BX Club Forum

With Gaydon successfully crossed off the list, I suppose we'd better consider the next one.

The weekend did leave me wondering what the main reason for getting together is. I'm not sure a museum has that much going for it really. The most enjoyable part of it all was chatting with folk either in the car park or the pub.

So, I was wondering if a better format might be to meet somewhere for lunch, then have a short, scenic drive out somewhere. I'm more than willing to organise something if people are interested - perhaps in the Shrewsbury area (would be nice if me and Mat could cut down the mileage for a meet!). I know there's a fair amount of mileage involved for some people, but our cars were rather built with distance in mind. I was wondering about trying to set something up in March.

Thoughts welcome!

My folks live in Clun near Ludlow and that's a lovely area. As those who went on the tech weekend should testify there's some fantastic scenery and roads in Shropshire. I'd probably be up for it and I'd try to combine it with a trip to see my mum and dad

PS Make it late March, early April (Easter time?) and there's more chance I'll have my Citroen ready by then

Shropshire is great for me, pub lunch and a drive sounds like a winner, even my partner would be up for that if it's his weekend to be up North.

I wouldn't discount a museum visit in future (motoring related or otherwise), but I'd certainly go for a 'social meeting' somewhere, shifts etc. permitting.

Possibly several of us could come up with a possible pub etc. to meet at in our local areas, then we could spread the meetings round different parts of the country.

I think 'social' is a brilliant idea. I enjoyed Gaydon, but considering it's primary motivation was a 'meet' sadly, I didn't do much 'meeting'. A pub meal that keeps the emphasis on the social aspect sounds great; how often do you get to meet a bunch of people who don't switch off and stare at their shoes when you start banging on about your wonderful car!?

Great idea Ian. Shropshire is ideal. Could I suggest a slight deviation from your original concept of a social meet. RAF Cosford is not far from Shrewsbury, as it is nr Telford. Perhaps we could have a morning looking at aircraft, have some lunch in a nice pub and then finish the day with a relaxing drive through the stunning scenery of Shropshire.

I think offering folk the chance to browse at aircraft is certainly do-able. Those not interested could come straight to the lunch. Likewise anyone who thinks 'well, I've spent enough time at the wheel just getting here' can scarper before the others head off for a drive.

The X rally isnt that far away.

It's the other side of the country for me, so I'm not sure I'll be able to make it.

Vehicles and work permitting, I'm planning on convoying up to the X Rally with a mate who's just rescued a Xantia 19D LX - one of the first non-sinkers built!

So an L reg Mike? Mines a 94 early non sinker.

I'd also be up for the idea Ian, i'm well used to traveling long distances too so as long as it's not too far north of Birmingham. A good ol chat and a scenic drive sounds much more my cup of tea, although I do enjoy museums and other cultural institutes I never appreciate them properly when i'm with too many people so I usually get bored. Talking and driving however (even at the same time!) I can do lots of.

Yep Tim, L Reg that the brother of one of our 2CV regulars had owned for 15 years and was going to scrap because he'd bought a Pug 206 rather than replace the spheres. My mate was looking for a Xantia to replace his AX and run alongside his DS and managed to grab it for what the scrap yard had offered. It's a 2 previous owner car with 80k on the clock and absolutely no rust, although I've never seen so much moss and algae on a road legal car. New spheres, cambelt, water pump, brake pads and front discs have now given it a new lease of life, and hopefully a good scrub outside will have it looking as good as it's almost perfect interior.

80k! and he was going to scrap it! Good save! I do think the early Xantias before they colour coded and rounded everything off look nice, even though my car is the devils spawn.

Tom - it took me about an hour to get to Shrewsbury from Gaydon (and that was going the long way around via the M5 rather than the hideousnous of the M6 through Birmingham) so it's not too far west. Especially if we end up closer to Telford. I'll do some plotting.