944 Scottish Tour 2005

[944Turbo]

Yes we will (have enough radios), unless any get put down inside that lovely house and cannot find it again!
Excellent week (still kicking myself we had to leave early even if it wasn't as early as first thought [])
Nick found us some superb driving roads and the house was fantastic.
A shame my car refused to start at one lunch stop but thanks to rick for sorting it. There are some superb photos to come and a bit of video for those who missed it.
Special thanks to Margaret, Belinda & Mags, for preparing some excellent food and to Len and Sue for the Chinese.
After spotting Tony Robinson (Baldrick) at the Green Wellie Yudra is convinced we overtook Clarkson on the way back down unfortunately she only spotted this as he was exiting the M6 so cant be certain.
Tony
[]

 

[John Sims]

Well, we are back again safe and sound. (And look what's happened to the forum since we've been gone!)

For those of you that said you would go and then didn't .......TOUGH!!!!! You missed the best week of driving you are ever likely to experience (unless you join the HPC). The week was everything Nick promised, and so much more. I think, while we were on the A1, I spotted a convoy of Shell tankers heading up North to replenish depleted reserves of Optimax.

The group was excellent fun and great company. Nick gave very well received driving instruction to any who asked, again an experience seldom afforded to anyone outside of the HPC, and if anyone would like to suggest that an S2 is slow they should try to follow Nick across the Pennines.[]

Thanks to Steve for bringing over his immaculate Lux for us to have a look at. It was a shame there weren't more of the group around to enjoy it, but all have marveled over the photos.

A massive thanks to Nick and Margaret for organizing the trip, and to all who attended for their friendship. Sorry Margaret, if we talked about cars a lot. I will be reading up on other subjects over the next twelve months so that I may offer you more entertaining conversation next year. [] I have commenced my studies with "Lens technology in digital SLRs".

Since Beakys random fan running experience he has behaved since so the switches will be removed today. I will be fixing the fan switch, once I have checked to see if it requires an "O" ring, and also replace the header tank while the fluid is out. Today, I will be mostly cleaning. There I go talking about cars again.[8|]

 

[Fen]

Have you been to Scotland, John? [] Glad you had a good time. Is there going to be a next year" then? I thought this was strictly a one-off.

 

[John Sims]

ORIGINAL: Fen

....... Is there going to be a next year" then? I thought this was strictly a one-off.

After such a superb week I would very much hope so but, I think, much would depend on our leader (or Mrs Leader []). Also, after and experience of such excellence it might be difficult to reproduce a second time. [8|]

The house was brilliant, the group were fabulous, the roads were wonderful, the scenery was breathtaking and the weather was, on the whole, better than could be expected for Scotland. It ticked all my boxes - but could it do it again?

 

[mik_ok]

so did you "do" the A93 then?

 

[Fen]

ORIGINAL: John Sims

the group were fabulous,

I'd better stay at home then...

 

[nfearn]

Yup, we did the A93 and may others. The only road I would have liked to have had a go at but didn't was the A87 out to Shiel Bridge.

Maybe next time?

 

[John Sims]

So.......
Did we have a good time?

The Gathering.

Our bijou, but comfortable, accommodation.

The inevitable distillery visit. I still think we should have had a bottle of the 30 year old Single Malt.

The playground.

Our dining room, and location of much unspeakable fun. [8D]

More unspeakable fun in the garden

Monster watch

Some other gaff we visited.

Did we have a good time .........not half!

 

[Steven944]

[FONT=courier new"]Just a quick reply to say what a pleasure it was meeting you guys, and thank you for your hospitality. As we say in Scotland (and you'll now know this) 'haste ye back' !
[FONT=courier new"]
[FONT=courier new"]Look forward to a visit again next year.
[FONT=courier new"]
[FONT=courier new"]All the best.

 

[John Sims]

ORIGINAL: Steven Ferguson

[FONT=courier new"]Just a quick reply to say what a pleasure it was meeting you guys, and thank you for your hospitality.........

And just to prove that Steve brought his immaculate shiny car up our less than perfect (read muddy) drive, here are the pictures. We were honored that Steve should bring his car along on a drizzly, damp, and mucky night particularly considering how much care and attention the car obviously receives. The whole car seemed almost newer than new and as shiny as a very shiny thing after a shining festival in the land of shiny.

 

[SianB]

John,
Thanks for posting the pictures - I'm very depressed to be home! Scotland has to go down down as one of the best weeks I've ever had.
I've got a fair few photos to publish once I get round to finishing my website!
I'll be buying double lottery tickets tomorrow in the hope that we can all go back to Newmiln very soon!

Sian

 

[John Sims]

ORIGINAL: SianB

.................. I'm very depressed to be home! Scotland has to go down down as one of the best weeks I've ever had.
.......................
Sian

Belinda was saying last night that whilst she has got used to the lack of room now she still misses having all the people about............so we could be on for the commune after all [8D].

We have spoken to most of the team (by e-mail if not in person) and all seem keen for a re-run next year.[][][]

Being a boring type, I plotted all the places we filled up with petrol onto AutoRoute. I think we can happily say that we drove through most of Scotland north of Perth, although I don't remember too many places. Perhaps next year we will spend a little longer out of the cars so as to absorb Scotland as more than just the best GT4 track ever. []

 

[nfearn]

"We have spoken to most of the team (by e-mail if not in person) and all seem keen for a re-run next year.[][][]"

On that basis, would anyone fancy sorting out the accommodation if I do the routes? Or does anyone want to do both?

 

[John Sims]

ORIGINAL: nfearn

............On that basis, would anyone fancy sorting out the accommodation if I do the routes? Or does anyone want to do both?

Spot on "BB"

I'm more than happy to put Belinda on to sorting the accommodation. I'm assuming we want Newmiln again? I can't think of anyone more qualified than your goodself, Mr Fearn, when it comes to sorting routes. []

Same time, same place?

I had asked Belinda if she felt somewhere else might make a change - there was even some talk of accommodation at Balmoral. She has suggested that there is still a great deal to see within reasonable distance from Newmiln, and we all really liked the place, so it seems daft to go somewhere which may not be as good.

Might I suggest we reconvene in a month or so to commence "The Rumble Returns" strategic planning.

I guess, as there was a little bit more space, we could start considering applications for the remaining places. Obviously all applications should include personal references, 8" x 10" photos in swim wear, envelopes full of folding notes, tickets to desirable forthcoming events, OPC discount vouchers and any other enticements people can think of. In due course we can interview the applicants for submission to the review board.

 

[nfearn]

OK then. Subject to Margaret being available that week we'll go for it.

If you're happy to pick up the accommodation arrangements, I suggest that we aim to get it booked asap so we can be sure of the dates. The max number, realistically, is 7 couples or 14 individuals + children as applicable (not that we'll need the extra fuel - there was plenty of logs if I recall correctly).

That would give us a cost for the week for accommodation of £255 per person, with children free, assuming the price is the same as this year.

We should put an ad on Titanic as well.

 

[944turboS]

Hi,
Please put Tracey & I down for this jolly next year.

 

[Fen]

Provisionally (on dates primarily, with a large side of not knowing yet if our Porsche is the sort of thing you'd want to drive to Scotland in or not) Emma & I would like to join you as well.

 

[John Sims]

ORIGINAL: Fen

........................... not knowing yet if our Porsche is the sort of thing you'd want to drive to Scotland in or not) Emma & I would like to join you as well.

No Porsche - no place. Emma is, of course, more than welcome though (subject to acceptance by the review board []).

I did make some gentle enquiries with my Scottish client as to whether they would be interested in contributing toward the costs if we carried their name on the cars. The proposal was quite warmly received but, due to the lack of cars this year, I didn't feel it was fair to pursue. With more cars in 2006, and carrying forward the professionalism of this years event, I feel this may now be worth considering.

To get back to my original point "interesting" cars are more likely to encourage "interest" from potential sponsors - as are sexy girls in skimpy attire [8D] Considering we are going to Scotland at the end of May perhaps the latter is a bit optimistic but the "Track Slag" would fit well with the first criteria. As we wont be in the car with you, we don't really care if you are deaf, with spinal injuries, by the end of the week or not.

If I might be so bold, it might be worth getting Emma to fly up and back (as did Belinda & Peter) if there is any question about how confortable the car will be. Scotland is a damn long way.

 

[Guest]

I think this should be the next reality show. (Not exactly Love Island though, blessing in disguise really) Certainly sort out sponsorship and the like.
As well as your accommodation full of cameras (so we can see your filthy habits[&o]) you will be given a daily task to diagnose/repair etc a 944 problem. Why there are sooo many to pick from. You will be awarded with petrol tokens.
The best bit is the rest of us on the forum get to vote who to kick out! Or maroon you there.
Now just for a show title, hmm??[8|]

 

[Fen]

ORIGINAL: John Sims

ORIGINAL: Fen

........................... not knowing yet if our Porsche is the sort of thing you'd want to drive to Scotland in or not) Emma & I would like to join you as well.

No Porsche - no place. Emma is, of course, more than welcome though (subject to acceptance by the review board []).

... the "Track Slag" would fit well with the first criteria. As we wont be in the car with you, we don't really care if you are deaf, with spinal injuries, by the end of the week or not.

If I might be so bold, it might be worth getting Emma to fly up and back (as did Belinda & Peter) if there is any question about how confortable the car will be. Scotland is a damn long way.

Harsh, but still reasonable. I'm not buying another Porsche for the trip though. It isn't so much the noise nor risk of spinal injuries I'm concerned about; it's the clutch. It may be a case of wait for a gap in front then leap into it - do you want to drive in front of a car like that for a week? Good suggestion on Emma flying though - I do know how far Scotland is since I am from there []. I could drop in on the parentals during the week which would be nice though. It is just before lemans though and '06 is my rear for going again. This is the first time I've felt cold turkey on my "off year" as it is.