Post by Admin on Sept 1, 2005 11:51:38 GMT
The annual International Peugeot Meeting (IPM) was organised this year by the Peugeot clubs in Holland, attracting a big turnout of some 190 cars and roughly twice that number of people. Rendezvous at 4.00pm on the Friday for registration at the Peugeot Experience at Breukelen, some 8 klms north of Utrecht.
We spent some time looking around the Peugeot Experience, a large modern showroom displaying the current model range including several versions of the 1007. Meantime the car park outside was gradually being turned into a sea of classic Peugeots from a variety of countries. The buffet on the premises that evening was certainly not short of atmosphere, and the CPUK table steadily grew to two tables as we were joined by friends from other Peugeot clubs.
A good attendance by CPUK members too; Sir Peter & Lady Graham (Type 172 BC), Richard Barker and friend (306 Cabriolet), Ken & Lynne Broughton (505Gti Saloon), John & Angela Hepner (504 Cabriolet), Alastair & Myra Inglis (504 Estate), Colin & Els Reynolds (203 Commerciale), Peter & Jo Vaughan (504 V6 Cabriolet) and me and Marilyn (403 Saloon).
On the Saturday morning we set off from the Peugeot Experience at timed intervals - necessary with so many cars - for the day's drive around the picturesque Dutch countryside. En route to the lunch stop we spotted Sir Peter & Lady Graham and their little yellow Type 172 BC which had suffered a puncture. A bit of toing and froing ensued and we eventually managed to sort things and still make it in time to the lunch stop at the Ophemert Castle in the Betuwe, the fruit growing region of the Netherlands. We were soon tucking in alfresco and enjoying the sunshine in the pleasant castle grounds.
After lunch we resumed the run, and that evening convened at the Vollenhoven estate, where a huge marquee had been erected as the venue for the gala dinner, in the presence of Xavier Peugeot and his wife. There followed the usual speeches, including one from Xavier Peugeot, and it was back to the hotels for a night's sleep (in some cases preceded by a nightcap !)
The next day the morning run took us to the newest town in the Netherlands, Zeewold, located on a polder on land reclaimed from the sea. The entire province in which Zeewold is located, Flevoland, lies beneath sea level and is a popular location for holidays. Water sports, beaches, forests, there's a lot on offer.
Following a picnic lunch at Zeewold the afternoon run brought us back to the Vollenhoven marquee, where we had a very good barbecue meal in the evening, with prizegivings, farewell speeches etc.
IPM's encourage members to bring out their classic Peugeots, and each year provide a good opportunity to keep in touch with members of Peugeot clubs abroad. We've been going to IPMs for years, as have John and Angela Hepner, and we were delighted to see Henk Flachs and his wife at the meeting. Henk, with Peugeot Nederlands before his retirement, was always a great animator of past events we have been to in Holland (eg at the Autotron Museum near Rosmalen), never failing to go out of his way to ensure we were greeted with a warm welcome. Great to see you again Henk.
The date and host country of the 2006 IPM has yet to be announced, and as soon as it is we'll let you know. In the meantime our thanks to the members of the Dutch clubs for all their hard work (and hard work it is) in organising the 2005 IPM. Pleasure to be in Holland again.
Phil Clatworthy
We spent some time looking around the Peugeot Experience, a large modern showroom displaying the current model range including several versions of the 1007. Meantime the car park outside was gradually being turned into a sea of classic Peugeots from a variety of countries. The buffet on the premises that evening was certainly not short of atmosphere, and the CPUK table steadily grew to two tables as we were joined by friends from other Peugeot clubs.
A good attendance by CPUK members too; Sir Peter & Lady Graham (Type 172 BC), Richard Barker and friend (306 Cabriolet), Ken & Lynne Broughton (505Gti Saloon), John & Angela Hepner (504 Cabriolet), Alastair & Myra Inglis (504 Estate), Colin & Els Reynolds (203 Commerciale), Peter & Jo Vaughan (504 V6 Cabriolet) and me and Marilyn (403 Saloon).
On the Saturday morning we set off from the Peugeot Experience at timed intervals - necessary with so many cars - for the day's drive around the picturesque Dutch countryside. En route to the lunch stop we spotted Sir Peter & Lady Graham and their little yellow Type 172 BC which had suffered a puncture. A bit of toing and froing ensued and we eventually managed to sort things and still make it in time to the lunch stop at the Ophemert Castle in the Betuwe, the fruit growing region of the Netherlands. We were soon tucking in alfresco and enjoying the sunshine in the pleasant castle grounds.
After lunch we resumed the run, and that evening convened at the Vollenhoven estate, where a huge marquee had been erected as the venue for the gala dinner, in the presence of Xavier Peugeot and his wife. There followed the usual speeches, including one from Xavier Peugeot, and it was back to the hotels for a night's sleep (in some cases preceded by a nightcap !)
The next day the morning run took us to the newest town in the Netherlands, Zeewold, located on a polder on land reclaimed from the sea. The entire province in which Zeewold is located, Flevoland, lies beneath sea level and is a popular location for holidays. Water sports, beaches, forests, there's a lot on offer.
Following a picnic lunch at Zeewold the afternoon run brought us back to the Vollenhoven marquee, where we had a very good barbecue meal in the evening, with prizegivings, farewell speeches etc.
IPM's encourage members to bring out their classic Peugeots, and each year provide a good opportunity to keep in touch with members of Peugeot clubs abroad. We've been going to IPMs for years, as have John and Angela Hepner, and we were delighted to see Henk Flachs and his wife at the meeting. Henk, with Peugeot Nederlands before his retirement, was always a great animator of past events we have been to in Holland (eg at the Autotron Museum near Rosmalen), never failing to go out of his way to ensure we were greeted with a warm welcome. Great to see you again Henk.
The date and host country of the 2006 IPM has yet to be announced, and as soon as it is we'll let you know. In the meantime our thanks to the members of the Dutch clubs for all their hard work (and hard work it is) in organising the 2005 IPM. Pleasure to be in Holland again.
Phil Clatworthy
