South/Oxford Meet - March - 14th March

Its been ages since we had a South Central or Oxford meet, so thought we’d combine the two.

Was thinking a Saturday in March (7th is out for me) – either 14th or 21st, by that time the roads won’t be so cruddy and we might get a decent day.

I’d thought of perhaps meeting at the Oxford services (A34/A40 junction) around 10am, then a relaxed drive up the A40 or A44 and some of the roads in north/west Oxfordshire followed by a nice pub lunch and a chat.

If we get enough interest on this thread over the next month or so, I’ll sort out a route and book us lunch.

Anyone interested? Might be close enough to tempt some of the Midlands guys to join us...

simonj
Marco20valveT
Webbo
RusH
Gaz
Richard24
Luke
stevo
Nobby
oxfordSteve
petep
addict
SJS20VT
Dilster
nrenz
RichTrix

a little out of my way but i really want to get out in the coupe so yer im up for it!

il be there

Could well be up for this simon.

I could be also

Same here!

Count me in. Never one to miss a local event.

If we can make sure its nice on sunny on the day that would be great :-)

Nice one Simon, I've been really busy in the last few months (and admittedly a bit slack) so I'm glad that you've started this thread (I hope to make it)

I'll try to be there

I should be able to get along for this as well.

I'd be up for this.

Why not?

This sounds good keep me posted guys

Also up for it

If im not at work i'll be there!

Learning from past difficulties, if we can set a date now and stick to it I think it will improve the turnout. Any objections if we settle on the 14th March?

If we are talking 'lunch' at 'lunchtime' then I'll come along.

Will need to be back in Witney by 2.30pm though.

Good idea - 14th March it is.

Rich - agreed - I reckon we'll be having lunch by about 12 and be somewhere west of Oxford, so Witney by 2.30 shouldn't be a problem.

Cool - if you need some suggestions for lunch let me know.

I should be able to make this.

Though im now none coop any objections to me popping along? Would be good to see a few of the old (and new) faces.

No problem Phill.

I'll be there too, cheers.

Its in my diary now.

Just bumping this back up

Confirmed date of 14th March, meeting at Oxford services (A34/A44 junction) around 10.30. Would suggest we meet in the Little Chef car park, follow the signs for the petrol station and continue past it to get to the LC car park. This is a different car park to the ones for the hotels.

19 cars interested so far...



Rich, if you have any suggestions for good value pubs with big enough car parks and a 'meet-friendly' attitude, let me know. I've a couple of ideas so far, but the more options to choose from the better

I'll post up a suggested route later in the month.

I should be up for this. Is this the services at the Pear Tree roundabout?

Yes, mate.

Put me down for this, nothing planned that weekend and it's local

I'm up for this one, can't see Joe's name on the list? Thought we might get a look at his new coupe...

Only just seen this, put me on the list!

Just to update attending list. . .

simonj
Marco20valveT
Webbo
RusH
Gaz
Richard24
Luke
stevo
Nobby
oxfordSteve
petep
addict
SJS20VT
Dilster
nrenz
RichTrix
Elmof1
Shifty
Mrc


looking good guys

Will add this to the diary!

The Coupé has now officially become my second car so it will give me a chance to get it all cleaned up for this!

I have a couple of routes in mind for this which I'll spend this Saturday taking a drive out over. Given that some have said in the past they would like a longer drive, would a trip of 40-50 miles suit? I'll try and make sure that its on suitable roads (so not through a lot of towns/villages or through busy junctions where the convoy might get completely split or people get lost).

One problem at the moment is finding somewhere to eat. I've phoned a few places I knew which had large enough car parks for 20 cars, but none said it would be possible to book for 25 or so people, we'd have to take pot luck.

Anyone know anywhere west/north of Oxford which might be suitable? Or alternatively, are people bothered about a pub lunch at all - would somewhere like a Little Chef do?

I'm happy eating pretty much anywhere (as long as it isn't MacD's etc)

40-50 miles is a bit more than I'd personally like to do, 20-30 would suit me better

Im flexible about food - a drink and a bag of nuts would do just fine

20/30 miles would be better yeah not 40/50! food il eat antwhere as per webbo

Ok, I'll work something out 20 miles or so.

Just that a couple of people had said they wanted to do longer drives on the meets.

maybe for me, its a bit far, but tempted

Simon - I racked my brains and two options for the pub come to mind - the George & Dragon at Long Hanborough and the Harcourt Arms in Stanton Harcourt.

The G+D is well placed but car park will only take 20 or so cars, whereas the HA has a huge car park but is sort of in the middle of nowhere (very nice though)

Both do half decent bar meals which may be a better bet than trying to book 25 in for a proper 'meal'.

I'd suggest not too long a drive, as no guarantee on average speeds on a Sunday (eg. getting stuck behind a horse box on a winding lane!). And anyway, some of us will have a nice motorway blast to get to Oxford.

As regards eating venue. If its just a meet in a carpark, tyre kick and chat, then service station fare is fine, but for a nice convoy drive I'd suggest a pub lunch venue would be all the more pleasant :-)

By the way, is anyone coming from London way, as we could drive up in mini-convoy. Good place to meet is Denham services A40 (eastbound).

Its a Saturday

Cheers, Rich.

I stand corrected.

I very much doubt i will be attending this unless i get the car fixed by then, how about a trip to mind where we all fix my car?

Nath

Still having work done on the engine Nath?

Oh bum, I forgot it's my dads 60th on the 14th, so unless you all want a trip to devon i'm going to have to pull out! Sorry dudes, Mr C

Hi -

I'll be working unfortunately - Peartree less than 3 miles from home

However, trying to persuade Wifey that she should come along with her pride and joy, even if the brakes squeak! I have told her you lot don't bite.

All the locals will realise that you will be meeting 5 mins from Solo Italia, so you could laways look at a PX...

Oww! I dont fly back into the UK untill 7pm that day!

Do it the next day so i can come as a new coupé owner and get DanDan to tag along!!

Seeing as so many people are dropping out, and we don't seem to have confirmed a lunch venue, may I make a suggestion that we just meet at the service station, park up and chat/tyre kick, and have coffees etc. at the services. And for those who wish to hoon around the countryside, they drive off afterwards?

Personally, as its a Saturday, I'd prefer a short and sweet meet at the services.

PS: Shall we have a revised attendance list?

Cheers,
Mark

I'm still on for this

Well, I'd hardly say two dropping out is 'many'... Edit, make that three...

Not been online as I've had too much else to do, but here is an updated list.



I'm sure there'll be plenty of looking under bonnets at the services anyway, but I do have a route planned and am thinking those who want to can go to lunch at The Greyhound on the A420 at the end of the run - nice pub with a big car park.

I'll PM everyone on the list above my mobile number later in the week when I've a little more time

I'd love to come and have a look at some real coops and get a feel of what I'm after and meet some of you guys, but unfortunately I'm away for the next couple of weekends

Luke mentioned it on the way back from seeing the green one, and I'm pretty gutted to miss out if they only come around every once in a while..

Next time though would love to come and have a poke round and learn a bit.

I'm not gonna be able to make this now

Hi all, I'll be playing Birthday Girl on Saturday and I can't make it to Oxford or for the run.

I may be able to meet up with you at the Greyhound (A420-is it the one at Besselsleigh?) Any idea what time you may be there?

12-12.30 I reckon, yes the one at Besselsleigh. I'll PM you my mobile when I do so for the others later this week.

Happy birthday for Saturday too

Simon,

Do you have a link or a post code for the Greyhound in case I miss the Peartree Roundabout meet up please?

Pete

Greyhound is now a non-starter sadly. On phoning to reconfirm that we would be coming, they've said that due to the number of bookings they've got, they don't think they'll be able to accommodate us for food, even a bar meal

As getting somewhere which a) is close enough to Oxford, b) has a big enough car park for 15 Coupés (plus other lunchtime punters) and c) doesn't only do reservations at lunchtime and d) won't mind us turning up has proven a massive bust (I've phoned 10+ places, the place we met in the evening last year is a no-go for example), I'm giving up on trying to organise a pub for lunch

So, I'm proposing this:

Meet at Peartree Services (junction of A34/A44) at 10.30am, in the Little Chef car park (when you go into the services, follow the signs for fuel and go around behind the service station).

Chat, coffee, kick tyres, look under bonnets etc.

Go for a run about 11.30 with the option of returning to the LC for lunch for those who want to and see whether Heston has sorted it out.

I'm travelling with work tomorrow and Thursday, but will PM everyone with my mobile number on Thursday night.

I wont be able to make it now guys and girls, working this Saturday no rest for the wicked!!

If anybody wants any bits and pieces from my brother's coupe let me know and I'll bring them. Please let me know by Wednesday afternoon, after that I'm away. Can't make it now.

Simon, im going to have to miss this as well unfortunately. The Coupé has developed a miss-fire that Gaz at Solo won't have availbility to look at until the following week. Would rather not risk it tbh.

Everyone else should get along to this meeting - they are normally a really good day out!

Dammit a work trip to France means that I'm not going to be able to make it

Blimey - you'd think the local hostelries would be crying out for some guaranteed business!

Thanks Simon for sorting all this. I'll do my best to get over to Peartree.

Updated list.

What's the postcode for the Services Simon I'll see how long it'll take me get there?

OX2 8JZ is the postcode for the Travelodge at the services, Paul. I reckon you'd do it from Staffs in about 1hr 45 (M6, M6 toll, M42, M40, A34), DC/motorway all the way.

I will be there for the meet, but wont't be able to hang around for the full drive/meal experience, as I have just realised I am off to see Elbow at Wembley in the evening!

Defo there for the 10.30 tyre kicking, then will play it by ear!

If I have my car back by then I'll be there I'll know more later.

id like to go to this but i am working in high wycombe untill 12 so wouldn't get to oxford untill 12:30-1pm :-(

Peanut, I'd have thought we might have finished by then to be honest, with meeting at 10.30, drive around 11.15 for 20 minutes or so and then a spot of lunch. I've got to be back home by 2, so would be leaving around 1.30 at the latest.

Everyone who has expressed interest on the thread and hasn't said they can't make it should have received a PM from me with my mobile number on

Cheers,
Simon

I will be there, Thanks Simon.

I will refrain from joining this one, noticed a few spots this morning...think I have chicken pox again. My daughter recovered from this a couple of weeks ago and having had it I thought I would be ok.
Sorry guys really wanted to come along, have a good time and drive carefully.

Ill still be there

sorry guys got to pull out at last minute was hoping to do this and footy but were away in reading and i wont have enough time to meet & greet properly.

needto meetfooty lads at 12 instead of 1:45 so havetogive it a miss but am bit annoyed as really wanted to meet more members

Sorry not going be able make it, my car won't be ready.

Have a good day.

Bugger , got called into work today...twice...hope it all went well

Looking forward to some pictures!

How did the meet go guys?

Well, I'm sure those that turned up enjoyed it. Thanks to Steve, Steve, Rich and Pete for coming, sorry it only turned out to be 5 cars in the end, bit disappointing really.

Still, having that many meant that we were able to get a pub lunch after all

I also apologise for not making it, assuming that all meets happen on a Saturday and working nights made me not only forget what day i was on but miss the bloody meet!

I thought it was a good meet, bit of a chat & some food.
Simonj, thanks for organising the meet.

Sorry didn't make it. Saturdays not so good for me. I'm sure you had a great time, 5 in convoy must have felt good fun!