forfour.co.uk
Forum => Smart Meets => Smart Festival (UK) => Topic started by: LadyV on June 16, 2012, 09:17:30 AM
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Ok guys, Al has announced that this years festival will be on the 6th of October.
This is the same time as the Ace Cafe Smart meet. I've asked Al if I should contact Ace to change the date as I don't think it's fair on Ace who make our Smart meets there a success. They will lose business on this date if it isn't changed.
I'll keep you posted.
In the meantime the registration will take place soon and for all information please go to: www.thesmartfestival.com or follow them on twitter: @Smartfestival
There is also a Facebook page: Smart Festival 2012
Hope to see you all there!!!
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Excellent V - thank you :)
I am in Cyprus until the Tuesday that week so I will have to see how things go.....
JJ
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No worries, hope you can make it 8)
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Just bern in touch with Al, unfortunately this was really the only date that could be booked for the Smart Festival.
I have contacted Ace who advised me to email them as their event managers don't work weekends. When I receive a response I shall let you know if the meet can be changed. I know that their schedule is pretty full.
I'd hate to have Ace lose business as they have allowed us to have meets there for a number of years now...
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Well you know what.....??
I think that date will be one of the worst decision's that has been made for the Fest.
Why was the date not 'pencilled in' for September 8th or 9th 2012 right after the last
Festival ?
Maybe someone will ask Al that question.....and explain why October is so wrong.
That date in September (incl the weekend when it was normally held) fell
just at the end of the school summer holidays...just before the kids went back.
That meant :-
1/ that it was ideal for Smart owners with families as they could take them with them
and not have any worries about homework/late nights etc.
2/ long journeys were also not a problem as the roads would be lighter with traffic
on the school holiday period.
And we all know that lot's of peops travel long distances to this function, so that
factor alone was a godsend.
3/ in September as it was, and with the traffic easier, it wasnt a pain/strain to drive
to it in the easy traffic....short or long journey. But in October...after a week of
driving back n forth to work...gruelling journeys...then to have to drive another
run in 'heavy' non school holiday traffic....with no lie in....Nah ! Forget it....
Maybe next year...if it's in the school holiday time...say the first weekend of
September perhaps.
Over the last 4 years the attendance figures have steadily risen, but because of the
reasons I've given I have a feeling that this year the attendance figures will dip below
1,000 this year.
As an aside, and not that it really matters, it's also kyboshed my plans as well !
I'd already booked off the weekend of 8/9 Sep in advance, assuming it would be
around the same date as it always has been...but now it's October I seriously doubt
that I will be able to get the time off !
(Don't all cheer...... :'( )
I'm rostered for a 6am-6pm and no one wants to swop or cover those.
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Damn shifts. I can only get out of one if I swap. Except I'm the only one left after everyone got laid off or moved to central london locations... so no-one to swap with!
If I'm off, I'll come along to one or the other. Depends where you're all going.
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I'm lucky that this is my first day off but I agree with CrazyG's points. I also imagine it will start getting a bit colder as the last Ace meet in October was chilly.
Unfortunately with Smart Times 12 and everything that has been going on this year, it does appear that it was once again left a bit too late.
I can't imagine how many people have said to the organisers that they work shifts which includes weekends etc and they need a date to see if they are scheduled to work. Usually we get a date in early May.
I think that this will hit Ace really hard, which is why I've contacted them. I'd rather a Smart meet there was cancelled than leaving it to find that no one shows up due to the Smart Festival. If that happened my feeling is that they wouldn't allow us to have further meets! Ace have been very good to us and I'd hate to upset them.
I do hope that everyone can make it anyways.... If there are any questions I'm sure I can raise them with Al but he did say that this was the only date that Mercedes had left....
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Why is it that it can't be booked in for the 3rd weekend (or last weekend) of sept every year?
To counter what G has said a bit, people may be away during the summer holidays, but no one goes away right after so I don't think I will impact on numbers too much :)
(although I go away after the holls as it makes my flights to Cyprus over 25% cheaper)
JJ
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The date has been set by smart UK and Mercedes Benz World, sadly thesmartclub had no influence on when it's being held :( I haven't been told why it's later this year but i'm sure it'll be a great event regardless!
I understand Richard Green, who has been organising the Ace Cafe meets, is aware of the clash - maybe some will go to the Ace Cafe for breakfast and then off to Brooklands.
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Anyway - important point........
Are we having a combined meet in the park before we set off to brooklands so we can convoy it ??
JJ
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I'm not sure if the breakfast at the Ace would work- it's very far out of the way for a lot of people and the thought of negotiating London is enough to put people off. Not to mention Ace would have to ensure that the car park is clear for people to park for breakfast when their meets usually start at 11:00am.
I for one will be at work until 20:00 on the Friday and will need to get back to my Dad's house in South London for the festival as its a much shorter distance than from my home in Luton. I therefore couldn't drive back up to Ace and then down again for the festival.
Regarding the convoy- as always I like to be at Smart of Croydon in the morning to have a bit of breakfast, catch up with people, collect a goody bag and then be on my way (usually just our car as the convoy from Croydon is too slow for my liking!). I will contact Croydon to see when they plan to open to allow people to come in for breakfast and let everyone know if we can make the planned ForFour convoy.
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The date has been set by smart UK and Mercedes Benz World, sadly thesmartclub had no influence on when it's being held ....
I have a feeling that the wee problem with the slight clash of events last year has
made MBW stamp their foot down and decide the 8th/9th Sept date is to be for the
'young F1 drivers test' event. So Smart UK then had to take whatever 'non-scheduled'
time and dates that were still available to book.
But I am really really surprised that no one consulted with TheSmartClub, considering
the sheer numbers of Smart owners who are members.
I've a theory about 'Destination Smart'...but I won't enter into and ramble on about
that on here.
.....i'm sure it'll be a great event regardless!
I do hope so...for those that do manage to go.
.......I understand Richard Green, who has been organising the Ace Cafe meets,
is aware of the clash........
Amazing how everyone else seems to hear and know of these things before anyone
else does ! But yeah, I do hope this doesn't jeopardize future Smart meets there.
Perhaps next years late Summer meet can be rescheduled from Oct to the first
weekend in September. (funny that, eh? swap dates with the Festival).
And the Ace is a nice small and friendly meet. Would hate to see that disappear.
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It almost confirms the 'MB don't give two hoots about smart' idea. It really is as if they want us to go away.
Not happy, think it's ridiculous. Also think its funny they have put up stuff in their newly designed 'smart area' of MBWorld saying 'we hope we can see you at smart festival 2012' where they show videos of last year's fest but no date at all.
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Date Noted.
Agree with a lot of has been posted.
G: I will watch here to see if you are likely to attend : Maybe a pm nearer the time?
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I've an idea...
Why not have a ForFour ONLY meet at the Ace Café on October 6th ?
That would mean there would be a SmartFestival with no ForFour's !
(There would be bound to be the odd one or 2 that might turn up that aren't members
on here or on FFO ! The no-brainers.... )
And if we did that, we could splash it all across Facebook etc, and any/all the other
Smart Forums (even DestinationSmart) to show our indignation at the change MBW
and Smart UK have made to the proven past formula of the event.
Oh ok....I'm being silly and a right wotsit..... >:(
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While I would love to have a forfour only meet at Ace (and I think it would be great) we would be cutting and spiting and MB wouldn't give an aeronautical .... They don't now and don't think they will.
Going in together is still a good idea. They noticed that and I think it makes a great statement.
I will post the info up on forfourowner as well.
Perhaps we can organise a September 8/9 ForFour meet somewhere else?
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I'm up for this. I'll let you know what Ace say- you never know, they might have a spare weekend in September.
Just for info- I am at work on the 8th and 9th of September. I'm off work on 22nd and 23rd and 29th and 30th.
I'm also on annual leave from 11th of August until the 31st. We are away for Smart Times 12 from the 20th- 26th so won't be able to meet on these dates.
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I've noticed there are no meets for just this forum. Either S2 BBQs or other major Smart meets, but not just us lot. Surely there are enough of us to organise something worthwhile, and to meet the people who we chat to on here.
I know a lot of you have met, but other than G I haven't met any of you, and can't often make other dates due to work and travelling distance. I'll be at the next S2 meet whatever shift, before or after work cos it's local enough I can come along.
As I hinted in another thread, a meet around North London (not necessarily at the Ace) would be easy to arrange - maybe I'll start another thread and see what interest there is...
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I've tried in vain to arrange a ForFour only meet...I have found that whichever destination you choose to meet, it will always be out of the way for someone. If people want a ForFour only meet, definitely create a thread 8)
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funky's fantastic forfour fread:
http://www.forfour.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=2162.0 (http://www.forfour.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=2162.0)
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Just registered for the Smart Festival. Should be fun, and will hopefully meet up with you all first before hand ;D
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i have a feeling MBW dont want the smart festival at all
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I'm in 2 minds as to why MBW decided to set the date to October.
To them it makes not difference when it is.
But to those Smart owners that attend it could be a big mistake.
Those that brave it to the Ace Café at that time of year know how
the weather and climate can be......cold and wet....or cold n windy.
That and it is outside the School holiday time will also come into it.
I wouldn't be surprised if the oversea's contingent that attend will
be lower this year because of those factors plus having the SmartTimes
2012 event so close to an early September date.
That may be more the reason why the date was moved to October ?
Whatever the reason, I hope those that have some interaction with
MBW can push for and influence a decision to return to the more
usual date of the first week in Sept for the 2013 Smart Festival.
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Well we now have the forfour back, had to say goodbye to the RX8 but happy to have the MPGs back!
I think we will definitely go to the event this year, last year was good with the forfour pre meet!
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I'll be going to the Smart Festival this year unless something dramatic happens.
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Well we now have the forfour back, had to say goodbye to the RX8 but happy to have the MPGs back!
Now you're "back with the pack" I might just come round n socialize.... ;)
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yeah! We have loads of 'repair' work you can do for us :P
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yeah! We have loads of 'repair' work you can do for us :P
So I have found out after popping around tonight !
But...as I'm off in September, there'll be 2 CDi's being 'attended to' and made ready
for the SmartFest.
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to those who go i hope u have a fantastic time - the past 4 ive been to have been a brilliant day out and fun to meet up with you all
xxx
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Are we meeting up at the Tesco's car park before so that we can go in a tube (or have I just imagined this fact!)
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ALL THE INFO IS HERE FOR THE PRE-FESTIVAL MEET UP :)
http://www.forfour.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=2159.0
JJ
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;D
I had a fleeting moment of blondeness of wondering how I could tell who I was meeting up with..........
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We'll be easy to spot.....
We'll be in the Fiesta's, Focus's, Astra's, Clio's, Megane's, Micra's, C3's....
In fact any car but a ForFour ??? ??? ??? LOL
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Are we meeting up at the Tesco's car park before so that we can go in a tube (or have I just imagined this fact!)
last year the meeting point was in a little car park off the first round about, not the first exit to tesco, but the last exit. unfortunatly i wont be comming this year due to my work... started in june and i dont want ANY excuses for them to get rid of me
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if people haven't seen it, registration for the event is here...
http://www.thesmartfestival.com/
you get a sticker and.............erm..............i think thats it.
JJ
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if people haven't seen it, registration for the event is here...
http://www.thesmartfestival.com/
you get a sticker and.............erm..............i think thats it.
JJ
True but on entry there was also a welcome pack in quite a nice bag... which I still keep in the car for shopping. Oh yes... and a pen :)
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Do you get said goodies when you are there, or do they get sent out beforehand?
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some stuff sent out before and then a goodie bag there (post it notes, pen, wrist band etc) and most importantly.......free food vouchers!!!!! wahoo!!
plus smartmods always have some bargain goodies - i bought 2 x plastic smart cups for a few £ each and they are great!!
also worth noting that there is loads of stuff for kids, lots of good stuff for adults, demos, parades around the track, shows, etc etc etc plus there is the car museum to go in..... its not juust a load of weirdo car geeks just standing around 8)
JJ
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free food vouchers!!!!!
which are use less as EVERYTHING is priced so that you use ALL of them on what ever your buying... unless you manage to scrounge more from others then it works out better... just
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Ok, so those who have been before all know the score....
Not enough vendors/stalls/sellers of aftermarket goodies....as usual...
vouchers just about enough to cover the one meal per person....
and free goodie bags with stuff that you don't necessarily want, but you take anyway.....
BUT....
1/ consider how many aftermarket outlets/sellers/vendors for Smarts that are out there ???
Not many in truth...and how much should or would you expect them to haul down to the
event, when so many people are there just to meet other owners, socialise and look at
the cars etc without buying anything...well....?
2/ and why should MB/Smart give away food vouchers or anything.....who says they have to ?
TBH, it's a day out, and a nice place to meet all the other Smart peops that are out there....
there's free coffee and tea at TheSmartClub marquee....worth a visit I'd say....and overall
the event is quite a good venue as you can see everything, including the special events that
are laid on for instance....and then there's the MBWorld exhibition to look around.....
plus some events that you can even enter, such as test driving the electric Smart etc.
And as for the food selection...well it's never that bad, in fact I think it's got better each year....
there's even the MBWorld café/restaurant that serves good food (but higher priced obviously),
so all in all it's really not that bad. Assuming the weather holds out that is.
One suggestion though....
if you like your drinks (tea/coffee/water etc) then I'd advise taking some of your own to
'supplement' what you can get, as at lunchtime you could be queueing for some time for a
drink in the same queue for those waiting for food.....so you might have a bit of a wait.
Oh and of course, if you have a fat wallet you can splash the cash and go round the remarkable
Brooklands Museum. Expensive...yes...but aren't they all now ?
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Haha - and there was me trying to encourage people to go ;)
It's really not as bad as G says (from the point of a family man) as the whole geeky car bit is quite well balanced with activities (albeit smart car based)
JJ
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I agree with G here, without the food voucher you'd have to pay out more for something to eat!
It's a fun day out and you can spend as little or as much as you like.
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I'm on the positive side , it's a great day out , you get to meet up with other " forfourers " and as V says , it's as cheap / expensive as you make it ....... the only downside is that you have to make allowances for the poor smart owners that don't own a " proper " ( four door ) smart ........... ;) ;D
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FooBah ! - the boss has just told me that the charity event that she has organised for the Saturday night needs her to help set up all day so I need to be there with her to help set up too.
Oh well - not that bothered as the charity is very worth while as it is a small set up that allows cancer patients and their families to come and stay and relax and take their minds off their issues in a tranquil setting.
If interested, the charity is the Penny Brohn and the wife has managed to get the Royal Bank of Scotland to make them this years sponsored charity
http://www.pennybrohncancercare.org/
Sorry guys - it will have to be the next s2smarts me for me!!
Enjoy
JJ
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Why oh why is the sticker the same size of your window? Do they not realise that Smart's are smallish cars? How weird!
And what is the wrist band all about?
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It's a bumper sticker ;)
JJ
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Why oh why is the sticker the same size of your window?
It's not to go in ya window silly.....it's a ForTwo 'tow rope'....to stick/join your ForTwo
to the other ForTwo in front (or behind) you....in case you get lost.....LOL
And what is the wrist band all about?
Ah now that's a marketing ploy.....it's designed to constrict your blood supply and starve
your brain of oxygen so that a ForTwo looks quite good to your now out of focus eyes...LOL
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Not that you own any fortwos, hey G?
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Not that you own any fortwos, hey G?
No comment..... :-[
RIGHT EVERYONE.....UNDER 2 WEEKS TILL THE 2012 SMART FESTIVAL...OCTOBER 6TH...! !
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SmartieB is in the best kept category (better parking?)- a vote would be awesome...maybe this is the year a ForFour can win something?!
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Hmmmm.... have been thinking.....
Since having a 'mini' detailing valet at the S2smarts BBQ recently I perhaps
wonder if I should see if I can put the BRAB in to that class/category.
Only to add to the chance of a ForFour winning something.....nothing more.
But I'm possibly too late to do that now as I can't find any info on how to
enter it...except when we first registered! Dohhhhh ! !
Oh well...have sent a 'plea' (fingers crossed) to the organiser.
Will have to wait n see now.
Good luck LadyV....
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THE FESTIVAL IS NEXT WEEKEND EVERONE........
For those that are attending, here's the link to the ForFour rendezvous
for our own 'convoy/parade/tube' of ForFours into the event....
http://www.forfour.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=2159.0
Buy arriving in convoy it is the only way we can get as many ForFours
as possible grouped together in one spot/place at the Festival. 8)
See you all there... ;)
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You had to post a photo on Destination Smart and they would choose...
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So Mazziel and myself Magabicool have now registered (a day before cuttoff) and we will be bringing both Smarts to the pack. The forfour can be among the pack but the roadster will I guess either be at the front or the back!
Crazy G - I remember last year a forfour flag? You could try and fashion a flag pole and attach it to the roadster? I think that would look pretty cool - making a grand entrance for the forfours! lol
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I've just registered as well!
Hopefully I will be there.
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THE FESTIVAL IS THIS SATURDAY...
ANOTHER REMINDER....
For those that are attending, here's the link to the ForFour rendezvous
for our 'convoy/parade/tube' of ForFours into the event....Lets make it more than last year (17).
http://www.forfour.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=2159.0
Doing it this way is the only way we can get as many ForFours as possible grouped together
in one location at the Festival. 8)
Magibicool...thanks for reminding me about the flag.....I have to get the clamp bolt
welded back onto the flagpole stand somehow before saturday ! !
Oh and the flag/banner is way too long to fly above/behind a car...good idea though for
a smaller one next year perhaps....wink wink...
Oh and we'll only have one banner this year as I'm not sure if Baggy or QuBall42
will be there with the one's they had/have.
I know that I for one will miss JJ not being able to make it this time... :'( :'(
See you all there... ;)
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Still no pack received here , I'm not sure I'll be going , I have been looking forward to catching up with people from here and forfourowner , and repeating the mass arrival that was so much fun last year , it's just that I do have a lot on right now , and the complete lack of communication on the event is so frustrating , how can they repeat last years fiasco and either forget to post the packs or just leave it until it's to late for people to receive them in time for the event , I might have a change of heart by Saturday , but If not I hope you all have a great day .
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I have two packs if you need something to get in with..............
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I have two packs if you need something to get in with..............
Thanks for the offer Kate , I wouldn't think it will be a problem getting in ( if I decide to go ) it was the same last year and as far as I can remember they didn't turn anyone away , plus the fact that I'd be in between other forfours so I could " hide " ... ;) :)
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BRU.....
Your attendance is not so much requested....it is DEMANDED, with no excuses ! ;)
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I know that I for one will miss JJ not being able to make it this time... :'( :'(
aw thanks mate - and who said BroMance is dead
(a slightly different think to the BruMance you have with the other grumpy git - haha)
JJ
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BRU.....
Your attendance is not so much requested....it is DEMANDED, with no excuses ! ;)
Well ,seeing as you put it like that .......... I'll give it some more thought . ;)
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Ha ha, maybe you will both have a change of heart and show up? That would be tops! ;)
:)
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THE FESTIVAL IS TOMORROW EVERYONE........
A FINAL reminder....
Here's the link to the ForFour rendezvous point for the 'tube/parade/convoy'
of ForFours into the event. Would those attending please try to make it.
http://www.forfour.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=2159.0
This tube/parade/convoy is the only way we can get as many ForFours
as possible grouped together in one spot/place at the Festival. 8)
I'll see you all there... ;)
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Woohoo, our journey South starts now! See you in the morning!
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Lots of Fortwo's in the Travel Lodge car park but just Oogley on his own of Forfour's here.
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fab - are you getting the buzz yet??
JJ
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I have to say I am looking forward to it. Used to do the mini meets (proper Mini not BMW biggi) and hopefully it will have the same friendly feel tomorrow ;D
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Lots of Fortwo's in the Travel Lodge car park but just Oogley on his own of Forfour's here.
yeah, you'll find that.
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I'm leaving everyone who attended to write up their own impression of today
at the SmartFestival, and to post all their photo's !
Why, you may well ask ? Well...for 3 reasons actually...
1/ because JJ wasn't around to share n mix it with everyone with me and so give
me the time take some photos.
2/ because I had so many people to see and talk to.
3/ because it makes a change for someone else other than JJ or I to do it !
But, when LadyV+Fox both mentioned something to me that I never
thought MB would ever do, namely openly display a massive silhouette of
a Smart ForFour for all to see on one of their outside walls, I just had to
to take this picture (on my camera phone)....... Enjoy....
(http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/ab218/CrazyG_photos/ForFour_on_MBWorld_wall.jpg~original)
I'd like to thank all those that made it to the rendezvous and paraded in at 10am...
8 of us in fact....which was a lot fewer than the 17 we had last year...
Thanks to all the others that did eventually manage to turn up.....(Brulaw included).
It's a shame some of the others we expected didn't show....but hey, there's always next year !
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I think the weather the day before put a lot of people off, at Smart of Croydon there were about SIX cars rather than the long, long line there usually is.
It was a good day, startling weather and lots to do, however there weren't many traders this year at all. Good time nonetheless. Going through pictures now, I didn't take my camera this year as I expected rain but LadyV got a few.
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It turned out to be a good day , we only just missed the " convoy " ( I think ) , I'm really glad I decided to go , It was worth the effort just to see the forfour FINNALY get some recognition from MB ;D
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What a great day - and lovely to meet some of you guys and put faces to names.
Keith - you have started Nora talking about getting a Brab to replace Oogley in a year or two.............
The day was awesome, the kids loved it and although there wasn't as many Smarts as I thought there would be we had a great day and stayed right until the end. Looking forward to next year!
Oh, and won on the Smart Club raffle and got a load of car cleaning goodies!
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Couldn't agree more. Faces to names brings things to life and the convoy was a great idea and made the Forfours have a presence. We counted about two dozen in total when we went for a wander round. Attached are a couple of photos we took of the convoy group:
(http://i889.photobucket.com/albums/ac96/bowei001/P1010375a.jpg~original)
(http://i889.photobucket.com/albums/ac96/bowei001/P1010376a.jpg~original)
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Wow that's pretty nice to see the forfour being recognised as part of the family. I don't suppose though that it has anything to do with MB wanting to get the marque into the minds of people in advance of the upcoming relaunch..?
Sad I couldn't be there. I'll be more active next year.
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i reckon after last year forfour convoy being so prominent... and loud, that they FINALLY have started to acknowledge the forfour as one of there own...
or it could be a marketing ploy for the up coming forfour mk2
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Me and Mazziel had lots of fun, as we arrived in good time we had a go on the electric bike and car this time! We got to drive Crazy G's brab there which was a LOT of fun!!! Here are the pics I took
(http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb339/magabicool/20121006_101604.jpg)
(http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb339/magabicool/20121006_101543.jpg)
(http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb339/magabicool/20121006_101535.jpg)
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Some good pics so far :)
JJ
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Me and Mazziel had lots of fun, as we arrived in good time we had a go on the electric bike and car this time! We got to drive Crazy G's brab there which was a LOT of fun!!! Here are the pics I took
(http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb339/magabicool/20121006_101604.jpg)
Oooh, that's my Brab'! ;)
:)