Hi Richard. Full address and joining details are at post 9 page 2 of this thread. Sat Nav post code is good so I am told. Clothing: nothing special needed, just as if you were going on a factory or museum visit or such like. Most is indoors, plus travel the proving ground in Disco 4s. Maybe a top coat/anorak or whatever may be useful. (It is February!) No mud likely, so no wellies. Refreshments such as tea, coffee and maybe biscuits etc will be available. It is a 3 hour visit, so will be finished before (they would have to give us) lunch!

The Heritage museum is next door and we have free entry afterwards as I understand. I am sure they will have catering facilities there.

Bob 10MY (Sept 09) TD4 HSE Auto in Stornoway Grey (Now Gone)

08 FL2 TD4 SE Manual in Rimini Red (Now Gone)

Cheers Bob, looking forward to it even more now

I'm not going to be able to make this now due to being in Saudi Arabia. Can I transfer my place to someone on the waiting list?

There's just over 3 weeks to go now for our tour on 19th February and I am looking forward to it! This post is firstly a reminder to all who have booked!

There is just one change to those attending: Pastmaster has arranged his own early tour (it must be who you know! ) so I substituted my second guest in his place whom I had left off in anticipation of a glitch such as this.

Now for the news:
Bearing in mind we had some others interested, either latecomers or those unable to make the 19th, I spoke to Gemma at LRE today to see what could be done for another booking. Apparently the tour is to finish for an indeterminate period at the end of March due to extensive works going on. However, the good news is that much of March is free at present. That is, only a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, except for 5th, 11th & 26th. However, to keep the cost at £40 per head, we need 18 bookings otherwise it would be £45 per head. Post or PM me if you wish to advise interest and preferred dates.

Bob 10MY (Sept 09) TD4 HSE Auto in Stornoway Grey (Now Gone)

08 FL2 TD4 SE Manual in Rimini Red (Now Gone)

To give you a taster, Pastmaster told me this about his tour, given by Gareth:

Gareth did ask about the group that was coming next month, and said he thought he'd be "on" that day. I think he was pleased to talk to someone who knew a bit about Land Rovers. Main things we saw - lots of LR and Jaguar prototypes, from old ones to the latest ("I can't say anything about that one") and some concept cars. Absolutely no photos allowed though. How they dismantle and study models from other manufacturers, and the sort of thing they are looking for; the 3D printing facility (very interesting - they have three different types of 3d printer, and he explained them well) and the 3D virtual video cave - basically a giant VR simulator where you can look at the cars from every angle, inside and out, as well as looking out from inside the virtual car. Then there was a tour of the proving tracks, with demonstrations of braking and some of the gizmos on the RRS that compensate for bad driving (a bit scary!). Apparently what you see can vary a bit depending on what secret stuff is going on where. And you get entry to the museum, which has some fairly interesting Land Rovers, among other stuff.
Hope you have as good a day as I did.
Oh, and one other thing, GET THERE EARLY. Massive queues to get OFF the motorway at Gaydon. I got to the turning at 08.15, then spent 20 minutes waiting at the exit. He said the traffic is always bad at that time of day.
David 10MY (Sept 09) TD4 HSE Auto in Stornoway Grey (Now Gone)

08 FL2 TD4 SE Manual in Rimini Red (Now Gone)

For those heading south on the M40, don't be surprised to be queuing on the hard shoulder from the top of the hill just after Warwick Services. Queueing starts just after 7am.

As above. Also, JLR have just paid Warwickshire County Council a vast undisclosed sum to install Peak Hour Traffic Lights at the exit of Junction 12 (Gaydon) as the sheer volume of traffic heading to GDEC in the morning made it nigh on impossible to get off the slip road and onto the Kineton Road.

For those who haven't been before, it's signposted from the M40 exit, but turn left in any event and right at the 1st roundabout. See you all there. Foraging near Gaydon....
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MY13 HSE Lux SD4, Baltic Blue - current, 30,000> miles without fault
MY12 HSE 2.2 SD4, Sumatra Black - gone after 10 months/43,000 fault-free miles

I noticed the traffic last week, two miles up the slip road and onto motorway, have the lights only just gone on or is there a better way coming from the North?

You could try coming off a the Junction before, (J14) over the roundabout, right at the next one, (following the signs for M40 South) instead then of bearing left on to the M40, keep on going, you will be on the old A41 then now known as the B4100.
Dare say everyone else will have tried it though, may just be as bad.
Never seems to queue much Northbound, not that I've seen.

I will have a Google at some maps later

You may get to see more than I did, as I went in on a Monday, when they don't normally run tours as much of the site is off limits. Upside I think was that I got more of the scary stuff in the RRS! Ex AA Series III LWB Safari - Gone
300TDi Disco (bought new - terrible car) sent back after 18 months
Freelander 1 Estate - leased, given back at end of lease
200TDi Disco (bought from a mate with 100,000 on the clock) - Gone
Disco 2 TD5 - sold and exported to France
FR2 TD4 GS - Gone
FR2 SD4 HSE - Now changed for a DS
New model ex-demo Evoque S 180 in white
Unable to order a new DS, so gave up. Now have a Volvo S90 Recharge.

Regretfully I am not now able to attend the tour. I have paid for my place so if any forum member would like a free place, they are more than welcome.

Hi guys AMENDMENT

We now have 1 x paid for place vacant. I have PM'd possibles. Failing that, contact me ASAP to express interest. Cost is £40 per head.

EDIT: This one remaining slot is now open - first come first served! TAKEN by Badger1970


NB: Ramsay12, you can expect a PM

Bob 10MY (Sept 09) TD4 HSE Auto in Stornoway Grey (Now Gone)

08 FL2 TD4 SE Manual in Rimini Red (Now Gone)

Last edited by dunkley201 on 5th Feb 2015 8:23 pm. Edited 1 time in total

hopefully i will still be able to make it, though my wife is making a phased return back to work after 7 months off might scupper my plans as we will have no childcare if she is on a early shift and i set off very early o'clock Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

Hope you can Nick. No responses so far for present vacancy. Let me know soonest and I could try opening it up to the other forums....

Bob 10MY (Sept 09) TD4 HSE Auto in Stornoway Grey (Now Gone)

08 FL2 TD4 SE Manual in Rimini Red (Now Gone)