A Quandry - The Dumb Redneck Roadtrip
Discussion
Howdy PistonHeads!
Sitting at the bar last night, a few of my buddies and I came up with what we thought was a brilliant plan. Some background: we're a group of Texans that have been looking to get down to the World Cup in Brazil in 2014. However, after some thinking, and more than a few pints, we decided that an automotive trip of the UK/EU during the Cup would be a better way to enjoy the games. Cars and football? Sounds about perfect in my book. We're no strangers to long trips:
(that's my redneck wondercar in the passing lane)
But we've never done anything outside of the States, and this seems to be the perfect opportunity. So I wanted to maybe enlist a bit of assistance from the PH community in finding out 1.) if this is possible and 2.) just how drunk were we when we thought this was a good idea?
The goal would be to ship our cars over for around 2 weeks of touring and trying to visit as many nations/roads to catch some games with a few million of the locals. I think we've got shipping covered, but I want to make sure I'm okay to drive on foreign registered plates in the UK/EU for a short period of time. I know we'll have to have insurance waivers (green cards, as one user termed them) and international driver's licenses for compliance as well, but I don't know if I've got my bases covered.
In any case, some firsthand experience of some of the better known car guys on the internet would be very much appreciated!
Sitting at the bar last night, a few of my buddies and I came up with what we thought was a brilliant plan. Some background: we're a group of Texans that have been looking to get down to the World Cup in Brazil in 2014. However, after some thinking, and more than a few pints, we decided that an automotive trip of the UK/EU during the Cup would be a better way to enjoy the games. Cars and football? Sounds about perfect in my book. We're no strangers to long trips:
(that's my redneck wondercar in the passing lane)
But we've never done anything outside of the States, and this seems to be the perfect opportunity. So I wanted to maybe enlist a bit of assistance from the PH community in finding out 1.) if this is possible and 2.) just how drunk were we when we thought this was a good idea?
The goal would be to ship our cars over for around 2 weeks of touring and trying to visit as many nations/roads to catch some games with a few million of the locals. I think we've got shipping covered, but I want to make sure I'm okay to drive on foreign registered plates in the UK/EU for a short period of time. I know we'll have to have insurance waivers (green cards, as one user termed them) and international driver's licenses for compliance as well, but I don't know if I've got my bases covered.
In any case, some firsthand experience of some of the better known car guys on the internet would be very much appreciated!
midnightdorifto said:
A closer shot if that helps. This is with the rare dealer option to paint mosquitoes onto the bumper after a week of running it out in the desert in West Texas. It's slow.
Scotland has some great driving roads and is football mad. Different people have different favourite routes. If you're serious then you'll need to work out how long you want to be in the UK.
Then work out how many roads you can do, or want to do, try to mix it in with a bit of football and some pub action. The country pubs are great.
You'll have plenty of time to plan your attack. If your ever passing the Kirkstyle Inn in Dunning, Scotland, come in and you'll be made more than welcome. There's a great road next to us passing through Glen Devon past Gleneagles and up to Loch Earn to Glen Coe.
We tend to get the odd drop off rain though which may unsettle that beast you're enjoying yourselves in.
There's plenty of people from all corners here to help you out. Good luck, but somehow I think you'll have fun what ever you do!
With regard to the car use in Europe you are correct - international licence, insurance plus your registration docs etc and I'd suggest some kind of breakdown or recovery service. There are also some country specific requirements (none for the UK) so to cover all bases you'd need a first aid kit, hi-viz vests, bulbs and a warning triangle. That lot should see you good in all of Europe.
Personally I'd give the UK a miss - you will be astonished (and not in a good way) by the sheer amount of traffic on the roads and how slow it is. Going to Scotland is all very well but you've got an awful lot of crap to drive through to get there. Just get straight onto continental Europe as one of the previous posters suggested.
Personally I'd give the UK a miss - you will be astonished (and not in a good way) by the sheer amount of traffic on the roads and how slow it is. Going to Scotland is all very well but you've got an awful lot of crap to drive through to get there. Just get straight onto continental Europe as one of the previous posters suggested.
As someone who lives away from London, I think driving in the UK can be great but will concede there are times you should avoid (rush hours) which seems to affect most motorways.
Wales and Scotland are great for driving but there are also places in the UK too, however if I only had 2 weeks then I would almost certainly head for mainland Europe.
I have toured from the UK down through Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and into Italy (Pisa and Florence), the back up through France. That took 12 days and was driving mecca. We stayed in a different hotel each night - all of them great - and we saw places you'd never get to if you just flew into a tourist hotspot and flew out again.
If you had longer, I might urge you to consider Scandinavia too - certainly Finland and Sweden. Both are relatively unpopulated areas with enjoyable "switchback" roads, and there are a number of racing circuits there which can be rented for a song.
Wales and Scotland are great for driving but there are also places in the UK too, however if I only had 2 weeks then I would almost certainly head for mainland Europe.
I have toured from the UK down through Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and into Italy (Pisa and Florence), the back up through France. That took 12 days and was driving mecca. We stayed in a different hotel each night - all of them great - and we saw places you'd never get to if you just flew into a tourist hotspot and flew out again.
If you had longer, I might urge you to consider Scandinavia too - certainly Finland and Sweden. Both are relatively unpopulated areas with enjoyable "switchback" roads, and there are a number of racing circuits there which can be rented for a song.
Dog Star said:
There are also some country specific requirements (none for the UK) so to cover all bases you'd need a first aid kit, hi-viz vests, bulbs and a warning triangle. That lot should see you good in all of Europe.
Breathalyzer, high vis must be reachable in cabin for driver I think and one for each passenger. Need warning triangle fpr front and back i think. First aid kit and fire extinguisher. Sat nav must have the speed camera warning disabled. Am I right or missing any?Edit- sorry you had first aid kit already
Yee haw!
If you do visit the UK or Ireland, there's the obvious point of driving on the left. On multi lane roads, overtaking on the inside is frowned upon. Everywhere else in Europe drives on the right (oh, except Malta, Cyprus and the Channel Islands).
France has great roads, and many that aren't very busy. In Italy the road surfaces are more variable. Alpine roads are a hoot.
Some people here claim that Europeans are bad drivers, but they are not as bad as all that. Sometimes people in France and Italy will drive way too close at speed when wanting to pass on a motorway. NB motorways in general have only two or three lanes in most places.
English is widely spoken in tourist centres, but not often when off the beaten track, except in the Netherlands and Scandinavia. Attempting some basic French, Italian or whatever does a great deal for good service in any restaurant, hotel etc.
NB: fuel is generally a lot more expensive than in the USA.
If you do visit the UK or Ireland, there's the obvious point of driving on the left. On multi lane roads, overtaking on the inside is frowned upon. Everywhere else in Europe drives on the right (oh, except Malta, Cyprus and the Channel Islands).
France has great roads, and many that aren't very busy. In Italy the road surfaces are more variable. Alpine roads are a hoot.
Some people here claim that Europeans are bad drivers, but they are not as bad as all that. Sometimes people in France and Italy will drive way too close at speed when wanting to pass on a motorway. NB motorways in general have only two or three lanes in most places.
English is widely spoken in tourist centres, but not often when off the beaten track, except in the Netherlands and Scandinavia. Attempting some basic French, Italian or whatever does a great deal for good service in any restaurant, hotel etc.
NB: fuel is generally a lot more expensive than in the USA.
Edited by anonymous-user on Thursday 20th December 08:46
I have started a thread where everyone can share their European Roadtrip write ups, have a look at it and it should give you some excellent ideas of where to go & what to see whilst you are in Europe.
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...
I would imagine it would be quite hard to tie it in so that you are in a country that is playing football at that time, but that is what I would suggest doing.
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...
I would imagine it would be quite hard to tie it in so that you are in a country that is playing football at that time, but that is what I would suggest doing.
Speed limits and distances will be indicated in kilometres (save in the UK), so if your cars have mph only speedos, you might want to stick pointers on at the main speed limits in kmh, or learn to judge speed by rpm if you can't already do so. You can drive quite fast on most European motorways, and very fast on some German ones. In France, use the N roads for more fun.
The Michelin Guides are pretty useful. In France, the Logis de France logo usually indicates a decent basic hotel with a restaurant.
The Michelin Guides are pretty useful. In France, the Logis de France logo usually indicates a decent basic hotel with a restaurant.
Might be worth some ADAC cover for break down as its pretty cheap and will cover you in all the countries you go to in Europe? Should get you taken to a garage for repair even if they won't ship it back to the states!
Route de Grande Alpes Route Napoleon are both excellent roads to enjoy in the French Alps.
Route de Grande Alpes Route Napoleon are both excellent roads to enjoy in the French Alps.
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