Road Runs 2007

2007 Events Review:

January event: Sunday 28th January, 2007 - First run of the year.  This was a relatively short and informal drive out to Compton Abbas airfield (near Madonna and Guy Richie's country house) for a coffee and a chat.  We showed off our motors in the car park and watched the planes take off and land from this hill-top airstrip.  The airfield gained a little notoriety as the place from which the tycoon Asil Nadir left the UK.  We decided that the 9am kick off was a little early, so we will be meeting at 10am next time!  Thank you to everyone who came and special mentions must go to Steve and Jane Coleman in their Lotus 7 replica and Mike and son in their Cobra.  Thank you also to John Dugdale in his Porsche, who took us on a great scenic route out to the airfield.

 
Well done to those hardy souls who braved the icy wind in their open top sports cars!

Friday 19th - Sunday 21st January - Monte Carlo Rally.  Congratulations to Sebastien Loeb and Dani Sordo on completing a one-two finish in the Monte Carlo Rally in their new Citroen C4s.  This marked a return to rallying for Loeb after a three-race lay off and Sordo's first race in the WRC championship.

February events:
Friday 23rd February and Saturday 24th February, Rallye Sunseeker.  Plenty of cars sliding on mud (and that was just in the car park!).  An excellent event again this year: the organisers did a great job.  Special thanks go to Alex Mellon, promotional manager of the rally.

 
Above: photos taken at this year's Rallye Sunseeker by James Penberthy.  Contact James at: jrpictures@hotmail.co.uk

Sunday 25th February, 2007 -  Bournemouth to Salisbury sports car run.  We met on the top deck of the Castlepoint shopping centre in Bournemouth, before driving out to the Victoria and Albert pub in Netherhampton, Wiltshire, just outside Salisbury.  Great food, great atmosphere in a pub that has won numerous awards, including the best local CAMRA pub of the year in 2005.  We were particularly pleased that Richard Lailey of Lailey Technology joined us in his Porsche.  It was a great day for a blast into the countryside!

 
Left: The Victoria and Albert, an award-winning pub.  Right: Richard Lailey and his Porsche.

March:
Sunday 4th March, 2007 - Goodwood Breakfast Club meet.  Theme: Classic British sports cars.  David and Yurie couldn't make it but that did not stop several other members attending.

Sunday 18th March, 2007 - Sponsored walk / sponsored run. (on foot, not in sports cars, you lazy lot!) from Bournemouth Pier to Boscombe Pier and back again.  In aid of UNICEF the international children's charity.  This event was co-hosted by ETC International College and the Helluvit Sports Car Club.  We met at the Hot Rocks Surf Restaurant near Bournemouth Pier at 11.00 hrs.  The eventual winner was Mr Ed Mitton who managed to complete the three-mile, wind-swept course in under 22 minutes!  The event raised several hundred Pounds for UNICEF.  Thank you to Mr Richard Simkins for allowing us to use the Hot Rocks Surf Restaurant as our base and first aid post.



April:
Sunday 1st April, 2007 - Goodwood Breakfast Club meet.
The April Goodwood Breakfast Club meet was very well-attended and we actually had to fight for parking space this time!  These events are now obviously very much on people's calendars and the number of flashy cars and bikes has exploded!
The theme this time was Forza Italia - Italian brio - from scooters to supercars and there was an excellent selection of machines, from Lamborghinis to Bizzarinis and from Benellis and Ducatis to Vespas.

 
A celebration of all things Italian!  There were Ferraris and Ducatis wherever you looked!

Thursday 19th - Sunday 22nd April, 2007 - Top Marques Monaco Supercar and Luxury Show.

May:
Friday 4th May - Quay for my car, Poole.  Theme: Open top sports cars.  6pm - 9pm at Poole Quay.
Sunday 6th May, 2007 - Goodwood Breakfast Club meet.  We met at an unearthly hour at Castlepoint shopping centre in Bournemouth and drove over to Goodwood for a leisurely stroll around the paddock.  The theme this month was "Vive la France!" so there were a lot of Citroens, Renault Alpines and even a smattering of Bugattis.
Friday 11th May - Quay for my car, Poole.  Theme: Mini Mania!  6pm - 9pm at Poole Quay.
Friday 18th May - Quay for my car, Poole.  Theme: Best of British Classic Cars!  6pm - 9pm at Poole Quay.
Friday 25th May - Quay for my car, Poole.  Theme: Special guest marque night (possibly Porsche - to be confirmed).  6pm - 9pm at Poole Quay.
Sunday 27th May, 2007 - Monaco Grand Prix.  Congratulations to Lewis Hamilton for yet another podium finish!

June:
Friday 1st June - Quay for my car, Poole.  Theme: Open Top Sports Cars!  6pm - 9pm at Poole Quay.

Sunday 3rd June, 2007 - Goodwood Breakfast Club meet.  Once more we drove out to Goodwood in convoy (near Chichester).  Theme for this month was supercars and superbikes - mouthwatering exotica!  Anyone driving anything suitably extravagant was able to show off their machine in the display area - as long as they got there on time.  The rest of us had to make do with the public car park (although there was some gorgeous machinery in the car park too!).  As usual, participation was free, though you needed to bring some cash if you wanted to have a breakfast at the Vitra cafe (be warned, the cafe is always busy) or a snack from one of the mobile vans.

 
Ford GT and a host of other supercars at the June 2007 Supercar Sunday Goodwood Breakfast Club Meeting.

Sunday 10th June - Battistinis Super Custom Bike Open Day.  Some of the most exciting custom motorcycles you might ever see were there!  We were able to view the latest builds from Battistinis Custom Cycles.  There were: live bands, some trade stands, a S100 bike wash run by some lovely ladies in way too few clothes, a custom bike show to rival any custom bike show, refreshments, new and used bikes for sale and a few surprises!  Venue: Unit A, 107 Southwick Road, Southbourne, Bournemouth, Dorset.  BH6 5PS.  Battistinis website: www.battistinis.co.uk  Entry is free.  Please note that parking is at a premium, so you will need to park in nearby roads.  Please respect the neighbours!

 

A couple of the fantastic custom motorcycles on display at the Battistinis Open Day.  Real heavy metal engineering!

Friday 23rd - Sunday 25th June, 2007 - Goodwood Festival of Speed.  Meet us there!  David and Yurie will be there on Friday 23rd June (all day).  Call on 07966 578999 if you would like to meet up for a chat.

July:
Sunday 15th July, 2007 - Cancer Research Charity Day at Ferndown Leisure Centre.  A call to arms!  Several of our members took part in a display of interesting and exotic cars at the Cancer Research Charity Day on Sunday 15th July at Ferndown Leisure Centre.  One of our new members, Lee Price (welcome Lee!), asked us to invite Club Helluvit members to help him attract the public to the event.  Cars included a Saleen Mustang, a Porsche, the TVR Tamora that Lee drives.  For more information, visit the Relay for Life section of the Cancer Research website.

August:
Sunday 5th August, 2007 - Goodwood Breakfast Club meet.  An excellent time was had by all!  Beautiful weather and some fun, windy roads between Goodwood and Midhurst certainly put some smiles on our club members' faces!

 
Aston Martin DB4, Shelby Cobra and Wiessmann sports car.  As usual, the cars in the car park were as gorgeous as the ones in the display area!

   
Two of our Helluvit Club Members: Roan Fair (in his Professor Dumbledore hat) and Petrolhead teddy.  Oh, and what a pretty Viper!

September:
Sunday 16th September, 2007 - South Coast Run.  We drove from Highcliffe Castle out to Lulworth Castle, along as many winding roads as we could find!


David with his MGF VVC and Allan with his Dax Rush 3.9 RV8.

October: Sunday 7th October, 2007 - Goodwood Breakfast Club meet.

November: No events.  David obviously had too many nappies to change!

December (last event of the year):
Sunday 9th December, 2007 - The Christmas Sports Car Run: our last run of the year, culminating in a festive lunch was a great success.  We met at the Orchid Hotel for a chat over coffee before setting off on a short drive from Bournemouth out to the Bramble Hill Hotel in Bramshaw for another drink and another chat.  Those of us who had something to eat were spoilt for choice: culinary exotica included rabbit pie and barramundi.  Try their meals, you won't be disappointed!  Hotel address and postcode for your sat nav: Bramshaw, New Forest, Hampshire.  Postcode: SO43 7JG.  Participants included John in his Porsche 924S, Mike in his Mercedes SLK AMG, Lee in his TVR Tamora and Chris in his Lotus Elise Type 49.


December Sports Car Road Run participants at the Bramble Hill Hotel:  Race you to the wall!