NC500 (north coast road)
Discussion
Chuck328 said:
That's exact;y what I wanted to know, thanks. Given my intended car only runs on '99 and can do about 160 miles on a tank driven reasonably conservatively, fuel is an issue.
Is the legal limit not 20 litres in a jerrycan? If so, I might struggle?
Anyway, enjoy the run OP, Mr Carters pictures are fantastic, hope the weather bodes well..
I used to keep some octane booster in the car (when I owned one that didn't like regular U/L). Did the trick (Pricy at £5 per tank mind - but for your trip....)Is the legal limit not 20 litres in a jerrycan? If so, I might struggle?
Anyway, enjoy the run OP, Mr Carters pictures are fantastic, hope the weather bodes well..
Chuck328 said:
That's exact;y what I wanted to know, thanks. Given my intended car only runs on '99 and can do about 160 miles on a tank driven reasonably conservatively, fuel is an issue.
Is the legal limit not 20 litres in a jerrycan? If so, I might struggle?
Anyway, enjoy the run OP, Mr Carters pictures are fantastic, hope the weather bodes well..
Thank youIs the legal limit not 20 litres in a jerrycan? If so, I might struggle?
Anyway, enjoy the run OP, Mr Carters pictures are fantastic, hope the weather bodes well..
What car is it that you have that does 160 miles to a tank? ( small tank or 6 mpg lol)
Evo 6 with a coffee mug for a fuel tank. 25 odd laps round Knockhill circuit (circa 1.3 miles) and left with an 8th of a tank, enough to get to Dunfermline and fuel up 
Will look at an octane booster and see if that's going to be ok. Trying to convince the Mrs to come with me perhaps late summer over a long weekend.
Will look at an octane booster and see if that's going to be ok. Trying to convince the Mrs to come with me perhaps late summer over a long weekend.
Rocco1 said:
clarki said:
Watch out for stone chips. My brothers M5 was covered in them when he got back last year.
Maybe get some protective tape on front bumper, door mirrors, around wheel arches??!! Not sure how viable this is but i'd try something.
Really are roads that bad Maybe get some protective tape on front bumper, door mirrors, around wheel arches??!! Not sure how viable this is but i'd try something.
Rocco1 said:
Really are roads that bad
If in a group they are bad - but I do 20k miles a year here and have had very few chips. Having said that Caterham rear wings get destroyed as the front wheels chuck them up.There are lots of stones that can get kicked up... it's just doing the obvious: If you come across another car, hang right back until you see a way past.
Keep your lights on - as on single track roads dozy tourists don't see you. Locals will (nearly) always let you through asap. Approaching slow cars from behind on single track roads, I speed up considerably (with lights on) - that often wakes them up and gets them to pull into a passing place before you even arrive. Only once has a tourist REFUSED to move over. 13 miles I had to follow him at less than 30mph. I wasn't a happy bunny.
There are probably no wrong cars to use on this route, but let's just say that some are more right than others.
A motorcycle is the default choice for me (OK not a car), but that is not for everyone. Single track roads are less of a challenge in general, especially passing oncoming traffic, as there is usually room to pass without either having to pull into a passing place. You can also pull over for photography more easily, as you create less of an obstruction when parked at the side of the road, but obviously consideration for thers is still paramount.
The scenery is mare accessible, visually, on a motorcycle, it is also a much more visceral experience. Touring bike, cruiser, sports bike, adventure bike, it really doesn't matter. Each type of bike kind of dictates the riding style anyway.
Next up, a drophead, (or convertible for you Americanised yoofs). Be it a Ferrari or an MGB, it doesn't matter, the scenery is all the more accessible. You can also see and hear the low flying jets more easily (low level Typhoons at Ledmore Junction, for example) if that floats your boat. Given access to one, I'd take an E-Type DHC.
After that, a decent hatchback of the GTi persuasion. Better suited all round to the roads, and a roof over your head should it rain. Economical enough to have fewer concerns about where your next petrol station is, and not having to worry about octane boosters or Optimax or such guff. Enough performance to dispatch the dozy motorhomes and caravans, better sightlines from the seat, ride better than something more suited to a race track.
After that, a Range Rover Sport, Porsche Cayenne or suchlike. Better visibility, performance to spare, room for more junk in the back if necessary.
Supercars are not ideal. You'll see very little out of them, width can be an issue, and you'll be no quicker than the local builders van, and definitely slower than the fish vans. While ideal for photography with a suitable scenic backdrop (Carter knows), it's the last choice for me. If you must take your Lambo, Zonda, Bugatti or whatever, that's your choice, but the NC500 is not the ideal environment for such cars, really, but that's just my opinion.
Finally, don't annoy the locals, watch out for German/French/Belgian/Dutch motorhomes and ANY caravans, do stop and eat lunch/dinner/breakfast along the way, use the B&B's and Hotels. The tourist industry needs a little shaking up, they are used to indifferent opinions, and needs a bit of a wake-up call. There are exceptions, some already mentioned, but the opportunities that an influx of transient visitors are slowly being realised.
I have said this before, but please, please do NOT attempt to set some kind of record that some spotty yoof in a Sccoby will try and beat. With one or two exceptions, the road is very, very lightly policed, and I, among others, would like it to remain so.
A motorcycle is the default choice for me (OK not a car), but that is not for everyone. Single track roads are less of a challenge in general, especially passing oncoming traffic, as there is usually room to pass without either having to pull into a passing place. You can also pull over for photography more easily, as you create less of an obstruction when parked at the side of the road, but obviously consideration for thers is still paramount.
The scenery is mare accessible, visually, on a motorcycle, it is also a much more visceral experience. Touring bike, cruiser, sports bike, adventure bike, it really doesn't matter. Each type of bike kind of dictates the riding style anyway.
Next up, a drophead, (or convertible for you Americanised yoofs). Be it a Ferrari or an MGB, it doesn't matter, the scenery is all the more accessible. You can also see and hear the low flying jets more easily (low level Typhoons at Ledmore Junction, for example) if that floats your boat. Given access to one, I'd take an E-Type DHC.
After that, a decent hatchback of the GTi persuasion. Better suited all round to the roads, and a roof over your head should it rain. Economical enough to have fewer concerns about where your next petrol station is, and not having to worry about octane boosters or Optimax or such guff. Enough performance to dispatch the dozy motorhomes and caravans, better sightlines from the seat, ride better than something more suited to a race track.
After that, a Range Rover Sport, Porsche Cayenne or suchlike. Better visibility, performance to spare, room for more junk in the back if necessary.
Supercars are not ideal. You'll see very little out of them, width can be an issue, and you'll be no quicker than the local builders van, and definitely slower than the fish vans. While ideal for photography with a suitable scenic backdrop (Carter knows), it's the last choice for me. If you must take your Lambo, Zonda, Bugatti or whatever, that's your choice, but the NC500 is not the ideal environment for such cars, really, but that's just my opinion.
Finally, don't annoy the locals, watch out for German/French/Belgian/Dutch motorhomes and ANY caravans, do stop and eat lunch/dinner/breakfast along the way, use the B&B's and Hotels. The tourist industry needs a little shaking up, they are used to indifferent opinions, and needs a bit of a wake-up call. There are exceptions, some already mentioned, but the opportunities that an influx of transient visitors are slowly being realised.
I have said this before, but please, please do NOT attempt to set some kind of record that some spotty yoof in a Sccoby will try and beat. With one or two exceptions, the road is very, very lightly policed, and I, among others, would like it to remain so.
Mad Jock said:
I have said this before, but please, please do NOT attempt to set some kind of record that some spotty yoof in a Sccoby will try and beat. With one or two exceptions, the road is very, very lightly policed, and I, among others, would like it to remain so.
Well said, this cannot be emphasised enough, I have seen some posts of people saying they have done the route in xx hours, that is not the point of it. For me when with the EVO journalists and guest drivers during ECOTY 2015 the common comment was they would like to return individually to spend several days just enjoying the scenery and the roads. Keep a decent distance between the cars. I did the western side in both directions on my own last year with no stone chips. The sight-lines for overtaking are immense, so pull out early & pass quickly, don't sit on folk's bumpers. Incidentally I have 3 1/4" ground clearance & that was no issue, but the Fury has no overhangs.
Generally I trundled along at NSL ( I may have gone a little over), the scenery is stunning & the road is wide & constantly changing direction (left, right, up, down), so NSL wasn't dull.
Generally I trundled along at NSL ( I may have gone a little over), the scenery is stunning & the road is wide & constantly changing direction (left, right, up, down), so NSL wasn't dull.
The bridge at Kylesku yesterday:
In case you thought it was closed:
>>>>> http://stevecarter.com/random/thebridge.mov
In case you thought it was closed:
>>>>> http://stevecarter.com/random/thebridge.mov
Edited by GetCarter on Tuesday 1st March 06:23
Did this route about 5 years ago in an impreza along with another 20+ imprezas.
Brilliant road but was very busy even then.
Became very frustrating at times being stuck behind people dilly dallying. Strangely motor bikes were the worst.
Fuel could have been an issue. I carried 40 litres in a can that I had to use at one point.
We did it over 3 days.
Police gave us a little bother once coming down the east coast.
We had caught us taking advantage of a very narrow street with high buildings on both sides.
We all the queued to use 1 petrol pump. 3 times while we were filling up people stopped to tell the 20+ imprezas in a queue
that the police were sitting waiting for us just outside the town on a huge straight.
We all toddled past at 20mph and once over the crest of the next hill did a 5th to 2nd gear change and we didn't see them again that day.
Brilliant road but was very busy even then.
Became very frustrating at times being stuck behind people dilly dallying. Strangely motor bikes were the worst.
Fuel could have been an issue. I carried 40 litres in a can that I had to use at one point.
We did it over 3 days.
Police gave us a little bother once coming down the east coast.
We had caught us taking advantage of a very narrow street with high buildings on both sides.
We all the queued to use 1 petrol pump. 3 times while we were filling up people stopped to tell the 20+ imprezas in a queue
that the police were sitting waiting for us just outside the town on a huge straight.
We all toddled past at 20mph and once over the crest of the next hill did a 5th to 2nd gear change and we didn't see them again that day.
Hi All,
Great stuff. Stumbled across this while researching for a trip I am planning in July with my S550 Mustang and around 14 others.
Just looking for advice on convoys really. We are thinking of driving in the groups of 5 cars and meeting up every now and then, although I am thinking we will try to get all of us togther on the trip up the A9 (we are going clockwise.
Any thoughts on this? Those of you that have done it, did you stick to smaller groups?
Cheers
Great stuff. Stumbled across this while researching for a trip I am planning in July with my S550 Mustang and around 14 others.
Just looking for advice on convoys really. We are thinking of driving in the groups of 5 cars and meeting up every now and then, although I am thinking we will try to get all of us togther on the trip up the A9 (we are going clockwise.
Any thoughts on this? Those of you that have done it, did you stick to smaller groups?
Cheers
Arlington1 said:
Oh and another thing, and parking spots that would take 15 odd Mustangs on route would be good.
Small groups MUCH better than big groups! You can get really snarled up on single track roads in big convoys.Torridon Inn takes about 30 cars, also by the Bridge at Kylesku.
bigwheel said:
Assuming you will do photo-ops, there's a very large car park on the North side of the Kylesku Bridge for a classic back-drop to the cars.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@58.2578582,-5.02574...
Spin the Street Camera view to the right and you'll see the car-park.https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@58.2578582,-5.02574...
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