How to 'Tube' / Convoy

[smartsparky]

Convoys involve a succession of cars heading from one destination to the next. Within the smart world this phenomenon is known as 'Tubing'. For those who are thinking: "What on earth is a 'tube'?" then the answer is simply this. smarts are also known as 'smarties' and where are a whole load of smarties seen in one place? In a tube of course. Hence a 'tube of smarties'. If someone can tell me the name of the person who coined this phrase then I will buy them a drink. (The person who actually coined the phase is exempt from this offer. Sorry!)

When travelling in a convoy / tube, there are some key factors which are important, both for the safety and security of yourselves and others.

• Success: A successful convoy / tube occurs when ALL smarts are together without significant gaps occupied by other cars.
  
  
• Failure: An unsuccessful convoy occurs when people get so badly separated that some get lost and spend the majority of the event trying to find everybody else before even arriving at the venue.
  
  
• Organisation: When starting off on a convoy / tube, it is a good idea to plan who is going to lead, be halfway and be at the rear. These people should all have a clear understanding of the route ahead, either through knowledge or through Sat-Nav. If you have Sat-Nav, bring it to the event. Radios are also important (see below). If you are going to be regulars on smart convoys / tubes it might be worth purchasing one or both of these items to aid you on your way. At the discretion of all people travelling, it might be worth exchanging mobile phone numbers prior to starting, in case of emergencies.
  
  
• Be Aware: When on the convoy / tube ALWAYS look out for the person behind you. As soon as that person gets held up, you must ease off and try to allow them to catch up. In this way, the person ahead of you will be doing the same etc...etc...
  
  
• Lost cars: If you get separated and you are in an unknown area, find a space that is safe to pull over and allow people to catch up. Don't be a hero and zoom off ahead. If pulling into a lay-by, try to allow enough room for all the people traveling with you.
  
  
• Radios: Walkie-talkie radios are invaluable in these situations. Information can easily be transmitted down through the convoy / tube. They are legal to use providing you use them in accordance with specific manufacturers' instructions. The default channel utilised by smart clubs is 5.5 (channel 5, sub-channel 5). Obviously this can be changed, but please be aware that in some EU countries, some channels are not allowed for such use! If changing channel / sub-channel, notify all people within the convoy / tube before leaving...for obvious reasons.
  
  
• Breaking the Convoy / Tube: Okay, you want to go for a bit of a burn rather than plodding along with everyone else. Fine! Just make sure you don't do it when someone behind is dependent on you for directions! So long as they can see the person in front of you then you can do what you like.
  
  
• Insurance: Be very careful with this one as a number of insurance companies will not look favourably on any claim made if travelling within a convoy / tube. Remember to be VERY careful at all times.
  
  
• Other Road Users: Yes, other people do need to use the same roads and highways as you do. Remember, people will get frustrated if they encounter a convoy. People pulling out of side roads is a particularly high risk area as most people travelling on the convoy / tube will be reluctant to let them out! So, please be patient and try to empathise with other road users.
  
  
• And Finally: Be safe! We are all bound by the laws of public road use which we must respect at all times. There is no excuse for breaking the law.
  

This is not meant to be a 'preach', but it might help to avoid some of the problems that have occurred at recent events.

Happy smarting! :silvertri :silvertri :silvertri :silvertri :silvertri :silvertri :silvertri

[J500ANT]

Re: How to 'Tube' / Convoy

LOL well said! Did we do any of that last Wednesday tho?

[smartsparky]

Re: How to 'Tube' / Convoy

LOL well said! Did we do any of that last Wednesday tho?

I would say that we did rather well! Everyone made it from beginning to end - job well done. However, at the Seaside Scramble, we made a bit of a hash of it... :frown:

[Crime Fighting Superstar]

Re: How to 'Tube' / Convoy

What are you trying to say James Enjoyed my first tube of smarties! Cheers mon ami

[NB2CREW]

Re: How to 'Tube' / Convoy

Excellent James - well put me thinks!

I think Jenny was the first used the term 'tube'!

Jim - it was great to meet you yesterday. I thought you were braver than me - coming all the way from Wales and not knowing a soul! We look forward to seeing you at many more events!

Did you decide to head back home after the day then? I am listeniong to a lot of heavy rain coming down as I write this! Better to be at home on a rather wet day me thinks!

[Fudge]

Re: How to 'Tube' / Convoy

EDIT: If "tubing" to somewhere that sells really nice <insert what ever> start lead car and NAIL IT! you should get the <whatever> before everyone else arrives

[herman1rg]

Re: How to 'Tube' / Convoy

I tubed "slowly" from Baldock to Hungry Horse last time

[ManM]

Re: How to 'Tube' / Convoy

Convoys involve a succession of cars heading from one destination to the next. Within the smart world this phenomenon is known as 'Tubing'. For those who are thinking: "What on earth is a 'tube'?" then the answer is simply this. smarts are also known as 'smarties' and where are a whole load of smarties seen in one place? In a tube of course. Hence a 'tube of smarties'. If someone can tell me the name of the person who coined this phrase then I will buy them a drink. (The person who actually coined the phase is exempt from this offer. Sorry!)

When travelling in a convoy / tube, there are some key factors which are important, both for the safety and security of yourselves and others.

• Success: A successful convoy / tube occurs when ALL smarts are together without significant gaps occupied by other cars.
• Failure: An unsuccessful convoy occurs when people get so badly separated that some get lost and spend the majority of the event trying to find everybody else before even arriving at the venue.
• Organisation: When starting off on a convoy / tube, it is a good idea to plan who is going to lead, be halfway and be at the rear. These people should all have a clear understanding of the route ahead, either through knowledge or through Sat-Nav. If you have Sat-Nav, bring it to the event. Radios are also important (see below). If you are going to be regulars on smart convoys / tubes it might be worth purchasing one or both of these items to aid you on your way. At the discretion of all people travelling, it might be worth exchanging mobile phone numbers prior to starting, in case of emergencies.
• Be Aware: When on the convoy / tube ALWAYS look out for the person behind you. As soon as that person gets held up, you must ease off and try to allow them to catch up. In this way, the person ahead of you will be doing the same etc...etc...
• Lost cars: If you get separated and you are in an unknown area, find a space that is safe to pull over and allow people to catch up. Don't be a hero and zoom off ahead. If pulling into a lay-by, try to allow enough room for all the people traveling with you.
• Radios: Walkie-talkie radios are invaluable in these situations. Information can easily be transmitted down through the convoy / tube. They are legal to use providing you use them in accordance with specific manufacturers' instructions. The default channel utilised by smart clubs is 5.5 (channel 5, sub-channel 5). Obviously this can be changed, but please be aware that in some EU countries, some channels are not allowed for such use! If changing channel / sub-channel, notify all people within the convoy / tube before leaving...for obvious reasons.
• Breaking the Convoy / Tube: Okay, you want to go for a bit of a burn rather than plodding along with everyone else. Fine! Just make sure you don't do it when someone behind is dependent on you for directions! So long as they can see the person in front of you then you can do what you like.
• Insurance: Be very careful with this one as a number of insurance companies will not look favourably on any claim made if travelling within a convoy / tube. Remember to be VERY careful at all times.
• Other Road Users: Yes, other people do need to use the same roads and highways as you do. Remember, people will get frustrated if they encounter a convoy. People pulling out of side roads is a particularly high risk area as most people travelling on the convoy / tube will be reluctant to let them out! So, please be patient and try to empathise with other road users.
• And Finally: Be safe! We are all bound by the laws of public road use which we must respect at all times. There is no excuse for breaking the law.

This is not meant to be a 'preach', but it might help to avoid some of the problems that have occurred at A recent event(s).

Happy smarting! :silvertri :silvertri :silvertri :silvertri :silvertri :silvertri :silvertri

Cheers James - see you at the bar
The use of the terminology, convoy, should not be used anywhere even on forums, when referring to this action as there are legal implications.
If stopped you can always say "No officer, this is not a convoy this is a tube"

Jenny

[RacingSnake]

Re: How to 'Tube' / Convoy

I've been invited by smart to 'convoy' with them to Brooklands. :eek:

[StevRS]

Re: How to 'Tube' / Convoy

There's only one rule to driving in convoy and that's ALWAYS keep the person behind you in site. Simple as that.

[ManM]

Re: How to 'Tube' / Convoy

I've been invited by smart to 'convoy' with them to Brooklands. :eek:

But isn't organised by MB - what do they know - eh ??

Jenny

[smartsparky]

Re: How to 'Tube' / Convoy

Kev - you've won a drink!

[putzie]

Re: How to 'Tube' / Convoy

from what i saw of people on the road yesterday was that we seemed to meet every to$$er on the road or on the south coast to be precise !!!!!, some chav in a red escort who seemed to think he was lewis hamilton , a metro driver which we met comming round the corner more like a wrc driver , a merc driver who decided that cause i was infront of him that meant he had the right to run me down and the mg driver who decided that although the car infront of him had stopped because of a parked car on his side of the road he decided he would rather over take them both and play chicken with me and when we got there some cyclist decided he would rather try and run us off the road with his push bike , somehow i think he would of come off second best methinks and all of this before we get to obstacles like dodgy railway crossings lol and i was almost at the front of the tube!!!!

[magnet]

Re: How to 'Tube' / Convoy

I think this was Jules et al many years ago. I'm sure we all discussed this at an Essex meet "46 mixed grills" ago (almost 4 years).

[davros7760]

Re: How to 'Tube' / Convoy

The use of the terminology, convoy, should not be used anywhere even on forums, when referring to this action as there are legal implications.

If stopped you can always say "No officer, this is not a convoy this is a tube"

Jenny

I was vaguely aware of this, just wondering if you could elaborate.....