131mirafiori forum

Hi everyone just to say we are thinking of having a get together on the Sunday of August bank holiday weekend 30th August, Andy will organise a run around the local area(in the 131's that is), and I will organise the food  and drinks, if anybody is interested please let us know by the end of July, all are welcome and fingers crossed it will be sunny, if you have too much to drink we can put some of you up for the night.
Love Anita xx

That sounds good ,as i booked into knebworth on monday.. what direction are you in.
jay

Having previously tasted Anita's food, I wouldn't miss this so please count me in.? ;) :D ;D

Hi Neet,

If I can get the starter motor and alternator fixed on the Abarth then we'll be there - but will have to confirm closer to the time. ;)

Ja, unfortunately A&A don't exactly live en-route to Knebworth from Basildon - they're in Eastbourne. Still, it will stretch the legs of that 1400 of yours to do it all in one weekend ;)

Simon if your abarth isnt on the road come down anyway and of course Wendy and your troop which goes to everyone all are welcome,hopefully i will have a little treasure hunt arranged to do in the cars.

Andy

And if anyone is wondering what this is going to be like, look at the details of the previous meeting Andy and Anita organised in 2007 here --> http://131mirafiori.com/smf/index.php?topic=449.0

looks a good day, im in  ,, is graham and his supercharger still with us ::)
jason

Glad your coming Jason and it will be good if Graham can make it i have started on the run but will need some more 199 ordnance survey maps ;D

I'd love to come along too but the cost of the ferry, etc for just 1 day is a bit prohibitive. :o If it was over the whole weekend - it would be more viable - An idea for next year maybe! ;D

Don't forget GKMR09 in September guys - At least Andy/Simon have indicated interest although I think Theo has a Gamma clash. Hotel rooms are booking up fast.

00 353 64 66 31158

Does anyone want a reminder from 2007?? ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPeyHZVyYDc

well theres an idea a seaside festival  of fuel,food and friends and not forgetting a few bevys in between with cheap(free)accomadation at mine,sure neet wont mind doing all the cooked breakfasts

You better ask her first Andy ;)

Yes  :D


Thanks guys, things have been very busy over recent weeks what with getting the house up to saleable condition.

I'm pleased to say that all the hard work was worthwhile as our house sold on Saturday and our offer on the new Gaff was accepted on Sunday  8) ??? 8).

So now I'm facing the Estate Agents/Solicitors fees and I still haven't sold Voli ...... :o

Getting back to the 30th.......Yes I'd love to attend ......depending on our move and circumstances of course.

If I have sold Voli by then would you mind if I brought 'The Brick' instead?

As long as you're with us Gra it doesn't matter what you're in! 8)

Thanks for the kind offer Andy - I'm actually thinking of following up on Theo's offer to fly in and be his co-pilot for the day thereby satisfying a long held ambition to sample his car from the inside as well as attending your by now famous annual Eastbourne 131 Event! (E131E) :) Maybe we could get some stickers made up...?  ;D

If you get yourself to Stansted Kev I'll pick you up at 8:05 so no need for a bus or train.  But I think an 18:45 return from Stansted is not going to be possible; better to plan to go back the next day and I'm sure we'll find you some free accommodation for Sunday night  ;).

Gee thanks Theo - This is sounding better by the minute - Would that be your normal time to be heading off to Eastbourne? If not, I'd still like to see about a bus south to minimise the disruption.

OK - sounds like a great plan - Thanks again for the idea and offer! :)

No problem picking you up from Stansted Kev.  Time seems about right. Last time we met at Forest Row in East Sussex for a 10:00 am start and that would fit in just right with an 8:05 am arrival at Stansted.

By the way, I was reading just today that Ryanair will be cutting their Stansted flights by 40% because the airport is too expensive for them. See http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8160923.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8160923.stm). EasyJet flights into Gatwick may be an alternative for you.

I think that the cuts will apply to their winter schedule and of course the clever Mr O Leary ommitted to mention that the net effect will be that there will be 4 aircraft fewer compared with the winter schedule for last year!! He's a great spin doctor! Thanks for the alternative suggestion and if that is easier for you I'll explore that. Cheers  ;)

Stansted is easier for me to pick you up than Gatwick but I'll have no problem picking you up from Gatwick if that's better for you Kev.

Sorry to stick my oar in here guys but ....

As I see it Kev you have a multitude of options for entry to the UK for attending the Eastbourne Event.

Kev if you get yourself to Gatwick on Sunday it will probably open up a few options as regards your collection as I'm sure that if we meet in or near Forest Row as we did before, at least me, Theo and probably Jason will be passing right next to Gatwick as we take the quickest route via the M23. (Graham will probably go x-country to E'bourne). If you return via Gatwick on the Sunday evening you'd not need a stop over at Theo's (unless you wanted one of course ;D) as one of us returning to the M25 could drop you off. In this case an overnight stop would actually cause a problem rather than solve one as you'd have to make a Monday morning journey out to the airport.

If you decide to fly via Stanstead then either Theo or Jason could collect you, and even if you choose to enter via Heathrow then Theo (if he drives anti-clockwise on the M25) or I could collect you.

This way if Theo were to pull out for any reason you'd still be able to attend. 8)

(I think these postings should be moved to the August 30th thread :D)

Done!   :D

Hi Simon - You are both making me feel very welcome and I'm really looking forward to seeing the UK based 131 club again - At least the South East Chapter anyway! :)

Two of the items on my "things to do before I die" list include a day's driving in a Fiat 131 Abarth and a day's driving in a performance modified Fiat 131 Sport. As you know I've ticked off the first thanks to you in Italy and I aim to do the second with Theo on the 30th.  ;)

So thanks for providing me with more options but I think I'll go with the first idea of Stansted and meeting our President early on Sunday morning.  ;) Also Stansted provides more flight connections with Shannon....therfore greater travel time flexibility.

See you all together in a few weeks hopefully and I'm licking my lips at the thoughts on Neet's cooking.  ;)

Cheers

Kev

It will be good to see you Kev if your able to get here im sure amongst us we can get you to and from the airport and if you need to stay over that will be no problem.

Hi Guys and Wendy, so great that you are all planning to come to good ol Eastourne, I will ensure you all have a good supply of food and drink, I know its still an age away, but just to say I will do a full English brunch before you set off on your run, and ensure you get something hearty before you go, Wendy I will organise something for us and the kids and for any other ladies who would like to join.

Neet xxx

It sounds like a date then Kev  ;)  :D I better get the 131 sorted  :-\ As reported elsewhere on this forum my car decided to do it's now usual 3ma trick of discarding its rear exhaust silencer  :-[

(http://www.131mirafiori.com/photos/Theo/exhaust1.jpg)

And here's how much help Simon offered when it happened  ;D

(http://www.131mirafiori.com/photos/Theo/exhaust2.jpg)

"You should know how to fix that by now as your car does that every year!" he said  ;D And he was right of course as I once again simply removed the silencer completely and carried on without one...  ::)  ;D

I'm not quite sure what you expected me to do to help Theo ??? By this time the silencer was only held on with one bolt and I figured that even you could cope with undoing that ;) ;D

What we don't have photos of tho is the pair of us taking the alternator out of my car about 60 miles short of Calais, only to put it back in again! :D :D :D

Talking about that, I think the extra wire we found (two wires on the normally single wire spade connector) was put there for the voltmeter which your car has. Have you fixed your car yet by the way?

To my eternal shame I haven't even had the car out of the garage to clean it since we returned from Italy Theo. :-[ I need to get something sorted soon as I have a number of 'appearances' in it in August, starting on the 9th. If I don't get time I'll ask my local mechanic mate to swap out the starter for me (assuming the replacement one I have was actually refurb'd ::)) and I'll look at the alternator as soon as.

At this rate though I can see me/us coming to Eastbourne in the 530i  ::)

Hi Simon if you dont have time does that mean you got yourself a new job?

Don't be too ashamed Simon as I have done exactly the same  :-[   I have bought a new rear silencer though so that'll go on at the weekend, convert the headlamps back to UK driving and give the car a good, well deserved and long overdue clean.   :-*


I don't think that'll be allowed Simon!  8)  Otherwise I'll turn up in the Mercedes and Kev will miss out of his passenger ride in my 131  ;D

whare ya get the back box thotos

Bought it on ebay from Grays Motor Factors http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/GRAYS-MOTOR-FACTORS__W0QQ_armrsZ1 (http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/GRAYS-MOTOR-FACTORS__W0QQ_armrsZ1).

 

Going back to a standard one then?

Ah! no, staying with standard!  ;)  Don't be fooled by the beefy tail pipe which came off my original Janspeed. The beefy tail pipe will go back on the new Walkers exhaust which has already been painted black. I must say that I am extremely disappointed by the low quality of the Walkers exhaust as it lasted just one year and no more than 3000 miles. When I got the Walkers after the 3ma last year it was meant to be a temporary fix until Janspeed made some more exhausts for the 131. So now I bought the Walkers again as a temporary fix until I get something better. It seems Janspeed won't be making any again so I'll probably have to go for a custom system.

Full custom stainless. Fit and forget ;D My 130 has a full stainless system. The only bit of the car that is not rusty ::)

Dead right David i got a custom one made for the celica in 304 stainless & will last a lifetime think it was ?250-?280??

Well i hope all your 131s are reving to go,just confirming we are still going ahead i have routes,food
and Anita sorted.

For those who dont where we are we are at 41 Greenleaf Gardens,Polegate,East sussex,bn26 6pf

see you soon

Andy

Id love to come and see you .hopefully will join theo and kev in convoy as he passes j29 m25/ a127...
 jason

Flights are booked - ?36.00 return including all taxes - A bargain for a 131 trip - Certainly cheaper than 3MA09!  ;)

Hopefully all 5 131s (or more) can attend but I am looking forward to my spin in Hugo, however many 131s come along!  ;)

Hi Andy and Nita,

Are we all starting from your house then? What time? If it's too early might have to make a weekend of it and find a place to stay closer to you. ;D

Si

Was planning to start from our place unless people want to meet up on route,Theo is picking Kev up just after 8 oclock so shall we aim for 10,30-11,00 but if anyone wants to turn up early or even stay over just let us know

Andy+Anita

A message for all of you who are coming to Eastbourne on August 30th, can I please have the numbers of people coming with you for the event, I want to make sure that everyone who comes gets fed.

Cheers Anita xxx

Hi Neet - I'll be on my own....but travelling with Theo.... if you know what I mean!  ;)

Hi Nita,

Probably be all five us I'm afraid.  ::) Although if I can't stop my car making the horrible grinding noise every time it's driven it might be none of us at all! :-\

Si :-*

Hi Neet - I'll be on my own....but bringing Kevin.... if you know what I mean!   ;)

hi anita  -i,ll be on my own ....following theo .....who's bring kevin ...if you know what I mean   ;D
jason

Stansted airport to A&A in Polegate is 1 hour 31 minutes according to Autoroute or 1 hour 53 minutes according to my Sat Nav. Taking into account the roadworks between J27 and J28 of the M25 I'd say a 2 hour drive is what we should expect. Kevin arrives at 8:05am so hopefully we should be on our way before 9:00am and should be at A&A in Polegate by 11:00am.  :D

theo 
 A21 ,tonbridge, bank holiday traffic :-\
you'll have to find us a cross country route  or off the  M23
jason

I doubt there'll be too much traffic on the A21 on Sunday morning the time we'll be there. The M23 is too far west for us so we should try A21 then  A267  and A22 into Polegate. I know East Sussex reasonably well so if need be we could bypass Tunbridge Wells by going through Lamberhurst then Wadhurst. The route through Hook Green has some great 131 driving roads!  ;D

Don't forget the ?1.50 correct change for the bridge toll.

Weather forecast is for a sunny day with a "few" showers.

http://www.accuweather.com/ukie/forecast-details.asp?partner=accuweather&traveler=0&postalcode=BN21 3DE&metric=1&fday=4

Wishing everybody to have an excellent day for this event ;D.Eugene

super super day great thanks to anita and andy .. ;)
 great time had buy all of us  ;D
the eastbourners

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3462/3871422479_287529905d_b.jpg)
bodium castle

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2526/3871411269_74b50bb987_b.jpg)

and the rears

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3468/3875008381_5f5804bc3d_b.jpg)


jason

A HUGE thank you to Anita and Andy for organising a fantastic day. Great company, excellent driving routes, outstanding food and even our parking in the Castle was pre-arranged and paid for; Anita and Andy simply thought of everything. Kevin and I might have demanded a recount for the treasure hunt points but our hosts were so welcoming and organised we had to concede and accept that second place was the best we could do on the day  ;D  Congratulations to Wendy and Simon on winning the treasure hunt and thanks again to Anita and Andy for pulling out all the stops and making sure we all had a great time and were well fed  ;) :D

Just home now after a really enjoyable trip and I'd like to add my sincere thanks to Neet and Andy - Really fabulous organisation and hospitality.

Sunday was a long day for me, 5.0am to 11.0pm but we managed to pack so much in during the day....capped with the treat of watching Ferrari win it's first race of the season, on Theo's sky box when we got home! A successful Italian themed day - We even had Lasagne for dinner!  ;) ;D

Thanks for everything guys - Theo and Linda too for looking after me so well.  :)

I'll add some more detail and photos later in the week.

Just to say many thanks to Andy & Nita for a fantastic day with great grub and thanks to everyone who attended for making the whole event a real cracker  8)

I just hope they'll be no long lasting effects on Nita & Wendy from their passenger rides with me in Voli :D

We all knew who would win the treasure hunt ::)......but it didn't stop us having a lot of fun, Even Jay enjoyed his many 9 point turns :D

I hope everyone got home ok with no dramas, my trip home was great without the 1935 Leyland bus hogging the road ;D

Hi one and all, we would like to say our thanks to all of you who made our day SO enjoyable, we have decided to try and make it an annual event, it was fab for us to spend a day with such great people, and great friends, Wendy your a star  in giving Anita female company the kids were great to.
Looking forward to meeting up with all again in the very near future.

Andy & Anita

Here is some Youtube footage of the event. The first one is a collection of stills...
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcHt6faMeCw

and the second is a full bore standing start in a twin 45 equipped Guy Croft engined Theo piloted Fiat 131 Sport.  :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLuYuryuEJo

Don't forget to leave your comments on Youtube so I'll know how they are being received...

As usuall  kev great photo show. :D

Hey Theo - nice to see you took the throttle off as you approached the school markings  ;D
Fab bit of video  ;D
Sounds absolutely lovely  ;D ;D
And who were you apologising too ?
After all Simon made you do it -didnt he  ;D ;D

I try not to be TOO irresponsible  ;) Another sign of old age I suppose  ;D Might seem boring to someone but it was a public road  :-\
The apology was to Shannon, Simon's daughter who was a passenger in the back of the 131. It was Kev (the cameraman) who was urging me to go fast! He is still young (well, younger than me anyway  ;D ) so he is still allowed to be irresponsible occasionally  ;D

Was looking at all the 131 s they all look great as for the group photo what are you looking at Thotos you were not looking at the camera  :-X :-X :-X

I also saw that what are you looking at Theo?? red blood male or what?

 ;) (http://images.bravenet.com/common/images/smilies/glassespush.gif) ;D
  (http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/uncyclopedia/images/thumb/7/7b/Shh.jpg/41px-Shh.jpg)

Nice one!!

Trust da gay lover 2 cop that one  i see what you mean ;) ;D

The gay131lover would be looking at something else bren! ha ha .

Well maybe the Gay lad was checking out Theo  :o :o