Knockhill

[Craig]

hmmm... [thinks] Dave works in the motor industry... he must have a few contacts at vehicle rental companies - and i'm sure he'd not like to be referred to as a 'tight arse'...

[Lorna]

2 days gone by and no reply

I think we need a show of hands here.

Do we:

a) Take a couple of cars (I don't mind putting the mileage on my car - it's a saloon - it's reliable and has low mileage for it's age. People obviously chip in for the cost of petrol and a little extra for wear and tear.

b) Hire out a people carrier/mini bus and all chip in for the cost. If the prices I found are anything to go by, we talking about £60 per day @ 4 days (Fri - Mon). I don't mind paying for it, collecting the minibus and collecting the money from everyone but if people let me down, I'll be after their blood (every pint!!!!!)

Example of cost: We have so far......

6 definites
2 maybes

Counting on definites is £40 each plus petrol/diesel.

Including the maybes £30 each plus petrol/diesel.

[Lee Purnell]

Hi all, I could be a very stong maybe for this trip.
It should help lower the cost of a mini bus or whatever.

[redshoes]

With that many it's going to have to be a mini-bus not an MPV. Remember you've got bags, tents, Craig's beer supply to shift and most MPV's are people or luggage not both.

Either way put me down for a probable - cash, work, sunspots, etc permitting (or am I one of the definates already ?)

[Lorna]

Sunspots?????

I had you down as a definite, Redshoes. I'll send you an email.

[Les]

Couple of questions a) Where would we be starting this journey from? or more to the point where have I got to drive to to join you all?
and b) as I am no camper - is anyone going to B&B and how could I get to the track??

[Lorna]

Nice one Lee. Let us know when you fall into the definite category

As we haven't ascertained the finer details yet, it's hard to say, Les but I am assuming that I would be your nearest neighbour in Milton Keynes - ooh! Sorry - Aylesbury by then , you can drive to mine? There will be a safe place to park your car for the week, assuming that you have a car that the other half doesn't need for the week? So hopefully, that part will not be a problem regardless if we take cars or minibus.

As far as you staying in B&B, I am sure that it will not be a problem coming to pick you up. Are you insured to drive other cars? If so, then if I drive my car, I do not mind you taking mine back to the B&B once we are settled in campsite. Do you have a B&B in mind already or is that still up for investigating? Considering my sleepless nights in tents so far - I may be joining you! It's not the most comfortable way to sleep and I still can't get those people that were snoring loudly when I camped at Oulton Park after travelling from Luton! Oh! and that noisy generator at Snetterton!

[redshoes]

I hope your not expecting an sympathy for Snetterton. Who's stupid idea was it to camp right next to the toilets anyhow

[Lee Purnell]

We HAD too, it was the only way we could stop Craig and Dave driving THROUGH any more tents!!!!!!!!!

[Les]

I have to say I reckon you ought to put me down as a 'probably not'. It's just that to go up for 4 days with 3 nights B&B is about the same as 1 night B&B and 2 flights (and less holidays to take as I'm short of days this year).
I am also not a 100% sure that Kev can't make it.

[RickP:Clio51]

The secret is to fly Friday morning very early and then get a flight back Sunday PM...
Would offer a space in my hire car but last year I cleared off after the Clio race to avoid the traffic leaving after the feature, blagged my way onto an earlier flight and was sat on the roof terrace in London in the sunshine before the team had reached the Scottish Border...
I will be sleeping in the team truck which is anti-social as well but solidarity with the mechanics and all that!
But this was cheaper and easier (if you value lost holiday as highly as me...)

RickP

[Lorna]

Booking the holiday is not a problem with me - my company is quite generous there (6 weeks a year - YAY!) Just trying to keep the cost down (I've got a house to save for )

I flew to Scotland in 1997 to go to Knockhill. Thrashed the pants off the hire car (as you do) Said hello to Tarquini in the airport before we boarded our plane.

Does the truck have heating, Rick? Tents don't!

Hmm, the guys told me that they camped next to the loo's because they wouldn't have to walk far when they needed to use them. The "driving through tents" reason does sound like a more feasible explanation, Lee And it wasn't my idea Red! Honest! The tents were pitched by the time I got there! Honest!

[Craig]

Sorry guys - having no luck with getting a decent deal on a minibus, so it looks like it'll be several cars for Knockhill afterall..

About Snett... the reason we decided on that spot was that it was the closest we could possibly get to the paddock when we arrived - the rest of the place was jammed full with tents. After that poxy generator fired up when the sun went down, we realised why...!

[Invader]

Are we looking at 4 days?....I'll have a bash next week with some of me customers....do I have a target price to barter with?

[Craig]

Yep - early (very) Friday AM til sometime (late ? ) Monday PM...

Price ? As cheap as possible. I reckon that we can get one from TLF for around fifty quid a day, but we're really looking for something just a tad cheaper Cannot get any response from TLS right now for some reason though

It really depends on how the total cost of 1x minibus plus fuel compares to 2 or 3 cars and their fuel...

Your help is much appreciated Daveo - see what they offer you and we'll do some sums

[Invader]

O'diddley'kay!

[Lorna]

You star, Invader. That would help us out heaps if you have any luck. If not, I said before, I don't mind driving.

[RickP:Clio51]

No Lorna, the truck doesn't have heating and it does have ****ed mechanics struggling in when the pubs shut and then snoring all night. But I do get the VIP suite as the driver (the bit with the carpet on the floor) so it's not all bad... plus it means I can sleep until I hear the Renault chef finishing off the preparations to the bacon sarnies without worrying about getting in through race day traffic.
RickP

[Invader]

Bloody popstars

[Lorna]

Typical ... I'm usually the person making the bacon butties....

[RickP:Clio51]

Oi! Less of the sarcasm, I've done my time, earn't my way to this degree of unheated, carpeted luxury.
The number of tracks I've slept in the car and believe me, my old 911 was not exactly the most comfortable thing to sleep in!
Try 3 nights in a row in Anglesea, with the car rocking gently as the rain lashes against the window? Then tell me that being woken my the Renault chef making my breakfast to the dulcit tones of Terry Wogan (yet to persuade him to change his radio choice) has not been earnt??

[Sparky]

Originally posted by RickP:Clio33
Oi! Less of the sarcasm, I've done my time, earn't my way to this degree of unheated, carpeted luxury.
The number of tracks I've slept in the car and believe me, my old 911 was not exactly the most comfortable thing to sleep in!

Ooh, you poor thing! Do you wanna borrow my Mini?

[RickP:Clio51]

I deserved that...
RickP

[Sparky]

That you did, Mister!

I was only getting you back for not recognising me at Autosprout.

[Invader]

I hope your current 911 is more comfy
My Bond Bug sleeps fourteen comfortably with it's F1 style hydraulic hospitality area.