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GTI International 2004 @ Santa Pod Raceway
The day for GTI Festival started, well bang on 12 ‘O’ Clock, as the girls and boys of the forum had a get together the night before/the morning of, just to get to know each other.
Said gathering lasted well into the early hours and after only a very few hours of sleep, we all stirred into action, ready for what was to be a truly memorable event.
Bleary eyed we had a slow (ahem) careful (cough) cruise to the show, picking up a few peeps on the way we met with our hosts for the day at the Toddington services on junction 12 of the M1. Needless to say the boys and girls of the vr6 owners club were pointing at their watches when we eventually turned up.
After a quick blast up the M1 we turned off towards Santa Pod and the excitement began to relieve the bags that had been a permanent mark on out faces so far. We picked our way through the bumpy back roads, I’m sure I left half my inner wheel arches on those roads, and eventually turned into the Pod at about half past eight.
Already there was a small queue of some lovely looking motors waiting to get in, but as per usual with a site get together we were still waiting for the stragglers to turn up. After an exchange of hellos between a few people we got the friendly staff at the gates to let us through so we could wait, out of the way, for the final links of our chain to arrive.
A small impromptu photo session/general chit chat ensued until enough was enough and we made our way to the club stand.
And what a stand it was, backing on to the strip we were right in the thick of the action all day.
First things first as is the course for any meet of this type the bucket and sponges were put to good use to clean off all the bugs that had amassed on the cars on the journey to the Pod. Thankfully a tap was situated very centrally to the site so was easily accessible for all.
After a good clean down it was off to explore the site to see what was on offer, and also to do the next most important thing of the day, sign up for a blast down the strip.
Our club stand was right at the end of the main food stall, and was surrounded by the auto jumble stalls, all of which seemed to do a very good service throughout the day. After walking down past the food area we found the main stalls selling all their wares, as I was not looking for anything in particular this bit was left out of the must see list for this event, but from what I saw, they were kept busy for most of the day.
After signing on for the strip, it was decided that as many runs as possible should be got in before the usual massive queue appeared. £15 for as many runs as you can get in, very reasonable, and many people took up the offer.
We headed back to the club stand to get our cars and for much of the rest of the day these were our actions, queue up, burn up the strip, have a quick chat and queue up again.
From the queue we had a good vantage point for many of the other club stands that were present, and what grand viewing it was, with a very high quality of cars on show.
After getting a good few runs in we stopped for food, thanks again to the vr6 chaps for supplying some lovely burgers and sausages, although a mix up with the tongs whereabouts meant that the first few had to be controlled with tent pegs, hilarity ensued.
Once our eager bellies were full, it was back to the increasingly large queue for the strip, and thus only a couple of runs were available in the afternoon.
Well, that’s pretty much it, unfortunately a lot of the show was missed due to the call of the strip, but all in all a grand day out was had by all. The weather held splendidly, most unusual for good ol’blighty, and although it was over cast, no rain fell at all.
Highlights, for me, hearing the jet car dragsters rip the strip to shreds hitting 252mph in not a lot of time at all, also dubwiesers mk1 green beast, it never ceases to amaze me that car.
Lowlights would have to be my strip times, pretty useless and beaten nearly every time, ah well, there is always next year.
Show report and pictures by Vwmadgirl
Gallery From GTI International 2004 @ Santa Pod Raceway >>>
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