how was your gathering?

[DutyFreeSaviour]

After my rather convoluted and epic trip to actually get there I felt it was certainly worth the effort. I soon forgot the pain in the a*se trip over and damaged Taunus Transit and succumbed to scrumpy, various concoctions and rubbish banter as my shed was duly robbed of it's front and rear bumper by the BigPerm crew....... ;D At which other show would you see them swapping parts from their cars in the campsite just after arriving
I had a fantastic time that evening and a great day Sunday as I joined everyone else drooling and grinning over the Napier-Bentley and various other guest cars (V8 Cortina was epic too).

Most excellent work and effort to all in the orange t-shirts. Very much appreciated from myself and the euro crew.

I also commented that it was in danger of becoming a victim of it's own success as the sheer amount of cars in attendance was overwhelming and simply too much to take in once you factor in quiz time for any poor owner who comes within ear-bending distance (I was with Matt and the Sunbeam pick-up owner was a really nice guy who loved the whole show).

I wasn't aware of the 20day a year limit - but knew it would be some constraint on use (staffing or something) so am grateful so many cars made it up in any case (next year I swear I'll be one of 'em).

Apologies in advance for the rest ...........

Two small gripes - 1. the (very small) number of ignorant plonkers who were determined to take on security with the after hours blaring of music and shouting their fat trapps off...... you know who you are. - there were people who'd trawled an awful long way to be there as well as kids nearby who didn't want to be kept awake at all - never mind by the foul language being hollered at each other - GROW UP

2. The amount of rubbish left behind - already stated elsewhere but - come on peeps, it ain't rocket science or in any way difficult to put your trash in the (provided!) bag and throw it in the skip on your way out - have some RESPECT eh!


John

P.S. I don't appreciate listening to anyone shouting off their mouths that other people are thieves without evidence, especially not xenophobic comments about any nationality and most of all when those people are my friends........ I warned one of those responsible but continued behaviour like that will not be accepted under any circumstance - got it? You're an embarrasment to yourselves and the rest of the RRG contingent. (and NO - alcohol is NOT an excuse)

[bigperm]

Aug 21, 2012 9:46:49 GMT gotwood said:

Oh , and I'd like to say a big thankyou to Bigperm for taking me up the hill in his Benz on his last run !

Anytime Jules not a problem !!

Oh and to the organisers ..Many ,many thanks for another great weekend. and in the words of the late great Barry White , "don't go changing " ...............

[Loxlee]

Aug 21, 2012 9:49:10 GMT carlb1970 said:

I feel like one of those wimin that has a baby and then after the event goes a bit sad and mental. I'm having post RRG depression.
cant wait for next year

I have this feeling as well! Only complaint is it is so awesome, it sucks to go back to reality

Also I can totally see the reasons why but it's a shame people weren't allowed to chuck the cars around a bit more (on the track obviously), the escort got a massive cheer as he went sideways but I fear he may have got a bit of a telling off for it.

[PandaSelecta]

Would also like to add that cutting off the camping pass wristband was like cutting off your arm, and made you finally realise the fun was over

Roll on 2013 ;D

[Seth]

Quick thought on the demand for hill action that may or may not be helpful....

Run it as a 'lottery' so that everyone that expresses interest (by filling in the form & showing the documents) gets a raffle ticket and then those picked out get to run. Winning ticket numbers would be noted down and driver would have to show their ticket to get into a briefing. Probably difficult to arrange in time for the morning runs but if a draw was done at say 11:30 it would let late comers enter the fray and be in with a chance of an afternoon run, while allowing long enough for the safety talk/wrist band distribution before the lunch break for the lucky folk picked out.

[dafandango]

Fantastic show! I wouldn't change anything at all - The balance was just right.

Only negative thing I can think of was a few Ford Granada owners driving like dicks. Doing donuts at the main road junction? No need.

[bstardchild]

OK my review of RRG2012

Tugged the Monza on a trailer from Norfolk to Prescott – combined trailer weight 2000 kgs – less said about mpg the better but I got caught in loads of traffic and road works as well as having to do a detour to drop off some wheels and the actual journey was a 16.5mpg average from the 740.

Camping – turned up early (way early for me) on Friday late afternoon – got the heads up from Keefy on the phone not to try and get the trailer on the camp site so found some hard standing in the pit area initially and then later in the farmers yard – brought a tray of donuts with me and forced them on as many people that would accept one.

Got the camping area on the quiet side and set up – spotted the Dave and the mighty avenger arrive and I think I was first to put a cold beer in his hand (yes) and after some burgers went on a wander with a bottle of 2 yr old slo Vodka (this is vintage in my book/house) ended up at the “Bedouin Temple” (James and Michelle’s gaff) and had a great night of conversation and homemade ginger beer and lemon gin accompanied the slo vodka. Diablo, Brian Damaged, Johnny 69, Pollit and various others that dropped in. A camp site wander meant I caught up with lots of other RR peeps and also enabled my earlier company to shake me off – but we met up again later.

Sat morning was a comfortably slow start plenty of coffee and orange juice as well as a few bacon rolls and then off to Shelsey Walsh for the practice day. I had offered Alex a lift so he kept me company for the journey there and back but whilst we were there we did our own thing. Shelsey is completely different to Prescott – only really 2 slow corners but a lot of fast kinks and probably more elevation change too – fastest car was hitting 129mph thro the speed trap before the S’s and although the absolute course record is 22 secs the track was greasy and damp in places but the fastest cars were still running mid 24’s

Thanks to Keefy for organising the discounted tickets as it was a great experience and I took 1240 pictures the best of which I will share as soon as I’ve sorted the pictures out – if you didn’t go I’d recommend this day out to anyone.

First thing for Sat evening was unload the Monza and get it to the pits and in doing that I realised I had a serious problem – something had come loose in the column on the journey – last time I used it was at Snetterton and it was fine there but I had 45-90 degrees of free play in the steering and it was all in the column and very visible. When I modified the column earlier this year it was a suck it and see experiment and I took a spare std column to France just in case but as it had been fine for Croix and Snetterton I hadn’t thought to bring a spare – luckily long time lurker on here Paul was coming to the show Sunday so I rang him and he said he’d bring the spare column from Norfolk with him.

A quieter evening on Sat night – used the facilities of the clubhouse – chicken curry rice and a naan bread for £5.95 washed down with a pint of hill climb was just wonderful especially as I had the company of utterpiffle and bigperm as well as a few others who I’d never met before but as I needed to keep my head clear for an earlier start I had a wander round the camp site and then decided a semi early night would be good.

So Sunday there was a show and as usual I didn’t see a thing – not a problem because I’m doing what I love to do helping organise the hill climb. Everyone I spoke to loved the experience and I think it flowed pretty well but we have some things to resolve for next time and I think I’d like to deal with the hill climb issues in the original info thread as it would be much better dealt with there. I am reading all the comments and suggestions specifically about the hill climb content and running so will make sure I come back to that.

Paul turned up with column and left it by the Monza but seeing I was a smidge busy actually fitted it for me while I got the hill climb running smoothly – thanks Paul and whatever I can do to get your ex-“thunder saloon” Monza finished for next year’s RRG just shout – RR peeps it’s already awesome (I’ve given up trying to get him to do a build thread anywhere) but it’s going to be so much more awesome running up the hill with 10inch split rims under huge arches and a race car running height (dropped to the floor on custom coilovers), 4 litre straight six camed to hell on throttle bodies providing the substantial push and a minimally silenced side exit exhaust.

Good news for me was I got to run the Monza up the hill a few times and as a few people thought and asked no I wasn’t 10/10ths – I’d stuck a 6500 rpm rev limiter in (normal running it’s 8000 rpm) as well as a db killer up the exhaust (which robs a fair bit of power) but I did that for a few reasons one was I didn’t want to have a incident having asked so many people not to silly and pace themselves (limited track time and a big clear up means less track time for everyone) and the second one was I was on slicks (ooops) and they don’t come up to temperature until quite a way up the hill – it didn’t feel like I had good grip at the front till the hairpin. Lastly I kinda had a role within a team of people running the pit area so having an off wouldn’t have been fair.

By just after 4pm I was pretty much toast but seeing the smiles on people faces and hearing some of the comments about the rest of the show made it all worthwhile.

I stayed Sun night and was really gutted to hear John's feedback first hand regarding some idiots who were camped near him - the one thing about the camping has always been self policing, friendly and superb fun even when people are fairly well tiddled - maybe it was too big this year.......... In fact this was the low point for me and has taken a lot of the shine of the weekend.

Monday morning after packing my gear and loading the Monza I helped Keefy to clear the remaining bits and pieces and then rolled home – virtually traffic free apart from the last 10 miles and the BMW returned 25.9 mpg! – must have been a bit lighter on beer and food than on the journey there.

[EmDee]

Cheers for the donut BC ;D

[Hoppum]

First time at the gathering and I absolutely loved it. The atmosphere was fantastic and is unlike any other show I've been to. I also like the fact that there's no show and shine which keeps people who only come to these things to win trophies away. Everyone I met was friendly and happy to talk, especially in the hill climb paddock , comparing runs with other drivers made the wait between runs fly by.

I was also pleasently surprised by how cheap the food was on show day, I can't remember the last time I saw a flake 99 so cheap!

I think the hill climb worked very well, and all the Marshalls from both Prescott and RR did a great job and were all very friendly. The only change I would make is perhaps open the afternoon session booking later in the day to allow late arrivers a change of a go. Also in the morning people were being allowed to book into both morning and afternoon sessions, I was under the impression that this wasn't allowed?

Aug 20, 2012 18:55:45 GMT stealthstylz said:

The only bad bits I could see were either caused by people being dicks (the fire, people going sideways on the showfield between cars) and my biggest disappointment - the SWB Quattro demo car. A SWB Quattro shouldn't be the dullest car to watch going up but on the day it was.

In defense of Hamish, the car went be mapped before the show but it reached a performance bottleneck with the wastegate being to small, he sourced and fitted a larger one before the show but couldn't get the car mapped in time so it was only running half power. It was also the first time he's driven the car in anger. The car has been built for competitive hillclimb use so he wasn't holding back for fear of scratching the paint or anything like that.

[polly75]

the idiots do ruin it for people we ALL need to have the culture to respect our neighbours and if you see an issue find one of us straight away and help your neighbours deal with it if you agree, there was not too many this year thankfully but any hassle dampens the fun

[bstardchild]

Aug 21, 2012 13:04:54 GMT Hoppum said:

Also in the morning people were being allowed to book into both morning and afternoon sessions, I was under the impression that this wasn't allowed?

OK I'll deal with the other Hill climb comments in another thread but you raise a very good point - it resulted in a lot of discussion before the event and it really was a difficult decision we went with yes to booking both - we've reviewed it after even though it was only 5 cars (pretty sure about that as I did the stickering) if we run the event in the same way we are all in agreement that will not allow it to happen again

Sorry but we get it wrong sometimes - helps us learn

[stealthstylz]

Ah right cheers for clearing that up. However I do now expect him to come back next year so I can see it go flat out up the hill

[killerbee]

A top day! only problem was the mix up with forms in the morning resulted in my passenger only getting her band as the car was idling to the start line, don't understand why passengers had to attend a driver briefing? But this seemed to be venue staff rule not RR staff!? But I must say the staff in orange t-shirts put on a good show and kept everyone moving once it started.

I hope to return next year with more power in the MG and even 2nd gear if I'm lucky.

[Rich606]

Aug 20, 2012 22:25:08 GMT speedy88 said:

The only complaint I have is about the rubbish on Sunday evening. Most of you were great and had the right attitude but I think for the second year running me and a few others ended up picking up piles of other camp's rubbish. I mean, the bin is on the way out... c'mon guys. Other than that, it, the weather and everyone was great and I'll be putting money aside for next year

I too was pretty disappointed about this. I left pretty near the end and the number of people I saw drive past sacks of rubbish on the way out was pretty shocking. I'm not even saying people should stop and pick up loose rubbish (well actually I am ), but just ignoring rubbish that's already bagged up? Pretty poor show. I complained about this after the beach party as well, it seems sadly inevitable...

Aug 21, 2012 7:27:22 GMT Lawsy said:

I bet given half the chance, those that loved the whole social side of the weekends camping etc, woudl be happy to just spend a whole community weekend together camped up in a field in the middle of nowhere too, without an actual 'show day' to speak of..

This. What really made the show for me was that I spent two nights camping in a field with mates, met some new people, had a lot of laughs, and then on the third day I went to a great car show with a fantastic hillclimb event.

I'm a bit confused by the people asking for food vans in the camping field. You do know the club house was just over the road, right? It's not exactly a huge site... I can see the point about more food in the show field: time queueing for burgers is time not spent looking at cars. But that's a small gripe.

I absolutely loved it. It's such a fantastic location; the scenery is stunning and the track is great, with some incredible viewing positions. One of the houses up at the top is even for sale ;D
The facilities were great too. I was amazed at how clean the toilets were, and the showers were great too.

Things that could make it better for next year:

I thought the guest cars were awesome. The Napier Bentley, Chris Isaac's Minor, the V8 Cortina... If you thought these were boring then basically you're wrong. It's not a matter of opinion, you're just wrong.
I loved the variety of things going up the hill. The guest cars, some competition cars, some fast road/track cars, some regular road cars giving it some beans, and then that Beetle with the roof rack full of suitcases pootling up the hill like a scene from a '60s tourist information newsreel ;D

[FlashCadillac]

Since the weekend, I'm sooooo tempted to sell the yank and buy something old and J. what have you guys done to me lol

[roshambow]

Aug 20, 2012 21:38:16 GMT toreno said:

I cant understand some people moaning this for me was the best car show I have ever been too I love this group for one reason everyone is welcome young and old, concours cars too wrecks on wheels (i count mine in the second category) welcomed and apreciated equally only here could you have a boy racer in a hoody and a bodykit wearing nova parked next to a guy in a flat cap polishing his mint austin a35 its brilliant and long may it continue so to all the I don't get it or I didnt enjoy it crowd I say maybee you need a new hobby cos as far as I am concerned it doesnt get any better than this

well your 'get another hobby' comment has put me off even more to go next year,i enjoyed the hill climb i enjoyed the diversity of cars but i didnt get the chance to socialise which is more important then pretty much anything at a car show in my opinion but as said the social side forms on the campsite which is where i missed out as i didnt stay overnight

[jrevillug]

Aug 21, 2012 10:05:09 GMT Dez said:

I like the idea of another weekend some other time in the year to get more track time somewhere though.

Hmm. Wiscombe? Another interesting hill in a nice place - and there's only the one house at the end of the drive.

Aug 21, 2012 10:05:09 GMT Dez said:

lets not forget as well how awesome cars like the napier were- and that the owner has taken the effort to bring it to an event really not aimed at that kind of car to 'open peoples eyes' to that kind of car and that kind fo motorsport, which can only be commended. the majority of people I spoke to said it was car of the show for them- I think he should be told as such!

Too right. ;D

Aug 21, 2012 10:12:11 GMT The Transplanter said:

4. I don't come on this forum as much as I would like (and some don't at all), and finding information about the show meant trawling through several posts to try and find answers to my questions!

I'm on the forum quite a bit, and found this too. For example, I missed the awards because there was - AFAIK - no information given beforehand and I was up the hill at the time. I know it's all rather laid-back, but a little more communication wouldn't go amiss.

I appreciate that the printing costs and admin time would be high, but perhaps a crib sheet sent out with the pre-ordered tickets and stapled to the on-the-gate tickets?

[alfachris]

I'll be booking a stand for Alfa 155's and some of us will be doing the hill as well.
I'll also have a small stand for the business with some of the retro cars that we have done

[skoda_kay]

well, what can i say, brilliant weekend. very proud of the rapid getting there, up the track and back home with no hiccups.

started a bit shakey on friday at 5pm, as we were setting off jikovron's blue v8 dolly decided to throw its temperature gauge right into the red, after some fettling and touching of the engine it was decided the thermostat was p*ssing us around. so the 2 car convoy was on its way. got there at half 7ish to be greeted by pandaselecta with our tickets and surprisingskoda with a cool box.
the camp was set up and beers drunk.
the next day saw the arrival of skoda_norman to our camp and teh meeting of lots of cracking people through the day and of course more alcohol.
sunday was even better with all the track based action and the epic cars on show.
the only bad part for me was my own embarasment when going up the track and grinding my way into third gear with all the crowd's eyes looking at me. oh well lol can't win 'em all.

can't wait for rrg'13. need more car and camping action right now. massive cheers to all the guys and gals involved in the organising and running of the best weekend of the year, and pandaselecta for getting 4 tickets at such short notice. see y'all next year

[Mike D]

I had an AWESOME Gathering For me it's definitely the camping / socialising/ drinking that makes it, was fantastic to see old, and meet new faces ;D It seemed busier on the Sunday too this year, and the vnue, as last year, was great.

Big shout to the organisers, you did a sterling job

I'd also like to give a shout out to the Gent (and the stunning serving girls ;D ) who were serving food in the clubhouse - we went in a few times on Saturday and were made very welcome all weekend - the food was great and the prices were too. Plus he liked my hat Thanks dudes!

Roll on next year!