Some of your memorable car journeys
Discussion
Mine include:
Collecing my first round of points (20 years ago) in a white Fiat Panda
Route Napoleon with with 7 mates and 4 cars. Driving heaven!
Picking up my new Porsche Cayman S and the drive home - Nothing but smiles
Breaking down in a Lamborghini Murcielago and being called a "chav" by some locals
Collecing my first round of points (20 years ago) in a white Fiat Panda
Route Napoleon with with 7 mates and 4 cars. Driving heaven!
Picking up my new Porsche Cayman S and the drive home - Nothing but smiles
Breaking down in a Lamborghini Murcielago and being called a "chav" by some locals
Dear All,
1st "car" bought for £90 Morris 1k van early morning in spring 1976, 4hr drive from Bath to Cambs., load up disco equipment, 4hr drive back, gig in the evening...
...and kids today say they have to work hard!
5hr drive from Holland, MI to Houghton, MI after work in the snow, blizzard conditions, winter 1986 "just keep it between the snow banks" Buick LeSabre 5up. Got to the Doghouse (bar) in time for last call.
1st in-one-go 11hr drive in 1998 IIRC in a Golf Mk II starting at 6a.m. from Bristol to Lochcarron. It was the arrival that made it - driving up the SE side of the loch after a rather damp and dingy day out comes the sun and there's a rainbow to welcome us over that awe inspiring Highland scenery,
regards,
Jet
1st "car" bought for £90 Morris 1k van early morning in spring 1976, 4hr drive from Bath to Cambs., load up disco equipment, 4hr drive back, gig in the evening...
...and kids today say they have to work hard!
5hr drive from Holland, MI to Houghton, MI after work in the snow, blizzard conditions, winter 1986 "just keep it between the snow banks" Buick LeSabre 5up. Got to the Doghouse (bar) in time for last call.
1st in-one-go 11hr drive in 1998 IIRC in a Golf Mk II starting at 6a.m. from Bristol to Lochcarron. It was the arrival that made it - driving up the SE side of the loch after a rather damp and dingy day out comes the sun and there's a rainbow to welcome us over that awe inspiring Highland scenery,
regards,
Jet
Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon
Left Vegas around 0930am arrived via Hoover Dam-route66 around 1400
stayed for a while then set off back to Vegas leaving around 1800.
made good progress, ended with some traffic light drag races with an RX8
we had a Convertible Mustang. back in the Hotel we went and had a decent Steak dinner around 0100am
Left Vegas around 0930am arrived via Hoover Dam-route66 around 1400
stayed for a while then set off back to Vegas leaving around 1800.
made good progress, ended with some traffic light drag races with an RX8
we had a Convertible Mustang. back in the Hotel we went and had a decent Steak dinner around 0100am
In 6 days from Oxford to Dover, Dunkirk to Bruges to Amsterdam, to Frankfurt, Ingoldstadt and Munich, through Austria and Slovenia to Trieste, then on into Croatia to stay in Rijeka and on the island of Krk.
The return was another 5 or 6 days spent going from Pula in Croatia to Trieste then Verona, a few days spent visiting places like Venice and Maranello, then on to Monaco, Cannes, Lyon, Paris and then home.
One hell of a drive in an old Honda Prelude - easily the most memorable I've done
The return was another 5 or 6 days spent going from Pula in Croatia to Trieste then Verona, a few days spent visiting places like Venice and Maranello, then on to Monaco, Cannes, Lyon, Paris and then home.
One hell of a drive in an old Honda Prelude - easily the most memorable I've done
Edited by Doniger on Saturday 8th January 18:38
white90 said:
Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon
Left Vegas around 0930am arrived via Hoover Dam-route66 around 1400
stayed for a while then set off back to Vegas leaving around 1800.
made good progress, ended with some traffic light drag races with an RX8
we had a Convertible Mustang. back in the Hotel we went and had a decent Steak dinner around 0100am
done that journey....Left Vegas around 0930am arrived via Hoover Dam-route66 around 1400
stayed for a while then set off back to Vegas leaving around 1800.
made good progress, ended with some traffic light drag races with an RX8
we had a Convertible Mustang. back in the Hotel we went and had a decent Steak dinner around 0100am
was wicked!
I drove to Bath to sell my car, then drove up to Warwickshire to collect my new car (TVR 350i), then drove down to Essex via Oxfordshire.
Or one day in a November many year ago when I picked up my first ever Mr2 T-Bar. I have no idea where I drove, but it was roof off and windows down, and some 300 miles or so. I had a headache for about a week..........
Or one day in a November many year ago when I picked up my first ever Mr2 T-Bar. I have no idea where I drove, but it was roof off and windows down, and some 300 miles or so. I had a headache for about a week..........
I've enjoyed some great drives over the years.
The first one was driving to college in my Triumph Spitfire when I'd just passed my test.
Driving a Matra Bagheera through the Peak District - great handling, not much power but outran a 260Z in its day.
Cross Europe drive in a Renault GTA V6 Turbo - 1200 miles in 14 hours - fantastic.
France in a Morgan 4/4 - lovely.
Picking up a Z4M Coupe and driving back through the Peak District - the best value performance car I've ever had!
Driving a Triumph GT6 through Spain and back through France - the most enjoyable classic car holiday I ever had.
Doing a record breaking drive (for me) from Hertford to Preston in a VX220 - the best motorway car I've ever had.
Singapore to Kuala Lumpur in a Cayenne - a great drive
Dubai to Abu Dhabi in some unknown hore car - a lovely drive then but boring now.
The first one was driving to college in my Triumph Spitfire when I'd just passed my test.
Driving a Matra Bagheera through the Peak District - great handling, not much power but outran a 260Z in its day.
Cross Europe drive in a Renault GTA V6 Turbo - 1200 miles in 14 hours - fantastic.
France in a Morgan 4/4 - lovely.
Picking up a Z4M Coupe and driving back through the Peak District - the best value performance car I've ever had!
Driving a Triumph GT6 through Spain and back through France - the most enjoyable classic car holiday I ever had.
Doing a record breaking drive (for me) from Hertford to Preston in a VX220 - the best motorway car I've ever had.
Singapore to Kuala Lumpur in a Cayenne - a great drive
Dubai to Abu Dhabi in some unknown hore car - a lovely drive then but boring now.
jet_noise said:
5hr drive from Holland, MI to Houghton, MI after work in the snow, blizzard conditions, winter 1986 "just keep it between the snow banks" Buick LeSabre 5up. Got to the Doghouse (bar) in time for last call.
That sounds like a Bruce Springsteen lyric 
Most memorable drive for me was December 23rd, 2007. Motorway-avoiding run from North Oxfordshire back to my parents' place for Christmas in the MR2. Snow piled up everywhere, twisting alpine-esque passes everywhere (including the divine A5004), very little else on the roads, a soaring rally-style exhaust note, controllable oversteer and Killing Joke on the stereo. Felt like I was living in some old Group B coverage.
In New Zealand we visited a place called Dennison, an abandoned Coal Mine on the South Island. Since it was right by the sea there was plenty of low lying cloud, so as we drove up the endlessly twisting road we entered the cloud bank. At the top it was truly eerie as the unwanted machinery had just been left to rust and there was no one else around. A short while later the cloud past and suddenly we were in brilliant sunshine
When I went to Milford Sound the weather was very similar but with plenty of rain. The road is surrounded by snow capped mountains but since the cloud was low you couldn't see the tops, but a myriad of waterfalls running down. I had a 1985 Nissan Sunny on 4 old ditchfinder tyres navigating endless blind bends and hairpin turns. There is a tunnel at one point which I'd assumed would be your normal Dartford-style one. It was pitch black, very steep and had water running down the walls. Scary yet awesome
When I went to Milford Sound the weather was very similar but with plenty of rain. The road is surrounded by snow capped mountains but since the cloud was low you couldn't see the tops, but a myriad of waterfalls running down. I had a 1985 Nissan Sunny on 4 old ditchfinder tyres navigating endless blind bends and hairpin turns. There is a tunnel at one point which I'd assumed would be your normal Dartford-style one. It was pitch black, very steep and had water running down the walls. Scary yet awesome
Driving back from my first visit to Goodwood Festival of Speed, several years ago, in an MGB GT.
Arrived in the carpark/field around 0630 - amazing day - finally located my parked car (went to the wrong end of the field - well, it was foggy when I arrived)... filled up with proper 4-star at a local station where the old boy came out and filled it for me...
...boiling hot early evening, beyond tropical in the car, a quick check of the map, pick a straight line to home (middle of Devon at the time), a few key villages/towns committed to memory, as few main roads as I could get away with - engine thrumming, oil pressure good, windows down, Dark Side of the Moon begins to beat out of the stereo, shades on.... no stops, minimal traffic, superb.
Go on then, another... driving to La Thuile in the Alps (Italian side) to go skiing. Volvo 850 T5 estate this time - packed the day before, dropped at work that morning, girlfriend (now wife) picks me up at 5pm, again in Devon - to the tunnel, early for our booked train, so get in the queue and get an earlier one... out the other side, toll, cruise on, petrol, toll, cruise back on, toll... snow, ice, more snow.... AC/DC cranking out of the stereo this time, grab some sleep at a snowy French services, another toll and a spectacular blizzard, no-one slows, glad I put neat washer fluid in... and to Mt. Blanc tunnel, a few switch-back climbs and arrive to check in by 9am. (The winter tyres were only on the front too... boo, hiss, sinner - guess what, nobody died, or even got a bit of a wobble on).
Arrived in the carpark/field around 0630 - amazing day - finally located my parked car (went to the wrong end of the field - well, it was foggy when I arrived)... filled up with proper 4-star at a local station where the old boy came out and filled it for me...
...boiling hot early evening, beyond tropical in the car, a quick check of the map, pick a straight line to home (middle of Devon at the time), a few key villages/towns committed to memory, as few main roads as I could get away with - engine thrumming, oil pressure good, windows down, Dark Side of the Moon begins to beat out of the stereo, shades on.... no stops, minimal traffic, superb.
Go on then, another... driving to La Thuile in the Alps (Italian side) to go skiing. Volvo 850 T5 estate this time - packed the day before, dropped at work that morning, girlfriend (now wife) picks me up at 5pm, again in Devon - to the tunnel, early for our booked train, so get in the queue and get an earlier one... out the other side, toll, cruise on, petrol, toll, cruise back on, toll... snow, ice, more snow.... AC/DC cranking out of the stereo this time, grab some sleep at a snowy French services, another toll and a spectacular blizzard, no-one slows, glad I put neat washer fluid in... and to Mt. Blanc tunnel, a few switch-back climbs and arrive to check in by 9am. (The winter tyres were only on the front too... boo, hiss, sinner - guess what, nobody died, or even got a bit of a wobble on).
I passed my test in feb 1991 at the third time of asking
. Took the day off work to do it. Mum worked shifts and dad had taken the morning away from the cows to take her out but I couldn't wait for them to get back home before hitting the road. Just me, my Jack Russell and my D reg Skoda Estelle going to buy a new pair of wellies
.
The most memorable drive was probably me and a mate driving from east Florida to San Fransisco and back to NW Kansas to get back on the combines. 16 days, 7500 miles, 1984 Pontiac Parisenne in blue> good times.
. Took the day off work to do it. Mum worked shifts and dad had taken the morning away from the cows to take her out but I couldn't wait for them to get back home before hitting the road. Just me, my Jack Russell and my D reg Skoda Estelle going to buy a new pair of wellies.The most memorable drive was probably me and a mate driving from east Florida to San Fransisco and back to NW Kansas to get back on the combines. 16 days, 7500 miles, 1984 Pontiac Parisenne in blue> good times.
I think the highlights would have to be the Timmelsjoch driven with 10' high snow banks bordering the road,
The Grimsel pass in a near white out following a snow blower
The St Bernardino at sparrow fart with the knowledge there was no other traffic in either direction.
And for shear perseverance it would have to be driving from Bradford to Nimmes via The Millau viaduct with only ferry and pee stops.
The Grimsel pass in a near white out following a snow blower
The St Bernardino at sparrow fart with the knowledge there was no other traffic in either direction.
And for shear perseverance it would have to be driving from Bradford to Nimmes via The Millau viaduct with only ferry and pee stops.
The day we did the St Gotthard, Furka, Grimsel and Susten passes. Honda Integra DC2 Type-R. One of many great day's driving on that holiday.
The other was leaving a cold and wet Chamonix and heading down to Nice in one day. I drove 9 and a half hours total with my friend doing an hour.
Taking the Route Napoleon and arriving in 30 Deg C clear blue skies was the warmest welcome possible.
The other was leaving a cold and wet Chamonix and heading down to Nice in one day. I drove 9 and a half hours total with my friend doing an hour.
Taking the Route Napoleon and arriving in 30 Deg C clear blue skies was the warmest welcome possible.
Went to South Africa on holiday, years ago. I borrowed a Capri 1300, and set out explore the place. Trundling round in a base model capri, no problem that it didn't have a heater.
I decided I'd explore the mountains, beautiful sunny day, and off I went to the Katberg mountains. All dirt roads, magnificent views and deserted. Then I got lost, the map had no relation to anything, it seemed. Ended up in the middle of nowhere in a semi desert in the middle of nowhere, running out of fuel.
No problem, just keep heading east and I'll pick up the main road at some point. Except it didn't seem to work that way, up and down passes and around mountains until the fuel ran out, just as dusk was falling. I'll just wait for some good samaritan, I think.
So I wait. It gets dark. Not a light in sight, and no cars, people or anything. Its also getting cold. It was 25c, now its probably 5c, and I'm wearing shorts and a T shirt. On the plus side I've never seen so many stars in the sky.
By 10pm still no sight of anything alive, and there is frost on the car. I'm cold, hungry and thirsty. I've lit a fire (good job I smoked) from the few bits of scratty twigs I can find which is keeping me from freezing and the lions at bay.
I have never been so cold in my life, and exhausted the wood supplies for about a mile. I thought I was going to freeze to death.
At around 6am a car (well, elderly colt pickup) came along and rescued me. The nearest town was only just round the corner (6 miles), and he towed me there, the hero. The nearest town -Balfour - was actually a collection of about 30 houses, a police station, garage, shop and bar. I got breakfast in the bar, the biggest and best fillet steak I've ever eaten.
I decided I'd explore the mountains, beautiful sunny day, and off I went to the Katberg mountains. All dirt roads, magnificent views and deserted. Then I got lost, the map had no relation to anything, it seemed. Ended up in the middle of nowhere in a semi desert in the middle of nowhere, running out of fuel.
No problem, just keep heading east and I'll pick up the main road at some point. Except it didn't seem to work that way, up and down passes and around mountains until the fuel ran out, just as dusk was falling. I'll just wait for some good samaritan, I think.
So I wait. It gets dark. Not a light in sight, and no cars, people or anything. Its also getting cold. It was 25c, now its probably 5c, and I'm wearing shorts and a T shirt. On the plus side I've never seen so many stars in the sky.
By 10pm still no sight of anything alive, and there is frost on the car. I'm cold, hungry and thirsty. I've lit a fire (good job I smoked) from the few bits of scratty twigs I can find which is keeping me from freezing and the lions at bay.
I have never been so cold in my life, and exhausted the wood supplies for about a mile. I thought I was going to freeze to death.
At around 6am a car (well, elderly colt pickup) came along and rescued me. The nearest town was only just round the corner (6 miles), and he towed me there, the hero. The nearest town -Balfour - was actually a collection of about 30 houses, a police station, garage, shop and bar. I got breakfast in the bar, the biggest and best fillet steak I've ever eaten.
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