7 Countries 4 days & a banger - 'Help For Heroes'

7 Countries 4 days & a banger - 'Help For Heroes'

Author
Discussion

benjiegsi

Original Poster:

208 posts

173 months

Friday 19th September 2014
quotequote all
On the 02/09/2014 I completed the Banger Run 2014

The Banger Run was in its 4th Year this year and very much the best. Total raised £37,000 all for the great charity 'Help for Heroes'

All Money spent was from our own pockets.

Here is a trip report.....

Banger Run 2014 - A British Themed driving adventure on some of Europe`s most challenging roads!!

Back In April I purchased a Toyota Celica 1990 for under the £250 threshold we had to spend. I managed to deal with the kind Lady for £165. Put it in for an MOT, and... it passed just needing wipers!



In the 4 months myself and friend/work colleague did the following to the car;
New Distributor Cap and Rotor Arm - £20
Oil and Filter Change - £20
2 x Wiper Blades £10
New centre box - £0 thanks to a kind local garage
2 New Tyres - £80. Great price considering the size 205/55/R14 has long passed a common size.
Bulbs - £2.50
Spray Paint for the wheels - £20

Total Cost £320

3 weeks before the big day a kind graphics company - Speedy Designs provided the stickers for free!!

Here is how it looked all ready to go.


29/08/2014
Woke up on the morning before the big day and ... Coolant everywhere underneath the car! Fortunately it was a Jubilee Clip of the lower radiator hose. Found one in the garage and a Coolant change and we were good to go.
15:00 Leave Bristol and head for Maidstone to meet the other 25 Banger Run Teams who were in Town having a pre Tour de-brief.

30/08/2014
07:00 Meet at Cineworld Cinema - Ashford


13:00 Arrive to Miserable Weather In Dunkerque


Our first Destination was a campsite just outside Strasbourg. - Total Day Mileage 407.
Due to the extremely bad weather on the journey down, I only Stopped for fuel and food so no pictures taken. To be honest the route was mainly a roads through France and Belgium so nothing particularly interesting.

19:00 Arrive at the campsite - Camping Les Bouleaux Vilsberg.

31/08/2014
07:00 - A nice wet and windy night under canvas, and an early start, we head in Convoy to the Route 500 In Germany. The road climbs through the Black Forest and has dozens of tights switchback turns and race barriers. It then opens up to long, wide sweeping curves and at times feels like a race track as you drop into Freudenstadt.
Unfortunately another howling day for weather but this is what it looks like with nil visibility.


18:00 - Arrive at a water logged campsite in Switzerland - and a lovely view of the alps.


01/09/2014
10:00 - A well needed lie in and we headed of for the Klausen Pass & the Furka Pass.
Klausen Pass - Starts with original cobbles high speed sweeping turns switchbacks and forest sections. You burst out of the forest on the 5km Alpine Plateaux and make thee hill climb, literally carved into the rock face. A scary One.



13:00 And then off to the Furka, after passing the Grimsel Pass to Gletch.



02/09/2014
07:00 An early start for the final day of the Alpine Passes.
The San Bernadino Pass and the Stelvio Pass with visits to the Stelvio National Park and St Moritz.




17:00 Arrive in Lake Como - Italy.


03/09/2014
An early start an a drive to Monaco.
After all those miles and passes... the under tray decided to come off and slit through the CV just here...



Some grease, a carrier bag, cable tie, and some tape later we are back on our way... The under tray is not in the French Riveria now honest.



And that's the banger run complete!

2 days to get back to Dunkerque via Marseille, Lyon, and the Old Circuit of Reims and we are home.

A fantastic journey, and if anyone would like to participate of would like any information of next years event let me know.

Edited by benjiegsi on Monday 29th September 19:42


Edited by benjiegsi on Monday 29th September 19:56

Shinobi

5,077 posts

197 months

Sunday 28th September 2014
quotequote all
Any chance of a trip report, sounds great. Always wanted to do something like this.

jason900

259 posts

140 months

Monday 29th September 2014
quotequote all
2nd that - would love to get involved in a banger rally..

benjiegsi

Original Poster:

208 posts

173 months

Monday 29th September 2014
quotequote all
I have edited a brief trip report for you guys as above.

lee st

5,077 posts

172 months

Tuesday 30th September 2014
quotequote all
im off on thursday on one smile

43034

2,971 posts

175 months

Tuesday 30th September 2014
quotequote all
Depending on dates, i'd love to give it a go! Any info?

benjiegsi

Original Poster:

208 posts

173 months

Tuesday 30th September 2014
quotequote all
The banger run is normally the last weekend in August.

It normally goes through the Alps before the roads close on the snowy passes!