[FTO MEET] Christmas bash - karting meet [5th Dec 2009]

[optical illusion]

Only spotted this now!
1.gfalls
2. Bernard (+1 (TopCat))
3. Colm
4. optical
5. Dave +1
6. CJ
7. MyfFTO
8. fatboyfat7
9. keenan
10. Seb + 1
11. Muad
12. Mustang +1 (provisional)

Depending on location and work Chritmas parties etc.

IIRC the karts in Kiltorcan run on lpg -looks like their website is down. Only been there once -seemed ok -can't reme,ber what the pace of teh karts was like
Anyone been to extreme karting http://www.xtremekarting.ie/ near Roscrea? Realatively central location, altough I'm not sure where we'd overnight.

Newry wouldn't be such a bad idea -fill teh boot with reasonabley priced booze fro Christmas while North of the border
Could be a bit hectic with all the other republic traffic up there at the same craic.

Were you drunk writing this?

[Mustang]

Yes It was 10.46 am afterall. Just getting into the Christmas mood.

[cullen5998]

Karts in Kiltorcan are ok but not great, they could be faster the run on gas.
I think the price works out about a €1 a minute or so in case anyones wondering

[colm_mcm]

I'm gonna ring Tynagh tomorrow and get an idea on pricing.

[colm_mcm]

Just a direct comparison here:

15 minute session
500m track Galway E20
750m track Roscrea E20
1500m track Galway E25

30 minute session
500m track Galway E40
750m trackRoscrea E35
1500m track Galway E50

45 minute session
500m track Galway E50
1500m track Galway E70

Grand Prix
Standard Roscrea (12 people) E50
Full Roscrea (15 people) E75
500m track Galway E60
1500m track Roscrea E70

Have emailed both looking for discounts, lets see what they say.

[colm_mcm]

Thank you for your email. Below is an idea of what you can do on Saturday 5th December.

With the normal prices you can get a 15min - €25, 30min - €50 or 45min - €70, with a maximum of 24 on the track at once on our 1500m track.
A Grand Prix - €70 for a minimum of 15 people. For 500m prices check our website http://www.pallaskarting.com or at the end of the email.

Grand Prix: 20 People - approx 2hrs - Arrival at track at up to 2.00pm. You would need a minimum of 15 for Grand Prix to get value for money.
Practice: Everyone - 10 mins (approx 8 laps)
Heats: Everyone - 5 Laps x 2 - Split into groups of 7/6 on the grid, everyone getting 2 heats, If in pole position for 1st Heat, back of the Grid for 2nd heat.
Semi Final - 6 laps x 1 - Split into groups of 7/6, Win your 2 heats pole position, last in 2 heats back of the grid. 1st 2 past the Chequered Flag qualify for Final.
Final: Top 2 finishers in each Semi Final - 6 Laps

A lot of groups with either not enough numbers for a Grand Prix or a bigger group of up to 20 are now doing a 45 min session, broken down into a 30 min session of practice and qualifying, a break and then a 15 min final, with everyone out on the track at the one time. This guarantees everyone gets lots of Karting not just the ones that make the final as in the Grand Prix, more out on the track at the one time, more Karting for your money the same price as a Grand Prix, €60 per person. 15/30/45min sessions for €25/€50/€60 available for arrival at 12pm, 12.30pm, 1pm, and 3pm

[colm_mcm]

What are the chances of getting 20 people? maybe get some lads from Irish Rotary?

[Myfeckin FTO]

What are the chances of getting 20 people? maybe get some lads from Irish Rotary?

I could add a few more guys to the Pallas venue to make up the numbers as I don't live too far away from there.

[fatboyfat7]

1.gfalls
2. Bernard (+1 (TopCat))
3. Colm
4. optical
5. Dave +1
6. CJ
7. MyfFTO
8. fatboyfat7 (prov)
9. keenan
10. Seb + 1
11. Muad
12. Mustang +1 (provisional)
13.crayzidane +1 (prov

hadnt checked this thread in awhile, dates may not suit with x mas parties etc. I'll let ye know asap.

[CJ]

maybe get some lads from Irish Rotary?

Good idea. Lets agree on venue, price and other arrangements and I'll work on getting some of the IR guys on board.

CJ

[Myfeckin FTO]

maybe get some lads from Irish Rotary?

Good idea. Lets agree on venue, price and other arrangements and I'll work on getting some of the IR guys on board.

CJ

I really think we should book the hotel in Kinvara and make a night of it TBH - was one of the best meets the last time we did this. A meet never to be forgotten but one we'll never remember!

[Bernard]

+1

It's been a while since the last overnighter & they're always great craic.
Convoy, karting, booze and sh1talk...can't beat it

[colm_mcm]

Ok, whats people's thoughts on a hotel. the one we stayed in in Kinvara last year was grand. Doorus house hostel is also 4km away if anyone's thinking that way. Hotel is handy for late bar, near the pub etc.

[CJ]

I would support the Kinvara hotel option.....

CJ

[Mustang]

Guys have we settled on Tynagh + overnight (optional obviously) in Kinvarra, for saturday 5th Dec? Just looking to tie it down as I have varoius other things on in the run up to Christmas (parties etc) as do others on here I'm sure.

[optical illusion]

Hostel?

Pfft.

[Kace]

Loughrea (nearest town to Tynagh) has a nice new hotel on the outskirts of town. Would have thought that rates should be competitive these days.

[colm_mcm]

Right kids, I'm gonna ring around a few places tomorrow afternoon and see if we can get some sort of dinner bed and brekkie deal. Can anyone not interested in the overnighter bit make themselves known.

[fatboyfat7]

Colm Im not sure about the dates yet. Clashes with our x mas parties. Leave me out of the booking for now and sure if I can go I can sort it myself. Thanks

[Myfeckin FTO]

Loughrea (nearest town to Tynagh) has a nice new hotel on the outskirts of town. Would have thought that rates should be competitive these days.

Loughrea is ok and the new hotel is nice but its hard to beat Kinvarra for food and also for the craic of the local pub crawl - plus the seaside scenery which would make for some good photos.

[colm_mcm]

Will try a few places. no harm in shopping around.

[Muad_dib77]

There's also Portumna... just thought I'd throw it in there..

There's a new-ish restaurant in town..thing it's called dyson..supposed to be nice - otherwise there's a couple of small non fancy places in town,,.amongst others an indian italian combination..as for going out there's a HEAP of pubs..and 1 nightclub called fat daddys which I admit is an aquied taste..

Many accodation options though,,and a hotel with a residents bar afaik!

[Myfeckin FTO]

I know Portumna pretty well and wouldn't be a big fan of going out in the pubs there. Also after the karting it'd be nice to have a little convoy to our accomadation and the road to Kinvara isn't a bad driving road at all with some good stops for photos.

Its a short hop from Tynagh to either Portumna and Loughrea but the roads are brutal for a convoy - badly surfaced, bumpy and tight. The Loughrea-Kinvara road is much better surfaced and a nice driving road.

We were very well looked after in the Hotel in Kinvarra the last time out - some might say the residents bar was a little too liberal. I thought I went to bed late but I was getting up when i met a few guys going to bed.
The restaurant down by the pier in Kinvarra is fantastic as well - good food/great setting/reasonable price.

No harm to suss out all options - the one good thing about Portumna is the hotel is decent with a good sized carpark and a nice bar area. I guess it'll come down to cost - Colm - I'm sure most of these hotels will do a good rate for largish groups.
BTW - probably better to mention that we are an "Owners Car Club" in case they get the impression that they'll have a bunch of boyracers turning up.

[Dave]

I know Portumna pretty well and wouldn't be a big fan of going out in the pubs there. Also after the karting it'd be nice to have a little convoy to our accomadation and the road to Kinvara isn't a bad driving road at all with some good stops for photos.

Its a short hop from Tynagh to either Portumna and Loughrea but the roads are brutal for a convoy - badly surfaced, bumpy and tight. The Loughrea-Kinvara road is much better surfaced and a nice driving road.

We were very well looked after in the Hotel in Kinvarra the last time out - some might say the residents bar was a little too liberal. I thought I went to bed late but I was getting up when i met a few guys going to bed.
The restaurant down by the pier in Kinvarra is fantastic as well - good food/great setting/reasonable price.

No harm to suss out all options - the one good thing about Portumna is the hotel is decent with a good sized carpark and a nice bar area. I guess it'll come down to cost - Colm - I'm sure most of these hotels will do a good rate for largish groups.
BTW - probably better to mention that we are an "Owners Car Club" in case they get the impression that they'll have a bunch of boyracers turning up.

Far far far too liberal some might say!!! I don't think I was ever as hungover as I was that day!! I blame CJ and Nigel!!!

[colm_mcm]

I've got a good price back from The Merriman Hotel in Kinvara.

€35 each B&B, that's based on double rooms for Crazidane, Dave, Ross, Seb and their respective +1s. Single for Laura, and twins for everyone else.
We can get dinner for €30 extra.