Guys, There is a plan to organize the next FerrariChat Rally in the Benelux. Unfortunately I don't have the time to organize the whole rally myself. For that reason I want to ask other Benelux members to help me. It would be great if we could get a group of enthusiastic people together for this event. The plan is to make one person (or a small group) responsible for the organization of one day in the program. If we have enough people we could create a fantastic rally. So who wants to participate? I already know that Alex and Guy are in! I am thinking about Joren, Patriek, Bart, Roel and maybe others. If you are interested you can send an email to [email protected] This is just a preliminary thread to see if this plan could turn into something real. Ton
100% in!! Ton, I am willing to help with the organisation. You know, because of building our house, time will be a little issue. But like you said, if we split the organisation with a few people, it won't be to much trouble to organize it. You could be "supervisor". I am thinking of the Dutch "Limburg" part. Ciao, Roel
I'm already planning on going to Le Mans next year and I think because of the nature of Le Mans (a long friday-sunday weekend) it would dominate any rally too much. Its not a one day event we can pop into during a weeks driving around. Don't mean to poo poo your idea Kevan If you're worried about the brits not coming over, I think the idea of the rally being in the Benelux will mean more will come than for the Switzerland and Tuscanny events. Its only a quick jaunt across the Channel for most. It looks like the Tuscanny rally will be beginning/middle of july this year, so how about September?
Simon I didn't want to incorporate Le Mans into the Euro Rallaye - just suggesting the Euro Rallaye is the week before or week after Le Mans.
I understand the request for a date but that is maybe a bit preliminary. First I want to see if we can make this event happen. The problem with Le Mans is that it will not be easy for a lot of people to take two weeks off for a combined rally. My first thought would also be September. But that is just a first thought.
I can follow you there. Two weeks in a row would be long for someone to take off from work/business/home. It should be better if the event would be on it's own. An idea for the Brussels area :a visit to the newly opened Foundation Jacques Swaters at the buildings of former Garage Francorchamps or Autoworld. Count me in if in September, altough no Fcar, but big enough for the catering Jurgen
About the trip itself... how many km did the previous editions exactly cover in total and how much was the mileage a day? It would be intresting to see what area we can/should cover. A visit to the collection in Zaventem certainly is a great idea too! And what price class of hotels would be most appropriate? High end luxury or would a decent hotel with secure parking be ok too? Like this rough idea for instance... just to get a premature idea... nothing final! The Benelux rally could maybe be split up in three (or four) parts/days, starting in the South of the Netherlands/Limburg (Venlo maybe?) with the Maas-area for example on day 1, through Belgian Limburg to the Belgian Ardennen with arrival in Spa, near Francorchamps on day 2, through the Eifel to Luxemburg with a local tour through the area also known as "Little Switzerland" on day 3... FWIW, I allready worked out a possible route for the Luxemburg part, that covers about260km from Spa-Francorchamps to Echternach, using some beautiful roads through some of the nicest places in the area.
http://img457.imageshack.us/img457/209/beneluxrallypart33mu.jpg A possibility for a hotel could be; http://www.edenaulac.lu/ or http://www.waldhotel.com/ Of course if these don't qualify I know a lot more exellent hotels in the area.
There we go! That is a good start. I would start in the Maastricht area. That is a place with a great atmosphere. My suggestion would be that we stay in a hotel in this area for two or three nights. Every day we have a different trip but we don't ask people to pack all their stuff every day. After that we drive to Luxembourg or the Ardennes and stay in another hotel for two or three nights while we are driving around this beautiful area. I think that a four or five day trip is sufficient. The hotels don't have to be 5 star places. A good room, a good bar and a good parking area should be sufficient. It is the crowd that makes the event, not the hotelroom. But a good hotel in a very nice area is of course recommendable.
Great suggestions Alex! I don't have a good idea about the milage that we should drive every day. That depends on the area too. We should spend enough time in the cars, but not too much. There should also be sufficient time for the social part.
Roel, I was thinking the same! Do you also have a map like Alex? How many km's is that? As a hotelsuggestion I was thinking about www.labutteauxbois.be
Jeroen, Of course! Jurgen, You are very welcome! Tell us what you can do for the event. Everything is welcome.
If it were in September I may make the trip too as well as the Tuscany one, maybe we could combine trip ot Spa with the Spa Ferrari days, they are normally in September I think?
Mark, I cannot find a date yet for the Spa Ferrari Days. But that would indeed be a great event. It would be great fun if you could join us.
I have a map somewhere........not digital but that won't be a problem. Ton, we know a nice terrace next to this route