Lancia Beta Forum

Hi All,
Sadly due to current economic enviroment and finding myself and others short of funds, this years trip to Norway will not be taking place.

But I have a plan ..........

Being the 40th birthday of the Beta next year, a silly idea has popped into that little brain of mine.
How about a driving tour of Europe taking in as many countries as we can in a week or 10 days.
To make it work, we would need to get other Beta clubs involved, cars in the convoy or place where we can stay or camp.

I hope you get the outline of the idea.
If any forum members from other countries can get feedback within there clubs, please let me know.

Thanks for past support.

Mark and Team

Mark,

Having bought a car back from Milan, the Italy, Switzerland, France, Germany and Belgium route is a good one and there are plenty of cheap places to stay in France (the largest distance to travel IIRC)

Will look at the route again, but would be good to get feedback from other European Beta/Lancia clubs.

Myself and Mrs NoVAT would be up for a European tour :)

Did a tour in a grale a couple of years ago, down through France
over the Millau bridge, into Spain back.into France then Monaco
Italy, Switzerland via the St Bernard,,  France again. and home.

Would be easy to change the exit from Italy to Germany instead
then Holland, Belgium and home.

this could be the inspiration to get my VX back on the road!! not sure about finances though but if i can afford it......

God knows what state my finances and car will be in then, but count me into the idea for the time being. :)

Sounds a good idea, we drove to rally legends san marino in 2009 and did 9 countrie's in 10 day's we actually did 10 but san marino is only a principalaty not a country, if you organising trips to place's in italy there more than welcoming we were offered a trip around the fiat factory but did not have time count me in depending on dates.

Like Mark, Sadly I will unable to finance a trip to Norway this year, and as Beta Coupe is still at the bodyshop I can't see it being back on the road till late summer (if I'm lucky)
Which means I would have to take Prisma, I like Prisma but it's not a Beta ;)

A Europeon tour next year sounds like a great idea, who knows Mrs LanciaBeta might attend  ??? ??? ;)

Count me in!!

Like everyone else - yes, in theory a fabulous idea and just so long as the finances allow! Count me in.  Hopefully Beta S1 Berlina will be in fine form by then, and Tony, if gold Beta ES Berlina is sorted by then you can of course use him if your Coupe isn't ready.

Andy

thanks for the offer Andy, when you say sorted, does this mean when I fix it  :D sounds like a bribe to me ;D
better start make a list of jobs to do ;)

I think I know what is wrong with him ..... and I don't think it is particularly worrying news. Just a case of whip the head off, straighten a few valves and whack it all back together again ... simples! :)

Any idea when in 2012 this is planned for? Depending on the route, you may well be passing near our gaff in the South of France. While we have limited accommodation in our house, I could start asking around the area for B&B or camping sites. It would also be great to see a gathering of Lancias in our little village (Pouzolles, about 15kms from Beziers).

It would also make sense to get in touch with Squadra Beta, the French Beta club. The'd probably like to join in, especially if we're travelling through France.

Hi , do you have any contact names?

I know that Hungary is far from the UK and I don't know your route plan, but maybe if you will plan to drive to Italy through France and then through Austria and Germany back then I can offer the organisation of a small visit to Northwesten  Hungary ;).. There are only a few Betas in our country, but I know many Italian oldtimer car owners and also many Lancia owners.

I organise Lancia Workshop in my garden every year - I have free camping site for about 20 cars in my garten with separated men's&women's shower and WC. I can cook Hungarian style gulash on fire for about 50 persons. I also have a very large furnace with the ablility of baking pizza.
https://picasaweb.google.com/103220166446302840291/LanciaWorkshop11

I also have ideas for cheap hotel accomodation near to Lake Balaton - if you prefer that - I organise there also Lancia meetings:
https://picasaweb.google.com/103220166446302840291/LanciaMarkatalalkozo2011#

This is only my offer - the decision is yours ;)  You should calculate the costs and also the time - it is not so easy..

Hi Andrew,
 
You've sold it to me by offering Gulash and Pizza   :)  :)   South of France, Northern Italy, then via either Austria,Slovenia,Germany to Hungary. Its all possible but its about the time & $$ as you have said. We also have to meet up with our Norwegian friends at some point so maybe this is turning into 2 separate trips at different times of the year (?) or we agree to meet/converge at the most central point. Anyway we have time to think about it.
In the meantime i am going back to the garage to clean out my petrol tank and fit new filters

graham

Yes - that's why I told that it is only an idea/offer. You will have to calculate many costs. The main advantages of an East European by-pass trip can be the cheaper prices ( for example petrol is cheap in Hungary, but very-very cheap in Slovenia/a pizza costsabout 3-4GBP& 0.5l beer about 1-1.5GBP in a restaurant  in Hungary )  The main disadvantage is the large distance - the shortest way to London from my house is about 1000miles. A trip from the UK through France>North-Italy>Slovenia>West-Hungary>Austria>Germany>Belgium>UK can be easily about 2500miles. On the other side a simple trip from the UK to Torino and back is also not so little - it's about 1500miles ;).

Anyway I am happy to see any Lancia fans by us and I like also program organising and cooking, because I studied hospitality at the university :)..

I can upload some promotion pics ;D ;D..

 thats Great.!  This is making me hungry (or hungary)  ;D   I love the pizza oven!

I see on the LMC site (which as a non-member i can only spy on) there is mention of a possible joint LMC /betaboyz venture in Norfolk/Suffolk in May.

Alan

Yes indeed. Plans are ongoing at the moment, and there is plenty of research still to do, but with cost considerations in mind, and also the desire to make it an attractive event for UK and European Beta owners, Suffolk  / Norfolk look to be the area of choice. As soon as we have concrete arrangements in place, we will post on here and on the LMC Forum and open up bookings. Early  / mid May looking likely at the moment for the event.

We have also begun discussions with some of the Classic Car Press, and there is plenty of interest from them for covering Beta 40th.

So, all in all, watch this space for more information....

Andy

PLEASE avoid 9th-12th of May (http://www.131mirafiori.com/news17.htm (http://www.131mirafiori.com/news17.htm)) otherwise I won't be able to join you  :'(

Not forgetting that next summer 2012 is the Lympics.

A gathering in Norfolk Suffolk LMC/Betaboyz sounds good, in Newmarket/Bury St Edmonds area? There are some good places - Anglesey Abbey east of Cambridge is good, not sure if they are into the car thing though or how about a track day at Snetterton?

a very very good reason to escape the country (just me I gather some folk quite like it)

norfolk please....

I find Norfolk rather an awkward area to get to, such a drag of a drive but must admit I haven't been over that way for some time so it'll make a nice change from some of the more usual areas used for meetings 

holt hall is very good, i went to a vw thing there in the summer and it was a nice place to have a car meeting. and its only 3 mile up the road from me.

Oxburgh Hall is another NT property that is definitely car friendly. I know the Alfa club have been there before and it was also a stopping off place on the Norwich Union run.
Can I also suggest the North Norfolk coast? There is a good road that runs from Hunstanton to Cromer.
I'm actually on the Norfolk border and know that part of the world well so happy to do some dry runs if need be.
Rodders

At last something happening on my doorstep.  :) :) and willing to help in some way !!!

Track days are not everyone's "cup of tea" and while it would be good to include some track time, I don't think just a whole day on a track is a good way to celebrate the 40th Anniversary. I certainly can't see me going round the track all day in my 3-speed automatic Trevi   :-\ ;D

But shouldn't something as important as the 40th Anniversary be more than just a drive in the country (or round a track  ???) for a day? If we want or expect people from the Continent to join us, the "event" needs to be at least a 2 day event or even longer. The Gamma Consortium (and presumably other Consortia as well) organise weekend events whereby most people assemble on the Friday evening at a hotel and then there's a two day programme spanning Saturday and most of Sunday. That way people can join in for the whole weekend if they want or just for one day. I'm involved in organising the annual Fiat 131 meeting (we call it the "3ma" http://www.131mirafiori.com/3ma.htm (http://www.131mirafiori.com/3ma.htm)) and we decided from the first one in 2007 that it should be a four day event to make it worthwhile for people to travel.And it's worked as we've had regular attendees from France, Belgium, Germany, The Netherlands etc. I'm not suggesting that the Beta 40th Anniversary Celebrations should be a 4 day event (although that would be nice  ;) :D) but I am suggesting that it should be a weekend event and not just a day.

Rest easy - that's pretty much what's being planned.

Isn't the whole idea to "drive" your car?    

unfortunately not much hope of that I don't think it will be finished in time for Beta 40th, as said Norfolk will make a change from the more usual venues can't remember a Lancia event that way on for donkeys years (there was an AGM back in the 80s I think ??)

Anyone going to post the details of the event?

Full details can be found here: http://www.betaboyz.myzen.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=1434.0 (http://www.betaboyz.myzen.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=1434.0)