Stag Owners Club: Welcome

Notts / Derby SOC National Weekend

It all started well over a year ago now when we decided it was time to have a go and put something back into the club we have enjoyed for many years. It was the 30^th Anniversary of the club so the weekend had to be very special and Trentham Gardens looked to be the ideal venue, but after 4 months hard work it didn’t work out and we were left with a dilemma just before Christmas. This was the low point where the decisions could have gone either way. However, after a few encouraging words from David Ward, who is always full of beans, or something like that!!!, we were back on track more determined to succeed than ever.

Our second choice was what some described as “A Bloody Racecourse”. How wrong they turned out to be! But, there was to be a last twist to the tale, The Weather!!. Less than two weeks to go and the centre of the racecourse was flooded from the never ending deluge of rain, unfortunately we didn’t have a plan B. As most of you will have noticed from the site plan published in the July Magazine the layout was drastically changed utilizing what turned out to be a far more interesting and challenging area of the racecourse.

Thanks to the relentless determination and dedication of the organizing team and the racecourse staff, plan B was drawn up and implemented, “just in time”.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the organizing team, the racecourse staff, traders, sponsors, visiting car clubs, classics and SOC members who contributed and helped to make our 30^th Anniversary National Weekend a great success. I am very proud of what was achieved by everyone involved. A special mention to our President Lesley Phillips who always does a fantastic job in representing the SOC at numerous events thought the year.

The full report will be in the magazine but for now here are a couple of pictures and a pdf slide show of some of the entries and winners at the show.

Click on the icon for the slide show

Followed by some views of members,competion results and some statistics of the event ( how many cars etc)

Members Views on National Weekend 2009.

I want to say a big well done and thank you for making my Sunday 9th the most enjoyable in a few months! I really enjoyed seeing the vintage cars, and joining in with fun activities. I am 11 years old and I loved everything!

Thank you again, Amy

May I take this opportunity to thank you and all your team for a fantastic National Weekend. It was a superb location and all the activities were so well organized. We thoroughly enjoyed our selves and were very sorry when it came to an end. Well done to you all.

Just a quick email to say a brilliant weekend so thanks to you and your area for the warm welcome from us down in Kent.

Well done, you did exactly as you said. My family had a great weekend, obviously helped by the weather, but you and your team certainly delivered the goods.

Thanks again for a superb event

On behalf of myself and around 30 other Norfolk members, I want to thank you and your team for an excellent Weekend. In the 'Little Norfolk' caravan encampment afterwards, compliments were flying. I heard several comments that it was 'the best' or 'one of the best' Nationals they had attended. Those people are seasoned campaigners too, so have experienced several such events. My personal highlight was the Nostalgia Drive - which a good number of us thoroughly enjoyed. A superb balance of family-oriented interest and scenic driving.

While it is still fresh in my memory, may I congratulate you and your team for putting on a superb event. We've had some good ones over the years, but Uttoxeter was certainly up there with the best. There was such a lovely atmosphere, with something for everyone - even the wives were happy and that's some achievement ! Great to see the youngsters so well catered for, and the Stags dotted around the public areas was a nice touch too. Now you can all relax, in the knowledge that this was a job WELL DONE !

Just thought I'd drop you an email so say thank you for such a wonderful weekend. All members of the South Wales area had a great time, whether they were camping or staying in the local hotels - no complaints from us. The run on Saturday was superb and whoever was responsible for this should be congratulated (although we are not convinced that Tissington actually exists - we never did find it!) Great fun and well thought out places to stop and explore. National Day itself had lots more to offer the family than previous years and I'm sure all that went had an enjoyable day. It was over all too soon for us. You and your team had obviously put in a lot of time and hard work to produce such an event and it was well worth it. I hope the stress levels are starting to subside now - if not maybe a couple of bottles of champagne may help!! You all deserve it - well done.

WOW WOW what a fantastic weekend wehad, Great job by you and your total group. would you please give them all my heartfelt thanks for a great Job done even with the hurdles that were presented. Again great job I heard lots of comments that this was the best National Day they attended.

I know that my fellow Committee members would wish me to thank you and all of the Notts/Derby team for the simply splendid weekend you gave us all at Uttoxeter. From what I have been able to gather it was a rip roaring success by all the various factions of the Club, young, old forum etc. It was particularly pleasing for me to see so many younger members and their children all enjoying them selves with the many entertainments you laid on.

As you said to me, it rather dispels the myth about having National Weekend on a racecourse as the venue seemed to suit our various requirements to a tee, as it was more akin to being in a small village with plenty to do and see rather than a flat field!

It is also worth mentioning that everyone found the racecourse staff very pleasant and helpful, perhaps you would be kind enough to convey our thanks to them.

Once again many thanks to you and the team for putting on a first class show, one that you and the Club can be truly proud of.

We are proposing to produce a DVD of the National Weekend, please let us know if you are interested, by e-mail stephen.buxton1@homecall.co.uk . The cost will be £7.50 per DVD plus Postage where necessary.

Next Year will be the 40th Celebration of the production of Triumph Stag and our National Weekend will take place 6^th to 8^th of August 2010 at Fontwell Park Racecourse, Sussex – don’t forget to make a note in your diaries and please support Bob Heritage and his Team

Competition Results

30^th Anniversary Overall Show Winner Stag

NMA 384L Paul Booker with 186.5 points.