For many reasons it's been a long hard winter. Personally I've been pretty much off the radar, focusing on my work. However with the first signs of spring, my thoughts are turning to enjoying my hobby once more.
Two years back I started a small meet at the Barking Fox, it was a monthly affair and to begin with was quite popular. However this was soon scuppered by the British weather, the last Sunday of the month being washed out, time and time again. Not only that, but in retrospect I think it was a little 'dead', being in the middle of nowhere, at a very quiet location.
So I've looked around again for something else. I've had a chat with the owner of the Suffolk Diner at Stowmarket. Many of you will know it. It's on the eastbound carriage side of the A14. Until the recent road improvements it could only be accessed by the A14 eastbound, which made it a bit of a pain to get to. However now it is easily accessed from either direction on the A14, or from the town itself.
The owner seems friendly and very receptive to an American car meet. Naturally he would welcome some extra business ! It's clean, has a 'diner style' menu, has ample parking and outdoor tables and chairs. It even has a separate function room, should it be required.
My thoughts were a sort of informal 'Friday Night Bite', going right through the summer. Rather than having a monthly meet that was easily ruined by rain etc, it could be a weekly affair. If one week it's rained off, no matter, another will come along soon ! The owner, Trevor, would stay open late if there was the demand.
I'm keen on getting a bit more out of my cars this year and would appreciate your opinions guys !
Barry, I think you pretty much summed up the Fox for yourself, I thought good place but DEAD no atmosphere, didn't feel welcome by the owners who didn'd really do much to entice you back. Suffolk Diner looks ok, not great but haven't tried it so would give it a go. Personally don't think a friday night would get a lot of support but your call, wouldn't work for me. I think for some on here the Orwell Truckstop seems to be an old faithfull which may not be the best but it's been tried and tested with good food some sunday entertainmet, plenty of room and has proved to be very accomodating in the past. I'd vote for that given a choice and for me it would only happen on a Sunday. I know it would clash come peak show time but if it's a known thing- every Sunday like you say it would soon come round again and if ya know it's on everyweek, great,word travels too. Even if yer on ya own one week, don't matter, have a meal/drink go home or onto the beach for the afternoon.
Seems like a good idea Barry and i think its certainly worth a try and i would support it whenever possible as i did at the barking fox. However i really do like the idea Bumper has put forward and would definatly be interested in going along regulary.
For me guys the important thing is that there is something happening regularly and not too far away.
Last year was a disaster for many single day events, when the weather just ruined what many people had spent ages planning. So the idea of a weekly meet makes sense. I doubt that many people will go every week, but at least there would be another chance not too far away.
I was considering this place simply because it seems to fit the bill and it's close enough for me to pop in on a regular basis and make the commitment to sort it out. The Orwell Truckstop is a little far away for me to do this, though I would support a regular meet there.
I thought Friday night so as to not clash with the various goings on's during the summer, but that's the whole idea of running past you guys. Nothing's set in stone.
Suppose I'm just wanting more opportunities to enjoy my toys, as last year was a bit on the damp side !!
I'd personally be more likeley to get to a Sunday thing,i'm just about in the middle of the 2 so not bothered which,how about every other week and start off trying to not clash with as many local shows as possible and posting altered dates? the Fox was a kind of a great venue/wrong location,i went 3 times last year and sure it was a bit dead
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Id be up for helping you organise something at the suffolk diner,i live in needham so its really close for me, I dont have a yank tank tho :( but would still be up for helping out
Would be good to get something going further this way, theres plenty of nice things to do out this way, If we could get some weekend meets going we could also go for a nice cruise down to somewhere like Shotley before meeting up at the diner
I have been down there twice this week and there seems to be a really nice atmosphere down the shipwreck end on a weekend when all the bikers come out with the harleys goldwings and trikes and there was even a few nice corvettes down there the other day when i went
Makes a nice change from felixstowe aswell and theres no chavvy boyracers down there either !!
-- Edited by Austincrazy on Thursday 19th of March 2009 01:36:53 AM
I have been down there twice this week and there seems to be a really nice atmosphere down the shipwreck end on a weekend when all the bikers come out with the harleys goldwings and trikes and there was even a few nice corvettes down there the other day when i went
Shipwreck is nice, but getting down there is a pain in the Fairlane now due to the blinkin' speed humps.
Suffolk Diner is worth a try, have to see how things go this year as the old calendar is already getting pretty full.
