Hello all

Gerard O'Connor here, one of the organisors of the economy run

If someone would like a preview of the course, I need to finalise the route book either this weekend or next weekend and I need someone to drive the route with me as passenger doing the route book.

My wife did the drive last  year but she is busy this year doing her thesis for her part time ! DCU course.

On the day I need a body for Supermacs and another for the Petrol station. Another car for the random time points would also be useful.

The event is set at an average speed of 30MPH this serves 2 puposes,

a it stops people driving too fast

b it stops people driving too slow

There will be a number of random check points for this

Last year people enjoyed my road over the mountain. This year I have just as narrow but better surface and a few spots where you can see clear road ahead. But remember 30MPH average

Gerard O'Connor 086 2659211

mailto:bmw2002_92@yahoo.ie - bmw2002_92@yahoo.ie

Hi all

Gerard here again

Using the route card is easier if you have a passenger, although one person did it on his own last year with the route card blue tacked to the dash!

Please be in good time. Meeting time 10:30   I intend to start releasing cars @ 1 minute intervals no later than 11:00

When the last car goes the start area will be unmanned

Example 15 cars entered first car @11:01 last car @11:15 Start official leaves start @11:16 

so please please please be in good time

I believe that we will only be able to verify the comparitive consumption rates on BMWs but any BMW enthuasiast is welcome and the day should be a bit of craic.

@Gerard - 30mph? - possibly just as well I'll be observing and not 'competing'

oh and by the way - my birthday is the day before so you all should have enough time now to buy my presents

I didn't realise its a BMW day - I'm confusing it with the Shell Economy run. But I might come down myself with said 325

As you were

Barry

@Barry m3 - I heard a rumour that you are Barry Rabbitt of Punto Abarth fame -  for those of you who don't know that's him below - bring this car to Portlaoise!

[Barry smacked his car into the armco as he was focused, not on racing but on the Grid Girls!]

Hi all

The Museum will unfortunately be closed on that one day, due to the owner having to go to a family function. 

The route will still go past the Museum so you could take a peek in the window and come back another day.

So more time to explore our religous history in Clonmacnoise.

I won the coveted hare category because I kicked everyone's butt in managing to to it in the quickest time (despite not having a navigator).

That Orion was a classic - rarely see something of that quality on our roads (thank God for Duct tape)!

AHEALY wrote: Killian 33rd birthdays dont merit pressies, but we might make an exception in your case, what do the rest of you guys think. Mind you i'm only 4 months behind you, so I cant talk.

Im not that old! I will be 32. Anyway, I was only joking about pressies! (unless you really want to get me some angel eyes or clear rears!)

AHEALY wrote: Does 30mph average seem very slow, i'd imagine the cows and signposts will be keeping up with us at that pace. Mind you maybe i'm forgetting about the roads Ger has prepared for us.

Well I stopped to do some sightseeing (mainly just to let the others try catch up!

Oh so, you are only a young chap.

When I heard there was a 30mph limit I thought it was a bicycle run. Sorry Ger.

Anyways, I'll definetly be there, sounds like its going to be great craic.

Hi all

My wife drove the full route today Sunday with me doing the road book. The first quarter of the route will be hard to average 20mph on. The second and third quarters will be easier and the last quarter will be a gentle run home. So no one should go majorly over the 30 mph average for the full route. Other than the run out from the start and the run in to the finish, all roads are back roads with people (including children) out walking not expecting a lot of cars coming at them. Another reason for the set average is it means most people will hopefully arrive at the lunch halt and Finish with a set time period.

The full route is 93.5 miles The meeting point is the still the carpark at the back of Supermacs. It just so happens this is the LIDL car park. Please be there in good time 10:30. Port Laoise is 51 miles from Dublin, 73 miles from Limerick and 107 miles from Cork. So allow plenty of time.

Clonmacnoise Visitors Centre has a coffee shop with Lasangne, Quiche type meals (€8.30 typically). The Entry fee is €5 and is well worth it. As I said before An Dun Motor Museum is closed on that one day. I called in today and is well worth a visit if you are ever in the area again.

So you all soon

Hi all

The petrol station for the event is the Statoil at the roundabout just down from the assembly car park at LIDL. There is a food bar there for hot rolls and sandwiches. The manager is looking forward to seeing us next Sunday.

Unleaded 97.9 Diesel 90.9

See you there

http://www.bmwcarclubgb.co.uk/regions/irlnd/Economy_Run.xls - results from 2003

BP wins (on economy) but i won on time

Regarding Super unleaded Statoil stopped stocking Super unleaded a number of years ago. So no Super Unleaded is available for this event.

When I last checked (June 2002) there were only 30 Texaco stations including the one at the roundabout in Athlone and 59 Esso stations stocking Super Unleaded. Since then I believe a number have stopped stocking it. So I was not going to restrict the event to less than 90 possible starting locations as the number of cars that can run on super unleaded only is very small.

If you wish to help on the day I do not have a problem with this.

Hi Keith

The lack of speedo and odoometer will just mean you will have to be more observant for the junctions on the road book.

When calculating the results the route distance is used, not the figure on the odometer. There will be random checkpoints to make sure people are following the correct route. 

What time d'you reckon you'll all be at Clonmacnoise?

I haven't got all day to spare to do the whole run (just as well for ye all 'cos I'd win) but the bro and me would like to have a gander at all these cars you all have.

Keithc - are your uncles E28s available for spares, and if so, where are they located. If the rev counter and speedo failed at the same time I'd start by checking for a disconnected wire - bad earth?

Would it not be more economical to drive on as least fuel as possible to save weight... or am I giving away someone's strategy here?

E28_IRE wrote: Would it not be more economical to drive on as least fuel as possible to save weight... or am I giving away someone's strategy here?

to calculate fuel consumption we brim the cars, send them on their way and then brim them again when they return. The amount put in on the 2nd brimming is the amount used

I see, KB. I'd love to have the day available to do this 'cos this old e28 I have seems very economical. I haven't worked out the fuel consumption properly but I get 75-80 miles to a tenner at present (fuel 89-93c per litre). Reckon I'd beat some of your lardy new cars no bother.

Keith - I don't need anything urgently, but always nice to know where there are parts available. Cars lying in fields is my thing!

SI 6 is a nice plate - If the car wasn't too bad I'd buy it to restore it... transport might be a problem though.

I'll take a couple of photos of it and send them to you - you can assess from there if there's stuff you'd want off it, or whether the whole car would be a project. Looks like it was reversed into its current resting spot, so thay might suggest it'll drive back out of it! (ever the optimist me)

Excellent, thanks.

You can get an awful lot for being optimistic*. Most of my cars have been non-NCTed optimistic purchases.

*you can also get a metaphorical kicking.

Same as my last 2 Beemers! And hollow cams ain't fun to re-fit after a DIY head gasket replacement (except for the head skim of course) without the proper tool.

Hope you at least have a garage to work in....

You going on the run on Sunday?

That particular job was done alfresco over a few days !!! What a hoot.. final assembly night was bucketing so we had tarpolin strung from open bonnet to the passenger window, and the other side onto a mates shed! Still 20,000 hard miles later and it's still singing so I'm fairly chuffed at our efforts.

Alas can't go on Sunday.... my buddies are all getting married & are throwing my BMW club activities - last trackday I had to leave early to get to a stag in Castlegregory. I'm missing this Sunday for another stag, and the Cork meet on the June w/e cos of the 1st guys wedding in Scotland!

My Schedule from a 11:00 start says first car will be in Clonmacnoise at 12:40. Although I expect this event will be different from typical Irish timing and people will arrive early. I will probably schedule 90 minutes to 2 hours for lunch and a visit to the Abbey Heritage centre.

To those that are entering please be in Port Laoise by 10:30 to allow time for filling cars.  

Thanks

Extra temptation

Included in the prizes are BMW F1 Polo shirts and new 6 series pens

Remember Meeting place LIDL car park behind Supermacs Portlaoise at 10:30

See you there

Supermacs/Lidl are on the old dublin/limerick road (replaced with motorway). If you take 1st turn into P.laoise follow main road and you will eventually see it. see http://www.kbannon.com/uploads/uploads/Portlaoise.gif - http://www.kbannon.com/uploads/uploads/Portlaoise.gif
go to http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?X=-810000&Y=6955000&width=500&height=300&client=public&gride=&gridn=&srec=0&coordsys=mercator&addr1=&addr2=&addr3=&pc=&advanced=&local=&scale=200000&multimap.x=219&multimap.y=160 - multimap for better scale maps

do people want to meet up somewhere on the way? how about near newbridge? (see map http://www.bmwcarclubgb.co.uk/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3053&PN=1 - here ) 9:30?

By the way, the portlaoise motorway bridges are a favourite spot for the gardai to test their speed guns! stick to 70mph!

These directions apply to both North and South bound traffic. The people coming from the Cork side will also find these of use

On the motorway take the Exit for Cork/Port Laoise N8

Head for town centre. When you reach the roundabout ( you will see Statoil and to your right Supermacs and LIDL) turn right onto dual carriageway to next roundabout U turn, pass Supermacs and turn left into road then left into LIDL car park

See you there

kbannon wrote: do people want to meet up somewhere on the way? how about near newbridge? (see map http://www.bmwcarclubgb.co.uk/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3053&PN=1 - here ) 9:30?

well?

well I enjoyed myself yesterday. Thanks lads for organising it!

I took a few snaps which are http://homepage.eircom.net/~bannondsl/bmwccgb/economy04.htm - here...

I enjoyed myself so much, I did 11 miles extra. At one point we missed a turn off, and took the next one, and then another, and ended up in a farmyard. Then there was that embarrassing episode in Rosenallis when we took the wrong turn, which incidentally was only 5 miles from where I live. Thankfully I knew a few back roads to get me back on track. I cant blame the missus for all the mistakes but did put a bit of a strain on our relationship

Honestly though, I never did one of these events before, and it was great craic. Fair dues to Ger and his wife and of course Killian for organising everything. It was a pity more people couldn't attend, because you missed a great day.

Thanks Everyone

For making it such a good day for me from an organisors point of view.

I already have ideas for next years route and where to visit

The spreadsheet of results link below

http://homepage.eircom.net/~goconnor/fer2004/2004%20Result%20Economy%20Run.xls - http://homepage.eircom.net/~goconnor/fer2004/2004%20Result%20Economy%20Run.xls

Easy to see who this years hare was!

You're the Man Ger. Thanks for all your efforts. Hopefully next year we'll have a bigger turn out, and i'll stick to the route next time.

Maybe we could have one later in the year ?. If u need some help just let me know.

Link to my report on the event

http://homepage.eircom.net/~goconnor/fer2004/Fuel%20Economy%20Run%20Report%202004.doc - http://homepage.eircom.net/~goconnor/fer2004/Fuel%20Economy%20Run%20Report%202004.doc

keithc wrote: Thanks Ger and Killian for a great day. Pictures are fab. It was a very entertaining route. Will definetly do it again. Eamo, how about a trade in of a fantastic E28 against that E30 M3!! Damo still has a creak in his neck from turning around to look at it when you weren't wandering off course!! As for Adrian, its lucky we weren't following him when we were behind him!!

Yes guys thats true, u'd have ended up in a farm yard, but u did get a good tow for 20 miles or so. Will do better next time

Well that's a matter of opinion, but I do like your black leather interior. I've been thinking about changing my own for a while but cant afford it at the moment.

As for the picture. Yes i'm in the foreground, but only half the bonnet is in view and very little else is showing. Maybe when I get my new lights, it will attract more attention