ironictwists Z4 - While on the PHN Alpine Tour (Again!)

[koolchris99]

it was alot of money, but it is also a lovely noise,

combine that with the sound generator foam removal for induction roar and you have a very fun car

was about £800 all in

[ironictwist]

Day 5 - Carcasonna to Carpentras - 260 Miles

"Carcasonne to Carpentras | Another fun filled day of driving through the challenging and picturesque French back roads with the added bonus of a trip to the stunning Millau Bridge, the Norman Foster designed jewel in the crown of French road building."

The view of Carcasonne castle come the morning...From my room!


The hotel


Before the off...


After an excellent set of twisties, quick regroup...

Above photo courtesy of the lovely Fru-KB




Then the journey to the Millau Bridge!


Iconic!








Above photo courtesy of the lovely Fru-KB

MORE Twisties!


Arrival at the hotel for Sunset


Day 6 coming up...DAWN RAID OF MONT VENTOUX IN ONE OF THE 360's!! & some of the most incredible passes I've ever done, including my 2nd time on the Petit St Bernard & one of the most memorable hoons of my life!

[TotalControl]

Excellent read so far. Does bring back memories of when I was reading your thread last year too.

[danyeates]

Looks wonderful. Very jealous.

[Vladikar]

Brilliant post - your previous tour still stands as probably my favourite PH thread of all time, loved your little mx5!

[ironictwist]

danyeates said:

Looks wonderful. Very jealous.

TotalControl said:

Excellent read so far. Does bring back memories of when I was reading your thread last year too.

Vladikar said:

Brilliant post - your previous tour still stands as probably my favourite PH thread of all time, loved your little mx5!

Thanks chaps! Ashamedly, my little MX5 has been sitting for months & months not moving...The age old issue of having multiple cars, but not enough free time to be driving them both. I still claim the MX5 is far more fun, & much more grin inducing! But the Zed's a different type of fun, & a superb car that handles everything I throw at it with such ease. It's led a hard life already!

It's a good thing I'm not taking it to Venice in 2 weeks, it deserves a rest!

Day 6 should be along later.

[ironictwist]

Day 6 - 300 Miles - Carpentras to Courmayeur

"An early start for a dawn raid on one of our favourite drivers roads. Mont Ventoux is a special stage of the Tour De France. A sinuous piece of tarmac with razor sharp hairpins and short hard straights leading up to a summit with a simply breathtaking view."

What we also covered was a series of incredible passes, specifically the Col Du Galibier, Col du Lautaret & my favourite, the Petit St Bernard pass chasing an M3 hairpin after hairpin!

Videos below are credit to Fidgit!

So...Wake up at silly o'clock for the Dawn Raid...

Sleeping Beauties! Passengering in the Black 360! Wanted the Z to have a breather!


...Then this awesome ascent happened
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NUUf_jONW8

At which point we arrived here...








AND then we made the descent!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4HzGkNR_cA

Back in time for breakfast...Of which after we did a little bit more of Mont Ventoux & began our way over to the Cols!


Then off through the French countryside!


Lambo luggage!


En route to the Cols!





Nearly at lunch!


The view from our lunch stop!!




THEN! We got here! ****** hell!! Col Du Galibier!





After the descent down...


Fuel stop porn.


En route


Then we got here!!





Then I had the drive of my life chasing the E36 M3 up the Petit St Bernard pass, then down it...Every hairpin, every apex, on the button & on it's tail. That was nirvana, the scenery was ******* incredible, the light was fading & we had a beautiful sunset as the backdrop as we were hammering it along. About as good as it bloody gets...I wanted to stop for photos but in those rare moments where you have driving perfection the last thing you want to do is stop & start taking photos, no matter how incredible the view/scenery/backdrop was. The driving was even better.

Nearing our night stop!



Wrong turn, oops...


Finally at the hotel!


The view outside those door!


Next...Day 7, more passes! Muahaha! It's getting better & better!

[Vladikar]

I have to do this and very soon... What's the breakdown situation if anything goes wrong? For example my car has no spare wheel onboard!

[ironictwist]

Vladikar said:

I have to do this and very soon... What's the breakdown situation if anything goes wrong? For example my car has no spare wheel onboard!

Everyone is required to ensure they have European breakdown cover before they come on tour...But on the odd occasion some of us had issues, other members of the group would help out to ensure we can all get to where were going (My Z4 being a recipient of such a service ) or escorted to a garage so the car could get the professional attention it needed (The Diablo)

But there's also a support car with all sorts of tools available

[ironictwist]

Day 7 - 270 Miles - Courmayeur to Andermatt

"Today, we wake in the village of Courmayeur at the base of Mont Blanc ready for the Alpine portion of the tour. It’s passes day – the Grand St Bernard, Nufenen, Sustenen, Furka and Grimsel passes to name just a few. We have a carefully planned route to make the most of the day and leave with a huge grin on your face."

The view from my hotel room's balcony in the morning


Panoramic shot of our hotel


Courmayeur






It is as picturesque as it looks...


Staff seeing us off!


Fuel stop porn.



A very good reason why it's taped on...


Tunnel!!


Porn.


We went up that...


& thats what we left behind us..


Stopped by cows...


Regroup


En route


Lunch!



The next set of photos are of the most memorable, thrilling, exhilirating, awesome drive of my life, & as a passenger I got to take it all in. Grimsel, Sustenen & Furka passes passengering in the Black 360 of Mr.Fidgit! We were giving chase to the White & Red Spyder's with a Scirroco R & M3 giving chase to us 3...Un-fking-believable. Words cannot do justice to what I saw & how I felt in all honesty. It was that awesome.
















GLACIER STOP!



Yep...I know.


Back in Andermatt after our hoon!


View from the hotel room

Edited by ironictwist on Tuesday 4th October 00:40

[Sidewindow]

Excellent write up and pics! Looks like a cracking trip.

[ironictwist]

Well, I have to confess I've been completely inundated with the busiest period in the calendar year for my work, then a birthday spent in Venice. Then it hit me that I've not finished off this thread yet So while I upload the rest of the remaining snaps, here's a teaser from the lovely Fru-KB snapping the Zed!



Stay tuned!

[richtea78]

Great pictures, Ive often thought about one of these tours but put off by the idea that it seems to have a lot of expensive metal there and the people would be a bit snobby?

[PumpkinSteve]

Magnificent pictures

[KP328]

Great pictures, nice seeing a Mini Marcos being used in the tour.

[Downton Mini]

KP328 said:

Great pictures, nice seeing a Mini Marcos being used in the tour.

^^^ This fantastic pictures that Mini Marcos to me was car of the tour simply becuase it was the smallest and onldest car there (well form the pictures it is) and the owners/drivers weren't scared to mix it with the big boys, Having said that some stunning motors there

[Janosh]

Wow - I love your blog of the trip, it reminds me of all the hooning I did this summer!

The Millau bridge is on my 'to do' list for next summer, taking in some of Provence en-route as well...

Great write up though and some excellent snaps

[ironictwist]

richtea78 said:

Great pictures, Ive often thought about one of these tours but put off by the idea that it seems to have a lot of expensive metal there and the people would be a bit snobby?

You would think so, but actually there aren't any ego's at all...The guys that run the tours are very keen on ensuring that tours dont end up full with people which are "that sort" if you know what I mean!

I should know, I turned up last year in my MX5! See the thread for when I did it last year here-> http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

But anyway, definitely go. You'll regret it if you don't, people often have said to me "It's a once in a lifetime trip", the trouble is when you've been once you feel as though you need to do it again, it's quite an odd addiction! Hence why I did it again this year! Fortunately the guys at PHN improve the trip year on year, so it's never quite the same as the year before

Having said, this year was better than last year, which is a pretty impressive achievment considering what we did last year!

[ironictwist]

Downton Mini said:

KP328 said:

Great pictures, nice seeing a Mini Marcos being used in the tour.

^^^ This fantastic pictures that Mini Marcos to me was car of the tour simply becuase it was the smallest and onldest car there (well form the pictures it is) and the owners/drivers weren't scared to mix it with the big boys, Having said that some stunning motors there

Driven by a racing driver, I can confirm it was driven bloody hard & kept up very well! This was THE car on tour that turned heads EVERYWHERE, it attracted way more attention than any of the Italian exotica we had with us...Never have I been in the company of a car which has attracted so much postive attention

[Bungleaio]

Inspired by this thread a mate and I have put our name down on the provisional list for next years trip!