Dunsfold - A pilgrimage

DaShowstoppa · December 17th, 2007, 1:28 PM

Yep, yesterday my Wife and I drove to the TG mecca (no not the Stelvio pass) but Dunsfold!

First off, even with maps, Dunsfold is difficult to find - then once you're there the aerodrome is even harder to find. Then when you do get there, you see big blue gates with "no photography" emblazoned on them. So then we went the other side and drove up this big driveway which ended in a sentry post. We saw the TG Studio hangar behind the fence but we had to turn around. I wasn't expecting to mill around the buildings or burn off a lap or two in my Hyundai Coupe on the track - Just perhaps to see the track peeking through the trees, but the secrecy and secluded nature of Dunsfold reminded me of the UK equivalent of "Area 51"

Now I work about a Hammond burnout away from a major airfield and I can see far more of it than I could of Dunsfold which is why I expected more to see there.

So my advice is, unless you are going to see TG or an event at Dunsfold then just forget driving there - you won't even get a glimpse of more than the wall of the hangar.

Still at least I am able to say I was where the greatest programme in the world comes to life.

powah · December 17th, 2007, 1:39 PM

Exactly how I imagined it, that you could see the track and everything images/smilies/wacko.gif

Gman333-X-ferrari · December 18th, 2007, 1:27 AM

Wrong section? images/smilies/blink.gif

Viper007Bond · December 18th, 2007, 1:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gman333-X-ferrari

Wrong section? images/smilies/blink.gif

Moved.

DaShowstoppa · December 18th, 2007, 9:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Viper007Bond

Moved.

Thanks!

vegasrebel29 · December 20th, 2007, 4:13 AM

Spoiler Text: (Click here to toggle display)

The only thing stopping you from entering Area 51 is a sign notifying you that going beyond that sign is a federal crime.

Yeah, I'm that guy at parties.

No Boss · December 20th, 2007, 5:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vegasrebel29

Spoiler Text: (Click here to toggle display)

The only thing stopping you from entering Area 51 is a sign notifying you that going beyond that sign is a federal crime.

Yeah, I'm that guy at parties.

That.... and the guy with the gun.

DaShowstoppa · December 20th, 2007, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by No Boss

That.... and the guy with the gun.

I dunno if they were armed at Dunsfold, but I wasn't gonna drive up and find out! I've done that before at an army checkpoint and got three SA80's pointed at me. (I took a wrong turn - they were pretty good about it actually)

No Boss · December 20th, 2007, 4:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaShowstoppa

I dunno if they were armed at Dunsfold, but I wasn't gonna drive up and find out! I've done that before at an army checkpoint and got three SA80's pointed at me. (I took a wrong turn - they were pretty good about it actually)

Hehe, I meant Area 51.... if Dunfold had armed guards it would be seriously official.

K.Nob · December 20th, 2007, 9:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by No Boss

if Dunfold had armed guards it would be seriously official.

then again, it wouldn't surprise me if they did that to keep Stig's identity secret images/smilies/biggrin.gif

Fenrir · December 20th, 2007, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaShowstoppa

I dunno if they were armed at Dunsfold, but I wasn't gonna drive up and find out! I've done that before at an army checkpoint and got three SA80's pointed at me. (I took a wrong turn - they were pretty good about it actually)

To be honest I wouldn't be worried. From my past experience with miliary bases I'd be surprised if the rifles actually had magazines in them.

VillageIdiot · December 21st, 2007, 2:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fenrir

To be honest I wouldn't be worried. From my past experience with miliary bases I'd be surprised if the rifles actually had magazines in them.

"Come on you wussies! Prove to me they're loaded!"

lukenwolf · December 21st, 2007, 5:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fenrir

To be honest I wouldn't be worried. From my past experience with miliary bases I'd be surprised if the rifles actually had magazines in them.

Well, I'd be more surprized if they weren't. During my military service ('92-'94) even the most unimportant bit of military territory was being guarded with fully loaded rifles. Not that it was a good idea to give weapons to people who otherwise couldn't tell their arse from a hole in a ground. images/smilies/cry.gif

Eeverybody who had to fill in a 5 pages report and go trough a one hour Military Intelligence Grilling because some idiot fired a shot in the night will know what I'm talking about. images/smilies/wacko.gif

Anyways, back to topic. If Dunsfold still has some military parts, there should be a good chance that armed guards are there, but if it is in use for purely civil reasons, there's probably some security company having some of their bouncers running around the place.

robybobey · December 21st, 2007, 12:35 PM

LOL stupid, there are no armed guards at Dunsfold!!!

If you were feeling ambitious, you could run through straight onto runway, but then "the" security guard would be right behind you images/smilies/tongue.gif

smtk · December 21st, 2007, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaShowstoppa

So my advice is, unless you are going to see TG or an event at Dunsfold then just forget driving there - you won't even get a glimpse of more than the wall of the hangar.

Still at least I am able to say I was where the greatest programme in the world comes to life.

Or go back for wings and wheels in the summer the air/car show held there. This year i took part in the show and go to hoon down the run way

+ YouTube Video

skr · December 21st, 2007, 1:13 PM

Just like my experiences at Dunsfold, went there this summer and there was absolutely nothing to see (at least I got a picture of my car, the blue sign and me images/smilies/wink.gif

). After that we went around the airfield trying to get close on the other side...but no, also guards preventing us from getting any further. But the pub on the drive towards the gate was rather nice so my mate and me had a beer there images/smilies/smile.gif

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z194/skr525ia/DSCF0533.jpg

DaShowstoppa · December 21st, 2007, 3:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skr

Just like my experiences at Dunsfold, went there this summer and there was absolutely nothing to see (at least I got a picture of my car, the blue sign and me images/smilies/wink.gif

). After that we went around the airfield trying to get close on the other side...but no, also guards preventing us from getting any further. But the pub on the drive towards the gate was rather nice so my mate and me had a beer there images/smilies/smile.gif

It is a very nice sign and driveway though.

December 17th, 2007, 1:28 PM	#1
DaShowstoppa Joined: Apr 7th, 2007 Last Online: November 21st, 2008 Location: England, 15Miles west of Dunsfold Age: 30 Posts: 259 Car: 1999 Hyundai Coupe 2.0SE Rep Power: 12	Dunsfold - A pilgrimage Yep, yesterday my Wife and I drove to the TG mecca (no not the Stelvio pass) but Dunsfold! First off, even with maps, Dunsfold is difficult to find - then once you're there the aerodrome is even harder to find. Then when you do get there, you see big blue gates with "no photography" emblazoned on them. So then we went the other side and drove up this big driveway which ended in a sentry post. We saw the TG Studio hangar behind the fence but we had to turn around. I wasn't expecting to mill around the buildings or burn off a lap or two in my Hyundai Coupe on the track - Just perhaps to see the track peeking through the trees, but the secrecy and secluded nature of Dunsfold reminded me of the UK equivalent of "Area 51" Now I work about a Hammond burnout away from a major airfield and I can see far more of it than I could of Dunsfold which is why I expected more to see there. So my advice is, unless you are going to see TG or an event at Dunsfold then just forget driving there - you won't even get a glimpse of more than the wall of the hangar. Still at least I am able to say I was where the greatest programme in the world comes to life. __________________ Understeer is when you're going along the road and you turn a corner, the car goes straight on - you hit a tree ...and you die. Now oversteer is when you drive down the same bit of road come to a corner, the back comes round - you hit a tree..... and you die. The thing to remember is that oversteer is best, because then you don't see the tree that kills you! Hammond That's a ticket to a festival of plastic death! May Your opinion differs from mine, therefore you are wrong! Clarkson "..." Stig

December 17th, 2007, 1:39 PM	#2
powah Previously Known As powerof1000 Joined: Mar 13th, 2007 Last Online: February 13th, 2010 Location: New Zealand Age: 17 Posts: 1,254 Rep Power: 18	Exactly how I imagined it, that you could see the track and everything __________________

December 18th, 2007, 1:27 AM	#3
Gman333-X-ferrari Joined: Nov 5th, 2006 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Melbourne, Australia Age: 24 Posts: 2,981 Car: The George "BBQ Spoiler Grille" Foremanator LFS Status: Rep Power: 0	Wrong section? __________________

December 21st, 2007, 12:35 PM	#14
robybobey Joined: Nov 27th, 2006 Last Online: February 21st, 2010 Location: Wigan, Lancashire, England Age: 20 Posts: 702 Car: 2006 Astra 120bhp LFS Status: Rep Power: 45	LOL stupid, there are no armed guards at Dunsfold!!! If you were feeling ambitious, you could run through straight onto runway, but then "the" security guard would be right behind you __________________ Top Gear / Finalgear Relations Manager

December 21st, 2007, 1:13 PM	#16
skr Joined: May 25th, 2006 Last Online: January 15th, 2010 Location: Berlin, Germany Posts: 381 Car: 1992 BMW 525iA, 1999 Ford Focus Estate Ghia 1.8 Rep Power: 16	Just like my experiences at Dunsfold, went there this summer and there was absolutely nothing to see (at least I got a picture of my car, the blue sign and me ). After that we went around the airfield trying to get close on the other side...but no, also guards preventing us from getting any further. But the pub on the drive towards the gate was rather nice so my mate and me had a beer there

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