Ariel.Club Forum

Got an invite from a colleague at work who is a Green Lanes fan - Driving 4x4s on the public bridleways and rural assault courses - to make up numbers.

Their club had organised a trip to have a 3 hour tour around Dave Richards' ProDrive factory at Brackley.

They have a fantastic setup there preparing works World Rally Cars and also building race and rally BMW Minis, Aston Martins.

They have a car museum too with some historic race and rally cars and also have a full development setup with CNC machining, wiring loom production and engine and gearbox development etc etc.

It would make a great Atom Club event - It worked out at about £27 per head for about 25 of us.

Pictures were permitted in some places and I took quite a few.

I used to stand out in forests (why did it always start snowing on the RAC?) watching the Group B cars before they were outlawed after some unfortunate high speed fatal accidents involving spectators and drivers/co drivers.

Needless to say there were a few of those nostalgic cars there :-

1. Jimmy McRae's and Ian Grindrod's Metro 6R4

2. That's a lot of motor for a Metro!

3. Colin McRae's dad ..

4. A lot of switches and dials ..

Looks like a good day out John. That engine is  bonkers for a metro 

Cheers Wattie

Tony Pond in his 6R4 on the RAC is one of my abiding memories
Brilliant cars. Great noise

My first ride in a proper fast car was in an uncles clubman spec 6R4, great fun and possibly has a lot to answer for.

I wish I had bought one a few years back when they were relatively unloved and therefore quite cheap.

I remember when they were outlawed and there was a car park full of them - you could pick them up brand new for relative peanuts. Same goes for the Ford RS200. Wish I had bought one - it was just a bit too much at the time.

I am a big fan of the Group B cars - there is a museum in Brittany called Loheac that has the full selection of Group B cars with Peugeot T16, Renault Maxi Turbo, Lancia Delta, Metro 6R4 etc etc - highlight of my visit there and well worth a stop if you are near.

I love 'em    Can't believe no-one has mentioned those Quattros yet....  Awesome cars.  It's worth a trip to Cholmondeley Pageant of Power to see some of this hardware close up and being driven in anger.

Geek mode - have a look in the back of an RS200 and you will see some familiar welds.....Arch Motors did all the subframes, rear suspension etc.

If you get 5 minutes have a watch of these (if you haven't seen them already) - turn up the volume - LOUD 

Group B - Pure sound

Group B - Pure sound 2

Group B - Pure sound 3

And back on topic John i'd be very interested in that if you want to organise a club outing?  I've been there before for work but never had a full tour.

I'd be up for that too.
Cheers, Hedge

yeah count me in.

Sounds good - why not organise it for the same day as the Wedding thread? They're both in the same general direction.

Midday surrounded by bridesmaids, afternoon rally cars - with a cross-country drive between; what more does a man need?

Now there's a plan !!

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I am a big fan of the Group B cars - there is a museum in Brittany called Loheac that has the full selection of Group B cars with Peugeot T16, Renault Maxi Turbo, Lancia Delta, Metro 6R4 etc etc - highlight of my visit there and well worth a stop if you are near.
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That museum is great, a few of us went there in 2009 by Atom and I concur well worth a stop.  They would not let us go on the circuit mind you.

Ben

I expect Henry and some of the Ariel lads would be up for it too.....