Fast cars and classic aircraft

[Enright]

After recently being directed on here to the LEF (Lotus Esprit Forum) by Mike Kimberley's son "Kimbers", I spotted this thread.

In a nutshell, the Esprit boys are arranging a trip to Bruntingthorpe Aerodrome in Leicestershire to see the restoration progress of the huge Vulcan bomber number XH558. The date for this is Sunday May 27th. which coincides with their Cold War Jets Open Day, and it's within two weeks of her taking to the skies for the first time in 15 years.

The event should attract some of the Autobahnstormers (Lotus Carlton) crowd, and possibly make for a really good photo opportunity. There are lots of other cold war jets to see there as well (Lightnings, Victors and all sorts), and all that is required is a £10 admission fee - although any donations to The Vulcan Operating Company will be most welcome.

Here is a copy of a communication that I have been forwarded:

I would like to put forward the event to meet up at Bruntingthorpe on the 27th of May for their Cold War Jets Open Day.

I have spoken to the organiser who have said that they normally have 5000 people on the day, and are willing to put our cars on Hard Ground next to the Lightning (plane) sheds

They should have plane taxiing on the runway every 30 minutes from 10:00 to 16:00 and have food vans there. As this is being organised by the TVOC (the Vulcan Operating Company), they are not being paid any of the entrance fees so have asked if we minded put our cars on show with some XH558 buckets next to them to raise funds for the restoration of the Vulcan, which should have made its maiden flight by the end of May.

I am trying to arrange some kind of photoshoot, but still waiting an outcome.

Some website about the open day are below, but they are not very detailed.

http://brunty.bravehost.com/

List of aircraft at :
http://brunty.bravehost.com/airframes.htm

http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/mus/uk/brunt/brunt.htm

As this is fairly central, may be worth finding a fairly local pub that we can go to after for a pint and/or a bite to eat if anybody is interested.

Some rules that the owner of the airfield has stated due to insurance reasons :-

1/ NO MOVEMENT of Cars, No Fast TAXI runs, STATIC only,

2/ Must be on hard standing next to the lightning sheds,

3/ ALL PERSONS IN THE CARS MUST PAY THE £10 PER HEAD ENTRANCE FEE AT THE GATES, NO EXCEPTIONS.


Speak to you soon,

Maurice

So who would be interested in tagging along for the day?

[DaveT]

I'd be up for that Neil.

David

[Nobby]

Looks a good day out - Put me as a possible,
Cheers
Nobby

[Enright]

A bit of a bump, but also to highlight free entry for you and a passenger to another airshow, with a plum parking spot right in the middle!

RAF Waddington on Saturday & Sunday 30th June & 1st July (gorgeous weather last year - I got majorly toasted)!

It's a fantastic airshow, one of the best. Just a few miles from Lincoln, and a truly massive airbase. These days it's where the AWACS aircraft are based (you know, the ones with the massive disc on the top).

Go here for details.

[DaveT]

Should be up for that one as well Neil. Will clear my diary for one of the days.

D

[Enright]

3 weeks to go so a bit of a bump to put it back on people's radar...

[Russc]

Cool, just reading about the vulcans in the book funnily titled "Vulcan 607" about the role they played in the Falklands Conflict.

I`ll have to see if i can make that

[DaveT]

Its next weekend folks

Neil and I will be there. Arranging to meet before entry later this week.

For those interested the Vulcan is due to start taxi trials in the next week or so it is then anticipated that one of these runs will lead to a take off.


D

[Dave Eds]

8)

Its next weekend folks

D

Dave/Neil what are the arrangements? I am up for this as well!

[DaveT]

Hi Dave

Neil has been away all weekend dipping his wick. He asked me to do the reminder and said he'll start to sort things out this week- GET ON WITH IT NEIL- time is a wasting.

David

[Enright]

Don't worry - I'm back now and fully recovered!

I got an email from Maurice from the LEF last night so should be able to post "the plan" later on today.

[Specky]

A bit late I know...

But can I come and play...

TTFN

[DaveT]

You can if you bring a disc with you!!!!!

D

[Enright]

It's all still go as far as we're concerned - in fact it looks as though if we have 5 cars there we'll be the major Lotus force in attendance:
Believe it or not - all of the Esprits are currently broken!

I've just spoken to Maurice from the LEF, and he will still be there, just not in an Esprit. So He's getting the details and will email or phone me back later this evening.

The show starts at 10 on Sunday morning.
I think we will be aiming to meet around 9.30 so that we're not battling through the attendees and their cars.

The map on this page is pretty good.
It looks as though there is a pub on the main road in Bruntingthorpe village itself.

Hopefully I'll be able to add details of times, place, meeting, tickets, arrangements etc soon. Sorry for the delay.

I suggest meeting there and then we can travel in convoy the last few hundred yards together.

[Specky]

8)

You can if you bring a disc with you!!!!!

D

LMAO

On 558.. just spoke to my mate.. Ex Vulcan display team...

and Taff says the Vulcan is way behind shedule.... (Taff= Project leader of sorts)

TTFN

[Enright]

Here's a bit more info, from a PM I received through the LEF:

Trust you to mention that there will be no Esprit's there. Mine is sold just waiting to be collected, not broken (lol). I was going to come out the M1 at J20 and then follow the A4304 and then the A5199 upto Brunt Road and then to the airfield. Maybe worth meeting on one of these 2 main roads.

9:30 is good for me. Payment is done at the gate. I may be able to get some free passes, but what I said is if they do, then we will keep and entrance fee and donate that money directly into the 558 fund instead.

I am sorry this is so disorganised. I am moving house twice in the next 4 weeks and with no Esprit attending, I had thought I was going alone, so haven't sorted things properly. The guy at TVOC is also a pain to get hold off.

Maurice

Who's still up for it? (Weather permitting of course)

[Specky]

Yep...

Just say when and where..

TTFN

[Enright]

When: 9.30
Where: The pub on the main road in Bruntingthorpe village itself, as shown in the map in my post 2 above.

[DaveT]

C U at the pub weather or not as the case may be. No Gary boys here. We're brave.

D

[Enright]

Ring me or drop me a text if you're running late or are having problems finding the rendezvous or Brunty itself.