Road Trip!

[rob.ellis]

Into my fourth year of esprit ownership this week. I still get a real buzz from driving the car whether to-and-from work or on a long run, but I think some of the best times I’ve had are on long trips abroad with empty roads and good weather rather than our conjested uk road system. I’d like to do a lot more trips over to the continent and in fact I’ve already planned a le mans run again this year and I’m also driving down to Magny-Cours for the GP in July.

Question:

I’d love to do some trips just for the pleasure of the driving, rather than a mad dash to an event and back. Ideas: a tour taking in some of the old gp circuits – Rheims, Spa etc, or re-trace some famous road race like the Targa Florio or Mille Miglia, or maybe drive the route Roger Beckerman (italian job) drove in the Miura thru the alps? Stelvio?

Can anyone give me some pointers on how I go about researching these? Any good books, websites, maps etc.???

Thanks in advance guys.
Rob
98 Esprit V8-GT

[rob.ellis]

Come on guys! no-ones' got ANY idea...??

[mikes]

We went to Spain a couple of years ago in the Alpine. Took a tent and booked a cottage for one week. Had a great trip - hope you've got aircon though!

[tamago]

try the "Roads" section - Calais to Monte Carlo in particular, some very good responses there.

There is also a "route napoloean" in france which I hear is very good...not to mention the alpine passes via mont blanc etc...

I am going to Sth France in Aug and maybe to Nth italy if poss just for the hell of it in the Chim... so I'll watch this thread with interest!

[beano500]

One of my best biking tours around the Alps was simply a case of choose which passes to try and do/see how many in one day and lurch from one overnight stop to the next. The Grossglockner pass in Austria was one of the most entertaining (well the section with the ice melting over the cobbled hairpins was sort of entertaining!)

Only planning is a set of Michelin maps and try and link up all the roads with a green line down the side

Oh - and ignore the signs which say the roads are closed for half the year, they'll be closed when they're supposed to be open and open anyway if you just keep going

Hmm? I fancy a driving holiday now I've thought about it - anyone got a new Tuscan that needs a good running in???

[Leadfoot]

There is also a "route napoloean" in france which I hear is very good

Oh it's good alright. Did this last week, it runs from near Grenoble down to Nice (from a North-South viewpoint). It really gets started from a driving point of view at La Mure. We turned off at Grasse & by that time I was kn@ckered & so were my brakes!

I can also recomend the Tarn Gorge area if you're in the SOF as well. Or the Pyrenees.

My top tip is to buy the Michelin green guide for the area you're considering & look for the scenic driving routes. They do a guide for most countries, or in the case of France each region.
As has already been said, the Michelin road maps put a green line alongside interesting/scenic routes.

[CVP]

Leadfoot said: It really gets started from a driving point of view at La Mure.

Also a wonderful restauarnt at la Mure. gets booked up for Sunday lunch quite quickly but Mrs CVP and I managed to get the last table (afetr removal of flower pot from said table). Food was exquisite and wine great, bill very reasonable. Not sure of the name, but it's in the corner of the main market square (I know that's not too helpful )

You also try a route that is famous amongst cyclists. There is a road "race" over it once a year, first Sunday in June or July. The route is called "La Marmotte", 176kms and plently of climbing and greta scenery.

The route starts at Bourg d'Oisans heading north(about 1 hour south of Grenoble), takes a right and goes up the Col du Galndon then continues up the Croix de Fer. Tehna nice long descent down into St Jean de Maurienne. Then turn right up Col du Telegraphe, continue through Valloire and up the mighty Col du Galibier. From here turn right again and descend towards Bourg d'Oisans. Jst before the town turn right again and ascend L'Alpe d'Huez with it's wonderful 22/21 (IIRC) hairpin bends.

I've driven this route a few years ago and some of the views are fantastic. You will come across a lot of cyclists if you do it in the mid summer, but otherwise should be ok. I would recommend going after May as you should be ok for the Croix de Fer and Col du Galibier to be open then too. I haven't ridden this one, but keep promising myself that with a full years' training i'll go ahead and do it.

Chris

[MikeN]

I'd suggest the Route Des Grandes Alpes (link below). Drove this last year after Le Mans, and might well do some of it again after the race this year.

Click on the link 'Carte Interactive' for a map.

www.routedesgrandesalpes.com/index2.htm

Mike

[rob.ellis]

Thanks guys! That's great info. Need to start planning now