ironictwists MX5 - While on the PHN Alpine Tour!
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Day 4 - An amazing descent down a very wet & greasy Col De Turini then taking the coast road through the perfectly constructed Italian motorways which wind there way along the coast through the hills via bridges/tunnels twisting & turning. As far as motorways go, this was heaven!
The noise from our convoy was enough to scare even the hardened italian locals & being tailgated by an old lady in a Micra, or having a white Italian van trying to get past at whatever speed you're doing conforms with the widely head view that the Italians know how to drive
Again, as I was driving, photos from this day are scarce from me...Plenty of videos which I'm currently sifting through though! Videos, again, will be in the coming week!
The view from my balcony come the morning
The main lounge/bar/dining area is a petrolheads scrapbook. This hotel was made for people like us to park up for a bit of kip at the end of the night. Photos & autographs of clubs, famous racing faces with autographed pictures all leaving mementos & photos to say that they've been to this iconic spot & headed up this amazing road.
The owners vintage Bentley parked next to the Scure Elise & Westfield.
The hotel opposite us with the owners Black Cab parked outside...He was very chuffed with it
Our hotel! Remember to stay here if you ever visit this road!
Italian fuel stop! After we completed the vast amount of tunnels en-route to Piacenza!
The view from a bloody petrol station!
Home for the night!
The main square in Piacenza before the rain came!
Day 5 is a VERY wet roof down trip to the Mille Miglia museum before we head to the Stelvio Pass & our hotel, right at the top of it!
The noise from our convoy was enough to scare even the hardened italian locals & being tailgated by an old lady in a Micra, or having a white Italian van trying to get past at whatever speed you're doing conforms with the widely head view that the Italians know how to drive
Again, as I was driving, photos from this day are scarce from me...Plenty of videos which I'm currently sifting through though! Videos, again, will be in the coming week!
The view from my balcony come the morning
The main lounge/bar/dining area is a petrolheads scrapbook. This hotel was made for people like us to park up for a bit of kip at the end of the night. Photos & autographs of clubs, famous racing faces with autographed pictures all leaving mementos & photos to say that they've been to this iconic spot & headed up this amazing road.
The owners vintage Bentley parked next to the Scure Elise & Westfield.
The hotel opposite us with the owners Black Cab parked outside...He was very chuffed with it
Our hotel! Remember to stay here if you ever visit this road!
Italian fuel stop! After we completed the vast amount of tunnels en-route to Piacenza!
The view from a bloody petrol station!
Home for the night!
The main square in Piacenza before the rain came!
Day 5 is a VERY wet roof down trip to the Mille Miglia museum before we head to the Stelvio Pass & our hotel, right at the top of it!
Edited by ironictwist on Saturday 25th September 23:27
Edited by ironictwist on Tuesday 28th September 21:06
Thejimreaper said:
Nice reading Ironic, I didn't realise you were doing one of these trips. Have you got any pics of the S4 support car, that looks pretty cool!!
I've got video footage of it with it's amber lights in action proving to be very useful in getting us all out together in the face of traffic A great support car for a tour if there ever was one!
ironictwist said:
Thejimreaper said:
Nice reading Ironic, I didn't realise you were doing one of these trips. Have you got any pics of the S4 support car, that looks pretty cool!!
I've got video footage of it with it's amber lights in action proving to be very useful in getting us all out together in the face of traffic A great support car for a tour if there ever was one!
Thejimreaper said:
Nice reading Ironic, I didn't realise you were doing one of these trips. Have you got any pics of the S4 support car, that looks pretty cool!!
Pete has done a few auto journals about ithttp://www.auto-journals.com/journals/Audi?model=S...
Day 5 - From Piacenza we had a very wet motorway hop to the Mille Miglia museum...Roof naturally stayed down! 
After a walkaround, a spot of lunch, we donned the smurf hat (My beanie hat), shades, gloves, warm jacket & headed off higher & higher to the top of Stelvio.
I have some incredible video footage of this day, of the ascent in particular which shall eventually be up
@ the museum
En-route to Stelvio for a wee stop! A pretty fantastic location to relieve your bladder wouldnt ya say!?
Still en-route!
The last fuel stop before we blitzed Stelvio...!
At the top of the most incredible drive...Just before the Snow closed in on us all!!
& guess what?! This is only Day 5 of 9...There's still tons to come!
After a walkaround, a spot of lunch, we donned the smurf hat (My beanie hat), shades, gloves, warm jacket & headed off higher & higher to the top of Stelvio.I have some incredible video footage of this day, of the ascent in particular which shall eventually be up
@ the museum
En-route to Stelvio for a wee stop! A pretty fantastic location to relieve your bladder wouldnt ya say!?
Still en-route!
The last fuel stop before we blitzed Stelvio...!
At the top of the most incredible drive...Just before the Snow closed in on us all!!
& guess what?! This is only Day 5 of 9...There's still tons to come!
Edited by ironictwist on Tuesday 28th September 21:44
Day 6 - Today is passes day!! The reason why we're all here! The most picturesque day of them all! Started off in a snow covered Stelvio, headed for Switzerland via a number of stunning passes (Stelvio, Umbrail, Julier, San Bernadino, Fluela) then back to another night at snowy Stelvio, one of the best being the San Bernadino pass. The most gorgeous scenery, the best roads. In hindsight, the best day twinned with Day 3.
Stelvio at first light...
Our hotel!
Out of the tunnel into the sunlight to then be parked up on a Dam confronted by this...!
Then through here to a gorgeous place called Livigno for fuel...
& this petrol station was in arguably the most beautiful spot, because opposite the forecourt, was this...
We then headed off for lunch...
After lunch, en-route to attack the San Bernadino pass!
Now the San Bernadino pass. This road...Is arguably the most fun road I've ever been on in my life. Totally tailored to my 5 & throwing it sideways at every hairpin! Fun on another level! I believe there's 1 video following me that looks like a benny hill sketch with the way it was being thrown in - At the top, we finished up here!
Then after a descent back down the San Bernadino, & a number of other gorgeous stretches we were caught in blazing sun, torrential rain, intense sun again, to then arrive at the top of Stelvio...AS IT FLIPPIN SNOWED!
Stelvio at first light...
Our hotel!
Out of the tunnel into the sunlight to then be parked up on a Dam confronted by this...!
Then through here to a gorgeous place called Livigno for fuel...
& this petrol station was in arguably the most beautiful spot, because opposite the forecourt, was this...
We then headed off for lunch...
After lunch, en-route to attack the San Bernadino pass!
Now the San Bernadino pass. This road...Is arguably the most fun road I've ever been on in my life. Totally tailored to my 5 & throwing it sideways at every hairpin! Fun on another level!
I believe there's 1 video following me that looks like a benny hill sketch with the way it was being thrown in - At the top, we finished up here!Then after a descent back down the San Bernadino, & a number of other gorgeous stretches we were caught in blazing sun, torrential rain, intense sun again, to then arrive at the top of Stelvio...AS IT FLIPPIN SNOWED!
Edited by ironictwist on Wednesday 29th September 23:00
Thejimreaper said:
Makes for good reading mate, I bet the trip cost you a small fortune in fuel and other bits!! Looks worth ever penny though.
It did...Half the value of a 2nd hand Chimaera would you believe Jim (PS - Nearly finally there, the intention is to have it for the next tour I go on, Viking Tour 2011 )XTR2Turbo said:
cracking pictures. Glad I wasn't the only one with no roof on day 5 !! David
Ahh David! Good to hear from you! I hope you've seen Rob's snaps of your Westy at the top of Stelvio!? It's a spectacular shot, I'm hoping to nab a high res copy of it to get put on a huge canvas, it's superb!Found it!
KennyGT said:
Epic thread!!!!!
Awesome dude, your MX5 does not look out of place - fair play!
I really wanna do this someday, thanks for posting - certainly one of my favourite ever threads on PH
Exactly what I was thinking^Awesome dude, your MX5 does not look out of place - fair play!
I really wanna do this someday, thanks for posting - certainly one of my favourite ever threads on PH
The little '5 looks completely at home amongst vastly more expensive and exotic cars. Great thread, and looking forward to more pictures
Day 7 - We left Stelvio for the last time & headed to the San Bernadino for another awesome & very sideways run at it finishing with Lunch...Then went over into Switzerland via an incrediblle road through stunning scenery, relaxed with a sedate trip alongside Lake Maggiore, gorgeous. We finally finished up the day beside Mont Blanc at a superb hotel in the most beautiful town!
Leaving Stelvio for the last time!
En-route to the San Bernadino again
Yes believe it or not, through a village called...
After a VERY sideways run at the San Bernadino again, we headed off, & on the other side of the pass lay this...Hell yes. This one ranks very high in my list. Just look at it!
Once we got to the bottom we were off in the general direction of our hotel by Mont Blanc...It was very much the scenic route though!
Stopped off at Lake Maggiore...Created a bit of a stir!
Parked up with her new friends
Then we were off...
Usual scenery at a fuel stop this part of the world!
Then arrived late in the day at our hotel, the view from my balcony of the most idyllic little village! The hotel = Incredible luxury. Just what you need after a hard days hooning!
Leaving Stelvio for the last time!
En-route to the San Bernadino again
Yes believe it or not, through a village called...
After a VERY sideways run at the San Bernadino again, we headed off, & on the other side of the pass lay this...Hell yes. This one ranks very high in my list. Just look at it!
Once we got to the bottom we were off in the general direction of our hotel by Mont Blanc...It was very much the scenic route though!
Stopped off at Lake Maggiore...Created a bit of a stir!
Parked up with her new friends
Then we were off...
Usual scenery at a fuel stop this part of the world!
Then arrived late in the day at our hotel, the view from my balcony of the most idyllic little village! The hotel = Incredible luxury. Just what you need after a hard days hooning!
Edited by ironictwist on Friday 1st October 14:20
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