WE ARE GRATEFUL TO ZANZIBAR LIQOUR COMPANY FOR SUPPORTING OUR CHARITY
OUR LATEST ACTIVITY
Bristol Golf Club Breakfast Meet
Our first activity of 2025 saw us return to the Bristol Golf Club for another enjoyable breakfast. Most people came in their Porsches (a few of them were even clean), and we were delighted to see new member Rob's 52 year old 914 which has only 19000 on the clock. 36 hungry members tucked into either a Full English or a Bap of their choosing and as always there was plenty of coffee, chatter and good cheer.
Bristol Golf Club's location is such that there is a wonderful view across to the Severn Estuary and this was not wasted as we arranged a photo shoot on leaving. Here's a selection of photos mostly by Phil J who we have to thank for the idea.
Bristol Golf Club's location is such that there is a wonderful view across to the Severn Estuary and this was not wasted as we arranged a photo shoot on leaving. Here's a selection of photos mostly by Phil J who we have to thank for the idea.
Post Christmas Blues drive
After an enjoyable Christmas it was time to shake off the hangovers, rev up those wonderful engines and pull in the tummies ready for our final event of 2024, the Post Christmas Blues Drive. Sixteen cars in two groups met at The Best Western, Tormarton for a pre-drive coffee before setting off on a scenic route to our lunch venue The Rest, Kings Stanley. Despite Mr. Google doing his best to throw us off track, we all made it safely and in perfect timing for lunch and a very enjoyable chat. Thanks again to Brian & Janice and Tony & Linda for leading the groups and to Ted and Phil who went ahead to capture the cars en route.
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Festive Weekend
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Our Festive Weekend in the lovely Worcestershire town of Malvern was a roaring success. The weekend began on Friday with a group drive for some of the attendees from Ross-on-Wye via a scenic route to our venue the Abbey Hotel, which is located right next to the beautiful Priory. Despite the best efforts of Storm Darragh, our traditional Saturday Christmas Jumper Drive went ahead taking our intrepid drivers via Upton-on Severn, Pershore and the wonderful counties of Worcestershire and Herefordshire including a lunch stop at the Malvern Hills hotel. Both evenings were filled with fun and frolics assisted by the always entertaining Sharon and Lawrence's quiz and Singo, Bingo! The food was great and the drinks flowed as everyone waited excitedly for our traditional raffle which helps raise funds for the fantastic Great Western Air Ambulance Charity. Last year we raised over £1100 and our aim this year was to reach £2000, which is what it costs just to get the helicopter airborne. With extreme generosity from our members and donations from OPC's, and other sources, we were thrilled to announce that this year we have raised £2500. The weekend reinforces the support we have been given for our many activities throughout the year and incapsulates the great friendships that have developed in this wonderful group of Porsche people. Wishing all our members a Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy New Year. Viv and Steve.
The Cars
The Stars
Pop Up Drive
Our second Pop Up drive of the year finally took place having been rescheduled due to snow the previous week and despite Storm Bert doing his best to disrupt proceedings. Thirteen cars and eighteen Porsche Peeps plus new member Tom and our enthusiastic member Will in his Audi TTs, departed in two groups after banter and coffee in the Cross Hands, Old Sodbury via both familiar and unfamiliar (and very damp), Cotswolds roads to a new venue for us, The Rest in Kings Stanley. The route plan with way points and a Google link worked well for the first group who arrived at our destination in the expected time. Unfortunately things didn't go quite as well for the second group who's intrepid leaders Andy and Keith having lost a few of their team, found an impassable road resulting in reversing practice of allegedly 300 metres for themselves and the two remaining cars; a huge cheer welcomed them when they finally arrived.
A great day out, full of the usual fun and friendship that we experience with our wonderful members, and Adam and his team at The Rest can be highly recommended for their warm welcome and as a car club friendly venue.
A great day out, full of the usual fun and friendship that we experience with our wonderful members, and Adam and his team at The Rest can be highly recommended for their warm welcome and as a car club friendly venue.
Tracy & Al's Halloween Haunt
Today was Tracy and Al's 'Halloween Haunt' drive on a day with a spookily misty start turning into wonderful Autumn sunshine for a great drive which took us through Wiltshire and the Cotswolds to lunch at Burford Garden Centre and back to our starting point in Malmesbury for a well deserved coffee. With suitable Halloween regalia, our 16 Porsche drivers and passengers encountered both tricks and treats on an enjoyable and scenic route. Thanks again to T & A for your usual excellent organisation.
Weekend Away in Shropshire
Despite the recent rain the weather proved to be kind to us for our weekend in Shropshire. On Friday our drive started at Over Farm Shop with the route taking us over Clee Hill to our overnight stay at Ironbridge, the heart of the Industrial Revolution. Our Saturday morning drive proved to be epic as we negotiated some 'interesting' lanes through Frogs Gutter and The Bog before ascending the single track road over the Long Mynd. Whilst there were some 'squeaky bum' moments, the truly breathtaking views were our reward as we arrived at our 'pit stop' at the Midland Gliding Club who provided a truly warm welcome along with the much needed coffee, cake and loo! Saturday afternoon and the Sunday return journey provided opportunities to visit some local attractions such as Wenlock Priory and the lovely hamlet of Arley, famous for its heritage railway station which as been used for many period films and TV dramas.
Andy & Keith's Wednesday Drive
Andy & Keith's Wednesday drive took us into wonderful Wales around Abergavenny and Crickhowell to our lunch destination Tretower, known for its massive circular tower and medieval court. The warm September sunshine allowed us to sit in the garden and soak up the rays before taking a light lunch in the reserved dining area. After lunch the drive continued through the beautiful Brecons and along the Pontsticill and Talybont reservoirs to Usk for afternoon tea and cake. A great day out, well planned, good choice of venues, lovely weather, good fun. Thanks Andy & Keith.
Broadway Car Show - Supercar Saturday
On Saturday 17 August we visited the bi-annual Broadway Car Show, a two day event which features supercars on Saturday and classics on Sunday. Meeting at our popular rendezvous location, Seven Springs we took a scenic drive through lovely Cotswold villages to Broadway, arriving early so that our group of eleven cars could parade along the High Street to the event car park. The Broadway Car Show show is a great event with lots of amazing cars from the iconic Testarossa and Countach to the very modern Aston Valour. There was even an electric replica 356.
Clevedon Cars and Coffee
American born local resident Mark Reber creates an amazing event in this lovely seaside town by inviting people to bring along their interesting cars. Locals and visitors alike flock to check out the wonderful array of vehicles on display, soak up the atmosphere which buzzes with interest and excitement. We made a special arrangement with Mark to bring 18 cars where we had been given pride of place in one of the feature parking lots, Tickton Lodge. The event is well worth a visit if you're in the area on the second Saturday of the month.
Aberystwyth Adventure
It's the first weekend in July and 21 members in 13 cars departed Chepstow Garden Centre for the 66 mile journey along some of Wales' most entertaining roads and narrow bridges to our lunch stop at the famous Owls Nest cafe near Llandovery. Popular with motor cyclists the cafe serves up some 'very hearty' sandwiches where the cheese could be used for building up the foundations of your house! Duly fed and watered, we said goodbye to those having to return home (work commitments), whilst the rest headed to our overnight accommodation, the aptly named Plas Nanteo Mansion just outside Aberystwyth. The planned route took us around the Llyn Brianne reservoir and although Mr Google did manage to split up the group, and despite the not so kind weather, the views were breathtaking and the drive exhilarating. The hotel is located in a beautiful setting with very friendly staff, and a well earned dinner was enjoyed by all. Typical of our British weather, our return journey home on Monday allowed top-down motoring in glorious sunshine, via Aberystwyth, the little coastal resort of Borth and once again some fantastic driving roads to our coffee stop just outside Newtown. We experienced the quaint and very rickety toll bridge on or way towards Hay-on-Wye, then on to our final destination, the Old Rectory, Crickhowell for our pre- arranged afternoon tea. As always, great fun, in great cars with great people.
Photo's by Steve unless stated in caption
Wye River Cruise
Visit to Air Salvage International
Our first Regional event in June was a visit to Cotswold Airport, Kemble and the ASI facility. Air Salvage International (ASI) is one of the world’s largest privately owned providers of aircraft disassembly and recovery services. Operating since 1997, the company was the first facility in Europe to offer this. Customers include component providers, banks, lessors, insurers, airlines, and UK Government Agencies
Following a presentation by CEO Mark Gregory which provided a fascinating insight into the Aerospace industry and how ASI salvage, resell and recycle the extremely valuable components, we were given a tour of the facility followed by lunch at the very popular AV8 café and a photo shoot of our cars in front of the resident British Airways Jumbo jet. Thanks to Lawrence Youlden and Brian Lyall for helping to organise a very interesting and informative event.
Following a presentation by CEO Mark Gregory which provided a fascinating insight into the Aerospace industry and how ASI salvage, resell and recycle the extremely valuable components, we were given a tour of the facility followed by lunch at the very popular AV8 café and a photo shoot of our cars in front of the resident British Airways Jumbo jet. Thanks to Lawrence Youlden and Brian Lyall for helping to organise a very interesting and informative event.
Drive to The Piston Club
Our final activity of May was our drive to The Piston Club hosted at The Stag Inn near Alcester. Twenty nine members and 15 cars meandered through the beautiful Cotswold villages of Snowshill, Broadway, Honeybourne and Bidford-on-Avon where it was great to meet up with fellow members from our Central and South Central regions who had joined us for the event. The Piston Club has an automotive theme and is therefore popular with both car and motorcycle groups, having plenty of parking space and great facilities. Following a very enjoyable lunch the obligatory walk and talk of Porsches, people and places continued around our cars in the beautiful Warwickshire sunshine.
Dartmoor and Dartmouth Weekend
Porsches
Places
People
Visit to Tuthill Porsche
The eagerly waited and over-subscribed visit to the Tuthill Porsche near Banbury took place in April where 24 of our members were given a guided tour of the facility. Most of the group rendezvoused at Severn springs for a lovely drive through the Cotswolds led by Pete Mack and Graham Peake, it was Graham who arranged the visit through his Godson who works for Tuthill and who also gave us the guided tour. Tuthill will create a bespoke Porsche for you from donor cars or repair and restore your pride and joy. Tuthill is also synonymous with the most successful historic Porsche rally cars and historic 911 racing cars.
March 'Pop-Up' Drive
Who could have predicted such gorgeous weather with glorious sunshine for top-down driving on our first Pop-UP drive? Meeting at Chepstow Garden Centre for coffee and comfort break and along with Andrew and Dawn's 'Porsche Pooches' we set off through the wonderful Welsh countryside via Shirehampton towards Usk, then heading back to pick up the Wye Valley through Tintern and into the Forest of Dean. Mr Google typically played tricks causing a minor diversion which fortunately allowed us a stop for a photo opportunity opposite Chepstow racecourse. Symonds Yat Rock with its never tiring stunning views was our destination.
Visit to GWAA, Almondsbury
Photo by Jim Gorton
We had the great pleasure of formally presenting our cheque for £1165 donated by our very generous car club members via raffles and other activities throughout last year to the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity. A fabulous organisation who help save countless lives and can only exist by raising funds. They gave us a great insight into how they operate plus a tour of the facilities and helicopter. We learned that it costs £2000 just to get the helli in the air and that has inspired us to attempt to raise at least that amount this year.
THANKS TO DICK LOVETT PORSCHE, BRISTOL WHO KINDLY DONATED RAFFLE PRIZES TO SUPPORT OUR FUND RAISING
BELOW ARE A SELECTION OF IMAGES FROM PREVIOUS ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS
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"The Hills Are Alive" drive, Malvern
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University of Bath TBR e Racing
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Post Christmas Drive 2023
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Festive Weekend 2023
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If you fancy a free* photo shoot of your Porsche pride and joy, please click below for details.
