Backhome 2003 |
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This was the first TVR Backhome event that I have been to, but I had wanted to go to this annual event a few times over the years and this was my first opportunity to attend. My first problem was the rather long drive from London to Blackpool on the Friday night, with all the usual M25 and M6 traffic jams designed to slow the intrepid traveller. Eventually we arrived at the De Veres Hotel in Blackpool in time for a few late night drinks at the bar with few TVR people, followed by a good nights sleep and a hearty breakfast to attend the first event. Saturday morning after breakfast, myself and fellow friends from down South made our way to the concourse event and the test track in a large car park near the sea front. The day was grey, the weather was damp but sprits and excitement still filled the air. As we arrived at the car park we were directed to park our car (a Griffith) with other cars of the same model. Now it was time for a walk around the site to see what was there and to take yet more photos of the cars. The first photo I took as you can see below was of a magnificently clean and trim Griffith. I have never seen under a bonnet so clean before, and not only that, there was another Griffith with the engine finished to the same high finish, it made my car feel quite grubby. After a bit of tire kicking we went to have a look at the retailers who had braved the weather and traffic to attend. This is always bad news for me as I tend to by too much. In the case if this little trip I ended up buying a wonderful K&N air filter that makes the car breath so much better, a TVR book, an umbrella, a set of Leven Black finished stalks, wheel centre bolts, steering wheel boss bolts, hand brake in black, and a couple of other little bits that make the car look and feel so much better. But as I told my other half, it was cheaper to buy on the day due to event discount, so I did save money; I some how do not think she believed me.
Test TrackHaving never seen anything like this before or even attempted it before, I decided to have a go after wondering how nervous this would make me. First I watched some excellent driving by fellow Griffith owners, and some very competitive wedge owners, and a few very loud Chimeara's, and then feeling confident it was my turn with Linda joining me as a passenger. What can I say, I was hopeless the first time and ran over some cones, so I had to have another go, and another go, in fact five goes. Eventually I got the hang of it, made some respectable times and had great fun doing doughnuts and other manoeuvres. I learnt a great thing though; that was to trust the grip in the tires. Even though the event was in the wet, it still took quite a bit of effort to force the car to break grip for the doughnuts, it made me realise just how much grip TVRs can have and increased my trust in the car. The track was a large car park marked out with road cones and consisted of several sections to test your abilities to control the car. The course had "garages" which you either had to go in forwards or reverse into and stop moving, before commencing onto another section. There where two slaloms a couple of very sharp tight turns, a parallel reversing section and an open section in which you had to do a doughnut. All in all a very good course and test of the drivers ability, or in my case lack of ability.
The Evening MealThe highlight of Saturday was a Black Tie meal, with a auction hosted by the excellent Le Mans driver; Michael Caine, a live band and a disco for those who can dance. The room was decorated very tastefully in De Walt Yellow & Black, with pride of place going to car No92; the Le Mans T440 that was present in the room. A very powerful and purposeful looking car indeed. The meal was excellent, good food and great company, it was obvious that the organisers had seated people at tables of people who lived near each other, so most people on a table at least knew some one else, and that enabled the conversation to flow, that an a bottle of wine or two. The auction hosted by Michael Caine was good, he makes a good presenter, slipping in jokes and successfully pushing up the bid on a few items to make a bit more money. All the proceeds of the auction was to be donated to the Le Mans team, and as such all the items were car oriented; from Speed12 car doors and tires, floor pans and other parts, to posters of the drivers. Steve & Karen the Surrey RO team successfully bid for a speed 12 tire, which is now doing good service as the fastest cat basket in Surrey. The live band were very good, just right to set a party mood. The music was blues and soul with a great beat that set your feet to tapping, the singers had good voices and the musicians could play very well, which from what I heard was a vast improvement on the previous years band. It was a great evening, and if you have the chance it is worth going to next year.
The Factory TourThe next day was the factory tour and for me not having been there before it was an experience. It is a lot messier than I would have thought, with bits of cars seemingly being built all over the factory, but as I soon discovered from our guide there was organisation in this illusion of chaos. The guide walked and talked us all through the creation of a car, from the building of the steel chassis, to the moulds that make the body, the engines, the upholstery and all the other parts. It is quite magical; you walk from a building containing a metal frame that is the chassis, and as you progress you see a car appear. The factory is also a sort of history lesson, as you walk outside between buildings there are parts of cars, bodies, and bits off all periods lying around, on roofs there were "wedge" bodies, in another corner the original purple speed 12 looking very sad indeed. All over there are just bits and pieces of cars that are used to supply parts for owners who had had problems, such as a new wing, bonnet, boot for a S to a M.
My conclusionBackhome was a first for me and I thoroughly enjoyed it, the test track was fun, the dinner was great and the factory is an eye opener. However its the people you meet that make the experience and we met some great people, from TVR owners that had been with the marquee for many years to a great couple who wanted a TVR and come for the weekend to find out more; I also know that they now own a Chimeara so the weekend must have convinced them.
As I said above, if you have the chance next year, book up and go, it is a good weekend, good fun, and it is a nice weekend away from the normal stuff you would get up to.
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