Zurich - Brescia

Saturday 26th June. Now on paper, Zurich to Brescia doesn't look that far, but when you mix in getting lost in Lucerne for around 45 minutes and todays challenge of taking in 3 alpine passes it becomes a totally different matter. After studying the map we decided to convoy up and take in Grimselpass, Furkapass and Julierpass. Once we had finally escaped the claws of Lucerne and filled up with fuel (we weren't anticipating many petrol stations at 7000ft up) we headed towards our first pass. At 2165m, the drive up to Grimselpass was like something out of a Top-Gear episode. The first thing you realise is how dramatically the temperature drops, that may sound silly when you're surrounded by melting snow but it still does take you by surprise a little. The other thing you notice is just how busy it is - hundreds if not thousands of motorcyclists are either riding up and down the roads or parked up having lunch and taking in the breath-taking views and you can understand why -

From Grimselpass, we take the short drive across to Furkapass 2436 metres up and more breathtaking views and roads. It was shortly after this that Wayne's Porsche encountered yet another problem. After taking in a few more winding roads we hit our first stretch of straight road when I realised the Porsche's problem - a wobbly front wheel! so our convoy pulled in and Wayne started to take the wheel off to take a closer look. The problem was diagnosed as a loose spacer causing the wheel to vibrate and wobble so after much tightening and checking we were back on our way in less than an hour.

In order to get across to Julierpass we headed for Chur and a chance to grab something to eat. It was at this point that the convoy split up but we were all heading for the same place so we hoped to meet up later. Another climb up to Julierpass at 2284 metres and yet another photo opportunity -

It was at this point we realised how long a drive today is/was because when we put Brescia into the Sat-nav our destination arrival was calculated to be 9.45pm!. Another fuel stop in St.Moritz and a photo opportunity with a delightful old Ferrari and we were on our way again, this time heading towards Pisogne and a drive alongside Lake Iseo. We finally reached Brescia shortly before 10pm and were thankful for a hotel. A draining day but so worth it!

Calais - Zurich

Friday June 25th and in the corner of the Citi-Europe car park in Calais something is stirring, 20+ cars lined up and ready for day one of the adventure. We get chance to have a look around all the entrants and they are a few attracting a lot of attention - namely the little Orange Mini and the re-appearance of the 'Back to the Future' Scirocco that was on last years Ireland run, this time updated in line with the 2nd film.

At 9am the air horn blasts to signify the start of this years Scally Rally MM, engines start and we are off. First challenge and the day's route in hand we all go in totally different directions as seems to be the norm! A little convoy of us, Peter and Andy, Wayne and Rach, and Cal and Rach make our way out of Calais and start heading for Zurich via Belgium and Luxembourg. No direct routes on a scally rally! this is all about trying to take in as much scenery and great roads as possible.


We make our way down to Arlon for our first fuel stop - 440 miles after we left home and the car running on fumes! A few running repairs on Wayne's Porsche and we are off again, this time heading for Zurich which we reach at around 6pm. After checking in to the hotel and a quick shower and change we head for our meeting point to hand in todays challenge. 2 beers, 2 glasses of wine and about £25 later we go to grab a burger and decide to make a start on the beers we bought in Calais. This was one of the best nights of the whole trip, sat out in the middle of Zurich just outside the hotel and with a coolbox full of beer, about 15 of us getting merry and taking the proverbial out of the Swiss.


Now this was the night that both Spain and Switzerland were playing their last group games in the World Cup so it was probably a little bit livelier than usual. Where we were sat drinking, there were a stream of vehicles going around the square which we were watching with great amusement! Zurich seems to have a love of really nice cars - Porsche's, Ferrari's and Lambo's graced out prescence along with the usual chav'd up models with big exhaust's, alloys and neon's!


Why is it that the unplanned nights are always the best? This was certainly one of them.

Scally Rally Convoy

It's been over a month since we returned from our european adventure and I thought it was about time for me to try and write up the story of our trip as best as possible. The morning of Thursday 24th June is an early start - awake with excitement at 5am - I finally get round to booking the return ferry crossing and make sure of some last minute packing. Peter comes over around 8.30/9am and we make the journey over to pick Andy up in Leighton Buzzard. A quick trek over to J9 of the M1 and we wait for the Astronauts in their Rover drop-top to start our first part of the convoy!. We then head of to our next destination - the Maidstone services to meet the rest of todays convoy. As we pull in we are greeted by Mr and Mrs Surfy in their Saab, Rach and Cal in their BMW and Oz and Tracy in their awesome Ford Mustang. Wayne and Rach have apparently struggled to get out of Swindon and a date with the AA man is already in progress! A short trip down to Dover and we pull in to our own Scally Rally lane, already there are 2 Porsches and a Jaguar and a joined shortly afterwards by a Mercedes and Eddie Plum in his Mk3 Golf.

Within a couple of hours we are in Calais, a quick lightbulb change (our only problem on the whole trip) and we check in at registration for the MM. A few beers and a few familiar faces to chat with, then Wayne and Rach arrive - Porsche fixed and a later ferry than booked but they are here. It's going to be a good trip.

Almost there!

In less than 48hrs we will be on the HMS Scally sailing our way over to Dunkirk for a 9am start in Calais on Friday. There are 2 planned mini-convoys on Thursday morning for the trip down to Dover, one via the Southbound M1 then clockwise around the M25 and the other going anti-clockwise around the M25. If you happen to be travelling on any of these roads between 9am and 11.30am look out for some awesome cars taking part. Of note, Oz's Ford Mustang, Wayner's Red Porsche 944 (anti-clockwise), Peter and Andy in their Saab 9000 and of course our VW Golf (clockwise) - it's going to be a blast!

New Sponsorship Part 2

I'm glad to announce our second sponsorship deal with Excel-Dents based in Stoke Mandeville. Rob and his team are Buckinghamshire based with over 25 years’ accumulative experience offering a complete mobile Paintless Dent Removal Service covering Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Bedfordshire, Warwickshire, Hertfordshire and surrounding areas. They have previously sponsored the football team I play for on a Sunday so I am delighted that they have agreed to sponsor our car this year.

New Sponsorship Part 1

I'm glad to announce a sponsorship deal with Fleetline Coachworks based in Leighton Buzzard. Lee and Andy have been repairing our vehicles at Keith Garages for a number of years now and come highly recommended. If you have an accident in a vehicle and require a local bodyshop repairer then contact either Lee or Andy @ Fleetline, Unit 1 Castle Commerce, Old Road, Linslade, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 2RG. 01525 384028.

Shakedown success

As in true F1 testing style I took the Golf out for a drive on Wednesday for its first proper run out since I got back from Ireland last year. Although it had been moved around the car park at work, this was a chance to make sure that everything was running smoothly and also to give the new brakes a chance to bed-in. I'm glad to report that not only did it make it around the 10 mile route in one piece but everything seems to be working as it should. Need to plan a couple more run out before the 'big one' in 4 weeks time.