Discussion
Almost brought a tear, did that. burriana said:
selym said:
Podie said:
Tumbler said:
I also really miss the old auction...
One of my enduring memories of BTaP is Shady bidding on that photo, and handing it to Burriana.Which was the one (2007/8) where Jamie was wondering around filling ladies' glasses with pink Moet, and that was just the Saturday afternoon session. He ran up a bar bill of £2500 before 6pm
However, the year in question; are you sitting comfortably?
The year was 2004. BTaP followed about six weeks after the very first PH EuroHoon road trip (which was awesome). We made some great friends that trip. Anyway, this particular year Ted (Petrol Ted) decided to run a competition for the "most coveted car" in the car park.
Obviously Shadytree's sublime new Aston Martin DB9, only recently launched, was a clear cut favourite, by some margin. However, this year there was a particularly large Yorkshire contingent and, by means of some enthusiastic, if not strictly unbiased canvassing, a rather grubby, bestickered yellow Ferrari romped home the surprise winner (by some margin) of a rather splendid trophy, which was awarded during the dinner.
Obviously I had gotten wind of what was going on and upon receiving the trophy and after thanking my canvassers, promptly presented it to Stuart (Shady) as the rightful winner. I believe I used the term "my fellow EuroHooner and good friend", which holds true to this day.
Anyway, during EuroHoon a month or two earlier we had aboard a photographer and, one of these superb images had been framed as a PH/EuroHoon/general cool car shot pic. It was the last lot to be auctioned off at about 1am in the morning when everyone was in a generous and giving mood (drunk). As the pic was of my car, I had already decided that it was the right thing to do to bid and, set myself a limit of £100. The auction went something like this:
"Ok, last lot of the night, a great image, superb shot, a yellow Ferrari in the Alps.. what am I bid?..
£500? Sold!"
Bang! Just like that. I didn't even get chance to bid. On looking around the pillar I was gobsmacked to see that it was Stuart that had the picture. I walked over, gave him a hug and told him it was fantastic... but why?
He handed the picture to me and simply said; "there's only one bloke this picture was going home with, it's yours".
Even though the Cancer charity was a cause close to Stuart's heart (I believe we raised over £5000 that year) it was still an unbelievable act that I will remember for the rest of my life. I look at that picture every single time I walk down our stairs.
That, my fellow PHers, is a prime example of the true spirit of PistonHeads
Podie said:
LordGrover said:
Soz - O/T
I could probably buy a Lambo with what I'm 'saving'. 
I've emailed Litchfield to get a proper, real-world cost including dampers/handling, zorst, wheels, tyres, etc in time for Spring 2014. Still some time off for me but I'm in no hurry - unlike Bill and you.
Yeah, well it's not my money Podie said:
LordGrover said:
I've quit drinking which is pretty much BTaP's raison d'être so I'm probably an exception. 
Saving for the supercharger for the '86? I could probably buy a Lambo with what I'm 'saving'. I've emailed Litchfield to get a proper, real-world cost including dampers/handling, zorst, wheels, tyres, etc in time for Spring 2014. Still some time off for me but I'm in no hurry - unlike Bill and you.
It's DaveJH: thread.
| Member | Action |
| airbrakes | hopefully still going, black tie |
| Cotty | cancelled |
| Fish | cancelled |
| Dazren | cancelled |
| rviant | cancelled |
| TonyHetherington | cancelled |
| spikeyhead | hopefully still going |
| wattsie_2004 | cancelled |
| 456mgt | still going, black tie |
| bigburd | cancelled |
| Impasse | Binned it. |
| Kinky | cancelled |
Email confirmation of room cancelation has just landed.
Edited by Impasse on Wednesday 30th October 13:54
Obviously not leaving it so late with the ticket sales being so poor.
I've only been once, that was maybe 5 years ago at Whittlebury Hall. All I will say is that I found it too expensive for the quality (or lack of quality) food and wine being served. People sat with us had the veggie option and left it as it was so poor and we all left the sponge pudding. You don't want to be paying £70+ for a pie and sponge pudding and dodgy table wine.
It was OK, not something that I'd rush to attend again, whilst I would argue the 'clique' there is a definite 'in' crowd and I think maybe a lot of people would be put off attending if they didn't fit in to the high earning / expensive fast cars group. I know it's not about all that but I can see how some folk would be deterred.
A late summer ball would be good, marquee BBQ & hog roast, sit down meal etc. fire works. What ever the date or time of year it will always clash with something or other.
I've only been once, that was maybe 5 years ago at Whittlebury Hall. All I will say is that I found it too expensive for the quality (or lack of quality) food and wine being served. People sat with us had the veggie option and left it as it was so poor and we all left the sponge pudding. You don't want to be paying £70+ for a pie and sponge pudding and dodgy table wine.
It was OK, not something that I'd rush to attend again, whilst I would argue the 'clique' there is a definite 'in' crowd and I think maybe a lot of people would be put off attending if they didn't fit in to the high earning / expensive fast cars group. I know it's not about all that but I can see how some folk would be deterred.
A late summer ball would be good, marquee BBQ & hog roast, sit down meal etc. fire works. What ever the date or time of year it will always clash with something or other.
Silent1 said:
What's all this clique s
t about, my first BTaP I barely knew anyone, I just got in and spoke to people, I wasn't shunned by anyone for not being in this imagined clique, is it that hard to go around and talk to people and make friends?
t about, my first BTaP I barely knew anyone, I just got in and spoke to people, I wasn't shunned by anyone for not being in this imagined clique, is it that hard to go around and talk to people and make friends?
I knew very few at my first BTaP, then got stuck in and got to talk to lunatics like you!markmullen said:
Silent1 said:
What's all this clique st about, my first BTaP I barely knew anyone, I just got in and spoke to people, I wasn't shunned by anyone for not being in this imagined clique, is it that hard to go around and talk to people and make friends?
t about, my first BTaP I barely knew anyone, I just got in and spoke to people, I wasn't shunned by anyone for not being in this imagined clique, is it that hard to go around and talk to people and make friends? I knew very few at my first BTaP, then got stuck in and got to talk to lunatics like you!Yes, there are a group of people who know each other from previous years and from outside of PH. Seems to me that the people moaning about "cliques" are the kind of people who notice that and feel left out, as if it is somehow the fault of the people who already know each other. Then there are the others who, like you have said, who get stuck in and make friends.
JonRB said:
Indeed.
Yes, there are a group of people who know each other from previous years and from outside of PH. Seems to me that the people moaning about "cliques" are the kind of people who notice that and feel left out, as if it is somehow the fault of the people who already know each other. Then there are the others who, like you have said, who get stuck in and make friends.
It comes across as more insidious than that though with the word clique used as that implies people are excluding others and that couldn't be more wrong, you will only be excluded if you exclude yourself.Yes, there are a group of people who know each other from previous years and from outside of PH. Seems to me that the people moaning about "cliques" are the kind of people who notice that and feel left out, as if it is somehow the fault of the people who already know each other. Then there are the others who, like you have said, who get stuck in and make friends.
The only fear people could have is before they go they might think they're not 'PH Famous' and as such won't be able to talk to people, which is understandable but if they just go they'll see people don't care who you are on the forums.
At BTaP I've made lifelong friends who have gone to extreme lengths for me, one of whom walked out of work one day drove 300 miles to see me because he heard I was in hospital fairly ill and on a ward that was closed due to a norovirus breakout.
He drove down without knowing if I was well enough to see him and without knowing if he would even be allowed to see me just to cheer me up and bring me something to read.
So in essence, to the people who are scared to go, just do it, next year when the tickets go on sale buy a pair and then find people on the forums and organise them into a table if you really can't face talking to strangers from the internet ;-) and just have a brilliant time getting to know people!
Silent1 said:
At BTaP I've made lifelong friends who have gone to extreme lengths for me, one of whom walked out of work one day drove 300 miles to see me because he heard I was in hospital fairly ill and on a ward that was closed due to a norovirus breakout.
He drove down without knowing if I was well enough to see him and without knowing if he would even be allowed to see me just to cheer me up and bring me something to read.
What kind of idiot would do that?He drove down without knowing if I was well enough to see him and without knowing if he would even be allowed to see me just to cheer me up and bring me something to read.
I'm saddened to hear this won't be going ahead. I couldn't attend anyway, as I'm hosting an event of my own which clashes with the date. However I had wondered why there wasn't more 'buzz' about it on the forums.
Left It Too Late is the honest answer. I sent out the invitations for my event (salesforce recognition) back in May, with further updates every month to build up the excitement.
Why was it left so late? Let me hazard a guess there's a bit more to this than merely 'a ball dropped'.
Anyone who's ever organised corporate events knows these are a shagging lot of work. Even at £75-odd a ticket, I bet there's very little profit in it for Haymarket. That's before you consider the number of management hours needed to organise it, compared with say, chasing banner advertising.
Not that I'm cynical or anything...
Left It Too Late is the honest answer. I sent out the invitations for my event (salesforce recognition) back in May, with further updates every month to build up the excitement.
Why was it left so late? Let me hazard a guess there's a bit more to this than merely 'a ball dropped'.
Anyone who's ever organised corporate events knows these are a shagging lot of work. Even at £75-odd a ticket, I bet there's very little profit in it for Haymarket. That's before you consider the number of management hours needed to organise it, compared with say, chasing banner advertising.
Not that I'm cynical or anything...
markmullen said:
Silent1 said:
What's all this clique st about, my first BTaP I barely knew anyone, I just got in and spoke to people, I wasn't shunned by anyone for not being in this imagined clique, is it that hard to go around and talk to people and make friends?
t about, my first BTaP I barely knew anyone, I just got in and spoke to people, I wasn't shunned by anyone for not being in this imagined clique, is it that hard to go around and talk to people and make friends? I knew very few at my first BTaP, then got stuck in and got to talk to lunatics like you!Although I have no idea who either of you are!
JonRB said:
markmullen said:
Silent1 said:
What's all this clique st about, my first BTaP I barely knew anyone, I just got in and spoke to people, I wasn't shunned by anyone for not being in this imagined clique, is it that hard to go around and talk to people and make friends?
t about, my first BTaP I barely knew anyone, I just got in and spoke to people, I wasn't shunned by anyone for not being in this imagined clique, is it that hard to go around and talk to people and make friends? I knew very few at my first BTaP, then got stuck in and got to talk to lunatics like you!Yes, there are a group of people who know each other from previous years and from outside of PH. Seems to me that the people moaning about "cliques" are the kind of people who notice that and feel left out, as if it is somehow the fault of the people who already know each other. Then there are the others who, like you have said, who get stuck in and make friends.
Silent1 said:
It comes across as more insidious than that though with the word clique used as that implies people are excluding others and that couldn't be more wrong, you will only be excluded if you exclude yourself.
I wasn't even a PHer at my first - but was lucky enough to have MarkMullen one side & Vixpy on the other who made me feel very welcome, and after dinner Lucca Brazzi, Gaffer & Roop (to name a few!) broke the ice with others & as I've said, have gone on to become lifelong friends (I hope!)
Believe it or not (despite my reputation here) I'm exceedingly shy - I'm all bluff & bravado to hide that, so I clam up & am very quiet when not in a group of people I know well - in fact, even when I am with a group of people I know well I tend to be quiet as I think I'm uninteresting & would far prefer to listen to them
So what some people mistake for me being aloof is infact crippling shyness & not knowing how to 'do' small talk & yet I love BTaP Gassing Station | Black Tie & Pie | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff