Preparation starts a year in advance minimum! Once dates of events are known unless camping the accomodation needs booking. With so many attending accomodation nearby is often at a premium! Then book the ferry also well in advance. Then prepare the 280 wash, check tyres and levels etc and load the trip essentials ready to go!
Choice of channel crossing is a personal choice. I prefer the overnight crossing from Harwich to the Hook of Holland. get an evening meal on board. Good nights sleep and a shower in the morning. Then breakfast on board before going to the car deck ready to disembark. Then queue for Border control, passport stamped and off to the first event. This is usually the Capri Club Nederland event approximately 90 miles from the Hook.
Remember to drive on the 'wrong' side of the road!
2024 was my third consecutive visit to Ford Capri Club Nederlands event. A new venue this year in Welsum after previously held at Beekbergen.
Unfortunately this was not blessed with the usual warm sunny weather! intermittent rain and previous heavy rain meant the intended field was not suitable but the site owner came up with an alternative.
I was joined at this event by Ale Greidanus, Cor van Zanten and Lucy representing the Group.
The show was celebrating the Clubs 40th and Capri II 50th anniversaries, We had a BBQ on Friday night and meal in the restaurant Saturday evening. At the prizegiving Cor was a winner with his 280 once more!
Unfortunately our next event The Biannual Capri Post DE event at Speyer's Technik Museum was cancelled due to health reasons of the organisers.
We had already booked hotel for the event a year ago so myself and Tina treated it as a Tourist weekend visiting local attractions.
Also there were members of Capri Club Westerholt, Kev and Gordon of the MkII Register and Steve and Pat Wilson.
Final weekend of this years Tour was Bring and Braai in the Netherlands. More a laid back social event organised each year by Hans and Annette Otter. This was my second visit. The idea is you bring your own food for the BBQ each evening, then cook it yourself!
Beer essential and there are games such as a Capri parts identification competition and a park a number of hot wheels model Capri in garages top parker gets a prize.
Ale Greidanus joined me in his 280 on the Saturday and he won the parking prize.
Tour over too soon I set off from Warmenhuizen on the Sunday afternoon for Rotterdam and the Hook. Much shorter tour this year but enjoyable all the same. The 280 ran faultlessly once again on its sixth visit to Europe.
Arrived in good time at the Hook and waited to board. Once aboard an evening meal, good sleep, shower then breakfast. Then down to the car deck and wait to disembark. Queue at Border control, Passport stamped and off to cover 200 miles to home! Another Tour completed and already looking forward and preparing for the next!
Excellent sunny Sunday resulted in an excellent turn out of members and their 280s!
Lots of interest in the Group display resultng in new members joining, others renewing plus sales of Group Regalia and spare parts. Icing on the cake came later in the day with several members receiving trophies for their cars! Top dog was Wayne Roberts whose 280 placed 2nd in the Concours competition.
Others winning awards were Roy Followell, Richard Newman and myself.
Thanks to all who supported the Group on the day and congratulations to trophy winners!
Several members 280s were successful including Wayne Roberts 2nd in Concours!
Just being a member you are a Winner!
Thank you all for your continued support during the past 6 incredible years! Keeping the capri280 Legend ALIVE!
Keep an eye on this site for future exciting developments and 2024 Group activities!