The route:
"It's a fairly short section of roads, based around the A413 between Aylesbury and Buckingham and a good cut-through to Silverstone if you want to avoid the main roads."
Why it's a dream drive:
"It's the way to Silverstone! Seriously, any trip to the home of British motorsport is usually for something fun but it's always nice to know I'll enjoy the journey there as much as whatever's going on at the track. Especially if it's an early start like a PistonHeads Sunday Service, meaning I get the road to myself.
Driving to Silverstone as fun as driving round it
"It's a fairly typical English A-road but unusually well-sighted and open compared with most thanks to the hedges being set back from the verges. This means you get a clear view through the corners and excellent sightlines so you can really enjoy yourself and carry a bit of speed in perfect safety. Elevation changes at helpful moments mean you can see whole sections opening up ahead of you and there are plenty of overtaking opportunities too so you rarely get stuck behind anyone for too long. Early in the morning the quintessentially English countryside can look beautiful too. Sure, it's not as dramatic as Scotland or Wales but on the right day you get that green and pleasant land feeling. Finding such a fantastic road in the busy south-east is a rare treat too. Sure as hell beats going up the M1 or M40."
Highlights and lowlights:
"There's a fantastic right-left section after leaving Aylesbury with great sightlines that's really fun and, on the way back, a cheeky humpback bridge shortly after leaving Buckingham that'll have your passengers holding down their lunch.
"It is a busy road and frustrating at peak times so choose your moment. The temptation to go quickly does get the better of some and there are plenty of ominous gaps in the hedges that tell tales about those who've got carried away. I've seen more than the average number of crashes down here, including a 911 Turbo on its roof that looked like the aftermath of a plane crash. And there are several farms meaning you have to be ready for tractors and other slow moving traffic emerging from side entrances. The roads are a lot tighter after Buckingham too and the section past Stowe School to Silverstone has a terrible surface in places but it does take you straight to the main entrance."
Sights, stop-offs and diversions:
"It's such a short drive and I'm usually keen to get to Silverstone so there's rarely any reason to pause. But saying that Winslow is a beautiful little town and there's a nice little place (Rosie's Bar and Restaurant) that's moved from a quiet little corner to the High Street if you've had your fill of trackside burgers."
To follow the route click here.
My Dream Drive is sponsored by Dunlop Tyres. To share yours email
dreamdrives@pistonheads.com
- if we publish your Dream Drive you'll get a pair of complimentary tickets to the 2013 BTCC round of your choosing, courtesy of Dunlop Tyres.
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