Factory Tour around ProDrive at Banbury

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John Scherrer
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Factory Tour around ProDrive at Banbury

Post by John Scherrer » Wed Feb 22, 2012 9:56 pm

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
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Re: Factory Tour around ProDrive at Brackley

Post by John Scherrer » Wed Feb 22, 2012 9:58 pm

2. That's a lot of motor for a Metro!
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Re: Factory Tour around ProDrive at Banbury

Post by John Scherrer » Wed Feb 22, 2012 9:59 pm

3. Colin McRae's dad ..
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Re: Factory Tour around ProDrive at Banbury

Post by John Scherrer » Wed Feb 22, 2012 10:00 pm

4. A lot of switches and dials ..
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wattie

Re: Factory Tour around ProDrive at Brackley

Post by wattie » Wed Feb 22, 2012 10:03 pm

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

Cheers Wattie

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Re: Factory Tour around ProDrive at Brackley

Post by fb.george » Wed Feb 22, 2012 10:08 pm

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

benyeats

Re: Factory Tour around ProDrive at Brackley

Post by benyeats » Wed Feb 22, 2012 10:25 pm

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.

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Trigger
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Re: Factory Tour around ProDrive at Brackley

Post by Trigger » Thu Feb 23, 2012 8:41 am

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.
Atom 4, Mclaren 720s, Audi Rs4, VW ID3.....

toms

Re: Factory Tour around ProDrive at Brackley

Post by toms » Thu Feb 23, 2012 9:13 am

I love 'em  ;D  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  ;D

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.

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Re: Factory Tour around ProDrive at Brackley

Post by Hedge » Thu Feb 23, 2012 9:18 am

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

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Trigger
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Re: Factory Tour around ProDrive at Brackley

Post by Trigger » Thu Feb 23, 2012 9:19 am

yeah count me in.
Atom 4, Mclaren 720s, Audi Rs4, VW ID3.....

DonnyMac

Re: Factory Tour around ProDrive at Brackley

Post by DonnyMac » Thu Feb 23, 2012 9:33 am

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?

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Re: Factory Tour around ProDrive at Brackley

Post by Trigger » Thu Feb 23, 2012 9:38 am

Now there's a plan !!
Atom 4, Mclaren 720s, Audi Rs4, VW ID3.....

benyeats

Re: Factory Tour around ProDrive at Brackley

Post by benyeats » Thu Feb 23, 2012 9:48 am

[quote="Trigger"]
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.
[/quote]

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

toms

Re: Factory Tour around ProDrive at Brackley

Post by toms » Thu Feb 23, 2012 10:13 am

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

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