Well Blitz Krieg turned out to be not a bad moniker for the trip
Left Iddon Towers at 02:30 with the remnants of last nights Crispy Duck packed for emergency rations (for Tut, obviously, not me).
Met up with Stu and Campbell at the new A68 extension as agreed, everything bang on schedule, we left at 03:10. Unfortunately the A68 conditions were poor south of the border. A very light dusting of snow lying on the ground and some heavy rain and winds left the road surface treacherous. Plenty of slippy moments in Campbell's passenger seat (I was glad he was driving as it meant no pressure on me worrying about binning his car
). Campbell was taking it easy, I felt, which was what I would have done too. Unfortunately easy on T1's is not easy on A048's as Tut found out with a slow motion spin that resulted in N3TUT off the road. We couldn't pull her out (absolutely no chance without a winch), and the conditions were too wet and cold to hang about - the sort of conditions people end up dying in up mountains. So we packed everything into the remaining two cars and headed off the Newcastle Airport petrol station - warm, light and dry. Tut called the AA who were fantastic - accidents are not really their problem, but they came to the rescue anyway. Tut had to wait for them, and now he was safe and sound it seemed like we should head south to try to get Stu and Campbell down to North Weald as soon as possible.
In fact, I made a mistake on the navigation and we ended up losing another 40 minutes on the M1, so we eventually got there for 11:00 which meant they missed a couple of hours, but better than nothing.
The usual hooning at North Weald, though it was very cold, horizontal rain and very slippery. The high speed bend was not so high speed (though some were doing it faster than others
). Unfortunately we didn't get time for people to do the test circuit more than once, but it was still fun and there was a hint of competition in the air
Tut arrived at 15:00, the AA having pulled him out, and after an extensive test drive he declared N3TUT 100% (i.e. no more wrecked than it normally is).
Then a slow run over to the channel tunnel (QE2 bridge closed due to "high" winds - pathetic southerners) meant it took an hour longer, but we still managed to squeeze onto the correct train. One slight hitch was that I had the keys to Neil's brand new Exige in my pocket, on the train, whilst he and his car were still in the car park. Oops. (reminds me of when I put a fuse back in the wrong place on Tom & Ed's car, then got onto the ferry, only to receive a frantic call saying their car wouldn't start!! luckily I had a laptop with the wiring diagram to hand so could get the car running again before the ferry stopped loading!!). Luckily the platform attendant could radio back to get someone to drive over, pick them up, then bring Neil through with a special escort so that he still got on the train. Sorry Neil!!
A few beers and some grub later, off to bed (for what turns out to be the last time until this morning).
Next morning we have an easy start, 10:30 or so, aiming to get to the ring for around 15:00. Along the way it transpires that Andy, Ronnie & Walshy are already on their way home due to a small problem with the R400 - they had driven through the night to get there and were planning to drive through the night to get back again. It turns out Neil (Mckean) had a spare helmet in the Rangie that he would need for his pal Rab the next day, so I volunteered to RV with the Rangie to fetch it back whilst Neil did the last hour or so of the ring track day. After some crossed wires, I eventually work out where the Power Rangers are sitting in a layby and meet up with them. I persuade Walshy to come back to the ring with us as we can get him in somebody's pax seat (this is where things start to go wrong
).
So back to the Burgstube where we are all staying, and we decide to pace ourselves on the beer given we're off to Spa tomorrow. "Pacing" turns into "1 beer every 15 minutes"
Everyone enjoyed dinner at the steak on a stone place and then Ed says "Oh we're just going to the Lindenhoff for a quick one". Most people head back to the hotel after a beer or two, but for some reason Walshy, Gooldie, Stu stay for just one more. I seem to remember that Gooldie was still there at about 02:30 or so, but does see sense and goes to the hotel. Walshy and I get chatting to Renate and Magid (the landlady and her husband) about this that and the other; a whole bunch of locals descend on the place and it turns into a bit of a party. At 03:00 Renate tries to turn the lights out, but nobody will leave
At 06:00 we finally leave, just in time for breakfast. Obviously I cannot contemplate driving the car for many hours to come ...
Arrive at Spa by miracle ... the GPS packed up and I was trying to read off the printed google maps notes, which required me to keep track of which instructions I had already used and which ones were still to come - not easy after 1,000,000 beers!! I was reaching the limit of my ability to process when the GPS sparks back into life. I immediately pass out and wake up at Spa
I pax Campbell out for the sighting laps (which I mostly sleep through
) and then try to guide him round the circuit and am feeling quite chipper, surprisingly; I manage a 10 second power nap each time up the Kemel straight
. Campbell makes some good progress, pushing the braking further up the circuit and trying to find the grip, but I decide that after half an hour or so, it's time for a break to let it all sink in. I grab an old jumper and try to find a dry spot in the garage to grab 40 winks. Did I mention that it was raining?
Campbell goes back out a little later, but I'm worried about Walshy and Gooldie - they haven't been seen since breakfast and I cannot raise either of them on the telephone. I had landed Gooldie with Walshy as a pax as he was heading to Cambridge the next day, which means going past Walshy's place anyway. Sorry Gooldie - I owe you one (well many, actually). In the end I'm assuming he eventually managed to drag Walshy out of bed and poured him into the car just to take him straight home. Neither is seen at Spa all day - I do feel really bad about that bit
After lunch I go out with Campbell again and offer some less drunken advice
In the afternoon we get a chance to do an impromptu gaffer make over and toe link repair for one unlucky member - I won't mention names in case there are insurance implications.
That's the end of the wettest day at Spa I've seen ... we pile into the cars and head for the chunnel. Campbell, Tut and I make the 20:42 crossing by the skin of our teeth and some special driving in the chunnel complex
The ape is one train ahead of us and texts us regular updates to warn us of the weather ahead. Campbell and I are struggling a bit (well, me mostly, as I haven't really slept more than 30 minutes at a time for what is turning into 36 hours). I was thinking we would need to stop for some sleep somewhere, but after Campbell's next stint we swap drivers at the M6 toll and I buy a tin of Monster.
As we cross into Scotland, I mention to Campbell that it's the fifth country we've been in that day
Suitably charged, I manage to keep going for enough to do a couple of 80 mile stints, with Campbell picking up the rest.
Campbell drove through the nightmare snow that Tut described ... really no fun at all, but good for the concentration. Once the adrenalin wore off, he was properly tired though, so we gave Hamilton services the best present they deserve (;-)), swapped drivers and we arrived back in Edinburgh by 05:00 or so.
Highlights of the trip:
* Watching Stu & Campbell's faces as they go through the high speed bend with one finger on the wheel and not spinning ... priceless
* Tons of quality chat, mostly beer induced.
* An epic night in the Lindenhoff.
* A rewarding day at Spa for those that drove it. It's a scary place in the wet, and yet you learn so much.
Regrets:
* Not getting some sleep before Spa, and so not driving it myself.
* Andy, UncleRon, Gooldie and Walshy not making it to Spa at all.
* Knowing that we won't do it again until next year
Thanks to all that came - it really was a blast.
Until next time ...
Robin
Paul - we did seriously think about stopping, and that had been our plan all along stop if we got too tired. Had we got another 100 miles to go, I think we wouldn't have continued, but I worked out that from where we were, we each only had to make two stints to get home, and that seemed plausible. Had I been to bed the night before, it would have been easy enough for me by myself (done it a few times before).
Bob - agreed. Belgian motorways are very poor. Torrential rain on the motorway from Spa to Calais (most of which is in Belgium) was really tricky - there was so much spray that you couldn't see anything, standing water everywhere, random pot holes, unlit road signs (what use is a road sign that you cannot see???), etc., etc.
Tut has a moment barely 90 mins into the trip
Conscious Incompetence at the Walshy Day
Nailed it - new learnings thanks to Walshy. Eventually.
1st lap round Spa in p!ssing rain
1st scalp - 911 as well!
Entry to Eau Rouge via standing water
V-max at end of Kemmel straight braking to nearly nothing in 150m
Bed at 6am. 24 hours after getting out of it in the Burgstube, Nurburg. I must be mad.
