Eddie nuff wrote:Then onto the convoy at midday, well when I say convoy I mean race to a finish point along A roads, roundabouts, major traffic lights and across Aylsebury. The written directions were decent, thankfully, so when the guy in front raced away at a rate of knots at least you could navigate your way there.
We can't control how people on the convoy drive Neil so that's beyond and out of our control. Although named the convoy drive (it's always been named that since CXM has been going) it could be classed as a drive out - hence each vehicle gets a route booklet with specific instructions listed. Also there was no incentive to get there first with no prizes offered in a timed style route. As stated on the information sheets it was advised for each vehicle to have a driver and passenger as to read the route. Although we all set off in "convoy" we fully expect the line up to get broken up - hence why the last five or six cars arrived a little later. I was at the front of this section as I had to stop at some traffic lights and roundabouts.
Eddie nuff wrote:The fiver for the half breakfast in the pub wasn't worth it and so Sunday morning we had breakfast at the hall on the field.
I echo Dean's comments here, and the breakfasts were available from 8am until 10am when the pub wasn't usually open so it was especially set-up. That was an early start for the pub staff on a weekend too and had to get the breakfasts ready for 8am kickoff.
Eddie nuff wrote:Then over to Chinnor railway for a quick lunch and then sit for ages until they moved the half a dozen carriages out of the way in order to bring around the much talked about
Bubble car, or in other words a 1960's British Railway carriage
Eventually we're off, down a couple of miles of uneventful track, to not even reach the destination because it was out of action due to a crane. Then when we get back, down the same track, to be offered the chance to look at some more trains. Now if this is your kind of thing good on you, but tbh we decided we had had enough and made our way back, the scenic way.
Pretty much everyone I heard from enjoyed the visit to the railway immensely - certainly it exceeded my expectations. Personally I, and others, loved the experience of travelling on the Bubble car with it's twin AEC engines - I'm not a train anorak, never have been and I doubt ever will however it was a cracking experience. Certainly seeing Jim hanging out of the window getting face full of diesel fumes was one extremely memorable highlight! During the wait for the trains to be swapped over there was amble opportunity for things to do - have a tour of the signal box, visit the shop, have a chat with everyone else, take pictures etc.
The visit to the Class 37 was another highlight - some folk were positively jumping up and down in readiness to get up close. Where else could you go to walk around a running train of this calibre, and if you were lucky get to blow the horn too...!
AND all for £5 per person! Looking at the brochure a run down the track was usually £10, so we had half price discount AND a tour and guide of the special Class 37.
Eddie nuff wrote:On the way over the Fish & Chip van passed us on the way to the field, I do wish we'd followed it. The £15 a head meal was a cold buffet that was all bought in and would cost no more than a fiver each. Couple that with the ale which went flat before you got back to your seat and the feeling of being fleeced was rife.
I've not heard any complaints about the ale that was being drunk - certainly around 80% of our table was on ale and not a bad word said. Details regarding the meal were previously and clearly set out - £15 per head for a traditional farmers buffet. This was all you could eat too so you could go up as many times as you would like and there was desert available too.
Perhaps time to look at this cost in the grand scheme of things. Entry and camping for the whole weekend was free - folk did not have to spend a single penny to come along. Compare this to other shows, such as the CCC National which was around £15 per night! We could of charged £5 per day entry...so £15... and £15 a night camping so another £30. £45 in total which was saved - minus the £15 meal means £30 saved which could go towards fuel to get to the event.
Our field cost was £300 - we as organisers don't mind people knowing that. We were very gratefully to all of you that gave donations to help us clear this cost. We're not a profit led organisation at all - we broke even on the weekend including buying the trophies and the raffles prizes. We don't get paid a penny, we as enthusiasts run the event for enthusiasts. A lot of work went into this event, and we are grateful to all that went. We're not professional events organisers and so learn from previous years on how to run the event - trying out different procedures each year to see how things go. Perhaps next year we will try something else.
Eddie nuff wrote:The afternoon dragged on to 3 o'clock when the raffle and presentations began, which could have been done at least an hour earlier.
The raffle and presentation has always been held at 3:00PM. Every year. Since the beginning of these shows.
Eddie nuff wrote:Everything was quickly shuffled inside due to the heavy shower
We can't control the weather I'm afraid.
Eddie nuff wrote:culminating with the coup de grace in the award of the Roger's Choice trophy . . . to a Jaguar . . . a bloody Jag. It's a Citroen event for christs sake, the clue is in the name - The Citroen Car Club!
You couldn't make it up!
There are no rules that a Citroen has to win a trophy. I can see your point if the E Type won the Best XM award, but this award is different. This award is in memory of Roger Bradford, the long standing chairman of the CX Section, enthusiast towards the marque and also an enthusiast of cars not just with chevrons on the front. Roger was a good friend of mine, and my dad's for many many years and this trophy was for the car (notice car, not specifically Citroen) that he would of exclaimed "Good God!" at that he was well known to have done... This year there wasn't a Citroen that we felt he would of exclaimed at - if, say, the Vert Cali CX Prestige was there (for example) then we know he had tried for many years to acquire that car and it's the only one left - a prime candidate. The E-type is a lovely car and combined with the fact that the owner, Claire, was also driving the train on convoy trip that would of also contributed to him being surprised - most wouldn't expect an E Type to be at the Rally either. We also asked quite a few old friend's of Roger who also suggested the E Type too...
Dieselman wrote:You really missed the best bits by going, though I did notice there was less Arse-ing about in each others cars than on previous events.
Numbers were down a bit Will, although there was a fair bit going on. Paul took Robert and I out for a run in Robert C5s, Robert took my C4 for a spin, I took Robert's C5 for a blast, Robert took William's civilian spec C5 for a run - also saw Matthew driving Mike's LHD V6, and that's the one's that I saw...
Pictures and videos to follow...
it was a proper boys trip
I think he would have done.
