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| DONNINGTON |
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Not a great deal to say about the show this year. Some of the main manufacturers were absent this year leaving a much smaller display of new cars to have a look round. Even the Ultima stand was non-existent compared to previous years when they have taken over one complete section. There were also fewer stalls than before. Having read the RHOCaR site, most people who went seemed to enjoy themselves. Saturday saw the manufacturers' cars on the track and Sunday was taken over by the 750 Motor Club race events.
Bumped into Simon Trigg (ex Westfield owner) he is now building a Lamborghini and hopes to have it on the road next year. Also saw Peter Bell, Stephen and Lesley Altwasser, Piddy, Mike Shearing and a few Hoodies.
Still not sure if having the owners clubs on the Infield is a good thing, it is very dusty and somehow more disorganised than when it was outside on the grass. Still quite a good day out but not one we will rush back to next year.
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Donnington - Sunday 16th October 2005
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Having decided that we would not be going to Donnington this year, John announced on Saturday evening that he had checked the Robin Hood over, tyres/oil, the usual stuff, then I finally realised that he was intending to go after all!
At 6.15 this morning, still very dark outside, the stars were shining and it looked promising. By 7 o’clock the fog had closed in but we still set off agreeing to assess the weather once we reached the M1. Once on the M1 the visibility improved so we carried on.
The show at Donnington had been arranged differently this year, whether that was because it was moved later in the year I don’t know. Camping and kit car parking was on the circuit’s infield. Perhaps more secure for the camping but slightly cramped and on a dusty stony surface for the cars. The club areas seemed less organised. However, there was a good turn out of Robin Hoods and a few SG7 members came along.
Good to see the manufacturers’ cars running round the track, and also individual car owners with their cars. One good thing about where the cars were inside the circuit meant that you had a good view of the track. Somehow the show seemed disjointed but still worth the effort going up there.
It was fun to hear stories from Rizla about his up and coming tv performance, can’t wait to see him on the screen!
Nice to see: Sandie, John, Peter Bell, Paul Boatman, Bob and Sheila, Mick Brewer, Graham Mintram, Peter Ray, David Ricketts, Andy (AKA Rizla or Brad Pitt), Tim Norman, ‘Swan Snr’, and lots of faces we can’t put names to.
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4th/5th September 2004 -
The Journey
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John decided to travel up Saturday morning early followed very closely by me and in turn Andy Barbet. Andy was finally going to do the deed at the show and put the money down on the car of his choice. You only had to see the smile on his face later to know that he had taken the plunge. He took a year to get to the right decision so now we just have to sit back and wait for the kit to arrive and gradually for the car to be built. We wish him the best of luck! Can't wait to see it on the road. He has gone for a Luego Velocity, very nice.
The journey across to Toddington (J.12) via Hitchin, Pegsdon, Barton Le Clay, Sharpenhoe, Harlington and onto the A5120 to join the M1 is such a pretty route, much nicer than going through Luton. Cuts off a huge corner travelling from Stevenage. Worth doing if you head that way in the future. We set off in beautiful sunshine but that soon disappeared when we hit Northants where it was cold, dull and looked like it was going to pour with rain. By the time we arrived at Watford Gap Services the sun reappeared. Sandie, Dax Rush and John, Dax Cobra roared up behind us just as we were going to fill up with petrol. Left the services in warm sunshine again and headed for Castle Donnington. Took two hours travelling plus the stop over. I was joined from a slip road by a police car who decided to sit on my tail until I left the M1 for the race track! That certainly made me keep my speed in check!! We didn't overdo the speed anyway, after 70 mph my side screen bangs against my head which can be slightly irritating and uncomfortable. Andy noticed that I was gradually moving further and further away from it! Great to have such a long drive, furthest I have ever been in the Exmo. I so wanted to get to one show with the car and finally made it.
Considering the amount of kits we would be seeing, we didn't see a single kit on the motorway.
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After a very good, stress free and hold-up free journey we arrived at the show ground to find things rather different this year. Quite a large section of the ground has been leased off as a car holding bay. The club pitches were well away from the toilet block and water tap and considering the large number of cars expected, the area for the RHOCaR club was quite small. OK when the exhibition hall was open to use those toilets but for anyone camping it was a very long walk to the loo. By the time you get there and back, you need to go again! It was difficult for Mick Mellors and crew to make it clear to drivers that the area was for members only. This was not RHOCaR being funny, just a case of not enough room for everybody! There was the usual gazebo and barbeque for later on for those camping overnight.
John set up his tent and settled in for the day.
I had made it! My first proper show with the car.
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We didn't think that there were as many stalls this year. Good to have a look round at the manufacturers' stands, I am sorry to say that I didn't like the new Fiero. Didn't really see anything different from previous shows. I had a look at the Custom Chrome stand, I think that might be my Christmas present to myself this year, a nice shiny new exhaust! Some girls like diamonds, last year I had five new tyres.... Andy headed for the Luego stand and plucked up courage to put his money down on his starter kit. Andy has been coming to our meetings since August last year (he thinks) in his tintop, and we are very pleased that at some time in the future he will be coming along in a real car. I am sure he will get lots of help should he need it.
(we don't have many photos so if anyone has any, please send them and we will add them to the site, thanks)
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Stephen Altwasser - track day
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The track day was Saturday this year instead of Sunday. Stephen Altwasser (DOHC Robin Hood 2B) booked a session on the track from 3pm for half an hour. Well done him! He did seem to be suffering a little from nerves as the time neared for him to go out. John was offered a place beside him but he doesn't make a good passenger at the best of times, not a reflection on my driving... so he declined. It is something he would like to do but not in his own car.
Stephen did very well, looked impressive.
is that Chris Brown watching from the fence?
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I decided to make tracks and head off home about 4.30. John and Andy were camping overnight. Said goodbye and headed off for the M1. Another kit travelled behind me for about half an hour, it was nice to have the company and when he left to go on I think the M69, I suddenly felt very lonely. Motored on nicely at around 70/75. The car was running very nicely, did it good to have a long journey instead of the short runs usually made around Stevenage. Made good time back to Stevenage, just short of two hours with no stops. Very enjoyable, if a little tiring.
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Picture courtesy of captain pugwash (AKA Exmo Dave)
We had thought that Sunday would be a much busier day. John felt it was actually quieter. Word must have spread that the track day was Saturday. There were bikes on the track, not accessible though to the Kit Car Show attendees. Andy left and John followed a little later. He had a good run home, about the same time, just under two hours.
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All in all, a good show but it felt more like a big Robin Hood meet. It does seem like the Kit Car Show is being squeezed out so we will have to wait and see what it is like next year, if it happens at all?..
Good to see:
Peter Bell, Chris Brown, Stephen Altwasser, Griff, Piddy, Andy Petrie, Sandie, John, Andy, Chris and Moira, Bob, Graham Mintram
Rosemary apparently went Sunday afternoon, but we had all left by then!
And finally, a huge thankyou to Sandie and John. We went to see them for a cuppa on Sunday afternoon and they had arranged for the Red Arrows to do a fly past for us. How thoughtful. According to the Red Arrow's web site they had been doing a display at Duxford!
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