The V8Nam thread - Rolls Royce and Corvette content...
Discussion
Anyone who has not already got the Africa book - Survival of the quickest. Across Africa in a Porsche. - you really need to get it.
I've not been able to put it down. Very well written too.
It's enviable and inspiring how you have the guts to take something on, on this scale. I'm up to the bit in Syria at the moment which is clearly very topical. Must be sad to see what is happening there after being there in more peaceful times. It's a shame that maybe such a route wouldn't be possible now with all the unrest in that part of the world, but I dare say that you'd probably give it a try anyway! It wasn't much safer in 2008!
How long did It take you to write the book? Going to want to read a book on the v8nam trip as soon as I finish this!
I've not been able to put it down. Very well written too.
It's enviable and inspiring how you have the guts to take something on, on this scale. I'm up to the bit in Syria at the moment which is clearly very topical. Must be sad to see what is happening there after being there in more peaceful times. It's a shame that maybe such a route wouldn't be possible now with all the unrest in that part of the world, but I dare say that you'd probably give it a try anyway! It wasn't much safer in 2008!
How long did It take you to write the book? Going to want to read a book on the v8nam trip as soon as I finish this!
goodwoodweirdo said:
Fantastic write up… just highlights its not the vehicle that limits our travels…
Is it possible I saw your Porsche parked up at the entrance of Petra September '08 ?? then again in the village…
Cheers
Matt
It could well have been us. We passed through Petra - both ruins and village - during mid October 2008, so you could well have seen us then. I'm sure there can't have been too many '944s cruising around Petra in Autumn 2008!Is it possible I saw your Porsche parked up at the entrance of Petra September '08 ?? then again in the village…
Cheers
Matt
Incidentally, I returned to the UK on Thursday, and found myself in need of a daily driver for the winter. 6 hours after landing at London City Airport, I'd spent £1,700 on this 25 year old slice of African nostalgia:
What a difference 5 years ( and most of Africa) makes!:
I've done 300 miles in the wee Porsche so far, and not only is it great to be back in something chuckable with a manual gearbox, but the memories of those months in Africa it's brought back are also awesome. Meanwhile, the Corvette is currently in its container approaching India; all going well it should be back in the UK late september, and once it is, I'll try to get it along to some pistonheads meets.
torqueofthedevil said:
How long did It take you to write the book?
Hi, it took about 9 months to write the Africa book... and another couple of years to edit it unfortunately. I hope to have the V8Nam book done sometime next year, but can't promise anything...Ben.
Old threads never die... they just get resurrected from time to time!
So, I've been feeling rather nostalgic for last years's England - Singapore road trip recently, as I've finally got stuck into working my way through the video footage. The plan is to have a full film of the trip cobbled together soon; in the meantime, here's a few minutes which may be of interest to anyone who followed the Corvette & Rolls last year:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LL7WnnjdC-s&fe...
Also, in case you were wondering, the Corvette returned safely to the UK last Autumn and is currently living on Dartmoor. It's quite the lap of the world it made last year!:
As for the Rolls Royce, nothing's been heard of it since it was sold to a hotel owner in Laos... fingers crossed it's still going strong!
So, I've been feeling rather nostalgic for last years's England - Singapore road trip recently, as I've finally got stuck into working my way through the video footage. The plan is to have a full film of the trip cobbled together soon; in the meantime, here's a few minutes which may be of interest to anyone who followed the Corvette & Rolls last year:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LL7WnnjdC-s&fe...
Also, in case you were wondering, the Corvette returned safely to the UK last Autumn and is currently living on Dartmoor. It's quite the lap of the world it made last year!:
As for the Rolls Royce, nothing's been heard of it since it was sold to a hotel owner in Laos... fingers crossed it's still going strong!
XJSJohn said:
Which Hotel / what town / city in Laos, will be heading up there later in the year, will check out!
The quick answer is, I don't know exactly which hotel! I wasn't around when Brummy sold it. What I can tell you is that it's in Luang Prabang, and the hotel is owned by a rather wealthy English guy and his Lao wife. They're planning on using it as an airport shuttle - if this has happened I'd guess pretty much anyone in the town would be able to point you in the right direction. It would be great if you managed to track it down... 
As for the Corvette spinning in the Indian Ocean... well let's face it, they're not exactly renowned for their poise in wet conditions...
Funnily enough I saw a stickered red corvette like this a few months back when I went for a hoon over Dartmoor. Can't for the life of me remember where it was, but I know I went over Cadover bridge and just kept exploring!
Now I read this and see that you've said the corvette lives in Dartmoor, surely not a coincidence?
Now I read this and see that you've said the corvette lives in Dartmoor, surely not a coincidence?
ST150HB said:
Funnily enough I saw a stickered red corvette like this a few months back when I went for a hoon over Dartmoor. Can't for the life of me remember where it was, but I know I went over Cadover bridge and just kept exploring!
Now I read this and see that you've said the corvette lives in Dartmoor, surely not a coincidence?
Hi folks, Sorry for the radio silence, I didn't see that the thread had been 'bumped'. Now I read this and see that you've said the corvette lives in Dartmoor, surely not a coincidence?
The video's been knocked back a bit by life, the universe and everything... or more specifically my having far too much work on, and key people disappearing off abroad and hence being impossible to interview. We're getting there though, won't be long now!
As for the rumoured stickered-up Corvette on Dartmoor, yep, that was me. It's just spent a few months parked outside the (rather marvellous) White Thorn pub in Shaugh Prior, Dartmoor, acting as a novelty billboard for my new business. However it's now back on the drive with its stablemates, being readied for a long summer of burbling...
...and if you're still craving a bit of V8Nam, in lieu of the finished video I've just put up a brief photographic blog post over at www.80breakdowns.com, documenting the ten best moments of the drive. Enjoy...
Hi, sorry for the bump... The Rolls is still in Laos, in a garage. They had to change the steering wheel to the other side in order to get it legally registered in Laos. As of today, the car is still not being used for any hotel transfers. Last time I saw it being used it was around December or so 2013, if I recall correctly. But yes, Ivan, the new owner, is still the owner.
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