2003 Briskoda Charity Event!

[Tavia4x4]

Right, someone (step forward and look suspicious Huck ) made the wonderful suggestion of something we could do for charity...

"Briskoda Gumball - Lands End to John O'Groats for Children in Need"

The proposal is we drive, within speed limits, with lots of publicity, from one end of the country to the other, in September, to raise money for Children in Need day 2003, which is Friday 21 November.

It's about 900miles, so I propose a two day (maybe non-stop?) trip, with a "core" of those doing the whole trip (the more the better) and everyone else "joining the convoy" for as long as they can in their region.

We want the national and local press involved, the police aware (and dropping a police RS into the convoy occasionally :wink: ) Skoda dealers involved \ sponsoring, Skoda themselves maybe, but lots of exposure and sponsorship!

We need to start organising this *now* - you will pay petrol \ expenses yourself, and we'll have one hell of a party at John O'Groats, then all sponsorship money goes to charity.

So vote here, let me know what you think?

[TaviaRS]

Won't we use more petrol going "uphill"?

I'm up for it, going the whole way, assuming the dates are right.

Jon

[TaviaRS]

Shortest route is 839 miles. How about visiting the national capitals and Skoda UK HQ?

Lands End, Welsh National assembly, Skoda HQ (is it in Wallington near Croydon?), Houses of Parliament, Scottish Parliament (not sure exactly where it is in Edinburgh) then John O'Groats. Roughly 1,000 miles.

Any takers?

[Tavia4x4]

Sounds like an option, lets see who's up for it then decide the exact details?

The more we people we get the more likely we can get involvement from the police, or Skoda, or TV programs etc!

[Huck]

:driving:

i'm up for it obviously! ( can't find a suitable enough shifty looking emoticon ian!)

i agree, we need to start now with this one if it's going to be as well organised with re. to sponsors, coverage etc etc as we hope. i'm quite confident we'll get a good turnout.

[philc]

depends on dates, but, hell, why not?

Longdistance Phil

[g7pkf]

im interested have to talk to er indoors

but here's a suggestion. start driving at 12:00 midnight am from the start point and finish whenever (hopefully pre 12 midnight) that way your doing the whole journey on children in need day.

run gps tracking back to website so people who cant join us for the whole journey can see where we are and join us for a bit of it.


bet someone crashes nudge nudge...

[Tavia4x4]

I like the midnight start idea, was going to suggest that, or lunchtime and drive through the night finishing the following day?

I like the "web following" idea tho!!

[ColinD]

hehe I like the idea of GPS tracking and linking back to the website...

I was rooting for the nissan sunny thing in the cannon ball.


Car layout plan A.

:driving: :trackday:
:censor: :pgm:

[GAFF]

What about contacting 4car with the idea and seeing if they will do a piece on their programme.

Regards,
Gaff

[g7pkf]

gps tracking to web is the easy part, already got it although you do need a licence.
to see where I am follow link below!
http://www.findu.com/cgi-bin/find.cgi?call=G7PKF-7

[Tavia4x4]

Thats really sweet.

RE contacting the press etc, I can only do that once we have numbers \ large support, they will not be interested in following 3 of us!

So come on, vote, let me know what's viable!

[SkodaRS]

Great idea, could well be interested in doing a region jolly, say from Durham onwards, as am from the North East, bit far to drive down to Lands End to come back up again. :driving: Let you guys know.

[BAAHEED]

I'm up for the Scottish Leg :thumb:

Sorry I've been a bit dormant lately lads been spending a lot of time working hope to get back to normal service asap.

[Pete]

I'd do the whole thing...as long as I had enough notice to book time off work.....

I would also be up for approaching my local dealer to get some support if possible.

(Actually, I would bet my employer would throw something at it).

[BAAHEED]

You'd have to remember guys that if you do the whole thing your actaully looking at a min of 1600 miles by the time you travel to Lands End do the 1000 miles to John O Groats and then return home wherever it maybe. So you'll probably need sponsored from Red Bull as well.

[Witchfinder-at-Work]

I read on the ABD mailing list the other day that "convoys" are actually illegal. I don't know what law applies, and I can't confirm it, but I hope it doesn't scupper the plans.

The trip as a whole is probably too long for me, but I'll definately join for a 50 odd mile stretch.

[TaviaRS]

Thats true, "convoys" are strictly speaking illegal, or will be very, very soon. Actually its not convoys as such, its actually gathering of cars - I believe you will actually need police permission for any gathering of over 5 cars. It is intended to stamp out the neds going down to Micky Ds on a Saturday night for illegal cruises.

Currently the police have to make do with the public order act, which, IIRC, was modified for the May day protests.

The new law will allow the police to seize the cars and destroy them, at worst, or you pay them £500 to get it back.

I know that there are some "protests" being organised by someone I know quite well, and some of you have met :scratch: (no names no packdrill). So far he has approx 10,000 people signed up to have a cruise in one city They would like to see the police seize that many cars. Taken to its ultimate this means that if you have 5 cars coming round your house (that'll include any you own) you have to ask the police for permission for them to all be at your house :roll:

[ColinD]

I have heard about this, but to be honest thought it was in place already.

I hope/pray it is a law used in sense, i.e. for it's intended purpose.

Although I guess there's bound to be the odd day when you come accross a extreme application of it. It of course I guess effects, bikers, drivers etc on a sunday meet/drive.

[TaviaRS]

Done a bit of digging. Think its the Police Reform act, or part of it, which becomes law Feb 1. It already has its Royal Assent. Just for some "light" reading, here's a bit of it:

59 Vehicles used in manner causing alarm, distress or annoyance

(1) Where a constable in uniform has reasonable grounds for believing that a motor vehicle is being used on any occasion in a manner which-

(a) contravenes section 3 or 34 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (c. 52) (careless and inconsiderate driving and prohibition of off-road driving), and
(b) is causing, or is likely to cause, alarm, distress or annoyance to members of the public,
he shall have the powers set out in subsection (3).

(2) A constable in uniform shall also have the powers set out in subsection (3) where he has reasonable grounds for believing that a motor vehicle has been used on any occasion in a manner falling within subsection (1).

(3) Those powers are-

(a) power, if the motor vehicle is moving, to order the person driving it to stop the vehicle;
(b) power to seize and remove the motor vehicle;
(c) power, for the purposes of exercising a power falling within paragraph (a) or (b), to enter any premises on which he has reasonable grounds for believing the motor vehicle to be;
(d) power to use reasonable force, if necessary, in the exercise of any power conferred by any of paragraphs to (a) to (c).
(4) A constable shall not seize a motor vehicle in the exercise of the powers conferred on him by this section unless-

(a) he has warned the person appearing to him to be the person whose use falls within subsection (1) that he will seize it, if that use continues or is repeated; and
(b) it appears to him that the use has continued or been repeated after the the warning.
(5) Subsection (4) does not require a warning to be given by a constable on any occasion on which he would otherwise have the power to seize a motor vehicle under this section if-

(a) the circumstances make it impracticable for him to give the warning;
(b) the constable has already on that occasion given a warning under that subsection in respect of any use of that motor vehicle or of another motor vehicle by that person or any other person;
(c) the constable has reasonable grounds for believing that such a warning has been given on that occasion otherwise than by him; or
(d) the constable has reasonable grounds for believing that the person whose use of that motor vehicle on that occasion would justify the seizure is a person to whom a warning under that subsection has been given (whether or not by that constable or in respect the same vehicle or the same or a similar use) on a previous occasion in the previous twelve months.
(6) A person who fails to comply with an order under subsection (3)(a) is guilty of an offence and shall be liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(7) Subsection (3)(c) does not authorise entry into a private dwelling house.

(8) The powers conferred on a constable by this section shall be exercisable only at a time when regulations under section 60 are in force.

(9) In this section-

"driving" has the same meaning as in the Road Traffic Act 1988 (c. 52);
"motor vehicle" means any mechanically propelled vehicle, whether or not it is intended or adapted for use on roads; and
"private dwelling house" does not include any garage or other structure occupied with the dwelling house, or any land appurtenant to the dwelling house.
60 Retention etc. of vehicles seized under section 59

(1) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision as to-

(a) the removal and retention of motor vehicles seized under section 59; and
(b) the release or disposal of such motor vehicles.
(2) Regulations under subsection (1) may, in particular, make provision-

(a) for the giving of notice of the seizure of a motor vehicle under section 59 to a person who is the owner of that vehicle or who, in accordance with the regulations, appears to be its owner;
(b) for the procedure by which a person who claims to be the owner of a motor vehicle seized under section 59 may seek to have it released;
(c) for requiring the payment of fees, charges or costs in relation to the removal and retention of such a motor vehicle and to any application for its release;
(d) as to the circumstances in which a motor vehicle seized under section 59 may be disposed of;
(e) as to the destination-
(i) of any fees or charges payable in accordance with the regulations; and
(ii) of the proceeds (if any) arising from the disposal of a motor vehicle seized under section 59;
(f) for the delivery to a local authority, in circumstances prescribed by or determined in accordance with the regulations, of any motor vehicle seized under section 59.
(3) Regulations under subsection (1) must provide that a person who would otherwise be liable to pay any fee or charge under the regulations shall not be liable to pay it if-

(a) the use by reference to which the motor vehicle in question was seized was not a use by him; and
(b) he did not know of the use of the vehicle in the manner which led to its seizure, had not consented to its use in that manner and could not, by the taking of reasonable steps, have prevented its use in that manner.
(4) In this section-

"local authority"-
(a) in relation to England, means the council of a county, metropolitan district or London borough, the Common Council of the City of London or Transport for London; and
(b) in relation to Wales, means the council of a county or county borough;
"motor vehicle" has the same meaning as in section 59.


Basically, if Mr Plod doesn't like the cut of your jib, its bye bye car time. Why? You were causing distress to others.

Not fair really is it?