of things like this for the Porsche Post, and a few pics and words afterwards. These days people won't travel hundreds of miles for a small-ish event every month, but might be happy to do more local things.

 

[andy watson]

Paul,

What about a 944 get together at Cornbury Hse one Sunday, is that possible? Would PCGB help out if there was enough interest?

 

[pauljmcnulty]

ORIGINAL: andy watson

Paul,

What about a 944 get together at Cornbury Hse one Sunday, is that possible? Would PCGB help out if there was enough interest?

Absolutely. We can do anything there, it's our building! There's a Sunday open day every month, we could tie in with one of those, or obviously there's a cost involved opening it up on a Saturday or other Sundays but easily done.

Again, I wonder when? With the 944 owners wanting to go there in May already booking the Cotswold rally they're probably unlikely to go again in, say, June. July is Silverstone Classic, August the main National at Chateaux Impney. That leaves September as the first really practical month and we're in to people saying they don't like it stuck out at the end of the season! [&:]

I like the idea of a 944 day, including technical advice, that sort of thing. I'm sure plenty of specialists would come along, although as we've seen from Baz Hart's recent comments, they seem to be moving away from the model towards richer pickings. CH is a great venue, but then so is Porscheshop; that is more centrally-located in the Midlands yet got a very poor turnout last year, and that was the 944 Register PLUS 924, 968, 928, Cayenne and Panameras!

 

[loc944]

I am planning on attending the national event again this year and it would be good to have something going on for 944's.

Also a weekend in the Lakes with a bunch of 944 owners would be great, so count me in, and I'm sure we would have a strong Scottish attendence as it's not too far South.
I would say late May/ early June would be good before all the other events and people's holidays kick in.

Alan.

 

[Suffolk944]

ORIGINAL: pauljmcnulty


[Again, I wonder when? With the 944 owners wanting to go there in May already booking the Cotswold rally they're probably unlikely to go again in, say, June. July is Silverstone Classic, August the main National at Chateaux Impney. That leaves September as the first really practical month and we're in to people saying they don't like it stuck out at the end of the season! [&:]

I like the idea of a 944 day, including technical advice, that sort of thing. I'm sure plenty of specialists would come along, although as we've seen from Baz Hart's recent comments, they seem to be moving away from the model towards richer pickings. CH is a great venue, but then so is Porscheshop; that is more centrally-located in the Midlands yet got a very poor turnout last year, and that was the 944 Register PLUS 924, 968, 928, Cayenne and Panameras!

I think September is still very much "in season" with alot of potential for lovely weather too. An event at Cornbury with some technical advice presence and a chance for a bit of a drive round the Cotswolds would be splendid imho

 

[Copperman05]

I'm sorry but the thought of going to Porscheshop again bores the hell out of me, ok as a one off perhaps but can you really call it an event? I think the attendance last year confirms this. I'm also not convinced of a technical themed event as I think most who need technical advice can and do ask on this forum, or call their local indie or OPC. We need something to get people excited and off their backsides, tyre kicking is great up to a point, Rutland is popular as its pretty much the only exclusively 944 event of the year and its not even official, just a group of like minded people meeting for some 944 chat and some pub grub (which is great by the way).

Last year I didnt attend many events as I had other more pressing issues after separating from the other half, now I only have to answer to myself so there really is no excuse!

I think we have enough interest to work on a Lakes/Wales trip in spring, I also think incorporating a 30th anniversary into another existing event would also be a good idea and hope the club would agree to work with us on this.

Edd

 

[Diver944]

10 years ago for the 20th anniversary, the Register (well Martyn Cockram) organised a massive European Tour including the Porsche Factory, the Nurburgring and a couple of great German Auto Museums. It's probably too late to do something on that scale again but a smaller event like the Lakes or North Wales could be a good idea

 

[zcacogp]

ORIGINAL: Copperman05
I'm also not convinced of a technical themed event as I think most who need technical advice can and do ask on this forum, or call their local indie or OPC.

Interesting, and an illustration of how opinions differs so much. I would say that a technical-themed event would be of most interest to me, much more so than the (only!) Frontrunner event I went to, about 6 years ago now. I love working on my car and love looking at the working parts of other peoples' cars, and given any opportunity to glean some tips or tips, advice or second opinions, I will take it.

Interesting that Edd and I come up with such different views on this. Both S2 owners, both fairly practically-minded, both owning S2's as their only car, both old enough to be thinking seriously about warm socks and hot water bottles on a cold winters evening. ([])


Oli.

 

[Copperman05]

Perhaps the difference being that you do most of the work on your car and I pay someone else to do it for me. My first job was as a mechanic, but now I tend to leave it to the pro's, I'm not against technical events, as I'm sure they can be very useful, its just that for the 30th anniversary of the 944 I think we need something different from what we do each year, hence the driving weekend idea. For me there's nothing better than driving a proper drivers car like the 944 along great roads, with great scenery, finished off in company with other 944 owners makes it all the better.


Edd

 

[pauljmcnulty]

Perhaps the difference being that you do most of the work on your car and I pay someone else to do it for me. My first job was as a mechanic, but now I tend to leave it to the pro's, I'm not against technical events, as I'm sure they can be very useful, its just that for the 30th anniversary of the 944 I think we need something different from what we do each year, hence the driving weekend idea. For me there's nothing better than driving a proper drivers car like the 944 along great roads, with great scenery, finished off in company with other 944 owners makes it all the better.

Indeed. I think we need all sorts of events, but unless enough people turn out it's impossible to consider organising them. I also think we'd be pushing the limits of the current 944 demographic to try a tour of Europe, with factory tour, at what must be at least a couple of grand per head?

Driving holidays aren't exactly unusual, they are what we used to do regularly. At very low cost and maximum fun. This was the 944 "massive" taking over the Isle of Wight for a weekend, everyone there are still in contact and good freinds, despite some not owning the cars any more.

 

[Belinda Sims]

ORIGINAL: pauljmcnulty

This was the 944 "massive" taking over the Isle of Wight for a weekend, everyone there are still in contact and good freinds, despite some not owning the cars any more.

Who are you? []

 

[andy watson]

I think September is still very much "in season" with alot of potential for lovely weather too. An event at Cornbury with some technical advice presence and a chance for a bit of a drive round the Cotswolds would be splendid imho

Seconded, September is good idea for C.H. anyone else?

Paul,

Could you look into a potential date at C.H.?

 

[Mike_Pollock]

Like the idea of Cornbury House thing.

 

[jasonp]

a "get together" sounds great although chasing oli ,paul and edd plus anybody else up the m1 all the way to the highlands and back would prove quite expensive, cornbury hse and the cotswolds late summer could be good for me, regards jason p

 

[pauljmcnulty]

Seconded, September is good idea for C.H. anyone else?

Paul,

Could you look into a potential date at C.H.?

i believe this could be sorted. Further details to follow. []