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Euro Combo 2006 by Stormy ‘Mark Stevens’
Ideally articles like this one should be written
as soon as you get home from the trip tired with adrenalin still coursing
through your veins, car looking grubby, disintegrated insects stuck to the nose,
on the tip of the bonnet scoop and smeared across the windscreen, exhaust tip a
tad sooty, the stainless a tinged blue from heat rather than after you have
received your bank statement with not a lot else but a list of French,
Luxembourg, German and Belgium garages each with 60 euros billed.
The European Combination of touring and track driving was not planned it just
evolved during this years dark and endless February. Once a few people had
booked a place on the MLR organised track day at Spa on the back of a couple of
calls and emails the conversations extended to “hey if we are popping over for a
track day at Spa on the August bank holiday why don’t we visit the Nurburgring
and tour a little and take a few days extra holiday”. Without any delay or
hesitation the leave and ferries were booked, the kitchen and office calendars
had Euro Combo written boldly in capitals just in case we should dare to forget,
and for all to see.
With a little thought a day to day plan was created between the drivers
attending; at this point we had an Evo IX GT, Evo VII, Spec C, Type RA V6, TVR
Griffith, Fettled WRX and Classic Impreza Turbo on the list. Having a good mix
of cars always makes this type of trip more enjoyable, as it gives you a chance
to drive with different cars in varied road and track conditions.
The Plan
Day 1
Group meet at Dover Ferry port, Ferry over to Boulogne, Cruise in company to
Reims for lunch, Drop south of Reims and blast across country to Metz then pick
up Auto route to Luxembourg.
Day 2
Leave Luxembourg pick up Auto route to Trier, Germany drive a number of this
years German WRC stages around Trier and through the Rhine Valley Vineyards.
Then work our way north to Nurburg via Cochem.
Once in Nurburg meet at the “Pistenklause” with other
SIDC and MLR drivers also en-route to Spa for dinner.
Some of the WRC stages we intended to Blast through!!
Day 3 Drive
the Ring all day then cruise in company to Spa, Belgium.
Day 4 Join
the MLR organised track day at Spa.
Day 5 Drive in company through Belgium
and Northern France to Boulogne and home
Lead Up
The Combo seemed so far away at some points,
and almost painful in the seemingly un-ending wait, and yet suddenly it was time
to go. Sadly both Terry’s type RA and Dave’s Evo VII engines died prior to the
trip so no Euro Combo for them, a real shame. On the positive side five cars is
an ideal number of cars for rapid cross country progress.
Day 1 (Friday 25th Aug)
After a very sleepless night
(a bit excited) I woke up to the sun rising and excited text messages from the
rest of the group en-route. Outside two Impreza’s dripped with heavy dew,
Martins WRX (aka bugeye) and my Specie, final checks for our passports and ferry
tickets and we were off to board the seven o‘clock ferry from Dover via one of
many petrol stations we would visit over the next days, we met Mark (aka Mrk)
and his Evo IX GT first, and yes at the petrol station in Dover. First time I
had seen Mrk’s new Evo IX GT and I must say it looked great in the flesh and
makes the Evo VIII which I used to have suddenly look dated.
As we then drove to the port
we picked up the company off Keith in his immaculate classic turbo, Barry &
Rhona in there hunky TVR Griffith. While passing through the Dover Ferry Ticket
Offices and looking in my rear view mirror I suddenly see Martin being directed
off the road by HM Customs to have his car searched. It was a very detailed
search with the officers asking why his car didn’t have a rear-wiper. Martins
luck did nothing more than trigger group banter, the adventure had started!!
After disembarking in
Boulogne the five cars grouped ready for the first stage to Reims for lunch,
route was agreed and Tom Tom and Navmans referenced. Perfect opportunity to
snap a photo off the cars grouped to text to Terry (aka Terry Beast) at work to
make his day. Terry’s response was not very polite funny enough.
Now Tom Tom and Navman really
did not want to agree so by the time we had left Boulogne we had already lost
Martin who was now heading for the N42 whilst we were on the A16. Throughout the
rest of the trip our electronic guides did nothing but introduce us to various
fields, children’s playing fields, footpaths, disused garages etc. So much so
that Mark renamed the Tom-Tom “Bam Bam” as you really wanted to smash the thing
as it continually got us lost!
First stage to Reims an easy
one, Martin managed to get ahead of us by taking the N42 and A26 and we meet him
at services north of Reims, of course Martin made a real point of standing by
his car ignoring our arrival having fuelled in advance. Right game on!!
After an excellent lunch and a cultural visit to Reims Cathedral which is well
worth a visit with its imposing architecture and dominant position in the heart
of the City. We thought the Isles are big enough to drive cars around and with
the cathedral harmonics it would be fabulous. Back to the cars now fed and
watered our destination for the first evening was Luxembourg via a little
planned detour of course!
We dropped south out of Reims towards Vitry Le Francois very soon we recognised
the tree lined N roads as Mark and I had driven them last year on the Stelvio
tour. So time to up the pace much to the confusion of Martin, Barry, Rhona and
Keith who were trying to understand the over taking signals with the lead car
moving to the other side of the road indicating it was clear to over take.
However the group soon sussed out the way to make fast safe progress and very
soon life driving relatively quiet French N and D roads was simply fantastic. At
Vitry we dropped onto D roads interrupted every 5 miles or so when the group
would drop into picturesque Stella Artois advert style stone villages, with old
bridges, quiet market streets and smiling and pointing locals. Then once we past
the village speed limit, blast onto yet another flowing tree lined road all with
a mixture of excellent visibility and scenery as we crossed De Lorraine region
towards Metz.
The sound track was simply awesome and even better on these real roads the whole
group despite chosen car manufacturer and model was travelling at a similar pace
with enough poke left to over take and catch up if any group member managed to
get stuck behind slower traffic. Bar stories were starting to form.
We had planned to reach the Novotel Hotel in Luxembourg no later than six. We
joined a very busy A31 Auto route at Metz an hour later we arrive at the Hotel.
The idea being to chill out for an hour then pile into town for some dinner and
a quiet drink.
It’s my first time to Luxembourg and it’s a very clean and picturesque city. The
cocktails flowed, and so did the Leffe!! The food and wine also very good, but
the Leffe beer too good, oh dear!! So much for the early night in preparation
for driving selected German WRC stages on day 2.
Day 2
A
late night in Luxembourg saw a slow start for all drivers, except for Mark who
caught the lift down with his folding bucket and sponge, soapy suds wobbling on
top, much to the curiosity of tourists and business folk. He was off to wash the
brake dust off his wheels from day ones driving exuberance across France.
After Mark had cleaned his wheels we sat down to plan the route to Nurburg
including driving at least 5 German WRC stages en-route, lots of coffee and
water was needed.
Finally we left the hotel mid morning and drove out of a deserted Luxembourg in
the sun and the group joined the E44 auto route to Trier in Germany. The scenery
with mist rising from the forests around the Mosel Valley was beautiful.
So 5 WRC stages to go, but first a treat for the cars, time to find some 100 ron
V Power. All heads had cleared, cars warmed through nicely with Tom Tom and
Navman continuing to disagree seeing many U Turns in the middle of quiet German
villages around Trier until we finally found the start of the stages. Luckily
the locals enjoyed watching and listening to the cars as we huddled around maps
and our electronic foes. TVR was getting most of the attention with its
grumbling V8.
Soon the road width and road surface quality reduces along with the local
traffic disappearing. Welcome to the stages. Let us say that with very little
traffic, hairpin corners, off camber roads, sun rays reaching through the forest
canopy and the vineyards you can do nothing but enjoy the ride and trust the
lead car. It is very easy to believe the speeds you read about during the German
WRC, the roads are very fast as mortals of course we give some respect to the
stages whilst enjoying the ride.
In between stages we stopped for a U turn, everyone points and laughs as I turn
round, little did I know just how much Pagid and DBA discs can smoke, yep this
was great fun Keith also had similar results? Think it could have been the late
braking into rock lined corners and Bam Bams continual attempts at putting the
group off cliffs, into forests and fields that warmed the brakes through nicely.
On stage 3 after two thirds of the stage that had us blasting up single track
vine yard roads we have a problem, the tarmac stage turns into gravel tracks and
the TVR starts to ground much to the amusement of the Evo and Scooby drivers,
think its time for lunch after reversing the group back down 250 yards of tight
track.
We found a small hotel set in the vineyards for lunch were you could have
anything to eat as long as it was the sausage speciality and coke, put it this
way the salad was definitely off. Whilst we waited the owner explained how much
he loved the German WRC as every time a car leaves the road and damages his
vines he gets a considerable amount of money, one thing for sure the hotel had a
stunning view of the stage. I understand car numbers are harder to read upside
down amongst the vines to make a claim.
Speciality arrived and the table went very quiet as 12 by 2 inch sleeves of pig
gut stuffed with something laid on a bed of cabbage appeared. Coke was nice.
Think it was time to make a move, crack 1 more WRC stage and then work our way
cross country to Cochem then onto Nurburg.
Whilst eating we were surprised by the size and number of Wasps flying down onto
plates and grabbing pieces off sausage, how clever during lunch I had left my
windows open.
Imagine that perfect long sweeping corner all cars nicely spaced the world
moving quickly when all the sudden wasps start flying back and forth across my
windscreen cars ahead wonder why Stormy is dropping back, cars behind wonder why
I am waving my arms around and slowing on such a fantastic corner, I leave it
with the simple statement that the wasps were so big they wore sunglasses!.
Stages over we pick up the road following the Mosel North East signs towards a
small town called Cochem. A good road if a little busy that passes by a number
of old castles and vineyards but boy I was looking forward to a decent coffee
and a nice slice of German cake. Sadly the whole world had the same idea so
after 45 minutes and no less than six group three point turns trying to find
parking for 5 cars in Cochem we decided to call it a day and left Cochem headed
for Nurburg.
My intent in the future is to stay in Cochem for my next visit to the Ring. The
towns position on the river is superb, it is one of the most famous in the whole
of the Moselle region, with its thousand year old fairy tale Imperial Castle
towering above the vine covered hill sides and a town full of half timbered
houses nestled together against the steep slopes of the valley.
We arrived at Hotel Zurburg in time for a few beers. We checked in, Mark having
a double room despite being on his own, and I wondered why?? Until I saw my
single room!! No windows, a huge slope at one end, meaning I had to sleep on the
tiny bed the wrong way round, no shower, just a basin, oh and a remote control
for the television. Which I didn’t need as I could easily reach the television
buttons from my rested head on my pillow. This was how small the room was, much
to the amusement of the rest of the group.
We met Jay (aka jaymawrx) and Steve in their classic white RA and then walked to
the Pistenklause where we meet Stuart (WRX) and his son Charlie who was very
excited to be in Nurburg along with Paul (MR2 Turbo) for dinner. 14 of us sat
and consumed fabulous steaks along with the beer talked and laughed about the
day’s adventures and spent a little time walking around looking at the myriad of
photos on the walls. Some faded, some new. The Pistenklause has some real
motoring history it is a place you must visit.
Day 3
The weather for the first two days of the trip had been great, having never
driven the Ring in the dry or even the damp I was hoping my dreams would come
true! Second visit to the Ring, no such luck.
The Ring was wet and slippery all day, so we only unfortunately did a few laps
each. Most did have fun jumping in each others cars for passenger rides when not
driving. It soon became time for lunch and I jumped in Mark’s Evo along with
Barry & Rhona to head to the Grand Prix circuit diner for food. Mark decided to
my horror that it would be fun to go to lunch via a lap of the Ring. The three
of us sat in bug-eyed silence the entire 8mins 40secs it took to go round, with
the Evo’s tyres struggling for grip on every turn in the wet conditions, and the
suspension somehow managing the huge compressions and bumps four up, and at
speeds I daren’t think about and gladly could not see. With Marks seat obscuring
my view of the dials, but unfortunately not the track.
It was an enthralling lap though, and proved the incredible competence of the
Evo IX GT, oh and of course Mark. When finally at lunch Mark said he has never
known me to be so quiet and mentioned it was a very pleasurable time indeed.
After a good lunch watching motorbikes blast down the Grand Prix pit straight
from our diner seating we headed back for some more lapping, but at 15:30 the
sky’s darkened and the heavens opened. Time we thought to pick up our stuff from
the hotel and head for Spa-Francorchamps. Once we had all got very wet loading
up the cars at Hotel Zurburg, Jay and Steve joined the group with their white
classic RA and we were off to Belgium just ninety minutes from Nurburg.
Once booked in at the Le Relais de Pommard hotel in Spa Francorchamps along
with many other drivers we booked a taxi to go to Stavelot a very traditional
Belgium village about 7 miles from Francorchamps. Time to check out Belgium beer
and food, Stavelot is a lovely little town, Stavelot like Malmedy is both one of
Belgium’s oldest and newest towns at the same time, one of the oldest because
its foundation dates back to 647AD and newest because it was not part of Belgium
until 1920 when it was ceded by Germany as reparation for the first world war.
Day 4 (Monday)
We awake to a very damp morning, nervous conversation at breakfast and we join a
convoy of Evo’s on there way to the circuit. I wished it was dry, Mark “the wet
king” cannot wait, Barry is wishing even more than me that it was dry for his
TVR or that he had brought his P1 along.
On a positive note we can all spend the day learning the lines on the 4.33mile
circuit with its famous corners the hair pin at La Source, the drop into Eau
Rouge, the very fast Kemmel, brake into Les Combes drop to Malmedy, on the power
to ravage, Pouhon, Les Fagnes, Stavelot, the faster than it looks blanchment,
Bus Stop and finally back to the pit straight.
At this point I will point you to Mrk’s article in the last Wastegate chatter
Issue just about the day at Spa.
Day 5 (Tuesday)
Guess what its stopped raining just drizzle so feeling more autumn than summer
sadly its time to drive home. Just two more blast’s left. Blast One to Boulogne
and Blast Two home around the M25. Blast one seems suddenly more exciting as we
ponder the day ahead.
As we cruised through Belgium the group crushing the mileage you suddenly become
aware of how close the group has become in just five days of motoring heaven.
Each car an extension of your own driving experience the sound of each car its
identity, the drivers introducing personality. I always say that with these
trips it’s not just the journey, the destination we are heading to or even
watching these fantastic cars up close pushed and driven as they should be, but
the people that come on these trips. That and they are what have made the last
two Euro Blasts such fun and memorable to the point of giving me goose-bumps
just thinking and writing about them.
After seemingly flying through Belgium soon we are back on French auto routes
being a little more careful with our speeds, but as a final treat we hit a very
clear N42 with its long snaking curves before the group slowed and dropped into
Boulogne for a compulsory duty free stop before boarding the Ferry UK bound.
All cars had shrugged away the 1500 miles of hard driving without any issues the
TVR had not needed any of the £750 spares pack sourced specially for the trip.
Sure tyres were a little worn and every ones brakes had certainly been bedded
in. At least mine and Keith’s had stopped smoking.
Back in blighty we did have one last bit of fun before parting company. There is
a tunnel a few miles outside of Dover. We all grouped together in both lanes,
minus Martin as he had been detained again by HM Customs, and slowed, just as we
entered the tunnel we all floored the loud pedal and 4 cars screamed through the
tunnel, windows down, wind rushing in being forced by our exhausts reverberating
off the tunnels cylindrical walls and smacking straight into our ear drums. What
a loud aural delight and a fantastic goodbye to and from everyone for the trip..
For me the last leg felt strange, driving home without Marks Evo IX carbon
spoiler glinting in the sunshine leading the way, Barry and Rhona’s TVR being
directly in front all squat and road hugging, Martins distinctive Green bug eye
with his morette head lights filling my rear view mirror and finally but not
least Keith’s silver turbo acting as the group after guard.
Funny that 20 miles before I arrived home my windscreen cracked, so I reckon the
car must have been grinning as well.
So I now cannot wait until next years Euro Combo and Euro Blast 2007. Plans are
already being made. Watch this space, and if you are interested then please let
me know, you will not be disappointed.
Stormy
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