23 replies to this topic

[Senile Old Git]

I am a little confused!

Are these two events similar?

I did SRR this year and it was a well run event, well organised, well policed, and we all came home in one piece

i thought I read that accidents happened on BH2N, but I cannot find these posts now (might be me)

There is now a rumour that the SRR organisers have added another UK track to there event, so why are these events organised seperately ...... cannot you all get together and talk ???

It appears to me, this is all to do with one upmanship ..... shoot me down if you want!

[Jammy]

Hmmm, I'll try and answer this as impartially as possible!

The BH2N was first run in 2005. The Silver Ring Rally came along in 2006, organised by a couple of people who came on the BH2N 2005. The reasons as to why the Silver Ring Rally came about can be found here. This year just gone, SRR added a stop over at Spa in Belguim. What they're planning to do this year I'm not sure, but I've heard rumours that either its going to be organised under different people, or its going somewhere else, maybe dazzler who copied the BH2N run, who copied the BH2N run, can clear that up for us?

The BH2N came about after our member, Barnett, invited everyone over to his place in Germany for a cup of tea. A lot of us had just watched Top Gear at the Nurburgring and given that Barnett's place was pretty close to the 'Ring it was thought that a trip there was a must! The rest, as they say, is history.

The Silver Ring Rally has been touted as a more family orientated run, with the BH2N a less, how can I put this, 'rigid' run (you can do whatever you like each day, etc), and its perhaps not quite the atmosphere or environment for little kids (late nights, alcohol and wine, etc). Having said that we had a guy, his father and the guy's son come with us last year and they thoroughly enjoyed it, and we didn't have any problems with the kid (must have been about 10-11?).

Anyway, it has been suggested that we join forces, but a fair few of the organisors have their differences, and it was thought that it would be hard to work together! Shame really, I'm sure it could become a great run as one, since they are both so popular seperately. On the flip side, with one run during the normal students exam period, and ours being at the end of the summer holidays, it generally ensures that whatever your circumstances with when you can and can't take holidays, you should be able to make at least one of the runs.

If you want to know more about our run - www.bh2n.co.uk. We making it bigger and better every year!!

[*DJH*]

Yes...... very impartial

[Pie]

i could give impartial if you want it DJH?

Saying that, it would probably be removed after being read once lol

[mighty_mini]

in my personal opinion it comes down to one thing. Mini owners getting together and having a good laugh together, and thats what we do best!



With regards to the unspoken BH2N Vs SRR;

The problem with such a large run like BH2N is that it really does take some organising. I dont think that people really appreciate the amount of work that goes on just to make this happen and go as smoothly as it does. I dont really know everything myself but i can imagine its quite stressful at times. From what i've heard / read there was some implication that contacts were stolen and hence the run was copied.

If you could imagine you had spent ages doing all you had, making contacts that would be handy for the future for such an event and building up a trust relationship. i.e. the campsite owner, speedy ferries, brands hatch and the organisers at nurburg. Only to have them so easily taken away from you and used without any effort on their part. thats where i think (in my opinion) the friction occur'd.


Im sure my explanation sounds C**p, and in no way is meant to cause any offence, but that was the jist of what i heard.


No-one has ever said anything bad about BH2N, except maybe dazzler, implying that our loosely organised run was not suited for all agegroups, as its more based around roudy youths? I will continue to attend BH2N for as long as i possibly can. Its the one thing i truely look forward to each year knowing i'll be meeting up with friends and going on a giant road trip together! We do have a wide variety of age groups with us and im sure some of them will hopefully post to give their impressions on the run from a different point of view.

And with no real schedule for the run, we have no deadlines to keep so we just take things as it comes... its more exciting that way as you never know what to expect.



I'll shutup now..

[Pie]

No-one has ever said anything bad about BH2N, except maybe dazzler who copied the BH2N run, who copied the BH2N run, implying that our loosely organised run was not suited for all agegroups, as its more based around roudy youths? I will continue to attend BH2N for as long as i possibly can. Its the one thing i truely look forward to each year knowing i'll be meeting up with friends and going on a giant road trip together! We do have a wide variety of age groups with us and im sure some of them will hopefully post to give their impressions on the run from a different point of view.

And with no real schedule for the run, we have no deadlines to keep so we just take things as it comes... its more exciting that way as you never know what to expect.



I'll shutup now..

AMEN dave. Think you got it spot on. One of the highlights of the year. Going away with a load of mates all in minis *cough*dave*cough* planning on getting wrecked and just having a good time.

[*DJH*]

i could give impartial if you want it DJH?

Saying that, it would probably be removed after being read once lol

Yeah go on, i want to read it

(BH2N IS BETTER, ACCEPT NO IMITATIONS)

[Brawlyrox]

So you coming next year Dan?

[*DJH*]

With a bit of luck, and my new project car yep

[Woody]

It would be very difficult to join the two runs as they are aimed a two very differant groups of mini owners , one for "adults" after the school holidays , one for families during the holidays , although it might be possable to have the two runs overlap and have a day together at the ring , what a parade lap that would be !

[Jammy]

With a bit of luck, and my new project car yep

Better get that passport application sent off quick then!

[*DJH*]

With a bit of luck, and my new project car yep

Better get that passport application sent off quick then!

Don't you start with that

[The Matt]

As an 'outsider' to both runs. I couldn't give you an honest opinion in which is actually better. All I could say is that I AM doing the BH2N next year because of the people that are going to be there, whom I consider to be friends through this forum.

Personally, I can see there are reasons that people would choose one way or the other, I can't see that the two runs would really be able to join forces, though the earlier suggestion of an overlap at the end of one/start of the other would be UBER cool!

IMO, it's about who you want to be there with as much as anything else.

I can also understand the frustration of the original run's organisers upon finding out that someone had decided to copy the idea...... Again, I don't know all the facts as I am an outsider, but that's how it seems to me.

[Senile Old Git]

I never realised this topic was such a "hot potato", there is clearly an issue between the two sets of organisers.

As stated by Mighty Mini .......... "In my personal opinion it comes down to one thing. Mini owners getting together and having a good laugh together, and that's what we do best!"

How true sir!

All I can add to this is that I have met Dazzler on a few occasions now, on SRR 07 and a few other Mini events and yes he is larger than life but I will add these two points:-

1) Daz has never foul mouthed TMF, its moderators or BH2N organisers in my presence.
2) He and the other organisers on SRR always ensure there "flock" are looked after and do anything to make sure we stay together as a group ( That included towing a car some 200 miles)

The point I am really making I suppose, is that I am totally aware what goes into organising a successful event and the time it takes in planning and the financial implications to the organisers. I too have organised events that left me out of pocket. Surely the two sets of organisers if they could see eye to eye would make this THE INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL MINI EVENT. They have enough experience in organising for heavens sake.

One of my fondest experiences of SRR O7 was a car in our group blew a head gasket, within 5 minutes 30 minis had stopped on the hard shoulder to help out. The organisers chased us away to ensure we did not attract attention from the Police but it so proved the group Spirit of all Mini owners, whoever the organisers are!

I for one, cannot see that the SRR is a copy to BH2N, they go Silverstone > The Ring > Spa, TMF do Brands Hatch > The Ring ..... Every car group goes to the Ring ... its legendary!!

To summarise, the more minis the more fun and camaraderie there is to be had

[Pie]

One of my fondest memories of Bh2N 2007, was my car blew its head gasket, within 30 seconds 12 minis Pulled into the layby, tools, equipment and kettle were out.
60 minutes later we were back on the road to belgium

As for SRR being a copy of BH2N i know for a fact in 2005 Mark (marksmini) suggested stopping at Spa in the 2006 run, but it wasnt possible.

SRR - Silverstone>Ring>Spa

BH2N - Brands Hatch>Ring

Wasnt the initial point of BH2N to go to the ring? what was SRR's?