Cannonball Bob on tour
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Post by Cannonball Bob on tour on Feb 24, 2007 18:04:25 GMT
Well, it's less of a beach holiday than previous overseas trips John. Thought your geography was better than that! Been very wet lately and absolutely freezing, especially when we've ventured up to 10,000 or more to get over some of the mountains. Tonight's mortar attack by the friendly natives has just finished by the way. The little tykes even rattled our windows tonight they were that close. Did a casevac two days ago of a Marine who'd stepped on a mine. Not nice. One arm, one leg and two stumps. (Sorry if you've just eaten!) See you all in April!
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Post by cannonballbob on Feb 27, 2007 19:57:17 GMT
On a different note, is there any news yet on this year's venue? It's a little over six months to go now and time to start making a few more bookings before it gets expensive.
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Post by John Ponting on Feb 27, 2007 23:23:55 GMT
Hi Bob
I hesitate to say there is no news as yet ... but I've heard nothing so far.
Glad you're able to keep in touch and your login is working OK.
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Post by Adrian Clifford on Feb 28, 2007 11:23:37 GMT
This years venue will be the old Fiat Building in Turin, which is now a hotel. www.lemeridien-lingotto.it/eng/lemeridien_photogallery.aspIt has limited opening days, we have secured 60 rooms there for the two nights (Friday and Saturday). On Saturday we drive on to the roof in small groups (a lá Italian Job) however only half is available. The hotel at the moment is quoting us €130 per room per night and the roof drive is a cost to be shared by all at €1000. Negotiations are continuing for those that are making a bigger trip of it. We depart Turin on Sunday for the drive to Bormio, then on to the Stelvio Pass Monday morning. Those that are just going for the natter, need to make their plans to be at the hotel for Friday night as previously mentioned. When you return for home is, of course up to you. When plans are finalised I will take names for those that want to stay in the hotel and take part in the roof drive, this will also give us the all important costing. Please just be patient, it is taking time to get replies.
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Post by cannonballbob on Feb 28, 2007 16:42:23 GMT
So the meet is the Friday night? Great, after a load of us have planned a pre-rendezvous at the Stelvio, assuming "the weekend of....." generally means any key event will be the Saturday night. Guess it just means a more spirited drive for the first couple of days. ;D
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Post by John Ponting on Feb 28, 2007 17:24:57 GMT
Adrian
That is looking almost Monaco Columbus level - the sort of place I might take a female guest!
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Post by colintf on Feb 28, 2007 18:32:15 GMT
looks good to me Adrian - thankyou!
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Widget spirit of adventure
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Post by Widget spirit of adventure on Feb 28, 2007 18:55:57 GMT
Ladies and Gentlemen, I regret to announce that the NTM has been totally hijacked. The whole ethos is to arrive at a great venue, natter about how you got there, drink and be merry in your collective enjoyment of MG's then scatter, surely? As an impartial observer I see the two events as incompatible - the Italian Job group will have bonded and have a shared experience, which is likely to overshadow the NTM and it's independant spirit of adventure. After all, a convoy of 15 cars going up the Stelvio defeats the point of driving it, you might as well queue on the M25 for a bit of nose-to-bumper action. For all the good intentions displayed, keeping the 'spirit alive' by formally organising something looks likely to achieve the opposite. 'The Italian Job' is a separate more organised event for those who wish to join. But its is totally different in concept. There's talk about 'vive la difference', instead I see it as riding roughshod over the original intention of the NTM. They really should have been kept apart. The idea of meeting on or around the Stelvio sounded like a fine idea - so where did Turin come from? It's a dreadful industrial city plagued by traffic chaos. Granted the hotel is a real corker - full of heritage - if a little sterile (as business hotels tend to be) rather than comfortable. And c'mon - as for meeting on the Friday night 23rd - what part of the weekend of the 24th is that!!!? I'd say forget Turin and go to St Moritz on the 24th, cracking spot it is too. However, as a compromise you could have the NTDM on the Stelvio on the Friday night and a run down to Turin for the NTM on the Saturday night? Widget (concerned for the spirit of adventure) PS - I think it should be called NTMS - The Natter that Matters and Scatter by the way. PPS - I think both things are great. PPPS - Don't be sheep. Baa
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Post by John Ponting on Feb 28, 2007 19:51:14 GMT
They were being kept apart!
The Natter is an informal SE Fers run open to all. Intention is to meet somewhere for a meal and a few drinks (I believe**).
The Italian Run is a National run open to all. Intention is to meet somewhere for a few days for some meals and drinks and some 'touristy' bits.
Both events leave duration, travel arrangements and intermediate overnights to the participants.
Both events can be 'done' solo or in groups of various size.
I shall be in Turin for that weekend. I'm not yet sure how I will get there, how long I will take, how long I will stay, who I will go with. I will climb the Passo del Stelvio, possibly in both directions.
** I say "believe" because I didn't attend the first Natter and the originator hasn't attended any since, so I've not sat and discussed it with him.
Monaco 2005, we travelled both ways solo.
Angouleme 2006, we met up with Stu & Neil half way through France to convoy to the meet. We mini convoyed back, splitting up part way as tiime dictated.
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Post by cannonballbob on Feb 28, 2007 19:58:18 GMT
I'm just curious as to who's gonna fill the remaining 59 rooms that have been reserved in the Register's name.
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Post by John Ponting on Feb 28, 2007 20:13:35 GMT
30 rooms went very quickly for Kempenrit 2006, we had (I think) 12 cars at Angouleme 2006, I can see 30 rooms going within a couple of days of the list opening. Then the Italian F/TF'ers who are helping Adrian together with some from France. Wouldn't be surprised if we were joined with friends from Holland and Belgium.
It's the right time of year for many people - kids are back at school, the French have finished their long vacs, roads are almost deserted, temps are just nice for hood down without sun stroke (if fair like me).
I think we'll need them all.
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Post by Neil Sutton on Feb 28, 2007 20:20:17 GMT
I was right about the hotel....
Must say I'm a little concerned the Natter is now planned to be the Friday night, doesn't really fit with my plans. but thats my problem, I'd have only planned to stay one night in Turin anyway.
On the Register website its advertised as being the 18-24th, yet in the post above there is reference of going to Stelvio on Monday (this is the 24th assuming my calendar is correct), this implies the Italian trip is much longer than just the 18-24th.
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Post by John Ponting on Feb 28, 2007 20:32:45 GMT
I'm just curious as to who's gonna fill the remaining 59 rooms that have been reserved in the Register's name. Bob I see Adrian has arranged a helipad for you at the hotel. Could you get the F flown in? Maybe save on roof top parking charges?
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Post by cannonballbob on Feb 28, 2007 20:38:00 GMT
Hang on John, All the French and Italians who are helping Adrian do what exactly? The NtM idea has been thorougly hijacked then remoulded out of all recognition in to another Treffen/glorified school trip. If I sound pi$$ed off it's because I am. Everything we wanted this event to become has been forgotten, ignored or dismissed out of hand to be replaced by a blind insistance that people cannot think or act for themselves and everybody "needs" to have every last detail planned out for them. So certain people may be wary of foreign travel. Simply following the tail lights of the car in front won't do much to persuade them. Whilst the efforts made so far may be highly commendable, the distance between the original "Time, date, venue" concept and what we're faced with now is truly disappointing. Sorry, but the overbearing organisation has persuaded me to use the ferry ticket for another Landrover trip instead of being "allowed" to attend one night of a planned package tour.
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Post by cannonballbob on Feb 28, 2007 20:45:48 GMT
Must say I'm a little concerned the Natter is now planned to be the Friday night, doesn't really fit with my plans. but thats my problem, I'd have only planned to stay one night in Turin anyway. But Neil, what do we know, I mean you and I were only the ones to come up with the idea back in 2004. Must admit to being a little confused now other people are telling me what the original concept was!
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