Woke up to be delighted that, although the roads were damp, there was no rain, and its looked bright in patches.
Flew through the shower, got my pax sorted, and headed for Moffat.
Helmets on, mp3 plugged in and well wrapped up, we set off down the Biggar road, then crossed to join the moffat road about 10 miles down.
Grip was limited and revs rarely going beyond about 5-6k i was still loving it. This car is so viceral to drive, similar to a seven in that regard, and its over taking ability is simply astonishing - there is no delay in response. When you sink the boot ensure your already heading out right, or you will come perilously close the scalpee's bumper!!
Heading down the road, keep a real focus on road conditions, as the car is a fair bit more of a handful to drive the my Elises. The power, combined with the weight make it a real challenge in damp conditions, and vtec has been a bit of a mystery so far, as it instantly spins the wheel in the 1st 4 gears, and it has managed it in 5th and 6th also.
In retrospect I suspect the best thing the factory did was delay the car, and allow me to spend 6 months racing Elises! Brought on my skills no end, and every journey i take the car on I'm thankful for that!
As we wind down from the hill above moffat, we can see the town in the distance steeped in mist. This section is my favourite bit of the road, open twisties and allowing the atom to really expolde down the straights, vtec on 3rd, slightly twitchy, then 4th to the red line. The dash flashing red at me, and the led rev readout on the wheel doing similar. This thing is astonishing!
Diving deeper and deeper in to the corners now, with the A048's really starting to bite, putting the power on carefully, and then when its straight giving it the full beans, before turning the long straight in to nothing more than what feels like a 100m sprint, back through the gears, braking hard, but not enough to lock up, turn in lightly on the power and bang, we're off again! Its working me way harder than the Elise, but Jen can here my laughing through the intercom
Looking at the road, you can see the water sitting either side of the white lines, which can spin up an A048 in these damp conditions - so being pretty careful.
In to Moffat, and stop for fuel. Hop out to discover steam coming from the puddle that my tyre has stopped in!
Think its safe to say that despite the conditions the 48's have been doing some work!
The usual banter of people asking about it follows and then we watch from afar as the world stops to look at it while we warm up in a coffee shop! (have to keep the brownie points going!
)
St Mary's loch is next - and my confidence in the new steed is growing. As we set out, the road looks even damper, but the car is going really well. A slight lock up on an entrance to a downhill corner reminds me not to be a pratt, but by and large the pace it can keep its highly impressive. As we head over the wee bridge and up through the valley i spot a car in the distance, and although i dont feel I'm pushing the car overly hard, the pace we reel him in at is staggering! A quality overtake (Mr Paine has witnessed one or two
) see Jen laughing, and then as we go pass mountain rescue, multiple thumbs up, waves and smiles.The tyres are really gripping and on the sweeping lochside roads that follow the Atom is superb. I've got the Gordon random route planner focused on the Gordon Arms, and we're off.........
Come round a corner and pot a fiesta off the road a few turns ahead. A car has stopped to help and he's out of the car, looking a bit shaken, bleeding, but asked if he's ok and the thumbs up signals my sign to continue, but again wary of the slippy conditions lochside.
4 miles further on I see a flash of colour, before I'm passed by some SE'ers heading from Selkirk to Moffat, and wave at them. Tempted to spin round and give chase, but time is getting on and i don't want to appear on the crash scene with the fuzz starring at me.
Stop at the Gordon arms to find its shut! Gits!
The road has never seemed so short. We appear in Selkirk, stunned at the lack of time 34 miles has just taken
From there we head for the A7 Hawick and then take a wee road off to St Boswells. Epic little tracks around here, change tact again and head staright for Melrose, coming in to the town via the Golf Course, and some great twisties, a few sideways antics and having overtaken the occassional motorist in a flash!
Through the town, on to the Gattonisde road (7 jumps in a 2 miles!) and then up to Scotts view. The winding road before this up the hill and past the Redpath turn off is a great road for checking a cars handling. The atom screams up the hill, remarkable, having to back off at times such is the surge! The intake noise is intense on vtec, even with the helmet on! Some sideways action, airing off the crest, things that rarely happen on this road unless the car has serious go (its the first time I've aired the crest!).
Up to Scotts view (one of my favourite spots!) and took the pics!
Point her north and up the A68, after we've run down through Earlston. I've driven this road thousands of times, but again nothing has come close to the overtaking ability of this car. On a straight were the 111r might have managed to get past 2/3 cars, the Atom explodes past 7, in a staggering show of pace! I'm changing gears like a lunatic to try and stop it hitting the limiter
I'm giggling in to the intercom again! Love this car. The road is dryer which is helping and i'm using vtec to the max! The bypass offers the last chance to give it full beans..its rude not too!
Get home, wash it and pop it back in the garage! It was caked in muck, and i know that Tut would appreciate that - the sign of some good useage
Here's hoping this weekend is sunny again!
Incidentally, did think when i was driving it how much less effort the Elise was in these conditions and what remarkable wee cars they are
Its now 3pm, what an awesome Sunday! Roll on the summer!
