RE: Dunlop Pure Driving Experiences: Hardknott Pass
Thursday 30th May 2013
What exactly is a pure driving experience? Well, Dunlop Tyres is keen to explore the idea - keen enough that it's sponsoring a new section of articles and videos here on PistonHeads with the aim to inspire us all to go out and discover one for ourselves.
Dunlop Pure Driving Experiences: Hardknott Pass
First in a series of videos sponsored by Dunlop Tyres takes in Hardknott Pass in the Lake District
It's all part of the firm's 125-year anniversary and for the first instalment Autocar's Steve Sutcliffe takes a Mercedes C63 AMG Black Series for a run up the infamous Hardknott Pass - the menacingly titled stretch of road in the Lake District that's done for many a wheezing clutch and challenged the quivering legs of countless walkers and cyclists over the years. As you'd expect, the Black doesn't struggle with the one in three incline. And along the way Steve discovers some interesting facts about one of Britain's most historically significant roads.
See the video here.
Discussion
Haven't watched the whole vid yet (no sound at work) but looking forward to it.
From the bit I have watched though, that seems an awful lot of car for a road so bumpy, narrow and wet. Surely a hot hatch of some sort would've been a better choice?
If it mentions that in the film, I'm sorry. And rest assured I'll feel like an idiot once I get home to watch it.
From the bit I have watched though, that seems an awful lot of car for a road so bumpy, narrow and wet. Surely a hot hatch of some sort would've been a better choice?
If it mentions that in the film, I'm sorry. And rest assured I'll feel like an idiot once I get home to watch it.
Car too big / road too narrow...
Last time I drove there was in my trusty Almera Gti, leaving after a fabulous walking holiday, to find I was holding up some guy in an Escort 1.6 plain jane spec! Boy did he give it some - the car was at the edge of grip but he (a mature gentleman) was up to the task and disappeared over the pass and was gone...
Simply must go back soon. But not in a huge AMG (chance would be nice tho').
Last time I drove there was in my trusty Almera Gti, leaving after a fabulous walking holiday, to find I was holding up some guy in an Escort 1.6 plain jane spec! Boy did he give it some - the car was at the edge of grip but he (a mature gentleman) was up to the task and disappeared over the pass and was gone...
Simply must go back soon. But not in a huge AMG (chance would be nice tho').
Agree - the car is too big to have fun in, a small hatch has more options for the correct line on roads this narrow.
I drove the pass in my Bowler a few years ago, the hairpins are tight but the view from the top is amazing, I also drove the now-closed (to mechanically propelled vehicles) unsurfaced Walna Scar road again great views and an epic climb / descent.
I drove the pass in my Bowler a few years ago, the hairpins are tight but the view from the top is amazing, I also drove the now-closed (to mechanically propelled vehicles) unsurfaced Walna Scar road again great views and an epic climb / descent.
Driven this pass loads of times in my old 205 Gti, including plenty of times in wintery conditions with strategic patches of ice placed right on the hairpins to catch you out. Honestly can't imagine any car that would be faster or more fun on this sort of road than an oldschool lightweight French hot hatch. Would leave that Mercedes (even with it's fancy tyres) a long way behind.
Did this Eastwards in my old Prelude 2.2 a few years ago, I still bang on about it to my pals. Brilliant stuff.
However, what a load of crap this clip is. It's all pure advert. Would be nice to see some proper footage of the car taking those inclines instead of stylized slow mos and Top Gear perspectives.
However, what a load of crap this clip is. It's all pure advert. Would be nice to see some proper footage of the car taking those inclines instead of stylized slow mos and Top Gear perspectives.
Drive (golf gti mk5) on this regularly only live a few miles away, prefer honister pass road to be honest. hardnott is too narrow, full off potholes, lovely big stones to destroy your vehicle. Seen quite a few people getting out of their cars at the bottom pulling hair out when the brakes are cooked (obviously not the c63 with its brakes). my advise as a person who drives the lake district regularly, honister pass or whinlatter.
Yawn. We're getting spoiled by Monkey's Drive vids, this was just dull.
A skittery C63 Black, too big and stiff for the road as has been said, and an unremarkable "on message" commentary that's had to be signed off by Dunlop for obvious commercial reasons do not make for a good video.
No particular problem with sponsored vids on PH, but at least they should let the cars do the talking instead of patronising corporate rhetoric.
A skittery C63 Black, too big and stiff for the road as has been said, and an unremarkable "on message" commentary that's had to be signed off by Dunlop for obvious commercial reasons do not make for a good video.
No particular problem with sponsored vids on PH, but at least they should let the cars do the talking instead of patronising corporate rhetoric.
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