Kent coast dawn raid – 7th November

[Ben Lowden]

Kicking this off to see who'll be interested in an early morning drive to the coast, likely starting around Paddock Wood/Tonbridge area and heading to Rye/Dungeness for some breakfast.

Provisional date Sunday 7th November so that we have other weekends to push it back if the weather is rubbish. Expect a 7:00am start and a route around 1-1:30 hours.

I'll start us off

1. BenLowden – Megane 275 Cup-S

[Ben Lowden]

Liamst said:

As it stands i should be able to make this. Fingers crossed for better weather.

If the weather is going to be miserable then we can postpone to later in the month. Hopefully we get a gloriously crisp winter morning!

[Ben Lowden]

No worries Red Devil, enjoy! I still need to pull my finger out and plan the exact route for this – I've been busy working on a route for a big trip around Wales, which I'm now home from so will make a start on this one ASAP.

I'll be planning the route over the next week or so and will share details in due course. Up to date list.

1. BenLowden – Megane 275 Cup-S
2. Koolkat969 - Honda S2000
3. Silver7 - tbc
4. HughG - Porsche 996 C2
5. Silver Smudger - Abarth 124
6. Liamst - M2C
7. XJR9LM - Porsche 911 Carrera T
8. Chappj - Lotus Elise FE240
9. Adam2922 - R8 or Clio 200
10. Medic one - Porsche 987.2
11. MiloD - /\ same
12. Jyaque - 911SC

[Ben Lowden]

Red Devil said:

I'll do my best. Btw, re the planning, did you receive the e-mail I sent you?

Not yet, I've been off work all month so haven't been checking my work emails but will take a look next week, cheers!

[Ben Lowden]

I'm pretty sure the start location will be out the front of the Hop Farm at Paddock Wood around 07:00 and we'll head down to Rye/Dungeness. I'm going to try and plot the route by the end of this week but I'm expecting something around an hour to 1:30 tops.

Grab some breakfast (assuming I can find somewhere that'll be open early enough for a bacon sarnie) and then if you need to shoot off back home, hopefully there'll be plenty of time.

[Ben Lowden]

That's a shame Hugh, hopefully you can join us next time! Right then, the route...

This is what I'm thinking, but if anyone has any suggestions on decent roads that I've missed out on the way, then let me know https://goo.gl/maps/pNLtftDqfECAbLgE9

I'm thinking we should aim to meet outside the Hop Farm at Paddock Wood at 7:00 and follow this route to Dungeness. Get some photos there and then head back to Rye for some brekky – which should be around about 9:00 when the Strand Quay Cafe opens for a bacon sarnie and coffee.

Any thoughts/suggestions most welcome!

[Ben Lowden]

Thanks for the input both, very much appreciated! I'll be looking at finalising the route today/tomorrow so will definitely take a look through your suggestions.

[Ben Lowden]

Sticks. said:

If you do go to The Strand and uses the Kettle of Fish car park I believe it has ANPR, so beware. Elsewhere in Rye meters have been installed and the RingGo app is used.

Yep I got stung there a few weeks back and got a ticket – I had paid for two hours but was in the car park 2:20. Dammit. Thanks for the warning though!

Sticks. said:

O/T if you're out for a drive anytime, The Hub at Bodiam, Fish Farm at Hawkhurst make good venues, and this garden centre in Staplecross has a converted train carriage cafe https://goo.gl/maps/EpFWNK4CMX73GFTx7

If my timings are completely off and we're at Rye really early, then I reckon we'll head to the Hub at Bodiam as they open at 09:00 too.

Speed Badger said:

Damn I would have been up for this, but I'm actually in the Peak District that weekend picking up a very PH - worthy car if all goes well.

How about a Kent-based folk Christmas drive and lunch nearer the time?

Trading the FK8 in for another Megane? Potentially sounds good to me to try and do something festive in December too.

[Ben Lowden]

Right then! We have our final route https://goo.gl/maps/4vVMCwR286b7sRLu8

I'll PM everyone later today with final timings and some instructions. Look forward to seeing you all on Sunday morning!

[Ben Lowden]

I suppose my reasoning for heading to Dungeness was for a photo opportunity with all the cars together rather than the final stretch of road to it – but having said that, the Broomhill car park could work well for that as it means we don't have to go all the way to Dungeness, but can enjoy the road to Camber https://goo.gl/maps/6N5BDm7xZT31K3Wn8

And then rather than going to Rye for brekky, we could go to The Hub at Bodiam instead. Hmm, maybe that's the better route to do! https://goo.gl/maps/8rAtXUvRdeXKDhFWA

[Ben Lowden]

Speed Badger said:

No, due to an unexpected and hugely welcome turn of events I am indeed keeping the FK8. I am turning back the clock a few years and if all goes well, will revisit something that always held a special place in my heart. Don't want to jinx anything so playing it coy

Good luck with the drive, hope the weather is kind and the breakfast/lunch is fat!

Thanks Speed Badger, good luck with the new acquisition. Hope to see it on a future run!

Red Devil said:

Loads of room across from the Old Lighthouse - https://goo.gl/maps/Xxc978UEidFGY34m7 - it makes for a cool backdrop in pics as well.
There's no easy way to do both the Military Road and Dungeness though without a big increase in the distance and duration of the run.

Edited by Red Devil on Friday 5th November 13:10

Thanks Red Devil, really appreciate your advice. I think we'll skip Dungeness this time and head for the hub to keep the run time a bit shorter.

[Ben Lowden]

FINAL ROUTE

This is the final route for everyone. I'll PM you all some other details shortly, and see you all Sunday morning! https://goo.gl/maps/hb1HnAtX38adsCXw7

[Ben Lowden]

Of course! I've now PMed everyone with the details – any issues just let me know. Final list:

1. BenLowden – Megane 275 Cup-S
2. Koolkat969 - Honda S2000
3. Silver7 - Clio 200 or GR Yaris
4. Silver Smudger - Abarth 124
5. Liamst - M2C
6. Adam2922 - R8 or Clio 200
7. Medic one - Porsche 987.2
8. MiloD - /\ same
9. Jyaque - 911SC
10. Bob M - Gr Yaris
11. Matt T- Gr Yaris
12. DJ - A35 AMG
13. Richard182 - 172 cup
14. seyre1972 – BMW X3 M40i

[Ben Lowden]

My phone snaps - will upload proper photos off my camera when I’ve edited them.

Thanks to everyone for coming out, great run and really enjoyed meeting you all. Any constructive feedback on the format welcome to help with planning for the next one!

[Ben Lowden]

Jyaque said:

Such is the level of Ben's commitment to the cause, I caught this unguarded moment of him worshipping the cars...

Haha brilliant – thank you lord for these amazing cars and glorious conditions for an early morning drive out. My kind of Sunday Service.

Thanks everyone for the feedback, glad you all enjoyed it so much. Sorry again to Bayo for leaving before you arrived, but I'm glad you persevered and caught up with us.

[Ben Lowden]

Speed Badger said:

Would be good to have a December / Christmas drive out and lunch somewhere perhaps?

I think December is probably a write off for me on the weekends leading up to Christmas and with trying to get a Sunday Service organised sadly. Feel free to organise something with the others though if there's interest!

David0040 said:

Cheers Steve, Pub was The Poacher and Partridge.

A few of us went to the Poacher a few weeks back when we went for a very wet evening drive. My not-so-local local, great pub.

[Ben Lowden]

Just realised I never uploaded my other photos, so here you go. Turns out I took quite a liking to Jack's 911...

[Ben Lowden]

Hol said:

I am sorry I missed this, as I have always enjoyed the Kent runs.

Question. Who’s is the R8? I thought it might be M4TTi’s, but the plate is different?

Nope that belongs to Adam2922. We'll get out again in the spring and I'll post an update on this thread when I organise the next one, so keep an eye out!

[Ben Lowden]

Sadly it's a similar story for me, the next few months are crazy busy, especially now that I'm organising PH events again. So unfortunately I'm not going to be able to make a run for the next few months, so I'll have to let someone else take the lead.

Anyone feel free to get the ball rolling on another run out!

[Ben Lowden]

I recall a few of you saying you hadn't been to a Sunday Service for a while – well here's your chance https://www.pistonheads.com/news/general-pistonhea...