Reminder Ace Cafe London Meet Today!
- Thread starter THX911
- Start date
Well ..... long journey from SE London in the wet with Bank Holiday traffic N. Circular, took a rain check. Wembley to the North and Richmond in Surrey equally far, should we have something Central London ... I know Fatboys is a good meet for me, round the corner and a great venue, but it seems we don't get to meet our London Brothers and Sisters at ONE major meet. Somewhere on the Southbank near the Eye, Chelsea, OPC Mayfair? With German car night and other ACE events there is opportunity to meet there .... Richmond and Fatboys have a nucleus of support may it continue ... but a central meet maybe?
t1x
New member
Grover, Nice car. I was at Ace and was a bit disappointed. Granted that the weather did not help. 10 cars in total and no Kish. Still met some great guys and saw some nice cars. There were three new members to the club that were there including me. So really worth it but I think I won't be going down to ace again even though it's a five min drive. Apparently fatboys is the place. Central is a good place but the question is where?
Sorry could make it to Ace, last minute personal errand came up... 
RE: Central London Mayfair doesn't have any parking, it is just a prime location showroom (was in Park lane before)... central will always be a parking issue... We used to meet in a pub on Thursday evenings some years ago but that was also just a meet-up after work for those working in central London... Ace used to be popular with the Chiltern region and it is no longer promoted there... we had a big following on Pistonheads too but they have now joined another mixed car gathering on another day at Ace... Fatboys is great and excellent food and service but for me it take an hour and a half to get to, so haven't make it for some time. There is also the Brands Hatch meet by Kent Region (2nd Wednesday nights) for those in the East... Finally, Richmond carries on with the regulars (some 8-10 of us) but again more of a pub meet, and practically no one comes in their Porsches...
RE: Central London Mayfair doesn't have any parking, it is just a prime location showroom (was in Park lane before)... central will always be a parking issue... We used to meet in a pub on Thursday evenings some years ago but that was also just a meet-up after work for those working in central London... Ace used to be popular with the Chiltern region and it is no longer promoted there... we had a big following on Pistonheads too but they have now joined another mixed car gathering on another day at Ace... Fatboys is great and excellent food and service but for me it take an hour and a half to get to, so haven't make it for some time. There is also the Brands Hatch meet by Kent Region (2nd Wednesday nights) for those in the East... Finally, Richmond carries on with the regulars (some 8-10 of us) but again more of a pub meet, and practically no one comes in their Porsches...
pauljmcnulty
Active member
You need to look at why people stopped going. It was the move to Saturdays that killed it for me, and certainly this has been mentioned by other Chiltern and 944 owners who used to come regularly. Mondays are out for me, sadly, but I think that when people get out of the habit of going they need an incentive to start again. Perhaps a new venue, or at least something to do at the Ace might work. Last time I went it was just a few blokes sitting around tables, not very inviting if you don't know anyone. It needs something interesting arranged each month in order to get people's enthusiasm up again. I can't recommend people to drive a long way on a Monday when there is likely to be nothing to do when they get there. Without it being "re-launched", and heavily promoted by the Region and surrounding regions, I can't see it getting any better. Perhaps joining in with the other day you mention would be better? A Porsche area within a mixed group wouldn't be a bad thing. [8|]
Edited:: I have to say for us and some others it was the move away from a Saturday (weekend) that kills it; if you are wanting a Monday gathering at Ace this is already covered by the Pistonhead/Petrol Head Nirvana (PH/PHN) guys. On the subject of the PH/PHN monthly event, the last one was 'standing room only' and the Porsche contingent making up a third of the total cars. We are not regulars on Mondays at either event, it is normally too much of a rush to make a weekday at Ace but a changed schedule a couple of weeks ago gave us the opportunity to see the 'competition'. True this is not a Porsche exclusive event but the mix of other cars makes for some good entertainment. I understand the argument that some Mondays are 'Bank Holidays' but this is generally the time that people travel away to make the most of the extra day off. Bring back a weekend day they were some of the best attended I have seen. I would even see this as an opportunity for some inter-club fraternisation, dare I mention TIPEC?[8|] Now on the subject of Fatboys, this is becoming very popular, yes the weather does help. In defence of the catering, the owner now has an assistant which does help but don't expect to sit down and eat at the same time. Some of the regulars eat early some eat late, some just chat but the format works. Now I get that meeting at a central pub, with no cars may suit some, and I remember the PCA motto 'It's not about the cars it's about the people'. However, it is nice to see the cars, and we are a car club not a CAMRA club after all. Don't think that the London (R20) events should be targeted at the W1 populous, many of the regulars live out in the 'burbs'. So: I wouldn't drop ACE but I would seriously consider returning it to a weekend day. Open up a dialogue between other clubs with the view of a mixed meet, it doesn't have to be Porsche [&:] and it doesn't have to be the same club each time. Maybe a 'Home and Away' visit (Nothing to do with a soap or a football player btw [
]). Edit: I do not mean a mixed PH/PHN plus PCGB as the former is way too over subscribed already (If you want 'infield' parking you have to get there early!!!). Plan something that involves meeting and driving somewhere (rather than the reverse), yes I know there are restrictions but I am not expecting a 'Cannonball Run'. For those who need this see me after school!! [] Now seriously and I don't expect a rush to any new format but for the good of the club and it's London-ish membership lets try something.
And the answer is?ORIGINAL: THX911 Sorry could make it to Ace, last minute personal errand came up...
t1x
New member
Just from a newbie perspective..... I came down to Ace (regardless of the weather) expecting quite a few people, as it is supposed to be a regular event. I noticed a few cars come down and then drive off after half an hour! The people I spoke to were two other new owners and a few regulars who were all very nice. I understand fully that the purpose of a meet is to meet people but (in my opinion) its about admiring other cars and talking to people about their experiences. My opinion may not count for much, but I think the whole thing should be looked at again, in terms of how it is communicated, have a theme (maybe) etc etc..... Maybe joint meets with other regions......... Right back to work
Same thing happened last month which was also a bank holiday. Interestingly, on the non-bank holiday days I have attended, the turnout has been better with people staying around longer. The Petrolhead Nirvana meet on the second Monday of every month at Ace normally gets a very good turnout. There are always a few Porsches there []
]
Sounds good to me. A bunch of Porsche owners over on Pistonheads just did exactly that on teh Bank Holiday Monday just gone. It would be good to do something similar from a PCGB R20 perspective - what do you think Kish ?ORIGINAL: t1x I like Nick's idea. Arranging a drive somewhere (keeping within the limits of the law[
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