Santa Pod - Travel Details 25th Sep

[IainB]

Following on from CocoPops post

Leaving J14 of the M1 and then follow the A509 to Newport Pagnell and onwards to Olney, this will eventually take you to a roundabout with the A428/A509 (you need to continue on the A509!!) and across from this roundabout and on your RH side is a large petrol station (I believe its a Shell station)

Maps here and here (will post decent pics when I have access to my FTP)

Let me know the times you want to be at the Pod and I will amend this post as necessary

Cheers

Iain

[Shad]

It's a BP mate. I think if we aim to meet at the petrol station at 8:30 then we can leave between 8:45 and 9?

Have a favour to ask - is anyone coming that won't be doing runs? I have tools and things I could do with leaving in someone's car!

[CocoPops]

I suggest we leave the petrol station in enough time to be there at 8:50-9:00 so that we are guaranteed at least one run!

[jimborae]

Shad, I'm still planning on going. Do you want to hook up in Newbury 1st & go in convoy.

NB I didn't realise Santa Pod is so close to where I grew up - Grendon

[Shad]

Shad, I'm still planning on going. Do you want to hook up in Newbury 1st & go in convoy.

NB I didn't realise Santa Pod is so close to where I grew up - Grendon

Sounds good mate. Not sure how early we need to leave to be at the A509 meet for half 8. Will check Autoroute tonight. Will you be doing runs?

Coco, the track doesn't normally open till at least 10. It's advisable to be signed on before then however.

[CocoPops]

Yeah, Signing on starts at 9am.

Therefore we can get in, get the cars in the queue, sign on, chill out, then run.

The queue starts forming as soon as people get in.

[Shad]

Ah fair point. I normally setup camp in the paddock and sort the car out

I want to do the first run though in 'street spec' so queue sounds good to me

[jimborae]

Sounds good mate. Not sure how early we need to leave to be at the A509 meet for half 8. Will check Autoroute tonight. Will you be doing runs?

Coco, the track doesn't normally open till at least 10. It's advisable to be signed on before then however.

Yeah I'm planning on doing some runs but they'll be very careful one's as I need to protect my clutch & I also need to get a Quaife lsd fitted.

[Shad]

Hmm...

Jim, do you have sat nav?

The journey from Newbury to the meeting spot is 1 hour and 16 minutes via the A34/M40/A43, but I don't know that route at all. I normally go M4/M25/M1 which will take 1 hour and 38 minutes. If you've got sat nav I suggest we go A34, otherwise I'd rather stick with what I know and go the longer route!

So we either meet in Newbury at about 7:15 or 6:40...

If anyone else is on either of those routes please pipe up and we can convoy

[jimborae]

No I don't but I could probably borrow a Tom Tom from work , I also know the route to Northampton, Grendon, Olney pretty well as I grew up there & still go back every now & then. I always go A34, M40, A43 etc. when I go back there.

[CocoPops]

If you guys are going A34/M40/A43/M1/A509 then I could meet Shad and others at Jct of A34/M40 or M40/A43 etc?

We can then head to Jct 14 of M1 to meet Iain and others where Iain can then show us the decent route into the pod.

[jimborae]

Hmm...

Jim, do you have sat nav?

I do now. The services of a Tom Tom have just been secured for the weekend.

[jimborae]

If you guys are going A34/M40/A43/M1/A509 then I could meet Shad and others at Jct of A34/M40 or M40/A43 etc?

We can then head to Jct 14 of M1 to meet Iain and others where Iain can then show us the decent route into the pod.

Sounds good to me, this is turning into Convoy stylee, with a big 10/4 Rubber Duck.

*edit* - Jim wanders off into the sunset whistleing a Kris Kristofferson tune

[Shad]

Excellent, you've all sorted it out

7:10 for 7:15 depart at the Chievely services sound ok Jim?

Coco, probably easier to meet at the A43 junction. There are quite large services as I'm sure you know, at the A34/M40 junction but unless you'll be heading north on the A34 there's no way to actually meet up without doing a very long round trip!

[jimborae]

Excellent, you've all sorted it out

7:10 for 7:15 depart at the Chievely services sound ok Jim?

Roger 10/4 big buddy!



Cause we gotta little ol' convoy, rockin' through the night
Yeah we gotta little ol' convoy, ain't she a beautiful sight?
Come on an' join our convoy, ain't nothin' gonna git in our way
We're gonna roll this truckin' convoy, cross the USA
Convoy... Convoy

[Honoop]

Still got room for a girlie onlooker??
Been years since Ive been to the Pod...