LONDON HIGHGATE Drive + Lunch - Sunday 12th June

[Nijius Maximus]

I don't know about you lot, but with this great weather we've been having lately, I've been loving driving my V12V around in the sun with the windows down and the epic exhaust growls and burbles as great company.



But what about REAL company?

I talked about this on another thread sometime ago... I know there's fellow Aston owners in London and I was talking about arranging an Aston meetup. Now the time has come. I've been scouting out some sweet country roads around the Stanmore / A41 / A1 areas and I'm thinking of organising something along the lines of this:


Sunday 12th June

• 10.00am - Meet up on North Hill in HIGHGATE for tea/coffee
• 10.30am - Go on an epic drive along a route I've created
• 11.30am - Quick stop for a stiff shot of whatever's in my Aston travel flask...
• 12.30pm - Arrive back in Highgate for lunch booked at The Bull

The Bull is an excellent gastro pub and most importantly they do Sunday roast!
http://thebullhighgate.co.uk/





We meet nice and early to avoid traffic, program in the multiple points to our route in our sat navs, hand out some walkie talkies I own, and finish in time for everyone to still be able to enjoy the rest of their Sunday with other-halves/friends. Perfect.

So fellow Londoners: how can you say no to this amazing mini-event that's practically on your doorstep?! Come join me for an epic Sunday...




GOING
Nijius Maximus
DaveV8V
NickXX

Edited by Nijius Maximus on Tuesday 7th June 08:52

Edited by Nijius Maximus on Thursday 9th June 09:00

[DaveV8V]

Hi Nijius,

I do remember you talking about this previously. I think it was also around the same time you posted some Pic's of a midday jaunt (as the rest of us were stuck behind a desk ) around Regents Park I think.

I'll be up for it

Dave

[Nijius Maximus]

DaveV8V said:

Hi Nijius,

I do remember you talking about this previously. I think it was also around the same time you posted some Pic's of a midday jaunt (as the rest of us were stuck behind a desk ) around Regents Park I think.

I'll be up for it

Dave

Excellent to hear Dave!

Yeah, you're right: the weather was too good to give up driving around Regent's Park that day. Advantages of being self employed...

Hopefully the Sunday will be just as good weather wise.

[NickXX]

I'm up for this!

[Nijius Maximus]

NickXX said:

I'm up for this!

Nick! I swear we must have just missed each other at the pub after Beaulieu by a matter of minutes.

Be great to meet up this time!


GOING
Nijius Maximus
DaveV8V
NickXX

[Paulsouthouse]

Hi NM...sounds good to me, assuming the sun is shining. Pencil me + 1 in please

[Nijius Maximus]

Paulsouthouse said:

Hi NM...sounds good to me, assuming the sun is shining. Pencil me + 1 in please

Excellent to hear Paul - the more the merrier!

GOING
Nijius Maximus +1
DaveV8V
NickXX
Paulsouthouse +1

[DaveV8V]

Nijius Maximus said:

Paulsouthouse said:

Hi NM...sounds good to me, assuming the sun is shining. Pencil me + 1 in please

Excellent to hear Paul - the more the merrier!

GOING
Nijius Maximus +1
DaveV8V
NickXX
Paulsouthouse +1

The V8's are ruling so far, but it does take one and a half of us to make a Nijius

[Nijius Maximus]

DaveV8V said:

The V8's are ruling so far, but it does take one and a half of us to make a Nijius

Haha... I'm also 1.5 times more likely to lose control of my car... It can be a handful.

[Nijius Maximus]

In case anyone thinks I've forgotten... there's only FIVE days to go. I hope everyone's still up for it. We've been having some great weather recently and hopefully it will continue for Sunday.

If anyone else wants to join in you're welcome to. Took part in a great convoy to Goodwood on Sunday so hoping to replicate some of the fun...especially through some tunnels I've got in mind...

Also, I've added an extra item to the itinerary for 11.30am in the first post.

[DaveV8V]

Nijius Maximus said:

In case anyone thinks I've forgotten... there's only FIVE days to go. I hope everyone's still up for it. We've been having some great weather recently and hopefully it will continue for Sunday.

If anyone else wants to join in you're welcome to. Took part in a great convoy to Goodwood on Sunday so hoping to replicate some of the fun...especially through some tunnels I've got in mind...

Also, I've added an extra item to the itinerary for 11.30am in the first post.

Just thought I'd give you a helping hand and *bump* it back up to the top in case anyone feels the need to show off their Pride 'n' Joy. :-D

[rossyl]

Bigger, I'm at the cricket otherwise I definitely would've joined

If you do it again, please let me know.

[Paulsouthouse]

Hello Chaps, I am going to have to give my apologies and I have had to change my plans. Enjoy and I look forward to the next one, cheers

[Nijius Maximus]

DaveV8V said:

Just thought I'd give you a helping hand and *bump* it back up to the top in case anyone feels the need to show off their Pride 'n' Joy. :-D

Thanks mate, every little helps...

rossyl said:

Bigger, I'm at the cricket otherwise I definitely would've joined

If you do it again, please let me know.

Paulsouthouse said:

Hello Chaps, I am going to have to give my apologies and I have had to change my plans. Enjoy and I look forward to the next one, cheers

No probs guys, if this one works out will aim to do another one before the summer's out!

[Quarterly]

How did the dine and drive go? Did anyone take any photos?

[Nijius Maximus]

Quarterly said:

How did the dine and drive go? Did anyone take any photos?

I'm just on my way home from work and will put up the photos and notes...

[Nijius Maximus]

Well Sunday started off wet unfortunately but when we actually set off from Highgate and got onto the country roads it REALLY got wet. I was definitely having some traction issues on the tight, wet bends...hehe.

A wet start:








But it was immense fun sharing my fun driving route. Dave said it best: "People heard my Aston and turned round as it went past...but there was more to come...!" Great reactions from people.


Following an Aston...and it's exhaust...




We had some great drives in the wet and stopped off at my office for a coffee and to admire / listen to a Ferrari 458 in the car park.

When we got back to Highgate having three black Astons parked in front of each other looked epic especially as after lunch the sun really came out.


Any colour...as long as it's black:








The food at The Bull was, like always, was excellent:




After annoyingly having left the batteries for the walkie talkies at home we used our mobiles and in car Bluetooth. It was epic: we could hear each other's exhausts in real time through the speakers and then echoing off walls and tunnels with a slight delay later. Surround sound baby...

I never realised just how much fun it is, even in London, driving in an Aston convoy. I honestly felt like we were kids with new toys. Insane fun. I'd do it every week if I could.

At the end myself and Dave stopped off outside my apartment block in King's Cross and got some photos with the doors out. Great reactions from passers by which sums up the reaction for the whole day really: making ourselves and onlookers smile.


On show..







Next time will need to remember the Go Pros and walkie talkies and will hopefully be joined by some more of you.

Edited by Nijius Maximus on Wednesday 15th June 18:58

Edited by Nijius Maximus on Wednesday 15th June 18:59

[NickXX]

Haha, love it- shame I wasn't around this weekend. I did drive past the Highgate DB9s on Saturday and thought of you Nij!

[Quarterly]

Excellent write up and pics, I might join you next time.

[Jockman]

Well one Nij for organising. Oh the joys of a small group. The last one Mikey organised had over 40? On it a couple of years ago and it was a nightmare getting everyone together.

Thankfully captain Jockers was on hand to lead a 'slow' group