2022 - Socials Planning

Teresa

Social Secretary
European-Union
As things start to look more optimistic in terms of meeting up,.we are starting to look at the social programme for 2022.

Our social season normally runs from April to November - topped and tailed with a meal in the Midlands at either end.

We have some events we regularly attend:
Stanford Hall - early May
Kimbolton Country Fayre - mid July
Audis in the Park - early August

But we are keen to expand our range - particularly in terms of geography.

So, if you are aware of an event, or an area/attraction that you think would make a great day/weekend out for A2OC, please either post below or pop me a private message. I'm very happy to help turn an idea into a social.

I have picked up the brilliant suggestion of the Audi day at Beaulieu and will get that in the plans for 2022, but please do let me have ideas ?
 
Hello all,

I am happy to arrange a "not quite the lakes" weekend. Which would be family friendly in North Lancashire, a trip to Lakeland motor museum, sunny Morecombe Bay and a couple of nice scenic drives out etc.
Possibly a chance to get @timmus to do some upgrades subject to his availability.
Thinking of next spring, maybe early May Bank Holiday if there is enough interest.
There are several local caravan, camping or lodge hire around my area that I am sure I can negotiate a good deal on accommodation.
Any thoughts welcome
 
Please tell us more. Winter tyres essential I'd assume, it'll be cold.
Mac.
Yes.
The short version is much of the rest depends on how much you want to make use of the fact you'll be up north in the coldest part of the year and therefore also the most likely to have clear skies and therefore be able to see the northern lights... but you're a tick too far south.

How the Icetrack sessions work: I have (paid) access to a track ploughed into the ice by a local farmer - he is a petrolhead through and through and builds his tracks for fun. The last few years we've been on his "personal" lake and it's pretty darned good. It's not too deep, so it freezes quite early, and as long as there's snow and low enough temperatures for long enough, we are good. Last year it was no snow until really late on, but then it caught up with a vengeance. Tracktime is always subject to correct weather being available. I'm asking for a land-based track this winter, too.

I run it so that we have a block booking at a "local" hotel (everything's relative - local is within 30mins drive at 50mph) and we have all day Saturday and Sunday on the track. You handle your hotel booking, your ferry booking etc. - I set up the track time and food.
Normally the Germans would be on the ferry on Wednesday night - it leaves Travemünde Thursday at 0300 and gets in on Friday at 0900. Then it's a convoy up with stops for supplies, lunch, coffee, catch up and meet others and then hotel for the evening (with a Sauna extremely likely!). Saturday we meet up early at the local fuel station, then it's track time with coffee breaks and lunch at the track before heading home to more sauna, probably some beer, and then bed. Repeat Sunday. Monday offers the opportunity to do some more stuff locally - like husky sledding, snowmobil ing, ice fishing - or scoot off to your next appointment to disturb Santa in his grotto in Rovaniemi or whatever else you want to do. You could also return to Helsinki Monday so you have some time to explore before the ferry leaves on Tuesday at 1700 from Vuosaari. It would arrive back in Travemünde at 2100 on Wednesday evening.
Winter tyres are a legal requirement. The cold weather clothes are up to you ;) Could be only -5C, might be -30C. It's a friendly weekend with lots of opportunities to drive sideways and learn some more about car control... and maybe to lust after a quattro.

Pricing I have no clear idea about yet, but last year would have been similar to the year before, i.e. €55 / head / night in shared twin rooms, with track at €200 per car. Food packages I am still working on, but consider it to be around €150+ for Sat+Sun breakfasts, coffee breaks, lunches, and dinner Saturday. I will be back up there in a couple of weeks (with the A2!) and will be trying to hammer out some more details with providers at that point.
More details to follow when I have them. Feel free to bring real spiked tyres if you have them, we don't have an issue provided the weather is cold enough (i.e. below -5, or they'll tear up the track rather than roughen it). I have a video from 2020, I just haven't finalized it yet.
 
As things start to look more optimistic in terms of meeting up,.we are starting to look at the social programme for 2022.

Our social season normally runs from April to November - topped and tailed with a meal in the Midlands at either end.

We have some events we regularly attend:
Stanford Hall - early May
Kimbolton Country Fayre - mid July
Audis in the Park - early August

But we are keen to expand our range - particularly in terms of geography.

So, if you are aware of an event, or an area/attraction that you think would make a great day/weekend out for A2OC, please either post below or pop me a private message. I'm very happy to help turn an idea into a social.

I have picked up the brilliant suggestion of the Audi day at Beaulieu and will get that in the plans for 2022, but please do let me have ideas ?
Hi Teresa,
There is normally a classic car show on the bank holiday weekend (Sunday) in August. Due to Covid it has been postponed but is showing for 2022.
There is a right old mix of cars / vehicles and it is set up in the grounds of Stanley park in Blackpool.
Of course Blackpool is not everyone’s cup of tea but with St Anne’s & Lytham just down the road an A2 parade down the prom would turn a few heads.
 
Good thought Mark. I know there was a proposal for a trip to exactly that destination sometime before lockdown ... think that might have been an @A2Steve one? It ended up not happening though. Maybe it'd fly this time if tried again.
 
That sounds a great idea. Could be good for a spring trip as less weather dependent - I'll plan it in and liase re possible dates

Yes a slight global pandemic got in the way of proceedings ?

I think from memory they cater for car clubs and offer an allocated parking spot as well as guided tours.

I went with my dad in February last year just before lockdown and it was a great day out.
 
That sounds a great idea. Could be good for a spring trip as less weather dependent - I'll plan it in and liase re possible dates
@Teresa please can I suggest a combination of Haynes https://www.haynesmotormuseum.com/ and the Fleet Air Arm https://www.fleetairarm.com/ museum. They are only10 minutes down the road from each other and neither are weather dependent. They are a pair of fantastic museums, with something for everybody. However the A303 can be a nightmare, especially during Bank Holidays and during Summer weekends
 
--8<-- snip
More details to follow.. when I have them. -->8--snip
more details...Trackmeister will have a Finnish championship round on the track this year, so he'll be building for that. We will also need to be done and gone before then, as they'll leave massive ruts in the ice.
I suspect we will have a land track, too, and quite possibly our own private forest rally stage. There will be additional cost involved on the private rally stage, but I think we'll go with Saturday after lunch - drive yourself at a fee as we will need marshals and road closure paperwork - and after coffee, get a couple of the locals who know the route to drive passengers. Date is probably 12+13 February 2022. I'll handle the paperwork with Trackmeister, the council and police and we should be good. You won't forget this one in a hurry.
 
Back
Top