Lancia Beta Forum

BetaMeeta13 ;D

Dates for your diary!
After the huge success of this years Beta weekend in Norfolk, We are starting to plan for next year's event.

James Costello and Lorenzo have kindly volunteered or organise the weekend, thanks chaps
Giving Amanda a well deserved rest after the last two years of very hard work.

We have provisionally booked the dates Friday 7th-Sun 9th June 2013

Based in a more central location, in the heart of North Bedfordshire
at the Sharnbrook Hotel, which was also the venue used for the Bedfordshire Italian Car Day http://www.thesharnbrookhotel.com/ (http://www.thesharnbrookhotel.com/)

The hotel has a total of 23 rooms, all of which we have reserved
We will be offering flexible booking options, to include one day, the Gala dinner, the driving tour or the whole weekend

James will be posting more info soon.

Watch this space!

Dear all

Hope everyone is well, and looking forward to a day or two off over Xmas and the new year

Just wanted to give an update to you about the event- I have now met with Ciro, the manager at the hotel, and we are in the process of putting together prices and options for this event

I should be able to release details of prices, menu choices, and accommodation options in the next few weeks

What I can tell you now is that this is sure to be a very memorable and special event for al the right reasons!!!

Hope that's all ok for now, by all means let me know if you have any questions

Best wishes, James

Dear all

I hope 2013 is treating you all well

I am pleased to announce that booking for BetaMeeta'13 is now open!

The event will be held at The Sharnbrook Hotel, Park Lane (off A6), Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, MK44 1LX

The full itinerary is TBC but here is an outline of the options and costs:

1 night stay package inc gala dinner for one person £115
2 night stay package inc gala dinner for one person £180
1 night stay package inc gala dinner for two people £175
2 night stay package inc gala dinner for two people £250

Full day package inc gala dinner per person £50

Car plaques will be available to purchase separately, price TBC- please PM me if you would like to order one so that I can get numbers together

Price includes:
Bed and breakfast accommodation at The Sharnbrook Hotel (Sat 8th June for 1 night or Fri 7th & Sat 8th June for 2 nights) in a twin or double room
Activities on Saturday including a planned drive taking in local attractions and lunch at a pub along the route
Gala dinner with Prosecco and Crostini upon arrival
Three course meal with a choice of dishes at each course and cheese table (see attachment)
Live entertainment

The package does not include:
Dinner on Friday evening, if you are on the 2 night package
Lunch on Saturday or Sunday
Alcohol or soft drinks

All bookings must be made by Friday 26th April

For all packages that include accommodation, please book directly with The Sharnbrook Hotel on 01234 783142, stating clearly that you are from the Lancia Beta Forum. You will need to have your menu choices ready, and payment must be made in full when you book.

For the day package, please contact me directly vis PM with your menu choices and to arrange payment via Paypal, which I will then forward to the hotel

The gala dinner menu is attached

Please do get in touch with any questions, or comment here,  and I will endeavour to provide the full itinerary in the coming weeks- I do want to ensure that everything is "just so" and that event will be fun, inviting, exciting and appealing to all

Best wishes to you all, and look forward to seeing you once the snow has melted

Sounds like a quality event at a great venue, sadly will still be Beta-less this year and will need to direct all spare funds to the VX as I am under threat from Julia that the car must be finished by the time of her wedding. So I can't make it but hopefully there'll be Betameeta 2014 and you will see me there!

Alan

Bonjour  ;),
As last year,We are interested in joining the BetaMeeta13 event. Do you still accept offshore LHD Betas? We  know that the number of rooms is very limited and we don't want to take the place of a genuine  UK Beta driver. However the memory of the 2012 event is such that we would like to cross the channel again (the beginning  of a tradition).


Nothing to do with that : next saturday, please be kind and gentle with the french rugby team. This not a good period of time  for them (horse meat?)

looking forward to earing from you

Claude & Catherine

You are a legend Claude !

I think you will be welcomed :-)

Dear All

Hope you had a lovely Easter

Just wanted to inform you that events for Saturday have now been planned, and full details will be revealed soon. I'm pretty sure everyone will enjoy it- might even get competitive!!

Please remember to make any bookings that include accomodation directly with the hotel on 01234 783142, and any day package bookings through me.

Space at the hotel is limited, so please book now to avoid disappointment- day bookings are virtually unlimited, however all bookings need to be made by Friday 26th April

If you have any problems, questions queries, need additional assistance or information, or want to chat about the event, please do contact me at any time on 07910 219 333, message me here, or email jamesc1980@aol.com

Very best wishes
James

Dear James,
Just to let you know that Anne and I have booked the two day package for this years event. Looking forward to it as I am sure you all are. Just out of interest how are the bookings going, as "traffic" on this subject has appeared a bit quite since it's announcement?

On the subject of which car we are bringing this year it looks like "Lulu" will not be ready, as I have been working on another big car related project instead, namely a proper garage facility for our cars and stuff! We have recently bought an old piggery nearby and plan to revamp it into a garage/ workshop (bolthole). The internal dimensions are 42ft long by 23ft wide and set in 0.2 of an acre. So plenty of potential I hope!

So If it's ok with you guys we will be coming up in our 1983 Pininfarina Spyder. Lets hope the weather is good.

If you haven't booked yet make sure you have before Friday 26th April.

Best wishes,
Chas and Anne. ;D

Hi Chaz

Your garage sound like a garage from heaven  :D
Not sure on numbers, will be speaking to James over the weekend to finalize things
which reminds me I still need to book ???, been meaning to do it for the last month
I'm going to send a email to all forum members reminding everyone of the deadline.

Should be a cracking weekend
Cheers Tony

Dear Tony,
It's not quite a garage from heaven yet. It needs a new roof, entrance way concreted, complete fitting out inside, decking to rear and security added. It is a great project which I hope will take a year or so. I will post a couple of pics soon.  When finished we could have a small meet here maybe? It is just 4 miles from Marks premises, so will be convenient for the Betaboyz! (Oh I will be installing a kitchen area complete with man fridge etc).
I reckon that the turning area outside will accomodate six guests, as long as they are Italian of course!
See you soon.
Best,
Chas and Anne. :) :) ;D

Hi All

Thank you very much James for organising this years event. We are booked for the whole weekend package and really looking forward to it!

We are hoping to bring our Spyder along this year after she was taken off the road in November for a complete overhaul. We have cleaned and repaired a VX interior to go in and we are currently having integrale wheels refurbished and re-sprayed in Exeter and a new hood made. She is going to be sprayed White instead of the flat grey micro-blistered condition we bought her in.

Chas: We will be up in the next few days to have a look at this piggery and reserve the best parking places!


Looking forward to meeting everyone again and hopefully a few of you will be at Bristol!

Cheers
Amanda 

Dear James,
Just to let you know that this year event now turns out to be an international one ;D as we have just registered for the whole weekend package. We will come from Paris with our 1983 2000 I.E. Coupe

Looking forward to meeting british Beta fanatics

Claude & Catherine

Dear all

Please remember that this is the last official week that bookings are being taken for our annual event on the weekend of 8th June

After this week, you can still book any of the hotel packages subject to availability- but the remainder of the rooms will go back on general release, so there is no guarantee you will get a room.

The day package and gala dinner is virtually unlimited in terms of numbers, but will need to be booked in advance through me

Any questions, as always, please get in touch with me

Best wishes
James

Hi James

Unfortunately myself and Mrs Novat will not be able to attend this year, having just relocated we have a huge amount of work to do here.  Once we have broken the back of the work and we have mire spare time available I'm sure we will be attending a few events in the UK again.

I hope it all goes well and I look forward to hearing about it and seeing some photos.

Hi James
all booked for Friday and Saturday. Looking forward to seeing everyone who can make it there.

Cheers
John

quick update!

the hotel are now booking rooms to the public, they have asked any members wishing to attend to book asap to avoid disappointment

Itinerary is so far as follows:

Fri 7th June
Check in from 2pm onwards, informal dinner

Sat 8th June

Breakfast for those staying

10am Photo call, Depart as convoy to Weston, Herts

11:30am Arrive at Halls Green vor classic car show http://www.lgccvcc.co.uk/picnicFlyer2013.pdf (http://www.lgccvcc.co.uk/picnicFlyer2013.pdf)
Entry fee will probably be covered as entertainment will be cancelled due to low numbers....TBC

1:30pm Lunch at The Rising Sun, walking distance from the show- again, funds depending, a light lunch may now be included, but TBC

7:00pm Dinner- AGAIN the shape of dinner may change now due to low numbers, it may just be a large table in the restaurant - we just cannot justify a whole suite with 10-15 people- this does however mean that anyone who wants to may be able to turn up for a meal- I dont want to undermine those that have booked for something bigger so maybe we need to talk about this

Sun 9th June
Breakfast and departure by 11am

Thanks Tony for your help in this event. I am sure all that are booked are looking forward to the weekend, and the programme certainly met with approval from Anne, say no more! It's a shame more people haven't booked, but I hope more turn up for the day and visit the car show along with the rest of us! Look forward to seeing Claud and his wife again after their Channel hop. (PS: We owe you a drink)

If you can arrange the weather to be as good as last year that would be good.........No pressure!
Best,
Chas and Anne. ;D

Tony

Don't be too down hearted by the lowish numbers attending the hotel part of the event. This has been an incredibly busy spring in Lancia circles. The LMC has had Great Northern Weekend (GNW), Welsh Weekend and Fulvia 50 in the space of less than nine weeks. Perhaps it's not surprising that they are struggling to fill rooms at their National Weekend in four weeks time.

Personally my events budget only runs to two hotel weekends a year. I went to GNW as it is the closest to me and I like to support the limited number of Lancia events in the North of England (it was pretty much snowed off, so the hotel bit of it ended up being pretty important!). As an LMC committee member I'm pretty much obliged to go to the National Weekend, though I'd probably have gone to Fulvia 50 if it wasn't so far away.

As an indication of how crowded the calendar is, some LMC Committee members even suggested skipping the National Weekend all together!

Hopefully the National Weekend and BetaMeeta will attract a lot of day trippers.

Hi Chaps

We all knew trying to follow last years event would be tough call
James has done all the work organizing this years event, so all credit to him  ;)
what ever the numbers its going to be a good weekend, I was at Goodwood today for the LMC trackday and a couple more people are very interested ;D
also had a fair amount of emails with people wishing to attend one day

don't worry if you don't have a Beta on the road (I'm taking my VW) all Lancia folk welcome

Cheers
Tony

I hope to make this event...well from Saturday.  Just got the Coupe back from the paint shop and everything is going well on the rebuild...fingers crossed for the re-instatement of the windscreens.  The wife will phone the hotel on Monday.

John.

They were the magic words for me  ;) and just booked the complete two night package  :D

My Beta (Trevi) is in bits at the moment being restored and made pretty  :D Although the restorer did say "there's nothing I can do a Trevi to make it pretty!". "Beauty is in the eye of the Trevi owner" I say so went ahead with the much needed restoration and beautification  :) I was holding off booking this event to see if the Trevi was going to be ready, which now it seems it won't be. But I'll be there in the Gamma or I can come along on my early Beta Berlina alloys fitted to my Fiat 131  ;D As I told everyone at the LMC trackday yesterday, I was attending in Beta alloys, the Fiat was simply there as it was attached to them  ;D ;D  The Betas do have Fiat engines like my Fiat after all .....   ;D ;D ;D

Dear Theo,
As I have previously said "the Fiat 131 Mirafiori Sport is one of the most underrated drivers cars of all time, certainly better than it's nemisis The Escort RS"!
Please , please , please bring the 131. It will make my weekend. We can even park next to, as we are bringing our 124 Spider. The lancia boyz can throw insults, buns and free money at us all weekend as far as I care!
BTW, did I say please?

Looking forward,
Chas and Anne, (also working on tetchy Lancia with electrical issues). ;D ;D ;D

That sounds good to me!!!  ;D ;D ;D ;D

Especially with the little brass plaque on the cam cover......

Hi all

Great to see more of you coming- please don't forget to call or email me if there is any information you need, or if I can help in any way prior to the event

It's a really lovely hotel, and I'm sure anyone staying will not be disappointed. As for the days events, around 200 cars are expected, and I have arranged that we are all parked together. The pub is walking distance so whatever the weather we can make a dash for it- I've also spoken to the pub about a group table- more details on the day. There will be a fun auto trial if anyone is brave enough to take part....

Final itinerary will depend on numbers, but I would advise anyone wanting to stay to book NOW to avoid missing out on a room- in any case, everyone is welcome for all or any part of the weekend- the best part of any event is always catching up with each other!

Really looking forward to seeing you all

James
07910 219333
Jamesc1980@aol.com
Call or email any time

.... I have just re-read my post, and to be clear, 200 assorted classic cars will be at the event in Weston- not 200 Lancia Betas- I mean, that would be great (are there 200 of us out there?....) but perhaps a tad optimistic!!!

If you look on how many left it would seem that here are about 150 or so active taxed betas in the summer months, makes me wonder where they all are!

James/Stuart

Please dont think that its lack of interest.

As someone hopefully near to bringing another long-missing car back into use, I would love to have come.

Unfortunately, we have a long standing something we cannot miss on Saturday night. A 250 mile scream down and back in a day seems optimistic as a test run, even assuming that the choco-lime is ready.

I am sure that it will be a great weekend and wish everyone well.

Keep up the good work and hope to see you next year if not before.

Mark

Well that's me booked up for the Saturday night...hopefully have the Coupe, if not it'll be the Spider. 

See you soon.

John.

Sadly I won't be in the HPE, and possibly not a Beta at all, but would like to make the saturday. For those turning up for the day, is it best to arrive at the car show from around half 11?
Marcus.

Hi All

Sadly will not be able to make it this year, but just to wish everyone a great weekend and that the weather is kind for you.

I am hoping that if there is a meeting next year, I will be able to be there.

Peter

Dear all

This is the final final final call for any more attendees for the event. The hotel will need to know final numbers for the gala dinner ASAP so if you want to attend this event in any shape or form, please contact me by phone, on 07910 219 333

Really looking forward to see you all in a few days

Best wishes
James

Hi Marcus

Sorry I missed your post  ???
anyone turning up for the Saturday in a Beta (or a Fiat 131)  ;), there will be the opportunity for a group photo
the plan as last year will be to get a group shot (see forum banner)  :) before we leave the hotel

aim to be at the hotel by 10am

cheers
Tony

Is there a definitive plan for Friday evening dinner and activities? I'm not sure what time I'll make it there on Friday so it'll be handy to know what is happening and when it's happening and where it's happening ...  ;) ;D ;D

Dear James, Lorenzo and Tony,
Just like to say a big thank you to you for organising this weekend's event. Youv'e even managed to sort the weather, impressed!
See you tomorrow.
Best,
Chas and Anne. ;D

Hi All, The sun's gonna shine and we'll have a great time. Looking forward to seeing everybody, and a certain black Coupe VX is looking mean and keen and raring to go! Just need to remove the tyre covers...  ;)
See you tomorrow,
Howard

Hello all

I have booked a table for 7pm, for those of us that are staying tomorrow (Friday) night, to have an informal dinner

Sadly I have a late meeting that I cannot get out of (I wasn't supposed ti be working at all this day) so I will leave you in Tony's capable hands for proceedings tomorrow evening- I may just get to the hotel in time for a drink- ETA 9:30-10pm... I'm really sorry about this

I have an info pack for you all which I may put under your doors, so you have all your info ready for the main event.

I hope you have safe journeys, and if I miss you tomorrow, see you all at Breakfast on Saturday!

Hi all
I will cross the channel tomorrow morning. I will then go from Folkestone to the hotel. Is it possible to get some telephone number I can call in case of trouble (just phone support)
Thank you
Claude

Hi Claude and all

My mobile number is 07772 942896 and my spare which is on another network is 07525 781642
Any problems please call

Thanks
Tony

merci, Tony   :D

looking forward to see you (all)

Claude

I hope everyone has a glorious weekend at Betameet 2013.

It's a shame we cannot attend but our new life is keeping us exceptionally busy at the moment.

I look forward to seeing the photos and hearing the post event reports.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

An absolutely great weekend. It's always good to meet old friends and make new ones. My thanks to James and Lorenzo for organising everything so well. And I promise next year to be in a Beta and not just Beta alloys  ;D  

a couple more piccies  ;)

I'm sorry that I didn't manage to get there on Sunday despite the encouragement from James.
We got as far as Leighton Buzzard [from Kent] and got stuck with friends.

Thanks to James,and hope you all had a great meet.

Nigel

Thanks everyone for a great Betameeta weekend. Well done for James on doing the organising. First time out for the HPE and 266 trouble free miles. Great success!

Cheers John

No Spyders?

Dear Hawk,
If you look far left on main line up you can see..... A Spyder! (Well not an actual Beta Spyder but.....our spyder).
Take your point, and no Montes either. Shame. However we all had a good time non the less.

Just don't mention the contantly repeated black and white Italian film that we endured over friday night, saturday breakfast, saturday night and sunday breakfast! Apparently it involved an alluring Italian actress, some policmen, a donkey and lots of bicycling, oh and lots of pouting!

We did laugh.
Best,
Chas and Anne. ;D

Greetings from France, hallowed ground of our ancestors,

milady Catherine and my esteemed self journeyed without peril back to our estate last Monday, not without paying an impromptu visit to our good friend the Earl of Leeds.

Our compliments go to our admirable James for this event, nay, this celebration of camaradery and automotive speed and thrills, and congratulations to those that managed to keep up with our mastery of the English language. This day will be remembered for generations in my lineage, as shall be, I'm convinced of it, the event next year that shan't be without our presence, as we will start with the necessary groundwork forthwith; to think we would miss the 40th anniversary of this gathering: preposterous!

If you will, peruse these few pictures we captured during our few precious days in your gracious presence.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/97539414@N05/sets/72157634151449100/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/97539414@N05/sets/72157634151449100/)

Yours most sincerely,

Claude

Disclaimer : my son Florent, whose English is better than mine, helped me write this text

Thats a great message Claude (and Florent)  :-)  Glad you got back to your estate safely!. Enjoyed your photos too.

Sadly i couldnt participate. Looks like a missed a grand weekend.

regards
Graham

Dear All, thanks for the photos from Theo and Claude, and without wishing to duplicate on what has already been sent here are a few that we liked especially:
The one with the three Fiats together we particularly like, (the second Spyder arrived late on saturday afternoon and came all the way from Bonny Scotland!) That belongs to " Gengis" a well known Forum member. We think John might have driven even further than Claude!
John and myself played the game of "Spot the Spyder Difference", their's being a series three (C), and ours being a four (D).
Thanks for a great weekend everyone!
Is it too early to promise that we bring a Lancia next year?
Best,
Chas and Anne. :)

And here are a few more!
Chas and Anne :-)

Thanks All...for a great evening an the betameeta, good to put some faces to names.  Never quite got all around the table, as the night flew in.

As some of you will know this stop was part of my Gastro tour 2013, which I was hoping to complete in the Coupe, but alas the Spider had to be pressed into service...never missed a beat 1340 miles with 43.2mpg returned...chuffed to bits.

See photies...rear view of Spiders, and my favorite Coupe.

Hi all, I know it was a few weeks ago, but just wanted to say how great it was to meet everyone, we really enjoyed it and thanks to James for your guidance and (I think) for the photos of our car. PS Does anyone know if the gearbox from a Volumex use EP90? 

you should not use ep90 it needs to be an equivalent to tutella zc90 if you search the forums you'll find the information, the EP additives will attack some of the internal components in the gearbox leading to a poor gearchange

Apologies for the late reply, it’s been a very busy couple of weeks  ???

I’d like to pass on my thanks to James and Lorenzo, for all their hard work organizing everything
Great weekend, hotel/location was perfect

I’ve uploaded some of my photos here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tonysphotos/sets/72157634469950370/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tonysphotos/sets/72157634469950370/)

I'm happy to email hi-res photos, please send me a PM

The Sharnbrook Hotel's statues were on hand to prop up Alan's boot ;D
(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5530/9203864568_cdaa4ac99e_c.jpg)

new forum banner ?
(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2859/9201084873_c24953baf2_c.jpg)

(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2868/9201136267_188ef7e2d7_c.jpg)

(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2821/9201180727_00ecc30e7d_c.jpg)

(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3740/9203993130_22650008ee_c.jpg)

(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2813/9203887144_d146991c0c_c.jpg)

when asked what's the delay in leaving the petrol station, answer :Mark Wastnidge is having his S3 Saloon valeted round the back (:
(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5444/9204023426_67d1183505_c.jpg)

Q to get into the Village car show
(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5347/9201272685_d4a877575e_c.jpg)

(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2823/9204068134_7703752e3d_c.jpg)

Lunch at the local Village pub
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7333/9201337115_1f33d17880_c.jpg)

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7392/9201340505_51c1b7650a_c.jpg)

Mandy looking at home in a Aston Martin V12 Vantage  ;)
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7419/9204164132_51c8236fd5_c.jpg)

and to finish a great weekend, the meal on the Saturday evening  :D

(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5460/9204167004_f5640b0f66_c.jpg)

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7311/9204169716_a6f9fb758e_c.jpg)

(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5528/9204172530_74142c7032_c.jpg)

Tony





 

Dear Tony, great photos (as ever), and some people with some great english suntans!

However I wish to make a complaint. I have just finished a course of medication to counter the adverse reaction sustained due to a recent over esposure of Black and white films showing continual images of heroines, donkeys, bicycles and policemen etc. The last two pics have caused me a relapse.
I now need more pills.
Thanks.

Chas and Anne. ;D

Couldn't make it on the day :( but my dad was along with Alan in his red saloon, his pics uploaded... http://www.flickr.com/photos/lanciamad/sets/72157634410552721/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lanciamad/sets/72157634410552721/)
Better late than never.

Hi Hawk,
Just saw your post.  I was only there for the daytime but I took my S1 Spyder along, so there was one there.
Ashley

Happy days and good effort :)