Lancia Beta Forum

Happy New Year to all.

Anyway, to cheer myself up after clicking on a survey that has the Beta as in the top ten worst cars ever, I think we need to look forward.

I seem to recall that I may have said that I would be up for organising and I see no reason to change that now...

So, Shropshire and the Marches (or just Shropshire as there is quite a lot of it) what's on offer? Well, we have nice roads, varied countryside, the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site, Steam Trains, and into Wales in an hours if we want.

So, who might be up for it and when? I would need to research accommodation, but there is a new Premier Inn about 3 miles up the road from us which might be a start. I would prefer to miss whitsun and the summer school holidays, but only because we haven't booked a summer holiday yet.

Mark

I almost certainly won't have mine back on the road by then but I'd be up for joining.

I also agree that missing the school hols might be a good idea.

I would be up for a road trip...one of my new years resolutions is to use my Fiat 124 spider and the Lancia Coupe more this year.

May or June would be fine.

Unfortunately my beta is unlikely to have progressed very far (same old story I know!) and I'm not sure what will be going on this year. I'd certainly like to come but will only know nearer the time.

Hi Mark

Definitely will not have the Beta on the road by the middle of the year, but happy to come along as usual!

June is probably good for me as looks like school holidays are to be avoided.

Peter

Happy new year to all,

That's a great idea Mark, count me in, premier inn sounds good too. We have a holiday in the middle of August so that shouldn't clash.

Ignore that pole, utter nonsense! we know the truth :)

If anyone fancies a free Beta engine, albeit seized, no cam boxes or ancillaries. (makes it easier to move!) There is a chap in St Helens on the Stratos enthusiasts forum giving one away, I would have it myself straight away but space is so limited.

Cheers all, Tim.

Mark

I'll be there, but it would be good if you could avoid the weekend 17th/18th June, as if all goes to plan the Beta will have returned home to Northern Italy on that weekend. More to follow.....

Sounds exciting Neil!

Trevi and I are willing and able and will be there, if the dates are right  ;)

Currently cannot do:

8th-14th May - Eurovision Song Contest YES! Really!!
29th May-4th June - 3ma Fiat 131s to Austria
9th-11th June Lancia Gammas to the Netherlands
7th-9th July - Lancia Motor Club AGM and National Weekend (provisional)

Count me in, surprise surprise I wont be in my Beta  ::) but sounds like it will be the perfect run for my Alfasud  ;D
Only dates I cant do will be June 10th-17th

Cheers
Tony

I hope to have my Spyder back on the road within the next 3 months - so hopefully I can come along - depending on the dates.
Cheers,
Justin.

You're only allowed to come in the 'Sud if you promise to take me for a spin in it  ;) ;D ;D

This is all most encouraging. I'll start trying to narrow dates down.

Mark

Ok folks, I have looked at the potential clashes within LMC and declared on here, so how about

20th and 21st May?
Or
24th and 25th June?
Or
15th and 16th July?

Let me know who likes what.

Cheers

Mark

Hi Mark

July is out for me, but the other dates I should be around.

Peter

All Ok with me. Though the June dates will be dependant on the Beta surviving it's 3K European road trip intact. I arrive back in Hull on 22nd!

I like the sound of May...but the other dates should be fine.

Hi Mark
All dates are good for me  :D

We should be able to make it on any of these dates

Roughly what part of Shropshire might we be looking at?

We are near Newport/Shifnal, so easy for the motorways.

Driving routes can be tailored to suit and , based on previous experience, may take in a bit of sightseeing as well as driving.

My initial thoughts are a southerly route towards Ludlow and a northerly one towards/beyond Shrewsbury.

Mark

All three suggested dates are OK for me at the moment

The dates not brilliant for me, but July the best so will try to manage things to be there if that weekend is chosen. And I WILL be in the Coupe..(but would still love a spin the 'Sud, Tony!

Any of those dates are good for me, roll on summer, now officially bored of wet salty roads!
P.s Neil, let me know if you need to borrow a spare M.Marelli 1300 coil/electronic ignition unit. (presuming yours is marelli not bosch)
I have a spare one with engine to one day be used again. Take too many spares & pray to not need them ;)

Thanks Tim, that would be great. I have a spare Marelli distributor, but no coil/ignition unit.

At the moment all of the above dates are fine with me but if I had to choose, I'd go for 20-21 May.
June dates are the school end-of-term so traffic everywhere in the UK is likely to be bad.
The Lancia Motor Club AGM dates might be changing and there's a possibility of a clash with 15-16 July.

Definitely up for this years, as were back on the road  :o fingers crossed will stay there to, july dates not good for me though  :-\

count me in guys , ive spent 4 months trying to do everything i can to get mine ready ,including respray, but chose a date and i,ll arrange my time to suit ;D

Any thoughts on finalising a date Mark?

All

Looking at meeting as many peoples dates as possible, I would propose that we go for 20/21 May.

I can now look at options for accommodation and routes.

What are people's extra-curricula preferences if any? I know steam trains featured in North Yorkshire and we could look at the Severn Valley Railway- as a stop off or to travel. Similarly there is Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site, again as a coffee stop or as something more. If anyone has any other ideas, let me know.

Mark

Hi Mark

Never been to the Ironbridge Gorge site, oddly enough we are now due to pickup a canal boat on the 22nd up near Telford for a weeks holiday.......

Peter

20/21 May works for me.

Ironbridge sounds like a good shout. Some very photogenic spots, plenty of things you could spend all day looking round ( possibly not on this trip ) but the Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron is a bit of a belter for an anorak like me.

We used to live in Coalbrookdale so know the area fairly well. Downside to Ironbridge itself is lack of parking and bloody speed humps - oh, and a local speciality - cast iron kerbs, which don't do alloy wheels much good. I will work on a parking solution though.

20/21st is good for me... better put the Beta back together again!
Tim.

I have been looking at accommodation options.

This is the Premier in about 10 minutes from us.

http://www.premierinn.com/gb/en/hotels/england/shropshire/newport/newporttelford.html?INNID=NEWBEE&ARRdd=20&ARRmm=05&ARRyyyy=2017&NIGHTS=1&ROOMS=1&ADULT1=1&CHILD1=0&COT1=0&INTTYP1=DB&SID=4&ISH=true&BRAND=PI (http://www.premierinn.com/gb/en/hotels/england/shropshire/newport/newporttelford.html?INNID=NEWBEE&ARRdd=20&ARRmm=05&ARRyyyy=2017&NIGHTS=1&ROOMS=1&ADULT1=1&CHILD1=0&COT1=0&INTTYP1=DB&SID=4&ISH=true&BRAND=PI)

If it looks a goer I will see about a block rate - or indeed anywhere else that develops a consensus.

Otherwise there is the Swan at Forton, but never stayed there.

Similarly, the National Sports Centre at Lilleshall Hall sounds interesting and a fantastic building but no idea what the rooms are like.

If searching, put in Newport or Shifnal- I will be glad to scope out anywhere I don't know.

Good hunting.

Mark

I'm sure the Premier Inn would be perfectly OK

I'm 75% at the moment for this - will know in a week or two, hopefully I can make it.  Notice that there is a Hillclimb event at Loton Park on both the 20th & 21st - might be a suitable event/venue to consider for the weekend itinerary?

Loton Park is certainly an option and I have just joined a club with some fishing up there so can scope out the roads, as the simple route is a little dull. Haven't been for decades but it's a lovely spot as I remember it.

Mark

Premier inn looks spot on, I will book myself a room asap.
Tim.

Premier inn booked ( flex  - just in case it all goes horribly wrong!)

Looking forward to it. Sad that I can't be in a Beta but at least the Pug is Italian design and built, I may even wash it.

Premier Inn booked, if this is booked up, try the Swan at Forton which came up as £49 Inc breakfast on Trivago, apparently just 1.2 miles away from the Premier Inn.

Peter

Well done gents.

The Swan is a nice historic pub but don't know what the rooms are like. It's as handy as stated.

Mark

Just to confirm guys...

Would this be a driving day on the 20th, then an overnight, then another driving day on the 21st.

Or would it be two overnights?

Rgds,

John.

It's normally a single overnight for most as we meet on Saturday morning, drive around, have lunch, drive around a bit more, have dinner, drinks overnight then breakfast on Sunday, drive around a bit more, have lunch and say our goodbyes  ;D ;D Then again the organiser is in a better position to answer this  ;)

But it'll be a two nighter for me as I intend to travel north on Friday and stay Friday night to make sure I can be there on the start time on Saturday.  ;) Since I'm having two nights I think I'll check out the Swan as a historic pub seems better than a Premier Inn plus it's cheaper  :D

Theo is correct and I do not intend to alter the format.

If anyone coming up on the Friday wants to meet up, that's fine, but if they fancy a quiet kip after a long drive, I don't blame them.

Mark

Thanks for that...I'll get my accomodation booked.

Booked in at the premier inn, like the look of the bar already!

I've booked 2 nights (Friday 19th and Saturday 20th) at the Swan at Forton. Odd one out again  :-\
Then again driving the Trevi, I'll always be the odd one out!  ;D ;D

All booked up for the Premier Inn.  Must get some maintenance done now!

we travel there sat morn , staying sat night a few miles away at a nice little b&b , which caters for dogs , while i meet up in beta , wifey gunna go  walking with dogs in what looks like a lovely area.
Brook House, Offley Brook,

Eccleshall, Staffordshire, ST21 6HA...

Well done all.

If you want ( and are happy to) pm me email addresses as you book up, I can put together a mailing list for itineraries etc.

Mark

I don't suppose anyone that can't make it fancies letting me borrow their Beta for a weekend ??

Last time I saw your spider (2015) it was in great shape, you are more than welcome to borrow mine but it has no mot due to indicators I cannot make work! ridiculous I know but due to juggling coupe/integrale & Hawk build plus everything else I have currently have the spider stored awaiting me finding the time... which will no doubt be inspired by when it becomes road tax free :)
She also needs a small patch welding in the rear left arch after an evil mot person set about my car with his testers hammer!!!
Apart from those issues its a stonking usable car, performed fine at Beta 40th.

I know its not much of an offer but you are welcome if you fancy a "challenge". What about Chris's green coupe? surely that would benefit from a gentle run?

Tim.

Will be joining you at The Swan on Saturday night Theo. £5 less than Premier Inn.

(Are you going to the committee meeting Sunday 20th?)

And don't forget you'll get a full English breakfast at the Swan (it'll cost £9 in the Premier Inn  :o  ;D  ;D  ;D )


I presume you mean Sunday 21st? No, I've already given my apologies at the last meeting as I expect to be driving around Shropshire in the Trevi and all my Beta buddies  ;) :D

Nice idea Tim but it would take some organising. Its up on jacks in a hangar and somewhat locked away in a military establishment - albeit near Shrewsbury! 

All it should need is petrol and an MoT though?  The thought crossed my mind when I read Stuart's call but I'm still out of the country and it's probably too difficult...  sadly, I think it's next outing will be Betameeta 2020!

Have a great weekend.

Chris 

Chris,

It's a lovely idea but I agree it's too soon ( and I've got too much on ) to commission a car for May.

It'll have to be the Pug. Hopefully my Spider will be out for 2018.

Hi Mark
Just booked The Swan. Looking forward to seeing everyone on the 20th.

All I need to do now is get my Beta Coupe back on the road  ;)

Cheers
John

Well done John- I think that's nine of us now.

Hope the coupe work goes ok- fuel tank I seem to recall?

Mark

Myself and Andy Collins also booked into the Swan, sadly not in Beta's  ::) Alfasud & Delta 1500  ;D ;D

It seems I'm not going to be odd one out this year (other than driving a Trevi of course)  ;D  We are getting to be quite a crowd in the Swan  ;)  :D

Getting through the jobs on mine, hopefully all in time. Is there any idea's on a meet time/location yet? I'm probably going to drive up for the day as things stand at the moment, presuming the Saturday will be an all day of activities?
Marcus

Hi Marcus

It certainly be a full day with a long drive to get here and 90 miles or so around the Welsh marches. You will be very welcome- I have hopefully sent you an email.

Mark

Hi Marcus
Myself and Mr Collins will be leaving Wiltshire early on the Saturday morning, then taking the M4 into Wales and cross country to Telford, if you fancy meeting us en-route.

One week to go!

Are there any more takers so I can confirm restaurant numbers etc? I have built a little slack, so don't panic if you fancy coming last minute.

Mark

Hi Smithy
I've never been to anything like this before and won't be in a Lancia! Can you advise where the meet up point is for the Saturday? I hope to make it.
Thanks
It will be Italian, rest assured.
Richard

Sounds like a plan Tony, will PM you  :)

Richard

PM sent.

Mark

Just about to collect my Coupe after best part of year off the road 😄
Don't want to jinx anything but the planets are now in alignment. Looking forward to next Saturday.

Mark, my partner Debbie will be joining for dinner along with my youngest. Hope it's still ok to add them.

Cheers

John

No problem - will sort the numbers.

Look forward to seeing you next weekend.

Mark

Best of luck, hope all goes as planned!

Looks like you will have to be on best behaviour.


Looks like the rest of us will as well!

I wonder if that taxi driver from last year is around???????

Peter

It's looking increasingly as though I won't be able to make it. An annoying double booking which I'm told I knew about but have no recollection of being told about....

Stuart

We can only do our best in these things!

Hope it can be worked out.

Mark

Pleased to say all went to plan and my Beta all ready for next weekend.
Thanks for confirming Mark.
Don't worry Peter, I've warned Debbie about all of you... ;)

Look forward to seeing everybody Saturday.

Cheers
John

Welcome but unexpected change of plans at home mean that I can make an appearance most of Saturday although need to be away late afternoon.

Mark do you have details of start rendezvous, contact details etc ...

Thanks,

Andrew

Good news Andrew

I have sent you an email hopefully using address on profile.

Mark

Thanks Mark, just received your email.

See you all tomorrow,

Andrew

Would like to say a big thanks again to Mark and his wife on organising and hosting another now traditional Beta Meeta  ;D, thoroughly enjoyed the drive up, around Shropshire and back home again on the Saturday. 367 miles for me on the day and it didn't miss a beat :) Great to catch up and meet new people. Wishing everyone a safe and enjoyable day 2 and drive home. Marcus & Derek
https://www.flickr.com/photos/lanciamad/albums/72157683975630506 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/lanciamad/albums/72157683975630506)

Thanks very much for sharing the nice photos from the event, with us from the outer Beta space!!
(Sweden that is!)

Urban(swedgamma)

What a great weekend...good to put faces to names.

Thanks again to Mark & Caroline, there organisation and hosting were second to none.

Total miles for me 701.

Sadly I too could only make the Saturday but thoroughly enjoyed meeting up with everyone and taking our cars out for a good run together.

350 miles on the day for me and the car didn't miss a beat. Travelled to Shropshire from West Yorkshire via Woodhead pass, Glossop, Buxton, Leek and same on return - truly epic Beta roads and some consolation for missing out on the meal and today's activities.

Hope you all had a great 2nd day, 

Mark, very many thanks for organising

Andrew -

P.S.  Special thanks to Peter for providing improvisational navigation support!   

I extend my thanks too to Mark and Caroline for organising a great betameeta17 and for their outstanding hospitality.

'Only' 510 miles for me and the Trevi with the only problem a slight rattle from an exhaust bracket. Some of the 'spirited' driving must have worked it loose  ;D

My photos are on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005908125525&sk=photos&collection_token=100005908125525%3A2305272732%3A69&set=a.739986756208255.1073741873.100005908125525&type=3&pnref=story (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005908125525&sk=photos&collection_token=100005908125525%3A2305272732%3A69&set=a.739986756208255.1073741873.100005908125525&type=3&pnref=story)

It's a public album so hopefully you don't need a facebook account to view it.

Hi

Just echoing everyone else in thanking Mark and Caroline, Mark for organising and Caroline for playing hostess and taxi service amongst other things.

Also great to actually meet in person folk on the forum, some I already know, but quite a number I had not met before.

Great weekend and hopefully something can be arranged for next year (Scotland was muted....!)

Peter

Many thanks all for the kind comments. Glad everyone enjoyed it. It was a pleasure to host and no trouble for Caroline and myself. It's just a shame we could not see more of the countryside with weather and traffic issues on Saturday, but I think it worked out for the best overall with the distances people had already travelled.

Confused some of the neighbours no end though!

Caroline and Mark

Thanks Mark. I really enjoyed it too. Just under 500 glitch free miles. So a good shakedown for next month.

Massive Thanks to Mark & Caroline for their hospitality and taxi service, it was a brilliant weekend with first class company, great driving and superb meal in the evening.

I only clocked up 350m but this will be significantly increased by anti salt lay up in November!

Hope everyone can also rack up the Beta miles for the rest of the year.

Best wishes to all.

Tim. :)

Superb weekend, thanks to Mark and Caroline for arranging it and their kind  hospitality.

my pics can be found here:
Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/tonysphotos/albums/72157684088542236 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/tonysphotos/albums/72157684088542236)
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/tony.harrison.9250595/media_set?set=a.10154663453252825.1073741897.576052824&type=3 (https://www.facebook.com/tony.harrison.9250595/media_set?set=a.10154663453252825.1073741897.576052824&type=3)