308GT4 50th celebration in UK 2023

I was looking at the belated 60th anniversary 250GTE tour in UK last weekend.
https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/ferrari-gte-cotswolds-adventure-2022.659979/page-2#post-148554800

That reminded me that Nov 2023 is the 50th anniversary of the launch of the GT4 and how we should celebrate it.

I attended the 2018 50th celebration of the Dino marque in Maranello organised by Matthias Bartz and could never hope to compete with that. However we should try and do something to celebrate here in the UK. A year might seem to be a long time to get something organised but time soon disappears.

So to begin with I want to compile a list of owners that might be interested, whether in UK or elsewhere, before we progress to what we might do to celebrate.

 

Well primarily GT4, but open to suggestion as time goes by depending on uptake. As GT4 production ceased in early 1980 wouldn't want to go beyond that to keep it relevant. So maybe just carbed 308s. All worth discussion.

 

Maybe could bill it as the 2 valve 308 carbed engine (engine launched in 1973) event.

 

Thanks Jack - it really depends on how many GT4s I can assemble. I do know a lot of owners here in UK but there uis a sort of critical mass need to make an event worthwhile. Let's see what comes out of the woodwork. If it happens around the time of your visit very happy to offer you a ride in mine, and even if not happy also to offer you a ride if it fits in.

 

Although that is a lovely idea Absostone, the Dino 50th in 2018 at Maranello (which I attended) was for all Dinos so GT4s have already been represented there. I do know the immense amount of work that Matthias Bartz had to put into making that happen and frankly I just don't have that time. If anyone else want to organise that then I would of course be interested in attending.

What I am capable of organising is a much smaller event based in UK which would also be relatively accessible to interested owners in Northern Europe. I do have some ideas about how to co-ordinate with some othe car event here in UK but that needs some work. Just now I am just trying to gauge what interest there might be.

 

Thanks Phil. Can you PM your email as that will be the best way to communicate as things progress. Already go a few interested owners I didn't already know.

 

Hi Phil, click on my user name. In the dialogoe box that appears choose "start a conversation". Not intuitive I know

 

Why not organise a USA event?

 

Will do Matthias

 

Hi Chris, please DM me your email so I can add you to my list

 

Update:

I am looking at a two day event mid September 2023, to coincide with the Ferrari Racing Days event at Silverstone which this year is 16-18 Sept. Hopefully it will be the same weekend in 2023.
My proposal is on the Friday to have a roughly 60 mile drive around the beautiful Cotswolds, with a suitable starting point, buffet lunch point and other stop (all Ferrari related but not yet asked for or confirmed) then an overnight stay with dinner and possibly a suitable speaker before on the Saturday driving about 80 minutes to Silverstone on non motorway routes for what then happens there. I am confident that our GT4s will be able to lead the parade laps around the circuit which happens at lunchtime. We would of course have preferential parking in the paddock and hopefully I could arrange some hospitality. There are then a couple of other options on what to do with the rest of that day which I will expand on in due course.

I have no idea yet about costs or even whether I can persuade the hotel I have in mind to block book for us, but to give an idea hotel rooms around that area are circa £140 per night (and that's at the more modest end!)
So anyway, Sept 2023 is a long way away but very close in terms of organising such an event.


So what I need now is a slightly more firm expression of interest based on what I have written, and if it is positive please PM me your email address as that is how future important communication will take place.