Smooth roads in Kent and Essex

Smooth roads in Kent and Essex

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Discussion

klan8456

Original Poster:

947 posts

74 months

Saturday 17th February 2018
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Evening all. I live in E14, and clearly there isn't much driving to be done around here. Therefore I am looking for recommendations for SMOOTH roads in Kent and Sussex which would be tolerable in a car fitted with KW Clubsports, monoball top mounts, poly bushes, race seats and low profile tyres. I drove some roads today in Kent which just about rattled my teeth out and blurred my vision, so hopefully there's something better out there!

Thank you for your recommendations.

m4tti

5,426 posts

154 months

Sunday 18th February 2018
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The roads around dungeness are really smooth. The dungeness-berg ring.

But yes there’s a lot of junk roads around Kent. Ultimately on my old Tuscan I backed the shocks off a bit to cope with junk road surfaces. Too firm and handling becomes too skittish.

RL17

1,231 posts

92 months

Sunday 18th February 2018
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Sussex (well East Sussex bordering Kent) seems much better than Kent as too many heavily used A roads have bad state of repair.

sparta6

3,689 posts

99 months

Monday 19th February 2018
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RL17 said:
Sussex (well East Sussex bordering Kent) seems much better than Kent as too many heavily used A roads have bad state of repair.
^^this^^
one of the reasons we moved out of Kent.

Red Devil

13,055 posts

207 months

Friday 23rd February 2018
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klan8456 said:
Evening all. I live in E14, and clearly there isn't much driving to be done around here. Therefore I am looking for recommendations for SMOOTH roads in Kent and Sussex which would be tolerable in a car fitted with KW Clubsports, monoball top mounts, poly bushes, race seats and low profile tyres. I drove some roads today in Kent which just about rattled my teeth out and blurred my vision, so hopefully there's something better out there!
Your spec is very similar to mine.

I will put money on your problem being that the coilovers are set up for the track.
That's too stiff and no good for fast road use. Especially with the lack of maintenance we have to put up with.
You'll need to experiment to find the right combination of bump and rebound.
Make incremental adjustments and keep plenty of notes.

https://goo.gl/maps/9dyEpLNTcwP2
then try
https://goo.gl/maps/Et22zXQZbc32
or
https://goo.gl/maps/ubreoYDpADv

My car copes fine and all my fillings are still in situ.. smile




klan8456

Original Poster:

947 posts

74 months

Friday 23rd February 2018
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Damping is currently Bump Front 5 Rear 6, Rebound front 5 rear 8

klan8456

Original Poster:

947 posts

74 months

Friday 23rd March 2018
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Any other recommendations? Weather is looking good this Sunday!

rubystone

11,252 posts

258 months

Tuesday 27th March 2018
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B1057 finchingfield to steeple bumpstead and back again, and back again and....I think you get my idea....

RL17

1,231 posts

92 months

Tuesday 17th April 2018
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Did 120 plus miles on minor Kent roads and A roads on Sunday - shocking potholes and worn tarmac in loads of places.

Worst of a bad bunch were: Shire Lane from Leaves Green/Biggin Hill to A21 totally shot. Then loads 4 inch wear groves on main A20 just east of Ashford and new potholes appearing daily on A229 and other roads such that there are mutliple potholes and tarmac layers missing in drivers track and passenger side track. Plus all the tarmac debris grit and dust.

Reported one (deep and extended 4 ft into carriageway just past a junction) by phone to KCC whilst ringing on another matter - they have their own map and don't have road numbers - so Ashford Rd A28 took 20 or so Ashford roads to go through, then junction with Bethersden Road (Shadoxhurst turn) (probably 6 or 7 meet that Ashford Rd) another 5 mins!

klan8456

Original Poster:

947 posts

74 months

Sunday 19th August 2018
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Right so I’ve tried a few of the routes suggested in this thread, and even with the damping having been backed off for road use, the roads are (a) too narrow, (b) too bumpy, (c) too busy at 7:30am on a Sunday and / or (d) the speed limit was too low.

Someone mentioned roads around Dungeness. Any particular routes to recommend? A Google Maps link would be fantastic.

Keen to find something before summer runs out. Feeling rather frustrated / unfulfilled at the moment.

Thank you!

Red Devil

13,055 posts

207 months

Sunday 19th August 2018
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RL17 said:
Did 120 plus miles on minor Kent roads and A roads on Sunday - shocking potholes and worn tarmac in loads of places.

Worst of a bad bunch were: Shire Lane from Leaves Green/Biggin Hill to A21 totally shot.
Shire Lane is not a road I would pick for a drive out. It's a 40 limit for starters.

klan8456 said:
Right so I’ve tried a few of the routes suggested in this thread, and even with the damping having been backed off for road use, the roads are (a) too narrow, (b) too bumpy, (c) too busy at 7:30am on a Sunday and / or (d) the speed limit was too low.
Too narrow? Jeez, what are you driving, an Aventador, a Hummer? Too bumpy? The majority of the roads in the links I posted aren't a problem. I can't help wondering whether your suspension isn't set up correctly (or you're picking the wrong roads). Too busy? I did a 100+ mile run with some friends last Sunday between 06.30 and 09.00 (including two photo stops). Except for the last 30 minutes the roads were almost deserted. Speed limit too low? I don't know what roads you used but most of the ones I pick are NSL (except for villages: they are a fact of life in the South East)..

klan8456 said:
Someone mentioned roads around Dungeness. Any particular routes to recommend? A Google Maps link would be fantastic.
Dungeness Ring - https://goo.gl/maps/6sYeDDVqJ3E2

klan8456

Original Poster:

947 posts

74 months

Sunday 19th August 2018
quotequote all
Red Devil said:
RL17 said:
Did 120 plus miles on minor Kent roads and A roads on Sunday - shocking potholes and worn tarmac in loads of places.

Worst of a bad bunch were: Shire Lane from Leaves Green/Biggin Hill to A21 totally shot.
Shire Lane is not a road I would pick for a drive out. It's a 40 limit for starters.

klan8456 said:
Right so I’ve tried a few of the routes suggested in this thread, and even with the damping having been backed off for road use, the roads are (a) too narrow, (b) too bumpy, (c) too busy at 7:30am on a Sunday and / or (d) the speed limit was too low.
Too narrow? Jeez, what are you driving, an Aventador, a Hummer? Too bumpy? The majority of the roads in the links I posted aren't a problem. I can't help wondering whether your suspension isn't set up correctly (or you're picking the wrong roads). Too busy? I did a 100+ mile run with some friends last Sunday between 06.30 and 09.00 (including two photo stops). Except for the last 30 minutes the roads were almost deserted. Speed limit too low? I don't know what roads you used but most of the ones I pick are NSL (except for villages: they are a fact of life in the South East)..

klan8456 said:
Someone mentioned roads around Dungeness. Any particular routes to recommend? A Google Maps link would be fantastic.
Dungeness Ring - https://goo.gl/maps/6sYeDDVqJ3E2
I guess I don’t need to change roads, just cars. Will order one of these:
http://www.arielmotor.co.uk/nomad/overview/

m4tti

5,426 posts

154 months

Monday 20th August 2018
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I think out of the box your car would be fine.

Have you tried swapping the KSW’s for factory shocks?

Are you running factory geometry?


moffspeed

2,664 posts

206 months

Tuesday 21st August 2018
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Yep another vote for the Dungeness Ring - but take care as the road surface around the perimeter of Lydd Camp is still pretty iffy despite some recent typically half-hearted attempts at repair.

Just off the "circuit" there are plenty of attractions that warrant a visit - the quirky little aviation museum at Brenzett, the Pilot Inn at Dungeness (cod & chips), Kart circuit at Herons Park (Lydd), Lydd airport (mainly Cessnas and the rescue Sikorsky but some interesting visitors), Rye Town & harbour and, finally, Doris's old pub - the Red Lion @ Snargate...

Definitely a day's worth there.

Sticks.

8,707 posts

250 months

Tuesday 21st August 2018
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moffspeed said:
Yep another vote for the Dungeness Ring - but take care as the road surface around the perimeter of Lydd Camp is still pretty iffy despite some recent typically half-hearted attempts at repair.

Just off the "circuit" there are plenty of attractions that warrant a visit - the quirky little aviation museum at Brenzett, the Pilot Inn at Dungeness (cod & chips), Kart circuit at Herons Park (Lydd), Lydd airport (mainly Cessnas and the rescue Sikorsky but some interesting visitors), Rye Town & harbour and, finally, Doris's old pub - the Red Lion @ Snargate...

Definitely a day's worth there.
Lydd airport? You mean Lydd London Ashford International Airport smile

A friend of mine recommends the Woolpack at Brooklands, nr Brenzett, although I've not tried it yet. I mean to take in the church at Fairfield too https://goo.gl/maps/Vpm1rzWNC4u

Personally I'd include the Military Rd from Rye to Appledore, and pass the Red Lion at Snargate. Beware bikes and plod on busy weekends though.

moffspeed

2,664 posts

206 months

Tuesday 21st August 2018
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Sticks. said:
Lydd airport? You mean Lydd London Ashford International Airport smile

A friend of mine recommends the Woolpack at Brooklands, nr Brenzett, although I've not tried it yet. I mean to take in the church at Fairfield too https://goo.gl/maps/Vpm1rzWNC4u

Personally I'd include the Military Rd from Rye to Appledore, and pass the Red Lion at Snargate. Beware bikes and plod on busy weekends though.
Yep the Woolpack at Brooklands is getting rave reviews at the mo. I just happened to be picking up a car and doing the southern end of the Dungeness loop i.e. from Lydd to East Guddeford today. I was in a Lancia Fulvia HF set up quite stiff for tarmac rallying and it was a bit of a back-jarring experience. The section around Lydd camp has deteriorated with a lot of subsidence rather than potholes so the sump guard was actually doing its job a couple of times - not the stuff of dreams for the O.P. I suspect.

Quite agree - the Military Rd to Appledore is quite an experience with all of those flat out sections interspersed with classic L/R or R/L chicanes but no room for error as deep ditches either side and many bikers pushing the limit at the weekend. Globe Inn at the Rye end is great.

The Red Lion at Snargate is a must although I hear that the redoubtable Doris has now passed on.

Venture into Sussex and the road from Rye up to Peasmarsh, Beckley and beyond has just been beautifully resurfaced but that would be giving away a secret...

Red Devil

13,055 posts

207 months

Wednesday 22nd August 2018
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moffspeed said:
Quite agree - the Military Rd to Appledore is quite an experience with all of those flat out sections interspersed with classic L/R or R/L chicanes but no room for error as deep ditches either side and many bikers pushing the limit at the weekend.
The Military Road is far better done in the opposite direction - Appledore to Rye.
Heading north, the sightlines through the chicanes are poor.
Also the deep open drainage dyke on the left is very close to the verge.
https://goo.gl/maps/9Ar5VUpwAmm

Go early enough on a Sunday and you're less likely to encounter many bikers.
I can count those I have seen so far this year on the fingers of one hand.

klan8456

Original Poster:

947 posts

74 months

Wednesday 22nd August 2018
quotequote all
m4tti said:
I think out of the box your car would be fine.

Have you tried swapping the KSW’s for factory shocks?

Are you running factory geometry?
No and no. It’s set up as a road / track hybrid by the pre-eminent suspension specialist in the U.K. for this platform. Damping is just a few clicks off from full soft. It’s fine on most roads in Essex, it’s just Kent that seems woeful.

I’ll try more of these roads around Dungeness again, but it would be nice if there were some smooth roads closer to London!

Sticks.

8,707 posts

250 months

Wednesday 22nd August 2018
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moffspeed said:
Venture into Sussex and the road from Rye up to Peasmarsh, Beckley and beyond has just been beautifully resurfaced but that would be giving away a secret...
I generally avoid that road due to the combination of slow tourists and few overtaking places. I usually go via Iden, Wittersham and Smallhythe isn't such a good road but you can at least overtake safely.

Jempson's at Peasmarsh cafe isn't bad, though it strikes me as a local shop for local people.

Take the Udimore Rd out of Rye and follow it to Cripps Corner for a decent road and some beautiful views. 2nd Sunday there's a breakfast classic car meet nearby at Bodiam
http://www.thehubquarryfarm.co.uk/about/

Yes, I'd heard the Globe was good. I think they also own the Woolpack at Warehorne, and one other.

Red Devil

13,055 posts

207 months

Thursday 23rd August 2018
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Sticks. said:
Take the Udimore Rd out of Rye and follow it to Cripps Corner for a decent road and some beautiful views.
yes I tend to look at the road rather than views though. wink

Sticks. said:
Yes, I'd heard the Globe was good. I think they also own the Woolpack at Warehorne, and one other.
Correct. Two others though, not one..

The Globe Inn, Rye.
The Woolpack Inn, Warehorne.
The Five Bells, East Brabourne.
The Radnor Arms, Folkestone.

I discovered the Five Bells by chance. Can recommend it.

All the Street View images except The Globe are out-of-date.
The other 3 pubs look somewhat different now. Especially the one in Folkestone. smile
https://www.kentlive.news/whats-on/food-drink/ramb...