Timing 2012

[2CViking]

I’ll take the plunge and may be hammered for voicing my opinion here. I received an email from Bob (raid leader 2012) that the raid is on track but may be placed in April. Bob when reading this please understand that I fully support you and the raid but we simply can not get away from our full on business in France in April. It is spring time in Europe at that time and many 2cvs are hitting the roads (repairs, service and meetings etc). If the raid is placed in April many other Europeans may not have holidays at that time. Also the raid may be ''full'' like 2008 with a limit of 60 odd cars. I like to air the idea of doing a ‘’second raid’’ but place it during the European holiday season, (august-september) like most other raids in the past. I do not want to be a raid leader full stop but to maybe re-run Raid 2000 from Uluru to Cape York. That raid was also a huge success and not much preparation needs doing. We just follow the route already mapped out. No fees either, pay as you go. Maybe we can kick start the Raid 2012 debate here and now, so raiders have a chance to give their opinions.
Cheers
Viking bastard

[zykyra]

Hi Peter. I can see your point. Aside from that though there has been much discussion regarding the timing of this event from another point of view. For many years now it has become tradition for the National Australian Citroen Meeting (Cit-In for those unfamiliar) to be held over the Easter long weekend. In 2012 it is WA's turn. Being WA it is already a little harder to encourage people from the East to come along to the event due to the extended time and tyranny of distance and the RAID 2012 being held at this time will make it harder for people to "choose" between the two events. Many in the club here feel that a competing event is badly thought out and will potentially make it even harder to attract people to an event that is very costly to run and relies on as many people as possible participating for success. Both events need a lot of time and money on the individuals behalf and I doubt many can do both. I realise this reply may not be popular with the organisers but thought that this point of view should be broached publicly after so much local discussion on the matter. I too would have liked to participate in this RAID but must dedicate my time to the Cit-In 1st and foremost as most WA club members will. Perhaps I am wrong and I often wonder whether 2 major Australian Citroen events have ever clashed before for comparisons sake? Food for thought in any case.

Cheers,

Justin.

[JBN]

I am surprised to learn that the date has been moved to April. Apart from the obvious clash with Cit-In, it also means that as the Raid progresses, we move from Northern NSW to (eventually) cooler Tasmania at the same time as the weather is getting cooler.

Starting from Northern NSW in August and heading south to the cooler climes as the weather warms up would make more sense and fit in better with the Europeans.

John

[2CViking]

I think it’s the other way around John, starting in Tassie before winter ending in northern NSW after the fire bans season. I really wish Bob could come in to comment.
That may be the reason for moving the raid away from August-September. Who wants to raid Tassie in snow, oh dear. I think most raiders wants heat and camp fires, right?
The Cit-In, good point Justin. Not sure how many raiders from the East prepared to travel to Perth anyway. Even if the two event didn’t clash

[JBN]

Bob needs to clarify things. I had understood that the START was at Byron Bay in Northern NSW. Then the Raid would wind its way to Melbourne, where some cars may leave the Raid. Those that would continue, would then go by boat to Tasmainia for another week there before finishing. It may also mean that some Tasmanians would only do the Tasmanian part.

However, the whole direction may have changed. The point is, that April compared to August is difficult for Europeans and classes with Cit-In.

John

[2CVsRus]

Hi guys,

who told you that it is easy to get time off during summer vacation time in Europe - or anywhere else?
Usually it is just the opposite as families with kids in school get the first choice and as longer you want to be off in summer as harder it gets! It was always a hard fight to get time off for the raids during summer holidays.
During spring or fall it is much easier (unless you have kids in school ... but most raiders from overseas do not). August / September was the desired time frame for all the raids going up north to catch the dry season there. And most raids went this way so far. It is nice for a change to go a different way and visit beautiful Tassie as well as the eastern mountains.
Last thing we heard was that the raid starts in Hobart and makes it's way up to Byron Bay.

Sorry if that does not work for you, Viking, but somebody always has that conflict of getting off work.

So I think that the only question remaining is: Who wants to do Cit-In AND the raid?
Who can afford - time and money wise - to do both?
Is there really a big clash?

Uschi

[2CViking]

Hi guys,

who told you that it is easy to get time off during summer vacation time in Europe - or anywhere else?
Usually it is just the opposite as families with kids in school get the first choice and as longer you want to be off in summer as harder it gets! It was always a hard fight to get time off for the raids during summer holidays.
During spring or fall it is much easier (unless you have kids in school ... but most raiders from overseas do not). August / September was the desired time frame for all the raids going up north to catch the dry season there. And most raids went this way so far. It is nice for a change to go a different way and visit beautiful Tassie as well as the eastern mountains.
Last thing we heard was that the raid starts in Hobart and makes it's way up to Byron Bay.

Sorry if that does not work for you, Viking, but somebody always has that conflict of getting off work.

So I think that the only question remaining is: Who wants to do Cit-In AND the raid?
Who can afford - time and money wise - to do both?
Is there really a big clash?

Uschi

As I wrote to begin with, I’m sure to be hammered for beginning this subject. We all have the right to voice our opinion etc. I also wrote that I have no problem with the raid at all. If we could leave our business in April we would most certainly happily join the raid on the east cost I April. I’m sure Bob will do a good raid up and down the Great Diving Range and Tasmanian but sadly we can’t join. Well I guess its ‘’tuff titties’’ for people not able to participate in April no worries.You can't please everyone. The April raid will just go ahead as planned, people will join. All I’m doing is asking if the people who can not join in April are interested in doing another trip in August-September. Some Europeans has already indicated to me, that they are sad not being able to raid in April and asked if I would get a group together. That may happen it may not, time will tell. Don’t worry Uschi, you will most properly raid in April

[John]

Good to find out a bit more about Raid Australia 2012, albeit in a roundabout way.

Now I lived both in Europe (a long time ago) and Tassie, and April in Tassie is really cool (although I mean cold but I don't want to offend any Taswegians). So at least cars will not overheat, but might be hard to start in the morning!

From a point of view of somebody who has not raided before and very likely will join Raid 2012, I (and I am sure a lot of others) would really appreciate that any planning would be more accessible.
It would be even great to have input where possible, and I stress where possible because too many cooks usually spoil the broth.
Often planning a holiday, or at least have some involvement or at least knowledge, is as much fun as the holiday itself.

I don't really want to be in the position to choose between 3 events, a Tassie raid, a WA cit-in and a northern raid.
So maybe we should first find out when Raid 2012 will be, and if any input is still possible, before planning any other raid.

[helmut]

Hi Viking, Uschi and John
Dont know why the date has changed but April will suit us and a lot of europeans, it means we can go on raid and to the international, ICCR in yorkshire in august, sorry Justin, we wont be able to make cit-in, hope it is a great success.
cheers
Helmut and Pat

[2CV]

As I wrote to begin with, I’m sure to be hammered for beginning this subject. We all have the right to voice our opinion etc. I also wrote that I have no problem with the raid at all. If we could leave our business in April we would most certainly happily join the raid on the east cost I April. I’m sure Bob will do a good raid up and down the Great Diving Range and Tasmanian but sadly we can’t join. Well I guess its ‘’tuff titties’’ for people not able to participate in April no worries.You can't please everyone. The April raid will just go ahead as planned, people will join. All I’m doing is asking if the people who can not join in April are interested in doing another trip in August-September. Some Europeans has already indicated to me, that they are sad not being able to raid in April and asked if I would get a group together. That may happen it may not, time will tell. Don’t worry Uschi, you will most properly raid in April

Hi Peter
You can count me in if you do a rerun of the raid to Cape York.. I regret missing that one and I prefer heat to cold !! cheers