UK • THE GWS 'NATIONAL' 2013

[Naranto]

This year is the SAAB International and our own GWS (Great Western Saabs) 10th Anniversary, so why not combine both to make our gathering a bit different?
It would also offer another option for those from the UK travelling from the West Country, on their way to the International, to join us.

The itinerary is:
SATURDAY 3rd August
The Vintage Sports Car Club Prescott Speed Hill Climb,
Nr Gotherington, Gloucestershire, GL52 9RD.
This really is a fantastic event and if you have never been it is well worth a visit.
Short Prescott video
Prescott pics

After the event, travel up to near Kettering to stay overnight at a Premier Inn (or similar) for an evening meal and a good nights sleep ready for

SUNDAY 4th August
SAAB INTERNATIONAL at Wicksteed
Barton Road, Kettering, Northamptonshire NN15 6NJ
Home

Option to stay a second night or return home. For those who plan to stay Sunday, a visit to an Aircraft or Car Museum is planned for the following day.

This offer to join us is open to alll

Mor info here: THE GWS 'NATIONAL' 2013 | GWS Home

[Naranto]

It has been brought to my attention that a visit to the Coventry Transport Museum has been recently organised for the Monday (5th August) by the SOC.
So rather than have two organised visits to the same place, as an alternative, would anyone like, on the Monday, to visit the Morgan Car Factory for a Guided Tour?
It really is a fascinating insight in to how these cars are made - see the craftsmen making these wonderful cars right in front of your eyes.

For more information, here is a link:
www.morgan-motor.co.uk/mmc/factoryvisits.html

If you would like to join us please add your name here or on the GWS forum.

[Naranto]

For those joining us for the GWS National, prices have been released for the SAAB International in Kettering.

Full details here:
Main Event Pricing

An alternative 'Sunday SAAB day out' is being organised, for those SAAB enthusiasts who find these prices rather too excessive.

[Naranto]

Revised itinerary is:

SATURDAY 3rd August
The Vintage Sports Car Club Prescott Speed Hill Climb,
Nr Gotherington, Gloucestershire, GL52 9RD.
This really is a fantastic event and if you have never been it is well worth a visit.
Short Prescott video
Prescott pics

After the event, travel up to near Kettering to stay overnight at a Premier Inn (or similar) for an evening meal and a good nights sleep ready for

SUNDAY 4th August
TBC Either
Coventry Transport Museum Museum. Entry is free.
or
Visit to Deene Park Welcome to Deene Park, Corby, Northamptonshire - GWS are negotiating a discounted entry.

Second night at the Premier Inn in Kettering

MONDAY 5th August
The Aircraft Museum near Coventry airport ( there is an admission fee ) many aircraft are outside so dry weather is best .
or
Morgan Cars Factory visit.

This offer to join us is open to all and like all GWS events you are welcome to join in and leave at any point

[Naranto]

Revised itinerary with links.

SATURDAY 3rd August
The Vintage Sports Car Club Prescott Speed Hill Climb,
Nr Gotherington, Gloucestershire, GL52 9RD.
This really is a fantastic event and if you have never been it is well worth a visit.
Short Prescott video
Prescott pics
Price to be confirmed (approx £15 each) Events

After the event, travel up to near Kettering to stay overnight at a Premier Inn (evening meal and breakfast available)
To book please follow this link: Premier Inn, Kettering for an evening meal and a good nights sleep ready for

SUNDAY 4th August
Coventry Transport Museum Museum. Entry is free.
OR
Visit the SAAB International. www.intsaab2013.com
Parking in general car park for £6 per car, no charge for additional persons.
OR
Visit to Deene Park www.deenepark.com - open 2-5pm

Second night at the Premier Inn in Kettering (evening meal and breakfast available)

MONDAY 5th August
The Aircraft Museum near Coventry airport ( there is an admission fee ) many aircraft are outside so dry weather is best
OR
Morgan Factory visit. The Morgan Motor Company

This offer to join us is open to all and like all GWS events you are welcome to join in and leave at any point.

EVENING MEAL
I can confirm that all evening meals will be on a TWO MAIN MEALS FOR £10 and TWO DESSERTS FOR £2 offer.
http://www.premierinn.com/en/admin/r...DinnerMenu.pdf

BREAKFAST MENU
http://www.premierinn.com/en/admin/r...akfastMenu.pdf

Our GWS National took a day or two to put together and for TWO ADULTS could cost as little as £100 for the entire weekend which includes
• hotel accommodation for Saturday and Sunday at the Premier Inn
• Entrance to the Vintage Sportscar Hill Climb, home of the Bugatti Club (includes access to their museum, paddocks and grounds) for a day of racing (£15pp - TBC. Prices based on past visits)
• visit to Deene Park (discounted entry being negotiated)
and/or
• Coventry Transport Museum. (Free entry)

• If you include evening meals for Saturday and Sunday AND a visit to the Morgan Factory to see the cars being made, add an extra £49, again for TWO ADULTS.

So for TWO ADULTS the cost for the entire GWS 3 day weekend will be £100 to £150.

[Naranto]

REVISED AND UPDATED ITINERARY
- CONFIRMATION OF THE VSCC PRICING FOR SATURDAY (£12PP)
- ALTERNATIVE SUNDAY OPTION - CARPETBAGGERS MUSEUM
- MORGAN FACTORY VISIT - NOW BOOKED


SATURDAY 3rd August
The Vintage Sports Car Club Prescott Speed Hill Climb,
Nr Gotherington, Gloucestershire, GL52 9RD.
This really is a fantastic event and if you have never been it is well worth a visit.
Price £12 each
Events

After the event, travel up to near Kettering to stay overnight at a Premier Inn
To book please follow this link: Premier Inn, Kettering for an evening meal, decide where we are going next day, good night sleep folllowed by a good breakfast ready for:

SUNDAY 4th August
Two options for each, depending on a dry or *wet day
*Coventry Transport Museum Museum. Entry is free.
OR Visit the SAAB International. Home
Parking in general car park for £6 per car, no charge for additional persons.
Large public car boot sale also on this day.
OR *National Motorcycle Museum (Entry fee applies) Motorcycle Museum Birmingham, Bike Museum, Coventry, Solihull, near NEC
OR * 'Carpetbaggers' Museum, of WWII fame, looks interesting. A drive out to there could be a good option with a pub lunch:
Carpetbagger Museum Home Page

Second night at the Premier Inn in Kettering

MONDAY 5th August
Morgan Factory visit. The Morgan Motor Company
Now booked.

This offer to join us is open to all and like all GWS events you are welcome to join in and leave at any point.

EVENING MEAL
I can confirm that all evening meals will be on a TWO MAIN MEALS FOR £10 and TWO DESSERTS FOR £2 offer.
http://www.premierinn.com/en/admin/r...DinnerMenu.pdf

BREAKFAST MENU
http://www.premierinn.com/en/admin/r...akfastMenu.pdf

[Naranto]

SATURDAY
For the Vintage Sports Car event at Prescott on Saturday you need to book TICKETS direct with the VSCC. Events
We will be meeting at 9am on the Northbound services (Michaelwood) of the M5. For those who will find it more convenient to arrive direct at the event, PM me so we can arrange to park all SAABs together. If you are meeting up with GWS, please add your name so we can be sure of not leaving you behind at the services or on route.

SUNDAY
I have received a few questions, as there are a number of options, about our plans for the Sunday.
It is for each of you to decide which of the four options you would like to visit:
• Coventry Transport Museum. Coventry Transport Museum - Home
• Saab International Saab 2013: Home
• Motorcycle Museum National Motorcycle Museum Conference Venues & Venue Hire Coventry
• Tulip Run to include lunch in the 'Pilots Mess' at Sywell Aerodrome
A scenic tour of the area including optional ‘stop offs’ at Foxton Locks, Battle of Naseby views, Carpetbaggers Museum, Sywell Aerodrome for lunch in the 'Pilots Mess' and the ‘Triangular Lodge’. Many thank to Wayne (Brookenstein) and Alan James for the map information.
No booking, payment or confirmation required. You can drop in or out at any point on the trip.
~Battle of Naseby UK Battlefields Resource Centre - The Civil Wars - The Battle of Battle of Naseby
~Carpetbaggers The 801st / 492nd Bomb Group
~Sywell Aerodrome Sywell Aerodrome
with lunch available in the 'Pilots Mess' Sywell Aerodrome - Pilots Mess
You could break the trip here or if you are still eager to continue...
~Triangular Lodge Rushton Triangular Lodge | English Heritage

Download and print the route 'Tulip2.pdf' by clicking on the Attachment show below.
http://hawksheaddesign.co.uk/GWS/Tulip2.pdf

Whatever option you choose, we will be meeting in the Premier Inn, Kettering car park at 10.15am to convoy to the event of your choosing. You can of course decide on the day, as I am sure the weather will play its part.
If others wish to join us they would be most welcome. No need to book, just appear on the day.

MONDAY
For the Morgan Factory visit, on Monday, I have pre-booked 20 spaces. There are a few extra spaces available, so again please let me know. Alternatively you could probably contact Morgan direct and ask to be added to the GWS (Great Western Saabs) visit for 11am.
Meeting will be at 9am in the Premier Inn car park - it take approx 90 minutes to drive to the Morgan factory, according to Google maps.

[Naranto]

OK folks, I have put together a selection of photos (see bottom of this post) from the weekend.

Saturday at the Vintage Sports Car Day. Well what can we say about this event that has not been said before. The relaxed atmosphere and amazing mix of cars, smell of Castrol, tyres and brakes, combine with the noise from those engines attacked all the senses. Personally I think this is one of the best events held anywhere.
The trip to our hotel in the evening was straightforward (well almost) and we arrived ready for our evening meal in the restaurant, having met up with Gavin, Clayton and Valerie. I was a bit disappointed by the lack of SAABs in the car park, but our numbers added to the total.
Needles to say we were last to leave the restaurant having enjoyed the food, drink and company. Next morning we met Don and Barbara, long standing GWS members who were attending the International and who were to join us for the evening meal

Sunday morning arrived and we were joined for breakfast by Chris Redmond. After taking our fill, we set off on our GWS Tulip Run (still not sure why it's called 'Tulip) through some stunning village and countryside arriving at Foxton Locks, where we were all pleasantly surprised by what greeted us.
It really is a place worth visiting with cafes and coffee shops along the banks, narrow boats travelling up through the locks and plenty to see and do. In fact, we spent more time there than expected, so decided we would travel direct to Sywell Aerodrome for lunch.
A table was booked and we sat on the veranda looking over the airfield, watching the helicopters and planes landing. The restaurant is in front of the petrol station, so we were treated to aircraft taxiing to the pumps, refuelling then setting off again on their trip.
After a longer lunch than usual, we then strolled down to the Sywells Museum, where a fascinating selection of WWII memorabilia was on display, including a concrete mock-up of the bomb (to test that the plane would be stable) dropped on Hiroshima. A gentle drive back to the hotel followed, where we met up with Paul and his son (also Paul) who kindly joined us for the evening meal. As there a number of us, we were were put both sides of a long table, against a wall which meant that the person sat in the middle with back to wall had to move people to the left or right to get out. A new sport of 'GWS Bum Shuffling' has now been officially recognised. Again and as happens when you are enjoying yourself, the evening disappeared and we were last to leave the restaurant.

Monday arrived and we set of for our visit to the Morgan factory in convoy, managing to get there without losing anyone - no mean achievement, especially for GWS. We were joined at the factory by Will and Bridgett. I later found out that Etienne and co were unfortunate stranded after a problem with their car - hope they got it sorted.
The factory visit started with a much needed hot drink, followed by an introduction from Robert, our guide and a video from Charles Morgan. The tour included a look at the original factory building and we then we were treated to all the stages of how a Morgan is built. Unlike many manufactures Morgan encourages you to take as many pictures as you wish as no area is 'off limits'.
From the chassis to the ash frame, engines, through to the paint shop, upholstery, finally to the polishing and finishing. No aspect was missed out. We were even given off cuts, with the Morgan logo stamped on them, from the Ash frame and also included some Morgan leather as a memento.
So many thanks once again to everyone who joined us, either for the weekend, the day or just to stop and say hi. You all made the weekend great!

Here is a ten minute collection of photos from the weekend

The GWS 10th Anniversary Weekend