15 replies to this topic

[ToM 2012]

hi i have just had a email about longbridge rally that is being held at cofton park? any one no anything about it? thanks tom 

[Marco1972]

Hi Tom

It's on every year April I think and yes it's in Cofton park
It has all the vehicles that have been built at longbridge from very early Austin 7,s right up to the last 25,45 and 75's
We usually take our mini just drive in park up and enjoy the day.

[ToM 2012]

sounds great ile be going then. 

[A-Cell]

12th April 2014.
http://www.austinlon...ederation.co.uk

[A-Cell]

Also convoy of cars (about 100) set off from Cowley plant to come to Longbridge. Tanya is the nice lady who organises this. Definitely worth joining in or just coming along.

[hennasxi]

We (as in the Cooper Sport 500 & 2000 mini register) are having a club display of the last 2000 year run out models of the mini, so if you want to come to this event and join us in a great line up of 2000 model minis, please drop me a line - [email protected]

 

I went last year, and also did the Cowley Convoy run from Oxford  http://cowleyconvoy.info/

Yes, Tanya Field is one of the organisers of the run from Cowley and does a great job as all the Cowley Convoy team do.

 

Great day out really, lots of the Longbridge workers come along - last year I met the guy who fitted the windscreens to the minis on the production line from '59 through to the last Cooper Sport 500!

 

Its Saturday 12th April this year by the way

[surfblue]

 

 last year I met the guy who fitted the windscreens to the minis on the production line from '59 through to the last Cooper Sport 500!

 

Pass on my regards - mine leaks! 

[Tanya]

If you are into your Longbridge history, then this is the rally for you 

 

It is held on the nearest Saturday in April to the mass redundancies caused by the collapse of MG Rover in April 2005.  It is jointly hosted by ALF (the Austin and Longbridge Federation) and RCAT (the Rover Community Action Trust).  The event has a dual purpose of both remembering the collapse and those affected by it and also celebrating Longbridge's fantastic vehicle making history.  The event now attracts over 1000 vehicles and many former employees and members of the local community come along too.  It is free of charge for both vehicles and the public, however, as you can imagine it is not free to host, so if you feel inclined to make a donation towards the event, it would be very gratefully received by ALF and RCAT.  

 

I got to know John Baker, the chairman of the ALF in 2009 at the IMM held at Longbridge  I found him quite inspiring, and when I saw his website, I was blown away - http://www.austinmemories.com/.  I'm pleased to say that this website is now backed up regularly by the British Library.  John and I became friends and at the 2010 PoL he said that I should think about bringing a convoy of Longbridge connected vehicles (so that includes all production at Cowley from 1952 to 2000 when the Plants were linked) to PoL, and so the Cowley Convoy was born

 

In 2011 we took 14 vehicles, 2012 was 45 and 2013 was 95.  We were aiming for 100 last year as 2013 was Cowley's centenary, but the due to the poor weather we lost a few.  However, this year we're aiming to break the 100 vehicle mark.

 

If you happen to either live in the Oxfordshire area or would travel through Oxfordshire to get to the PoL or just want to join us (we do have people who come from Birmingham just to come on the convoy!), we'd love to have you.  In the spirit of PoL, the Cowley Convoy is free of charge.  We do have flags and run plaques which are entirely optional and sold at cost price.  However, please do bring your own flags etc, if you have other flags.  

 

We've had some great cars on the convoy including a replica of Mr Bean's Mini, whith Mr Bean on top, and the Met Police have very kindly brought their operational Rover SD1 and Rover 827, and as they are operational vehicles, they come complete with Police Officers.  

 

We aim to leave MINI Plant Oxford at about 8.30am, and those on the convoy can arrive at Cowley from 7.30am, although we ask everyone to be with us by 8.15am if possible.  The Plant will have their Centenary Exhibition open again and if we get organised, we'll have teas and coffees.  

 

You can sign up for the Cowley Convoy here - http://cowleyconvoy....nvoy/4564571391.  The Cowley Convoy also has a Facebook page - https://www.facebook...28401660618757/ as does PoL - https://www.facebook...rner36/?fref=ts

 

Personally, if I could only make one show a year, this would be this one as for me cars are about people too, and meeting those who built your model of car and those would have lived with the Plant for years is a real privilege.  

 

surfblue63 made a great short film last year

 

 

and here's our amateur Facebook short film.  Hopefully you'll get the idea - the Cowley Convoy is a lot of fun    

https://www.facebook...&type=2

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Tanya]

Below is the site map for this year's POL.  The organisers are keen that the following H&S rules are observed:

 

• Please drive slowly


• Dogs must be on a lead at all times, or in the car.


• Car radios, etc., must not be audible.


• No alcohol is to be brought into the park.

 

 

Key:

 

A         Fire Brigade

 

B         MG UK      

                                                                                                                                                                                        

C         MG 6.3.5.                                                                                                       

 

D         Minis                                                                              

 

E          All other models except Mini & Metros

 

F          Metros                                                                           

           

G         The BRM club       

                                                                                                                                         

H         Wolseley Register

                                                                                                                             

I           MG Owners’Club    

                                                                                                                          

J           Heritage Gaydon    

                                                                                                                           

K         Cooper Sport 500 & 2000 Mini register                                

 

L          MG-Rover North East                                                                       

 

M         Metropolitan Owners Club                                                    

 

N         Mini Cooper Register (Worcester Region)                   

 

O         Cowley Convoy                                                                           

 

P          Rover Enthusiasts West Midlands                 

           

Q         75 & ZT Enthusiasts                                                              

 

R         MG Lifestyle Sticker Club                                                    

 

S          Rover V8’s                                                                             

 

T          Austin Ten Drivers Club - ATDC Ltd                                   

 

U         Rover Sports Register                                                            

 

V         Landcrab Owners Club International                        

 

W        Allegro Club International                                                     

 

X         Potteries & South Cheshire MG Owners Club          

 

Y         The 1100 Club                       

                                                           

Z          Morris Minor Owners Club                                                    

 

AA      Princess & Ambassador Owners Club                                   

 

AB      LVVS                                                                                    

 

AC      MG Worldwide (MGWW)                                                    

 

AD      Maestro & Montego Owners Club                            

 

AE       Rover 200 & 400 Owners Club                                             

 

AF       A40 Farina Club                                                                                

 

AG      Morris Commercial                                                                

 

AH      MG Rover South West Owners Club                        

 

AJ        MGF Register of MG Car Club                                             

 

AK      Market Drayton Mini Club                                                    

 

AL       Austin A30/35 Owners Club                                     

 

AM      Metro Owners                                                                                    

 

AN      The Rover 75 & MG ZT Owners Club                                              

 

AO      Bromsgrove & District MG Owners Club                 

 

AP       The MGZS.co.uk                                                                   

 

AQ      MG-Rover East Anglia                                                          

 

AR      Southmids Sportsters                                                             

 

AS       Rover800info                                                 

 

AT       Morris Marina                                                                        

 

AU      Austins 1920s to 1940s

 

[Chance]

I'm guessing the rover 100 are classed as metros?

Or are they 'all other models'?

Plan to take the 114gta along this year...first time at POL for me

[Tanya]

I fairly confident that 100s count as Metros, I know they do in the Metro Owners Club

[leaky]

Im well looking forward to this haha. I need to sign up for the convoy!

[surfblue63]

I'll be going for the third running, unfortunately I can not make the convoy though. It's a good day out, but even better when the sun shines. 

 

2012 pics here http://s710.photobuc...Longbridge 2012

 

2013 pics here  http://s710.photobuc...Longbridge 2013

 

Here's a few shots from 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And here's some from 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

I'm guessing the rover 100 are classed as metros?

Or are they 'all other models'?

Plan to take the 114gta along this year...first time at POL for me

 

All Metros (Mk1-Mk4) are put together

 

We had an awesome turn out in 2012. Me and Simon filmed this from the hard shoulder in his Mini

 

[Chance]

Awesome

It won't help my want for an early metro at all

In fact if I see any rover 220gti/gsi I don't know what will happen

And any monogram MG is a WIN
The V8 ZTs

I will come away wanting to own one of every car there

I can't wait

Edited by Chance, 09 April 2014 - 08:55 PM.