Solent


AREA CO-ORDINATORs

Mal Rowland & Terry Botto
Email: 
solent@mx5oc.co.uk

The Solent Area covers Portsmouth, Southampton and Hampshire, the Isle of White and extends to Salisbury and Andover. We meet twice a month, for a Sunday Drive on the first Sunday of each month, which takes place all year round and an evening event on the third Wednesday of each month.

Full details of all our events, are provided in our “Solent Area Programme”, which is posted on the Solent Area of the Forum and is a live document and can be found pinned to the Forum.


REGULAR MEETS

First Sunday of the Month: please check the Solent Area Programme for the latest details

Third Wednesday of the Month: please check the Solent Area Programme for the latest details


DIARY

Apr
17
Wed
2024
SOLENT AREA – A drive and visit to The Hampshire Hog, Clanfield for Supper on Wednesday 17th April 2024 @ The Hampshire Hog
Apr 17 @ 6:45 pm – 10:00 pm

HI Everyone,

A bit of time until we do this run in April, which will be our first drive after the clocks go forward, so this is an early “heads-up” of this one but the seeds of the event have been sown and a reservation for 15 to 20 people has been made, which can be updated to add more, as desired

Update as of 17th Feb: Serena and I visited the Hampshire Hog today and I spole to the Deputy Manager (Connor) to finalise details for our visit and he has allocated us the large dining area seperated from the main bar area, which is perfect for our needs. The food is absolutely excellent with very good staff and we hope you will enjoy the food and visit

We will update the venue on our numbers nearer the time but in the meantime to aid this process, please let us know if you are attending this event  and your meal choices and we will capture them for the venue to work to.

Please see the menu below and let us know your choices soonest and also please send a £5 deposit/head to PayPal A/C (malrowland21@gmail.com)

A4 HHog Menu Template - A4 Centred

Mal’s tip of the day: The above PDF menu is on two pages, so once you have made your meal choices, if you wish to see the dessert choices then go to the bottom of the PDF file and click the “down arrow” to reveal page 2…..simples

Best Regards

Team Solent

 

 

May
10
Fri
2024
SOLENT AREA – Now for something completely different on 10th May 2024 @ The White Hart Hotel
May 10 @ 7:30 pm – 11:00 pm
Hi Everyone,
As the title of this event suggests, this is something a bit different from our normal type of event but we thought we would give it a try, as follows;
Lyn & Geoff Lowe contacted us with news of this event which is being arranged by a friend of theirs, Christine Baird,  who sadly lost her husband and is Solent Area member. Christine and is organining this event in aid of Pancreatic Cancer and sent us the text below:
I lost my husband Richard, back in September sadly. Our friends Lyn and Geoff Lowe may have already passed on this to you. I am looking forward to using my MX5 more this year as I didn’t really get the chance much last year.
I am organising an event at The White Hart in Salisbury together with The Navy Larks on the 10th May in memory of Richard and to raise funds in aid of Pancreatic Cancer UK. Perhaps you and your group members might be interested in coming? I will send over the flyer.
Kindest Regards
Christine Baird
Here is the flyer Christine sent over to us and if you wish to go along and support this event, please reply on the SOlent Area of the forum and we will add your name(s) to the Attendees List
Best Regards
Team Solent
May
11
Sat
2024
SOLENT AREA – A drive and visit to Bill Rawles Classic Cars, Four Marks, Nr Alresford, on Saturday 11th May 2024 @ Rawles Classic Cars
May 11 all-day

Hi Everyone,

This one was recommended to me by our very own “Martin Down”, who visited the venue a little while back and said it was very good, so I kept it in my back pocket until now and have conversed with Jack Rawles, via email over the last few weeks and arranged this visit for us.

In order to fit in with the venues availability we have had to shift this event from the first Sunday in the month to the second Saturday in the month but if promises to be a good one and Jack says they will provide a great tour of what they do there and will provide free tea and coffee. I will provide a box of biscuits for you all to tuck into also

This is an early “Heads-Up” for the event and final details will be posted once we have confirmed timings with Jack and a suitable drive route to Bill Rawles Classic Cars, so keep an eye on this Calendar entry and the MX5OC Forum, nearer the time for further updates.

Best Regards

Mal

 

May
31
Fri
2024
Visit to Gatwick Aviation Museum Friday 31st May 2024. @ Gatwick Aviation Museum
May 31 all-day

GATWICK AVIATION MUSEUM VISIT and RUN – Friday 31st May 2024
Cost is £10pp for entry, a guided tour and parking on the display field by the Shackleton.
Displays included complete and partial planes, numerous engines, an Airbus A350 First Class Cabin used for training and a Boeing 747 bar that James Bond (Daniel Craig) drank at in Quantum of Solace 😊

https://www.gamc.org.uk/ – RH6 0BT

09:00 to 10.00 – Meet at Old Barn Nursery RH13 8NR for refreshments.
10:00 – Run to the Museum RH6 0BT. Approx 1 hour and 30 miles.
11.00 – Arrive at Museum. Parking is on the display field close to the Shackleton (pictured above). Please follow instructions from the staff and be aware of other visitors milling about. Due to this potential safety hazard could people not joining the run please arrive as close to 11.00 as possible please. There is a small Café onsite but it is limited to hot and cold drinks plus sandwiches, packaged cakes, chocolate and crisps.
11.45 to 12.45 – First half of tour.
12.45 to 14.30 – Picnic or Café lunch. There are numerous picnic spots around the site. The top choices probably being by our cars close to the Shackleton or over at the Gatwick Airport viewing point (5 to 8 minute walk) which is VERY close to the live runway. We have suggested a long lunch to give a chance to wander around, take photos and visit the runway viewing point.
14.30 to 15.30 – Second half of tour.
15.30 – Depart for home. Leaving before this is possible but I will need to keep the staff informed due to our display area parking position.

Open Friday, Saturday & Sunday 10.00 to 16.00
• All car club members can park on our event field just by the Shackleton, which offers you a good photo opportunity;
• Members can enjoy a guided tour of the Museum;
• Any day of the week is potentially possible, subject to me securing enough Volunteers but we are open to the public on a Friday to Sunday. If you wanted to do something on another week day, we can certainly explore that for you.
• The normal cost for entry to the Museum would be £11.00 or £9.50 for those lucky enough to be over 65 and parking on our event field is normally an extra charge also. For a group rate however, I could offer you this option for £10 per head if a minimum of 20 people in group.
RUN: From Old Barn Nursery RH13 8NR (turn left on exiting) – Approx 1 hour and 30 miles

2 Martin and Nicky
2 Chris and Heather
1 Paul C
2 Steve and Janet Payne
2 John and Ann
2 Pat and David
2 Joan and Stephen
2 Miles and June
2 Paul and Barbara
1 David Lawrence
1 David Turtle (from Eastbourne)
2 Peter and Angela Toogood
2 Nigel and Louise ?
2 Keith and Jo
2 Chris and Maggie
2 Andy and Jackie
2 Russell and Lesley
Roger and Linda

Jun
23
Sun
2024
SOLENT & Neighbouring Areas – Thruxton Historic 2024 @ Thruxton Circuit
Jun 23 all-day

Hi Everyone,

Since arranging the Solent & Neighbouring Areas 30th Anniversary event in 2019, we have since been invited back each year and this year we are returning again to the  “Thruxton Historic Event 2024”  in June, to enjoy a fabulous day out and celebrate 35 years of the brilliant MX-5. Hopefully, in stunning sunshine, as per 2023, where we sat on the bank, under the Solent Area Gazebo, overlooking the race circuit

This year, we are only going attending on the Sunday, as past experience has shown that this to be the most popular day for our members. The only downside is, we may not get the same parking area on the bank that we had last year with close proximnity to facilities, such as toilets, tunnel to inner track area and food caterers etc. However, Iain Fleming, is kindly working on this for us with the Thruxton Team and will udpate us very soon on this issue. Once we know the outcome, we will update this post with the necessary infomation.

To register with the MX-5 Owners Club discount for the Thruxton Historic race meeting on Sunday 23rd of June, proceed as follows;

To purchase discounted car club tickets and supply vehicle details for a free club display vehicle pass visit the dedicated car club ticket booking page (see link below).

Please Note: Each order allows you to book one free vehicle display pass with the driver and any passenger tickets need to be added at checkout!

Adult Car Club Tickets: One day £15 Weekend £28

Children 15 years and under admitted free with an adult ticket holder.

https://thruxtonracing.co.uk/th-car-club-2024

To purchase discounted car club tickets and supply vehicle details for a free club display vehicle pass visit the dedicated car club ticket booking page (see link below). Each order allows you to book one free vehicle display pass when purchasing the driver and any passenger tickets.

Adult Car Club Tickets: One day £15 Weekend £28

Children 15 years and under admitted free with an adult ticket holder.

Scroll down to the numbered section, select a ticket type/day, and click ‘ADD TO BASKET’

Click ‘CHECKOUT NOW’ to go to your basket where you can amend ticket quantities.

Enter code MX5OC245TH in the DISCOUNT CODE field (bottom left of the basket) click APPLY to activate the discount, repeat for each ticket type on the order.

Please check the total before clicking PROCEED TO CHECKOUT

Car Club tickets must be booked by 2pm Monday 17th June. Tickets and display vehicle passes will be sent to club members by first class post on or before this date.

Tickets and display vehicle passes will be sent to club members by first class post on or before this date.

Once you have booked your tickets, please email us at: solent@mx5oc.co.uk to confirm your attendance so we can track numbers attending!

Club displays will be on the banking and grass areas in the outfield and marshalls will driect us to our allocated club area, which  will be signposted.

Circuit information and faqs can be found here https://thruxtonracing.co.uk/racing/historic

Updates and event information on the event website here https://www.thruxtonhistoric.com/

Best Regards

The Solent Team

Jun
30
Sun
2024
Visit to Hollycombe Steam Museum GU30 7LP Sunday 30th 2024. @ Holcombe Steam Museum
Jun 30 all-day

A visit to the Holcombe Steam Museum being organised by Paul Cleaver.

A fun day at the Hollycombe Steam Museum at Liphook GU30 7LP Tickets need to be purchased on line for the day and flyer for the trip will be sent out in January 2024. Link also in January 2024 Newletter for this event.

Meeting from 10-00am at Pulborough Garden Centre, Stopham Bridge RH20 1DS for departure at 11.00am.

Once you have purchased tickets please confirm to Chris Unsted as detailed above.

Confirmed to date as at 26 March 2024

Paul
Chris and Heather
Steve and Janet
Helen and Richard
Fred and Judith
John and Ann


PAST EVENTS

SOLENT – A visit to Awbridge Village Fete on Saturday 13th May 2023

Hi Everyone, Its been a few years since we last did this one and as many of you know it’s a good’un🙂 Mike’s wit when narrating these tour is wonderful and after the tour we return to the barn and have a wonderful Ploughmans Supper – with those famous Lyburn Cheese’s of course Lyburn Cheeses, […]

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Solent Area – A drive and visit to the Chocolate Frog Tearooms and Barns on Sunday 2nd October 2022

Hi Everyone, Here is another event for you all, courtesy of “Wheelers Fine MX5 Drives”  Patricia & John have kindly arranged a Solent Area drive to visit The Chocolate Frog Tea Rooms and Shopping Barns, Oakhanger Lane, Oakhanger,Nr Bordon, Hants, GU35 9JA Due to the interest already received, since this event was posted in the Solent […]

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SOLENT AREA – A visit to Simply Jap at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu on 24th July 2022

Hi Everyone, Gerry Hall has arranged a visit for us to Simply Jap at Beaulieu to display as many MX5’s as possible, so please come along if you are free for a good day out in nice surroundings. Terry and I went to this a few years back but have not been since, so now […]

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SOLENT – Fish and Chips on the Beach on Wednesday 20th July 2022

An ever popular Event, in the Solent Area Calendar, as we had a lovely time sitting on the beach in stunning sunshine in 2021, so we are hoping for the same this year   So, its back again this year, “to titillate your taste buds and make your mouth water” and Caroline & Nick Greest […]

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SOLENT AREA – 16th February 2022: A visit to Rancho Steakhouse, West Street, Fareham

Hi Everyone, In liaison with Tug & Clare, as they had kindly organised our Cafe Tusk visits in past years, before Covid, we have been discussing where to visit now Cafe Tusk has closed down in Fareham  We discussed various options/venues and have come up with; RANCHO STEAK HOUSE, 109-111 WEST STREET, PO16 0AB  A […]

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