I am going for a blast

[riwiho]

The Mrs told me yesterday that she is off spending the day with a friend so after a quick glance on BBC weather I learned that tomorrow (Saturday 9th Feb) is going to be lovely, great day for a nice long blat in the Elise.

I live nr Knutsford and my questions is where should I go? I have not yet had a good blast out in any of the following locations so routes or recommendations would be welcome.

- North Wales
- Peak District
- ??????????????????

HERE IS SATURDAYS WEATHER IN CHESTER
HERE IS SATURDAYS WEATHER IN BUXTON

[NWTony]

Cat and fiddle?

[buggalugs]

Peak district, you've got the c&f, the a54 to buxton, on from buxton north eventually joining the snake pass... Or if you head to N wales you've got the evo triangle. I would guess that the traffic would be better N wales way on a saturday once you get out past Chester & Wrecs though?

[boghouse]

The EVO triangle?

Edited by boghouse on Friday 8th February 13:16

[riwiho]

boghouse said:

The EVO triangle?

Edited by boghouse on Friday 8th February 13:16

Where EVO do many of the road tests. Great roads around there

Here you go>>> http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Edited by riwiho on Friday 8th February 13:31

[Combover]

boghouse said:

The EVO triangle?

I strongly recommend the EVO triangle, Boghouse. Do it. Tomorrow.

[RWA28]

riwiho said:

The Mrs told me yesterday that she is off spending the day with a friend so after a quick glance on BBC weather I learned that tomorrow (Saturday 9th Feb) is going to be lovely, great day for a nice long blat in the Elise.

I live nr Knutsford and my questions is where should I go? I have not yet had a good blast out in any of the following locations so routes or recommendations would be welcome.

- North Wales
- Peak District
- ??????????????????

HERE IS SATURDAYS WEATHER IN CHESTER
HERE IS SATURDAYS WEATHER IN BUXTON

What time were you thinking of going? If you do head over to the evo I may dust off the Tusc! Just depends on what time I drag myself out the pub tonight!

[thepickle]

Looks like it will be a good weekend for it. I’ll be out and about driving all weekend including the C + F and N.Wales (but I can’t decide when to go where either). Yellow Exige, make sure you give me a wave if you see me, I’ve only got it for the weekend!
Not that I haven’t got anything better to do on a Friday evening...honestly but here’s my usual N.Wales route and some variations. Personally I’ve found this route a lot busier on a Saturday compared to a Sunday, starting at around 8am, but if you can only play out on a Saturday I’m sure it wont be that bad. Here goes....
M56
M53
A55
A483
A539 Llangollen
A542 (just go straight through Llangollen) Horseshoe Pass
Left at roundabout onto A5104
Right at traffic lights onto A5
Then, either follow A5 to the triangle (A543 – B4501 – A5)
Or you could take a left onto the A494 not long after you joined the A5. Then take a right just as you come to Bala onto the A4212 (Fantastic scenery, fast and flowing) If you take this option, at the end of the A4212, turn right onto the A470, follow the A470 all the way to the A5, but keep an eye on the signs as it’s easy to miss some turnings. Alternatively, take the B4391 turning on the right off the A470 just as you come to Ffestiniog and then take a left onto the B4407. (used in Evo mag plenty, tricky/technical road at speed) Whether you take the boring A470 route or the B4407 route, you will end up at the A5. Turn right at the A5 and then follow the A5 to the left turn for the A543 and get in a few laps of the triangle. Then back along the A5 to the A483, or take the A494 turning to go back the way you came over the Horseshoe Pass. But assuming it’s now early afternoon, the Horseshoe Pass will be full of old gits doing 30mph and it is not a road with a lot of overtaking opportunities. Get your map out and I’m sure this will all make a lot more sense!

Taking the A4212 route and a few laps of the triangle is about 250 miles for me from the Warrington area, but don’t quote me on that mileage, I can’t remember 100%. I know when I’ve done Horseshoe, A4212, Llanberis Pass, laps of triangle it’s been around the 300mile mark.

Here's a triangle tip for you, if you just go straight to the triangle along the A5, even though I always do laps clockwise, when I first get there, I turn off the A5 onto the B4501 and do the B4501 and A543 sections anticlockwise as a sighting run. Just to make sure the roads are clear in general, and to make sure there are no camo dressed, speed gun wielding police hiding in the forest! (not unheard of!) Take some pics if you go, I know I will, I’ll post them up.

Here’s a pic I took on the B4407 to give you some motivation...

[thepickle]

I hope you had as much fun as I did!

[riwiho]

Well I ended up taking the car to glossop and meeting a motor biking friend. We then made our way to the C+F and spent about 5/6 hours driving around the area. Great day out and had a brilliant time in the car, fun was had by all.

I think I will have to venture out over towards wales before long.

pickle - sounds good. Why did you only have the Exige for one day? whats your usual weekend tool?

RWA28 - sorry, I did not pick up this post till after I had got back. It would have been good to meet up. next time?

[EvoBarry]

Pickle - that route is nigh on exactly the routes I take on the bike Great roads. I tend to stop off at the little cafe on the lake in Bala for brunch before heading over to Ffestiniog, maybe up Nant Gwynant to Llanberis before heading back down the A5 to the triangle. All good fun. Coincidentally I'm not far from Knutsford either, I'll keep my eyes peeled for you folk in future.

[thepickle]

riwiho, I don’t drive anything interesting at the moment, so that’s why I’m getting a bit of a taste for hiring cars like the Exige for the weekend, partly so I can sample cars I may want to buy in the future but mostly because it's great fun! I had a 111R a few months ago so it was an interesting comparison.

I got to the Cat at about 8:45 this morning, it was still a bit moist under the trees near the bottom but most of it was dry, blue skies and sun shining Then, got onto the M56 and went to the triangle again via the Horseshoe Pass as described above. I’m a bit knackered but what a weekend Spotted a black DC2 on the triangle today btw EvoBarry, also, I waved randomly at some unsuspecting person in a red mx5 after your reply on the Evo thread Combover, I'm guessing it wasn't you by the "wtf?!?" look I got back

[riwiho]

thepickle said:

riwiho, I don’t drive anything interesting at the moment, so that’s why I’m getting a bit of a taste for hiring cars like the Exige for the weekend, partly so I can sample cars I may want to buy in the future but mostly because it's great fun! I had a 111R a few months ago so it was an interesting comparison.

I got to the Cat at about 8:45 this morning, it was still a bit moist under the trees near the bottom but most of it was dry, blue skies and sun shining Then, got onto the M56 and went to the triangle again via the Horseshoe Pass as described above. I’m a bit knackered but what a weekend Spotted a black DC2 on the triangle today btw EvoBarry, also, I waved randomly at some unsuspecting person in a red mx5 after your reply on the Evo thread Combover, I'm guessing it wasn't you by the "wtf?!?" look I got back

Which company do you use to hire the cars?

[thepickle]

LamboGenie, you’re buggered if you don’t like Lotuss (Loti?) though! I can't get the link formatting to work for some reason so Google them if interested. They’ve recently changed pricing as well so probably better to contact them rather than rely on their website. I’ve used them a couple of times now and have nothing but positive things to say. I hope this wont be taken as advertising btw!...just making some comments based on my experiences.

[Monty_M100]

thepickle said:

LamboGenie, you’re buggered if you don’t like Lotuss (Loti?) though! I can't get the link formatting to work for some reason so Google them if interested. They’ve recently changed pricing as well so probably better to contact them rather than rely on their website. I’ve used them a couple of times now and have nothing but positive things to say. I hope this wont be taken as advertising btw!...just making some comments based on my experiences.

That`ll be the same Exige i drove at Oulton when Russ organised a trackday in his hired Lotus

His website
http://www.lambogenie.co.uk/?movieShown=yes

[thepickle]

That's the one Great car, I'm glad it was dry all weekend though. I believe things can get quite interesting on the A048's in the wet!

[EvoBarry]

Does the 200 mile/day limit include picking it up/returning it? Thats half the first days allowance just getting it there and back from mine

[thepickle]

Yeah, the miles are ticking from when you pick it up, it’s about 70 miles round trip from mine, but it’s not such a bad thing getting used to the car cruising along the m’way. The first time I used them (Oct 07) all the cars were unlimited mileage. I did 900 in a weekend in the 111R. Not sure if it was just a coincidence or not, but just after that, they introduced the 600 mile weekend limit. I knew I’d go over with the Exige, especially with this weather; I did 760 miles this time. £1 per mile over the limit, but they did me a bit of a deal because I’m a repeat customer. This hire car business is a bit of a specialist subject of mine at the moment, I’ve been looking at everything available You should check the mileage limits from other hire companies, Bespokes for example, have a 300 mile/weekend limit on the Elise/Exige! And it costs more!