This is intended to be a checklist for potential virgin cruise organisers...
The tried-and-tested formula
- run the event on a Sunday, meet around 10am, start 10:15
- have a number of 15-20 min stops so people have a chance to chat
- toilet stops for ladies (this doesn't mean bushes)
- incorporate a visit to local attraction
- minimum of 90 minutes lunch stop (60 isn't enough)
- organise photo opportunities at lunch stop and/or elsewhere
- afternoon stop for cake and drink rather than just a loo stop
- pick an interesting mix of roads
In other words, a complete package of drive, food, company, sights, rather than just haring around the countryside. Make sure the day is also of interest to passengers.
Ideally plan the route and your stops in Autoroute or similar software, as it will give you a rough idea of timings. It also means you can easily produce an overall route map to publicise the event in posts.
If possible, find someone else locally who is willing to help and can act as your 'sweeper' (looks after the rear of the group).
Organise lunch stop with booked tables, keep them updated with numbers. Check with them how long they will need to serve everyone (then add 15 mins to be safe).
A couple of weeks beforehand, drive the route together with your sweeper (preferably on the same day of the week and same time of day you will be running the cruise) and check timings. Bear in mind there's no such thing as a five minute stop--it can take almost five minutes just to get everyone started again! Getting eight cars out of a right-turn T-junction can take much longer than just a couple of cars, so allow for this.
Preparations for the day
Send out emails before the event asking for names of driver/passenger, type of car, colour, plate (to tell which is which) and mobile phone number. Give a copy of the list to attendees to help people get to know each other. Also hand out a hard copy of the route--people like to know where they have been, as well as a map being useful if they get lost.
Ensure people realise they should arrive with sufficient fuel, drinks, snacks, etc and be ready to leave at the advertised time. If people haven't arrive five minutes before the start, phone them on their mobile to find their anticipated arrival time.
You might still get late arrivers, so have some flexibility in your timings. Have your route timings with you on the day so you know whether you're running on time and whether you need to panic (ideally your route should have a 'Plan B' that enables you to knock something out to get back on schedule).
Organising the group
There's every possibility of the group getting spread out, so in a small group of say eight cars, ask the sweeper to take position number five where he/she can observe the rear of the group and tell the leader when everyone is together again. In a larger group you may need both a sweeper towards the rear, and a middleman.
Those at the rear of the group have to drive faster to catch up after road junctions, so have the faster cars/drivers towards the rear of the group.
However try to avoid having your slowest drivers in positions two and three, otherwise when you reach a 'spirited' section, the leader will disappear into the distance on his/her own.
Communications and etiquette
The leader and the sweeper should keep in touch with Talkabouts. Check before setting out that people know how to use them, and hold them at the optimum distance from the mouth (varies with models) to avoid speech distortion.
Repeat all instructions twice, e.g., "Taking second exit from roundabout, taking second exit from roundabout, follow A27 to Lewes, follow A27 to Lewes."
Ensure drivers understand cruise etiquette
- don't overtake leader or deliberately fall behind sweeper
- observe speed limits in villages
- don't overtake on blind bends
- keep optimum two-second gap between cars
- ensure you keep car behind in view and slow/stop if necessary
- when cars in front starts indicating, you start indicating
When you stop somewhere, let people know how long they have--i.e. what time you anticipate leaving. In a large event, an air horn is useful to signal people to gather back at the cars.
Now... I'm sure there must be more to add.
Tim :zmurf:
The tried-and-tested formula
- run the event on a Sunday, meet around 10am, start 10:15
- have a number of 15-20 min stops so people have a chance to chat
- toilet stops for ladies (this doesn't mean bushes)
- incorporate a visit to local attraction
- minimum of 90 minutes lunch stop (60 isn't enough)
- organise photo opportunities at lunch stop and/or elsewhere
- afternoon stop for cake and drink rather than just a loo stop
- pick an interesting mix of roads
In other words, a complete package of drive, food, company, sights, rather than just haring around the countryside. Make sure the day is also of interest to passengers.
Ideally plan the route and your stops in Autoroute or similar software, as it will give you a rough idea of timings. It also means you can easily produce an overall route map to publicise the event in posts.
If possible, find someone else locally who is willing to help and can act as your 'sweeper' (looks after the rear of the group).
Organise lunch stop with booked tables, keep them updated with numbers. Check with them how long they will need to serve everyone (then add 15 mins to be safe).
A couple of weeks beforehand, drive the route together with your sweeper (preferably on the same day of the week and same time of day you will be running the cruise) and check timings. Bear in mind there's no such thing as a five minute stop--it can take almost five minutes just to get everyone started again! Getting eight cars out of a right-turn T-junction can take much longer than just a couple of cars, so allow for this.
Preparations for the day
Send out emails before the event asking for names of driver/passenger, type of car, colour, plate (to tell which is which) and mobile phone number. Give a copy of the list to attendees to help people get to know each other. Also hand out a hard copy of the route--people like to know where they have been, as well as a map being useful if they get lost.
Ensure people realise they should arrive with sufficient fuel, drinks, snacks, etc and be ready to leave at the advertised time. If people haven't arrive five minutes before the start, phone them on their mobile to find their anticipated arrival time.
You might still get late arrivers, so have some flexibility in your timings. Have your route timings with you on the day so you know whether you're running on time and whether you need to panic (ideally your route should have a 'Plan B' that enables you to knock something out to get back on schedule).
Organising the group
There's every possibility of the group getting spread out, so in a small group of say eight cars, ask the sweeper to take position number five where he/she can observe the rear of the group and tell the leader when everyone is together again. In a larger group you may need both a sweeper towards the rear, and a middleman.
Those at the rear of the group have to drive faster to catch up after road junctions, so have the faster cars/drivers towards the rear of the group.
However try to avoid having your slowest drivers in positions two and three, otherwise when you reach a 'spirited' section, the leader will disappear into the distance on his/her own.
Communications and etiquette
The leader and the sweeper should keep in touch with Talkabouts. Check before setting out that people know how to use them, and hold them at the optimum distance from the mouth (varies with models) to avoid speech distortion.
Repeat all instructions twice, e.g., "Taking second exit from roundabout, taking second exit from roundabout, follow A27 to Lewes, follow A27 to Lewes."
Ensure drivers understand cruise etiquette
- don't overtake leader or deliberately fall behind sweeper
- observe speed limits in villages
- don't overtake on blind bends
- keep optimum two-second gap between cars
- ensure you keep car behind in view and slow/stop if necessary
- when cars in front starts indicating, you start indicating
When you stop somewhere, let people know how long they have--i.e. what time you anticipate leaving. In a large event, an air horn is useful to signal people to gather back at the cars.
Now... I'm sure there must be more to add.
Tim :zmurf:
unish:
