I'm just reminicsing about the epic, long weelend club trip exactly 10 years ago to the legendary Spa circuit in Belgium and a side trip to a cool little track in Mettet, France, on the way back. 30 people in 20 cars went on this awesome trip.
I have great memories of this weekend, alongside other RX-8 enthusiasts. We had some great time on track, some laughs, nice hotels and food, plus some fantastic convoy driving through France and Belgium.
There was even time in the schedule for us all to do as we wished for a few hours. Having done some family research over many years, I was keen to seek out a relative who was sadly killed in Northern France during WW1. I succeeded in locating one of the many small (600 graves in this case) cemeteries scattered in the area. It was a moving moment to see his headstone, well maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), and leave a message in a memorial book at the site.
Here we are at Spa with many of the cars lined up in on the start/finish straight during the lunchbreak:
And here are some of the fine people who made the journey!
If interested, you can see some feedback, videos and photos from the weekend here: viewtopic.php?f=165&t=67135
The trip required some very detailed planning, resulting in this 14 page briefing document for all involved;
The trip didn't start well, with the car park in Dover that I'd chosen to rendezvous before boarding the ferry turned out to be a building site (lesson learned, don't rely on Google maps and Google Earth!). But, it wasn't a problem and the trip went pretty smoothly after that.
Sadly, I'm unable to reminisce with Ray Harrison over this trip, as he sadly left us in 2021, RIP Ray (Harrizone).
10 years ago: Epic Club Trip to Spa
- casey
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10 years ago: Epic Club Trip to Spa
Essex Rotary Full Bridgeport
Seibon Carbon Fibre Bonnet, "Racing Brake" front calipers, Racing Beat (RB) ARB's F&R, RB REVI intake, full RB Stainless Steel Exhaust & Mani, 20mm Eibach spacers, KOYO Ali Rad, Lightened Fly, Tein MonoSport coilovers & strut brace, Axial short-shifter, BHR Coils & Engine Mounts, Greddy Sump
Federal 595RS-R or Continental Sport Contact 7
Seibon Carbon Fibre Bonnet, "Racing Brake" front calipers, Racing Beat (RB) ARB's F&R, RB REVI intake, full RB Stainless Steel Exhaust & Mani, 20mm Eibach spacers, KOYO Ali Rad, Lightened Fly, Tein MonoSport coilovers & strut brace, Axial short-shifter, BHR Coils & Engine Mounts, Greddy Sump
Federal 595RS-R or Continental Sport Contact 7
- warpc0il
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- MightyCondor
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Re: 10 years ago: Epic Club Trip to Spa
It's a shame that I hadn't got the track bug back then. It would be great if we could organise another trip, although I think it would be harder to pull off these days.
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- casey (Thu Oct 16, 2025 8:15 pm)
The current Rotary Fleet - RX-8 PZ - Purple Helmet Warrior - RX-7 FD 450bhp Single Turbo
Previous Threads:
2004 Sunlight Silver 231 Impulsive Panic Buy Rotary Shed - Sold & lesser seen RX-7 FD3s - R.I.P.
2005 Winning Blue 231
Previous Threads:
2004 Sunlight Silver 231 Impulsive Panic Buy Rotary Shed - Sold & lesser seen RX-7 FD3s - R.I.P.
2005 Winning Blue 231
- nightfire10
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Re: 10 years ago: Epic Club Trip to Spa
A few of us went in October 2018MightyCondor wrote:It's a shame that I hadn't got the track bug back then. It would be great if we could organise another trip, although I think it would be harder to pull off these days.
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- These users thanked the author nightfire10 for the post (total 3):
- MightyCondor (Thu Oct 16, 2025 7:34 pm) • Neilparry (Thu Oct 16, 2025 8:03 pm) • casey (Thu Oct 16, 2025 8:15 pm)
Hayward's Street/bridgeported rebuild,595's,Tein coilovers edfc Racingbeat rear anti roll bar oil pres oil temp gauge pod's,lockwood front rear grills,Tinted wind ws folding tow hook's,595s,connect2 ,at long last sohn and ap50 tank instaled ,revi ram air duct already fitted ! calipers painted,diff oil changed .
just oil lines to fit at some stage ( had them a while too)
180 of 400
just oil lines to fit at some stage ( had them a while too)
180 of 400
- Neilparry
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Re: 10 years ago: Epic Club Trip to Spa




I’d be up for doing it again

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- These users thanked the author Neilparry for the post (total 2):
- casey (Thu Oct 16, 2025 8:24 pm) • nightfire10 (Fri Oct 17, 2025 1:39 am)

- SeanP
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Re: 10 years ago: Epic Club Trip to Spa
Great memories of a great road trip and great time with friends including Ray (I can regale the story of us sharing a twin room which turned into a double another time!)...
Would love to have a repeat!
Would love to have a repeat!
R3, Diamond Grey, 99K, 17.5 MPG=

Advanced Driving Tutor: RoSPA & IAM RoadSmart +IAM Masters Distinction; Safe+Systematic+Smooth+Sparkle=FUN! Hayward rebuild@45K(s)miles.
AutoSolos++, Green Hell, Spa, Donnington, Oulton, Blyton, Prodrive++, Thruxton, Brands Hatch++, NorthWeald++, Bedford SW., Snetterton. (Vids);
231, Titanium Grey, Leather (RIP 28/08/09)
Advanced Driving Tutor: RoSPA & IAM RoadSmart +IAM Masters Distinction; Safe+Systematic+Smooth+Sparkle=FUN! Hayward rebuild@45K(s)miles.
AutoSolos++, Green Hell, Spa, Donnington, Oulton, Blyton, Prodrive++, Thruxton, Brands Hatch++, NorthWeald++, Bedford SW., Snetterton. (Vids);
231, Titanium Grey, Leather (RIP 28/08/09)
- Fab66
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Re: 10 years ago: Epic Club Trip to Spa
I’d be all over this chaps!
Ta
Mark
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Ta
Mark
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Currently Own - RX8 40th Anniversary Edition - Pearlescent Chrystal White - RX8 R3 - 2011 Aurora Blue


