Land Rover World Record Attempt, Gaydon 23-24 April 2011

[4x4 nut]

Here is an interesting event for you, something unusual. A group of Land Rover enthusiasts have got together to raise a heap of funds for the worthy Help For Heroes charity, and at the same time have a bit of fun.

Held at the Motor Heritage Centre, Gaydon, Warwickshire, England, it's it’s an attempt to break the Guinness World Record™ for the Longest Land Rover Parade, previously set at Towcester Racecourse in Northants 2004.

Called CONVOY for HEROES they aim to have a convoy of 500 or more Land Rovers under the conditions set by Guinness World Records™. The record was set at 260 vehicles (set because it was first established in 2004 and there hadn’t been a record before that), with Series, Defenders, 101FC’s, Lightweights, Freelanders, Rangies and Discoveries all joining in. Now seven years on, with the Range Rover Sport thrown into the mix, there are an awful lot more Land Rover models out there, so achieving the goal of 500 should be a doodle … we hope!

23-24 April is the Easter weekend, so hopefully that will entice a few more owners to turn out as the Monday will obviously be a Bank Holiday, so no work!!!

The weekend however won’t just be confined to the world record attempt as there will be a host of attractions due to be announced in the New Year. Until then, have a butcher’s at the website for more details - www.convoy4heroes.org.uk

Hope to see you there!!!

[crclifford]

Looks like a good idea, i missed the bike ride through Wotton Bassett so would love to do this.

Chris

[4x4 nut]

As it happens I did see last year's bike ride, purely by chance I have to say as I was simply travelling in the opposite direction, but thought at the time I would organise a similar event for Land Rovers. Decided against it in the end as 'thin bikes' are one thing, but 'fat Landies' would bring the place to a standstill - not good publicity for the Land Rover community.

Next thing I know is a group of Land Rover enthusiasts are talking about breaking the current world record for the longest Land Rover parade over in Gaydon, so I decided to offer my assistance. Like you, think it's a good idea, and by the reaction so far, so do heaps of others. It's going to be great weekend!

[crclifford]

They don't seem to have updated the website with a booking form yet

[4x4 nut]

They don't seem to have updated the website with a booking form yet

It's because they are still in negotiations with Gaydon trying to get the price of the camping down. It's currently at £13, they are trying for £8, could well end up at £10. You have to try.

Anyway, now I'm here, news hot off the press!

As a prelude to CONVOY for HEROES, a series of mini-convoys will be setting out on Friday 22nd April 2011 (Good Friday) all heading to Gaydon. The idea is that each mini-convoy will be stopping at a number or pre-published pick-up points on their route at set times, thus enabling folk to join in and accompany them to the event. With loads of flags, cuddly toys, horns, belles and whistles, we want the world to know we are 'on our way'.

Here is the full list of all 17 mini-convoys, showing their proposed routes (unless stated) and estimated mileages and duration.

There are a few more than first envisaged, but understandable given the breadth of England and the densely populated south and southeast.

Commencing with the “North mini-convoy” to Gaydon, thereafter clockwise around points of the compass.

Please bear in mind that at this stage, only two of these proposed routes have been confirmed, so if you will be attending CONVOY for HEROES and yourself or your club fancy leading a mini-convoy, please register your interest by contacting me direct – 4x4trading@talk21.com Unless stated, all mini-convoys will depart on Fri 22nd April 2011.

PROPOSED: Route. ESTIMATED: Mileage & duration.

“North mini-convoy”

? to Gaydon, Warwickshire

Convoy led by ‘?’ of the “?” – MOB: ?

Ideally the mini-convoy should start from somewhere in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, roughly central between the M6 and the A1. Either Hawes, Pateley Bridge or Leyburn - A650 via Bradford to J27 M62 eastbound – J42 M1 southbound – M1 Wakefield – M1 Barnsley – M1Rotherham – M1 Sheffield – Chesterfield – west of Mansfield – Kirkby in Ashfield – M1 Nottingham – M1 Donnington Park/East Midlands Airport – A42 to Ashby de la Zouch – M42 Tamworth – Solihull – M40 to Gaydon.

Roughly 210 miles, 5.5 hours with stops.

CONFIRMED: Route, mileage, duration, departure times at pick-up points (now listed within C4H forum). This is the only mini-convoy comprising two days – Thurs 21st April and Fri 22nd April.

“Northeast mini-convoy”

Banff, Aberdeenshire to Gaydon, Warwickshire

Convoy led by ‘Yoda’ of the “Landy Rally Club” – 07802 894671

Thursday 21st April 2011: Banff – A97 Huntley – A96 Inverurie – A96/A90 Brechin – A90 Dundee – A92/M90 Kinross – A90/A720 Edinburgh – A720/A68 Jedburgh – A68 Fir Tree – A68/A1(M) Scotch Corner

334.7 miles, 7.7 hours with stops

Friday 22nd April 2011: Scotch Corner – A1 Pontefract – A1(M)/M18/M1 Sheffield – M1 Derby – M1/M69/A46 Coventry – A46/M40 Gaydon.

191.8 miles, 3.6 hours with stops

PROPOSED: Route. ESTIMATED: Mileage & duration.

“East Route E1 - Great Yarmouth mini-convoy (A47)”

? to Gaydon, Warwickshire]

Convoy led by ‘?’ of the “?” – MOB: ?[/b]

Great Yarmouth – A47 Norwich – A47 Dereham – A47 Swaffam – A47 King’s Lynn – A47 Wisbech – Peterborough – A43 at Duddington to Corby – A43 Kettering – A14/A426 Rugby – A426 Southam – B4451 Gaydon.

Roughly 176.7 miles, 5 hrs 27mins with stops.

PROPOSED: Route, mileage, duration.

“East Route E2 - Felixstowe mini-convoy (A14)”

? to Gaydon, Warwickshire

Convoy led by ‘?’ of the “?” – MOB: ?

Felixstowe – A14 Ipswich – A14 Bury St Edmunds – A14 Newmarket – A14 Cambridge – A14 Huntingdon – A14 Thrapston – A45 Northampton – A45 Daventry – A425 Southam – B4451 Gaydon.

Roughly 153.5 miles, 4 hrs 36 mins with stops.

PROPOSED: Route, mileage, duration.

“East Route E3 - Southend-On-Sea mini-convoy (A127)”

? to Gaydon, Warwickshire

Convoy led by ‘?’ of the “?” – MOB: ?

Southend-On-Sea – A127 Basildon – J29 M25 Romford – M25 Waltham Abbey – M25 Potters Bar – M25 Watford – J21 M1 Hemel Hempstead – J9 M1/A5 Dunstable – A5 Milton Keynes – A421 Buckingham – A421/A43 Brackley – A422/M40 Banbury – M40 Gaydon.

Roughly 135.8 miles, 4 hrs 21mins with stops.

PROPOSED: Route, mileage, duration.

“Southeast Route SE1 - Margate mini-convoy (M2)”

? to Gaydon, Warwickshire

Convoy led by ‘?’ of the “?” – MOB: ?

Margate – A299 Faversham – M2/A249 Maidstone – M20 Maidstone – M26/M25 Sevenoaks – M25 Westerham – M25 Godstone – M25 Reigate – M25 Leatherhead – M25 Cobham – M25 Staines – M25 Uxbridge – M40 High Wycombe – M40 Bicester – M40 Banbury – M40 Gaydon.

Roughly 175.0 miles, 4 hrs 08 mins with stops.

PROPOSED: Route, mileage, duration.

“Southeast Route SE2 - Dover mini-convoy (M20)”

? to Gaydon, Warwickshire

Convoy led by ‘?’ of the “?” – MOB: ?

Dover – A20 Folkestone – M20 Ashford – M20 Maidstone – M26/M25 Sevenoaks – M25 Westerham – M25 Godstone – M25 Reigate – M25 Leatherhead – M25 Cobham – M25 Staines – M25 Uxbridge – M40 High Wycombe – M40 Bicester – M40 Banbury – M40 Gaydon.

Roughly 173.8 miles, 3 hrs 56 mins with stops.

PROPOSED: Route, mileage, duration.

“South Route S1 - Hastings mini-convoy (A21)”

? to Gaydon, Warwickshire

Convoy led by ‘?’ of the “?” – MOB: ?

Hastings – A21 Tunbridge Wells – A21 Sevenoaks – J5 M25 – M25 Westerham – M25 Godstone – M25 Reigate – M25 Leatherhead – M25 Cobham – M25 Staines – M25 Uxbridge – M40 High Wycombe – M40 Bicester – M40 Banbury – M40 Gaydon.

Roughly 155.8 miles, 3 hrs 49 mins with stops.

PROPOSED: Route, mileage, duration.

“South Route S2 - Eastbourne mini-convoy (A22)”

? to Gaydon, Warwickshire

Convoy led by ‘?’ of the “?” – MOB: ?

Eastbourne – A2270 Polegate – A27 Hailsham – A22 Uckfield – A22 East Grinstead – J6 M25 Godstone – M25 Reigate – M25 Leatherhead – M25 Cobham – M25 Staines – M25 Uxbridge – M40 High Wycombe – M40 Bicester – M40 Banbury – M40 Gaydon.

Roughly 150.6 miles, 3 hrs 51 mins with stops.

PROPOSED: Route, mileage, duration.

“South Route S3 - Brighton mini-convoy (A23)”

? to Gaydon, Warwickshire

Convoy led by ‘?’ of the “?” – MOB: ?

Brighton – A23 Crawley – J7/8 M23 Reigate – M25 Leatherhead – M25 Cobham – M25 Staines – M25 Uxbridge – M40 High Wycombe – M40 Bicester – M40 Banbury – M40 Gaydon.

Roughly 137.5 miles, 3 hrs 22 mins with stops.

PROPOSED: Route, mileage, duration.

“South Route S4 - Isle of Wight/Portsmouth mini-convoy (A3)”

? to Gaydon, Warwickshire

Convoy led by ‘?’ of the “?” – MOB: ?

Ideally it should start from Isle of Wight (if not then Portsmouth) – A3(M) Waterloovillle – A3 Petersfield – A3 Guildford – J10 M25 Cobham – M25 Staines – M25 Uxbridge – M40 High Wycombe – M40 Bicester – M40 Banbury – M40 Gaydon.

Roughly 120 miles (from Portsmouth), 3.8 hours with stops (from Portsmouth).

PROPOSED: Route, mileage, duration.

“South Route S5 - Bournemouth mini-convoy (A34)”

? to Gaydon, Warwickshire

Convoy led by ‘?’ of the “?” – MOB: ?

Bournemouth – A338 Ringwood – A31/M27 Southampton – A34 Winchester – A34 Newbury – A34 Oxford – M40 Bicester – M40 Banbury – Gaydon

Roughly 130.7 miles, 3.26 hours with stops.

PROPOSED: Route, mileage, duration.

“Southwest mini-convoy”

? to Gaydon, Warwickshire

Convoy led by ‘?’ of the “?” – MOB: ?

Ideally it should start from Penzance – A30 Redruth – A30 Bodmin – A38 Liskeard – A38 Plymouth – A38 Exeter – M5 Taunton – M5 Bridgwater – M5 Weston-Super-Mare – M5 Bristol – M5 Gloucester – M5 Cheltenham – M5 Worcester – A422 Alcester – A46 Stratford-upon-Avon – M40 Gaydon.

Roughly 274 miles, 6.15 hours with stops.

PROPOSED: Route, mileage, duration.

“West Route W1 - St David’s mini-convoy (A40)”

St David’s, Pembrokeshire to Gaydon, Warwickshire

Convoy led by ‘?’ of the “?” – MOB: ?

Ideally it should start from St. David’s – A487 Haverfordwest – A40 Carmarthen – A48/M4 Swansea – M4 Bridgend – M4 Cardiff – M4 Newport – A449/A40 Monmouth – A40 Ross-On-Wye – M50 to J8 M5 – southbound to J9 M5 Tewkesbury – A46 Evesham - A422 Alcester – A46 Stratford-upon-Avon – M40 Gaydon.

Roughly 224 miles, 5.40 hours with stops.

PROPOSED: Route, mileage, duration.

“West Route W2 - Aberystwyth mini-convoy (A44)”

Aberystwyth, Ceredigion to Gaydon, Warwickshire

Convoy led by ‘? of the “?” – MOB: ?

Aberystwyth – A44/A470 Llanidloes – A470/A489 Newtown – A483 Welshpool – A458 Shrewsbury –

A5/M54 Telford – M6 Walsall – M5 West Bromwich – M42 Bromsgrove – M40 Redditch – M40 Gaydon.

Roughly 163.7 miles, 4.26 hours with stops.

PROPOSED: Route, mileage, duration.

“West Route W3 - Holyhead mini-convoy (A55)”

Holyhead, Isle Of Anglesey to Gaydon, Warwickshire

Convoy led by ‘?’ of the “?” – MOB: ?

Holyhead – A55 Bangor – A55 Conwy – A55 Abergele – A55 Chester – J36 A55/A483 Wrexham – A534 Nantwich – A500/J16 M6 Stoke – M6 Stafford – M6 Stafford – M6 Walsall – M5 West Bromwich – M42 Bromsgrove – M40 Redditch – M40 Gaydon.

Roughly 216.4 miles, 5.35 hours with stops.

CONFIRMED: Route, mileage, duration, departure times at pick-up points (now listed within C4H forum).

“Northwest mini-convoy”

Kilmarnock, Ayrshire to Gaydon, Warwickshire

Convoy led by ‘Bling’ of the “Landy Rally Club” – 07771 921077

Kilmarnock – A71 Strathaven – M74/A74(M) Lockerbie – A74(M) Gretna Green – M6 Carlisle – M6 Kendal – M6 Lancaster – M6 Chorley – M6 Knutsford– M6 Stoke – M6 Stafford – M6 Stafford – M6 Walsall – M5 West Bromwich – M42 Bromsgrove – M40 Redditch – M40 Gaydon.

382.8 miles, 7 hours 3 mins with stops

That’s it!

[crclifford]

Well printed off my booking form..anyone else thinking of going??

[jules]

Tom

What percentage of the entry fee actually goes to H4H as I missed it on your website

[JJB Serenity]

I may take part, not sure if I will be away that weekend. Looks like fun though

[Guest]

I will be going I go to the show every year, I think it's a great little show, not as packed as the big shows but very friendly and laid back. I have never done the heritage run before but am hoping to have my series one back on the road for then.

Jason.

[Guest]

Ross will need to check with his mum first...

[4x4 nut]

Tom

What percentage of the entry fee actually goes to H4H as I missed it on your website

In short - every penny possible! The organisers even have to pay admission/camping, it is the type of event where truly all profits go to the charity.

Jason - Just so you are not mislead, the weekend of 23-24th April 2011 is not the Heritage Run weekend. CONVOY for HEROES is over the Easter weekend, which is late in the calendar this year.

So, to the latest ...

Here’s something truly unique, something that has never been done before in 63 years.

The Heritage Motor Centre, the custodians of the first production Land Rover known to one and all as ‘Huey’ (registration HUE 166) have generously donated a ride in the front passenger seat of ‘Huey’ – at the very front of CONVOY for HEROES … and before you ask, no you can’t drive it!

This is how it will work …

Via an auction on the CONVOY for HEROES forum, you place an open bid for the ride in ‘Huey’ as it leads the attempt to break the world record on Sunday 24th April 2011 (Easter Sunday). Instructions can be found at http://h4hconvoy.myfreeforum.org/forum68.php

The auction will close on Wednesday April 20th at 6pm, thus giving the winning bidder a chance to find someone else to drive his or her own vehicle in the convoy.

To generate the maximum amount of cash, the auction is open to all-comers.

Alternatively, the winning bidder may elect to donate the seat to someone else as a present – a loved one, family member or a worthy individual perhaps, but remember this is a sixty plus year-old Land Rover so no airbags, seatbelts or padded bits. Passengers must be 12 years-old or older.

Bids will be updated daily between now and near the end of the auction, the last few hours will be updated hourly, the last 60 minutes shown as soon as they arrive.

Well, what are you waiting for? Put in a bid!!!

[zulublue]

Can you join in at any point? as there is no Midlands convoy and I live in Warwickshire it would be good to know.