So come on then. Is anyone who went to the Jam going to tell those of us who were unable to make it, how the weekend went? Was it a washout as the weather forecasters had us believe or was it a resounding success?

- (#3143) Ian Dunse, 27 May 02

Jeez you're an impatient bl****r! I got back at 1.30 am this morning, having decided discretion was the better part of valour and struck camp while the sun was shining! Left about 7.30 pm.

Anyway, short answer is, small in numbers but all there in spirit. Myself (+ 4 sprogs), Barry T (and son Chris), Dave Humphreys and wife, Holger and wife (apologies to wives - I'm not one of life's great rememberers of names) were the hard core of campers. Chris from Bristol plus family showed up for the run on Sunday and were very welcome. Another chap (whose identity Barry can elucidate) brought his HiAce Custom Wagon for a glimpse of the large life.

Saturday was drizzly most of the day, and we mostly stood about under tree chatting. I got a barbecue lit, and Barry kindly got a gazebo over it when the rain got heavier, so the kids got fed, but seconds after the sausages were ready a huge gust almost took us into Somerset, so the gazebo came down again.
Later Dave H called out the RAC for a flat battery, and the nice RAC man's Transit sank to its axles in mud! Much heaving, towing, matting and planking later and it was still up to its axles in mud. Eventually a tow truck managed to winch him off from about 100 yds away on the hard bit of road.
At least the rain had stopped by then (10pm??), so the BBQ was pressed into service as a bum-warming brazier.

Sunday dawned drizzly, brightened briefly, then got miserable again. Undeterred, we slid and slithered off the field and into Instow for the Townie parade at the Commodore Hotel. Very understanding and nice hosts, once we'd established which of the 5000 car parks was the correct one for showing off your MPVs. I think more coffee and Danish pastry than ice-cream was consumed. I'll leave Barry to add further details - over to you mate.

I think it's safe to say those present had a peculiarly British kind of fun ("pace" Holger, I'm sure you understand our masochistic streak and have a well developed one of your own!?).

Let's do it again soon!

Steve

- (#3152) SteveFE, 27 May 02

Thanks for that Steve. I've been feeling bad all weekend about not making it due to my ailing Townie. Not sure whether it was a good or bad thing I did from the sound of it. The weather looked awful for Devon according to the Beeb. Having experienced storms and gales down there a year last October, maybe the latter. Still has to be a good venue though if the weather is right. Maybe next time eh? Thanks for the update.
Ian

- (#3153) Ian Dunse, 27 May 02

PS Barry, if you could send me some of your pics, particularly the HiAce, I'll get them into my Ace Jam page (currently "under construction" ie floating about in my head - I'll get it posted up soon as I can skive an hour or two on the ADSL which should be working at work tomorrow).

Perhaps the other brave attenders could post or email me their thoughts on the weekend and I'll try to get it all together on the webpage.

Steve

- (#3154) SteveFE, 27 May 02

We ought to be AOL WeBuddies or whatever the hell they call them. That was the quickest response I've ever seen, specially sice eccentrix server only seems to update when it feels like it. I've sometimes waited 2 days for one of my posts to show up.

- (#3155) SteveFE, 27 May 02

Nothing masochistic, Steve. We had no problem braving the rain in our luxuriously kitted-out LiteAce. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Our only suggestion
Shall we try another camp site next time? The scenery was not too bad, but their sanitary block was a bit - "Yuck!". Not quite worth the money.

Otherwise
Big thanks to Barry for organising this.

BTW, it took us 6 hours strolling home along the coast line, having breaks and even a little nap in between.

Great weekend,


Holger + Zora

- (#3156) Holger, 27 May 02

would love to have gone'as i only live near-plymouth
but the old cruiser failed big time on the emissions test-had the mobile engine tuner round and the cylinder
condition as follows' {CYL1 93%} {CYL3 63%} {CYL4 100%}
{CYL2 -9%} AHH im not happy' well ive been quoted £200.00 to get the job done'so she's going in tomorrow
and i get her back on 'wed'just in time for 14days grace'and hope she goes through.shame about the weather...lynn

- (#3157) lynn, 27 May 02

Thanks Barry,both for organizing the meet,and for chatting to me while my bored family looked on.I have to admit that I wouldn't have made a special trip down from Bristol,if my sister didn't live in Bickington,which made it the perfect excuse to come .I'm sorry if I complained about the directions,but we had some difficulty finding the site-mainly the last mile or so!
Hope to see you again some time Ray

- (#3170) Ray Cattle, 28 May 02

Townace Meeting
Hi there everyone, I must say at the outset that the Ace Jam did happen-during the weekend we had about 8 vehicles no 9 that came and went.
As the weather was not very good I want to say a big thanks to all those that made the effort to be there (ACE JAM Sticker) on back screen(thanks steve for his lunchtime extra work load)and those that have ace jam sticker can now drive around with pride!!!

If asked would I do it again?-YES, while our discussions during the weekend where not entirely comparing notes with one townace to another-I for my part were very pleased to put the faces to the names of those that use the BOK and now can picture you all when writing comments on the BOK. That is Clive; Dave H; Steve; Holger; Ray; and Ian Root with his SUPER Hi-ace custom well done all of you for being there.(Sorry no T-Shirts)
That is a big bonus for the Ace Jam, if nothing else. Wives and families too, wow the banana cake was good!

True the camp site was not very good(entertainment on Saturday evening was good, all were smiling until Holger recommended that the RAC man call the AA to tow him out of the mud!) If another Jam then we learn from the past and made sure that the site is better.
There is plenty more in Devon!

I will sent to Steve FE some of my pictures, but most of them may just back up his already taken.(Did’t get one of Ian’s Hi-ace)

It is true that we have one of the best website forum’s around and get the best answers to questions about these funny vehicle for the land of the rising sun-keep it going

That’s about it-If you want another ACE JAM we can do it if you come to it!!! Eh! Sorry b&q
Let us know your thoughts.

Regards,

Barry T
- (#3186) Barry Thorogood, 29 May 02

Make the next one more northern/ central, and I'll try to make the trip!!

- (#3188) david miller, 30 May 02

Personally I prefer the idea of Devon/Cornwall with its blue sea, beaches and great weather (err quickly moving on) but admit its a long drag for a weekend for many living in the north. I think it true to say, and confirmed with some of the reports from last weekend, that any location needs activities for wives and kids as they don't want to spend the weekend swapping stories about fuel consumption and van interior layouts.
To this end if we want to organise something more central can I suggest that we still go for a coastal venue? I would have said Norfolk but its a bind in terms of lack of fast roads. So how about North Wales or even Cumbria? Ideas anyone? And perhaps we should move this to the Ace Jam board.

- (#3191) Ian Dunse, 30 May 02

OK so I was only there on a day trip....
I did enjoy it, my wife was chatting (she is good at that) with anyone who would listen, the kids (two teenagers, why me?) were happy too. When I say happy those of you who have or had teenage children can you tell? We are fair weather campers so it was probably good for the marriage that we only visited. Still did not find anyone with climate control to compare notes.
For the next one North Wales, Cumbria where ever. Pick out those with the sticker, real posh it is.

- (#3207) Clive, 31 May 02

Sorry that we couldn't make it either guys, we are off to the Isle of Wight for the whole week coming, so we had so much to sort out last weekend that we couldn't do both, anyway it look as though a good time was had by all, despite changeable weather. I was disappointed to see though that it was only 2WD Townies that ended up being represented, it would have been interesting to see if a 4WD had managed to pull out the RAC truck from the mud, but alas we'll never know, anyway, hope we can make the next one. regards Rob.

- (#3224) Rob Drinkwater, 31 May 02