Lola parade in Huntingdon 12oct

Lola parade in Huntingdon 12oct

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tonyvid

Original Poster:

9,875 posts

250 months

Wednesday 8th October 2008
quotequote all
I had a search but nothing came up, so...

http://www.lolaheritage.co.uk/news/news299/299.htm




Lola webstite said:
On Sunday 12 October, Huntingdon will be set for a taste of Monte Carlo-style action when a symbolic parade of racing cars takes to the streets of the Cambridgeshire town. The parade will be a fitting hometown celebration to mark Lola Cars 50th Anniversary in 2008.
Up to 16 race cars will take part in this landmark occasion, representing Lola’s iconic designs from the past half-century to the current day. Heading up the parade will be the all-new RML MG-Lola LMP2 Coupe dressed in its stunning red, white and blue livery, which will be competing in next year’s Le Mans 24 Hours race. Historic cars in the parade will include: the Mk1, the first Lola sportcar built; the Lola T92 that Sir Jackie Stewart raced at the 1967 Indy 500; through to the sleek design of the Lola T70.

Also lining up on the spectacular grid of cars that span the full 50 years of Lola’s existence will be the A1 Grand Prix Team Malaysia Lola that has won races in the World Cup of Motorsport. Up and coming single seater ace, Fairuz Fauzy will drive this striking Lola design.

Stars from half a century of Lola racing will be meeting up with old friends and their old mounts at the parade. These personalities will include Richard Attwood, Hugh Dibley, Jackie Epstein, Alain De Cadenet, Mike Blanchet, James Weaver, Julian Bailey, Anthony Reid and Peter Ashdown.

Martin Birrane, the owner of Lola Cars, has invited Eric Broadley MBE, the marque’s founder, to be an integral part of the Golden celebration. The 80-year-old Broadley will take the passenger seat of a Lola for the procession. Another notable passenger will be Jonathan Djanogly, MP for the Huntingdon constituency, who will be driven in Lola’s latest track-day car.

At 12.00 noon, Saeed Akthar, Worshipful Mayor of Huntingdon, will be waving a Union Jack to officially start the parade from Lola’s headquarters in Huntingdon. The unique collection of cars will then travel a designated two mile route via the local ring road, finishing with the cars forming a spectacular ‘paddock’ in Huntingdon’s historic market square.

Lola will also be hosting a public ‘Q & A’ session from the Town Hall balcony that overlooks the paddock area. The interviews will be supported by local dignitaries and an array of drivers associated with Lola throughout its fifty year history, including 500cc Motorcycle and 1964 Formula One World Champion John Surtees.

Lola and the local authorities have been working together to make sure all the necessary provisions are put in place to make it a safe and enjoyable day for the local community and visitors. The parade route and paddock area are within easy walking distance from Huntingdon train station, with the event organisers encouraging visitors to maximise local transport facilities.

Martin Birrane commented, “Given the nature of motorsport, the majority of our work has to be done behind closed doors, so we wanted to create an event that enables the local community and motorsport fans to see Lola Cars at close quarters.

“What better setting than our hometown to celebrate a memorable 50 years in motorsport. It will be a wonderful occasion to see such a colourful collection of Lola designs drive through the centre of Huntingdon, whilst reuniting drivers such as John Surtees with cars they have raced so many years ago.”

The town, famed for its Members of Parliament – Oliver Cromwell during the 16th century and John Major during the 20th – now has the yellow and blue racing colours of Lola flying the flag for Huntingdon and British motorsport.

LOLA 50th ANNIVERSARY PARADE - USEFUL INFO
Do's

Do try and park up early in a car park. These are detailed on the parade map.
Do get a position on the parade route sooner rather than later, certainly by 11.30.
Do use the Bridge Place public car park in Godmanchester if you are travelling from the East.
Do come to the paddock in the market square but bare in mind it could be very busy.
Do come back if it is too busy in the square. The cars are in the 'paddock' until 4pm
Do get a special 50th anniversary poster from the Lola marquee.
Do ask members of the Lola team about the cars.
Do be patient if you are travelling by car in and around Huntingdon, the traffic is likely to be heavy on the day.
Do respect and listen to the marshals when the temporary road closure is in operation between approx 11.55-12.10.
Do listen out for any announcements from the town square PA system.
Do check out the pre event entertainment in the market square between 12-12.30.
Do get drivers to sign posters. They will be happy to do so.
Do watch the parade from the paths lining the route.
Dont's

Don't park on the parade route at all.
Don't park in the market square between 6pm on Saturday 11th and 6pm on Sunday 12th.
Don't come to the Lola factory before the parade. The area is being used for the parade organisation and is closed to the public.
Don't step in to the road to take photos. This is dangerous and you will get told off by a marshal!
Don't cross the road when the parade is approaching. Don't watch from the traffic islands on St Peters Road.
Don't cross the barrier in the market square paddock until it is lifted by official personnel.
Don't come to the Princes Street market square entrance area at all. This will be used as access for the parade cars.
Don't climb on walls or other structures for a better view
GOOD SPOTS TO WATCH

From the postal sorting office on St Peters Road down to the junction of Ermine Street Along Ermine Street Around the Territorial pub and around the ring road
Riverside Road up to Bridge Hotel
NOT SO GOOD SPOTS TO WATCH!

Close to Lola factory Outside Fire Station
Near the bus stop
thumbup

Forthright MC

8,362 posts

290 months

Wednesday 8th October 2008
quotequote all
yeap, theres a thread running in the EA forum too, looks like a good little crowd from PH should be attending!

very much looking fwd to this!...biggrin

cj_eds

1,567 posts

228 months

Thursday 9th October 2008
quotequote all
See here for the EA one
http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a...

I wasn't aware of the Cambs forum, and then forgot to add a link here once I did know!


tonyvid

Original Poster:

9,875 posts

250 months

Thursday 9th October 2008
quotequote all
Gaaaa, stupid search function! I also had a look in the obvious places.... except EA banghead

It looks like a good do, just need to find somewhere sensible to park and either walk or cycle in as Huntingdon will be stationary for hours. Forthright, I was going to do that June tour as well, thanks to Dinkle, but was on hols :weeping. Never mind, can't wait to hear the engine noise bouncing off the buildings!

chevykevv

1,447 posts

214 months

Friday 10th October 2008
quotequote all
Parking is definitely going to be an issue, I'm thinking Halfrauds area & walking in.
If you're up for cycling in there's the Ermine business park about a mile out, loads of road space around there.



tonyvid

Original Poster:

9,875 posts

250 months

Friday 10th October 2008
quotequote all
chevykevv said:
Parking is definitely going to be an issue, I'm thinking Halfrauds area & walking in.
If you're up for cycling in there's the Ermine business park about a mile out, loads of road space around there.
Shushhhhh, that was kind of my plan smile

chevykevv

1,447 posts

214 months

Friday 10th October 2008
quotequote all
I've only put it on here, so only the RIGHT people will see it...whistle

tonyvid

Original Poster:

9,875 posts

250 months

Friday 10th October 2008
quotequote all
Good move hehe

central

16,744 posts

224 months

Friday 10th October 2008
quotequote all
Tony, what time are you heading over?

Forthright MC

8,362 posts

290 months

Friday 10th October 2008
quotequote all
tonyvid said:
Forthright, I was going to do that June tour as well, thanks to Dinkle, but was on hols :weeping. Never mind, can't wait to hear the engine noise bouncing off the buildings!
shame you were away for the tour, we had a top time!
a very secret and hi-tech place in some ways...

i'll try and locate any familiar faces from here where possible!

the area near the territorial pub should be a great spot too and only a short walk up to the square from there too
mustn't forget the Market Inn for proper refreshments too! biggrin (Good beer guide '09 listed)

cj_eds

1,567 posts

228 months

Saturday 11th October 2008
quotequote all
Forthright MC said:
mustn't forget the Market Inn for proper refreshments too! biggrin (Good beer guide '09 listed)
On that subject since there's going to be a few PHers any one up for a pie & pint at any pub thats not mobbed?

Forthright MC

8,362 posts

290 months

Saturday 11th October 2008
quotequote all
cj_eds said:
Forthright MC said:
mustn't forget the Market Inn for proper refreshments too! biggrin (Good beer guide '09 listed)
On that subject since there's going to be a few PHers any one up for a pie & pint at any pub thats not mobbed?
good plan yes like the sound of that, don't think the Market does much in the way of food tho', the Samuel Pepys does (beer is better in the Market tho')and so do The George & The Bridge, all are nearby to the "paddock" too

tonyvid

Original Poster:

9,875 posts

250 months

Sunday 12th October 2008
quotequote all
central said:
Tony, what time are you heading over?
About 11.00 hehe

Sorry, just seen this!


what a great thing that was biggrin


Edited to put the pics on here

Edited by tonyvid on Sunday 12th October 13:03

cj_eds

1,567 posts

228 months

Sunday 12th October 2008
quotequote all
Bit busy down there, will pop back in an hour when there's a chance of getting near the paddock!

In the meanwhile:













tonyvid

Original Poster:

9,875 posts

250 months

Sunday 12th October 2008
quotequote all
How cool was that? I was at the junction of St Peters Road and Ermine Street - lovely and wide corner with a long straight so some big hoofage from some of the cars. bounceAWESOME











ETA - I'll put them here as well, great pics there smile


Note the black lines hehe

Edited by tonyvid on Sunday 12th October 13:04

central

16,744 posts

224 months

Sunday 12th October 2008
quotequote all
tonyvid said:
central said:
Tony, what time are you heading over?
About 11.00 hehe

Sorry, just seen this!


what a great thing that was biggrin


Edited to put the pics on here

Edited by tonyvid on Sunday 12th October 13:03
Didn't make it in the end. frown

Forthright MC

8,362 posts

290 months

Sunday 12th October 2008
quotequote all
nice efforts there from Tony & CJ, lovely snaps, that parade was pretty damn FANTASTIC eh?!

that banshee wail from the green LMP2 car will stay with me for a long time! you could feel the noise! biggrin

T70 MK3B was my fave cool

my pics are just coming...

shame you couldn't make it Mark, was bloody busy, but good fun tho'!

Forthright MC

8,362 posts

290 months

Sunday 12th October 2008
quotequote all
a few parade snaps from me, i was on the ring road near the new council office building site,



next years LM entrant led the pack



closely followed by this insanely loud beastie!









MK1 looked and sounded ace

to see these cars thunder past on the road was amazing, top, top stuff!
there were plenty of tyre marks to be seen on the road afterward!

there was a few other nice things to be seen around the towns car parks too (AMV8, Chim & Europa S2 near Sainsburys!)

i got 3 signatures on my posters, but the paddock was a nightmare to navigate, people everywhere! not too good for snaps either, but i did get a few i'd be happy to post if need be smile

cj_eds

1,567 posts

228 months

Sunday 12th October 2008
quotequote all
There's another 45 pictures from the paddock uploaded here:
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/carl.edmunds/2008101...

Even at 3.30 it was tricky getting some shots, so I've got a few just missing a corner of a car, or just out of focus because you had to nip in quick. Even get booted up the arse at one point as I kneeled to take a photo cry

Well worth going down to see though, and I can imagine straight after the parade there'd have been almost no hope of getting close to the cars or in decent photo taking spots. Well done on Lola, a great show!

Forthright MC

8,362 posts

290 months

Sunday 12th October 2008
quotequote all
you should perhaps consider offering a few of your shots to Lola Heritages scrapbook maybe Carl? those paddock ones are surprisingly good IMO considering the sheer number of people there!

i went to the paddock at its busiest i think, it was a nightmare people pushing and clambering by everywhere (kids were a big pain and those people standing around eating chips and stuff who weren't even bothered by the display grated too after a while...) but the speech on the balcony from what i heard was quite interesting and the cars, when you eventually fought the hordes too see were lovely too, nice to meet and greet some drivers as well (got 3 signatures on my posters!) i got a headache after half and hour or so in the human zoo so i had to come out

heres a few of mine from the paddock,



T70 3B was the car i went to see, luverly bit of kit! cloud9



look down the line, some auto porn right there!







wanted to do better with these, but did what i could



Lola chairman and founder talking about the past present and future









3 drivers autographs in total on 2 posters, not bad going!

good to see some other tasty metal lurking in the town car parks too!