Okay people, here are some ideas for our next meeting.

 

Dates : Sat 9th and Sun 10th Septmeber

 

Events :

 

Firstly, Bob has agreed to come down for the weekend, and has offered his services for anyone who wants any Alarm or ICE work doing.

 

So if you have any requirements, such as immobilisers, speakers, etc, then tag them onto this post, or mail Bob directly and he can get an idea of how to schedule the work over the weekend.

 

The venue for this will be my house in Sutton, details nearer the time.

 

Secondly, is anyone interested in a couple of hours go karting over that weekend ?

 

There is an indoor kart track at Streatham, which has two time slots available that we are able to book, so i need some feedback here please.

 

We can have exclusive use if we have 20 or more people, or pay for 20 people regardless.

The cost is £30 + vat per person, so a minimum charge of £600 + vat for exclusive use.

Alternatively we can share the session with other people and just pay our £30 each.

 

The two times available are :-

 

Sat 9th 8pm to 10pm

or

Sun 10th 10am to 12am

 

They have a car park large enough for our cars if we all turn up individually.

 

The session is made up of continuous heats, where everyone gets plenty of track time, which build up points towards semi-final races, and a final i think. Trophies, overalls, helmets etc are included too. Brochures are on their way to me.

 

They have a website http://www.playscape.co.uk/karting/ if you want to have a look at what they have.

 

They also have hand control karts for disabled drivers.

 

I need to let them know ASAP to make sure that we get one of those timeslots, as it is only 4 weeks away.

 

I have also called a few outdoor kart tracks, but they are all fully booked.

 

This was sparked off by Jez's discussion about a track day. As much as I and i'msure many others would love to go to the track, cost, insurance and risk are big factors to consider....

 

But if you manage to get a good deal Jez, then I wouldn't mind a go !

 

Finally, depending on which session we go for, saturday night can be used for some socialising....

 

Apparently there are quite a few good places to go that are open late in Streatham after the karting, some good bars and clubs, or, as my place will be pretty much open house over the weekend for Bob's customers :) then regardless of which karting session we have, saturday night can be spent at my place with a few beers.

 

As you can see, i'm quite keen to get something sorted out, and am trying to give people as much notice as possible, but the place needs booking soon.

 

If anyone is VAT registered and wants to book the session, therefore saving us indiviuals from paying vat, then let me know, it would be very helpful.

 

To make sure we get enough people, then you are welcome to invite any like minded car enthusiasts, i have a few scores to settle with some.... :)

 

 

I hope i have my password correct... :P

 

 

Further to last post, there are also sessions available at Daytona Raceway in Park Royal, North West London.

 

Prices and events are similar.

 

Each drivers gets 3x7 lap qualifying races.

Top points scorers go into a semi final race of 7+ laps, best of those go to final race of 7+ laps.

 

Minimum 15 people @ £36 each inc vat.

 

Sat 9th : 2:30pm, 5:30pm, 8pm (track 2)

Sun 10th : 11:30am (track 1)

 

They also have some openeings at the outdoor circuit in Milton Keynes

 

Sat 9th : 12pm Open 2hr Endurance Race.

£150 per team, 2-4 people per team, 15 teams vacancies.

 

Sun 10th : 10am Exclusive Booking for minimum 20 people, £50-£60 per head.

 

Hi - sounds great... I did have Castle Coombe Classic day down on my calander for that week end. But I don't think you get very much for your money on that track...

 

So, I guess that means I can come. I know some other people that have been dying to go karting for a while, so I may be able to top up the numbers based onthe karting location.

 

Try to get the £30 exclusive track use if you can, so we don't end up driving against the pros that go every week... and there are a lot of them!

 

 

Great idea craig!

 

I'm up for the karting and think an exclusive carting evening for us would be good fun.

 

I'm sure I can drag a couple of friends to make up the numbers if need be.

 

Steve

 

6 minutes too slow Steve... darn... ever thought you used the internet too much????

 

Sounds dandy to me. Its about time I met you guys anyway. I can't do the saturday as I'm getting married but I might be able to do the Sunday. Is that dedication or what?! Of course that all...er..depends on whether her indoors lets me out to play! I'm on for the karting - sunday PM preferred. Park royal or Sutton OK. Let me know...

 

Sounds good to me too. Park Royal would be best for me (10 minutes drive) but I really don't mind.

 

Andy

 

UPDATE

 

Here is more detailed cost info for the karting events :-

 

I have provisionally booked both venues, which will hold until the middle of next week. They are booked in my name, Craig Stratton, and the telephone numbers are below, if you want to check out any of the facilities or have questions.

 

I will have to confirm or deny the bookings at that time.

I will also have to pay 50% deposit, so some definite confirmations, and maybe some deposits, would be very handy.

 

=============================================================

Playscape - Streatham - Sat 9th Sept - 8pm to 10pm - 2 hour session

Tel - 020 8677 8677 - website

-------------------------------------------------------------

Minimum cost is £600 + vat, which is for 20 drivers, so minimum cost per driver is £30 +vat, but could be more if less than 20 people.

 

Format for Streatham is similar to Park Royal below, but with less laps probably, due to shorter session.

 

There are a number of hand control karts for disabled drivers. Not sure about logistics of access.

 

=============================================================

Daytona - Park Royal - Sun 10th Sept - 11:30am to 2:30pm - 3 hour session

Tel - 020 8961 3616 - website

-------------------------------------------------------------

Minimum cost is £960 inc vat, which is for 24 drivers, so minimum cost per driver is £40 inc vat, but could be more if less than 24 people.

 

Format 1 Individual :-

safety briefing

practice session

minimum 3 or 4 heats to score points

Top 30 drivers go to 2 semi finals

top 8 or 10 drivers go to final

so the chances are good that you will get at least four races

 

Format 2 Team Endurance :-

safety briefing

practice session

continuous race in teams of 4 drivers, Le Mans style

 

There is one hand control kart for partially disabled driver, who must be able to get themself into and out of the cart, due to restricted pit lane access.

=============================================================

 

Personally, i have no personal preference for either venue, and will go with the majority decision, but i will give my opinions so far...

 

Daytona looks the better deal for the money, but you need 24 drivers.

 

Streatham staff seem to be much more friendly and helpful, needs less drivers and is cheaper.

 

 

I would like to find some way of covering the outlay if i book and pay the 50%, as i don't fancy a £600, let alone a £960 bill, if some people don't turn up on the day, if you know what i mean. I can get extra drivers if need be, from work, and other friends, but would like to have more ZX owners than non, as that's the whole idea of the thing in the first place :)

 

Next time i call either venue, i will ask about the possibility of people paying indiviually towards the 50% deposit over the phone, but i doubt they would entertain that. I am happy to accept cheques, and you can all have my address and phone number, i'm an honest guy..... :)

 

I will be contacted mid week for confirmation, so we have a few days to get our acts together.

Including myself, i have four definite drivers (2 Z, 2 non Z), and will be asking 2 or 3 others(non Z) next week, depending on what feedback there is this weekend.

 

 

** TRACK DAY **

 

Sunday 10th September is a 300zx / cheap Silverstone track day.... heard something like £25?

 

more details comming soon.

 

Stop tempting me Jez! ;)

I'm trying very hard to resist...

 

BTW where is Silverstone? :-)

 

Another question, is it very hard for you

to drive on the right side of the street?

I'm affraid of taking the Z to England

because of the left-side traffic.

 

Maciej

 

 

Okay Jez, that sounds even better :)

 

Get that info in mate.

 

Anyone still want to go karting on saturday night ?

 

I am still up for that, and i'll cancel the Sunday one.

 

Bob's workshop should still be open on saturday, as well as some even "socialising" around the karting at my house or wherever, so keep that in mind :)

 

 

Definitely up for karting or track day - preference would be track day.

 

Will ask around for other drivers too if karting is what we go for. Craig, happy to send you cheque or if you want to give me a buzz with bank details, I'll stick it straight in your account.

 

Bob, could you have a go at rewiring my alarm / turbo timer to allow the alarm to be set with timer still operating ???

 

Dave

 

Can't do Saturday at all. Sunday track day sounds good. A few Q's. Whats the position on Insurance for the day? Do we pay the track fee on arrival? Any recommended prep for the car?

 

Okay,

 

here is the info for Silverstone on the 10th September

 

TRAX 2000

 

with specifically links for :-

 

Track Insurance which looks like a pretty good deal !!

 

Event Pricing including entrance(£10, or £15 on the day), timed 0-60 sprints (£5), 15 minute track time sessions, Elise passenger rides etc.

 

However, the Track Time is no longer open to telephone bookings, and you have to try and book on the day, as it has been too successful.... :)

 

The person i spoke to on the phone said the best thing to do is to try and contact an owners club that already has a block booking... IE Nissan or Z car owners club.

 

And do we want to arrange to travel to Silverstone (en masse, in convoy, as a posse) together, or swap contact details and try and meet up on the day ? Or meet somewhere en route ?

 

######### KARTING ##########

 

Is anyone interested in still going on saturday night, regardless of Silverstone on Sunday ? I still think it will a good laugh and get together, so who's up for it ?

 

 

 

 

these posts are easy to miss once they start moving down the forum hey ?

 

and i did all that detective work too to find out what the sunday event was.. lol