BBWF 2025 5th-7th September.

[mrzigazaga]

Dear Wedgers


Some good news for you today regarding this years Big Bad Wedge Fest...

So after the unforseen circumstaces of the previous oganisers and the sad news that they had to cancel their position of organising myself and Adam Quantrill have decided to take on the organising of this awesome event, as you know i have several years of experience at the reigns of the BBWF and have a collective CV regarding the growth and positivity that was brought by you to me in your support for this event, which should always remain as long as the cars do! ..so as it currently stands the proposed event will be held over the weekend of the 5th-7th September 2025, hopefully most can make it a date, i will as always endeavour to bring you a fun filled weekend, and will update on room rates etc, i have two venues, one for the Saturday which will please many, a bit of history and above all fun, the Sunday venue again should tick most boxes if you like cars!...so please keep an eye out and enjoy the upcoming sunshine...keep the beasts healthy, fed and watered....their day is coming...

BBWF 2025
Weekend 5th-7th September
Either @ Chesford Grange hotel or Walton Hall hotel...to be confirmed after rates negotiations...details of venues and availability will be forthcoming...

Cheers

Edited by mrzigazaga on Friday 4th April 14:49

Edited by mrzigazaga on Thursday 10th July 16:33

[adam quantrill]

Yes, it's all good.

I must add - many thanks to the previous organisers for their sterling work over the years.

But - the show must go on! I'm right with Mark on this, and hopefully the new date for 2025 will allow more people to come out of the woodwork.

[mk1fan]

Eggcellent news.

Clashes with S Club tour (Swiss Alps this year) on which I am booked.

Have fun. Drinks on Mark

[mrzigazaga]

adam quantrill said:

Yes, it's all good.

I must add - many thanks to the previous organisers for their sterling work over the years

I second that as it is not easy and probably not so easy putting up with me...glad some things change

mk1fan said:

Eggcellent news.

Clashes with S Club tour (Swiss Alps this year) on which I am booked.

Have fun. Drinks on Mark

Guess it will always clash with something...it is hard to get an eggact date to please all, Swiss Alps...that sounds very eggciting...

Drinks on me...Tap..filtered or distilled...although all can have added fizz and definitely be chilled...however I stopped serving tap as it is a bad eggxample of what water is supposed to be...

Please get in touch if you are considering attending...cheers

[mrzigazaga]

So this years Wedgefest will be over the weekend of 5th-7th September 2025 and will be held at Chesford grange hotel, we have negotiated 40 rooms but may be able to increase this if we get a quick take up, the rates are not too grim even though everything has gone up, we have a fair deal and the suite free of charge for the saturday night meal with free screen & projector, we have two venues for you to visit, embroidered event polo-shirt and limited event mug available (mugs are free to booked guests)

please email me for pdf downloadable event details and booking form at [e-mail]

Look forward to seeing old friends and making new ones.

Cheers

[mrzigazaga]

Wedgefest weekend agenda for 2025

[mrzigazaga]

Bookings now open for this great event

[Grady]

As usual, can't make it from the states, but will you sell merch separately? I think my last polo is from 2016. Grady

[Mike-3g84f]

Grady said:

As usual, can't make it from the states, but will you sell merch separately? I think my last polo is from 2016. Grady

Lets hope it was not yellow! ;-)

[mrzigazaga]

Grady said:

As usual, can't make it from the states, but will you sell merch separately? I think my last polo is from 2016. Grady

There wil be polo-shirts available, army green with a nice lighter green logo

[mrzigazaga]

Please do not delay...book today...this events room bookings will close on the 25th July 2025, day guests will still be able to book.

Cheers

[mrzigazaga]

Hi

I guess there are multiple reasons why people are not booking this years Wedgefest, it leaves me with a bit of a dilema, i am now thinking it has to be scaled back to just the Friday night meet & greet, the Saturday FREE event and then nothing in the evening or on the Sunday which means no Saturday evening meal, no presentations, no charity raffle, just a tyre kick in the car park after the FREE event, a Saturday lunch and/or evening meal and head off, people are more than welcome to stay longer.

I will reimburse those who have paid to display their cars on the Sunday event exhibit and monies paid for food will be paid to the hotel for those guests who have already paid, albeit from a set menu, i am hoping that the room deal will still stand but will not know until i speak to the events team @Chesford on the 13th when they return from annual leave, i guess it is what it is, bit of a way for me for a meet up of a few cars but will be nice to see old friends.

Cheers

[alex_gray255]

Hey Mark

Just kicking out an idea, but how about going here on the Saturday or Sunday?

https://greatbritishcarjourney.com/ticket-purchase...

About £18 quid to enter, but supposed to be pretty good.

[alex_gray255]

Also these ones...

• Coventry Transport Museum (Approx. 20 minutes drive)

This museum is dedicated to the history of transport in Coventry, including a significant collection of British cars, bicycles, and commercial vehicles. Been here before - pretty good.

• Classic Motor Hub (Approx. 50 minutes drive)

Located in Bibury, this hub is a classic car showroom and museum, offering a range of classic cars for sale and on display.

• The National Motorcycle Museum (Approx. 40 minutes drive)

Located in Solihull, this museum houses a vast collection of over 1,000 motorcycles, showcasing the history of motorcycling in the UK.

• The Carriage Museum (Approx. 50 minutes drive)

Located in the historic town of Stratford-upon-Avon, this museum features a collection of horse-drawn carriages and early motor vehicles.

• The Classic Car Collection (Approx. 60 minutes drive)

Situated in the town of Bicester, this collection features a variety of classic cars and hosts events throughout the year.

[Englishman]

I have been involved with the wedges since the 80's, but having to travel a fair distance to the midlands, I'm really looking for the BBWF, Saturday at least, to be something special.

While chatting to other owners is very enjoyable, some sort of special event, such as the trip to Blenheim in 2019 or the visit to the Morgan factory in 2023 are the highlight for me. Sorry to say that visiting a motorcycle museum or a bus museum is just not worth travelling the distance for me so will be skipping the 2025 event.

[mrzigazaga]

Englishman said:

I have been involved with the wedges since the 80's, but having to travel a fair distance to the midlands, I'm really looking for the BBWF, Saturday at least, to be something special.

While chatting to other owners is very enjoyable, some sort of special event, such as the trip to Blenheim in 2019 or the visit to the Morgan factory in 2023 are the highlight for me. Sorry to say that visiting a motorcycle museum or a bus museum is just not worth travelling the distance for me so will be skipping the 2025 event.

Hi David

We have a visit to the Wythall museum where they are holding an 80's mania morning, FREE entry to all cars built between 1980 -1989 and on the Sunday the intention was to go to the festival of transport in the Malvern hills, if numbers were where they were in 2019 then something bigger would be needed but would be earlier than September, i guess i should not hold out too much expectation with a salvaged event that was scrapped last minute!

Hopefully catch up at some point

Cheers

[Englishman]

mrzigazaga said:

Hi David

We have a visit to the Wythall museum where they are holding an 80's mania morning, FREE entry to all cars built between 1980 -1989 and on the Sunday the intention was to go to the festival of transport in the Malvern hills, if numbers were where they were in 2019 then something bigger would be needed but would be earlier than September, i guess i should not hold out too much expectation with a salvaged event that was scrapped last minute!

Hopefully catch up at some point

Cheers

Mark, no criticism of your and Adam's attempt to put something on this year after Paul found a lack of interest too. Just my opinion, but I think people would come from Scotland, NI, Cornwall and maybe even the from the US, Canada, Australia, NZ etc. for some sort of special wedge event/visit that they couldn't do otherwise. This has certainly happened in the past.

Many people also attend local events in a field or at a museum, TVRCC or otherwise organised, where there are often other TVR's and a handful of wedges and all things TVR are discussed. Somehow BBWF needs to be unique and special to attract more interest IMHO. If I knew what I'd say!

Keep at it, I'm sure some ideas will come up even if not this year.

[mrzigazaga]

Englishman said:

Mark, no criticism of your and Adam's attempt to put something on this year after Paul found a lack of interest too. Just my opinion, but I think people would come from Scotland, NI, Cornwall and maybe even the from the US, Canada, Australia, NZ etc. for some sort of special wedge event/visit that they couldn't do otherwise. This has certainly happened in the past.

Many people also attend local events in a field or at a museum, TVRCC or otherwise organised, where there are often other TVR's and a handful of wedges and all things TVR are discussed. Somehow BBWF needs to be unique and special to attract more interest IMHO. If I knew what I'd say!

Keep at it, I'm sure some ideas will come up even if not this year.

As you know David people drove from Berlin and flew in from Austrailia for the TVR 70th celebrations in 2017, which was voted the best TVR event EVER!...Martin Lilley shook my hand and actually said..."This is the best fugging TVR event i have ever been to", however it took myself and Howard two years to build numbers up and gauge interest enough where we could really push the boat out, the famous 5 was legendary, sadly 4 are no longer here, i guess it was a pinnacle moment but turnout was good still when i handed over the BBWF keys to the Blackpool Thunder CC, which incidentally was formed off of the back of the Wedgefest and in defiance to the way myself, Howard and a few others were treated after applying for positions in a well-known establishment!...the date was changed which as we all know is the worst thing that can happen with a successful event, Chatsworth was a good example!.

The unique side is that it is a single model meet which was set up due to the fact that so many looked down on the Wedge, and still do and most were not made to feel welcome at mixed meets so a bunch of Wedge owners in defiance created the Wedgefest, when i was asked to organise in 2014 the numbers were low at 25-30.....it is no good taking a gamble on pushing the boat out and hoping that people climb aboard, it simply does not happen like that, many do not appreciate the work involed...the stress, anxiety, arguements, tears of joy, tears of sadness and hundreds of hours that you will NEVER get back, however this was the committment that myself and Howard gave.

This year may just get scaled back which most are happy with and i will try to build up numbers again, however i am not getting any younger or healthier so we will have to see what happens.


Thanks

Mark