Devils Punch Bowl Coupe Meet Summary
Discussion
Southern Coupe Meet
Devils Punch Bowl and Squirrel Inn, Sunday June 20th, Surrey.
With the first meeting being so successful, the pressure was on for the second coupe meeting. Not only this, but it was being arranged at two locations and included a short drive.
Some of you may call me mad while others would regard it as Brave, but the event went surprisingly smoothly. First meeting point was arranged at the Devils Punch Bowl National Trust car park. I suggested a start time of 11:30, as I wanted to leave at 13:00 hours for the drive. I got up early and gave my car a quick clean followed by a quick wax then I begun my journey to the punch bowl.
The sky was black and there was the odd down pour on the way over which worried me, as I know owners of these old cars don’t like rain, as it equals rust. I arrived at the car park and to my horror it was full which was not the case when I went there 2 weekends earlier to check everything over. I found a space and within 5 minutes the first BMW arrived. Overall we were very lucky as when a member of the public left it coincided with the next BMW arriving. After 1 hour the BMW coupe contingent had taken 17 spaces and cues were developing for available spaces among the other cars. I tried to have a brief chat with everyone as they arrived and acted as banks man for squeezing cars into the next available space. I got the feeling that the members of the public wondered what was going on and to this I felt a little embarrassed.
All members quickly introduced each other to one another and motoring stories and tales were being exchanged from all there. It was not long before 13:00 arrived on us and the next part of the day started, the drive to the squirrel pub. I telephoned through and the proprietor open up his field so that when we arrived we could park there. First off I though it be sensible to give everyone directions. Following on from this all drivers and passengers made there way to their vehicles. I led the convoy with an ex employee of the pub taking the tale.
The first problem to be negotiated was exiting the car park, as the A3 is a busy road even on a Sunday when there is single file traffic. As lead man I went very slowly down the A3 at about 55mph allowing all following vehicles behind to catch up. There was a brief pull over in a lay by to allow the other cars to catch up, and then the slow progress to the pub was made. At about half distance all cars were in a line and seeing as far as the eye can see BMW coupe’s was some sight. All in all we had a convoy of 17 cars and one motorbike.
I think the pub dinners and drinkers wondered what was happening when all of a sudden 17 immaculately shiny BMW’s arrived on the doorstep. As the field was large we organised cars in groups relevant to their model numbers, so all the sixes were together including two chrome bumper 635’s and 4 highline models including two M635’s. The Eight series group was made up of one 850ci and two 840ci’s including a late model car in a BMW bespoke colour combinations of Bronze. Then there were the E30’s which had two convertibles one being a Hartge H27s, one 325 sport supporting Alpina’s and a Macau Blue M3 Cecoto. There were no e36’s this week, but we had a lovely blue 330ci convertible. Last but not least we had two E9’s and one very rare E3. The E3 named 3.0 si Limousine was just spectacular. The owner had owned the car for 20 odd years and the car was just perfect. Then there was a bright yellow CSL and my favourite car a 3.0CSL Bat Mobile in dark blue. In discussion with the owner the car had had a 3.5 engine conversion and was used regularly on track days. The condition of the car was so good and the workmanship that had gone into it was so high it was hard to believe the car had seen any action on a track. The owner assured me it had and gave some delightful tails of doing 140mph round various tracks in Europe. I was jealous just listening to the stories.
For a full listing of pictures please see the following web page: -
http://photos.freeserve.com/public/detail.html?c_album=732962
The next meeting will be at Munich Legends and the Red Lion Pub next door on the Fourth Sunday of July 2004 (25/7/2004) @ Midday 12:00. I have yet to confirm this, but have spoken with Barney at ML’s who is very keen. I have eaten at the pub next door (Red Lion) and food is very good. Parking is a little more limited with about 100 spaces available, but the location is very rural so I don’t think this will be a problem. I will be confirming with the pub landlord as to the feasibility of holding this event here as the pub is currently changing ownership.
Anyone wishing to attend this at Munich Legends should e-mail me on james@sohl.fsnet.co.uk or call me on 07946 517556.
Some Photos of the day
http://static.photobox.co.uk/public/images/57/90/9445790.s.jpg?ch=71&rr=18:36:08
http://static.photobox.co.uk/public/images/57/94/9445794.s.jpg?ch=71&rr=18:36:08
http://static.photobox.co.uk/public/images/57/93/9445793.s.jpg?ch=71&rr=18:36:08
http://static.photobox.co.uk/public/images/57/92/9445792.s.jpg?ch=71&rr=18:36:08
Devils Punch Bowl and Squirrel Inn, Sunday June 20th, Surrey.
With the first meeting being so successful, the pressure was on for the second coupe meeting. Not only this, but it was being arranged at two locations and included a short drive.
Some of you may call me mad while others would regard it as Brave, but the event went surprisingly smoothly. First meeting point was arranged at the Devils Punch Bowl National Trust car park. I suggested a start time of 11:30, as I wanted to leave at 13:00 hours for the drive. I got up early and gave my car a quick clean followed by a quick wax then I begun my journey to the punch bowl.
The sky was black and there was the odd down pour on the way over which worried me, as I know owners of these old cars don’t like rain, as it equals rust. I arrived at the car park and to my horror it was full which was not the case when I went there 2 weekends earlier to check everything over. I found a space and within 5 minutes the first BMW arrived. Overall we were very lucky as when a member of the public left it coincided with the next BMW arriving. After 1 hour the BMW coupe contingent had taken 17 spaces and cues were developing for available spaces among the other cars. I tried to have a brief chat with everyone as they arrived and acted as banks man for squeezing cars into the next available space. I got the feeling that the members of the public wondered what was going on and to this I felt a little embarrassed.
All members quickly introduced each other to one another and motoring stories and tales were being exchanged from all there. It was not long before 13:00 arrived on us and the next part of the day started, the drive to the squirrel pub. I telephoned through and the proprietor open up his field so that when we arrived we could park there. First off I though it be sensible to give everyone directions. Following on from this all drivers and passengers made there way to their vehicles. I led the convoy with an ex employee of the pub taking the tale.
The first problem to be negotiated was exiting the car park, as the A3 is a busy road even on a Sunday when there is single file traffic. As lead man I went very slowly down the A3 at about 55mph allowing all following vehicles behind to catch up. There was a brief pull over in a lay by to allow the other cars to catch up, and then the slow progress to the pub was made. At about half distance all cars were in a line and seeing as far as the eye can see BMW coupe’s was some sight. All in all we had a convoy of 17 cars and one motorbike.
I think the pub dinners and drinkers wondered what was happening when all of a sudden 17 immaculately shiny BMW’s arrived on the doorstep. As the field was large we organised cars in groups relevant to their model numbers, so all the sixes were together including two chrome bumper 635’s and 4 highline models including two M635’s. The Eight series group was made up of one 850ci and two 840ci’s including a late model car in a BMW bespoke colour combinations of Bronze. Then there were the E30’s which had two convertibles one being a Hartge H27s, one 325 sport supporting Alpina’s and a Macau Blue M3 Cecoto. There were no e36’s this week, but we had a lovely blue 330ci convertible. Last but not least we had two E9’s and one very rare E3. The E3 named 3.0 si Limousine was just spectacular. The owner had owned the car for 20 odd years and the car was just perfect. Then there was a bright yellow CSL and my favourite car a 3.0CSL Bat Mobile in dark blue. In discussion with the owner the car had had a 3.5 engine conversion and was used regularly on track days. The condition of the car was so good and the workmanship that had gone into it was so high it was hard to believe the car had seen any action on a track. The owner assured me it had and gave some delightful tails of doing 140mph round various tracks in Europe. I was jealous just listening to the stories.
For a full listing of pictures please see the following web page: -
http://photos.freeserve.com/public/detail.html?c_album=732962
The next meeting will be at Munich Legends and the Red Lion Pub next door on the Fourth Sunday of July 2004 (25/7/2004) @ Midday 12:00. I have yet to confirm this, but have spoken with Barney at ML’s who is very keen. I have eaten at the pub next door (Red Lion) and food is very good. Parking is a little more limited with about 100 spaces available, but the location is very rural so I don’t think this will be a problem. I will be confirming with the pub landlord as to the feasibility of holding this event here as the pub is currently changing ownership.
Anyone wishing to attend this at Munich Legends should e-mail me on james@sohl.fsnet.co.uk or call me on 07946 517556.
Some Photos of the day
http://static.photobox.co.uk/public/images/57/90/9445790.s.jpg?ch=71&rr=18:36:08
http://static.photobox.co.uk/public/images/57/94/9445794.s.jpg?ch=71&rr=18:36:08
http://static.photobox.co.uk/public/images/57/93/9445793.s.jpg?ch=71&rr=18:36:08
http://static.photobox.co.uk/public/images/57/92/9445792.s.jpg?ch=71&rr=18:36:08
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