Factory Tour around ProDrive at Banbury
- John Scherrer
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Factory Tour around ProDrive at Banbury
Got an invite from a colleague at work who is a Green Lanes fan - Driving 4x4s on the public bridleways and rural assault courses - to make up numbers.
Their club had organised a trip to have a 3 hour tour around Dave Richards' ProDrive factory at Brackley.
They have a fantastic setup there preparing works World Rally Cars and also building race and rally BMW Minis, Aston Martins.
They have a car museum too with some historic race and rally cars and also have a full development setup with CNC machining, wiring loom production and engine and gearbox development etc etc.
It would make a great Atom Club event - It worked out at about £27 per head for about 25 of us.
Pictures were permitted in some places and I took quite a few.
I used to stand out in forests (why did it always start snowing on the RAC?) watching the Group B cars before they were outlawed after some unfortunate high speed fatal accidents involving spectators and drivers/co drivers.
Needless to say there were a few of those nostalgic cars there :-
1. Jimmy McRae's and Ian Grindrod's Metro 6R4
Their club had organised a trip to have a 3 hour tour around Dave Richards' ProDrive factory at Brackley.
They have a fantastic setup there preparing works World Rally Cars and also building race and rally BMW Minis, Aston Martins.
They have a car museum too with some historic race and rally cars and also have a full development setup with CNC machining, wiring loom production and engine and gearbox development etc etc.
It would make a great Atom Club event - It worked out at about £27 per head for about 25 of us.
Pictures were permitted in some places and I took quite a few.
I used to stand out in forests (why did it always start snowing on the RAC?) watching the Group B cars before they were outlawed after some unfortunate high speed fatal accidents involving spectators and drivers/co drivers.
Needless to say there were a few of those nostalgic cars there :-
1. Jimmy McRae's and Ian Grindrod's Metro 6R4
Last edited by John Scherrer on Fri Feb 24, 2012 1:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Atom 3 310 Supercharged (2011), Now Sold
- John Scherrer
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- Joined: Sat Mar 07, 2009 1:20 pm
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Re: Factory Tour around ProDrive at Brackley
2. That's a lot of motor for a Metro!
Last edited by John Scherrer on Sun Feb 26, 2012 1:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Atom 3 310 Supercharged (2011), Now Sold
- John Scherrer
- Global Moderator
- Posts: 5124
- Joined: Sat Mar 07, 2009 1:20 pm
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Re: Factory Tour around ProDrive at Banbury
3. Colin McRae's dad ..
Last edited by John Scherrer on Fri Feb 24, 2012 1:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Atom 3 310 Supercharged (2011), Now Sold
- John Scherrer
- Global Moderator
- Posts: 5124
- Joined: Sat Mar 07, 2009 1:20 pm
- Location: Willington, Bedford UK
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Re: Factory Tour around ProDrive at Banbury
4. A lot of switches and dials ..
Last edited by John Scherrer on Fri Feb 24, 2012 1:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Atom 3 310 Supercharged (2011), Now Sold
Re: Factory Tour around ProDrive at Brackley
Looks like a good day out John. That engine is bonkers for a metro
Cheers Wattie
Cheers Wattie
Re: Factory Tour around ProDrive at Brackley
Tony Pond in his 6R4 on the RAC is one of my abiding memories
Brilliant cars. Great noise
Brilliant cars. Great noise
Keep smiling!!
Re: Factory Tour around ProDrive at Brackley
My first ride in a proper fast car was in an uncles clubman spec 6R4, great fun and possibly has a lot to answer for.
I wish I had bought one a few years back when they were relatively unloved and therefore quite cheap.
I wish I had bought one a few years back when they were relatively unloved and therefore quite cheap.
Re: Factory Tour around ProDrive at Brackley
I remember when they were outlawed and there was a car park full of them - you could pick them up brand new for relative peanuts. Same goes for the Ford RS200. Wish I had bought one - it was just a bit too much at the time.
I am a big fan of the Group B cars - there is a museum in Brittany called Loheac that has the full selection of Group B cars with Peugeot T16, Renault Maxi Turbo, Lancia Delta, Metro 6R4 etc etc - highlight of my visit there and well worth a stop if you are near.
I am a big fan of the Group B cars - there is a museum in Brittany called Loheac that has the full selection of Group B cars with Peugeot T16, Renault Maxi Turbo, Lancia Delta, Metro 6R4 etc etc - highlight of my visit there and well worth a stop if you are near.
Atom 4, Mclaren 720s, Audi Rs4, VW ID3.....
Re: Factory Tour around ProDrive at Brackley
I love 'em Can't believe no-one has mentioned those Quattros yet.... Awesome cars. It's worth a trip to Cholmondeley Pageant of Power to see some of this hardware close up and being driven in anger.
Geek mode - have a look in the back of an RS200 and you will see some familiar welds.....Arch Motors did all the subframes, rear suspension etc.
If you get 5 minutes have a watch of these (if you haven't seen them already) - turn up the volume - LOUD
Group B - Pure sound
Group B - Pure sound 2
Group B - Pure sound 3
And back on topic John i'd be very interested in that if you want to organise a club outing? I've been there before for work but never had a full tour.
Geek mode - have a look in the back of an RS200 and you will see some familiar welds.....Arch Motors did all the subframes, rear suspension etc.
If you get 5 minutes have a watch of these (if you haven't seen them already) - turn up the volume - LOUD
Group B - Pure sound
Group B - Pure sound 2
Group B - Pure sound 3
And back on topic John i'd be very interested in that if you want to organise a club outing? I've been there before for work but never had a full tour.
Re: Factory Tour around ProDrive at Brackley
I'd be up for that too.
Cheers, Hedge
Cheers, Hedge
Re: Factory Tour around ProDrive at Brackley
yeah count me in.
Atom 4, Mclaren 720s, Audi Rs4, VW ID3.....
Re: Factory Tour around ProDrive at Brackley
Sounds good - why not organise it for the same day as the Wedding thread? They're both in the same general direction.
Midday surrounded by bridesmaids, afternoon rally cars - with a cross-country drive between; what more does a man need?
Midday surrounded by bridesmaids, afternoon rally cars - with a cross-country drive between; what more does a man need?
Re: Factory Tour around ProDrive at Brackley
Now there's a plan !!
Atom 4, Mclaren 720s, Audi Rs4, VW ID3.....
Re: Factory Tour around ProDrive at Brackley
[quote="Trigger"]
I am a big fan of the Group B cars - there is a museum in Brittany called Loheac that has the full selection of Group B cars with Peugeot T16, Renault Maxi Turbo, Lancia Delta, Metro 6R4 etc etc - highlight of my visit there and well worth a stop if you are near.
[/quote]
That museum is great, a few of us went there in 2009 by Atom and I concur well worth a stop. They would not let us go on the circuit mind you.
Ben
I am a big fan of the Group B cars - there is a museum in Brittany called Loheac that has the full selection of Group B cars with Peugeot T16, Renault Maxi Turbo, Lancia Delta, Metro 6R4 etc etc - highlight of my visit there and well worth a stop if you are near.
[/quote]
That museum is great, a few of us went there in 2009 by Atom and I concur well worth a stop. They would not let us go on the circuit mind you.
Ben
Re: Factory Tour around ProDrive at Brackley
I expect Henry and some of the Ariel lads would be up for it too.....
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