Hi All,

Well it's just over five weeks since Ripley and Sam and I have been burning the candle at both ends planning things for next year. After lots of discussion with Grant and Susan, taking account of everything we've learned from nine years at Ripley and all the feedback received, we've come to the firm conclusion that it's time for something new.

We're therefore really excited to announce that the UK Summer Travellers' Meeting is being completely re-invented to create a brand new event for all overland adventure travellers at a cracking new venue near Donington Park.

The name for the new event is HUBB UK and it's going to be taking place from Thursday 30th May to Sunday 2nd June 2013. Get the date in your diaries!



The event will have something for everyone, combining all the best bits from the past with lots of new features, and to better reflect the HU community it'll be an event for adventure motorcyclists as well as cyclists and drivers of 4x4 and other expedition vehicles too.

We'll also be supporting a new charity that I'm sure will be close to many of your hearts.

There's still lots to do before we're ready to properly reveal all the details of the event, so please bear with us until early September when the event's web pages will go online and pre-registration will be up and running.

I hope we can look forward to plenty of positive support with what we're doing.

Keep an eye on the HUBB or follow the hashtag #HUBBUK on Twitter for further news.


Cheers

Iain Harper
HU Event Organiser

Sounds interesting. I like the idea of combining cycling and others.

Had to look up where Donington Park is (about 15 miles straight line south of Ripley).

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I would say I'm looking forward to it, but actually I'll be a little disappointed if I'm there as hopefully I'll be on the road.

However I just have one little query but I'm pretty certain organisers have this one sorted. Donnington (Download) Music Festival usually takes place around the first weekend in June so if the two events clash traffic is likely to be murder.

EDIT: just looked it up and there's two weeks between the two events.

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Mornin' Iain,

I reckon you're right with the need for change and, I for one, am looking forward to something fresh.

No doubt you guys will manage to keep the best from Ripley and add to it.

Bring it on!

Regards

Reggie

And that date clashes nicely with the Isle of Man TT.

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'He who laughs last, was too slow to get the joke'
Never confuse the map with the journey.

It's great to hear all the positive comments and that the idea is a welcome one - thanks guys.

About the IOM - yes, unfortunately it does coincide with the middle weekend. Picking a weekend anytime between the beginning of May and the end of September is bound to clash with something somewhere. On the upside though, loyal TT fans who didn't want to miss either the HUBB UK or the racing could be on the SteamPacket on the Sunday afternoon/evening and still be on the island in time for the whole of race week.

As well as this thread and the #HUBBUK hashtag on Twitter, another way to get updates and notification of when full details go online is to "Join" the HUBB UK event page on Facebook.

Actually the 1st 2 races are on the Saturday, and anybody thinking of trying to get a Steam packet booking for the Sunday...good luck!!

__________________
'He who laughs last, was too slow to get the joke'
Never confuse the map with the journey.

The phrase "advance booking" springs immediately to mind.

Yes Iain, like early practice week of this years TT !! One day they may be able to have enough boats laid on and ready to sail with no problems, but then again, thats not the Steam Packets style

__________________
'He who laughs last, was too slow to get the joke'
Never confuse the map with the journey.

Sounds great, having never been to Ripley despite always prodding myself I would and almost going this year I'm slightly sad that now I'll never have gone, but then again this way, assuming I actually get to Donnington, I'll be in at the start.

So, where do I sign up?

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Thanks Alex - that's a great way to look at it!

The full run-down on the event, including venue, pricing and pre-registration options, will be online in early September. As soon as it's all live we'll let everyone know so that you can sign-up.

Sam and I are at the Adventure Travel Film Festival this weekend and we've both been really chuffed with all the incredibly positive feedback we've had from people saying how pleased and excited they are about the new HUBB UK idea.

Thanks to everyone who's found us for a chat already.

Roll on tomorrow.

Now that we're back from the Adventure Travel Film Festival (which was excellent by the way - congratulations to Austin and Lois), Sam and I thought it might be useful to share a summary of what we were saying to people in response to questions about the new event....

Q: Is it the Bank Holiday weekend?
A: No. The Spring Bank Holiday is Monday 27th May - so the HUBB UK is the following weekend.

Q: So who is the event actually aimed at?
A: HUBB UK is an event for overland adventure travellers, regardless of their vehicle choice. It's for motorcyclists, cyclists and drivers of any kind of expedition vehicle whether 4x4 or otherwise.

Q: Why have you changed the format?
A: Mostly it's because we've been asked to. Feedback generally on previous events has been terrific, but you can only stand still for so long in this world. It was time to take note of all forms of feedback and to take all the suggestions on board where they fit firmly within the HU ethos - which of course is to help and encourage all travellers to get out on the road and enjoy the overlanding experience.

Q: If HU is inviting expedition vehicles and bicycle travellers as well as motorcyclists, isn't this going to change the mood of the event?
A: Actually, it's bound to. But only in a very positive way. When we're all on the road, we travel the same sorts of routes and stay in the same places. We pick each other's brains about border crossings, places to stay, and also about the potential dangers of sections of road to come. And of course, there are trails that are simply brilliant, but if no one shares that info then half the time we'd travel on past without knowing they were there. This sharing and swapping of information goes on out the road, so we'd be missing an important point if HU didn't help that to happen here too.

Q: Do you think this is a big change to be making? I mean opening it up and away from it being a straight motorcycle event.
A: HU doesn't think of it that way. It's more a case of taking all the good things that have happened in past events and adding new things of interest, new opportunities to learn and increasing the connections that all travellers enjoy. And as for it being a straight motorcycle event, it's never been that, but HU have never made it obvious that cyclists and expedition vehicles were welcome. Some, as you'll have seen, have come along anyway.

Q: I've been coming to HU for the past 5 years. Am I going to like the new event or is it all going to be just strange and not for me?
A: I know you've travelled a lot and I know that you are always interested in every aspect of travel, so I'm absolutely certain you'll love it. And in fact, for someone who has been to so many events, I think you're going to like the freshness that the HUBB UK will have.

Q: Why haven't you got all the info on the new event up on the website yet?
A: There's just a bit of i dotting and t crossing to sort out. We'll have everything done by the first week of September and we didn't think anyone would be happy if the info going up was incomplete.

Q: What's so good about the new venue?
A: We're itching to spill the beans on everything, but could I ask you to hang on for just another couple of weeks. All will be revealed!

Q: Will the camping fields be level this time?
A: Well that one I can tell you. Mostly, very much so. There's is a bit of slope in places, but that's just to help the drainage. You'll be highly unlikely to feel as if you are rolling down hill all night.

Q: Will there be more than one water point at the new venue?
A: Yes (lots).

I'm disgusted, disgusted I tell you. It's part of the ethos and history of the event that there is only one water tap - you'll spoil the whole damn thing adding more. baaah!

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