I suppose I could hoon in my tin top if that were allowed??
...Scotland!
Having failed miserably to organise a track-day at East Fortune, and having read about the frustrations of Scots Locosters trying to arrange a meet,
how about this...
In the tradition of 'hooning' around Europe in your sportscar, would anyone be interested in a 'hoon' around Scotland next
summer?
I'm thinking of perhaps a bank holiday weekend, leave Friday, return Monday night, tour Scotland as much as possible and stop at suitable
accomodation each night to swap tales of near misses with sheep, tail out action on the Rest and be Thankful, and other such amusing anecdotes.
With almost a year to plan it, surely we could arrange something that would see a decent turn out?
I had thought of camping, but time spent setting up and taking down tents is time that would eat into driving and er... socialising...
Would £200-250 for 3 nights DBB be a good target budget?
I have a route planned that I did for another non starter event last year, and it takes in some of the most spectacular roads in Scotland (north,
south, east and west). I also managed to find a number of decent, friendly hotels on the routes, that offered discounts for group bookings.
It is, of course, up for debate and discussion, but maybe that's another good reason to meet up: to plan it all out?
Your thoughts would be welcome.
[Edited on 30/8/05 by tadltd]
[Edited on 30/8/05 by tadltd]
£200- £250!!!! you could build a car for that!!!! lol
IF (and it's a big if) I get my build finished by then you can count me in. Always wanted to visit the land of my forefathers.
I said FOREfather NOT 4 fathers!!!! Although it's true my upbringing was very messed up.
[Edited on 30/8/05 by DorsetStrider]
Yup, count me in. It will be a good incentive to get my car ready.
Would you be looking to incorporate any sort of track activity into this event Steve ?
It's just that - I have a cunning plan....
Would love to do this but my car wont be road legal
I suppose I could hoon in my tin top if that were allowed??
Chase car duties are always rewarded one way or another.
Especially if there is track action. 
quote:
Originally posted by zilspeed
Chase car duties are always rewarded one way or another.
Especially if there is track action.
Well... I had thought of that too, Zil... But unsure of a venue, although we could easily incorporate one of the circuits or sprint venues into the
tour.
On the point of petrol station scarcity, there is also a consideration for a support vehicle. Something of adequate size that could carry some tools,
spares, fluids, etc. (Nissan Navara or similar)
Perhaps someone who's car isn't finished, or would just like to be involved in the trip could drive the support vehicle. I'm thinking
of doing it myself if I don't have a car ready...
I don't see why this should be limited to Locost / 7-type / kit cars either. It's not so much about the type of vehicle, but more about the
experience.
[Edited on 30/8/05 by tadltd]
The www.se7ens.net list do this every year or so (very open to any type of seven / sports car). Its usually called something like haggis hunt,
butchers in the boarders etc. They publish the route, organise hotels and have a 7.5 tonne support lorry. Everything is funded on a cost basis.
(previously someone lent a landrover but buying the truck was an opportunity too good to miss as it can carry spares, welder, generator and two cars
at once)
might be worth popping by and either teaming up or stealing ideas.
Chase car = support vehicle.
I would be more than willing to offer the use of my little box trailer for carrying stuff in. It's fully enclosed and would easily carry an
excellent selection of tools, tyres, luggage etc.. It's completely waterproff as well. It holds about a cubic metre of stuff I guess.
Id be up for that if the cars finished, can you give some rough idea of routes, dates etc
Just going over the route again, which was drawn up for a 7 day tour. I'll need to figure a shorter, but still interesting route - I'll post
some details a little later.
One of the issues is going to be whether this should be held on a Scottish or English bank holiday weekend! I don't think any of them coincide!!
What about not on a bank holiday. If we all know well enough ahead, it shouldn't be a problem.
Bank holiday weekends lots of traffic
quote:
Originally posted by zilspeed
Would you be looking to incorporate any sort of track activity into this event Steve ?
It's just that - I have a cunning plan....
Yeah, what is your "cunning plan", Zil?
(he's a cunning linguist, by the way...) 
quote:
Originally posted by dave1888
Id be up for that if the cars finished, can you give some rough idea of routes, dates etc
quote:
Originally posted by tadltd
Yeah, what is your "cunning plan", Zil?
(he's a cunning linguist, by the way...)
sounds good
dont know what vehicle though
I'll be up for that.
Some initial route details:
- Pre-tour: Meet in the south of Scotland (suggest Gretna, Dumfries?)
- Day 1: Leave 9.00am (once roads are clearer), head north on A76 to rendevous at Kames sprint track in East Ayrshire for a barbie lunch, followed by
an afternoon/early evening of track activity! Then on to Strathaven via the A71 to spend the night at a local hotel.
- Day 2: Leave at 9.00am, destination Oban, via A82 Loch Lomond, A83, A816. Stop at Loch Fyne for a lunch of Oysters!
- Day 3: Leave at 9.00am, destination Ullapool, via Fort William, Invergarry and Kyle of Lochalsh (where we stop for lunch).
- Day 4: Ullapool to Inverness, via Golspie hillclimb course. Barbecue lunch, followed by an afternoon of track activity (if allowed), followed by a
run into Inverness to spend the evening socialising.
- Day 5: Inverness to Knockhill, via Braemar (lunch). Barbecue at Knockhill prior to a 2 hour evening of track activity. Move on to Edinburgh for an
evening in Rose Street...
- Day 6: Edinburgh to Dumfries/Gretna, via Hawick and Jim Clark museum. Ceilidh finale at hotel.
I figured meet on a Saturday, and kick-off the tour on a Sunday, ending on a high note on Friday evening?
Having taken on board the fact that we could do a longer tour if planned well in advance, I figured this would make for a good 'hoon'. The
price of £200-250 would probably double, tho' unless someone out there has contacts and connections (e.g. hotel chain) that could help reduce the
cost. Still, paying £500 over 11/12 months shouldn't make to much of a dent... Bringing a passenger would also be a good way to split costs.
Thoughts/comments/suggestions welcome.
[Edited on 31/8/05 by tadltd]
[Edited on 31/8/05 by tadltd]
[Edited on 31/8/05 by tadltd]
only suggestion is something learnt from the se7ens list. Track days are great fun till someone crashes and can't continue the rest of the holiday. They tend to try and put them at the end / as a bolt on to any tours.
Any other comments on the itinerary?
Good point on the potential for damage during track-activity. Is this the general consensus?
quote:
Originally posted by Russ-Turner
quote:
Originally posted by zilspeed
Would you be looking to incorporate any sort of track activity into this event Steve ?
It's just that - I have a cunning plan....
A plan more cunning than a fox apppointed Head of Cunning at Oxford University?
Route sounds good. I have contacts in the hotel trade, Might be able to sort something out in Oban (chalets) and Inverness.
How does a night in the Inverness Marriott sound
any more on this??
would hate to see it die off cause its a great idea.
if this was to take of it could be huge, us scots foke dont bite honest and we throw some of the best partys around so you sothern softies should have
no excuse not to join us
BTTT
Any more thoughts anyone ?
any more info/thoughts???
OK - I've contacted a number of hotels on this route (since there's been no other suggestions of an alternative route). Awaiting responses, I'll keep you posted.
Can I ask what a fair price would be for a 6-day tour, including all meals, & accomodation, any track activity, and a final night ceilidh?
£500. maybe more, there is a fair bit of trackdaying there...
Is there any idea of dates yet? I'll be married this time next year, as an aside 
[Edited on 21/9/05 by JoelP]
I was looking at preliminary dates of 21st-27th August 2006. But at this stage its flexible.
I have a working total of £700 per person at the moment, but trying to work it to nearer £500
This includes:
any chance of a demo car loan during the track action as I dont think my saab will keep up on the twisty bit
If the track-action isn't a popular option, then we can eliminate from the tour - it'll certainly save on the cost for everyone involved,
especially if anyone has an off...
I need to know more opinions on it to get a feel for what would be a good tour. If the route I proposed isn't popular, please feel free to
suggest alternatives. If you have a favourite road in that part of the country let's see if it can be included.
The more input everyone gives the better the chance of it being something that everyone will enjoy.
i would probably leave the track action as an extra but keep the tracks on the tour then people could make there mind up on the day.
that way we can still enjoy the events and banter that goes with them.
just my 2 pence worth hope it made sense, wouldn't work if you had to book track time before we got there.
[Edited on 28/9/05 by skint scotsman]
Got another reply in from a hotel in Oban, so cost has dropped to £615 per person... (includes track time at Kames, Golspie, and Knockhill).
very interested the route sounds great we, mangoroove and myself have been talking about doing this for a while count us in!
Could everyone that's interested in this please e-mail me, so that I have a good idea of numbers... I'll send out regular updates to the
group.
hoonaroon2006@turner-auto-design.com
Does anyone that's interested in this have any objections to me inviting some selected journalists, or trying to drum up some press exposure for it?
I take it that's a 'no'?
i dont mind myself if they pay us
Some of the roads to expect on the route... (hope you have broadbeans!)
video
I posted this before I checked the video, thinking it would be quite good...
...it's f**king brilliant!!
[Edited on 7/10/05 by tadltd]
That's pure automotive porn!
Freeform jazz, cars belting through empty roads.
Count me in!
Mike
I'll bet with the proper car the engine soundtrack would be better than the music. Great video, great roads, no speed cameras YET and most of all
great weather. Are you sure this is scotland
I've just come across this discussion..I'm interested.
I have a couple of ideas/comments too...
what about staying at Youth hostels - from 10 -16 quid a night and often in gorgeous peaceful places (until a heap of 7's etc appear) and never
far from a pub.
That would drastically reduce the outlay
you mentiioned overnight stops in Inverness and Edinburgh - I think staying away from cities for overnight stops would be a better idea due to the
security issues of open cars (unless a friendly cars sales garage (or something else like an empty-ish factory unit) could help out?)
any thoughts?
Colin
i even recognised some of those roads !
Guys I can't seem to log into the Locost site anymore from my PC (using a colleague's at the moment). I suspect my IP address has been blocked. I will have to take this discussion onto another forum hosted at our web-site. I'll let you know when it's up and running.
Steve the top half of Scotland is a giant track!
Macs keeping tabs on this idea
Back on! Wonder what happened there...
...anyway - in case you haven't seen it, here's the proposed route map:
