Pauls ring trip write-up

[Paul.M]

Hi all

Over the recent bank holiday I embarked on a trip out to the ring so thought I would do a write up for it.

I went over with 2 friends and a group of 10 people I hadn't previously met, however after an hour or so of meeting them they made me feel very welcome and I knew the trip was going to be a great laugh!


Anyway onwards...

Friday 23rd August

We travelled down to London to meet up with a few of the other lads and we were met with a nightmare of a journey down (8 hours in total from blackpool to Watford)

IMG_1589 by theycallmepaul, on Flickr

The original idea was to stop on route and get 4 new tyres fitted to the car but due to the traffic and the panda running awkward size tyres this didn't happen, so we arranged to borrow some wheels off one of the lads in london.

We got down there and set about changing the wheels over at about 11 at night:

IMG_1590 by theycallmepaul, on Flickr

During the swap over it was noticed that the panda could do with new brakes up front so a quick call later (London has late opening car parts shops..amazing!)
and we had the parts and set about changing them over while munching pizza...The only way!

IMG_1595 by theycallmepaul, on Flickr

IMG_1598 by theycallmepaul, on Flickr

The original wheels then ended up going back on due to the spare set having an egg sized lump in the sidewall.

Saturday 24th August

We woke up at 5 and headed out to folkestone for the crossing.

IMG_1648 by theycallmepaul, on Flickr

IMG_1664 by theycallmepaul, on Flickr

9668685940_e422cd9199_c by theycallmepaul, on Flickr

IMG_1665 by theycallmepaul, on Flickr

On the train:

IMG_1672 by theycallmepaul, on Flickr

We had this lovely view behind us on the train:

IMG_1674 by theycallmepaul, on Flickr

Everyone met up on the other side due to different crossing times:

IMG_1683 by theycallmepaul, on Flickr

Then the drive through france, holland, belguim and finally out to the ring:

IMG_1693 by theycallmepaul, on Flickr

IMG_1722 by theycallmepaul, on Flickr

IMG_1719 by theycallmepaul, on Flickr

IMG_1715 by theycallmepaul, on Flickr

IMG_1718 by theycallmepaul, on Flickr

IMG_2140 by theycallmepaul, on Flickr

IMG_2055 by theycallmepaul, on Flickr

When we eventually got over there it was time to unpack and chill (while modifying a squeegee to be a go pro pole):

IMG_1735 by theycallmepaul, on Flickr

More to come....

 

[Paul.M]

Sunday 25th August

Woke up to this:

IMG_1864 by theycallmepaul, on Flickr

But...Out to the ring for the day!

IMG_1845 by theycallmepaul, on Flickr

IMG_1833 by theycallmepaul, on Flickr

IMG_1765-Edit by theycallmepaul, on Flickr

IMG_1867 by theycallmepaul, on Flickr

IMG_1878 by theycallmepaul, on Flickr

IMG_1884 by theycallmepaul, on Flickr

IMG_1893 by theycallmepaul, on Flickr

IMG_1778 by theycallmepaul, on Flickr

IMG_1874 by theycallmepaul, on Flickr

Then later that night the mischeif began:

Untitled by theycallmepaul, on Flickr

Untitled by theycallmepaul, on Flickr

Which resulted in (Sorry Owen):

Untitled by theycallmepaul, on Flickr

More to come:

 

[Paul.M]

Monday 26th August

A slow trip back to the crossing taking in a few stops on the way:

Started off with an awesome bakery!

Untitled by theycallmepaul, on Flickr

IMG_1921 by theycallmepaul, on Flickr

IMG_1919 by theycallmepaul, on Flickr

IMG_1906 by theycallmepaul, on Flickr

Circuit Zolder:

IMG_2074 by theycallmepaul, on Flickr

IMG_2070 by theycallmepaul, on Flickr

IMG_2094 by theycallmepaul, on Flickr

Stopping to get some pics of the cars after a pretty awesome tunnel run session (Video coming at some point):

9669256572_6791d2837c_c by theycallmepaul, on Flickr

IMG_1944 by theycallmepaul, on Flickr

IMG_1946 by theycallmepaul, on Flickr

And a few random ones from the trip back including hitting brussels at rush hour (Never again):

IMG_2096 by theycallmepaul, on Flickr

IMG_2101 by theycallmepaul, on Flickr

IMG_2035-2 by theycallmepaul, on Flickr

IMG_2014 by theycallmepaul, on Flickr

IMG_1985 by theycallmepaul, on Flickr

IMG_2150 by theycallmepaul, on Flickr

Tuesday 27th August

Quick check over of the car and back home to Blackpool

IMG_2156 by theycallmepaul, on Flickr

Overall

Anyone that hasn't yet done a trip out to the ring I highly reccomend it, the sights and sounds are something I won't forget.

I would like to thank the group I went over with for making me feel welcome and giving me a trip to remember.

But most importantly...

Bring on next time!

 

[-J-]

Great write up, I really do need to make a trip to the ring, on my list of 'must do's' but I never seem to get round to it.

 

[Matt W]

Good write up!

I would never ever leave anything to the night before, I had my tyres changed a couple of weeks ago and a service done today for my trip next week, prepared ftw.

 

[JackJack]

Great write up i need to do a euro race track trip.

 

[Paul.M]

Thanks lads

Good write up!

I would never ever leave anything to the night before, I had my tyres changed a couple of weeks ago and a service done today for my trip next week, prepared ftw.

You can't get much more last minute than that for a brake change! Totally unexpected but luckily it worked out fine, could have been a different story though

Next time we'll be checking over everything much further in advance, lesson learnt!

 

[-Rob]

All this has done is made me realise that I miss my 100hp and that a 'Ring trip needs to happen for me next year. Great pictures as well!

 

[andywa]

Nice write up mate.

Nowt wrong with leaving things to the last minute! I distinctly remember last year one of the group I was in changing their breaks in a petrol station car park in Belgium.

 

[realnumber 1]

Looks a good trip.

Lol @ the people who put the headlight stickers/insulation tape on the wrong side.

 

[Paul.M]

Sorry to bump this up but I've finally started uploading some videos:

[video=youtube_share;-bAgiJ0ZZqI]http://youtu.be/-bAgiJ0ZZqI[/video]

[video=youtube_share;3kWiDtx74Mg]http://youtu.be/3kWiDtx74Mg[/video]

I'll be making a montage from all the videos this week so I will post that up when done.

 

[DanielJames]

Good write up! I was there a few weeks before, I'll never forget the stone steak, cannot wait to go back

 

[Paul.M]

Good write up! I was there a few weeks before, I'll never forget the stone steak, cannot wait to go back

Me neither, will be sooner rather than later. Ever since I've got back though I have been browsing autotrader like theres no tomorrow!

 

[Paul.M]

A video that I put together from the trip.. flick it to 1080p

[video=youtube_share;tpZvOnoKmk0]http://youtu.be/tpZvOnoKmk0[/video]

For some reason the second camera used struggled to pick up black sections, Ill be investing in a go pro I think next.