2011 ATOC Factory Tour Rally (Page 3 of 33 Day May trip)
Travel to AutoTrail Owners Club (ATOC) Factory Rally. It is only 77 miles to our next venue and on the way to Market Rasen Racecourse we stop off at Morrison’s in Lincoln to use the last fuel voucher and do some shopping. The supermarket had a very large car park, so easy to park “BIG RIG”, and as we leave Lincoln we have a great view of the Lincoln Cathedral. We arrive at Rally field and ask rally warden John Cleave to put us in the second rally field (around 150 Van’s at event) as we had people move when we were at our first ATOC rally at Spalding, because of noise of generator we are using, so we were happy to be put out the may and enjoy our music etc! Once we were parked up out come the wind breakers and got (Fold-up bikes out).
My Nephew Simon is accompanying me on a 33 day trip to the mainland from the Isle of Wight. This was undertaken in my 2010 Auto-Trail Tag Axle Frontier Comanche, known in my circle as the “Big Rig”. The trip will include our first participation in Rallies organised by the (ATOC) Auto-Trail Owners Club. See 2011 Spalding Report page of first ATOC of this trip. Also included in the itinerary is a stop of at “Top Lodge” Caravan Club site, then onto ATOC Factory Tour Rally. Stop at Market Rasen Racecourse CC site. Onto ATOC Lakeside Rally. The “Big Rig” first yearly check at the Tyne Valley Motorhome dealership, Newcastle. Stop stop offs at Barnard Castle, Chatsworth Park & Commons Wood CC sites. We finish the trip as part of the BMW Car Club, South East Region stand at the Enfield Pageant of Motoring event, before heading back to Arreton on Isle of Wight.
Day 8: Thursday 5th May 2011 –
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| Rally Plaque |
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| ATOC Factory Tour - Market Rasen Racecourse |
So we had a ride around to view the Rally fields and sign in and pay, picked up our rally pack which included Rally plague (17th Factory Rally). Having a good chat with members and then have a cycle around Market Rasen Racecourse.
Day 9: Friday 6th May 2011 – ATOC Factory Rally
After breakfast, due to the sun being out we first did some hand washing, using the buckets we on board, hanging clothes out on new clothes lines purchased while we were at Morrison’s.
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| ATOC Factory Tour - Market Rasen Racecourse. |
Walked in town to view shops, Simon made purchases from charity shops! Afternoon bikes out to ride around local area.
Day 10 of trip - Saturday 7th May 2011– ATOC Factory Rally- Visit Auto-Trail Factory
Today we board one of the four 9.15am coaches leaving the site to visit the Autotrail factory. The ride was around 40 minute trip.
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| Auto-Trail Factory Tour - Europarc - Grimsby. |
Making sure we had our tombola tickets with us. Once we arrived we were made welcome and took a tour of the factory. The company has been making a range of high quality motorhome's since 1981, and it employs over 200 people at its Grimsby base. Many members took the opportunely to talk to the Auto-Trail technicians.
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| Auto-Trail Factory Tour - Europarc - Grimsby. |
I had a word about the Electric panel, as charger light does flicker when my generator is on, but that’s OK. Checked out the latest Comanche, one update to mine was the Black Perspex right-hand side splash guard on cooker, so went to parts depart and ordered one to be sent back to the Isle of Wight, so anther job to do when back in Arreton. Checked out tombola ticket and one a Autotrail Computer bag, that will come in useful.
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| Auto-Trail Factory Tour - Europarc - Grimsby. |
Food on offer was a hog roast and tea & cakes. Checked out some of the after market companies, which were out side. Just before the rain started we got 12.30pm coach back to Rally site.
Day 11: Sunday 8th May 2011 – ATOC Factory Rally
11am Coffee Morning up in room in Market Rasen Racecourse Grandstand. Brought £10 worth of Raffle tickets, won a Toaster!
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| ATOC Factory Tour Rally - Coffee Morning - Market Rasen. |
Afterwards back to “RIG” to watch the Formula 1 Turkish GP on TV. Because we were down the bottom of the second Rally field, and it had been raining and some of members had left rally field. I moved Motorhome up the Rally Field, to be nearer the gate and on level ground. In the evening went over to room have a chat with Alan and Ann Marie and others at our table. A 50p raffle for an envelope (Contained a £10 note), which was given back to charity fund rising (Help the Hero’s).
Day 12: Monday 9th May 2011 – Say our “byes” to those members who would not be coming to the follow on ATOC Lakeside Rally. Lakeside did not start until Thursday so there were a few days before it started, so we moved 500 yards up the road to the Market Rasen Caravan Club site!
The adventure continues..Next trip report page
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