Atom X - Celebrating 10 Years of the Ariel Atom - 4 / 5 / 6 September 2010
Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 10:37 am
<a href="http://www.tracker.co.uk/"><img src="http://www.marler.plus.com/Tracker-AtomX.jpg" alt="Tracker" /></a>
<a href="http://www.ultimateear.com/"><img src="http://www.marler.plus.com/ultimate_logo.jpg" alt="Ultimate Ear" /></a>
<a href="http://www.richardeggerinsurance.co.uk/"><img src="http://www.marler.plus.com/AAOC-AtomX.jpg" alt="Richard Egger" /></a>
General Information
The event will run from Saturday the 4th of September 2010 to Monday the 6th. The event name is Atom X, but pronounced Atom 10.
The factory are fully supporting the event, have been integral in the planning and organisation and will be in attendance on each day. After much discussion, it has been agreed that the format of the event will be a mix social gathering, road rally (hooning) and track day. The factory are taking responsibility for the first two days of social gathering and road rally, the club are taking responsibility for the first ever exclusive UK track day. The reason for the split of activities is clear, in that we are looking to attract owners that do not regularly track their cars, and that may not be active in the club or even on the forum. We hope the event will encourage more owners to join the club and more potential owners to take the plunge.
In order to get a firm idea of numbers we will be looking for people to commit to the event by making a non-refundable deposit of £100. This deposit will be payable ASAP and will go directly towards the track booking costs. We are looking to keep overall costs for the weekend in the region of £500 per person, not including sundries like petrol, etc., but the final figure may be more or less depending on the numbers we get. We are looking to get in the region of 50 + cars attending the event. It is not the intention or purpose of this event to make any money for the club or factory.
Saturday 4th September
The factory will be open for arrivals at 10am; please take notice of the car park attendants who will be parking everyone nice and tightly – there’s quite a few cars to fit into a small space! The ‘build challenge’ to see if a group of Ariel technicians can build a car in one day will commence at 10am sharp! For those who fancy getting their own hands dirty there will also be a timed wheel change challenge for people to take part in with a prize for the fastest time.
There will be a talk on some pre, during and post track day inspection tips in the service department for those who want to carry out some routine checks and maintenance on their cars to keep them in tip-top condition. During this talk the factory will also advise of some commonly needed specialist tools to carry out these checks and their local Snap On Tools dealer will be in attendance, his van fully stocked with these items along with the usual range of hand tools, jacks etc. if anyone wishes to purchase tools as used by the Ariel factory technicians. Ariel/Snap On will be offering a mail order service too for those who don’t want to carry their new purchases on the rest of the trip!
Ariel are taking this opportunity to launch their eagerly-awaited Atom V8; this will be a sneak preview for all owners before the car is properly launched in the major motoring journals during the week following the event. This will take place just before lunchtime so everyone can have a good look round it, take some photos and ask any questions they may have!
A local sandwich shop will bring their van to the factory at around 12.30pm so people can purchase hot and cold snacks and drinks as required. The factory will be offering free tea and coffee throughout the day also.
Between 2 to 3pm the Treasure Hunt will commence. This will be for everyone present and will take in some of the local sights and good roads in the region; the Treasure Hunt should last for around 2-3 hours, during which time the factory will be closed while everything is prepared for Saturday nights dinner.
By 6pm it is expected that everyone will be back from the Treasure Hunt (unless they have got seriously lost!) and will then want to head back to their hotels/B&B’s/tents to prepare for the evenings festivities. If people wish to leave their cars at their respective hotels and B&B’s (so they can take advantage of the free alcohol!) there will be a minibus running in between Yeovil and the factory which could pick up anyone staying in Yeovil, Lanes Hotel, West Coker or East Chinnock; the bus will pick up in Yeovil at 7pm sharp then make its way back to the factory from there, picking up where necessary. There will then be a minibus taking people back to their hotels/B&B’s at the end of the evening. If people are interested in using this service then please e-mail Tom at the factory so he can gauge numbers.
The factory dinner is scheduled as 7.30 for 8pm start and will be based around local produce. Please note that local bitter and cider will be provided along with wine accompanying the meal and the usual range of soft drinks. If anyone doesn’t fancy any of the above drinks then please feel free to bring a quantity of your tipple of choice!
Note to anyone wishing to camp behind the factory: The camping field behind the factory will be available for use from Friday night onwards but please be aware it is exactly that – a field! There are no showering or toilet facilities there although campers may of course use the facilities at the factory (although there are no showers) during Friday early evening and Saturday, the factory will also be opened early on Sunday morning for campers to use the facilities.
Sunday 5th September
There will be a minibus again running between Yeovil and the factory to collect any stragglers who may have abandoned their cars at the factory the previous evening! As everyone is doubtless aware there is a Breakfast being laid on in the Tithe Barn at the Haselbury Mill behind the factory; this will commence at 8.00 am and will run until 9.30am. The cost of this will be £8 per person all inclusive for coffee, tea, juices, cereals, toast etc as well as the mandatory Full English Breakfast! Everyone will need to pay for this themselves on the day.
The Road Rally will commence at 10am sharp from the Haselbury Mill Car Park. The route takes in some of the best roads in the local area and follows the coast road along to Weymouth, cutting inland from there to Matchams Park for the Karting. Please note that everyone should make sure that they have a full tank of fuel before turning up to the start of the Road Rally – on Sunday morning there will be no chance to fill up until quite a long way into the journey! If anyone would like a route map that they can load into their TomTom then please contact Tom at the factory and he can e-mail you one over.
The arrival time for the Karting is 1pm; then everyone will be briefed and can split up into their teams which will be decided beforehand given the number of people attending! The Karting is expected to finish between 4pm and 5pm, then the Road Rally will continue on to the Goodwood Hotel for the dinner.
At The Goodwood Hotel there should be time for a shower or even to use the hotel's spa facilities, before meeting at 7pm for pre-dinner drinks in the Cedar Suite Foyer. Dinner will follow at 8pm in the Cedar Suite. Everyone should have provided menu choices (see below) to Tom by Wednesday 26th of August. In the morning breakfast will be served in the Richmond Arms Restaurant from 6.30am, before making the 5 minute drive to the motor circuit. Please make sure to arrive at the motor circuit promptly for 8am.
Monday 6th September
Arrive at 8am at the historic Goodwood Motor Circuit for sign-on and noise testing. If you have any problems with the noise test, please talk to one of the factory guys, who will hopefully have some equipment for helping reduce noise. Briefing by Goodwood head instructor John Powis will commence 8.30am in the Jackie Stewart Pavillion. John will be available throughout the day to give driver instruction. Drivers will be split into 5 groups of 10, based on experience level. The track will be open from 9am to 12.30pm and then from 1.30pm to 5pm, running 3 sessions per group in the morning and 3 in the afternoon. In the periods you are not on track, you can go to the skills area (a large car park near Goodwood House) and test your skills on a timed slalom sprint circuit. Note: getting to the skills area involves driving part of the famous Goodwood hill climb, although obviously not at racing speeds. Lunch will be served between 12 and 1.30pm in the old control tower.
As a first for the AAOC in the UK we are exclusively renting the circuit that hosts the annual Festival of Speed and Goodwood Revival. It is our feeling that the excellent facilities at the Goodwood Estate will provide a fitting finale to our Celebration of 10 years of the Ariel Atom. If we can be anywhere near as welcoming and generous as our American friends were during Atomfest, then I am sure this will be an event not to be missed.
Update 1 - 21.12.2009
The track day at Goodwood is being structured specifically to encourage people that would not normally take their cars out on track. We will probably have novice sessions, in which it really doesn't matter if you pootle around slower than you would on the road. At any track day, it is anyway the responsibility of the experienced drivers to fully make allowances for novice drivers, but at this event we will be concentrating hard on safety and comfort for guys and girls that have maybe never been on track. Driving your Atom on track will make you a safer road driver, is safer than driving at speed on the road, and will give you an idea of what your car is capable of.
So for ANYONE that is nervous about the idea of tracking their car, please don't be, please try it and I promise you you will be glad you did.
Update 2 - 22.12.2009
The day we have currently booked at Goodwood, is a 105dB day, but this limits the number of cars allowed on track at any one time to 5. Hence we are in negotiations with Goodwood, to separate the cars into two groups (below and above 98dB), such that for the quieter cars we can allow up to 10 cars on track. In addition, we will have the separate skills area, all planned to ensure that there is not too much waiting around.
Obviously it would help a lot if we could ensure all cars were below 98dB, but that may well be difficult, in particular for the Atom 2 220 cars.
Update 3 - 15.06.2010
Based on the numbers we have already booked and kind sponsorship from Richard Egger, Tracker and Ultimate Ear, we are aiming to set the price of the track day at £200. This price is less that originally expected and includes one car, one driver, one passenger and two lunches. I think this is pretty good value for the AAOC's first UK exclusive Atom track day and also covers rental of the skills area up by the main house and the Jackie Stewart Pavilion. We also have Goodwood's Chief Instructor for the day to offer advice to novices and pros alike.
We have also now confirmed the day as a 98dB day to allow 10 cars on track at a time. Ariel will be bringing equipment with them to help quieten any cars that are struggling with this limit. If you have any concerns with this, please let me know.
Update 4 - 02.07.2010
Expected costs update:
Day 1
Factory Day - no cost
Factory Dinner - no cost, other than any drinks you may wish to buy
Hotel - your cost or Camping - no cost
Day 2
Factory Breakfast - approx £8 per person (tbc)
Roadtrip - no cost, other than petrol, ferry, etc.
Karting - approx £35 for 3 hours (tbc)
Goodwood Dinner - £40 per person, including some wine, plus any additional drinks you may want to buy
Goodwood Hotel - £89 per room, payable direct to the hotel
Day 3
Trackday - £200, for up to two people sharing a car, including lunch for both and use of the skills area
Non-driving participation - £30 person, including lunch
Update 5 - 29.07.2010
The factory have confirmed that the 500 will be launched on the Saturday of Atom X and will drive up to Goodwood for the Monday, but WILL NOT now being doing hot laps. The reason is that there is no way to get the car under the 98dB limit for the day. Instead Keith Wood and his brother Matt will being giving hot laps to owners and participators on the day in a 300 and a 245. I think this is a shame, but the situation is out of my hands.
<a href="http://www.ultimateear.com/"><img src="http://www.marler.plus.com/ultimate_logo.jpg" alt="Ultimate Ear" /></a>
<a href="http://www.richardeggerinsurance.co.uk/"><img src="http://www.marler.plus.com/AAOC-AtomX.jpg" alt="Richard Egger" /></a>
General Information
The event will run from Saturday the 4th of September 2010 to Monday the 6th. The event name is Atom X, but pronounced Atom 10.
The factory are fully supporting the event, have been integral in the planning and organisation and will be in attendance on each day. After much discussion, it has been agreed that the format of the event will be a mix social gathering, road rally (hooning) and track day. The factory are taking responsibility for the first two days of social gathering and road rally, the club are taking responsibility for the first ever exclusive UK track day. The reason for the split of activities is clear, in that we are looking to attract owners that do not regularly track their cars, and that may not be active in the club or even on the forum. We hope the event will encourage more owners to join the club and more potential owners to take the plunge.
In order to get a firm idea of numbers we will be looking for people to commit to the event by making a non-refundable deposit of £100. This deposit will be payable ASAP and will go directly towards the track booking costs. We are looking to keep overall costs for the weekend in the region of £500 per person, not including sundries like petrol, etc., but the final figure may be more or less depending on the numbers we get. We are looking to get in the region of 50 + cars attending the event. It is not the intention or purpose of this event to make any money for the club or factory.
Saturday 4th September
The factory will be open for arrivals at 10am; please take notice of the car park attendants who will be parking everyone nice and tightly – there’s quite a few cars to fit into a small space! The ‘build challenge’ to see if a group of Ariel technicians can build a car in one day will commence at 10am sharp! For those who fancy getting their own hands dirty there will also be a timed wheel change challenge for people to take part in with a prize for the fastest time.
There will be a talk on some pre, during and post track day inspection tips in the service department for those who want to carry out some routine checks and maintenance on their cars to keep them in tip-top condition. During this talk the factory will also advise of some commonly needed specialist tools to carry out these checks and their local Snap On Tools dealer will be in attendance, his van fully stocked with these items along with the usual range of hand tools, jacks etc. if anyone wishes to purchase tools as used by the Ariel factory technicians. Ariel/Snap On will be offering a mail order service too for those who don’t want to carry their new purchases on the rest of the trip!
Ariel are taking this opportunity to launch their eagerly-awaited Atom V8; this will be a sneak preview for all owners before the car is properly launched in the major motoring journals during the week following the event. This will take place just before lunchtime so everyone can have a good look round it, take some photos and ask any questions they may have!
A local sandwich shop will bring their van to the factory at around 12.30pm so people can purchase hot and cold snacks and drinks as required. The factory will be offering free tea and coffee throughout the day also.
Between 2 to 3pm the Treasure Hunt will commence. This will be for everyone present and will take in some of the local sights and good roads in the region; the Treasure Hunt should last for around 2-3 hours, during which time the factory will be closed while everything is prepared for Saturday nights dinner.
By 6pm it is expected that everyone will be back from the Treasure Hunt (unless they have got seriously lost!) and will then want to head back to their hotels/B&B’s/tents to prepare for the evenings festivities. If people wish to leave their cars at their respective hotels and B&B’s (so they can take advantage of the free alcohol!) there will be a minibus running in between Yeovil and the factory which could pick up anyone staying in Yeovil, Lanes Hotel, West Coker or East Chinnock; the bus will pick up in Yeovil at 7pm sharp then make its way back to the factory from there, picking up where necessary. There will then be a minibus taking people back to their hotels/B&B’s at the end of the evening. If people are interested in using this service then please e-mail Tom at the factory so he can gauge numbers.
The factory dinner is scheduled as 7.30 for 8pm start and will be based around local produce. Please note that local bitter and cider will be provided along with wine accompanying the meal and the usual range of soft drinks. If anyone doesn’t fancy any of the above drinks then please feel free to bring a quantity of your tipple of choice!
Note to anyone wishing to camp behind the factory: The camping field behind the factory will be available for use from Friday night onwards but please be aware it is exactly that – a field! There are no showering or toilet facilities there although campers may of course use the facilities at the factory (although there are no showers) during Friday early evening and Saturday, the factory will also be opened early on Sunday morning for campers to use the facilities.
Sunday 5th September
There will be a minibus again running between Yeovil and the factory to collect any stragglers who may have abandoned their cars at the factory the previous evening! As everyone is doubtless aware there is a Breakfast being laid on in the Tithe Barn at the Haselbury Mill behind the factory; this will commence at 8.00 am and will run until 9.30am. The cost of this will be £8 per person all inclusive for coffee, tea, juices, cereals, toast etc as well as the mandatory Full English Breakfast! Everyone will need to pay for this themselves on the day.
The Road Rally will commence at 10am sharp from the Haselbury Mill Car Park. The route takes in some of the best roads in the local area and follows the coast road along to Weymouth, cutting inland from there to Matchams Park for the Karting. Please note that everyone should make sure that they have a full tank of fuel before turning up to the start of the Road Rally – on Sunday morning there will be no chance to fill up until quite a long way into the journey! If anyone would like a route map that they can load into their TomTom then please contact Tom at the factory and he can e-mail you one over.
The arrival time for the Karting is 1pm; then everyone will be briefed and can split up into their teams which will be decided beforehand given the number of people attending! The Karting is expected to finish between 4pm and 5pm, then the Road Rally will continue on to the Goodwood Hotel for the dinner.
At The Goodwood Hotel there should be time for a shower or even to use the hotel's spa facilities, before meeting at 7pm for pre-dinner drinks in the Cedar Suite Foyer. Dinner will follow at 8pm in the Cedar Suite. Everyone should have provided menu choices (see below) to Tom by Wednesday 26th of August. In the morning breakfast will be served in the Richmond Arms Restaurant from 6.30am, before making the 5 minute drive to the motor circuit. Please make sure to arrive at the motor circuit promptly for 8am.
Monday 6th September
Arrive at 8am at the historic Goodwood Motor Circuit for sign-on and noise testing. If you have any problems with the noise test, please talk to one of the factory guys, who will hopefully have some equipment for helping reduce noise. Briefing by Goodwood head instructor John Powis will commence 8.30am in the Jackie Stewart Pavillion. John will be available throughout the day to give driver instruction. Drivers will be split into 5 groups of 10, based on experience level. The track will be open from 9am to 12.30pm and then from 1.30pm to 5pm, running 3 sessions per group in the morning and 3 in the afternoon. In the periods you are not on track, you can go to the skills area (a large car park near Goodwood House) and test your skills on a timed slalom sprint circuit. Note: getting to the skills area involves driving part of the famous Goodwood hill climb, although obviously not at racing speeds. Lunch will be served between 12 and 1.30pm in the old control tower.
As a first for the AAOC in the UK we are exclusively renting the circuit that hosts the annual Festival of Speed and Goodwood Revival. It is our feeling that the excellent facilities at the Goodwood Estate will provide a fitting finale to our Celebration of 10 years of the Ariel Atom. If we can be anywhere near as welcoming and generous as our American friends were during Atomfest, then I am sure this will be an event not to be missed.
Update 1 - 21.12.2009
The track day at Goodwood is being structured specifically to encourage people that would not normally take their cars out on track. We will probably have novice sessions, in which it really doesn't matter if you pootle around slower than you would on the road. At any track day, it is anyway the responsibility of the experienced drivers to fully make allowances for novice drivers, but at this event we will be concentrating hard on safety and comfort for guys and girls that have maybe never been on track. Driving your Atom on track will make you a safer road driver, is safer than driving at speed on the road, and will give you an idea of what your car is capable of.
So for ANYONE that is nervous about the idea of tracking their car, please don't be, please try it and I promise you you will be glad you did.
Update 2 - 22.12.2009
The day we have currently booked at Goodwood, is a 105dB day, but this limits the number of cars allowed on track at any one time to 5. Hence we are in negotiations with Goodwood, to separate the cars into two groups (below and above 98dB), such that for the quieter cars we can allow up to 10 cars on track. In addition, we will have the separate skills area, all planned to ensure that there is not too much waiting around.
Obviously it would help a lot if we could ensure all cars were below 98dB, but that may well be difficult, in particular for the Atom 2 220 cars.
Update 3 - 15.06.2010
Based on the numbers we have already booked and kind sponsorship from Richard Egger, Tracker and Ultimate Ear, we are aiming to set the price of the track day at £200. This price is less that originally expected and includes one car, one driver, one passenger and two lunches. I think this is pretty good value for the AAOC's first UK exclusive Atom track day and also covers rental of the skills area up by the main house and the Jackie Stewart Pavilion. We also have Goodwood's Chief Instructor for the day to offer advice to novices and pros alike.
We have also now confirmed the day as a 98dB day to allow 10 cars on track at a time. Ariel will be bringing equipment with them to help quieten any cars that are struggling with this limit. If you have any concerns with this, please let me know.
Update 4 - 02.07.2010
Expected costs update:
Day 1
Factory Day - no cost
Factory Dinner - no cost, other than any drinks you may wish to buy
Hotel - your cost or Camping - no cost
Day 2
Factory Breakfast - approx £8 per person (tbc)
Roadtrip - no cost, other than petrol, ferry, etc.
Karting - approx £35 for 3 hours (tbc)
Goodwood Dinner - £40 per person, including some wine, plus any additional drinks you may want to buy
Goodwood Hotel - £89 per room, payable direct to the hotel
Day 3
Trackday - £200, for up to two people sharing a car, including lunch for both and use of the skills area
Non-driving participation - £30 person, including lunch
Update 5 - 29.07.2010
The factory have confirmed that the 500 will be launched on the Saturday of Atom X and will drive up to Goodwood for the Monday, but WILL NOT now being doing hot laps. The reason is that there is no way to get the car under the 98dB limit for the day. Instead Keith Wood and his brother Matt will being giving hot laps to owners and participators on the day in a 300 and a 245. I think this is a shame, but the situation is out of my hands.