Silverstone outing

[confusionhunter]

Hi All, thought I'd share a few pics of my Silverstone outing!
I convoyed all the way down from central Scotland on the Saturday and the weather was good (which is handy when you have no roof) with the exception of one short downpour which was enough to remind me that I hadn't repaired the passenger front door seal! Oops! At any decent speed the full screen is enough to deflect most rain showers. At least I had the sense to swap out the aero screen for the full screen for the journey!

Anyway, its the first long trip I'd done in the Can am and 700 miles all round and I'm really pleased with how it performed and feel like I've got to know the car better and I'm sure the engine is smoother having had a good run! it only had 1500 or so miles on it before hand.

When we arrived the hotel Pete and I parked up but I quickly noticed a red GTR, which after a dip in the pool multiplied to a blue and a green one. So Peter and I decided to create an Ultima spectrum with a black and white car at the ends!!





We met a few new owners and had good chats, a couple of drinks and enjoyed a decent steak! Certainly a relaxing and entertaining day! Chuffed the car returned some good mpg too ! a pleasant surprise!

By morning time the collection had grown!



No this next bit is what made it for me.... Richard and Andy Appeared with a yet larger collection of Ultimas and we set off after some more good chat: Ive been to loads of car shows and convoys but I was cloud 9 listening to all these V8s and looking at so many Ultimas around me (and I have to say driving my own one in such company! ). Win!
Again next year please!!!!!

Only phone pics but you get the idea:



My fav shot this one:



And a novelty view that you will only get from a Can Am without a wing! (dont worry it was the passenger taking the pics!!)






We made it to silverstone before the weather came in:


but as you will have heard the rain was pretty relentless and the racing was cancelled by mid afternoon! We did get to see the F1 cars though!

Its a real shame as I could of spoken to each and everyone one of the other owners there for ages but I only spoke to a couple of new faces at Silverstone. I'll be up for a few journeys next year too so hope to meet you all again and actually talk cars instead of diving for cover and putting on tarpaulins over the car!!!


Needless to say the journey home was.... interesting. I look at it as a very good leak test of the cabin!! We did get wet but a cap and a hooded raincoat with the heater on made it bearable and pleasant when the rain let up a bit. There was loads of thumbs up and photos as usual on the drive home but not sure if its the usual Ultima theatre or more of a.... ' Look at these idiots driving a topless car in torrential rain!!!!'.
I wont be surprised if we end up on some kind of FB Car Meme: 'It was sunny when we left!'


Mark

Edited by confusionhunter on Monday 27th July 20:48

Edited by confusionhunter on Monday 27th July 21:18

[jmwram]

hi mark,great to meet you had a good time in the convoy to silverstone ,shame about the weather ,glad you managed to take some great pictures ,hope you managed to dry out ok.maybe next time the rain will not be an issue as was the case on sunday .-john

[mt308]

Great pictures. Good to meet you all.

Horrid weather!

Here is a video before the rain came. Best viewed with sound off!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIJBxS-aiME

Mark

[jmwram]

good to meet you ,well done on getting that great video shame we could not here the engines, waiting to see the factory pictures on the move should be a good sight -john

[mt308]

jmwram said:

good to meet you ,well done on getting that great video shame we could not here the engines, waiting to see the factory pictures on the move should be a good sight -john

Not sure who took that video - if they have a version with engines rather than music that would be great!

I am up for the same trip next year. With more normal summer weather I think it would have been a great day. Also a good compromise for those of us in the South and the North.

Mark

[Storer]

Mark

I have never seen so many photos of my rear end before!!! Glad I had polished it.

I have to say the convoy was fun. Next time we need to do it through a town at a civilised hour to see the reaction......

One thing for everyone to be aware of is the effect of the wet weather on our (older style) Ultima wheels. If you haven't done it already, get out there and clean them or they will corrode.

The reason I disappeared just before we got there was for a splash-and-dash. Slight miscalculation on fuel consumption.....

I don't know how it is paid for, but next time we need somewhere to get out of the rain/sun and sit down to talk, get a coffee and maybe a sandwich/cake. The situation this year has highlighted the need IMO. There are probably quite a few prospective customers at this event that would never go to a kit car show, so may be well worth while for the Factory and our used values. Most other clubs have something (some bast*rds even had a bar-b-q).

When the weather is favourable the racing is great and there are few places where you can get so close to such great cars. Well worth a second attempt.


Paul

[AlpinaDave]

mt308 said:

Not sure who took that video - if they have a version with engines rather than music that would be great!

I am up for the same trip next year. With more normal summer weather I think it would have been a great day. Also a good compromise for those of us in the South and the North.

Mark

LOL. I took the video and apologies for the dodgy music, it was only there to cover over the kids excitement and chat! Came to support the factory and Ultima owners as usually attend the open day & live fairly close but couldn't make the classic this year. In my 3rd year of a 5 year build, now in EVO form so always good to get some inspiration but hopefully will join you guys some day! Great to see the convoy and Ultima's on the road. We did get some more footage as we followed along the way too but needs a bit of editing as very wobbly!

Regards,
Dave

[confusionhunter]

Good effort! There was also a chap in a black jag I think that was darting ahead and parking, getting footage and then blasting past to get more footage at the next junction! Good effort! Was that also you? :-)

[845ste]

and the sound of Ultima?????

[mt308]

AlpinaDave said:

mt308 said:

Not sure who took that video - if they have a version with engines rather than music that would be great!

I am up for the same trip next year. With more normal summer weather I think it would have been a great day. Also a good compromise for those of us in the South and the North.

Mark

LOL. I took the video and apologies for the dodgy music, it was only there to cover over the kids excitement and chat! Came to support the factory and Ultima owners as usually attend the open day & live fairly close but couldn't make the classic this year. In my 3rd year of a 5 year build, now in EVO form so always good to get some inspiration but hopefully will join you guys some day! Great to see the convoy and Ultima's on the road. We did get some more footage as we followed along the way too but needs a bit of editing as very wobbly!

Regards,
Dave

Thanks for posting the video. I see it is now on the Ultima Facebook page. Hoping the factory may upload some of their videos and pictures from the convoy shoot.

[Ult-Jim]

It was good to meet everyone. Thanks Mark for sharing the photos. Regarding the blurring of number plates in each photo, what software did you use as it looked like it was easy to do? Pity it started raining, could of chatted for hours.

[confusionhunter]

Actually its a wee program called PhotoEd that was part of Windows XP SP0 that MS removed as they realised they were providing functionality people were willing to pay for!!!
I've kept it with me since for quick photo editing. As for blurring of plates its a habit Im in to discourage plate cloning, which in the ultima comunity isnt too much of an issue unlike in the VW/audi community there are loads of black Golf GTIs you could pick any plate you like. Didnt want my picture to provide that!

[jmwram]

just a few pics from the start of the silverstone run

[jmwram]

[jmwram]

[jmwram]