Caterham Factory tour

[Mark Stanton]

Here is an invitation for all the WSCC owners if someone can take up the offer and organise it.

.......................................................................................

Sunday 22 April 2007

Hello

As you will know there has always been rivalry between the brands of Caterham and Westfield, and more notably from the loyal owners of each. In the past (when the company was under different ownership), anyone arriving here in a Westfield would have got a very cold welcome

However, in my hobby as a trackday driver and ARDS instructor, I meet a lot of Westfield owners. We are similar people and share a similar passion for this type of sportscar, we've just wound up with different makes.

As my brainchild, I have suggested that we open the factory for a day exclusively for Westfield owners, so they can get a close look at the cars, a quick drive, see the business and ask questions of the team without having to pretend to be a prospective customer.

Obviously, I don't really need to spell out our ulterior motive which is we would like to turn one or two Westfield owners into Caterham owners, when the time comes for them to change their car, usually in a quest for more performance.

However, I'm sure that you'll agree that this will be of interest to the club, if for nothing more than curiosity.?

It'll certainly be the first time the doors have been opened to Westfield owners in this way and I am really looking forward to the prospect of talking to them.

Thanks for your time and please let myself know whether this is possible.

Regards

Simon Lambert

Commercial Manager

[Barry Ashcroft]

QUOTE

Obviously, I don't really need to spell out our ulterior motive which is we would like to turn one or two Westfield owners into Caterham owners, when the time comes for them to change their car, usually in a quest for more performance.

You have to admire there style    

While I am not up to organising this I would be interested in joining the trip  

[FW500]

 As silly dig there but at least they didn't try to insult our intelligence by dressing up an obvious marketing opportunity as anything else... or is that exactly what they're doing? I can't work it out.

If it's true that Westfield owners received a 'cold welcome' before, that really would shock me. In this day and age when every customer counts (especially so when you're talking of possibly a £25k+ purchase) you'd expect to be treated like royalty - even if you did have the ordasity drove there in a Westfield.

[mb893]

As I'm the half of the Surrey AO that does the events and Caterham is in Surrey... If there really is that much of an interest I can sort something out...

Can't help but ask the question "why?" though, from a Westfield owners point of view point of view - I thought we'd already completed the "quest for performance"... We own a Westfield afterall.

[GlennB]

maybe they no of something going on in Kingswinford that we dont !!!

My first thought, however, was cheedy barsteward....

It may be interesting however....

Glenn

[Asterix]

at the very least it's worth an "en masse" Westfield carpark picture arranged uncannily coincidentally underneath a huge Caterham factory sign.

THink that any spare seats should be offered to Westfield factory workers    

[Symbiotic_Caterpillar]

Can't help but ask the question "why?" though, from a Westfield owners point of view point of view - I thought we'd already completed the "quest for performance"... We own a Westfield afterall.

Maybe it's like a morbid fascination with a road traffic accident. You know you shouldn't but you just can't help taking a look.

[mb893]

You are a very bad man      

[Al Yupright]

I could be interested. Although would rather see the chassis being made as that would be more interesting than looking round the showroom.

[adamnreeves]

I was interested in a factory visit purely for the engineering aspect but when I read "usually in a quest for more performance" my interest suddenly disappeared!

[markcoopers]

MArk, what date was the email, 1st by any chance?

[stu999]

MArk, what date was the email, 1st by any chance?

     

[Mark Stanton]

Nope, I was going to post yesterday but thought best not          

Its kosher, pukka, and a proper genuine invite for Sunday 22 April 2007           We ran out of room in magazine so here's next best place    

[DMMS]

QUOTE

anyone arriving here in a Westfield would have got a very cold welcome

I seem to remember that pretty much anyone arriving there used to receive a cold welcome.  I've been there twice in the past, neither times in a Westie, and been treated as though I should feel privileged to be spoken to!  Good news if that has changed.

QUOTE

when the time comes for them to change their car, usually in a quest for more performance

I took that to mean that we change our cars generally when we are looking for more performance not that we should change our cars from Westies to Caterhams to get more performance.  People really shouldn't be so sensitive.  Leave that to them.

[Caterham]

Thank you Mark for posting the above.

All – this is a genuine and sincere invitation to all Westfield owners to come and have a look at the Caterham factory (here in sunny Dartford).  We hope to see as many of you as possible!

As Mark’s posting was a cut’n’paste of an email, rather than something that was explicitly written for posting on a forum, I’ll just take this opportunity to clarify one comment – ‘upgrade in a quest for more performance’.  By this I mean that one of the main reasons we change our cars is to go faster – obviously this could just as easily be for a faster Westfield as a faster Caterham!

The Open Day will run from 10am-2pm and there will be a light refreshments available.  For this reason it would be good to know how many of you would like to come along, so please drop me an email with your intentions to simonl@caterham.co.uk

I look forward to meeting you!

Regards

SIMON LAMBERT

Commercial Manager - Caterham Motorsport