Herts/North London meet - Sunday 27th February

[Chris71]

Okay, so who's up for another local meet? The date is Sunday 27th February, provisional time and place is 10:30am at The Cowper Arms in Letty Green (in between Hatfield and Hertford).

It's about 15 minutes away from the Potters Bar junction of the M25 and it's also a good rural starting point for a morning's hoon if anyone wants to go on (or arrange a pre-meet drive).

http://www.thecowperarmscolegreen.co.uk/

Directions
The scenic route from Potters Bar/A1000: Follow the A1000 north as Potters Bar gives way to Brookmans park. Go past the traffic lights for the B157 junction and about 150yds further up there's a turning to the right signposted 'Essendon B158'. Follow this road into the village of Essendon (about 3.5 miles) and out the other side. After you leave the village and the road returns to NSL you want to take the second road on your left. It's a very sharp turn and it's unsignposted. After that you want to keep following the road to Letty Green, through the village and out the other side. The pub is on your right immediately after you pass underneath a railway bridge.

From the A1/A414: Take the A414 (heading east if you're coming from the A1) until you come to a roundabout (the 3rd I think) signposted Cole Green and Birch Green. After you pass through a couple of traffic islands there's a signpost on the the right to Letty Green. Follow this road (if you overshoot it there's another turning about 50 yds later) and the pub is on your left about 1/4 mile later.

(Neither way is as complicated as it sounds, I promise. The post code is SG14 2NL, but some sat navs do have trouble locating it!)

[Chris71]

Good idea...

1. UH-Matt - Gallardo Spyder, or perhaps something else by then
2. Chris71 - TVR Chimaera

[Chris71]

I'm going to stick Blib down because as the sort of originator of these meets he bloody well should be coming.

1. UH-Matt - Gallardo Spyder, or perhaps something else by then
2. Chris71 - TVR Chimaera
3. Mrs OwenK + gang - MG ZT
4. Blib - Something fast and Italian

[Chris71]

Kateg28 said:

Is Blib Italian?

Oh sorry, you mean his car.

I'm amazed he hasn't turned up to comment...

1. UH-Matt - Gallardo Spyder, or perhaps something else by then
2. Chris71 - TVR Chimaera
3. Mrs OwenK + gang - MG ZT
4. Blib - Something fast and Italian
5. plenty - something blue
6. boolay - a turnip Swede
7. Andacami - Honda Accord, Shotgun or me pushbike
8. Kateg28 - NSX/Mondeo/feet

What happened to the Westie Andy? Happy to give you a lift over if you want. Shan't be hooning I'm afraid (unless the project moves on quicker than expected!) but should be able to chauffeur.

[Chris71]

Cool, I shall stick you down.

1. UH-Matt - Gallardo Spyder, or perhaps something else by then
2. Chris71 - TVR Chimaera
3. Mrs OwenK + gang - MG ZT
4. Blib - Something fast and Italian
5. plenty - something blue
6. boolay - a turnip Swede
7. Andacami - Honda Accord, Shotgun or me pushbike
8. Kateg28 - NSX/Mondeo/feet
9. Tango13 - E39 M5

[Chris71]

rob200sx said:

Prussian?

Freiherr Frederick Von Rost no less...

offspring86 said:

I'm hoping to be in attendance. I'll be photographer number 3.
13. Offspring86 - Integra DC2

Hi Ben,

If I asked very nicely would there be any chance of a quick passenger ride in your Integra? I'm thinking about getting one next year, but wondering if I'm maybe a bit too soft to live with a hardcore Type R every day!

[Chris71]

Thanks, much obliged.

[Chris71]

1. UH-Matt - Gallardo Spyder, or perhaps something else by then
2. Chris71 - TVR Chimaera
3. Mrs OwenK + gang - MG ZT
4. Blib - Something fast and Italian
5. plenty - something blue
6. boolay - 9-5 Aero
7. Andacami - Honda Accord, Shotgun or me pushbike
8. Kateg28 - NSX/Mondeo/feet
9. Tango13 - E39 M5
10. ChipsAndCheese - Porsche Cayman S
11. Rob200sx - Toyota Avensis (sorry)
12. Dele - E92 M3
13. Offspring86 - Integra DC2
14. TallTom - Abarth Grande Punto
15. George - Noble M400 or Z4 Coupe

[Chris71]

Kateg28 said:

Um, am I the only woman? I could do quite well out of that.

There's 15 people on the list and counting, so you might want to reconsider that!

[Chris71]

I have to be honest it's not something I really know the etiquette for.

Anyone care to enlighten us?

[Chris71]

Popped down to The Cowper Arms this afternoon - strictly in the name of organisation you understand - and I've confirmed our 'booking' for 10:30am on Sunday 27th February.

Please spread the word. All are welcome and it's a really good venue for a meet (and a good start for a subsequent drive!)

[Chris71]

Update from the events section...

1. UH-Matt - Gallardo Spyder, or perhaps something else by then
2. Chris71 - TVR Chimaera
3. Mrs OwenK + gang - MG ZT
4. Blib - Something fast and Italian
5. plenty - something blue
6. boolay - 9-5 Aero
7. Andacami - Honda Accord, Shotgun or me pushbike
8. Kateg28 - NSX/Mondeo/feet
9. Tango13 - E39 M5
10. ChipsAndCheese - Porsche Cayman S
11. Rob200sx - Toyota Avensis (sorry)
12. Dele - E92 M3
13. Offspring86 - Integra DC2
14. TallTom - Abarth Grande Punto
15. George - Noble M400 or Z4 Coupe
16. mickk - Cerbera
17. Harsh - Ferrari 360 or Atom
18. Speed_Demon - Something (if someone's feeling nice)
19. YesItsARover - MG ZS 180
20. bobsan - GT3
21. feef - Alfa 147

[Chris71]

rob200sx said:

Out of interest, are people sticking around after 10:30 (ie for some lunch) or just meeting up then going for a hoon?

I think some people are definitely staying for lunch.

I might do myself. Probably not hooning on this occasion as the TVR is only part way through its refresh work and the handling is still a tad wayward.

When we've arranged hoons in the past (well, I say 'we', Plenty has adopted that role very successfully of late...) it's usually been before the meet and people have stuck around for an hour or two afterwards.

If you're tempted, please do consider some nosh as the pub has been extremely accomodating towards us - they're opening specially for us again this time - so I feel a bit sorry for them staring at a car park dotted with nothing more than the odd half pint of lemonade!

[Chris71]

TallTom said:

I may well be interested in a drive beforehand, but 1.4T might have some trouble keeping up with some of you!

A mate of mine brought his Panda 100HP along recently and had no trouble keeping up in the interesting bits.

dele said:

I dont mind about going for a hoon, just give my bank balance warning as i doubt id get much over 14mpg

I can empathise with that. That's about what I get on a trip to the shops. Hopefully the trip to the dealers this weekend will aid that.

[Chris71]

had ham said:

I would give my right arm to get 14

So it does have a weakness!

The IS-F that is ... Had my first chance to drive one a while back and I think it's one of my favourite cars. I loved the way it could flip instantly between between effortlessly relaxed cruiser and baby-NASCAR to suit your mood. Very jealous.

1. UH-Matt - Gallardo Spyder, or perhaps something else by then
2. Chris71 - TVR Chimaera
3. Mrs OwenK + gang - MG ZT
4. Blib - Something fast and Italian
5. plenty - something blue
6. boolay - 9-5 Aero
7. Andacami - Honda Accord, Shotgun or me pushbike
8. Kateg28 - NSX/Mondeo/feet
9. Tango13 - E39 M5
10. ChipsAndCheese - Porsche Cayman S
11. Rob200sx - Toyota Avensis (sorry)
12. Dele - E92 M3
13. Offspring86 - Integra DC2
14. TallTom - Abarth Grande Punto
15. George - Noble M400 or Z4 Coupe
16. mickk - Cerbera
17. Harsh - Ferrari 360 or Atom
18. Speed_Demon - Something (if someone's feeling nice)
19. YesItsARover - MG ZS 180
20. bobsan - GT3
21. feef - Alfa 147
22. rmaurer - RX7
23. Swampy56-Noble
24. # Lord Lucan # - Sapphire RS Cosworth
25. Sdc77 E60 M5
26. Koing E46 M3

Edited by Chris71 on Monday 14th February 10:51

[Chris71]

rob200sx said:

Probably going to need to book the whole pub at this rate

We've got the whole pub.

Until the other punters arrive at least. I figure some of our lot will head off before the Sunday lunch trade arrives and some will stay and buy food, so it's win-win for the pub. They have been extremely accomodating with all the meets we've done there so far - onside doesn't begin to describe it.

[Chris71]

Hoping my car is back in time. No word from the garage yet - I'm guessing it's just taking them time to add up all the items on the work estimate.

[Chris71]

Nope, 'fraid not. The Caterham went to fund the TVR.

I fancy a hot hatch next time round so I'd be quite keen to pick your brains on the R26.

[Chris71]

goffahsez said:

YesItsARover said:

Hot or blistering? That R26 is a beast!

Tis pretty rapid.

What would you like to know Chris? It's AWESOME.

Bet the tvr is great fun though. Tell you what, when you're ready I'll have a straight swap with you? Lol

You never know, I might call your bluff on that one.

Erm, dunno really. Just ownership prospects, how it compares dynamically to other cars you've had, that sort of thing... To be honest, I'm looking to economise a bit next time round (I'll also be going down to one car for the first time in about six years...) so realistically I'm probably looking more at the Integra/Clio sort of price bracket, but an R26 is an outside option.

I'm also toying with the idea of doing something totally different; dropping the 'hot' part and going for comedic instead. I've got a Suzuki Alto courtesy car at the moment which is so unbelievably crap that you can thrash it everywhere. As a result, in a strange sort of a way, it's almost as much fun as the TVR at license-retained speeds. There's very little grip, the brakes are woeful and acceleration figures are measured on geoligical time. It's the first modern(ish) car I've driven where you can sustain full throttle up through a good couple of gears and still be obeying a 40mph limit at the end.

[Chris71]

goffahsez said:

Seriously though, if you wanna try it out, feel freeto take her for a spin when we he'd to the destination, or we could swap for the second half of the run? (fingers crossed).
Alternatively there is the 225 cup. Bot quite as savage or well worked, but for value for money you can't argue with it really. IMO obviously

I'm not sure I'm going to make the run as the suspension still needs a bit of fettling before it's ready for serious hoonage, but I'll definitely be there for the meet, so I wouldn't say no to a quick ride when you guys get back.

Hmm, all we need now is for someone to turn up in a GTi-6 and someone else in an E30 318iS and I'd have all the contenders for my next purchase lined up!