2015 Summer Breeze run to Heidelberg Germany

[mike020150]

With most people about to enjoy a few days' rest and relaxation this month, it is probably a good time to contemplate and plan which 2015 events you would like to attend with your XK8/XK/XKR. To add one special event to your list of options, Jim Mann has been busy organising a new trip (The XK8 Forum ‘Summer Breeze’) to Heidelberg sitting astride the river Neckar in the Odenwald Forest, Germany. This informal social event has been designed to be treated either as a long weekend or possibly as the starting point for a longer continental holiday.
We will leave the UK on Thursday, 18th June (the choice of ferry or Tunnel crossing and timing will be yours) and meet that evening at the picturesque town of Maastricht famous for its Treaty. Maastricht is only 200 motorway miles from Calais so early crossings should leave adequate time to take in the town’s sights before meeting up to enjoy an evening meal together with a difference. All will be revealed later…
Friday, day two, will offer the possibility of a run past the Belgium town of Spa, most notable for its fabulous racing circuit beloved of F1 drivers and then travel via the north German vineyards to our weekend destination of Heidelberg. Here, we will be staying in the centre of the city at the 4 star Crowne Plaza Hotel courtesy of some very special rates for JEC members. Importantly, the hotel also has its own secure underground car park at our disposal. Heidelberg is an attractive location with plenty for visitors to see and do including, amongst other places, its ancient castle and pretty old town. In addition, it’s only 15 miles from the Hockenheim race circuit and racing museum and close to Germany’s superb sister transport museums at Sinsheim and Speyer. Speyer also has a cathedral worthy of a visit so, over the weekend, why not combine visits to both? A word of warning about the Sinsheim museum is appropriate. It is both enormous and utterly fascinating. You might want to allow a whole day for your visit! Check out the links below.
Participants will be free to choose what to do and where to eat throughout most of the trip although in addition to our Thursday ‘evening with a difference’ a final dinner has been arranged in the Crowne Plaza for Sunday evening when we can exchange tales ahead of our departure on Monday 22nd June. For those with a pressing need to get back to the UK, they can reverse the outward route and choose either to drive directly home or stop another night in Maastricht. Others might like to continue their holidays. Heidelberg is an excellent point for touring the nearby Black Forest and other tourist locations or for driving further afield to practically any European destinations which take your fancy.
If you are interested in learning more about the XK8 Forum Summer Breeze and enjoying your XK8 for the true grand tourer it is, in the first instance contact Jim Mann. He will provide you with up to the minute information about the trip’s details plus a list of contact points and codes to enable you to make your bookings at the special JEC rates. As a guide, three nights at the luxurious Crowne Plaza will cost approximately 500 euros for three nights’ accommodation in a standard room including parking or 750 euros for a Club room which also includes parking and other extras (final negotiations are ongoing & depend on numbers). Return Ferry or Tunnel crossings start very cheaply for early bookings (from less than £100). All in all, these are excellent value prices for what will be another great XK8 Forum event. Crowne Plaza rooms at these JEC rates will be limited to early bookers so don’t delay. Contact Jim Mann by email on j.mann@fugro.com to express an interest and Jim will give you details and supply regular email updates.

Summer Breeze online information
Maastricht http://www.holland.com/uk/tourism/citie ... tricht.htm
4 star Crowne Plaza Hotel http://www.ihg.com/crowneplaza
Hockenheim Racing Museum http://www.hockenheimring.de/en/museum
Sinsheim Transport Museum http://www.sinsheim.technik-museum.de/en
Speyer Transport Museum http://www.speyer.technik-museum.de/en