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Euro Combo 08 The Reports
Euro
Combo 2008 the Write Ups!!
The Euro Combo - to the Nurburgring & Spa
This
years Euro Combo was blinding, not just because we had 5 days of
unrelenting retina burning sunshine but because those who went on the
extended trip had the rare privilege of driving some of the most remote,
scenic and inspiring roads found in the rural French Champagne region,
and across the pine tree and vineyard lined black top the German WRC
stages could offer.
On Day
1 and once pointed northwest of Reims into the deepest countryside in France possible we rarely
saw another car, in fact with me leading our convoy all I saw was the
glorious dust plume flicked up behind me and the ripened fields in
front. We drove through many ancient petite French villages with
dilapidated farmhouses and barns that appeared were deserted, but the
truth was there occupants were out working the fields, leaving the
narrow rugged and twisting roads to us, and man was it a riot. We drove
along rivers, through forests and over wild weirs, our cars hit yumps,
crests and deep dips, all the excitement of their drivers. We even
lunched outside a 500 year old French Mill where the only thing on the
menu was 'Steak avec frites' and it was perfectly cooked. The locals sat
around along the banks of the river and around a small lake fishing.
Photo's from left to right:Lunch 16th century style
-- How narrow is this road?
Awesome!
Dust, bends, scenery; nirvana
-- Track Masters; the best roads
This
was the most civilisation we saw for over 150miles until we arrived late
afternoon at our night-stop in the heart of Luxemburg. Cars battered
with euro-bugs and dust, we unloaded, and perched ourselves on the hotel terrace,
soaked the sun and admired the stunning view of the city before us, while supping local
beer for a couple of hours before continuing the chant of the days
activities over dinner in the cities vibrant restaurant area. This great
evening didn't end until the small hours.
Photo's from left to right:Beer on the terrace
-- One days worth of bugsView of Luxemburg centre from Hotel
-- Off to dinner
we go
Day 2
and with heads a little hazy we left after a late breakfast and entered
the world of the WRC rally driver. The first of the stages are only a
short hop from Luxemburg and we all revelled in the challenge of the
many hairpins, long technical corners, fast straights and undulating
vineyard lined roads, some were quite narrow and steep while others fast
and sinuous. Lunch was halfway and we sat outside a local pub eating
bratwurst and watching the locals zoom about on peculiar narrow and high
tractors made for working the grape vines. Then it was off out of
wine-land and into shadowed roads lined with 50m+ high pine trees,
through a national forest, back out and onto some of the roughest tarmac
we had driven on that day, snaking it away as it tried to chuck us off through the
many mid-bend dips, bumps and potholes. The stages ended with an awesome
single track gravel/tarmac section up the side of a large hill, through
a forest with fallen tress lining the road, around farmers fields and
out. Fantastic stuff.
Photo's from left to right:WRC style hairpin - The pinetree's lined road ahead - Into the winding wilderness,
typical stage link road
It
wasn't all over though as we had 20miles of derestricted autobahn to
play on before arriving at the Nurburgring in time for beer, sun and
icecreams and where we met up with the rest of the Euro Combo'ers and
before our date with the infamous Pistenklause arrived.
The next morning saw the
whole world seemingly rise and attempt to get into and through the gates
onto the hallowed tarmac that is the Nordschleife. In the 8 years of
coming here I have never seem so many people, and at least half were
English. Once out on the Ring though and as long as you maintained a
good turn of speed traffic was not a problem as it appeared most had
their eyes firmly on there mirrors. This was great news and allowed us
to set down some rubber burning laps and my Track Masters Evo Ring Taxi was
hauling people 4 up,
to their delight
around the circuit all day
and judging
by the screams and sometimes silence in the cabin. We had a great day.
Photo's from left to right:Ring Carpark, with Mrk & Tony
-- The long Q to get
in -- The Doc queuing up & smiling as alwaysBusy track action -- Still queuing
-- More track action
Hugh driving Stormy
This was topped off by a
blissful (windows down, cool air rushing in, the stereo pumped, and a
decent turn of speed) and an unusually deserted drive through the German
countryside and into Stavelot, near Spa. We had
a great night with
us all relaxed outside in this ancient cobble stoned square eating a
good meal and relentlessly trying to get the jovial staff to bring us
beer in large glasses and not in these tiny little half pint milk
glasses that the Europeans seem to love.
Trackday time at
Spa-Francorchamps and it was again glorious weather, and a first for
Spa.
Excitement
bristled on upstanding hairs on our arms as we drove into the huge and
awe inspiring new Formula 1 pit garages. Engines echoed as they warmed
in the morning silence only being drowned out by shouts of disbelief
over where we were. It was quite some moment and one to savour. These
new F1 pits were incredible and held such magic about them, we all felt
a little blessed to be there.
The
day was a blast, a great time was had by all. And a great time was also
had by us all at our favourite pizzeria in Stavelot that night, where we had proper
large pint glasses. How could you improve on this day?
Photo's from left to right:Our bustling F1 garage's -- The F1 pitlane -- Mrk doing another brake test, report out in Wastegate Chatter
Mrk & Stormy in action giving Euro Combo'ers track rides
Photo's from left to right:Martin attacking Eau Rouge -- Paul & Steve
along pit straight, Eau Rouge in the distance -- Stuart powering out of the chicane
Photo's from left to right:Paul exiting the chicane -- Don at the chicane -- The Doc powering out of La Source
Last night, and drinks in the sun, prior to the best pizza in town, and pint glasses
And a great time was also had by us all at our favourite pizzeria in
Stavelot (above) that night, where we had proper large pint glasses. How
could you improve on this day?
The whole trip was
brilliant, the people again making this trip into a truly extraordinary
adventure.
Mrk
!MORE photo's will follow.!
Photo's courtesy of Jonathon Traer-Clarke, Mrk & Hugh Buckley. Thank
you.
If you would
like to read more and from two of our Euro Combo attendee's then
please click on the photo's below.
 Click
for Nick's report
Click for Tony's report
Euro Combo 08 information
page
Attention!!
Would you like to do this trip in your own car or just go to the
Nurburgring, with a group of
friends? Well we can arrange everything for you, all you have to do is
let us know when and how many. Contact us.
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