Issue 2
September 2004
the columns that support thesmartclub web site Advance information – for you, fortwo, forfour, formore
Following the launch of our quarterly 4site Newsletter in June 2004, I’m delighted to say that over 8100 copies of that first newsletter were downloaded from our site over an eight week period – thank you for all your support. The summer period is always a busy time in terms of events and meetings and the following pages bring you up to speed on what’s happening in some key areas of interest together with some special offers. With the launch of the forfour, the focus of this issue is very much forfour… You can find all the detailed information on all the topics referred to via our web site (www.thesmartclub.co.uk) and a range of contact email addresses is also available via the ‘Contact Us’ menu option on our main homepage. I hope that this additional information on forthcoming events and activities provides you with a 4site into ‘all things smart’ In this issue you have a 4site into:
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Our Track/Drive Day 2004 The London to Brighton Event Our 5th Birthday Party – July 17th 2005 Hambach 2005 forfour launch weekends Smart thinking book thesmartclub Insurance Scheme Our Privilege Card Scheme K&N Filters New merchandise in our Online Shop RollingRoad Diagnostic Days
LATEST MAJOR EVENT INFORMATION Track/Drive Day – September 12th 2004
Our 2004 Track/Drive Day is set to be our largest such event yet with a great 50/50 split between the number of fortwos and Roadsters participating on the circuit. In addition, we have a range of companies and service providers attending the event bringing with them a range of smart parts, accessories and cars. smart Macclesfield will be present with Brabus and smart of East Midlands (represented by smart of Nottingham and smart Derby) will also be present with a range of cars and merchandise. Couple all this with Bantam trailers, SmartArse design, Smarts-r-Us and Sussex Cars and there will be plenty to view – and if that was not enough, smart Macclesfield, Sussex Cars and SmartArse Design will also be demonstrating their cars and products in 10 minute closed sessions on the track. We also have RollingRollingRoad along to provide you with full professional Rolling Road diagnostics for your smart and a range of trophies to award. All this plus refreshments and a chance to obtain one of 25 copies of the new ‘smart thinking’ book at £11.00 makes it a day not to be missed. Copies available on a one per car basis – first come first served and sales for the book will commence at 1100hrs. See your TrackDay Information page for full details.
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LATEST MAJOR EVENT INFORMATION – Continued Track/Drive Day – September 12th 2004 Please note that the Track/Drive Day is a CLOSED secure venue, admission to which is by Vehicle Access Pass only. All on track places have been filled but there is still some places for spectators – you MUST apply online to obtain your Pass as you cannot arrive at the venue and gain entry without such a Pass.
Autocar magazine will also be present. PLUS we have just been advised that there will be a professional Brabus EBA/ABS demo plus fast laps in one or more Brabus smarts. The demos will take place in a dedicate area of the venue and fast laps will run throughout the day by a professional racing driver and events team.
Closing dates for spectator places is 2000hrs BST, Sunday September 5th 2004
Thank you to everyone involved for their assistance in ensuring that we maintain our annual Track/Drive Day for smart car owners and enthusiasts – I look forward to seeing all participants in the 12th
London to Brighton 2004 As you will no doubt be aware, our 2004 London to Brighton event takes place on September 26th 2004 and registrations for this event have already exceeded 850 cars with registrations now coming in at the rate of one every 30 minutes. A range of key information pages is available via thesmartclub’s site and you can access all of these via our home page (www.thesmartclub.co.uk). You will find overview details of the event itself, an Online registration Form and, importantly, an FAQ page containing regularly updated questions and answers. This FAQ page should be checked on a regular basis between now and end September. So how are we fixed compared with 2003’s event? On last years’ London to Brighton run, we actually received just over 600 registration forms in respect of cars participating in the full route – however, we had over 1300 cars arrive at the finish venue! This significantly impacted on the finish venue logistics and a series of changes have been made to this year’s event to make life easier for everyone. The new finish venue will provide parking for over 2000 cars, a dedicated competition area plus a range of third party companies. Brabus and DaimlerChrysler/smart will all have trade areas within the venue. In addition, thesmartclub will have a dedicated area for a range of club merchandise and both thesmartclub and DaimlerChrysler/smart will have an additional range of London to Brighton 2004 branded merchandise for sale. Competition Categories are also filling fast with a full compliment of cars already booked into some of these categories and we’ll have a guest VIP presenting the awards at Brighton Race Course. We also plan to have Tony Lewin on site at the finish venue to sign copies of his book ‘smart thinking’ which will also be available for purchase. There is still time to register for the event with closing date being 19th September. Please keep checking the ‘L2B FAQ page’ available via our homepage for updates and information. Any questions not covered in our FAQ pages should be emailed to l2b2004@thesmartclub.co.uk
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LATEST MAJOR EVENT INFORMATION thesmartclub’s 5th Birthday thesmartclub celebrates its 5th Birthday in July 2005 and to celebrate, we have booked the entire facilities at the Heritage Motor Centre and Classic Car Museum at Banbury Road, Gaydon, Warwickshire on July 17th 2005.
Events Diary Remember – there are details of all regular local and national meetings and events in our Events Diary available from our homepage – select Member Area and Events Diary. You can send submissions for this listing to diary@thesmartclub.co.uk
Hambach 2005 Full details will be published early 2005 but the day will feature a large range of third party companies and suppliers, DaimlerChryslerUK and have attendees from all over Europe – you’ll also have free access to the Heritage Museum.
Any enquiries regarding this event re attendance, trading or for any other queries, please email birthday@thesmartclub.co.uk.
Early days yet (!) but we are already receiving emails asking about next year’s visit to Hambach, France. We can confirm that this event will take place and the dates are likely to be towards the end of May 2005. Full details will be published early January 2005 although we may be able to provide additional advance information in the December issue of 4site. Accommodation will be arranged in the same hotel in Saarbrucken and it’s likely that we will again offer a 2 or 3 night package deal.
Forfour Launch Weekends 4th and 5th September sees a range of UK smart centres having a weekend of forfour events and deals. You should contact your local smart Centre for full details and you can find the location of all centres by going to our home page (www.thesmartclub.co.uk) and selecting the ‘General’ tab from the main menus. Plus, you can see a full list of all forfour weekend locations at www.thesmart.co.uk Jim Grantham, smart of Edinburgh has advised their ‘open weekend’ will have a range of forfours ready to drive, and whilst browsing, you have will also have range of refreshments provided. Doors are open Saturday 1000hrs to 1600hrs on Saturday and 1100hrs to 1600hrs on the Sunday.
Smart thinking book As you will have seen from our web site, the definitive book on the history of smart (smart thinking) is now available for purchase. thesmartclub is delighted to be able to offer this book at the discounted price of only 11.00 GBP plus 3.00GBP postage and packing. This represents a tremendous offer and you can find full details via our homepage. We will also have a limited supply of books at the Track-Drive Day PLUS we’ll have the book and author at the finish venue of this year’s London to Brighton Run. thesmartclub – be part of the world’s largest independent club for smart car owners and enthusiasts
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND SERVICES thesmartclub Car Insurance Scheme thesmartclub is pleased to announce an important and valuable new service for its Privilege Card holders as follows: Adrian Flux Insurance Services are pleased to be able to offer Privilege Card members up to 15% discount on their motor policies. In addition Adrian Flux welcome young drivers, modified cars and drivers with convictions.
Our Privilege Card New companies and service providers continue to join thesmartclub Privilege Card Scheme. We already have over 20 UK smart centres offering discounts on parts, accessories and servicing and 8 centres offering discounts on new and used smarts. In addition you should check our Dealer Cars menu option for additional deals and savings including a range of forfours! Participating Centres include: • • • • • • • •
As the country's leading intermediary for specialist Motor Insurance, Adrian Flux has become synonymous with competitive quotations and providing an excellent service. Their personable, highly trained staff is on hand to help with any queries you have. As a company, Adrian Flux have been providing policies to the UK's drivers for over 30 years. We have established a dedicated phone number uniquely for thesmartclub Privilege Card Members to use for all their smart insurance requirements: The service is live NOW and available on thesmartclub hotline by dialling
+44 (0) 1553 845 939 and quoting your Privilege Card number
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Aberdeen Beaconsfield, Birmingham, Bournemouth Coventry Derby Edinburgh Gatwick Harrogate, Hertford, Hull Manchester, Macclesfield, Maidstone, Milton Keynes Northampton Nottingham Perth Sheffield Tonbridge Wolverhampton
Additional companies and service providers bring you discounts on a range of performance parts and accessories, trailers, Vehicle Rescue & Recovery from the AA (which also has a range of additional benefits such as trailer recovery, pit/paddock recovery, no lower age limit and a dedicated phone number, insurance and travel. All these services and benefits are available for only 10.00 GBP per annum. If you have not already done so, apply for your Privilege Card via the Privilege Card menu option on our homepage. You can see the full list of participating companies by selecting the Privilege Card Benefits option
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ADDITIONAL NEWS AND INFORMATION Research & Development at K&N Filters
thesmartclub has been liaising with K&N filters since the last issue of 4site with a view to design and production of a full induction kit for the Roadster and Roadster Coupe. I’m pleased to advise that prototyping has now been completed and a proven performance increase obtained. It is likely that the unit will go into full production over the coming weeks and we’ll announce when the kit is ready to go to market. In addition, I am also pleased to advise that K&N are in the process of completing a new Customer facility at their UK Headquarters and, once complete, thesmartclub will be invited to visit the completed R&D facility and benefit from diagnostics, advice and products available. Places will be limited and full details will be published via our Major Events facility later in the year A Roadster (WEE TOY) with the prototype induction kit fitted will be on track at our Track/Drive Day and I’m am also pleased to advise that K&N have kindly donated a fortwo panel filter plus a fortwo full induction kit as two prizes for our Track/Drive Day Raffle. My thanks to all the team at K&N for their help and cooperation.
Our Online Shop
Our Online Shop continues to provide you with a range of club branded merchandise ranging from pens, mugs, keyrings to clothing and luggage - in addition, we are a reseller for ‘smartimes’ magazine. We are launching a new range of clothing over the coming months and will promote this via our Online Shop and in the next edition of 4site. We will have a selection of branded clothing available to view, purchase and order at our Track/Drive Day and, importantly, at the London to Brighton finish venue. We’ll also have a range of London to Brighton specially branded merchandise available including caps, brollies and badges. Remember, all our Privilege Card holders also benefit from discounts to all our branded merchandise in our Online Shop. If there’s a specific branded product that you think would be well received and that is not currently available via the Online Shop, please email products@thesmartclub.co.uk
Whilst present at our Track/Drive Day in September, thesmartclub is working closely with RollingRollingRoad and smartimes to arrange a number of UK locations where this Rolling Road diagnostic facility will be available. Details, locations and dates will be published via the Major Events menu option on our homepage
Contacts Full contact details for thesmartclub team are shown under the ‘Contact Us’ Menu Option on our main home page together with background details for thesmartclub. ‘4site’ is a publication of thesmartclub and is published to support information and services contained on thesmartclub’s website at www.thsmartclub.co.uk. All content © thesmartclub 2004. No text or images may be reproduced without the consent of thesmartclub – email 4site@thesmartclub.co.uk thesmartclub is a brand of thesmartclub Ltd, Company Number SC259434, Registered in Scotland, UK
thesmartclub – be part of the world’s largest independent club for smart car owners and enthusiasts