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[funkydoodycool]

So as I said elsewhere, this is to test the waters for interest in the above... and not to be exclusive, the other forfour forums you guys are members of but I can't be bothered with (one is enough for me and you lot are lovely  ).

Who would like to see a regular (monthly, or every two months or so) meet for all us forfour owners?

I'd suggest as locations either the Ace Cafe (on standard days without other major events) or South Mimms services which would provide coffee, lunch and toilets as well as a big enough car park that we can meet in peace without bothering people.  The Police are prone to turning up there for large things, but they shouldn't bother us if we're not being silly.

We could even mix it up with other M25-based locations, east, west and south of London if it helps more people and shares the travelling out better.

[Strike]

yuuup, im in for that. Either locations are good for me!

Would love to meet some other fellows, as I have plans in my head for the Brab but want to pick brains and see other's car first!! Forums are great but seeing it in the flesh is even better.

I propose a weekend date? (however with the long days at the moment an evening is possible). A Sunday maybe? Morning time to allow us to gather and leave and still have the remainder of the day? I may be completely wrong, but im just throwing it out there.

[funkydoodycool]

No I like your thinking.  Maybe 10 or 11 on a Sunday morning, have a coffee, hang out for an hour, and head off.  Depends how many people come and how interested we all are in each other's company I guess

Make sure you vote yes though - cos the poll's looking a bit negative for now...

[Problemchild]

As a regular thing then it's too far for me but every 3months would be ok (but not if only 3 of us turn up)

Reading is a bit more "in between" and you may get a few people from the sw coming along (if there are people here)

Thoughts?

JJ

[funkydoodycool]

Reading was on my mind for a West (of) London location.

Not too far for me.

[LadyV]

I'm happy to come along to a meet but I would need to check my schedule as I work a lot of weekends and do 12 hour days so even if it was in the evening I wouldn't be able to come if I'm working.

Can I assume the majority of people on here live in London?

If you're looking for a simple meet (i.e no activity such as a day out in a museum, car event etc) whereby you can have a chat about the cars and have something to eat, might I suggest a pub with a large car park? Reason being is that service stations are over priced when it comes to food and drink and you're limited to fast food and little chefs...

Ace is limited on car park space and if say more than 10 cars show up they might not have the room or they could consider it to be a meet and would therefore expect it to have been booked.

[Problemchild]

God - I dont want to make friends with you buggers..... Just nose around your cars haha!!

I liked the mini meet we had before smart fest last year - casual, no pressure etc and just a nose..... The s2smarts sessions are also good for this. I think we lobby for another dyno day at s2smarts and all go there

JJ

[CrazyG]

I don't need to say if I'm interested...you all know how I feel.
And like LadyV I've tried to stir interest before..so it's good that
we're throwing this open to everyone and anyone to have their say.

Maybe a more open Poll is needed....
A group of Polls for England....one for the S/E, one for the S/W,
one for London, one for East, one for West, one for BHX/MAN area of
middle England, one for N/E, one for N/W, one for central N.

ok..seems too many...but gives everyone who does come on here and
read the chance to vote and maybe then decide to do an area meet.
Take it on board for yourselves, eh ?
And the poll/number of voters or results would dictate if its a Yes or No.

Let me know if you think that's a good enough idea and if enough of
you (and only if enough) say yes then I'll try n make time n get the
polls up.

[funkydoodycool]

Maybe a more open Poll is needed....
A group of Polls for England....one for the S/E, one for the S/W,
one for London, one for East, one for West, one for BHX/MAN area of
middle England, one for N/E, one for N/W, one for central N.

That was kind of my line of thinking, so naturally I started this one because it's the area that I call home (and I am not likely to go to many meets in Manchester or Newcastle...)

I think it would be great to make this a more social forum - some of us spend unhealthy amounts of time here (well, me and JJ at least - not to name names ) and actually meeting for real on a regular basis might be nice, and maybe a nice annual central gathering for everyone who can come.

[CrazyG]

Forgive me if I'm wrong here.....but I've had a bit of time to think about
all this and am wondering if the real problem is that we ourselves are possibly
being to insular here by wanting ForFour meets !
After all, most regions/areas already have monthly meets for owners of
all types of Smarts, so maybe we could be the one's being isolationists.
Now be honest...how many of us actually bother to attend their local monthly
area Smart meets ? Well ?

Perhaps if more of us did attend then maybe the owners of ForFours would be
more accepted by the fraternity, as I am well aware that I haven't exactly put
myself out and attended mine. But that's not to mean or say that we shouldn't
try and have our own ForFour meets..... that goes without saying.

I'll let you all think on that 'gem of a thought' for a day or two, ok......


Oh, and the 'nice annual central gathering for everyone who can come.'
was catered for quite well with the Smart Festival....till they changed the
date to the cold overcast and possibly wet and windy month of October.   

[Fox]

I knocked a poll up on FFO where people could suggest places and then vote on them. The idea was to set up multiple meets all around the country with the understanding that not everyone could go to all but everyone could go to at least one. Dead in the water. I won't give up though

I agree with G on 'regional smart meets'.
If i knew of one near us I would go.

We do have ace twice a year, s2 a couple of times a year and the festival. So at least we do have a few anyway.
Oh and Ace has been re-arranged for the nearest free date. Check thread.

[funkydoodycool]

You could be right G, but bear in mind that I started this thread as a member of THIS forum, to get the people of THIS forum (and it's sisters) together.  I don't know much about Smarts other than what I've learned here (mostly forfour based...) and indeed had my first ride in a fortwo last week when I borrowed Rob's.

I wouldn't be averse to going to a local Smart meet in my forfour.  I used to go to Jap meets in a Chavalier....

[musmart]

I agree we need a meet (london base) once a month. it doesn't need to be only smart cars but join other meets happening all around london. if we get get every within and around m25 owners town, we can then find maybe a fair place for all.

[LadyV]

The good news is that we will always have The Smart Festival, Ace Cafe (twice a year) and S2Smarts which are all relatively near to London. That's at least five meets a year in the London area.

As it happens Smart Times 12 is closer to home this year so a few of us are heading to Belgium.

We suggested on FFO other areas to meet because I think that we should attempt to make an effort for others if they are miles away from London- a lot of people live up north and it certainly wouldn't bother me about meeting half way to accommodate other ForFour owners.

[CrazyG]

......As it happens Smart Times 12 is closer to home this year so a few of us are heading to Belgium.....

From the UK, FEW is the operative word !
I'm embarressed and upset by the low UK response...just 3 cars !

Do not be under the delussion that Smart Times will ever come to the UK. It won't !
Why ? Because we have The Smart Festival. No other country has or holds one
like it, and that is why Smart/MB have organised it....like a sort of 'mobile' sales drive
all around Europe, and that's why it is a 3 day event, so that you can get there when
you want without the rush/pressure of the one day Festival we have in the UK.
It also has a massive turn out of aftermarket vendors/suppliers/tuners etc.

BUT...nuf said on that score ...there's a post elsewhere on Smart Times....
So, apologies for hi-jacking the thread a bit there.


Back on topic....Yeah, I'm all in favour of a North London meet....and one further North.
It just needs some or one of you guys 'up North' to propose some possible dates and
venues and to take it from there. Well ?