SALE NOW ON

SALE NOW ON 

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Time for a Holiday?

If you're going away this Bank Holiday, have a look at some handy tips from The Caravan Club:
Caravan Club offers up driving tips for rural roads 

Bailey Pageant Sancerre

Bailey Pageant 4 berth, fixed bed with end washroom, separate shower and toilet.
Great layout on a single axle.
www.thecaravanplace.com

UK's Fastest Blogger

Today has come at last, my wife (Gina Stokes) and I were invited to join Buyagift.com and Caterham driving experience at Silverstone for some drifting action. To find the UK’s FASTEST BLOGGER 2012.  I am a huge car nut and love anything to do with cars or anything quick with an engine to be more precise, not only do I get to spend a day with cars but I also get to spend it with my wife, so when the opportunity arose to do this I jumped at it.

We started the day off early with a drive to Silverstone which from the west midland is an easy 1hour 45 mins. We arrived a little early so took full advantage of the Mcdonalds drive through near the circuit for breakfast, we then headed to Silverstone for signing on and briefing. We pulled up and were greeted and given information.  We mingled with the other bloggers who were all very friendly and from all walks of life, not just all petrol heads.  We sorted all the normal paperwork out and I received a little banter from Sudds as I was letting the wife do everything (I did fill my own form out though!!).  

It was then onto briefing about the cars and what the day entailed, it was hard to listen to what was being said with 3 Caterham’s around though.

We then watched how things should be done around the practice circuit and group order was arranged.  We noticed straight away they had put my wife and I down to drive at the same time as we would be driving in groups of 3, which would cause a problem for us to video each other.  We mentioned this and the guys were great and got things changed straight away with no fuss.  So the driving began.  Gina went out and I was able to get some pics and video.  

It then soon came to my go and the nerves set in quickly.  I got strapped in and I was soon ready to go.  The red mist descended and I wanted to take off, my first go round was not too bad and I seemed to get used to the car pretty quickly.  I’ve always loved to try and get my own car sideways in the snow etc. so being able to do this in someone else’s car and supposed to be doing it was great.  

My first few turns were over and the adrenaline was going.  Before I knew it, it was my turn, so off I went again thinking I knew what to do and just nail it as fast as I can, but I wasn’t really in control although I was having great fun!  On my arrival back into the starting area it was pointed out to me that speed isn’t everything and that its easier if you take it easy then use the power when its needed to start the drift, so I thought let’s try that then.  

My fourth go was a lot more subdued but the power was now there when I needed it to get the back end out and drifting.  I realised I’m not trying to race around the circuit now but take control of the car and not the car take control of me.  I came back in and Sudds (who was now giving instruction) explained that if I’m only using 10% of the power I still have 90% to use to get the car drifting which made a lot of sense instead of using 40% and only having 60% left.  After more instruction I felt I was able to gradually take more and more control of the car and became better throughout the day.  

It was onto the figure of eight practice which again I really loved.  We then stopped for lunch and were told that the UBER drifting course was to come after lunch.  After lunch we had another quick briefing about what had been learnt earlier and was shown the uber drifting course by one of the instructors.  It was soon time to helmet up and go for it, we were advised to drive the course to find where we were going I kept trying to remember my clockwise and anti-clockwise for the 360 doughnuts.  After my first run I had figured out where I was supposed to go and on my second run I went for it. Wow the course was so good when I came back in I couldn’t stop talking about it with the other guys.  As I got more practice I started to get into the flow of things and was determined to drift my way from start to finish which with a bit more instruction I was getting there.

The time then came for the serious part the last 2 runs, 1^st run would be a final practice with the all-important 2nd run the decider for the UK’s fastest blogger 2012.  I was ready for it, I felt like I could do it and on my practice run I nailed it, it was my best run of the day and felt awesome.  But then I remembered I had to do it again, that was just practice.  I came back round for the final run, a bit of banter from the instructors and I was ready I felt confident and went for it.  I pretty much got it right until the very last doughnut where I came a bit tight and had to ease off the power but kept control.  That was it I had done all I could, I knew it wasn’t the perfect round I had wanted but it wasn’t bad.

Gina and I then sat down to watch the final runs and everyone did so well, from the initial crawlers, the cone killers and the kangaroo-ers everyone looked so good.  All I could do was wait and see. I knew Gina had also done really well and a few others had made next to no errors.  The time came and the results were read out it was announced that I had done enough.  I had won the title of UK’s Fastest Blogger 2012 (Drift King)!

I realised through the day that even though I am super competitive and love this sort of thing that you don’t need to be, all the other guys and girls on the day seemed to have a really good time and a great laugh from start to finish.  I think this was a lot to do with how things are run by the Caterham guys as no pressure is put on anyone, you are told the basics and how to do things.  The guys explain things simply and are not on at you if you make mistakes as I have found with other companies, this made the day.  I can only recommend if you are looking for something full of excitement and to get the adrenaline going, but don’t want the same old track day or gift idea. 

Photography copyright Gina Stokes

Branching Out!

We're sponsoring a class at TAG week long agility show in August.

For more information, you can find the schedule on Simply Canine

New Stock!

We have just taken delivery of:


Avondale Argente 640 
2005
6 berth twin axle


Elddis Tobago 505
2004
5 berth


Take a look at our website for more information:
The Caravan Place

Caravan Insurance

Safeguard UK are specialists in motorhome insurance and caravan insurance.

Make sure to mention The Caravan Place to receive a discount on your premium!

Caravan Servicing

WE ARE NOW IN THE APPROVED WORKSHOP SCHEME. 


This means we can now carry out warranty servicing on all makes and manufacturers. We still carry out standard servicing on all makes and models as before. Servicing from £75 plus vat for chassis servicing, and from £150 plus vat for full servicing.


Call us now on 01902 700 222.

Swift Charisma 565

Swift Charisma 565 
2009
Great 6 berth layout with lots of room, this Caravan is as NEW!
Triple bunks 
Side dinette
Price £11,995


For more info click here or call us on 01902 700 222

Storage

We offer caravan and motorhome storage on site in Wolverhampton

• Secure storage silver awarded 
• Hard Standing pitches
• 3M parking spaces
• Security Lighting
• CCTV
• 24hour site security
• On site Servicing
• Your plot is paid for so you can leave your car when using your motorhome etc

Call today to save your space 01902 700 222

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Swift challenger 490se

JUST ARRIVED
Swift challenger 490se
5 berth single axle 
Double bed to front and rear with bunk bed to rear
Very clean caravan for year, great family layout
Price £3995


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