ptholt

Had my first meeting with some of you guys today and thoroughly enjoyed myself.

About 9 or 10 (approx) met at pease pottage and hung around waiting for some more to turn up. Was funny watching the public driving the wrong way around the car park just so they could come over and look at the scoobies, most amusing.

We left for staplefield in a fairly orderly fashion (for about 5 mins, while the cars warmed up), untill a little bit of hell broke loose and it turned into a mini canonball run to staplefield.

I almost took out some poor bloke on a firestorm - he stopped at the side of the road, so i went past whatever it was holding me up from following the group, just in time to see the bike guy check behind before starting a u-turn DOH
thought i was gonna broadside him for a second till he noticed me and went straight on.
Then saw him turned round and come after us, i thought he was gonna have a go at first, but he shot past me and talked to one of the other guys in a red wrx <phew>.
Bike wheelied away from the mini roundabout with red wrx spinning all four wheels in pursuit - crumbs thought i.

Get to the pub to find its full and can't fit us in. So i suggested we to the pilgrims goose in hassocks which was just an excuse for a bit more er 'spirited' driving.

So after another back road mini blast (too much traffic) we all (somehow) managed to stay together and eventually for some had an enjoyable meal.

I really enjoyed myself and cant wait for a repeat, though some more driving would be nice. Would also be good to see some people join us. Just the site of the ones that did come hacking down the sussex back roads had me in fits of giggles

Some people suggested a longer day, with more driving, so if people want to suggest stuff we'll see if we can make this a regular meet.

Have posted some photos and a couple of mpg's up at -

JClark

Sunday was fun, it was great to meet you all and to see all the Scoobies lined up side by side at the services. Big thanks to Pete for being proactive and getting things moving, and for making the pictures available on the Web..

I enjoyed the meet, but I'm afraid that it might be my last

This was the first Scooby meet I've been to and it was great.... except for the drive, that is. I had thought that we would go in a nice orderly convoy from the services and on to the pub, and it did start out that way.

Then all hell broke loose

This may be an unpopular opinion, but I don't think that a Sunday SIDC meet is the right time or place to be driving like turbo-nutters. This is not what the SIDC is supposed to be for. It was frightening how quickly the pack mentality took over and safe driving became a secondary concern. I am as much to blame as anybody else since there was NO WAY that I was going to be left behind! But parts of that drive were DANGEROUS, and could so-easily have ended in a fatality.

Then there is the bad impression left on the residents of the villages we drove through, and the fact that we are just playing into the hands of the blanket 30-mph speed lobby.

All in all, I don't the group made a very good showing

Perhaps we all need to calm down a bit?

Jeremy
(Nomex attire fitted, feel free to flame away).

Rich_R

Great fun (and just the right amount of traffic to make sure you guys with STI's and WRX's didn't have too much straight line advantage )

Not sure the local villagers will be able to hear for a day or two

Nice selection of cars on view - the Legacy looked well cool and didn't it shift!

See you all next time.

Rich (Silver MY00)

Stupot

Sunday was great, enjoyed meeting everyone especially ptholt in his double spoilered drainpipe exhaust fitted STi Looking forward to a whole day of driving with u lot in a few weeks.
Stu

pnebbs

Jeremy

I tend to agree with you, a very enjoyable meet, but some of the driving was rather OTT (and again I feel as much to blame as anyone else). We did however slow down through the villages to a more sensible pace, (I think and hope that I did anyway). I should think that some of the cars that were overtaken by 10 scoobiis were probably rather shell shocked though.

I think part of the problem was that not many people knew where they were going and so couldn't really afford to be left too far behind. I certainly enjoyed the social part more than the driving.

All the other Car clubs I've been involved with just tend to have the pub meet, not driving there together, But then everyone bought their scoobies for driving - not sitting around talking about them.

Paul (feeling slightly embarassed)

KRIS

Shame on you for feeling embarrassed and Mr jclark...I have one question for you," why on earth have you purchased an impreza turbo ?"

The speed limits on the de restricted country roads is 60mph and if a car in front is not doing that speed and it is clear to overtake then you are perfectly within your rights to do so. So what if 10, or 20 cars overtake someone. If they are exercising their right to go slower than 60 then they must be aware that people will want to overtake.
You say that the pack mentality overtook us. What a load of nonsense. And for you then to say that you had to drive fast to keep up is an outrage. It is up to you to drive within YOUR limits and the fact that you didnt is just wreckless.
At the risk of making myself unpopular. what did you expect to do on Sunday....stand and gaze longingly at some parked up impreza`s ???
I think PnEBBS above says it all in his last paragragh.
Come on people , I know that 95% of the population are totally against `overtaking` but it will become a lost art.
I thought it was a top meet, got to know a few more faces, although not enough driving

K

p.s. Ptholt .....for 5 grand ..of course !!!


[This message has been edited by KRIS (edited 13-03-2000).]

Stupot

Here Here, I didnt feel I put anyones life at risk and only overtook where it was safely possible and I stayed up with the group. From what I remember there was traffic going thru all built up areas so how could we drive in a "disaproving" way?
I love driving my scoob, and I enjoy it more if there are other scoobs around. If you want to drive more sedately on a meet I will gladly join u and have a good time, but I cant help exploit my car and its abilities so Ill be out on the swifter drives too. It was great to have you there and I hope to meet up again
Stu

ptholt

Nice to see some of you enjoyed it, worrying that some felt the drive was dangerous.

I tihnk the best option is just to drive to your own limits and what you feel happy with.
As a biker as well im well used to riding with people that i consider dangerous for the road, but it doesnt mean i have to endanger anyone else by trying to keep up.

What we'll do next time which should please everyone, is for those that wish to drive more can meet earlier in the morning with less traffic etc and arrange to have lunch somewhere at a set time, so those who felt the drive to be dangerous can meet us there and not feel pressurised into having to keep up.

Those that drive can go for a play till dinner, then those that enjoyed the socialising more can meet up with us for lunch and a chat etc.

This seems the best option to me, would hate to think that the driving would put someone off meeting up again, as its a nice atmosphere and a good source of info.

If anyone is having trouble downloading the piccies, it seems a little moody and requires a couple of attempts to get thru (probably lack of bandwidth at Madasafish) but if you still struggle then mail me and ill zip and mail em back.

Look forward to seeing you all again shortly.

pnebbs

My second opinion (after thinking about it for longer)

I don't think we were driving particularly dangerously (all driving is I suppose potentially dangerous) and we have all bought fast cars that are easily capable of the speeds we were travelling at.

I do agree that it may not have given a good impression on the public - being overtaken by ten cars in a hurry(most of which are fairly loud) may be upsetting for some drivers. I didn't notice any of the usual signs I get from angry drivers who have been overtaken though,

I led from Handcross to Staplefield and drove at 30 through Handcross and only opened it up at the national speed limit sign - everybody kept up with me even those who knew the way, (KRIS, you stated that it was OK to overtake if the person in front is doing under 60mph, I was doing well over 90 when you passed me )

I do think it would have been perhaps more considerate in hindsight to discuss where we were going to in more detail so that some could make their own way at a slower pace if they wanted. I rather enjoyed the thrash (although my fuel gauge seemed to move faster that the revcounter)

When's the next meet?

Rich
Thanks for the nice quote about the Car




[This message has been edited by pnebbs (edited 13-03-2000).]

KRIS

ME .....speed.....never....

...just over 90 you say.....I`ll take your word for it as my speedo isn`t working correctly at the moment due to down gearing the bike( needs re-calibration)....BUT i`ll take your word for it.......naughty me and I`ll slap my wrists as punishment !!!!!

K

pnebbs

Kris

I shouldn't think you need to slap your wrist, I should think you probably grazed it taking that bend after you overtook me.

Paul

KRIS

I`m still trying to get the gravel out of my earhole !!!!!
K

MARK R

Oh dear KRIS we do seem to have caused a bit
of a stir!
I can just imagine the look on thier faces as
you joined the group popping wheelies down the outside of us with N on the back."Who is this DARK RIDER?What have we done to upset him?Is he going to kill us?Is he going to rape us?"Only i knew who you were and I was
kacking myself!
And as for you JClark i had trouble holding on to your tail at some parts early on in the drive.Do i detect a note of jealousy when you mentioned noise maybe you hanker after a SCOOBYSPORT EXHAUST?
I feel all my overtaking was done safely,within MY capabilities and endangered nobody.
Great day out hope to see you ALL again
soon.
Mark (RED STi)

ptholt

pah im going on the bike next time, just so i can show you all a clean pair if heels

Or should i stick to the the car and see what difference a Bob Rawle tuned possum does........................

JClark

Oops, I seem to have stirred up a hornet's nest with that last post.

OK, perhaps it was out of order to brand the driving as "dangerous." It did seem to be OTT at the time though. Don't forget I was positioned towards the back of the group, and had a grandstand view of the biker almost being "taken out". Not a nice thing to witness. But now that I come to think about it, it seems obvious that the guys up at the front will have had a totally different view of events, and the leader would not have been aware of what was going on behind. Apologies if anyone took offense at my remarks.

Obvious solution: Make sure I'm leading next time

Joking apart though, I've found out that it's not my idea of fun to be driving in a group, so at least I've learned something, and I won't be doing it again. I'm still on for future static meets though.

Kris
"Why have I purchased an Impreza Turbo?"
For it's performance, obviously, although that doesn't mean I have to give it a good spanking *every* time I go out in it, and as for driving within my limits - that is exactly what I did... I was concerned about events happening ahead of me, which (maybe) looked worse than they actually were.

"What did you expect to do on Sunday....stand and gaze longingly at some parked up impreza`s ??"
Err, strangely enough, yes! Isn't that what "meets" - as opposed to "drives" - are all about? Along with talking about mods, that is...

Mark
What jealous, moi? Yeah, that Scoobysport exhaust sounded lovely... must get one soon! BTW the remarks in my previous post were in no way directed at you; as I've said it was events ahead of me that caused me concern, and you were behind... until you made up for it later on! (safely, I might add).

I think I might have grovelled enough now. I'll get me coat...

Jeremy


[This message has been edited by JClark (edited 14-03-2000).]

[This message has been edited by JClark (edited 14-03-2000).]

sunilp

I missed this one...when is the next one planned?

Sunil

Stupot

Sunilp,
I have reason to believe a driving day out is being planned to take place in a few weeks time. Long enough I hope for me to have my fear bypass operation Mark, maybe you could give me a ride in your car when youve had the centre pipe fitted so I can hear how loud it is? I want to know if I can get away with the down pipe + centre pipe without the wife thinking its too loud
Stu (Silver STi)

Blow Dog

Dont forget that a Scoobysport exhaust sounds quite different on a UK car than a Jap car (STI).

I have full Scoobysport exhaust on my UK spec, but it aint nowhere near as loud as the STI's with the full exhaust.

BTW, Did someone have a red Ducati with them on that day? When we arrived late, we stopped and had a Burger King. Whilst eating, this red Ducati came and parked right next to us. Was this you?
Cem

ptholt

Jclark, it was me that was bearing down on Kris.

When i started to overtake, he had already pulled up at the side of the road with both feet down.

So i was out and nearly round when he set off again, looking to turn around and join us.

It probably looked a lot worse from behind than it actually was.
woke us both up though eh Kris ?

KRIS

Ahhh good......I`ve just got home having been away all week away from the dreaded internet.....

Nice to see that Mr Clarke has eaten some humble pie and grovelled a little bit, and quite rightly so, buts lets not go over old ground. Also nice to see Mark has found the right buttons to push to get what he`s written to appear on the BBS

So after a week listening to some geezer blahing on about air brakes and suspension and steering geometry I need to go out and have a blat so can we hurry up and organise the next one.

How about an early meet for the peeps that want to drive ( no other traffic about). And then arrange another time later in the day for the MEET where people can stare endlessly at the grubby paintwork and talk about how super their brakes are !!!!!!!!!

well well . . . . . the floor is yours....


K

sunilp

I'll come along for the stare please...where, what time?

Sunil

MARK R

Hi Kris
Count me in for the blast,I know Stupot's right foot is itching to burn rubber!Maybe we could start at Pratts Bottom again early,and pick up the Sussex/Surrey crew a bit further on.How about Sunday the 26th March?

Mark

Stupot

You know it Mark, Im scratching my right foot now I cant make the 26th as Im baby sitting my son while my wife scoobs down to her friends house for the weekend Now you know Id love to get her to change the date, but she already had in order for me to go the other Sunday. Im up for the Fleet meet mind u??????
Stupot

KRIS

Sounds good to me. Now shall I bring 4 wheels or two ? HHHHmmmmmmmmmm....

K

Rich_R

I'm up for the Fleet meet.

Details at:

Stupot

Rich,
Im gonna check out ptholt's cone (ooer) at the Fleet meet before I buy. It would be nice to compare his to yours as well. Its the noise level u see, to us, induction noise is music to our ears... to my wife, anything above the noise level of a 1.1 golf is like nails down a blackboard. It has become my mission to get her to change her mind

Stu