Convoy driving - to & from meeting points to events

[Short_Shift]

@IanH

@Short Shift

A fair bit of negativity about convoys in this thread. It would be great to hear about some successful outings and what contributed to a positive experience.

 

We do 10 or so a year and have done for many years though they are supposed to be called touring car assemblies… or something. Make sure everyone knows where you’re going and programme in catch up points if people become detached. Drive within the law and never out of your comfort zone. We get 25 - 40% of our members ever actually come to anything in a year, that’s fine as everyone’s need from the club is different. 

 

Thats sounds like a good percentage and suggests members appreciate these excursions given the number you do each year. You must be doing something right!

[TheCaptain]

WE also do about 10 or more a year, and in the past have had in excess of 40 cars. We always have a pre-drive briefing to ensure that everyone is clear as to the end point and anything else they need to look out for.

Since introducing CB radios it has got easier but not all cars have them. We try and put single occupancy cars behind one with a co-pilot.

Convoys are great fun and and we have done them all over the country as well as regularly in France.

[PeteG1]

I’ve organised a few runs over the years with both the MG and MX5 OCs. As I said in another post, I hate the term ‘convoy’ as to me it evokes the image of a line of vehicles nose to tail and moving very slowly. I think sometimes people think that when they’re told to keep the car in front and behind in view that they have to be right on each others bumpers. In many of the runs I’ve done the group gets quite spread out and that helps cater for different driving styles and speeds. On our last weekend trip away earlier this year we had some great drives through the Peak District and at times there was probably half a mile or more between the first and last car in the group. Everyone had a route book so could drive at their own pace. We even had one or two who went a little off piste but we let them catch up with us at the lunch stop. 

What makes for a a good group run? Proper planning, good route instructions and pre-drive brief, and a relaxed attitude. Oh, and some decent driving roads and scenery too! For me a good run is about the the journey as well as the destination (sometimes mostly the former). I try to plan routes so that people can take advantage of the MX5’s excellent handling and maximise the ‘fun factor’. Nothing worse than driving along flat straight A-roads. Give me some twisty undulating country roads any day of the week! 

[Short_Shift]

@Pete George

I’ve organised a few runs over the years with both the MG and MX5 OCs. As I said in another post, I hate the term ‘convoy’ as to me it evokes the image of a line of vehicles nose to tail and moving very slowly. I think sometimes people think that when they’re told to keep the car in front and behind in view that they have to be right on each others bumpers. In many of the runs I’ve done the group gets quite spread out and that helps cater for different driving styles and speeds. On our last weekend trip away earlier this year we had some great drives through the Peak District and at times there was probably half a mile or more between the first and last car in the group. Everyone had a route book so could drive at their own pace. We even had one or two who went a little off piste but we let them catch up with us at the lunch stop. 

What makes for a a good group run? Proper planning, good route instructions and pre-drive brief, and a relaxed attitude. Oh, and some decent driving roads and scenery too! For me a good run is about the the journey as well as the destination (sometimes mostly the former). I try to plan routes so that people can take advantage of the MX5’s excellent handling and maximise the ‘fun factor’. Nothing worse than driving along flat straight A-roads. Give me some twisty undulating country roads any day of the week! 

 

Now you are tempting me!

My oldest daughter in 5th year at Uni - Sheffiled - we love the Peak district: great driving roads and great climbing.