(Dreaming of) A European roadtrip
Discussion
Might be a topic done to death on here, but this is just a bit of light hearted daydreaming in the current, grim situation...
I'm building a '7' type car, my mate is restoring a 1966 Mini. We both swear blind we'll do some sort of road trip once the cars are finished.
So what might be a reasonable plan for a motoring related road trip, over say 10 days, assuming i'm starting off from Calais (and need to be back in England at the end)?
Personally i'd be interested in seeing the Grossglockner (or Stelvio, or Turini) - the Porsche museum in Stuttgart looks pretty good - and I quite like the idea of catching the Circuit de Remparts races at Angouleme. I'm also interested in seeing things like the 'original' Spa layout - i.e. the bits which are now public roads, or the old F1 circuit at Clermont Ferrand.
I'm building a '7' type car, my mate is restoring a 1966 Mini. We both swear blind we'll do some sort of road trip once the cars are finished.
So what might be a reasonable plan for a motoring related road trip, over say 10 days, assuming i'm starting off from Calais (and need to be back in England at the end)?
Personally i'd be interested in seeing the Grossglockner (or Stelvio, or Turini) - the Porsche museum in Stuttgart looks pretty good - and I quite like the idea of catching the Circuit de Remparts races at Angouleme. I'm also interested in seeing things like the 'original' Spa layout - i.e. the bits which are now public roads, or the old F1 circuit at Clermont Ferrand.
I've been doing the same to keep some sanity! I'm currently planning a trip through the Swiss / Austrian / Italian alps through to Slovenia for May (restrictions pending obviously).
We did a trip to Germany in October and for finding great roads and interesting drives we bought a Michelin Green Guide which was really good. Make sure you check when the passes open as some are quite late in the year. I also used AlpenTourer for the passes which I found on this list of websites:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Porsche museum is great and I enjoyed Audi as well. Mercedes museum always gets a good write up as does Le Mans museum. I really want to go to Cité de l'Automobile in Mulhouse France this time which has the largest collection of Bugattis in the world and that Alsace region is really nice.
I would say if you're doing France, Germany, Switzerland and Austria you're looking at covering a lot of ground in two cars that are pretty marginal for high speed comfort! Might be better to centre in one area per trip as just enjoy a pootle rather than racking up lots of miles.
We did a trip to Germany in October and for finding great roads and interesting drives we bought a Michelin Green Guide which was really good. Make sure you check when the passes open as some are quite late in the year. I also used AlpenTourer for the passes which I found on this list of websites:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Porsche museum is great and I enjoyed Audi as well. Mercedes museum always gets a good write up as does Le Mans museum. I really want to go to Cité de l'Automobile in Mulhouse France this time which has the largest collection of Bugattis in the world and that Alsace region is really nice.
I would say if you're doing France, Germany, Switzerland and Austria you're looking at covering a lot of ground in two cars that are pretty marginal for high speed comfort! Might be better to centre in one area per trip as just enjoy a pootle rather than racking up lots of miles.
I'm daydreaming too at the moment, would love to repeat our 2018 road trip when conditions allow:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
We included a few of the things you mention as it was very much a bucket list trip. Did find it tiring packing so much into ten or eleven days though, even in modern MINIs, and would allow a little more time if doing it again.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
We included a few of the things you mention as it was very much a bucket list trip. Did find it tiring packing so much into ten or eleven days though, even in modern MINIs, and would allow a little more time if doing it again.
coppernorks said:
I hope you have factored in the UK's new standing in Europe, maybe there a transition period where
cross-border movements will be much as before or is it a case of " papers please, what is your
reason for travelling to Germany English pig-dog ".
Looks like little difference. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-47459859cross-border movements will be much as before or is it a case of " papers please, what is your
reason for travelling to Germany English pig-dog ".
When I was there in October the Germans I spoke to were a mix of sad and bemused over Brexit - all of the anger, resentment and xenophobia seems to be on this side of the Channel.
Calais,Spa then follow the Alsace wine trail for a couple of days end end up at Mulhouse for the car museum,onto the mountains.
Back down into France and make your way up and across to Angouleme for the rally. That is Allways around the second weekend of September so 17th 19th ish. Cancelled last year of course and who knows this year.
On the Saturday there is usually a touristic rally that can be entered. Racing is usually Sunday afternoon after morning Practise.
Back down into France and make your way up and across to Angouleme for the rally. That is Allways around the second weekend of September so 17th 19th ish. Cancelled last year of course and who knows this year.
On the Saturday there is usually a touristic rally that can be entered. Racing is usually Sunday afternoon after morning Practise.
I'm going to sound like a stuck record here, but if you want to go to Angouleme then you're much better off with one of the western channel ferry crossings.
Best done on the way to France, so you do the crossing overnight. Portsmouth -> St. Malo. It's then 4 hours drive to Angouleme.
However, personally I wouldn't choose that mix of destinations. You've got to do a huge long drive across the middle of France, and you'll already have done massive mileage. I'd do the museums and the mountain passes in one road trip and keep Angouleme for another.
Best done on the way to France, so you do the crossing overnight. Portsmouth -> St. Malo. It's then 4 hours drive to Angouleme.
However, personally I wouldn't choose that mix of destinations. You've got to do a huge long drive across the middle of France, and you'll already have done massive mileage. I'd do the museums and the mountain passes in one road trip and keep Angouleme for another.
coppernorks said:
I hope you have factored in the UK's new standing in Europe, maybe there a transition period where
cross-border movements will be much as before or is it a case of " papers please, what is your
reason for travelling to Germany English pig-dog ".
There is no physical border across most of Europe, so that's just not going to happen. You can spend 90 days out of 180 in the schegen zone . . .cross-border movements will be much as before or is it a case of " papers please, what is your
reason for travelling to Germany English pig-dog ".
OP - You seem to have missed out a visit to the Nürburgring - always worth the trip even if the track is closed
For atmosphere, the old GP circuit at Reims is one I'd recommend
Considering one of the cars, St. Bernards Pass, then down to Turin?
https://www.cntraveller.com/gallery/the-italian-jo...
The locations used in the film are pretty much as they appeared then, although there's now a shopping centre and hotel among other things in the old Fiat factory - I stayed in the hotel, and was able to borrow a key to visit the test track on the roof. The Museo Nazionale dell'Automobile nearby is also well worth a visit.
Considering one of the cars, St. Bernards Pass, then down to Turin?
https://www.cntraveller.com/gallery/the-italian-jo...
The locations used in the film are pretty much as they appeared then, although there's now a shopping centre and hotel among other things in the old Fiat factory - I stayed in the hotel, and was able to borrow a key to visit the test track on the roof. The Museo Nazionale dell'Automobile nearby is also well worth a visit.
coppernorks said:
I hope you have factored in the UK's new standing in Europe, maybe there a transition period where
cross-border movements will be much as before or is it a case of " papers please, what is your
reason for travelling to Germany English pig-dog ".
Have you ever driven in the Schengen areas ?cross-border movements will be much as before or is it a case of " papers please, what is your
reason for travelling to Germany English pig-dog ".
There are no border posts or barriers or anything .
Non EU travellers have been driving around Europe unhindered for decades .
chopper602 said:
OP - You seem to have missed out a visit to the Nürburgring - always worth the trip even if the track is closed
Probably heresy on here, but not that interested in the Nurburgring!It’s all pipe dreams for now anyway, cars still have plenty to go before they hit the road, but with regards a Channel crossing, I’m in North Essex and would much rather drive down to the Chunnel and do mileage in France, than drive any further than I have to in the UK!
johnpsanderson said:
Probably heresy on here, but not that interested in the Nurburgring!
It’s all pipe dreams for now anyway, cars still have plenty to go before they hit the road, but with regards a Channel crossing, I’m in North Essex and would much rather drive down to the Chunnel and do mileage in France, than drive any further than I have to in the UK!
You might re-think that one after you've done some mileage in France :-)It’s all pipe dreams for now anyway, cars still have plenty to go before they hit the road, but with regards a Channel crossing, I’m in North Essex and would much rather drive down to the Chunnel and do mileage in France, than drive any further than I have to in the UK!
omniflow said:
johnpsanderson said:
Probably heresy on here, but not that interested in the Nurburgring!
It’s all pipe dreams for now anyway, cars still have plenty to go before they hit the road, but with regards a Channel crossing, I’m in North Essex and would much rather drive down to the Chunnel and do mileage in France, than drive any further than I have to in the UK!
You might re-think that one after you've done some mileage in France :-)It’s all pipe dreams for now anyway, cars still have plenty to go before they hit the road, but with regards a Channel crossing, I’m in North Essex and would much rather drive down to the Chunnel and do mileage in France, than drive any further than I have to in the UK!
Magooagain said:
omniflow said:
johnpsanderson said:
Probably heresy on here, but not that interested in the Nurburgring!
It’s all pipe dreams for now anyway, cars still have plenty to go before they hit the road, but with regards a Channel crossing, I’m in North Essex and would much rather drive down to the Chunnel and do mileage in France, than drive any further than I have to in the UK!
You might re-think that one after you've done some mileage in France :-)It’s all pipe dreams for now anyway, cars still have plenty to go before they hit the road, but with regards a Channel crossing, I’m in North Essex and would much rather drive down to the Chunnel and do mileage in France, than drive any further than I have to in the UK!
chopper602 said:
In France the Douanes have a much more efficient way now..they just close the toll booths using a mixture of CCTV and armed personnel to do a stop and search.. we went through a drive through auto toll as we have a beacon, we were ‘escorted’ to the next aire and had the car unpacked.The Swiss still have a manned ‘boarder’ at the end of German autobahn 5 in Basel as well, can’t think of any formal ones in Italy.
10126 Torino said:
The sensible and shortest route to the Ring from Calais means very little time and no toll roads in France .
Just head straight for Belgium's super exciting road system ....A16/E40 towards Brussels and their version of M25 , the A19 round the capital .
On one road trip, I got that on Friday afternoon. I was sat in traffic for so long, the sat nav asked if I wanted to switch to pedestrian mode!Just head straight for Belgium's super exciting road system ....A16/E40 towards Brussels and their version of M25 , the A19 round the capital .
hoegaardenruls said:
For atmosphere, the old GP circuit at Reims is one I'd recommend
Considering one of the cars, St. Bernards Pass, then down to Turin?
https://www.cntraveller.com/gallery/the-italian-jo...
The locations used in the film are pretty much as they appeared then, although there's now a shopping centre and hotel among other things in the old Fiat factory - I stayed in the hotel, and was able to borrow a key to visit the test track on the roof. The Museo Nazionale dell'Automobile nearby is also well worth a visit.
Reims sounds like a good shout, I don’t know anything of it, so will add it to the long-list.Considering one of the cars, St. Bernards Pass, then down to Turin?
https://www.cntraveller.com/gallery/the-italian-jo...
The locations used in the film are pretty much as they appeared then, although there's now a shopping centre and hotel among other things in the old Fiat factory - I stayed in the hotel, and was able to borrow a key to visit the test track on the roof. The Museo Nazionale dell'Automobile nearby is also well worth a visit.
I’ve seen access to the old Fiat test track mentioned elsewhere (it was probably you!) and something like that really *would* be a dream!
Silenoz said:
10126 Torino said:
The sensible and shortest route to the Ring from Calais means very little time and no toll roads in France .
Just head straight for Belgium's super exciting road system ....A16/E40 towards Brussels and their version of M25 , the A19 round the capital .
On one road trip, I got that on Friday afternoon. I was sat in traffic for so long, the sat nav asked if I wanted to switch to pedestrian mode!Just head straight for Belgium's super exciting road system ....A16/E40 towards Brussels and their version of M25 , the A19 round the capital .
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