Here is an interesting event for you, something unusual. A group of Land Rover enthusiasts have got together to raise a heap of funds for the worthy Help For Heroes charity, and at the same time have a bit of fun.

Held at the Heritage Motor Centre, Banbury Road, Gaydon, Warwickshire CV35 0BJ it's it’s an attempt to break the Guinness World Record™ for the Longest Land Rover Parade, previously set at Towcester Racecourse in Northants 2004.

Called CONVOY for HEROES they aim to have a convoy of 500 or more Land Rovers under the conditions set by Guinness World Records™. The record was set at 260 vehicles (set because it was first established in 2004 and there hadn’t been a record before that), with Series, Defenders, 101FC’s, Lightweights, Freelanders, Rangies and Discoveries all joining in. Now seven years on, with the Range Rover Sport thrown into the mix, there are an awful lot more Land Rover models out there, so achieving the goal of 500 should be a doodle … we hope!

23-24 April is the Easter weekend, so hopefully that will entice a few more owners to turn out as the Monday will obviously be a Bank Holiday, so no work!!!

The weekend however won’t just be confined to the world record attempt as there will be a host of attractions due to be announced very soon. Until then, have a look at the website for more details - http://www.convoy4heroes.org.uk

Hope to see you there!!!

As a result of PM's I have received this afternoon, rather than me waffle (I'm good at that ) I will post the full list of mini-convoys folk have asked about ...

As a prelude to CONVOY for HEROES, a series of mini-convoys will be setting out on Friday 22nd April 2011 (Good Friday) all heading to Gaydon. The idea is that each mini-convoy will be stopping at a number or pre-published pick-up points on their route at set times, thus enabling folk to join in and accompany them to the event. With loads of flags, cuddly toys, horns, bells and whistles, we want the world to know we are 'on our way'.

Here is the full list of all 17 mini-convoys, showing their proposed routes (unless stated) and estimated mileages and duration.

There are a few more than first envisaged, but understandable given the breadth of England and the densely populated south and southeast.

Commencing with the “North mini-convoy” to Gaydon, thereafter clockwise around points of the compass.

Please bear in mind that at this stage, only two of these proposed routes have been confirmed, so if you will be attending CONVOY for HEROES and yourself or your club fancy leading a mini-convoy, please register your interest by contacting me direct – 4x4trading@talk21.com Unless stated, all mini-convoys will depart on Fri 22nd April 2011.

PROPOSED: Route. ESTIMATED: Mileage & duration.
“North mini-convoy”
? to Gaydon, Warwickshire

Convoy led by ‘?’ of the “?” – MOB: ?

Ideally the mini-convoy should start from somewhere in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, roughly central between the M6 and the A1. Either Hawes, Pateley Bridge or Leyburn - A650 via Bradford to J27 M62 eastbound – J42 M1 southbound – M1 Wakefield – M1 Barnsley – M1Rotherham – M1 Sheffield – Chesterfield – west of Mansfield – Kirkby in Ashfield – M1 Nottingham – M1 Donnington Park/East Midlands Airport – A42 to Ashby de la Zouch – M42 Tamworth – Solihull – M40 to Gaydon.

Roughly 210 miles, 5.5 hours with stops.

CONFIRMED: Route, mileage, duration, departure times at pick-up points (now listed within C4H forum). This is the only mini-convoy comprising two days – Thurs 21st April and Fri 22nd April.
“Northeast mini-convoy”
Banff, Aberdeenshire to Gaydon, Warwickshire

Convoy led by ‘Yoda’ of the “Landy Rally Club” – 07802 894671

Thursday 21st April 2011: Banff – A97 Huntley – A96 Inverurie – A96/A90 Brechin – A90 Dundee – A92/M90 Kinross – A90/A720 Edinburgh – A720/A68 Jedburgh – A68 Fir Tree – A68/A1(M) Scotch Corner

334.7 miles, 7.7 hours with stops

Friday 22nd April 2011: Scotch Corner – A1 Pontefract – A1(M)/M18/M1 Sheffield – M1 Derby – M1/M69/A46 Coventry – A46/M40 Gaydon.

191.8 miles, 3.6 hours with stops

PROPOSED: Route. ESTIMATED: Mileage & duration.
“East Route E1 - Great Yarmouth mini-convoy (A47)”
? to Gaydon, Warwickshire

Convoy led by ‘?’ of the “?” – MOB: ?

Great Yarmouth – A47 Norwich – A47 Dereham – A47 Swaffam – A47 King’s Lynn – A47 Wisbech – Peterborough – A43 at Duddington to Corby – A43 Kettering – A14/A426 Rugby – A426 Southam – B4451 Gaydon.

Roughly 176.7 miles, 5 hrs 27mins with stops.

PROPOSED: Route, mileage, duration.
“East Route E2 - Felixstowe mini-convoy (A14)”
? to Gaydon, Warwickshire

Convoy led by ‘?’ of the “?” – MOB: ?

Felixstowe – A14 Ipswich – A14 Bury St Edmunds – A14 Newmarket – A14 Cambridge – A14 Huntingdon – A14 Thrapston – A45 Northampton – A45 Daventry – A425 Southam – B4451 Gaydon.

Roughly 153.5 miles, 4 hrs 36 mins with stops.

PROPOSED: Route, mileage, duration.
“East Route E3 - Southend-On-Sea mini-convoy (A127)”
? to Gaydon, Warwickshire

Convoy led by ‘?’ of the “?” – MOB: ?

Southend-On-Sea – A127 Basildon – J29 M25 Romford – M25 Waltham Abbey – M25 Potters Bar – M25 Watford – J21 M1 Hemel Hempstead – J9 M1/A5 Dunstable – A5 Milton Keynes – A421 Buckingham – A421/A43 Brackley – A422/M40 Banbury – M40 Gaydon.

Roughly 135.8 miles, 4 hrs 21mins with stops.

PROPOSED: Route, mileage, duration.
“Southeast Route SE1 - Margate mini-convoy (M2)”
? to Gaydon, Warwickshire

Convoy led by ‘?’ of the “?” – MOB: ?

Margate – A299 Faversham – M2/A249 Maidstone – M20 Maidstone – M26/M25 Sevenoaks – M25 Westerham – M25 Godstone – M25 Reigate – M25 Leatherhead – M25 Cobham – M25 Staines – M25 Uxbridge – M40 High Wycombe – M40 Bicester – M40 Banbury – M40 Gaydon.

Roughly 175.0 miles, 4 hrs 08 mins with stops.

PROPOSED: Route, mileage, duration.
“Southeast Route SE2 - Dover mini-convoy (M20)”
? to Gaydon, Warwickshire

Convoy led by ‘?’ of the “?” – MOB: ?

Dover – A20 Folkestone – M20 Ashford – M20 Maidstone – M26/M25 Sevenoaks – M25 Westerham – M25 Godstone – M25 Reigate – M25 Leatherhead – M25 Cobham – M25 Staines – M25 Uxbridge – M40 High Wycombe – M40 Bicester – M40 Banbury – M40 Gaydon.

Roughly 173.8 miles, 3 hrs 56 mins with stops.

PROPOSED: Route, mileage, duration.
“South Route S1 - Hastings mini-convoy (A21)”
? to Gaydon, Warwickshire

Convoy led by ‘?’ of the “?” – MOB: ?

Hastings – A21 Tunbridge Wells – A21 Sevenoaks – J5 M25 – M25 Westerham – M25 Godstone – M25 Reigate – M25 Leatherhead – M25 Cobham – M25 Staines – M25 Uxbridge – M40 High Wycombe – M40 Bicester – M40 Banbury – M40 Gaydon.

Roughly 155.8 miles, 3 hrs 49 mins with stops.

PROPOSED: Route, mileage, duration.
“South Route S2 - Eastbourne mini-convoy (A22)”
? to Gaydon, Warwickshire

Convoy led by ‘?’ of the “?” – MOB: ?

Eastbourne – A2270 Polegate – A27 Hailsham – A22 Uckfield – A22 East Grinstead – J6 M25 Godstone – M25 Reigate – M25 Leatherhead – M25 Cobham – M25 Staines – M25 Uxbridge – M40 High Wycombe – M40 Bicester – M40 Banbury – M40 Gaydon.

Roughly 150.6 miles, 3 hrs 51 mins with stops.

PROPOSED: Route, mileage, duration.
“South Route S3 - Brighton mini-convoy (A23)”
? to Gaydon, Warwickshire

Convoy led by ‘?’ of the “?” – MOB: ?

Brighton – A23 Crawley – J7/8 M23 Reigate – M25 Leatherhead – M25 Cobham – M25 Staines – M25 Uxbridge – M40 High Wycombe – M40 Bicester – M40 Banbury – M40 Gaydon.

Roughly 137.5 miles, 3 hrs 22 mins with stops.

PROPOSED: Route, mileage, duration.
“South Route S4 - Isle of Wight/Portsmouth mini-convoy (A3)”
? to Gaydon, Warwickshire

Convoy led by ‘?’ of the “?” – MOB: ?

Ideally it should start from Isle of Wight (if not then Portsmouth) – A3(M) Waterloovillle – A3 Petersfield – A3 Guildford – J10 M25 Cobham – M25 Staines – M25 Uxbridge – M40 High Wycombe – M40 Bicester – M40 Banbury – M40 Gaydon.

Roughly 120 miles (from Portsmouth), 3.8 hours with stops (from Portsmouth).

PROPOSED: Route, mileage, duration.
“South Route S5 - Bournemouth mini-convoy (A34)”
? to Gaydon, Warwickshire

Convoy led by ‘?’ of the “?” – MOB: ?

Bournemouth – A338 Ringwood – A31/M27 Southampton – A34 Winchester – A34 Newbury – A34 Oxford – M40 Bicester – M40 Banbury – Gaydon

Roughly 130.7 miles, 3.26 hours with stops.

PROPOSED: Route, mileage, duration.
“Southwest mini-convoy”
? to Gaydon, Warwickshire

Convoy led by ‘?’ of the “?” – MOB: ?

Ideally it should start from Penzance – A30 Redruth – A30 Bodmin – A38 Liskeard – A38 Plymouth – A38 Exeter – M5 Taunton – M5 Bridgwater – M5 Weston-Super-Mare – M5 Bristol – M5 Gloucester – M5 Cheltenham – M5 Worcester – A422 Alcester – A46 Stratford-upon-Avon – M40 Gaydon.

Roughly 274 miles, 6.15 hours with stops.

PROPOSED: Route, mileage, duration.
“West Route W1 - St David’s mini-convoy (A40)”
St David’s, Pembrokeshire to Gaydon, Warwickshire

Convoy led by ‘?’ of the “?” – MOB: ?

Ideally it should start from St. David’s – A487 Haverfordwest – A40 Carmarthen – A48/M4 Swansea – M4 Bridgend – M4 Cardiff – M4 Newport – A449/A40 Monmouth – A40 Ross-On-Wye – M50 to J8 M5 – southbound to J9 M5 Tewkesbury – A46 Evesham - A422 Alcester – A46 Stratford-upon-Avon – M40 Gaydon.

Roughly 224 miles, 5.40 hours with stops.

PROPOSED: Route, mileage, duration.
“West Route W2 - Aberystwyth mini-convoy (A44)”
Aberystwyth, Ceredigion to Gaydon, Warwickshire

Convoy led by ‘? of the “?” – MOB: ?

Aberystwyth – A44/A470 Llanidloes – A470/A489 Newtown – A483 Welshpool – A458 Shrewsbury –
A5/M54 Telford – M6 Walsall – M5 West Bromwich – M42 Bromsgrove – M40 Redditch – M40 Gaydon.

Roughly 163.7 miles, 4.26 hours with stops.

PROPOSED: Route, mileage, duration.
“West Route W3 - Holyhead mini-convoy (A55)”
Holyhead, Isle Of Anglesey to Gaydon, Warwickshire

Convoy led by ‘?’ of the “?” – MOB: ?

Holyhead – A55 Bangor – A55 Conwy – A55 Abergele – A55 Chester – J36 A55/A483 Wrexham – A534 Nantwich – A500/J16 M6 Stoke – M6 Stafford – M6 Stafford – M6 Walsall – M5 West Bromwich – M42 Bromsgrove – M40 Redditch – M40 Gaydon.

Roughly 216.4 miles, 5.35 hours with stops.

CONFIRMED: Route, mileage, duration, departure times at pick-up points (now listed within C4H forum).
“Northwest mini-convoy”
Kilmarnock, Ayrshire to Gaydon, Warwickshire

Convoy led by ‘Bling’ of the “Landy Rally Club” – 07771 921077

Kilmarnock – A71 Strathaven – M74/A74(M) Lockerbie – A74(M) Gretna Green – M6 Carlisle – M6 Kendal – M6 Lancaster – M6 Chorley – M6 Knutsford– M6 Stoke – M6 Stafford – M6 Stafford – M6 Walsall – M5 West Bromwich – M42 Bromsgrove – M40 Redditch – M40 Gaydon.

382.8 miles, 7 hours 3 mins with stops


That’s it!

what a good idea and plenty of notice to  

Supporting the London Air Ambulance with my Brothers

For me a week is usually "plenty of notice", so you're lucky!

Tom mc how would we join east route E3 mini convoy and do you know what day it would be on ??
Many thanks 

Supporting the London Air Ambulance with my Brothers

As mini-convoy routes and pick-up point times are confirmed, they will get published in www.convoy4heroes.org.uk

When this happens, I shall also go back to my post in this forum and amend it accordingly - so as soon as I know, you will know.

The 'east route E3' will be on Friday 22nd April 2011, but already it appears that a number of local and regional ‘unofficial’ mini-convoys (within striking distance of Gaydon) will be running on Sunday 24th April 2011 – the actual day of the world record attempt. These are being organised within clubs themselves for members who won’t be camping over the weekend because they live locally. Most of these I probably won't even get to hear about, hence the 'unofficial' tag.

The organisers are obviously fine with this development, but request these Sunday mini-convoys set off as early as possible, as “Gaydon on Sunday is going to be rather busy” … no kidding!!!

The latest ...

Here’s something truly unique, something that has never been done before in 63 years.

The Heritage Motor Centre, the custodians of the first production Land Rover known to one and all as ‘Huey’ (registration HUE 166) have generously donated a ride in the front passenger seat of ‘Huey’ – at the very front of CONVOY for HEROES … and before you ask, no you can’t drive it!

This is how it will work …

Via an auction on the CONVOY for HEROES forum, you place an open bid for the ride in ‘Huey’ as it leads the attempt to break the world record on Sunday 24th April 2011 (Easter Sunday). Instructions can be found at http://h4hconvoy.myfreeforum.org/forum68.php

The auction will close on Wednesday April 20th at 6pm, thus giving the winning bidder a chance to find someone else to drive his or her own vehicle in the convoy.

To generate the maximum amount of cash, the auction is open to all-comers.

Alternatively, the winning bidder may elect to donate the seat to someone else as a present – a loved one, family member or a worthy individual perhaps, but remember this is a sixty plus year-old Land Rover so no airbags, seatbelts or padded bits. Passengers must be 12 years-old or older.

Bids will be updated daily between now and near the end of the auction, the last few hours will be updated hourly, the last 60 minutes shown as soon as they arrive.

Well, what are you waiting for? Put in a bid!!!

CONVOY CLOSED!

Latest news from the organisers:

We’ve reached the maximum number allowed by Jaguar Land Rover – 360 Land Rovers – and if you haven’t booked your place yet, you’ll just have to wait for next year! If you recall, the current world record stands at 260, so providing all goes well on the day, the existing record set back in 2004 should be broken.

Still, there will be plenty to see and do on the Saturday, if you’d still like to come along. Children’s events, the Land Rover Experience and some interesting talks and demonstrations from our friends in black – the SAS. And don’t forget, your day entry ticket also gives you free entry to the Heritage Motor Centre and the Sci-fi at the Movies exhibition. And it’s all in aid of Help for Heroes.– 360 Land Rovers – and if you haven’t booked your place yet, you’ll just have to wait for next year! If you recall, the current world record stands at 260, so providing all goes well on the day, the existing record set back in 2004 should be broken.

To recap – day visitors are welcome at Gaydon on either Saturday 23rd or Sunday 24th April, but as the actual world record attempt will be taking place on Sunday at Jaguar Land Rover’s private test track to the rear of the Heritage Motor Centre, only those who have been accepted to take part in the convoy will be allowed to take part. Spectators therefore can only view proceedings in front of the museum, not to the restricted area at the rear.

Thanks to all those who have supported CONVOY for HEROES, a report on what took place will be forthcoming post event.

Damn it, I was going to go!

But I will be heading to Gaydon on Saturday. Anyone from London would like to join? We could set up a meeting and drive to Gaydon with out own covoy  Vadim A.

Tom MC,
what if you are missing few cars on the record setting day? Will there be an opportunity to join in?  Vadim A.