Drive to San Marino
Discussion
I'm thinking about driving to San Marino for the MotoGP in September. Has anyone done this and if so do you have any good route suggestions.
I was thinking of stopping and seeing friends at Vervey and then hitting Lake Como before heading to Rimini, and then taking in Lake Garda on the way back.
Madness or Genius ?
I was thinking of stopping and seeing friends at Vervey and then hitting Lake Como before heading to Rimini, and then taking in Lake Garda on the way back.
Madness or Genius ?
Neil1300r said:
Flying in for the MotoGP. Getting to and from they track looks 'interesting'. We are prepared for 3-4 hour journey to get away from the circuit after the race. If Rossi wins it will be gloriously mad.
Getting out of Mugello was an absolute nightmare, so if that's anything to go by it'll be painful. Where are you staying location wise ?Just booked Sapang too.........not driving all the way there though
I've done the drive ,in a Ford Fiesta in 2008 and an Escort Cosworth in 2010.
I went the boring but direct way ,toll French and Italian motorway to get there in time.
The queue leaving the circuit can take a couple of hours to clear.
The 2nd time I went ,I was going straight back to Calais and due to a roughly 5 hour jam ,not necessarily due to the Moto gp ,I ended up
driving almost the whole journey without any long stops.
The 5 hour jam was up to about Imola exit ,look on a map ,it's really not far from where I started at Rimini...
I went the boring but direct way ,toll French and Italian motorway to get there in time.
The queue leaving the circuit can take a couple of hours to clear.
The 2nd time I went ,I was going straight back to Calais and due to a roughly 5 hour jam ,not necessarily due to the Moto gp ,I ended up
driving almost the whole journey without any long stops.
The 5 hour jam was up to about Imola exit ,look on a map ,it's really not far from where I started at Rimini...
Big Ry said:
Getting out of Mugello was an absolute nightmare, so if that's anything to go by it'll be painful.
I went to Mugello last year too and the traffic was much worse than my Misano experience.Mugello was grid locked for about an hour after last years finish, took forever to get to the autostrada.
Drove down to Como in September last year and really enjoyed it. Went via Luxembourg and Germany - Black Forest area was lovely. Mountain passes are obviously superb - the noise bouncing off the mountain walls sounded like I was in a tunnel, but with glorious blue sky above.
Other than the passes, Switzerland is dreadful - everybody drives at walking pace (even on motorways, although that might be the contrast after the Autobahn), and it's massively expensive.
I disliked driving in Italy - the Italian drivers are a touch insane. A 50Kph speed limit means that they will want to do at least 50mph, and if you're not they will be 2mm from your rear bumper. Not great.
Other than the passes, Switzerland is dreadful - everybody drives at walking pace (even on motorways, although that might be the contrast after the Autobahn), and it's massively expensive.
I disliked driving in Italy - the Italian drivers are a touch insane. A 50Kph speed limit means that they will want to do at least 50mph, and if you're not they will be 2mm from your rear bumper. Not great.
Big Ry said:
Getting out of Mugello was an absolute nightmare, so if that's anything to go by it'll be painful. Where are you staying location wise ?
Just booked Sapang too.........not driving all the way there though
Staying in Rimini, in what looks like a great apartment. Got a hire car as there are 3 of us and the car hire is cheaper than the return train tickets from Bologna to Rimini.Just booked Sapang too.........not driving all the way there though
For Misano, the trick is to be brave and keep going past the car parks. Aim for the back of Prato 1 and 2 along the back straight. Just before you get to the barriers where the retail stalls start, look right. There are 2 oval areas where fans havent reached.
I get in there every year and walk 200 yards ti the gates
Bonus is you are in your car 5 mins after GP race finishes and away. Can be back in Rimini and by the pool 30 mins later.
Re Mugello, just down from the main gates there is a lane to the left. Similar to above. Go past the many car parks and hey presto
Must add, this insider knowledge was gained over many trips and years. The first few years involved Donington-esq queues in and out
Hope that helps
I get in there every year and walk 200 yards ti the gates
Bonus is you are in your car 5 mins after GP race finishes and away. Can be back in Rimini and by the pool 30 mins later.
Re Mugello, just down from the main gates there is a lane to the left. Similar to above. Go past the many car parks and hey presto
Must add, this insider knowledge was gained over many trips and years. The first few years involved Donington-esq queues in and out
Hope that helps
9153mark said:
For Misano, the trick is to be brave and keep going past the car parks. Aim for the back of Prato 1 and 2 along the back straight. Just before you get to the barriers where the retail stalls start, look right. There are 2 oval areas where fans havent reached.
I get in there every year and walk 200 yards ti the gates
Bonus is you are in your car 5 mins after GP race finishes and away. Can be back in Rimini and by the pool 30 mins later.
Re Mugello, just down from the main gates there is a lane to the left. Similar to above. Go past the many car parks and hey presto
Must add, this insider knowledge was gained over many trips and years. The first few years involved Donington-esq queues in and out
Hope that helps
I get in there every year and walk 200 yards ti the gates
Bonus is you are in your car 5 mins after GP race finishes and away. Can be back in Rimini and by the pool 30 mins later.
Re Mugello, just down from the main gates there is a lane to the left. Similar to above. Go past the many car parks and hey presto
Must add, this insider knowledge was gained over many trips and years. The first few years involved Donington-esq queues in and out
Hope that helps
We are driving to the track Friday afternoon to check out the parking, so will hopefully find this spot
9153mark said:
The entrance to the Pratos is through what we would call an Industrial Estate over here. Ignore the marshalls etc.... Then go up to the top of the oval and big open area Up there ti Park in, just mind you dont block the business gates!
What time did you get there on the Sunday? Loving the bikes in your profile picture btw
roughrider said:
Best route down, for no tolls, less police, and stunning scenery, is Belgium/Luxembourg, Germany, Austria, and through the Italian Alps/Lakes. Some of the passes are awesome!
Couldn't agree more. We did France on the way down. With my wife feeding the tolls it just hurt the pocket. On the way back, one up, it was a right pain to get out of the car, scuttle round and pay. So the Belgian route back, coupled with a bit of unrestricted on the German side of France (north of Switzerland), really made the whole journey. Our trip was in late March so the pass I really wanted to add was the Susten - it was closed.
OP, if your still going, it's 'genius'. (it will be madness, in the right way) We drove to Mugello couple of years back for the MotoGP and the whole thing was EPIC!
Went French tolls to the South, then around coast through Monte Carlo, San Remo, down to Tuscany. Left car at the digs for race day and went by public transport (an experience) and getting out is, and will be a nightmare. Return up through Italy round lake garda, into Switzerland via 3 different passes, through Switzerland, French France and home to Blighty. FAN-BLEEDIN-TASTIC!! Do it, I envy you.
Went French tolls to the South, then around coast through Monte Carlo, San Remo, down to Tuscany. Left car at the digs for race day and went by public transport (an experience) and getting out is, and will be a nightmare. Return up through Italy round lake garda, into Switzerland via 3 different passes, through Switzerland, French France and home to Blighty. FAN-BLEEDIN-TASTIC!! Do it, I envy you.
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