ALPINA Register at BimmerFest - Sunday 9th June 2024

[SPA69]

We have planned and booked our trip to BimmerFest and currently have a group of 6 ALPINA’s travelling from the UK.

I have reserved a club stand in the paddock area for the ALPINA register and if you would like to join us please follow the link to book tickets https://www.bimmerfest.eu/en/shop-en/

When purchasing your entry tickets please make sure when filling in your details to click on the box for CLUB and scroll down to theALPINAregister.com. You will not need to purchase a Paddock card as I will receive this for the whole club stand. I’m currently in discussions with the organiser and hoping our club stand will be located with the European ALPINA’s, where last year they had a dedicated area.

These are our plans if anyone wants to join us. If you can’t travel on the Friday why not join us on the Saturday/Sunday. Hopefully we will see some of you there.

Friday 7th June
Leave UK via Le Shuttle early AM (time to be confirmed) travelling to The Green Park hotel, Bruges. Plan to arrive before lunchtime. Park cars, check in to hotel then take a taxi into Bruges centre for sightseeing and food and Beer!!! https://www.greenparkhotelbrugge.com/en/


Saturday 8th June
Leave hotel in Bruges after breakfast and head to Bilderberg Chateau Holtmuhle in Tegelen,Venlo, approx 3 to 4 hour drive. Hopefully arrive at hotel in plenty of time to clean and detail cars for Sunday. If you book this hotel package it will include breakfast Sunday/Monday and one 3 course evening meal on the Saturday evening. https://www.bilderberg.nl/en/tegelen/chateau-holtmuhle/

Sunday 9th June
Leave hotel around 8.00am (time to be confirmed) for a short 30 minute drive to Bimmerfest, Raceway Venray, Peelweg 47, 5813 AD Ysselsteyn (Limburg)

Sunday evening planning to eat either at hotel or take a short walk into Tegelen to a restaurant.


Monday 10th June
Breakfast, check out then travel back to calais and return to UK on Le Shuttle

All hotels are currently bookable with no prepayment and free cancellation at anytime until day before arrival.

N.B. We cannot guarantee that our booked accommodation is still available.


Full details of the 2024 Bimmerfest can be found at: https://www.bimmerfest.eu/en/

[Sab]

Hi Simon,

I and my wife will be attending but not driving so hope to see you there.

[B10BRW]

Bad timing for me, I will be returning on the 7th from a visit to the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings.

Had thought of going to Bimmerfest, but my 2 previous visits made me realise that these events are not for me.

First time was to Venlo, Norman will remember it well, morons with stupidly loud sound systems, they seem to follow me around (Mallory anyone)

Second time was to 's-Hertogenbosch where the organisers had laid on a drift area, ah the smell of burning rubber in the morning

With 6 of you going together it should be a good trip.

[SPA69]

Thanks for the positive vibes Brian.
I don’t quite remember in in the same light as you.
I remember a great group of people and cars that all traveled from the UK and had a great time.

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[Wellsy]

Looking forward to this one, Leone and I will be attending together. We both love Bruges and a road trip across Europe is something I've wanted to do for a while.
As this would be the first time I've taken my own car to Europe would it be worth dropping a check sheet into this chat with things we need to do before hand.
I know some bits, but could do with some clarity on others.

- Inform Insurance and make sure your covered
- Carry Hi Viz Jackets for driver and passengers
- Put either the GB sticker on the Number Plate or the GB white sticker (do we need both or just the number plate stickers)
- Breakdown Cover, I've informed the AA I'm doing this trip and I'm covered for recovery to UK as long as the cost of recovery doesn't exceed the value of the car
- Carry Driving License
- Headlight aim covers, should we bring them just in case, but feels like most driving will be done in day light. OR do we have to have these fitted.
- Do we need a first aid kit?
- Do we need breathalyzer kit?
- Do we need spare bulbs

Anything I've missed or not thought off. Any pointers from anyone who drives in Europe would be much appreciated.

[SPA69]

Mark here is a check list I normally refer to before travelling.



Car docs, V5, Insurance, MOT Certificate
Crit’Air Sticker
Basic Spares
Jack
Puncture repair kit, compressor
Jump leads
Breakdown Insurance
Breakdown Triangle
Car bulb kit Tricky with LED lamps !
First Aid kit
UK sticker
Tow rope
Hiviz Gilets for each occupant
Fire Extinguisher
Breathalyser kits. Not a legal requirement
Passports
Driving Licence
Travel tickets, euro tunnel
Hotel booking details
French Tag-activated
Personal Insurance
UK Global Health Insurance Card
Sat navs etc
Road Maps
Cool box or fridge
Euros, Cash
Waterproofs, Brolley
Camera, cards, chargers
Phone Chargers
Walkie Talkies

[B10BRW]

I think Simon has covered everything in his very comprehensive list.
The only thing I would add is a European Accident Statement.
As he mentioned you need a UK sticker, GB no longer valid.

With regard to Hi Viz jackets I would ensure they are to hand, if stopped by the police put one on before leaving the car, as if you are not wearing one an over zealous cop could fine you

[Norrie]

Unfortunately due to commitments I shall not be able to make this trip. However I would commend it to those have not done it before, we had a great weekend last time.

I was not near the guy with the music, but this is a massive show and you will be sure to meet many other ALPINA owners from Europe. There is loads to see and do and the day vanished before we knew it.

If you can go, do go.

[440]

I was there last year and what a disappointment. About 10 Alpinas in the Alpina stand plus few more in other stands. I'd say there were more Alpina wannabes than original ones. Pops and bangs and s**t loud music. Never again.

Also these two tw*ts with UK plates trying to jump the queue at exit.

[Norrie]

wow that is interesting the year I went there were a host of ALPINA cars, a fair few from our group, but many from mainland Europe. It is correct there were various versions of an ALPINA from a badge to a fully wannabe replica, but I never went to wind up the natives. I enjoyed it but we did make a whole weekend of the trip.

[ChrisLux]

Hi Simon,

Thxvm organising this, i know you do a lot for our group that's not always seen, and even though I don't live in UK anymore, I appreciate the invites you send me.

I've been going to Bimmerfest for many years, including the Alpina 50th Anniversary celebration event, this will be my 6th time, so I'm quite accustomed to the format, even though it's changed over the years.
I've always found them to be very diversified from UK events, the Europeens have different ideas about what's what, but at the end of the day they are hugely massive well organised events, and EVERYBODY loves BMW's.

I have booked myself, Jean-Marie & Eric into Chateau Holtmuhle to coincide with you guyz, so looking forward to meeting up Saturday evening.

One thing I noticed was that breakfast on Sunday only starts at 0800am, and normally if you're displaying at Bimmerfest you need to be at Venray Raceway for 0800am to enter, but I asked already at the Chateau and it seems that if we pre-organise, we can take a pack/picnic breakfast with us instead of having to eat in-house, so I'll enquire about this asap I arrive as I'll already be there on Friday afternoon. If you can give me 'final' numbers I'll sort it out.

Coupla things on the check-list; bring sun cream and hats, last year it was 33-38C and we literally frazalled, there's no shade in a lot of display areas, so if you're walking around you don't realize you're getting burnt. Also anti-hystamine if you suffer from hayfever as there are lots of fields for parking which have been newly mown.
Bring your own drinks, queues can be long at the height of busyness so it's worth having at least water etc in a coolbox.
Hi-viz jackets for EVERY person in the car, First Aid Kit, Warning Triangle, Europeen Accident Statements, Spare Bulb Kits - are all requirements.
Tow Ropes are NOT legal in all Europeen countries anymore, they have to be fixed-metal bars.

If there's anything you/anybody needs me to check out/do/help with in the meantime, pls don't hesitate to ask.

[Wellsy]

Hey Chris,

What's the location of the show like for Fuel etc. Looking at the distance, 373m from home I'm likely to need a small top up one we are at the show for the trip home. Is there something close to the show ?

[ChrisLux]

Hey Chris,

What's the location of the show like for Fuel etc. Looking at the distance, 373m from home I'm likely to need a small top up one we are at the show for the trip home. Is there something close to the show ?

Hi mate,

IIRC there are a couple relatively close, one @ 5km from the raceway, the other @ 10km, but there's also one outside Venlo close to the Chateau, and I think Eindhoven isn't too far away either.

Only thing you have to watch out for is some Tankstelle do NOT always have 98 Octane

[Wellsy]

Well I drive a dirty diesel