Monday 6th October 2003

County TVR Open Weekend

New dealer in Cheltenham opens its doors this weekend - sort your convoy now!

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TVR rumbles into Cheltenham next weekend as the newly appointed TVR Dealer for the Cotswolds, County TVR of Cheltenham opens its doors at a special weekend launch.

Owner, Bill Allen said, "There is something very special about TVR and already the excitement around the dealership is electric. Our outstanding pedigree as the County's premiere car dealership stands us in great shape for the introduction of TVR to our prestigious line up ."

Bill, who competed in Karting as a boy, and in the Motoring News Rally series while doing his apprenticeship with the Austin Motor Co in Longbridge, has always been involved in motorsport. "I have to come clean and say that I am a petrolhead at heart. When TVR told me I would be expected to run track days and be involved with motorsport, I couldn't wait to get stuck in! "

Among the attractions at the Open Weekend on the 11th and 12th October will be one of the the TVR Le Mans cars along with all the latest TVR models in the newly created TVR "F1 pits-garage" style display area. Jay Shepherd, Tuscan Challenge race winner, will be on hand on both days, along with Motorsports Events who will be there on Sunday to talk about track days and all aspects of performance driving.

For those interested County are offering Half Price places at the Keevil Track day on Monday 13th! (book now while stocks last!) Hot pork rolls will be served on both days and if you are lucky you could win a free place at a future track day by entering the slogan competition.

A wide range of accessories and clothing will also be available to purchase on the day.

For the more classic TVR owner County is offering half price MOTs for bookings made during the weekend or on presentation the County TVR Open Weekend Invitation.

County have a new website under construction but in the meantime you can get contact details and address from www.countycheltenham.co.uk

[JonRB]

Is this Bill Allen as in "Bill Allen Toyota" who sold up a few years ago?

Have County moved, because when I bought my Celica from them (the previous owner had PX'd it against a Merc) in 1994 they barely had enough space for Mercs let alone another marque.

And finally, I thought Broughtons sold TVRs?

Any current Cheltonians able to comment? Roop? Gaffer? M@H?

[Gaffer]

County are by the shell petrol station on PE Way.

Broughtons/TVR stopped IIRC about 18 months ago. They are still there but its all tat like Astons/Porkers/Rarri...not our class of car at all

I might pop down over the weekend...not Sat though as I am riding.

Claire

[Graham]

Is that right at the pc world / mac d's roundabout ? if your comming into chelters from j10 ?

i though broughtons jacked it in nearer 3 years ago.... no loss imho....

[tvrgaas]

When I went to school at the other end of P-E Way, Lex were the BL dealer on the Tewkesbury Road/PE Way roundabout, with Stag's (V8, Convertible,...) and Broughtons were a small Rolls dealer the other side of town. For TVR one had to go to Drakes Broughton, nr Pershore. Never did see how the TVR's fitted with the Rollers.

[grigio alloy]

tvrgaas-did you go to Cheltenham Grammar?
I seem to remember your name-I was in Franklin House left for Uni in 1983. Doc Griffiths was housemaster in sixth form.
When I was a young kid we lived a while in Priory Street and were just round the corner from Broughtons near Sandford Park.
I had my second Griff 500 looked at by Broughtons after I bashed it and I thought they were okay.
The sales staff however were snooty.
Had a look at County when I was back in UK at end of August-they had two Tams and a Tuscan. I asked about a trade in on my Tamora against a T350 but nobody there seemed that clued up on TVR.
I am sure it has changed now.

[GI Jnr]

Is anybody here going down on Sunday?

Weather permitting, thought I might go and show my support.

Tuan

[M@H]

Graham said:

i though broughtons jacked it in nearer 3 years ago.... no loss imho....

correct.. Gaffer's a bit optimistic with 18 months..

Did anyone get the formal invite to County TVR Open Weekend in the post then... or am I special.. ?

(you get a 1/2 price TVR MOT with it)

Matt.

Edited to add.. I'll bet it was them pratting around the inner ringroad with that Blue Tamora the other day then.


>> Edited by M@H on Thursday 9th October 15:46

[tvrgaas]

grigio alloy said:

tvrgaas-did you go to Cheltenham Grammar?

Yes. You must have been in my brother's class, I left a couple of years before.

God it's like friend re-united!

Your profile doesn't give a name, e-mail me and I'll pass it on to Robert.

Edit to add, passing through Tewkesbury this weekend, but in the Alvis.

Hang on

M@H said:

you get a 1/2 price TVR ...

interesting

M@H said:

MOT

oh

>> Edited by tvrgaas on Thursday 9th October 16:31

[M@H]

PMSL..

[caro]

Broughtons stopped selling TVRs in June 2000 (just after I bought mine!). they were already a Rolls dealer, now concentrate on Bentleys, with some tasty used Aston/Ferrari etc from time to time.

May try to get to the opening thing, but we have to fit a new radiator to the landie we got last weekend, and it's 20 years old I anticipate a certain amount of elbow grease may be necessary...

By the way, according to the TVRCC c3c chat group, Jay Shephard will only be there sunday as he's now racing on sat, but someone from the factory is going on Sat. Oh, and there should be a Speed 12 as well as a Le mans car.

[agent006]

JonRB said:

Is this Bill Allen as in "Bill Allen Toyota" who sold up a few years ago?

I believe it is. And i think he's still got the toyota garage, it's where the saab garage used to be, which is where mitsubishi used to be, which is where AFG nissan used to be.

JonRB said:

Have County moved, because when I bought my Celica from them (the previous owner had PX'd it against a Merc) in 1994 they barely had enough space for Mercs let alone another marque.

Nope, still where they've always been, but with a little extension on the end.

JonRB said:

And finally, I thought Broughtons sold TVRs?

As has been said, not for a while, allegedly due to not knowing the differnce between a spanner and their lunch.

[simpo two]

agent006 said:

As has been said, not for a while, allegedly due to not knowing the differnce between a spanner and their lunch.

You can spot them becasue they have broken teeth and loose nuts...

[Gaffer]

Is it really that long ago...i seem to have lost a year somewhere

GT car is on the transporter at the mo, I think it Jason thats there on Sat.

I'll be there on Sunday.

Claire

[GI Jnr]

Gaffer said:

I'll be there on Sunday.

I'll come over an say then.

Tuan

[JonRB]

Ah well, you have to remember that I moved away from Cheltenham in September 1999 so I'm a little out of date with developments since then.

I was down a few days ago as my little terraced house on Brunswick Street where I used to live is in need of some TLC before I can rent it out again.

I noticed that Bill Allen's Toyota (round the back of Bath Road) is now town houses. You'll probably all tell me that happened YEARS ago too.

BTW, anyone have any recommendations for painters & decorators in the Cheltenham area? Mail me offline if you do. Cheers!