Lancia Beta Forum

Hi All

Just thought I would start a discussion on meeting next year. After talking with my better half she suggested at some point we should have one here based around Grantham which gives the opportunity to visit the roads of Northern Lincolnshire (no they are not all flat and boring).

So, anyone else interested in organising the weekend, please post here.

Peter

I'd mentioned doing Yorkshire again next year in a tag with Mark for Shropshire. However as it's been done I'd support Lincolnshire for sure. We found some great roads back in my surveillance driving training days out of North Lincoln 2012 to 2015 and even some of the flat fenland roads got interesting as per my 'airbourne BMW 5 Series' story.

Hi

I just reread what I had written and did not make it clear that I meant anyone who is interested in taking on organising in an area of their choice, not simply the area where I suggested. I am more than happy to organise one in our area.

Neil, thanks for that, personally happy to go anywhere in the country for the weekend.

I am hoping we could eventually make the weekend a more organised one like last years 50th where a hotel is used as a base. Again folks views on this would be interesting to hear.

Peter

The wolds is a great area  - and largely unknown to outsiders. I think that would be a cracking choice. 

Kielder Forest? 
Am really talking about the area south of Jedburgh. This has some great quiet roads and lots of interesting places to visit including  the Jim Clark Museum and perhaps even a trip to the magical Holy Island of Lindisfarne with the intrepid sea-crossing opportunity.
I have organised several Great Northern Weekends so have experience of organising Lancia club social weekends.

Leo

Hi Leo

Sounds like a great area. I for one would like to have the weekend along the GNW format ie one hotel and organised well in advance so folk can plan. Not sure if that would fit in with everyone’s budgets, but the. You have the option to join for the day etc.

Peter

After seeing what the Gamma guys did, I would love to visit
Lindisfarne.

However this is quite a way north for a lot of members which may affect
some.
I'm more in favour of the Lincolnshire area as it's a bit more central.

Nigel

Just a word of caution/dissent regarding the big weekend at a hotel format. LMC currently do three of these annually and I’m in the thores of organising GNW 24. It’s a surprisingly big and difficult commitment. John and Amanda took something of a gamble with Beta 50, which of course paid off, reserving rooms that they hoped would be taken.

I think Theo takes more of a halfway house approach, finds a nice hotel then gets participants to book themselves on a book quickly or miss it basis. He’ll correct me if I’m wrong. This avoids deposits/speculative reservations etc.

Hi Neil

Thanks for that view point, it is always good to have first hand experience, maybe Leo could also provide a view on this and how would be best to organise it? I guess the main thing is to keep as many folk near to each other, so that eg the Sat evening meal does not turn into an adventure, thinking of Tony et al on this years do!

Peter

When we booked the hotel for Beta 50, Amanda, myself and Andy signed a contract to take 20 rooms/catering, fortunately we needed to add lots more  ;D, but was a massive financial commitment personally if it didn't work.
It would be nice if we can find a hotel, to keep everyone together and everyone book individually.

Always amazes me how far the Gamma Consortium travel for their weekends  :) but worth remembering a fair amount of them are retired, and maybe have more time on their hands  8)

Tony

In organising a weekend event, the choice of accommodation is the only real challenge. Increasingly hotels will want a financial commitment long in advance and that presents a considerable risk to the organiser (as Tony has mentioned).  The organiser needs to do a risk assessment to balance the size of the booking. Personally I feel that restricting the number of rooms is good practice on two levels. Firstly the attendees enjoy a more intimate social experience and the arrangement of "first come first served" will generally work for people who are definitely going to attend. The basis is to prepare for the hard-core attendees and handle extras if it possible.

Long distance driving in the UK is not a pleasant experience these days and inevitably hosting a weekend event far away from the area where the majority of Beta owners live will result in a low attendance count.

I joined the Gamma Consortium in Northumbria just recently and there were 7 cars present - 5 Gammas and 2 other Lancias (Plus my Beta part-time).  All those who made the effort to attend seemed glad to have made it.

So while a Betameeta north of Hadrian's Wall is certainly possible it would probably not attract more than a few crews/Betas.

I would have loved to be at Beta 50 but the 7 hour journey had no appeal.

Leo

Sorry I'm a bit late to join the discussion, but thought I should throw in my views. I love Northumberland, have visited many times, but I do agree that a more southerly location like Lincolnshire would attract more people. Northumberland is a long way from anywhere south of the Midlands, and driving in the Lincolnshire Wolds sounds great. Dates permitting with work, I would be in.

Hi

Thanks for all the comments. I will therefore try to sort out a weekend which hopefully can fit in with as many folk as possible. Sadly I will make it complicated because of spending a period in France during the summer. So here are the periods I will not be able to make, could you indicate when would be preferred?

I am away 20th June to 27th June and mid July to mid August (exact dates flexible), 5th to 10th September, late September to late October (exact dates are flexible). So that gives us

Early to mid June
End June to mid July
Mid August to late September (excluding weekend of 7th Sept)

Sorry to limit it, just how the dates have worked out this year.


Peter

Good stuff Peter...For me, best to avoid the first option. My preferred is the final one, mid Aug to late Sept. Thanks again. Howard

First option would be best to avoid several LMC events (AGM, Goodwood, Welsh Weekend), but if you go late can we avoid the last two? (Welsh Weekend not announced yet though).

3rd option is best for me too - unless you fancy a Beta meet in Slovenia?

Hi Peter,
I can do the first 2 options and then mid August to mid September
[excluding the last Sept weekend]

Hope this helps. I realise it's a nightmare trying to satisfy a majority!

Nigel

Hi

I am considering the weekend of the 10th/11th August. I see that there is an Auto Italia meet at Brands, but does not clash with anything else on the LMC calendar.

Any comments would be appreciated before I move forward with it.

The 11th is the date for our local East Midlands club show near Newark, so was going to incorporate that in the program.

Peter

Sounds good.

I'll keep that weekend free - but there's no chance the Beta will be done by then sadly!
Guy

Hi All

As no negative comments(!) and I have confirmed that the show near Newark is on for the 11th, so pushing ahead on that weekend.

We took a drive out today and called in at the Petwood Hotel, Woodhall Spa (https://www.petwood.co.uk (https://www.petwood.co.uk)) which has an interesting wartime history and has a large car park. I was thinking of it being a early afternoon coffee/lunchtime stop as they offer a simple coffee/tea through to full lunch if you are that hungry…..

We also called in at a local Pub/Restaurant/Hotel the Hare and Hounds (https://hareandhoundsfulbeck.com (https://hareandhoundsfulbeck.com)) at Fulbeck which we have been going to for years and have put a provisional booking for the evening of the 10th. They also have rooms available, all are doubles, but there is a single occupancy price at a small discount.

The other reasonably local hotel worth considering is the Old Barn near Marston which has plenty of parking and a pool etc.

A bit of Googling will bring up various other options, but they were the ones which came to mind.

I was proposing to meet up at our house in Oasby, East of Grantham, postcode NG32 3NA for tea/coffee/ toast/croissant etc (no meat, sorry..) and to set off for a reasonably long drive heading for The Wolds and eventually zsstopping at The Petwood for a break, then a shorter drive back. For those interested we could take in the perimeter roads of RAF Coningsby and Waddington. No idea if there will be any activity on a Saturday…..

For Sunday, probably meet up at the Hare and Hounds assuming some are staying there, if not maybe our place, then shortish drive out to get to the show at Muskham just off the A1 at around 11ish. I assume folk will then make their way onward from the show. The show is a charity raising event put on by my local club, The East Midlands Classic Vehicle Club.

When we get nearer the time I will need to have an idea of numbers to let the Petwood and the Hare and Hounds know, so if you know you are coming please let me know how many.

Thanks

Peter

This sounds excellent Peter! count me in! I'm very excited as this will be my first Betameeta with my own Beta!  :)

Yes that's right. I/we convince the hotel to hold/block a number of rooms for us for a certain time to allow people to book direct with the hotel. Most hotels are quite open to this and offer a better rate than if booking individually.

Are you calling us old Tony?  ;D It's because Gammas are true Grand Tourismo cars and so very reliable that we go as far as we do ;)  ;D

Booked  :D

There's just one room available at the Hare and Hounds now so if you want to stay there, be quick!

Looks like we needed a bigger hotel/pub?

Hi

I picked the Hare and Hounds, not for the room space, but we have eaten there many times and the food is normally very good, even for a larger group. Hotels around us are fairly thin on the ground and the Old Barn was around the nearest I could think of, though when we have eaten there (some time ago) I was not overly impressed.

So yes a compromise on location, but wanted to go with somewhere we knew of.

Peter

Great location.  The Hare and Hounds is excellent.  I've eaten there on quite a few occasions from my Cranwell days.  Adnams beer is always good too.

Chris

Booked in at the Hare & Hounds, looking forward to the weekend but probably bringing the Alfa this time!

I've managed to get a room at the Hare & Hounds too! Really looking forward to this one  ;D

The Hare & Hounds is booked up now. I've booked the Crown & Anchor just down the road from Peter.

Sorry guys, due to unanticipated family commitments (Christening which I am told I must attend) I won't be at Beta Meeta this year  :'(

I haved cancelled my booking at the Hare and Hounds so there should be a double room available if anyone wants it.

Hi Theo

Of all the feeble excuses…….

Hope the day goes well.

Peter

Hi

Just a quick bump to see if anyone else is planning to attend either for one day or the weekend?

Peter

I've now booked the Hare and Hounds Peter

Mark

Hi Peter. I hope to come for at least one day but won't know until nearer the time.
Thanks
C

Hi Peter,
I’m in and booked at the Hare and Hounds for Saturday night.
I’ll most likely be leaving Yorkshire early Saturday morning to join you.
Chris

We are driving down on Saturday Chris. Shall we RV on the A1 somewhere?

Hi

Just to confirm I shall be firming up numbers for the Saturday evening meal early in July, so if anyone else I’d planning to come along and wants to stay for the Sat evening meal, please let me know. I am assuming the folk staying over will be attending!

Thanks

Peter

Sorry I'll not be able to make this years Betameeta :(  I'll be at Brands Hatch covering Festival Italia for Auto Italia.
Have a great weekend everyone, and take lots of pics  ;D

Hi Tony

I guessed you would be going there, hope you have a good day and the weather is kind for both of us.

Peter

FYI, this is the event I am suggesting going to Sunday lunchtime after a short drive in the morning.

Peter

Have a great weekend at Brands Hatch Tony! I've just bought a 256GB memory card for my camera, so I think we'll be able to manage a photo or two  ;)- won't be anything like yours mind!  :)

Hi

Just wanted to get a general reaction to my first pass on weekend itinerary.

Meet at my house in the morning at Oasby, NG32 3NA. Anytime from 8:30 onwards, gives me time to get up etc! Coffee/tea + various things to eat. Then head out for a drive, say 11:00 for route taking us up into the Wolds and back to call at Woodhall Spa. I have just done a trial run and the run to Woodhall was approx 65/70 miles. The route also passed Caldwell Park, so if anyone wants to pass the afternoon there (there is saloon racing on that weekend) feel free. After a stop at Woodhall Spa, there is a 30 mile ride back to either our house or back to your hotel etc. If anyone wants a shorter route to Woodhall Spa then I can come up one, but the Wolds are to the North of it so would not be possible to take that area in.

Evening meal time TBC, but most likely around 7:30 in the bar, depending on who is staying where we can organise lifts after the meal, so drinking will not be an issue.

Sunday meet up at Fulbeck as we will be heading North and approx 40 mile drive via Dunham Bridge to arrive at the Show for around midday. Then disperse from there as and when you wish to leave.

Any suggestions will be well received as it my first time organising anything like this!

I aim to provide maps so if we get split up you will not be left out on a limb.

Peter

One last thing, I aim to let the Hare and Hounds know the expected numbers for the meal in early July, so anyone who has not indicated they want to be included for the meal please let me know by then.

Peter

Hi

I wanted to give everyone a route map so in the event of anyone getting lost or wanting to go a different route they can at least see where we are heading to.

This is very much my first pass on this, so there may be an update!

I have used Google maps which has the advantage of being able to switch the three routes on and off using the check boxes and you can zoom in and out. If anyone cannot use this, then please let me know and I will come up with an alternative.

This link should give you the three routes, first is Sat morning to Petwood Hotel, second is suggested return from Petwood Hotel, note that the route returns to our house, but those staying at Fulbeck can cut off before that if they wish. third is Sun morning via Dunham Bridge. The bridge is a toll bridge and you will need to have a whole 50p in cash to get across.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=11JFeGPV2GuCKnONeFddtJzvrCWCY-Eg&usp=sharing (https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=11JFeGPV2GuCKnONeFddtJzvrCWCY-Eg&usp=sharing)

I shall be sorting numbers for the Sat evening later this week.

Peter

Peter,
For me it say 'access denied'.

N

Hi Nigel and others who tried to load it

Sorry, new to this map tool, should be viewable now…

Peter

Peter,
Thanks for sending the alternative link, that worked,
and so does this.

Nigel

Hi Nigel

I was not even aware I sent an alternative link….!

Good to hear it is working now, please be aware it my change subtly before the day, but will post an update if so.

Peter

Hi All

This is to confirm my current list of folk intending to attend is

Neil & Nicky
Darren & Maria
Guy
Alex
Nigel
Tim & Sarah
Chris
Mark
Peter

All are also booked for the evening meal on Saturday.

If anyone else is intending to come either for one of the days or both days, please let me know as I can then send final details etc.

Peter

Sorry Peter and all

I have had to cancel as Sarah's brother is visiting from the States (not a car person)

I have cancelled my booking at the Hare and hounds so as at this moment there should be a double room available.

Have a good meeting.

Tim and Sarah

I have picked up Tim's cancelation at the Hare & Hounds  ;D

Sharp move Neil!

Nice one Neil, I did think you might. Keeps Sat Eve simple so far.

Peter

Just over a week to go. I will send out a mail and map to those who have said they are coming to confirm where to meet on the Sat morning. So if anyone else is planning to come please let me know so I can send the info to you.

Peter

Decided to make a slightly longer weekend of Betameeta and I am travelling up to the Hare and Hounds and staying on Friday. Just wondering if any other Betaneers are planning on doing the same and whether anyone wanted to go for a Friday pint / meal which could either be at the H&H or somewhere else?

Alex

Hi

A quick reminder that I sent out a recent email requesting meal choices for those staying over. I have had a few replies, still waiting for others please!

Peter

A quick message to say thanks for everyone who came along, including some new faces who I had not met before. From the comments I think everyone enjoyed the weekend and the weather was kind to us.

Peter

It was a superb weekend Peter, thank you for pulling it all together. A total of 375mls for my Beta and I thoroughly enjoyed the drive, the chat, the food and the beer. Lovely to meet new folk, and to chat some more with others I’d met earlier. We were blessed with some magnificent weather which helped too.

Over the weekend, and over a few beers, I recall we hatched plans involving some longer-range Beta trips?  Let’s hold this thought for now, but I’d like to see a Euro Beta something next year.

Great weekend, thanks all,  Chris

It was disappointing I couldn't make the weekend in my Beta this year but still very much enjoyed a few hours with you guys and your cars at the car show this afternoon. Sounds like you had a brilliant weekend.
C

Nooooo. ( or at least not till mine is back....:)  )

Thanks for organising a superb weekend Peter! Thoroughly enjoyed it not least seeing Alex in his new Coupe when he was looking for a saloon last year! Thanks to everyone who gave me a passenger ride too, it’ll be a while before I can reciprocate! Next year is probably too much to hope for!
Guy

Thank you Peter for putting on such a superb Betameeta this year. Similar miles to Chris covered this weekend in my Beta - it didn't really break a sweat and I enjoyed absolutely every minute of it and had a phenomenal  drive back from Newark to South Oxfordshire mostly through country lanes .

Great to have Guy on board as a passenger - Nice to be able to offer a seat for a change my previous 4 Betameeta's have been Betaless! 

Fantastic to see Neil's car looking so great after the restoration work and to finally meet Richard with the Ascot Berlina - I last saw that car at the AGM at Ettington Chase in 1999 - and is possibly the only survivor close to the spec of our original Beta!

A special thanks to Nigel and Peter too for sorting me with the correct airbox and scoop for my car and for repainting it - this will be fitted ahead of the LMC Track Day (this year my car will be a paddock princess, next year may well be a different story....)

I will try to get the photo's on here (sometimes I struggle). I also will share my album on the various Beta social media pages as soon as it is uploaded.

Always great to talk to other Beta owners too - I think as a direct result of this weekend, we will definitely be going down the baffled sump route and I will be also treating myself to a filter king fuel filter - when the tank and fuel lines are sorted.

Alex

Just echoing all the above Peter, a really enjoyable weekend. The 314 miles I added to the clock has restored my confidence in the car after the long restoration lay off and it is so smooth and quiet now up at 70 without the wind whistling through those myriad rust holes....

I'll do my traditional write up for VL this week.

Then you need to get your finger out….!

I floated the idea of going to the Le Mans Classic via Calais which I have wanted to go to for a long time and never had the opportunity. I would of course need to hang on to the Spider as the HPE will not be ready by then, so am looking to find somewhere to store it over the winter.

Peter

Also repeating the other comments a bit, good planning Peter and thanks for everything.
Good to meet some new folk as well.

Those roads we took were so good for flooring it in many places, and most of the corners could be
done with a fair speed as well.

I clocked 431 miles but unsure of accuracy as my speedo reads 80 at a google 70.
Maybe the VX gearbox needs to be matched to the correct clock?

Finally, I reckon your Le Mans idea is a good one Peter, I'm keen.

Cheers to all, Nigel

I did Le Mans Classic with the Montecarlo Consortium who have a favorite Hotel with Pool. But it is too far from the Event IMHO. There are major tail backs getting in and out of this event and you need to extend your French stay before and after to get a good Eurotunnel experience. Laval is the nearby town. You might need to plan and book 2 years ahead to make it work FYI.

Eric

Thank you Peter for organising this event, it was my first proper drive out in the car since getting the thumbs up for roadworthiness by Riccardo Emiliani. I enjoyed meeting everyone else, and thank you for your kind words Alex. I was blown away by how well the car performs on the open road - it felt like we had much of the route to ourselves on Sunday.

Hi

Just received my copy of VL from the LMC which has a really well written write up of the weekend by Neil.

Neil, would it be permissible to post a photo of the page here so those who do not get it can have a read?

Peter

No problem Peter. I meant to post a Word version but it slipped my mind.

Thanks Neil

Here we go….

Chil with a ferry. The Hook of Holland service is excellent and our Beglian friends could suggest a route to drive down over two days.