I recently enrolled to go on the above with members from the Disco 3 forum. Unfortunately, due to personal circumstances I had to cancel at the last minute. However, all the positive reports from those that attended make me want to go the next time I have a chance! (The proving ground ride was particularly liked! )

I therefore am inquiring whether there may be interest from members of our Freel2 forum. There needs to be 18 attendees for a group tour. Normal days are Tues/Wed/Thur with (very) occasional Mondays. Cost is £40 per head. The official "blurb" is below:

DESIGN AND ENGINEERING TOUR

Go behind the scenes of the Design and Engineering departments at Land Rover’s headquarters where you will experience privileged access through our world-class virtual reality design studios and rapid
proto-typing methods which allows you to see first-hand how our vehicles of today are created.

The areas that the tour takes in are:

Virtual Reality Centre - demonstration of the technology used by engineers to view and make alterations to vehicles in virtual 3D.

Rapid Protyping - group of techniques used to quickly fabricate a scale model of a physical part or assembly using three-dimensional computer aided design (CAD) data.

Vehicle Teardown - Whole vehicles and parts of competitor vehicles are stripped down and researched to benchmark new processes and cost saving techniques.  A standard industry method used to constantly evolve and improve technology and manufacturing processes.

Proving Ground - An old RAF airbase, the runway and airfield has now been turned into a testing area, including brake straights, salt water splashes, emissions track, sand pits, various terrains and obstacles designed to test the vehicle to the max.  Guests will have a tour of this area (in the vehicle with an instructor driving) and also see the old Observation Tower which is now used as Track Control for the Proving Ground.

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

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

I have registered already (see above) and may bring one or two (paying) guests. , The signup shows only one, so if you wish to bring others post your plans here.
Bob 10MY (Sept 09) TD4 HSE Auto in Stornoway Grey (Now Gone)

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

Just a quick re-post to bump this event. Presently we have 8 registered plus possibly 2 guests, making 10 in total. Now looking for a January/February visit. All reports suggest it is a very interesting tour, especially if you have an interest in design, engineering and CAD based projects, plus Land Rovers in general. Plus (I am told) a "white knuckle" ride around the proving ground!
Register your interest above - we need 18 in total. If you wish to bring guests add them in a post below. Should there be insufficient interest on here I will open it up to Disco(s) and RR(s)

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 Nov 2014 3:44 pm. Edited 1 time in total

the other forums (mainly Disco3) have just had a Gaydon tour, might get a few that missed out but not many Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

Yes, Nick - I was booked on it! Well received by all it was too! Unfortunately I had to pull out at the last minute. Hopefully the positive reports posted on D3 will generate sufficient numbers for another tour.

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

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

As mentioned elsewhere, this is a fantastic tour, and you get to see a lot of things "that don't exist" on the proving ground. I last went over there (it's 3 miles from me) in March, and believe me, 117mph in a Disco 4 when they throw it into a bend to demonstrate the Stability amongst others, is quite hair raising. The fact that even at that speed, a deresricted F-Type R hammered past at an estimated 200 mph, was enough to give anyone palpitations! I cannot recommend this enough, if you've never seen a 3-D printer in action before, then this is the place to see it...they make prototype parts there in glass/ceramic to begin with.

A point of note - if you are not in a rush to go home afterwards, then you get free access to the Heritage Motor Museum as well....there are lots of things to see and do there, so make a day of it! Foraging near Gaydon....
——————————————
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

Thanks Badger - a great endorsement!  10MY (Sept 09) TD4 HSE Auto in Stornoway Grey (Now Gone)

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

Quick update:
As of 1900hr 051114 we have 12 members registered plus 4 guests making a total of 16 so far. I am sure we can get a couple more interested! Any more, I will put on a reserve register in case there are some who drop out. Once I have 18 "bums on seats" I will contact LRE Gaydon for a date.

Current list is:
npinks : 1
ad210358 : 1+1
chicken george : 1
IDL : 1
Midland Rover : 1
jubdad : 1
dunkley201 : 1+2
Moleshome : 1
taztastic : 1+1
Ramsay12 : 1
Badger1970 : 1
simong_uk : 1

TOTAL: 16

Spread the word!
Bob 10MY (Sept 09) TD4 HSE Auto in Stornoway Grey (Now Gone)

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

Would really enjoy such a visit but as I work in education I would be limited to a weekend or non-term time weekday. Fingers crossed for a compatible date! 2016 BMW X3 30d SE in red
MY2013 SD4 XS Firenze Red, 19" 10 spoke contrast paint wheels, Signature Strips, Grand Black Lacquer trim, Cold Climate Pack - gone!
2007 TD4 S Stornoway Grey - gone!

I'd be interested in attending.

 John

Winslet - midweek days only are offered unfortunately. Re non-term time, I don't yet know - I can only ask. When is the first post-New Year break?

RichP & monkiefone thanks for registering!

We now have 19 registered, monkiefone being the first candidate on the reserve register. If my experience of the previous Disco 3 venture plays out, at least a couple of reserves will benefit, maybe more!

I will get on to LRE Gaydon tomorrow to establish dates.

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

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

No worries, looking forward to it.

Rob as per pm to you, please add 1 guest. FL2 SD4 Metropolis Auto Santorini Black / ivory completely stock.

It's true that light travels faster than sound, some people look quite intelligent until you hear them speak.


Stop global winging.

Plus one guest for you MR, added to reserve register, behind monkiefone.
Bob 10MY (Sept 09) TD4 HSE Auto in Stornoway Grey (Now Gone)

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

Thanks Rob. FL2 SD4 Metropolis Auto Santorini Black / ivory completely stock.

It's true that light travels faster than sound, some people look quite intelligent until you hear them speak.


Stop global winging.