From Spa to Monza in a VX220 Turbo

[Andy_vx]

As the F1 season gets ready to start again after the summer break it's time to pack up a very cramped VX220 and head to the continent. My Brother and i have planned an F1 style road trip that will include Spa and Monza. We've made a very rough route that should include Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Italy.

I've driven in France lots but none of the above countries so i'm after advice on the best driving roads out there, so far all i really know is the Stelvio pass (from Topgear!) Are there any others that are a must? looking for nice long wide open roads as well as tight hairpins!

Is anyone else doing a similar trip for the GP's be good to meet some fellow PH'ers

Thanks in advance!

[S800VXR]

Fair play for taking a VX220! We had one of these come along to the Ring a few years back...... luckally I was in a Monaro wityh AC as it was hot and the two guys in the VX absolutely cooked in the heat! Cracking car but tiny!

As for roads, any of the Alps passes are great, just did the Col De La Bonnetti and the other second highest pass which I can recomend - see my Alps trip post.

[stefan740]

U might have to be a bit more precise on where to go, what to see, motorways or not and how many days etc. This is what i was thinking about reading your post:

Spa to Nurburgring driving some great eifel roads.
Nurburgring to schwarzwald/freiburg or stuutgart porsche museum with a stop halfway at hockenheim.
Freiburg/stuttgart to Davos with a lunch at luzern, going south to the susten and furka pass and via liechtenstein to davos
Davos to austria with the silvretta hochalpenstraße right at the beginning. Than maybe towards the grossglockner and the day after that to monza trough the dolomites.

[Andy_vx]

Thanks for the replies. Yeah we're brave doing 2000+ miles in a vx turbo but I think we'll be ok lol.

Thanks for the advice I'd forgotten about hockenhein. This is a must! I'll try to include this in the route now.

Our route so far is now
Diver to Dunkirk
Dunkirk to spa
Spa to Stuttgart (hockenhein)
Stuttgart to lake como via the stelvio and alps
Lake como to Monza for the gp then time depending on to Monaco (cul de turini) then up to Mont Blanc and up through France.

I'll post a diary when we're home!

Thanks again

Andy.

[Andy_vx]

Thanks for the replies. Yeah we're brave doing 2000+ miles in a vx turbo but I think we'll be ok lol.

Thanks for the advice I'd forgotten about hockenhein. This is a must! I'll try to include this in the route now.

Our route so far is now
Diver to Dunkirk
Dunkirk to spa
Spa to Stuttgart (hockenhein)
Stuttgart to lake como via the stelvio and alps
Lake como to Monza for the gp then time depending on to Monaco (cul de turini) then up to Mont Blanc and up through France.

I'll post a diary when we're home!

Thanks again

Andy.

[Andy_vx]

Edited by Andy_vx on Tuesday 21st August 08:26

[stefan740]

For the Spa to Stuttgart day, i would suggest this route.
Stops at Cochem and Hockenheim, it might be a bit long but a Speedsters needs some b roads instead of motorway miles

[Andy_vx]

Hi Stefan,

Thanks for that route! I'd live to include the f1 track so this is very helpful. I'm using my phone at the moment do I'm unable to open the route I'll do so tonight once I'm hone from work.

Cheers!

[Roastie ITR]

Good luck with it Andy, I've got a 2,600 mile route planned for next month in my VX220 NA.

Just wondering how we're going to fit everything in the car

[adsvx220]

We did a 2500 mile trip in our vx220 in May. The car was brilliant, got plenty of looks. It didn't miss a beat. In may the higher passes were closed so we couldn't do everything we wanted to, but I would suggest heading up towards Adermatt in Switzerland, where you will get to do furka, Grimsel and susten. Loads of great passes all around there.
We stayed a night at Lake Como, should of stayed for longer, it's beautiful.
Have a good time

Adam

[Andy_vx]

Cool, thanks Adam!

Always nice to hear from a fellow VX owner. It sounds like you did the same thing as what we've got planned! Glad to hear your VX was good as gold! They're normally very reliable aren't they. Looking forward to taking the VX i dont think many people have seen them on the continent! We've stickered it up with PH smileys and a custom F1 vinyl, looks good!

Had fun and games packing everything in the boot today! it's not easy is it lol. We're doing a bit of camping so we struggled to get everything in for 2 weeks away, it just about fits when using the space behind the seats!

Very much looking forward to Lake Como, it looks amazing!

Cheers!

adsvx220 said:

We did a 2500 mile trip in our vx220 in May. The car was brilliant, got plenty of looks. It didn't miss a beat. In may the higher passes were closed so we couldn't do everything we wanted to, but I would suggest heading up towards Adermatt in Switzerland, where you will get to do furka, Grimsel and susten. Loads of great passes all around there.
We stayed a night at Lake Como, should of stayed for longer, it's beautiful.
Have a good time

Adam

[adsvx220]

We got as much attention, if not more, than the usual ferraris and lamborghinis! Drive around Casino Square, it's a good experience.

We only stayed n hotels, still filled the boot with our bag....try to leave space so you can take the roof off. You've done well to get camping equipment in aswell!

One last tip... When we filled up in Europe a lot of stations are manned, so they fill it for you. Keep a very close eye on them, or just do it yourself. Twice we had the bloke leave it on auto, and as you can imagine, the nozzle crashes out down the body work, and fuel goes everywhere. Luckly no damage done, but it's something that might save you a bit of stress.

Let us know how you get on

Adam

Edited by adsvx220 on Wednesday 29th August 22:14