Boys Toys Day July 18th, Bedfordshire, Calling all Viper Drivers!

[Vipers]

http://i474.photobucket.com/albums/rr109/Mikawen/Open%20Days/banner-hfl-boystoys-2_3_zpshm7ak05d.jpg (http://s474.photobucket.com/user/Mikawen/media/Open%20Days/banner-hfl-boystoys-2_3_zpshm7ak05d.jpg.html)

Hi All,

A Car event where you can hear the Ultimate HiFi!

I've recently been sucked back into the world of Vipers, originally owning an RT/10 back in the mid 90's and am now looking to hopefully get another soon'ish, but at the moment I am organising a car event with a difference and it would be great if we could get a few Vipers along to have their own display area.

Basically my 2 passions are HiFi and Cars, over the years it has always been Lotus's and Vipers that I've been interested in. Anyway I run a HiFi Shop in Bedfordshire called HiFi Lounge that we opened 3 years ago and we do a lot of Open Days which are always good fun but this is one I have wanted to do for some time now, so we have teamed up with Lotus Cars and PMC Speakers to hold an event for both Car and HiFi Enthusiasts and I would love a great turnout of Vipers so please feel free to come along. PMC Speakers are based on a 5 acre estate so there is plenty of room for parking.

You can read more on my blog on my website regarding the timetable and highlights of the day.

http://hifilounge.tumblr.com/post/118856978028/boys-toys-day-july-18th-with-hifi-lounge-pmc

There are 2 options really, you can meet at HiFi Lounge for breakfast then around 11am we will take a drive through the beautiful Bedfordshire countryside and arrive at PMC’s HQ for around Midday for a BBQ, car display and highend HiFi demo’s or if you’d just like to go straight to PMC for midday please feel free.

For a little background on PMC Speakers, as far as I am concerned they make the best speakers in the world today, starting at around £1500 and going up to £100,000+ with people like Prince, Robbie Williams, Coldplay, Stevie Wonder + many others owning them with many studios fitted out with their speakers which are used to master many of best albums ever recorded, so it is a very rare opportunity for them to open their doors to the public and to have a chance to hear some truly reference systems, these really do have to be heard to be believed.

So if you’d like to bring your Viper along for what should be a fun day please let me know below and please tell any friends who you think may be interested and hope to see you on July 18th.

Now we just need to pray for the sunshine :-)

Cheers,
Paul.

[Fatboy 18]

Dam, Can't make that date, (on Vacation). Looks Great, best of luck with the show :)

[Vipers]

Thanks Mark, shame you can't make it, its a total punt really but hopefully we can get a few cars there, enjoy some sunshine, a BBQ and some awesome Hifi, that's the plan anyway :-)

[Ginja]

Not sure I can make it either but love the concept. I like my HiFi but can only stretch to budget components so suspect this day out might give me the 'I wants'...

[Vipers]

Not sure I can make it either but love the concept. I like my HiFi but can only stretch to budget components so suspect this day out might give me the 'I wants'...

Oh go on Ginja, I'll treat you to a burger :-) I really would love to get a Viper or 2 along, any other ideas where I can promote it to other Viper owners? I have approached Pistonheads but they won't let me promote it on there which is a shame.

[Vipers]

An Open Day For Both HiFi and Car Enthusiasts.

Hi all,

Well with our Boys Toys Open day less than a couple of weeks away now I thought I would do a quick update, basically we have over 100 people registered now with a great collection of cars coming along which really is excellent news, I really didn’t know what response we would get to this idea but it seems to have gone done well so far, so thanks to everyone who has registered so far, but don't worry there is most definitely some room for the any Vipers that would like to come along, as a Viper enthusiast I really would love to see a couple of Vipers there.

Obviously the biggest concern when organising an event like this is that it is heavily reliant on good weather, well I have just done a long range forecast on Accuweather and it is showing a big round yellow sun at the moment so it is looking very promising :-)

I will update this one more time at the beginning of the week of the event but the basic timetable will be for the car owners to come to HiFi Lounge from 9am onwards for Sausage and Bacon butties on the BBQ for breakfast in the HiFi Lounge gardens, then around 11am we will go for around a 40 min drive around some gorgeous Bedfordshire lanes, so make sure you have fuel in the tank, to arrive at PMC around 12pm where the HiFi fun will begin.

We will have the run of the downstairs of PMC’s stunning Georgian Manor House where you will be able to hear a Best of British system comprising of Naim, Rega and PMC Twenty Speakers, there will be a headphone room using the Bryston BHA-1, PMC will be holding demo’s in their mixing room to show how studio work is done then there is the main event, a chance to hear the awesome active MB2 XBD-A’s with a £30K Vertere Turntable, and as a bonus Stephen Hill, a local artist and petrolhead will be displaying a collection of his car art, I have known Stephen for many years now, he actually designed our HiFi Lounge logo and he really has a unique style that looks really awesome.

Finally there will be a Hog Roast and drinks available at PMC so all in all it really should be a fun event, oh yes, not forgetting there is a 10% discount on any PMC or Bryston purchased on the day.

So to sum up, cars to HiFi Lounge for the morning and all the HiFi guys to PMC from midday onwards, for anyone who hasn’t registered yet please fire over an e-mail to me on paul@hifilounge.co.uk (mailto:)

For those who didn’t see the below newsletter that PMC sent out I thought I would copy it below.

Hope to see everyone on July 18th :-)

http://i474.photobucket.com/albums/rr109/Mikawen/Open%20Days/PG1_zpsntirwrm1.png (http://s474.photobucket.com/user/Mikawen/media/Open%20Days/PG1_zpsntirwrm1.png.html)
http://i474.photobucket.com/albums/rr109/Mikawen/Open%20Days/PG2_zpsmb6btokl.png (http://s474.photobucket.com/user/Mikawen/media/Open%20Days/PG2_zpsmb6btokl.png.html)
http://i474.photobucket.com/albums/rr109/Mikawen/Open%20Days/PG3_zpsem1q3ne8.png (http://s474.photobucket.com/user/Mikawen/media/Open%20Days/PG3_zpsem1q3ne8.png.html)

Cheers,
Paul.

[Vipers]

Hi All,

I just want to post one more blog before the event next weekend, firstly I’d like to thank everyone who has registered to come along, the response has been truly amazing and due to the numbers now involved PMC Speakers have asked us to cap the numbers to just those who have registered now although if there are any Viper Owners thinking of coming let me know and I'l see if I can sneak you in :-)

For those who have registered please find a map below to PMC + the address to HiFi Lounge and PMC with Google Maps Link, basically they are the first turning on the right after the first Biggleswade turning, after the new big roundabout, heading North.

Just to re-cap, the idea is for cars to come to HiFi Lounge for breakfast of Sausage and Bacon Rolls, we will depart around 11 - 11.30am for a short drive through the beautiful Bedfordshire countryside to arrive at PMC around midday for the afternoon’s fun and HiFI activities with drinks and a Hog Roast.

The plan is to run Presentations of the MB2 XBD-A setup at 1pm and then another at 3pm with food around 1.30pm, with the Mastering Suite running in-between and the headphone room running at all times.

Address’s

HiFi Lounge (9am-11am)

4 The Granary Buildings

Millow Hall Farm

Millow, Nr Dunton

Bedfordshire

SG18 8H

Google Maps Link - http://bit.ly/1IAsS8H

Link To Our Visit Us Page With Videos How To Find Us

- http://hifilounge.co.uk/index.php?route=information/visitus

The Professional Monitor Company Limited (12pm-5pm)

Holme Court

Biggleswade

SG18 9ST

Google Maps Link - http://bit.ly/1K5Q1Ss

http://i474.photobucket.com/albums/rr109/Mikawen/Open%20Days/PMC_map_2_zpssmcuc2mv.jpg (http://s474.photobucket.com/user/Mikawen/media/Open%20Days/PMC_map_2_zpssmcuc2mv.jpg.html)

Thanks again to everyone who has registered, look forward to seeing you all next Saturday 18th for what promises to be a brilliant day :-)

Cheers,

Paul.

[Vipers]

Hi All,

As the weekend is now getting close we thought it would be worth posting the route that we will be driving through the Bedfordshire Countryside once we leave HiFi Lounge around 11.30am after breakfast to arrive at PMC around midday.

I really want to park all the sports cars in one area at HiFi Lounge so that we can all leave as a convoy, the idea is for only sports cars to come to HFL for breakfast, normally everyone would be welcome but due to restricted parking spaces and the number of people and cars intending to come we really would only mainly like sports cars here, thanks.

Anyway on with the route :-)

Countryside Sports Car Driving Route - Wrestlingworth Ring

Route from HiFi Lounge to PMC

30 minute driving route of 15 miles of beautiful Bedfordshire countryside.

We will be driving through a number of villages please respect the speed restrictions and enjoy the fabulous driving on the route in between.

When arriving at PMC we will be turning directly off the A1 at a point where there is no slip road, please be careful to try and space out as we approach to avoid backing the traffic up to the Biggleswade roundabout.

http://i474.photobucket.com/albums/rr109/Mikawen/Open%20Days/0602_900_ferrari_f430_lotus_exige2006_ferrari_f430 _and_lotus_exigevarious_front_low_views_zpsyaidrsp x.jpg (http://s474.photobucket.com/user/Mikawen/media/Open%20Days/0602_900_ferrari_f430_lotus_exige2006_ferrari_f430 _and_lotus_exigevarious_front_low_views_zpsyaidrsp x.jpg.html)

Route Step by Step:


Leave HiFi Lounge Millow Hall Farm - Turn right
Dunton Roundabout - Take 3rd exit
Drive through - Dunton (30mph)
Drive along ‘Cambridge Road Straight’ (60 mph)
Drive through - Eyeworth (40 mph)
Drive the ‘Eyeworth Esses’ (60 mph)
Turn Left onto B1042 High Street, Wrestlingworth
Drive through - Wrestlingworth (30 mph)
Pass by Cockayne Hatley via ‘Hatley Road Corner’ (60 mph)
Down ‘Hatley Hill’
Take 1st Left - Sutton Road (40mph)
Cross staggered cross roads ‘Follow Through’ across B1042
Continue Sutton Road (60 mph)
Pass by Sutton and enjoy ‘Sutton Road Curves’
Dunton Roundabout - Take 2nd exit
Drive by HiFi Lounge - Millow (30mph)
2nd Left - Towards Water Tower A1 junction
Mini Roundabout - Take 1st exit for slip road onto A1
‘Final Straight’ - to Biggleswade Roundabout (60/70mph)
Biggleswade Roundabout - Keep to in inside lane
Go straight over roundabout, take it easy exiting A1 North
PMC is 1st left off roundabout - 300 yards
Enjoy PMC and afternoon of fun


http://i474.photobucket.com/albums/rr109/Mikawen/Open%20Days/Drive%20Route%20Map_zpsdtw0yzbo.png (http://s474.photobucket.com/user/Mikawen/media/Open%20Days/Drive%20Route%20Map_zpsdtw0yzbo.png.html)

Google maps full directions:

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Millow+SG18+8RH/Wrestlingworth+SG19+2EJ/52.1259108,-0.2043672/Millow+SG18+8RH/Biggleswade+SG18+9ST/@52.0937738,-0.1811151,14z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m37!4m36!1m5!1m1!1s0x4877cd90f899ff 13:0x8502b3aa926cd16c!2m2!1d-0.2069681!2d52.0766006!1m10!1m1!1s0x4877d18ddad0fa 27:0x86465fc2dd67c1d1!2m2!1d-0.1628086!2d52.1150164!3m4!1m2!1d-0.1884954!2d52.1293318!3s0x4877d1de6f6b0d07:0x39b2 2658cca13bb7!1m0!1m10!1m1!1s0x4877cd90f899ff13:0x8 502b3aa926cd16c!2m2!1d-0.2069681!2d52.0766006!3m4!1m2!1d-0.2114171!2d52.0696979!3s0x4877cd9fc7802f43:0x508a cebfc8c988ee!1m5!1m1!1s0x4877cc5030a851f1:0x4d3df7 ab67cee564!2m2!1d-0.2497209!2d52.0733409!3e0

Roll on Saturday :-)

Cheers,

Paul.

[Vipers]

Hi All,

Well, for once I really don’t know what to say other than a huge thanks to everyone involved who helped make our first Boys Toys Event something very special indeed, it certainly looks like the big man above is obviously car and HiFi fan as he really did lay on glorious weather which really helped make the day something quite special, hopefully we can get some Vipers along next year :-)

Now for the Oscar speech :-) Firstly I’d like to thank everyone at PMC Speakers who really did got the extra mile on this one, without them this would never have happened, they really did put in a tonne of work that I really do appreciate, also to Ross who was a star trapped at the BBQ cooking breakfast all morning, well until all the food had gone, it was certainly a hungry crowd :-) thanks also to Matt from Lotus Silverstone from taking time out of running a busy showroom to bring along a Lotus Evora which certainly got a lot if interest and to Stephen ‘hilly’ Hill for bringing along a selection of his great and unique motor inspired art, but most importantly I’d like to thank everyone who came along and supported the event and really did make the day an amazing success that really did far surpass any thoughts I had regarding how many would come, 5 acres was almost not enough :-) This started as a small idea a couple of years ago that I had so it really was pretty awesome to see it all come to fruition with so many people and cars attend and with the sun beating down all day in PMC’s beautiful grounds, well I don’t think I could have wished for more but it was only a success thanks to all the Petrolheads and Music Lovers that came, so thanks again to everyone :-) I have to say that I think HiFi Lounge has the best customers out there :-)

I have been waiting years to hear PMC’s awesome active MB2 XBD-A’s but I ended up spending all day outside talking cars + hifi whilst enjoying the glorious weather, there were most definitely worse places to be that’s for sure, I did try once to get in but people were spilling out the door, so I am still waiting to hear these speakers but everyone I spoke to really did seem blown away by them, especially with the Vertere Turntable running through them, it really does sound as if I missed something quite special there, maybe we’ll have to arrange another PMC open day without the cars next time :-)

Below are a few of the pictures from the day, all cars I’m afraid, there really was a great selection of different marques on show, there were a few very nice camera’s floating around so hopefully I will be able to post some better one than what my phone produced later in the week, actually if you have got any nice pictures can you please send to paul@hifilounge.co.uk and I’ll create an album on Photobucket, thanks.

So again, a huge thanks to everyone who made our first Boys Toys event such a success, I was asked several times if this will be a yearly event, I have to say that it would be hard to top this one to be honest but it was mentioned that maybe a live band next year would be a good idea, definitely food for thought :-)

We started off with just 3 cars

http://i474.photobucket.com/albums/rr109/Mikawen/Open%20Days/IMG_2057_zpsqjmc60hn.jpg (http://s474.photobucket.com/user/Mikawen/media/Open%20Days/IMG_2057_zpsqjmc60hn.jpg.html)

But that soon grew to 50+ cars at HFL, we just about got away with squeezing them all in :-)

http://i474.photobucket.com/albums/rr109/Mikawen/Open%20Days/IMG_2072_zpsbxtf43ko.jpg (http://s474.photobucket.com/user/Mikawen/media/Open%20Days/IMG_2072_zpsbxtf43ko.jpg.html)

http://i474.photobucket.com/albums/rr109/Mikawen/Open%20Days/IMG_2073_zpsb7n2ksnd.jpg (http://s474.photobucket.com/user/Mikawen/media/Open%20Days/IMG_2073_zpsb7n2ksnd.jpg.html)

http://i474.photobucket.com/albums/rr109/Mikawen/Open%20Days/IMG_2074_zpsko4qdqmv.jpg (http://s474.photobucket.com/user/Mikawen/media/Open%20Days/IMG_2074_zpsko4qdqmv.jpg.html)

Then it was off to PMC where there was a lot more space thankfully.

http://i474.photobucket.com/albums/rr109/Mikawen/Open%20Days/IMG_2075_zpsvupuvpqp.jpg (http://s474.photobucket.com/user/Mikawen/media/Open%20Days/IMG_2075_zpsvupuvpqp.jpg.html)

2 Of only 81 Lotus LF1′s in the world either side of an Evora

http://i474.photobucket.com/albums/rr109/Mikawen/Open%20Days/IMG_2080_zps8n29hfna.jpg (http://s474.photobucket.com/user/Mikawen/media/Open%20Days/IMG_2080_zps8n29hfna.jpg.html)

Does it get any better than a DeLorean?

http://i474.photobucket.com/albums/rr109/Mikawen/Open%20Days/IMG_2088_zpstquqhej3.jpg (http://s474.photobucket.com/user/Mikawen/media/Open%20Days/IMG_2088_zpstquqhej3.jpg.html)

http://i474.photobucket.com/albums/rr109/Mikawen/Open%20Days/IMG_2089_zps7z9bvyxh.jpg (http://s474.photobucket.com/user/Mikawen/media/Open%20Days/IMG_2089_zps7z9bvyxh.jpg.html)

http://i474.photobucket.com/albums/rr109/Mikawen/Open%20Days/IMG_2090_zpswzsgdgbw.jpg (http://s474.photobucket.com/user/Mikawen/media/Open%20Days/IMG_2090_zpswzsgdgbw.jpg.html)

http://i474.photobucket.com/albums/rr109/Mikawen/Open%20Days/IMG_2094_zpsfvhje9ld.jpg (http://s474.photobucket.com/user/Mikawen/media/Open%20Days/IMG_2094_zpsfvhje9ld.jpg.html)

http://i474.photobucket.com/albums/rr109/Mikawen/Open%20Days/IMG_2095_zps5hwoszzf.jpg (http://s474.photobucket.com/user/Mikawen/media/Open%20Days/IMG_2095_zps5hwoszzf.jpg.html)

http://i474.photobucket.com/albums/rr109/Mikawen/Open%20Days/IMG_2099_zpszrg2xft4.jpg (http://s474.photobucket.com/user/Mikawen/media/Open%20Days/IMG_2099_zpszrg2xft4.jpg.html)

http://i474.photobucket.com/albums/rr109/Mikawen/Open%20Days/IMG_2107_zpsvojxrwnk.jpg (http://s474.photobucket.com/user/Mikawen/media/Open%20Days/IMG_2107_zpsvojxrwnk.jpg.html)

http://i474.photobucket.com/albums/rr109/Mikawen/Open%20Days/IMG_2111_zpsivc2o3rn.jpg (http://s474.photobucket.com/user/Mikawen/media/Open%20Days/IMG_2111_zpsivc2o3rn.jpg.html)

I’ll hopefully get some more pictures up later this week.

Thanks again everyone :-)

Cheers,

Paul.

[Fatboy 18]

Nice one Paul, glad to see you got a great turn out :)

[Vipers]

Thanks Mark, hopefully catch up on Sunday at Silverstone.

Been getting some amazing feedback since Saturday, thanks for everyone’s e-mails and messages :-)

Attached are a couple more pics that have been sent in.

http://i474.photobucket.com/albums/rr109/Mikawen/Open%20Days/HiFi%20Lounge%20PMC1_zpsfbsp1kac.jpg (http://s474.photobucket.com/user/Mikawen/media/Open%20Days/HiFi%20Lounge%20PMC1_zpsfbsp1kac.jpg.html)

http://i474.photobucket.com/albums/rr109/Mikawen/Open%20Days/IMG_5688_zps4dorbkho.jpg (http://s474.photobucket.com/user/Mikawen/media/Open%20Days/IMG_5688_zps4dorbkho.jpg.html)

http://i474.photobucket.com/albums/rr109/Mikawen/Open%20Days/IMG_5684_zpsstwccauf.jpg (http://s474.photobucket.com/user/Mikawen/media/Open%20Days/IMG_5684_zpsstwccauf.jpg.html)

http://i474.photobucket.com/albums/rr109/Mikawen/Open%20Days/LF1s_zps2wyq1gsy.jpeg (http://s474.photobucket.com/user/Mikawen/media/Open%20Days/LF1s_zps2wyq1gsy.jpeg.html)

Cheers,
Paul.

[TAMPA-G5]

lol wow my home town BIGGLESWADE when i come back to visit i should bring my viper lol looks fun glad to see the sunshine for you all :England: