Ok. I was quite gutted about the 480 meet being off this year, and i know there are a few others too. So the last few weeks or so i've been plugging away over the www looking for some places etc. I've contacted campsites etc, enquired into activities we could take part in etc. I have contacted a few classic car organisers to see if we can get a stand up. I'm not angling at mint 480's either, just a stand to let people know we're here, especially as the model and club (to a lesser extent) have had publication exposure. None of the above are concrete, just things i looked at for inspiration. Obviously i want something that'll appeal to a majority or seem interesting.
I've propsed 3 days for the meet, a Fri, Sat & Sun which i'll explain further below. I'm basing the meet for August, this gives time to organise time off, save a little cash etc (i'll have to as i don't even have a job atm!). Taking into consideration the feedback from potential sites, the meet would be one of two weekends:
(Fri, SAt & Sun): 3rd, 4th & 5th or 17th, 18th & 19th.
I have a structure, which would be:
Fri-arrive from early/mid-day onwards-gives people a chance to arrive and get sorted out, and to be able to drive down under no pressure!
Sat-Wake up. lol. Get the club together and get ready to travel to destination on convoy (gutted this didn't happen last year-i see 480's on their own all year, so when there's more we're travelling together
). The destination has been pencilled in, but i'm waiting for more feedback so again, more details will be confirmed when i've had concrete confirmation. It won't be expensive as most 480 owners are usually skint After destination, convoy home with a stop off in a nice location for some 'en-masse' group photo's and a leg stretch, fag, whatever lol. The destination for group photo's will be researched so it's not just drive and stop where-ever (unless we pass somewhere nice on the way).
Back at HQ, i'm looking for a place with BBQ facilities so we can look back on the days events, eat and let our hair down, for those that have it
. In the evening a camp-fire and continuation of drink/socialising-be good to keep us altogether. I'd be basing the evening on an open air event but will be looking for somewhere with a pub near-by incase of bad weather. Sun-An opportunity to pack up and say our goodbyes ready for the trip home.
Seems a short weekend, but keeping it tight means there's no time for dragging heals or having nothing to do, plus there's then no pressure to squeeze too many things in and not give people anytime to enjoy the things we are doing!
I'm being quite harsh with the dates, but i know you can't please everybody-and too much flexability will result in failure-so as it was mentioned, pick a date and whoever comes comes. It's not intended to alienate anybody, but if we spend ages 'umming' over dates it'll be too late to sort, especially as August is quite a popular camping/meet season.
So, to answer the poll-i'm not putting dates-it will be one of those weekends (3rd 4th & 5th or 17th 18th & 19th August)-put yes if you are happy doing either and could make it, or no if you're not interested.
This is for us, so lets be positive about it! I've never organised anything like this before, but i've made some pretty good headway. I need a rough idea on how many would come so i can get prices/info etc and confirm. Oh, and so not to deviate too much, i am basing location in the Lakes again as i don't know the country that well to be able to pick somewhere of similar asthetic value! Hence most of the places i've contacted being around that area...
I aim to have some solid plans/places by the end of the week LATEST. I'll get dates/camp sites and package together an itinery for each set of dates/locations, and i'll get it posted officially in the meet section. I want a meet this year, as i'm sure others do too-so i won't let this slip by the wayside, i'll put the effort in as long as people are up for going!
So, post and 'Poll' away!
