Some of your memorable car journeys
Discussion
A few years ago I lived in South Africa for a few months, and I needed a car. Of course being a petrolhead I couldn't buy an old Corsa or a tired Golf. South Africa has a wide following of aircooled VWs and so I decided what I needed was - a beach buggy.
I found one for sale on an owner's club site, not a million miles away. I rode a rickety, studenty type bus for 3 hours spearing away into the unknown with the expectation there'd be a car at the other end up to the job of getting me back! It was there, it worked, I bought it and the drive back was incredible - couldn't remember the directions so I was navigating just by keeping the sea on my left, driving a fantastic roofless, retro car with an addictive thugga-thugga-thugga soundtrack from the big exhausts attached to the exposed engine. 35-40 degree blazing sunshine, empty roads, amazing scenery (mountains to one side at one minute, bridge over a giant gorge the next, glimpses of the sea every time you crested a hill) and monkeys sitting on the hard shoulder - brilliant laugh.
Forgot my suncream so had horrible lobster blistered arms and face for the next month though...
I found one for sale on an owner's club site, not a million miles away. I rode a rickety, studenty type bus for 3 hours spearing away into the unknown with the expectation there'd be a car at the other end up to the job of getting me back! It was there, it worked, I bought it and the drive back was incredible - couldn't remember the directions so I was navigating just by keeping the sea on my left, driving a fantastic roofless, retro car with an addictive thugga-thugga-thugga soundtrack from the big exhausts attached to the exposed engine. 35-40 degree blazing sunshine, empty roads, amazing scenery (mountains to one side at one minute, bridge over a giant gorge the next, glimpses of the sea every time you crested a hill) and monkeys sitting on the hard shoulder - brilliant laugh.
Forgot my suncream so had horrible lobster blistered arms and face for the next month though...
in 2009 I drove down to Monaco via the Stelvio pass, tyre squealing around Loews Hairpin and wheel spinning off of pole position. On the way back we did the Route Napoleon which was amazing, wven with the dawdlers and motorcyclists getting in the way at times!
Then last year I went back to the Alps and did many more mountain passes like the Furka and Grimsel before heading up to the Belgian GP.
Even though it was only in a 2.0 Focus they were very good times
Then last year I went back to the Alps and did many more mountain passes like the Furka and Grimsel before heading up to the Belgian GP.
Even though it was only in a 2.0 Focus they were very good times
Dear Twincam16,
That sounds like a Bruce Springsteen lyric 
EFS - edited for Springsteen-ness 
Gotta have the engine size in cu in
I am rather enjoying this thread, good stories.
Another two:
Same period as the above, spring 1987, but [hangs head in shame] I can't recall the car save 'twas a US hire, possibly a Ford looked a bit like a booted Mondeo but they weren't around until 6 years later (at least) anyway...
...round trip in 10 days Holland, MI -> Niagara -> Drumbo, ON -> Boston then all the way down the East Coast taking in New Yoik, Washington, through Virginny, the Carolinas, Daytona Beach then as far south in Florida as Miami, didn't get out on the keys, shame, ran out of time, then hell for leather back to Holland for the mother of all going home parties.
The smell of orange blossom in Florida wafting through the sun brite'd window as we're driving down the freeway will be with me till I pop.
2000 in a Minor 1000 (convertible) Regis classic tour including driving 2 laps of Goodwood (with vigour) in it. Also won Villeneuve's nuts* for the treasure hunt
regards,
Jet
Twincam16 said:
jet_noise said:
5hr drive from Holland, MI to Houghton, MI after work in the snow, blizzard conditions, winter 1986 "just keep it between the snow banks" Buick LeSabre 357 5up. Got to the Doghouse (bar) in time for last call.
Now it Gotta have the engine size in cu in
I am rather enjoying this thread, good stories.
Another two:
Same period as the above, spring 1987, but [hangs head in shame] I can't recall the car save 'twas a US hire, possibly a Ford looked a bit like a booted Mondeo but they weren't around until 6 years later (at least) anyway...
...round trip in 10 days Holland, MI -> Niagara -> Drumbo, ON -> Boston then all the way down the East Coast taking in New Yoik, Washington, through Virginny, the Carolinas, Daytona Beach then as far south in Florida as Miami, didn't get out on the keys, shame, ran out of time, then hell for leather back to Holland for the mother of all going home parties.
The smell of orange blossom in Florida wafting through the sun brite'd window as we're driving down the freeway will be with me till I pop.
2000 in a Minor 1000 (convertible) Regis classic tour including driving 2 laps of Goodwood (with vigour) in it. Also won Villeneuve's nuts* for the treasure hunt
regards,
Jet
*2 off of Jacques' F1 BAR
Crashing my Rover mini 8 hours after passing my test
Harrogate to Scarborough in well under an hour
Leeds to harrogate in 7 minutes
Pateley Bridge to Harrogate in under 8 minutes
Maxing my 328i on the motorway
First big sideways moment in my RX7 coming off a roundabout
Seeing off an Aston Martin in my RX7, but that was mnore down to things getting silly fast.
Ive been a bit naughty really havent i?
Harrogate to Scarborough in well under an hour
Leeds to harrogate in 7 minutes
Pateley Bridge to Harrogate in under 8 minutes
Maxing my 328i on the motorway
First big sideways moment in my RX7 coming off a roundabout
Seeing off an Aston Martin in my RX7, but that was mnore down to things getting silly fast.
Ive been a bit naughty really havent i?
2 trips come to mind... When I was about18 ,on a summer evening driving my triumph spitfire
mk 4 around the lanes of west Sussex .. The smell of the burning oil,the wind in my hair,
sensation of going really fast but not really..everything just gelled together for a
magical drive....the next trip ,3 years ago,from Cannes to Paris in my 575 by myself
( wife easyjeted home with children)...playing the sex pistols ,the ramones the stranglers the clash
and driving at comical leptons...heaven...
mk 4 around the lanes of west Sussex .. The smell of the burning oil,the wind in my hair,
sensation of going really fast but not really..everything just gelled together for a
magical drive....the next trip ,3 years ago,from Cannes to Paris in my 575 by myself
( wife easyjeted home with children)...playing the sex pistols ,the ramones the stranglers the clash
and driving at comical leptons...heaven...
2 trips come to mind... When I was about18 ,on a summer evening driving my triumph spitfire
mk 4 around the lanes of west Sussex .. The smell of the burning oil,the wind in my hair,
sensation of going really fast but not really..everything just gelled together for a
magical drive....the next trip ,3 years ago,from Cannes to Paris in my 575 by myself
( wife easyjeted home with children)...playing the sex pistols ,the ramones the stranglers the clash
and driving at comical leptons...heaven...
mk 4 around the lanes of west Sussex .. The smell of the burning oil,the wind in my hair,
sensation of going really fast but not really..everything just gelled together for a
magical drive....the next trip ,3 years ago,from Cannes to Paris in my 575 by myself
( wife easyjeted home with children)...playing the sex pistols ,the ramones the stranglers the clash
and driving at comical leptons...heaven...
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