Hi Guys and Gals ..... any reason this went off the agenda, be nice as the season is upon us to rejuvinate this most pictorial of feasts .....
Show and Shine Fatboys 18th July?
- Thread starter carreraboy
- Start date
Hi Des, Fatboys has been happening every month and there were 5 of us there on Sat! I had put a reminder here for the March meet but didn't do so last week (no responses to the previous thread). Many of us feel (you included I'm sure) that its a good meeting place and nice to have somewhere this side of London. As I understand it, the RO didn't think it was worth continuing with Fatboys when the Ace meet was being moved to the same day but I'm sure Kish will be along in a while to correct me! There are after all other well attended London region monthly meets like the Richmond one and Ace, although I hear turnout there on Sat was not good? In the meantime, thanks for originally recommending Fatboys, we continue to meet for lunch there on the 3rd Sat each month and I hope we'll see you there when you can make it. Everyone welcome! cheers, John
Not seen it officially listed .... any reason?
cherrington
New member
We seem to be suffering from a schism in R20 at present. Fatboys is traditionally where events are planned and on a fine day is a good place to meet , excellent location on the Thames with ready access to docklands, restaurants, tunnels etc. Anyone new to the club or region is made welcome and a mailing list is in existence regarding trips events etc. These include rides to France, Le mans, Isle of Man, on circuit training and weekend rides eg Goodwood, which often don't get advertised on the forum. The first club event at Brooklands was conceived at Fatboys as was Dunsfold etc. The Ace cafe , whilst a continuing fine motorsport venue was more popular on Wednesday evenings. The problem with any busy public venue is the difficulty in recognising new members amongst the general public. This is particularly true at the Ace where even club members tended to be a little cliquie [ is this a word? ]The Ace, whilst interesting does tend to pale a litte by ones 20th visit particularly if its cold or wet. At the moment it is not a ' Saturday night out ' destination. Club events are , like just about everything else, subject to market forces and last Saturdays very poor turnout surely signals the need to refresh the Ace experience. This will need a bit of passion and energy from someone. As John says Fatboys is alive and well, so see you there in May. John
Yes John ......... I would also think equally important that the location of FatBoys is excellent for those who can't trek to the opposite side of London (Richmond) or take on the N. Circular towards Ace, it certainly gave a logistically good solution particularly for us East/Sarf Londoners .... Maybe plan something Special there for 18th July like a Show and Shine bring the kids and Doris? Next Meet: Unfortunately I shall be in the Race sessions at Spa Francorchamps on the 16th peddling hard..... you Guys and Gals should be there ... rumour is next year.[
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]cherrington
New member
Not too sure of the significance of 18 July but Fatboys deserves an event in the summer. I'm sure we can sort this. Re Spa, we were intending to attend this year but another breakdown of communications sadly. JC
3rd Saturday is 18th July Show and Shine?
Fatboys was great when it was not used as a ferry port and you could always guarantee an empty car park; now you have to be very lucky to get parking anywhere close to the O2 backdrop for more than one or two cars. Even when there was parking there were only 2-3 regulars from the East, the others were from the North or West London. Seems Porsche owners in East London are not into monthly meets (and there is nothing wrong with that as pretty much most of central London owners are the same). The Richmond meet on the other hand has been now going on for over 5 years (probably more) and you can always guarantee at least 10 regulars and then random drop-bys. The Ace averages 30+ and summer has always been 50+. Even last Ace meet was at least 30 cars and for many region that would be a major event! Fatboys, most of last years was 6 regulars and one of two occasional drop bys and I did ask if those regulars wanted to move the meeting to earlier in the month after Ace was moved to the 3rd Saturday but there was not much interest and given that it was a small close communicating group it carried on meeting at Fatboys and then some drove to Ace in the evening. I like Fatboy but it takes me over an hour to get there and I put an effort to do this pretty much every month last year but now that I have moved to Ace on the 3rd Saturday it is not very practical to come across when there is no interest from East London members. More importantly the owner of Fatboys has no control over the parking area and I did ask if we can discuss parking with whoever owns the compound but he was very frank and stated that many have tried and unless we throw a lot of money (like the RedBull guys did for their event) we will just have to pick the few space when we get there and right now the few random slots next to the diner are about the space you can guarantee. So having a show and shine there would mean cars will have to find parking and all cars will be in random places and somewhere like say, Brands Hatch or if you really want close to East London then the Bow Porsche Centre would be a better location for such an event. Also note that our Saturday July 18 meet at Ace is a lunch time barbecue. See: http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=406806
cherrington
New member
Interesting and positive point to remember Kish is that 100% of the initiatives over the past couple of years made available for the benefit of R20 members and the organisation required to ensure their success have eminated from the Fatboys six.These include the Le Mans convoys, Isle of Man convoy, Brooklands, Dunsfold, two French tours per year, Saturday rides, Goodwood, Silverstone circuit tuition etc etc. How fantastic if there were to be an element of the same eminating from our Richmond colleagues. JC
So a Show and Shine should be OK then as above... can never remember not being able to park .....
Hi JC Perhaps a visit to the "Richmond Group" would be in order, you may be surprised as to just how much input to "Porsche" related subjects and events get discussed. Look forward to seeing you at the Rose of York next week (wednesday) Have fun Paul Kelley
JC I think you are just trying to force meetings to the way it works for you. Richmond works really well and probably one of the few meets where there is a good mix of club members from every model ownership (356, 964, 944, 986, 996, 997, GT3, early 911s and so on) and a wealth of knowledge all round with technical enthusiast and professional like Chris Turner always available for free advice to any member with any Porsche related questions... More importantly there is a great attendance from the local members unlike Fatboys. Richmond was where I got all the dos and don'ts when I did my first LeMans trip several years... We also discuss events at a level which is appealing to the majority (for example: for Brooklands next bank holiday we are looking at over 100s Porsches turning up). London is unique geographically and locking down one spot, which works for you but not the majority, for discussing events is not something I'm keen on pursuing. As mentioned Fatboys is a great diner but if no one else is interested (especially from East London) then putting it in the Porsche Post and on this forum will make no difference (and for the last year or so it has proven so) and it is not worth it for the club and the region to spend the sponsorship level of money that RedBull, etc do to get a large parking space; we are better off joining the Kent region at Brands Hatch as it is easy to get to from East London.
cherrington
New member
Thats fab Kish, hadn't realised that the Richmond group were so active. Guess we can look forwards to some new and imaginative R20 activities for the late summer and autumn being organised soon then. JC
Paul .... Richmond = Surrey great but easier to drive to the Midlands for most of SE London crowd ........ with Brands on our doorstep plus a wealth of East London venues, just seems East London has been elimanted from the social scene .... why does it matter who when and where if two people and or twenty turn up, still a get together ...... unilateral action is not the way forward, I joined Team London to try and balance the London Scene but it seems now we are back to where we we were ... Remember we won the Sheffield Trophy .... happy days. Have Fun.
cherrington
New member
Hi Paul Sorry missed your post. Definately not trying to score points as we are all in the same car club and for the same reasons. Don't see you all as the wicked witch of the west either! Has seemed a little frustrating recently however in achieving a joined up and co ordinated R20. Thanks for the invitation. Sadly in Boston for work next week but coming along to Richmond is a great idea. Anyone on the Isle of Man trip ? Regards JC
Hi Des, Just put some effort in turning up, then at least we will have one from East London. [
] It is very easy shouting on forum and claiming East London is ignored; why can't you come to terms with different members like different ways of interacting; believe it or not but majority of the membership is just happy to receive a nice glossy magazine every month and they feel their membership is worth it. I know you have always found it hard to understand why people buy Porsches and then not do trackdays; attend all races; display their cars; attend as many events and meets as possible but that is not their fault and it is perfectly normal and it is just your perception of life they are not meeting. How will having a written-sake monthly meet be doing the "try and balance the London Scene "? We had the meeting advertise whole of last year but it was pretty much a non East London attendance. We had a East London health check day in Spring and it was fully booked, so it may be not 'happy days' is in your head but there is no conspiracy to ignore East London and Brooklands later this month is another example of easy to get to from East London and is nowhere close to Ace cafe and relatively speaking Richmond.... well, in fact, it is not even in the official London region. Why can't you put the effort in supporting the Kent region with the Brands Hatch meet which is reasonably easy for those in East London if you really want to meet on a regular basis and expect some presence from East. Remember regions are not meant to be sub-clubs with PCGB and we as ROs always discuss all meets and events so they are better coordinated and we avoid clashes...
PEACE DUDEORIGINAL: THX911Hi Des, Just put some effort in turning up, then at least we will have one from East London. [
Des, I am getting some interest for the Bromley Pageant this year; well a lot more than last year, but it still is the classic, 'we'll see how the weather is on the day...' I may be able to come along too as it is very likely I be in Japan, from work, the week before, so Le Mans is looking unlikely...
Cool ... love to see you, best go to the main link above and book asap as space is sort of limited to about 15 cars .....
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