Land's End to Ness Point, midsummers evening 2017
Discussion
Khaki Suit said:
That's a fair point with having to take 3 days off work for me to take part. Next year sounds like a better option for me too..
There's always a group that do it on the 21st and a group that do it on the closest saturday too. If you can't make the 21st then there will be others doing it on the saturday. I'm all booked for hotel in Torquay, as I've friends there. Asked for a late check out so fingers crossed I can have a bit of a lay in. Then got most of afternoon to drive to LE. Where do some of you plan on meeting before the off? I've never been to LE so unsure of the parking restrictions. Any advice would be grateful
I'm all booked for hotel in Torquay, as I've friends there. Asked for a late check out so fingers crossed I can have a bit of a lay in. Then got most of afternoon to drive to LE. Where do some of you plan on meeting before the off? I've never been to LE so unsure of the parking restrictions. Any advice would be grateful
Ripley079 said:
I'm all booked for hotel in Torquay, as I've friends there. Asked for a late check out so fingers crossed I can have a bit of a lay in. Then got most of afternoon to drive to LE. Where do some of you plan on meeting before the off? I've never been to LE so unsure of the parking restrictions. Any advice would be grateful
Do a Streetview recce. It will be worth it, especially if you are turning up in the dark.TVR Moneypit said:
For those of you who have done it in the past, how many of you were flying solo and would it have been easier with a wingman?
When I did this with a mate I didn't want to go the way my sat nav was sending me (M3).Luckily, my mate is an HGV driver and knew exactly how to get to the A303, which was useful!
I've not done this run, but I have done many similar runs.
My top tip is PLAN, PLAN, PLAN.
Stupid things like knowing exactly where the toilets are at the petrol station could make the difference between success and failure.
Know your Plan B routes on either side of your Plan A route.
Use the sections where you can't push it to sort out your admin and relax, but keep the speed up. Cruise control is a big advantage, if you have it - I did JOGLE in 13hrs52min without breaking the speed limit. I couldn't have done it without CC.
My top tip is PLAN, PLAN, PLAN.
Stupid things like knowing exactly where the toilets are at the petrol station could make the difference between success and failure.
Know your Plan B routes on either side of your Plan A route.
Use the sections where you can't push it to sort out your admin and relax, but keep the speed up. Cruise control is a big advantage, if you have it - I did JOGLE in 13hrs52min without breaking the speed limit. I couldn't have done it without CC.
Edited by pingu393 on Wednesday 2nd May 12:01
TVR Moneypit said:
I could, very potentially, have my arm twisted into doing this this year, (depending on work commitments).
For those of you who have done it in the past, how many of you were flying solo and would it have been easier with a wingman?
I've done it once each. I much preferred it with a co-driver (even though I did all the driving). For those of you who have done it in the past, how many of you were flying solo and would it have been easier with a wingman?
They help with the motivation, navigation, and any last minute planning. Last year we had to come off the M3 early as it was closed further back than we thought, we ended up on some random A+B roads and my passenger was able to re-route us with minimal delay, we ended up going the other way round the M25 than we originally planned.
They are also a 2nd pair of eyes as we're not exactly driving like miss Daisy.
If they are as interested as we are about it, it would have been a nice help to have someone calculate fuel burn and the distance to the fuel stop to ensure we could actually make the petrol station as planned. I managed to calculate it myself on the fly as I knew it would be tight anyway and we seemed to be using it more than I thought. We made it to both the fuel stop and to Lowestoft just as the low fuel light was flickering on/off. While I was fueling up, my co-driver stood waiting at the 'night pay' until i'd finished fueling and paid while I got back in and drove forward to pick him up. It only saves a matter of seconds, but it feels a lot more than that.
Same with the fuel as the ETA, it helps having someone that can work out your progress at the timing points and see how early/late you're running.
I still enjoyed it when I did it on my own, and i'd still do it again if I couldn't find someone to do it with me.
In short, no. A co-driver isn't required, but it makes it a lot more fun and more of a team effort.
I should be there this year again. 21st June. Time for the hat-trick.
Even though I've not done it solo, I would echo just about all of that, James.
Although, apart from having sat nav, deciding we'd go the A303, top of M25 and A12 route, (my mate's an HGV driver, remember, and he knows his way around!) we decided to just wing it and see how we got on!
I did fuel calculations on the fly and was fairly sure I wouldn't quite have enough (350Z, in case you wondered).
Our route clocked 431 miles. I've only once got more than that from a tank in this car since then and that was a more gentle drive from south west Scotland to Kent.
With about half a tank still left I did a splash and dash on the A303. as the pumps aren't a mile from the road like in some of the M25 services!
It was just off a big roundabout, I can't remember where, but we must have looked a bit odd running back to the car and zooming off, at about 1am!
Keep in mind that many of the petrol stations on the A303 aren't 24hr.
The driving (I did all of it) was quite intense, especially as we had some heavy rain for the first 150 miles or so, it was only when I was crawling through roadworks on the M25 that I realised I'd not switched the stereo on since setting off. So we had a bit of classic Quo!
I might well do it again one year.
Although, apart from having sat nav, deciding we'd go the A303, top of M25 and A12 route, (my mate's an HGV driver, remember, and he knows his way around!) we decided to just wing it and see how we got on!
I did fuel calculations on the fly and was fairly sure I wouldn't quite have enough (350Z, in case you wondered).
Our route clocked 431 miles. I've only once got more than that from a tank in this car since then and that was a more gentle drive from south west Scotland to Kent.
With about half a tank still left I did a splash and dash on the A303. as the pumps aren't a mile from the road like in some of the M25 services!
It was just off a big roundabout, I can't remember where, but we must have looked a bit odd running back to the car and zooming off, at about 1am!
Keep in mind that many of the petrol stations on the A303 aren't 24hr.
The driving (I did all of it) was quite intense, especially as we had some heavy rain for the first 150 miles or so, it was only when I was crawling through roadworks on the M25 that I realised I'd not switched the stereo on since setting off. So we had a bit of classic Quo!
I might well do it again one year.
Martin350 said:
Even though I've not done it solo, I would echo just about all of that, James.
Although, apart from having sat nav, deciding we'd go the A303, top of M25 and A12 route, (my mate's an HGV driver, remember, and he knows his way around!) we decided to just wing it and see how we got on!
I did fuel calculations on the fly and was fairly sure I wouldn't quite have enough (350Z, in case you wondered).
Our route clocked 431 miles. I've only once got more than that from a tank in this car since then and that was a more gentle drive from south west Scotland to Kent.
With about half a tank still left I did a splash and dash on the A303. as the pumps aren't a mile from the road like in some of the M25 services!
It was just off a big roundabout, I can't remember where, but we must have looked a bit odd running back to the car and zooming off, at about 1am!
Keep in mind that many of the petrol stations on the A303 aren't 24hr.
The driving (I did all of it) was quite intense, especially as we had some heavy rain for the first 150 miles or so, it was only when I was crawling through roadworks on the M25 that I realised I'd not switched the stereo on since setting off. So we had a bit of classic Quo!
I might well do it again one year.
It wasn't a shell was it? That's the one I go to, just off a junction at Andover. I'd triple checked it was 24 hour. Although, apart from having sat nav, deciding we'd go the A303, top of M25 and A12 route, (my mate's an HGV driver, remember, and he knows his way around!) we decided to just wing it and see how we got on!
I did fuel calculations on the fly and was fairly sure I wouldn't quite have enough (350Z, in case you wondered).
Our route clocked 431 miles. I've only once got more than that from a tank in this car since then and that was a more gentle drive from south west Scotland to Kent.
With about half a tank still left I did a splash and dash on the A303. as the pumps aren't a mile from the road like in some of the M25 services!
It was just off a big roundabout, I can't remember where, but we must have looked a bit odd running back to the car and zooming off, at about 1am!
Keep in mind that many of the petrol stations on the A303 aren't 24hr.
The driving (I did all of it) was quite intense, especially as we had some heavy rain for the first 150 miles or so, it was only when I was crawling through roadworks on the M25 that I realised I'd not switched the stereo on since setting off. So we had a bit of classic Quo!
I might well do it again one year.
Last year I did it in an MR2, which at best did 340 miles to a tank. Heavy driving is bound to pummel that and with wanting to stick to a one stop I opted for Andover as it was 257 miles from lands end and 215 miles from Lowestoft.
We planned for A303, M3, M25 north and A12 but the M3 closure forced us south and round the M25 past Dartford.
I agree, it is very intense, given that we're "only" driving on public roads. On the run into Lowestoft I was knackered and felt like I hadn't slept in a week. Even though we hadn't arrived yet, there was a dreariness and ache to the driving. It makes me much more appreciative of Le Mans drivers. I know it's nothing compared and the concentration levels are nothing like it, which makes it all the more wondering of how the endurance drivers do it!
I remember it was a Shell and, having just done a google image search, I'm fairly certain it was the Andover Services.
I have to say, the 350Z is the best car I've had (not that that's saying much!) for covering long distances, it's very much a 'GT' rather than a sports car.
Even so, like you say, the concentration level was right up there for me, hence the stereo not being on for nearly 300 miles!
I only really started to feel like I'd 'had enough' on the journey from Ness Point back home to Kent, on a fairly busy M25, and mostly raining.
And yeah, I can't comprehend what several hours of, up to 240mph, night time racing does to your body and brain. And they aren't exactly driving comfy, air conditioned GTs!
I have to say, the 350Z is the best car I've had (not that that's saying much!) for covering long distances, it's very much a 'GT' rather than a sports car.
Even so, like you say, the concentration level was right up there for me, hence the stereo not being on for nearly 300 miles!
I only really started to feel like I'd 'had enough' on the journey from Ness Point back home to Kent, on a fairly busy M25, and mostly raining.
And yeah, I can't comprehend what several hours of, up to 240mph, night time racing does to your body and brain. And they aren't exactly driving comfy, air conditioned GTs!
I did the trip on the Saturday night last year - it was excellent ... Just do it.
To answer a few questions - look back a couple of pages at the photos from last year to see the parking arrangement at the start - drive around the back of the Lands End Hotel to park up. My niece and I did it in the Porsche - she drove from the A31 and M25 South to the A12 and I did the rest. BiB were pootling along the A31 in an unmarked Audi as we passed and so we got a blue light warning.
To the poster above who mentioned arriving in the dark, if you arrive at LE in the dark , youve left it too late!
To answer a few questions - look back a couple of pages at the photos from last year to see the parking arrangement at the start - drive around the back of the Lands End Hotel to park up. My niece and I did it in the Porsche - she drove from the A31 and M25 South to the A12 and I did the rest. BiB were pootling along the A31 in an unmarked Audi as we passed and so we got a blue light warning.
To the poster above who mentioned arriving in the dark, if you arrive at LE in the dark , youve left it too late!
James2593 said:
Last year I did it in an MR2, which at best did 340 miles to a tank. Heavy driving is bound to pummel that and with wanting to stick to a one stop I opted for Andover as it was 257 miles from lands end and 215 miles from Lowestoft.
We planned for A303, M3, M25 north and A12 but the M3 closure forced us south and round the M25 past Dartford.
My range is around 200miles when I push it, so I've planned for two stops. I'm going to register for Shell mobile payment - that should save some time.We planned for A303, M3, M25 north and A12 but the M3 closure forced us south and round the M25 past Dartford.
One of the stops is on the northern M25. I'll need to add a plan B option on the southern loop (just in case).
I’ve done this 3 times now-2 solo and 1 with co pilot. The first two times were by myself on M25 and A12 but the last time was M25, M11, A11 to Norwich then down the A146. Left at sunset and arrived at Lowestoft at 0331, which included 2 driver changes and fuel stops. We did it in a rented BMW 335 diesel thing. Having a co pilot meant sharing driving (obv) but also figuring route changes and watching for speed cams etc. Will be doing it again this year. Just looking for something to hire as my Landy is a bit slow and noisy.
I did it solo last year in my Corvette. I drove from Ilfracombe North Devon down to Land's End which took 2.5hrs, and then started the "challenge".
The Corvette needed fuel by Yeovil as I had not brimmed the tank before leaving Lands End, I then stopped at Fleet Services on the M3 motorway before turning off down the A31 due to the M3 being closed and then south around the M25.
I arrived shortly after the chaps in the 335d (03:34), they looked a lot fresher than me! It took a long time for the "sunrise" to arrive which was when I really started to feel tired. My drive back to North Devon was ok until the last 50 miles at which point I decided I would need a co-driver or a hotel for any future attempts. 987 miles is a long way in a nearly unsilenced 7ltr V8.
This year I will arrive at Land's End well before the start with a full tank of fuel, will have a co-driver and use my M3 instead of the Corvette!
The Corvette needed fuel by Yeovil as I had not brimmed the tank before leaving Lands End, I then stopped at Fleet Services on the M3 motorway before turning off down the A31 due to the M3 being closed and then south around the M25.
I arrived shortly after the chaps in the 335d (03:34), they looked a lot fresher than me! It took a long time for the "sunrise" to arrive which was when I really started to feel tired. My drive back to North Devon was ok until the last 50 miles at which point I decided I would need a co-driver or a hotel for any future attempts. 987 miles is a long way in a nearly unsilenced 7ltr V8.
This year I will arrive at Land's End well before the start with a full tank of fuel, will have a co-driver and use my M3 instead of the Corvette!
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