www.autostadt.ie

Thanks a million to everyone who joined us for the run yesterday, 21 quality cars, 30 people for lunch and almost the same number for food last night.
I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it and I hope you all did too. As it was our first time it was a learning experience and in order to improve the next one when and wherever it is please feel free to make any suggestions while it's still fresh in our minds!

We came up with a handful last night before the Guinness kicked in:

We probably could have got going 30 minutes earlier or planned for an earlier start time although I'm very conscious people traveled major distances beforehand.

We could have had the Sheep and Wool Centre put on a breakfast for us!

We should have had all participants phone numbers for a whatsapp group for directions to next waypoint and/or been a bit more on the ball with the navigation notes Andy had produced - a huge Thank You here to Andy for doing a full recce a couple of weeks ago and his experience yesterday was invaluable

I think the W.A.R /jackets/polos & stickers were spot on (another Thank You to eoghanroe) and you may not have all seen the lanyards but for next time maybe a plaque type logo to stick/cable tie on to your car which after is a memento of your trip! Mnd you they might not have been easy to keep on the cars for the Mulranny to Healys stretch

Name tag/user name credit card to hang on your lanyard around your neck?

Location dependent big BBQ after?

Please feel free to let fly with comments/criticisms and the rest!

the only bad thing was, badly organised convoys. when head kept running away from tail like in westport or on the last stretch to the beach. everything else was spot on

To be honest Will I think any major changes would be a mistake.

Obviously I missed the first leg so I can't comment on that but from 1:30 onward until I left this morning I had a ball. I mean I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I know someone was talking about a BBQ at the end of the day but I prefer the meal and pints the way you had it. I prefer a hotel to camping HOWEVER it was the people that made it so I think I'd enjoy it too.

Thanks again to you guys for organising, much appreciated.

Thumbs up from me....wasn't sure what to expect but really enjoyed it

I wouldn't change a thing, only more of it required!

Perhaps more "team leaders", leading / directing smaller groups on the "driving" sections? The WhatsApp group, yes, good idea. But otherwise it was spot on, too many changes and the same craic wouldn't be in it. It might feel too regimented? I could have spent another hour on Lacken beach!

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http://www.PatHoranMotors.com The Motorhome Centre of Ireland
My Mk1 small lamp project
Mk2 Golf GTI 8v, 3Dr, Tornado Red, Nordschleife/Spa-F edition.
E39 M5.

This sounds like it was a fantastic road trip

Wonder when the next one will be

I noticed! I've burnt a lot of petrol there over the years

In my opinion there wasn't a whole pile wrong wrong with yesterday and that seems to be the general message and rightly so. In the interests of having a discussion here's a few thoughts.
Yesterday's loop was 133 miles and probably just about right. It was a "Run"after all but still gave time for Food and Ice Cream stops.

I presume those stops along the way were both needed and welcome.

Much more than the number of cars we had yesterday would have the potential to get unwieldy.

If it were to happen again I presume some modification to the route would have to happen otherwise it might end up being a case of "been there done that"

Maybe a map of the host town (Ballina in this case) with hotel and restaurant marked on it.

Absolutely no criticism here like just trying to be constructive

Andy

Who wants to do something like it again, soon?

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http://www.PatHoranMotors.com The Motorhome Centre of Ireland
My Mk1 small lamp project
Mk2 Golf GTI 8v, 3Dr, Tornado Red, Nordschleife/Spa-F edition.
E39 M5.

Me!!!

Count me in Tristan!

Regarding some suggestions for next time - I think a couple of the guys had some bother getting parking at the hotel.

Not really something the event organisers could remedy at the time, but for future events, I could have opened up the farmyard.
If I had an hours notice to sweep the cows sh1te, there'd be no bother!

I think it was a well coordinated event, my car is at standard height, so I had no worries about bumpers, sumps, exhausts etc.
However I can see the difficulties that sashoxx and others would have had.

All that being said, I really enjoyed it. I'm glad there was a good mix of driving styles over the course of the run.
I really enjoyed the drive from Mulranny to Healy's, my brother nearly browned his pants once or twice
The noise of Dave's G60 behind me during that stretch was something to behold

Sorry I couldn't join ye Sunday morning, that whiskey kevinm bought me still had my head spinning that morning!

In a sentence - I thoroughly enjoyed it.
My brother, who's not really into cars or forums, was amazed at the turnout, and how pretty much everyone was on the same page with a positive attitude and willingness to chat and have the craic.

Quote of the day from him: "How do all these lads even know eachother? Is it just through the cars?"
And I think that's it in a nutshell! Our cars, our passion, brings us all together!

Nice to meet all of you, sorry I didn't get to chat to some of you a bit more!

Thanks again for all the hard work setting this up folks!

Regards
Daniel

Everything was perfect I thought. Can't wait to do something similar again.

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Current:
'15 MK7 .:R

Previous:
'15 MK7 GTD
'16 Fiesta ST2
'08 Audi A4 B8 TFSi
'06 Golf V GTi

These kind of events make paying road tax seem slightly more acceptable, in other words, making use of the roads for motorists' enjoyment and pleasure and adding a different dimension to an internet forum. It was one of the recommendations made in a thread about improving the forum - increasing its presence on the ground. I was raging I couldn't make it but I'm in for the next one.

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2014 GTI-PP - http://www.autostadt.ie/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=20474
2011 GTI - http://www.autostadt.ie/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=17770
2009 GTD - http://www.autostadt.ie/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=4939
2004 Cupra Tdi - http://www.autostadt.ie/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?t=769

It was very well organised and there's very little I'd change imho. The roads picked were great. I'll be looking for an excuse to cover that section of the N59 again.

- A whatsapp group would have been very handy for distributing information. Google map links could have been sent for the next meeting point which would stop wrong turns etc.
- The 21/22 cars there is nearly the limit for group size. Groups any larger would be difficult to find places to stop and would attract unwanted attention (thinking of the woman that gave Ro an earful at the ceide fields)

I'm definitely up for doing something similar again.I know a few good driving roads in Clare but it would have to be done in the winter to avoid tourists/cyclists.

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F36 430d

Mk7 GTI DSG Performance Pack - Gone

Golf GTI Edition 30 DSG No 728 - Gone

That was funny, the woman who Ronan gave directions to the car park where she's working lol.

Cyclists and tourists are certainly a hindrance but maybe October or November would suit it? Yes good weather is a bonus but not an a deal breaker

The young lad in the Lupo was a mad man.

_________________
Current:
'15 MK7 .:R

Previous:
'15 MK7 GTD
'16 Fiesta ST2
'08 Audi A4 B8 TFSi
'06 Golf V GTi

[/quote]That was funny, the woman who Ronan gave directions to the car park where she's working lol.[/quote]

Hadn't heard that one...How does a guy from 100 miles away manage to give directions in west mayo???

It must have been those notes I gave him in the morning.

She was actually looking for the ride and I suggested she pull into the carpark.

Sent from my Mk2's central computer.

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/// Mk2 Volkswagen Golf 1.3 CL - Nürburgring Honda Edition