Essex & Surrounding Counties Christmas drive & lunch, Sunday 14 December 2025

[casey]

The last Essex & Adjoining Counties Meet topic had run to 53 pages, so it was considered a good idea to start this new topic

The old topic is now archived here: viewtopic.php?f=164&t=73707

"Locals"; myself, Ian.Mothersole, SteveBishopRx8, Red and Black try and organise a Sunday outing on a monthly basis where possible. The current format is (loosely) usually a drive of 30-90 minutes and either a breakfast, brunch or lunch somewhere nice. RX-8 owners (or simply enthusiasts of the RX-8) are welcome to join us an any of these meets, either for the whole shebang, or just the drive, or just the meal. If you wish to join us, please ensure you let us know through this topic, or via a related Facebook Event discussion, so we know to expect you and, where needed, book table place(s). These are designed to be family friendly outings, so bring them along too.


The next meet is as follows:

FISH AND CHIPS on the BEACH! Sunday August 31st 2025

We shall meet at the Bypass Nurseries Garden Centre Capel St. Mary. It's situated just off the northbound carriageway of the A12, postcode IP9 2JR.

We'll meet up there at 10am for a coffee and a browse before departing around 11am to take a leisure drive north along the A12/A14 over the Orwell Bridge. We then take the A1152 to Melton and then onto Butley. Heading north again we pass Snape Maltings and then turn right onto the A1094 at Church Common, that takes us into Aldeburgh. Here is a chance to view some of the most expensive properties on the east coast. We then take the beach road to Thorpeness where there may well be an opportunity to stop for a photo shoot. Shortly after passing through Thorpeness we head for even pricier buildings at Sizewell(!!), and then carry on towards Theberton, picking up the B1122. Our next right turn takes us to Westleton and then on to the Dunwich Road to reach our destination just in time for lunch at the Flora Tea Rooms, Dunwich Beach.

The route can be viewed on a PC browser using this link - NOTE: OPENING THIS LINK ON A MOBILE PHONE WILL OPEN GOOGLE MAPS AND THE ROUTE SHOWN WILL BE INCORRECT. All waypoints will be lost and only the start point and destination will be correct.

Fish n Chip run.jpg (254.92 KiB) Viewed 1305 times

There is a large, free car park at the Tea Rooms (with donations to local church welcomed), and plenty of seating inside and out, right on the beach.

Please post up in here if you wish to join us for the drive and/or the meal at Dunwich.

Grateful acknowledgements to Red and Black for planning this meet and the driving route

Who is going?

1. Red & Black (Derek)(+Debbie) - drive & meal
2. SteveBishopRx8 (+Tina) - drive & meal
3. Ian.Mothersole (Ian)(+Jackie) - drive & meal
4. casey (Malcolm) (+Gwyn) - drive & meal
5. Ronak (+Veena) - drive & meal
6. Mykie (+Jenny & Viktor) - drive & meal
7. Aston & Crissy - drive & meal
8. Fabb66 (Mark)(+Jay) - drive & meal
9. Webbo85 (Simon) - drive & meal

21Aug21131615-Natalie_Fromow_-_Boats_at_Dunwich[1].jpg (63.29 KiB) Viewed 1436 times

[Myk1e]

Ohh put me down, meal and drive this time now I've got the rx8 in a slightly better place

Probably be me the Mrs (Jenny) and little Viktor Again

[BinaryJava]

Sounds great, I’d love to come along.

[BinaryJava]

I’ll have to leave this one out, sorry.

[Fab66]

Was chatting to Derek about this at Yakushi, please add me for the drive and meal, not sure Rachel will be joining me so put her as a possible

Ta

Mark


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[Fab66]

My son Jay will be joining me, drive and meal as well please

Ta

Mark


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[Red & Black]

Was chatting to Derek about this at Yakushi, please add me for the drive and meal, not sure Rachel will be joining me so put her as a possible

Ta

Mark


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Great Mark, it will be lovely to see you (and Jay) so soon again.

[SteveBishopRx8]

Just added Simon to the list

[Red & Black]

Please add Aston & Cristina to the list.
Also delete Binary Java.

[Fab66]

We are gutted about this but my exhaust is blowing slightly from the front and I can’t get it up on a ramp to sort it until next week, I don’t want to risk driving it like this. Im sorry to have to pull out

Ta

Mark


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[Fab66]

Sorry to hear that Mark. Hope it turns out to be an easy fix.

[DrewR3]

We are gutted about this but my exhaust is blowing slightly from the front and I can’t get it up on a ramp to sort it until next week, I don’t want to risk driving it like this. Im sorry to have to pull out

Ta

Mark


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If you have your heat shield on it would likely be fine. I had a crush gasket issue which was blowing for about 1k miles (sounds alot but that was just 2 weeks of attending shows and going home to wales), car was fine just sounded naff. Luckily Senor Jones sorted me on my next transit through the midlands with a shiny new OEM gasket......and a RB dual res.....and a set of BC coilovers....

[Fab66]

Thanks guys, Im not overly concerned just being cautious. Im taking it over to Nick’s on Tuesday. Oil change as well while it’s up in the air, I’ll let you know what transpires…

Ta

Mark


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[Myk1e]

Sorry going to have to be a last minute bail, I've woken up with no voice

Sorry guys

[SteveBishopRx8]

Shame you couldn't make it Myk1e. It was a lovely sunny drive out to the coast for some delicious fish and chips.

Get well soon!

Grateful thanks to Derek for organising

A good turnout with 3x RX-8s, 2x RX-7s, a turbo MX-5 and an Impreza.

[Fab66]

Trip over to Nick’s early this afternoon.

Now all sorted, front exhaust gasket or should I say lack of was completely gone, oil change, new oil filter and she’s running a dream

Ta

Mark


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[Red & Black]

Essex & Surrounding Counties Christmas drive & lunch, Sunday 14 December 2025

Yes, Christmas is on the horizon so time to get your Xmas meals planned

Please post up in here asap if you [+guest(s)] wish to come along to this event. You can chose to do the Drive and/or Lunch, so "pick n mix" as you wish

Drive - we will meet at the "Horse and Groom" pub carpark between 10 and 10.30am for a Convoy Drive around the local countryside at 10.30am. The pub is just south of Chelmsford, in Horse and Groom Lane, CM2 8PJ. See map below.

Lunch - we will return to The Horse and Groom for our Christmas lunch at noon. There is a Christmas menu; 2 courses £25 or 3 courses £27 (see below) - or you can opt to eat from the regular pub menu. Menus can be found on the pub Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/HorseandGroomGalleywood/

The pub will require a £10pp deposit for lunch. If you post up in here, Steve or I will PM you with payment details.

All are welcome, wherever you are located. But be quick, as spaces are limited!

I'm going

• Malcolm & Gwyn - drive & lunch
• Steve & Tina - drive & lunch pre-order done
• Derek & Debbie - drive & lunch pre-order done
• Ian & Jackie- drive & lunch
• Clive & Lisa - lunch
• Seanp - TBC
• Joe Pearce & GF - TBC

HG Map.jpg (24.92 KiB) Viewed 424 times

Pub.jpg (40.79 KiB) Viewed 424 times

[SteveBishopRx8]

Lunch only for us. Thank you

[SeanP]

Please pencil me in. I'll ask Joe +GF too...

[casey]

[BinaryJava]

If I can get my car MOT'd in time myself and Abi will come along.