Club Peugeot UK - The Official UK Peugeot Owner's Club

pugfest events report

Pugfest 06

Another year, another Pugfest. What is probably the UK’s largest gathering of Peugeots alone should be a big draw for CPUK members. Add into the mix a chance to see Peugeot only hillclimb action, and even take part, and you would think that members would be queuing to come along. Sadly the CPUK attendance at this yeas event was the same as last years, 3 cars, two of which were also PSOOC members. Well done to Stuart Bird on turning up! More on his adventures later.

Prescott Hill Climb really is a superb venue and the sun shone brightly all day on a see of Peugeots. Nearly all the cars present were either 295 GTi’s, 106’s or 306’s with a smattering of other models so the two older CPUK cars made quite a splash. After meeting up in the guest car park myself and Stuart Bird relocated Stuart’s immaculate 504 Ti to the main parking area, and with 13 runs up the historic hill booked for the editorial ZS we got on with the business in hand, getting the fastest ascent up the hill possible.

While down on power from the more modern cars, the tiny ZS proved well suited to hill climbing with its ultra light weight and excellent handling. Certainly the speed up the hill seemed much faster than last year and visually looked on a par with pretty much everything else there. After several runs the decision was taken to rest the ZS and give the old 504 an outing. Sunglasses donned, radio turned up and windows down the old girl powered gamely up the hill. The auto box refused to give up any wheel spin but the 504’s legendary soft handling provided plenty of tyre squeal round the bends and plenty of comedy body roll. In all the 504 went up the hill twice to happy cheers and waves from an appreciative crowd.

The ZS put in two more attempts before the dipstick popped out forcing oil into the engine. Luckily no permanent damage was done but it was taken as a sign that the old car had given all it had to give.

We decided to finish with a tour of the cars present. The highlight was an awesome 306 Gti, in dayglo yellow, sporting a tuned 3.0 V6 engine in the front…and another matching engine in the back. There were 205’s of all description, from concours show cars to full on rally cars including 2 of the super rare 1FM models (one belonging to CPUK members Rob King.)

Sadly the 205 T16 evo car of Kev Furber, which was such a focus of last years event had its gearbox in pieces, and so was unable to attend this year, but the quality of the other cars made up for this. A concours winning 309 Goodwood looked so good that it had surely just come off the production line and was a stand out car, but all the show and shine boys put in a fine effort.

The atmosphere at Pugfest was as ever relaxed and very friendly. Many many people came up to us to express their appreciation for the older cars, and we in turn expressed ours at the wonderful machinery on offer. CPUK will be back at Pugfest in 2007. It’s just the sort of event we need to see members attending as it has so much to offer. Perhaps next time we can gather together enough cars for a convoy up the hill.