I've been away but now I'm back

[cozmeister]

Not been on the forum recently, as you may have noticed 

However, I have two little nuggets of information

One being a new/alternative meeting place that has been offered to us - more information to follow when I get home and read the email again, and the second little nugget came about by accident.

A friend of mine ordered his tyres from www.blackcircles.com and sent me a link to the same ones.  The page said a discount may apply if you are a member of a car owners club, which obviously we are.   So I did the proper thing and sent them an email asking what discount we'd be entitled to.  The reply came back that there wasn't an offer code setup for the RSOC, so without asking, they've set one up - and all RSOC members are now entitle to a 5% discount on orders for tyres from www.blackcircles.com - when I get home I'll put the offer code up, and will post it on the national RSOC forum as well.

[matt]

Good work chap, Whats this new venue then

[RST-Steve]

Yep, don't keep us in suspence!

[Daz-cos]

yeah wheres the new venue and i see we didnt win the flywheel on ebay again beaten by a quid!!!

[cozmeister]

The code for 5% discount at blackcircles.com is FORDRS12 - enter it on the order form before you click 'go'.

And...

Hi,
I would just like to introduce myself, I'm the MD of The Talk on Oak Street, Norwich.  I know you meet out of the city on the last Tuesday of the month then take a drive to mcdonalds.  I'm just offering my car park and bar for you all to meet, if you are mildly interested give me a call (number available).  You run a good club with a good group following

many thanks

It's not really that far from McD's, just on the north of the inner ring road.  Would a few of us be willing to pop up there for a reccy with me at the next meet?

[tabetha]

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[Paul FRS]

I know you meet out of the city on the last Tuesday of the month then take a drive to mcdonalds. 

Do you think they have been witness to the A47 grand prix?

Sounds like its worth a look.

[matt]

I suppose we could head round that way after Maccy D's at least check out the parking situation.

[tabetha]

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[RST-Steve]

Yeah, sounds like a plan is forming!

[Daz-cos]

il tag along 

[cozmeister]

OK, sounds like we have a plan.  I'll mention it in the Newsletter for the 'forumless' group members to dwell on and see what they think at the next meeting in August.  I suppose I'd also best knock an email off to Mike R to let him know about this little development, seens as he doesn't inhabit the forum yet.

So it sounds like a few of us might go and see what this place is like - how many so far?  I think I counted 4.  The chap's replied and said it would be OK for a few of us to pop down and have a look around, and I should ring him to make an arrangement - he's normally there between 9 and 5.

I was also kind of thinking we could have a different venue for different times of the year, maybe?  Something like warm country pub in the winter and something a bit different for the summer...?  Thoughts?

[cozmeister]

Right, who's gonna go up there tomorrow night with me?  Am I right counting at least Steve, Daz and Matt?  If so I'll let the guy know we're coming so if it's not normally open he can be there to open up and give us a tour.

[RST-Steve]

I'm still up for that if you and the others are Chris! 

[Daz-cos]

of course

[cozmeister]

Rigt then, what I'm planning is a 'quick' reccy, around 8 or 9ish just to go and see what this place is like, then go and catch up the restof the group back at McDs.  Steve, set your Sat Nav for NR3 3BP - I'll let you lead the way

[RST-Steve]

Phewwww!! glad i checked this again as otherwise i wouldn't have had the sat nav with me!!! lol

Anyway, will do Chris!

[Adrian]

What happened then?

Same as Snetterton?

Usual "cant be bothered" Norfolk Group attitude?

[cozmeister]

I really should've said something about this - thanks for reminding me Adrian.  No-one else has mentioned anything about it since.

The long and short was that we felt the car park was too small to get everyone in without exchanging paint, but saying that it's probably no smaller than McD's at Costessey.  However (I could be wrong, it's not unknown!) I understand that not everyone goes there for the second half of the evening.

Mike R also knows of the place and felt the same - that even though the room inside would've been more than capacious for the attendees, the car park would've been too tight and crowded for even a relatively 'average' turnout.

In the event of an enormous turnout such as the night we went, there would inevitably be some cars forced to park at the side of the road, which is less than ideal - at least at McDonalds, the parking is set well away from the road.  Personally, I wouldn't like to be responsible for someone else's car being damaged due to 'Gaz' in his Saxo running out of talent while showing off and trying to get noticed by us or his mates.

Mike also felt that, a second unfortunate side effect of being closer to town would be that our vehicles may encourage attention from light-fingered undesirables and potentially earn ourselves a dull opinion from the Police.  We could do various things to stay on their good side, and we should, as the Police are there to help and if we make their job easier, we look better.  But, we can also end up subject to noise complaints and potentially being asked to 'move on' because we're diverting their resources from more pressing concerns.

We all enjoy a 'spirited' drive, and showing up the wannabes (lol), but you only have to be in the wrong place with the wrong traffic officer, and someone will end up resenting going there.  This goes for anywhere really, but we're more likely to draw that kind of attention in the City Centre.

So, for now, the status quo is unchanged, but I'm still open to ideas - as is, I expect, the rest of the group.

[tabetha]

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