OV9

I am pretty sure I bought the first EVO as I had been a regular buyer of Performance Car, but no idea when I discovered the forum, way later than some as I do remember the lovely welcome to my first thread "You dick, coming on here wanting to win a watch" and "Durr, this has been done ten millionty times"


I may have the least EVO vehicles I have ever had right now though.

I sort of stumbled across Evo by accident.

I used to live in the next village to Wollaston where the Mag was based. There's a long, straight, downhill bypass where you would often see (and more often hear ) nice cars being thrashed.

I saw a car getting hammered down the bypass and a few weeks later, saw the same car on the front cover and that piqued by interest.

I lurked for a good while before I got my first, vaguely Evo car (Merc C350 Sports Coupe) then took the plunge.

First issue of evo was issue 3 (ECOTY). I think I joined the forum in around 2008 on a particularly slow project... I remember Broccers being one of the more hostile members, ah, how times have changed... oh, wait...

When I bought my R19 16v (2002 ish) it had a grey evo sticker on it, I took it off as I thought it was a bit chavvy! A year or so later I had my first e30 and I somehow stumbled on this place - probably 2002/3? I think it came from cross-pollination of people between evo and e30zone when I was looking for info there.

June 2007 was when I joined. I think this year I'll pass half my life being an evo forum member.

Pete_ wrote: Wed Jan 20, 2021 12:02 pm June 2007 was when I joined. I think this year I'll pass half my life being an evo forum member.

Not quite, for me, but I'm somewhat older
The Pug Rallyes photo, with my 306, was from a Wales evo meet in 2001. I was on e30.net with my 325i Cabrio in 2000, so probably on the evo forum from then, as I have the magazines starting with issue 1.

Stratford 2002

I won't post the reg of the 355. I think this helped turn the meets into calmer, smaller events.

Is that @ilmostro SZ?

There were stories on the day of that Stratford meet from some chap who was stopped by the police on the M40 on the way there, and asked if he was going to it. No idea how true that was, whether it was even on the radar, but it was memorable. Not so much for the roads (soaking wet, not a particularly interesting route) of course, just things like the lady from the church who came out and asked David (exiges) to turn his engine off, that sort of thing

ETA: yes, that's his SZ. Memorable for the trip back home in convoy with him since we were going the same general direction

Wow didn't know EVO meets were so big then.

White DC2 looks great. And the Alfa.

I think I joined in around 2007? Been reading EVO magazine on and off since Issue 1. I didn't have a car then after living in London for a few years. Purchased my Corsa C shortly after moving to Sussex.

First EVO meet was with Gwaredd (handbrake turn, hilarious ), jobbo (my first ride in a Porsche), Jon (CLK55), Duncs (Megane R26), shockdiamonds (M5) and possibly a couple more

Coaster1 wrote: Fri Jan 22, 2021 11:55 am jobbo (my first ride in a Porsche)

I'm glad it didn't put you off!

They weren't all that big, btw.

Stratford was more of a big social meet, then smaller drives broke off from there, I recall running with a few cars in the Prelude. @KiwiDave you were in with me I think?

Coaster1 wrote: Fri Jan 22, 2021 11:55 am First EVO meet was with Gwaredd (handbrake turn, hilarious ), jobbo (my first ride in a Porsche), Jon (CLK55), Duncs (Megane R26), shockdiamonds (M5) and possibly a couple more

That was a good meet. You were in your Corrado then, that was a cracking little car. That was also the closest I think to a mishap on any meet I've been on, when shockdiamonds spanked his alloy and parked round a bend for Gwaredd to nearly trip over.

16vCento wrote: Fri Jan 22, 2021 11:03 am Is that @ilmostro SZ?

Nice thing is that SZ!! He took me for a spin in it 5 or 6 years ago. Ravi hasn't been on here for ages.

JonMad wrote: Fri Jan 22, 2021 11:00 am I won't post the reg of the 355. I think this helped turn the meets into calmer, smaller events.
2021-01-22-09-58-0009 copy.jpg2021-01-22-09-58-0001 copy.jpg

What happened to the F355??

McSwede wrote: Fri Jan 22, 2021 12:56 pm

JonMad wrote: Fri Jan 22, 2021 11:00 am I won't post the reg of the 355. I think this helped turn the meets into calmer, smaller events.
2021-01-22-09-58-0009 copy.jpg2021-01-22-09-58-0001 copy.jpg

What happened to the F355??

And who's was it? Only person I remember having one was called Cal I believe.

Zonda_ wrote: Fri Jan 22, 2021 1:06 pm

McSwede wrote: Fri Jan 22, 2021 12:56 pm

JonMad wrote: Fri Jan 22, 2021 11:00 am I won't post the reg of the 355. I think this helped turn the meets into calmer, smaller events.
2021-01-22-09-58-0009 copy.jpg2021-01-22-09-58-0001 copy.jpg

What happened to the F355??

And who's was it? Only person I remember having one was called Cal I believe.

It was owned by a chap called Dan (Desperate_Dan or something) and he took someone out for a p-ride from the pub after lunch and crashed it.

I wouldn't expect anything less from a chap called Desperate Dan!

Jobbo wrote: Fri Jan 22, 2021 1:17 pm

Zonda_ wrote: Fri Jan 22, 2021 1:06 pm

McSwede wrote: Fri Jan 22, 2021 12:56 pm

What happened to the F355??

And who's was it? Only person I remember having one was called Cal I believe.

It was owned by a chap called Dan (Desperate_Dan or something) and he took someone out for a p-ride from the pub after lunch and crashed it.

Roads looked wet from the photo!