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.

Ooooh....fog lights!

Having purchased a set of fog lights from ebay for £3.70 (the postage cost more!), I brought them into work on Saturday to ask how they are wired in. Thankfully one of the technicians then duly offered to do them for me saving the headache of trying myself - especially when there were no instructions. So now the car is complete, decals in place, interior cleaned and 4 weeks to go until we travel halfway round Europe!.

Another successful day

Yesterday saw a bit more activity around the Golf in the form of a wash and brush up. A quick vaccum, change of mats and a wash made the Golf almost sparkle!. Also managed to get the ipod connection working on the new stereo system as well. Now that the car is insured and taxed it will give us an opportunity to start giving it a run out before the trip to Italy in 5 weeks time!. The afternoon was then spent with a karting event at Rogue Racers in Aylesbury with a few of this years other scalliers - lots of fun and great chat too, looks like everyone is really gearing up for what should be a great event!

Why aren't computers like cars?

So here's the problem, our 2 yr Norton Anti-virus subscription expired last week so I thought it was a good idea to renew it. However, at £85 for another 2 yrs I thought this was a bit expensive so I purchased a different anti-virus program much cheaper to replace it. I then went about trying to protect our computer by un-installing the Norton to download AVG. Simple I thought, but oh how wrong was I?!?, turns out that by not un-installing it properly I now can't get any internet connection - not good!!. As a result, I've left the problem for Claire to sort!. Frustrated by the computer, I turned my attentions to our Golf instead and more importantly the replacement of the front discs. So given a couple of spare hours on Saturday evening the car went up on the ramps and I started to take the wheels off and then the brake calipers off to then replace the discs themselves. Now why are computers like cars?? I can take off (un-install) the old discs, I have my new discs along with the new bolts and new sleeves to go on (bit like the new software) and I can see if I go wrong then sort it, but with a computer - now that's a different matter. Grrrr!!

More Hammerite

After applying the Viper Stripes, Claire set about tidying up the messy numbers I applied to the car last year for the Ireland scally. Armed with masking tape and black hammerite the numbers were outlined in tape in order to paint over the scruffy outlines.

The photo below shows the numbers as they were from last years rally.

The photo below shows the numbers taped and painted with a black outline.

We have decided to leave the tape on until the weekend in order for the hammerite to harden and to make sure that it doesn't run again.

The trouble with Viper Stripes is....

A day off and another chance to do some changes to the car. Today was spent looking up at the sky and hoping is wasn't going to rain because we wanted to tidy up the previously painted numbers and apply the viper stripes to the bonnet. Armed with plenty of masking tape, black hammerite, a water sprayer and a roll of white vinyl we set about planning our changes.

Firstly the Viper Stripes, now having read various reports on the internet about how difficult these were to apply I soon found out how true this was. However, we soon found the right technique to eliminate the bubbles and creases from the vinyl.

Major sponsorship announcement due

Negotiations are still taking place but we should hopefully be able to announce a major sponsorship deal very shortly so watch this space!

Things to do......

A quick list of things still to do on the car -

1. Fit new brakes discs to the car
2. Replace current radio/cassette sytem with a cd/ipod player
3. Paint front calipers and rear brake drums
4. Put the old interior in the shed.
5. Stick the Swiss Vignette to the windscreen
6. Tax and insure the car
7. Finish putting the decals on

More of a reminder to myself rather than an update!!

The car

The Car - updated

New Team Name

For this years Scally Rally MM, our team name has been decided and will be Notasundaydrive.

This years Charity

It has been decided that this year we will be fundraising for MacMillan Cancer Support so if you wish to sponsor us, click on the link opposite. Thank you!!

Scally car makeover

So the sun came out today and after a morning of running around the football field I felt it was about time to go and play with the Scally car again. Armed with our new decals, a toolbox and a couple of wheel braces we set about the task of giving the car a little revamp. A quick clean of the car allowed Claire to take an artistic view with the decals, so we now have names on the side windows 'WRC rally' style and various supplier decals on the front wing and doors.

You may also notice our shiny new wheels!!

Hotels Booked

Having recieved the MM pack from Scally HQ this week, I set about the task of booking our accomodation for the trip. With the ferry crossing all in place a few weeks back, I spent a night in front of the computer finalising hotels - some of which were recommended in the pack and some which just happened to look good and not cost a fortune!!. It just now leaves the car to tax and insure then put the final design touches to it before we depart for Europe in June. Far too organised.

A final fundraising total

I'm pleased to announce that the final total raised for the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals Cancer Campaign is a respectable £841 against our target of £1000. A big thank you to all those who donated. As yet, we are still to decide on the recipient of this years fundraising for the Mille Miglia.

MOT passed

The Golf was booked in for its MOT on Saturday 23/1 and the good news is that it has passed. The only issue now is a small coolant leak which seems to have developed from the water housing flange. As a result a replacement part has been ordered along with a new set of hose clips - 30 minute repair with any luck and a chance to replace the antifreeze in the system. Will need to do an oil change as well on the car before setting about designing the final look of the car.

New year - new interior

New seat ready to go in (above)

New seat in place(above)

Old seat out ready for new seat


A new year and a new challenge. The MM is now only 6 months away - sounds a long time but it will soon creep up on us and as a result its time to start the preparation for this year's car. Fortunately it's the same as last year's car - the trusty VW Golf. However for the MM I have decided to replace the interior, if we're going to be driving around 3000 miles in total then we are going to need some seats with some decent support. Therefore, with this morning's football cancelled I decided to go and play with the Scally car and after just over an hour of playing, the old blue cloth interior had been replaced with a nice black GTI interior with sports seats providing much more support than on the Ireland run last year.