Road trip round Europe (Playtoy 1000) in the 197

[mini_nick]

Recently myself and a group of friends had a road trip, setting off from Leeds we drove down to Amiens in France for a night stop. On from here we drove over to Luxembourg - with a stop in Reims on the way to visit the old GP circuit. After an evening in Luxembourg we set off over to the Nurburgring where we drove in the evening session (2 hours) before staying an evening by the circuit. We then headed back to Rotterdam for a ferry back to Hull.

It all went without hiccup (apart from getting the 172 cup stuck in an underground car park!)

Even though I only did 2 laps of the Ring in the 197, I couldnt get over how well it went round, feeling at home with the handling being spot on and the brakes not showing any signs of fade!

Anyway, here are some pics! - with a video to follow shortly

http://www.flickr.com/photos/playtoymotorsport/sets/72157605542812894/

 

[Alan]

Looked a good trip matey, some stunning shots there too!!

 

[mini_nick]

Cheers, it was a good trip - was great to see one of the locals at the ring using a clio cup race car (197) on the road! after the session had finished he just drove it home! sounded nuts with the sequential box blasting up the main road

 

[.GAZ.]

crackin pics mate!! The R27 is sweeeeet!!

 

[Christopher]

I'd love to do something like this!

Great pictures!

 

[cal46]

cool pic's was the VLN racers doing a bit of testing before the evening session's?

 

[Ian]

Excellent photos, what camera were they taken with? Looks like you have a good laugh along the way.

 

[mini_nick]

I'd love to do something like this!

Great pictures!

Do it! it was awesome! - costs were not too bad either

Based on 2 per car our costs were...

£205 pp for hotels (3 nights inc breakfast & ferrys)
£120 pp for petrol (197 averaged 25mpg over the whole trip)
£35 2 laps of nurburgring

+ spending money (meals and drinks etc) didnt spend that much though

I reckon 475 - 500 all in for 4 and a bit days away - well worth it in my opinion!

 

[mini_nick]

Excellent photos, what camera were they taken with? Looks like you have a good laugh along the way.

I took those with my Nikon D80, just took the 18 - 135 lens which is nothing special - but seems to produce some good results!

 

[Ian]

Well even with a normal lens you're going to struggle to take poor photos with that camera to be honest lol, more than I can afford! Still, great compositions though!

Extremely tempted to go and do similar over the summer too.

 

[fuzzi]

looks like great fun

 

[mini_nick]

cool pic's was the VLN racers doing a bit of testing before the evening session's?

Yeah there were a few of them testing before the track opened to the public, was good to watch! there was a black 430 ferrari with orange wheels - looked awesome but didnt manage to get a pic unfortunately!

 

[Eckascliovalver]

now thats how its done impressed! that cup looks awesome round the ring, i just about jizzed everywhere

 

[hillclimber]

Cool Pics Nick! i'll dig some out off our camera and get them on too.

Waynes not smiling for some reason in the shot of him in my cup passenger seat blasting round!!

Simon

 

[BioHzrd]

Some real good shots in there looks like a good trip

 

[Paul.]

crackin pics mate!! The R27 is sweeeeet!!

+1

 

[madmike1]

you do know that lohen is a bmw mini tuning company!

 

[mini_nick]

you do know that lohen is a bmw mini tuning company!

Yes Used to have a cooper s!

 

[ForceIndia]

f**king love the viper green M3, think a 182/197 would look incredible in that colour.

 

[mini_nick]

f**king love the viper green M3, think a 182/197 would look incredible in that colour.

I had to stop all the traffic to get that pic! - it looked awesome! - was on a british reg too!

 

[ForceIndia]

f**king love the viper green M3, think a 182/197 would look incredible in that colour.

I had to stop all the traffic to get that pic! - it looked awesome! - was on a british reg too!

That and racing blue are my favourite colours for cars, had one, now just need to get my hands on a gt3rs:evil:

 

[mini_nick]

A racing blue gt3 rs with black rims... could look nice!!!

 

[mini_nick]

http://www.vimeo.com/1156515

Video there of my first lap

 

[Iridium]

Awesome pics

Doing a similar trip in 10 days in the R27 with 2 mates. Going to Dover, then across to Calais, the The Ring for two nights, then down to Monaco over the next few days - taking in all the roads on the TG best driving roads episode. So, San Bernadino Pass, Davos to Stelvio, Col de Turini. Then staying in Monaco for a night and finally driving back up through France to Calais and home over the remaining time

Dan

 

[mini_nick]

Awesome pics

Doing a similar trip in 10 days in the R27 with 2 mates. Going to Dover, then across to Calais, the The Ring for two nights, then down to Monaco over the next few days - taking in all the roads on the TG best driving roads episode. So, San Bernadino Pass, Davos to Stelvio, Col de Turini. Then staying in Monaco for a night and finally driving back up through France to Calais and home over the remaining time

Dan

Awesome! you will clock up some miles! i found on the autobahns that the clio will not do more than 138 indicated (134 sat nav)! that was at 7000 rpm in 6th gear, unless mine is a slow one!... on the flat you will struggle for any more!

 

[Iridium]

Anout 2,600 miles we reckon. I'm sure 138 indicated will do hehe, at that rate it would be a fuel stop every half hour!

Dan

 

[Beef-Mc]

Some good shots there.

 

[mini_nick]

Anout 2,600 miles we reckon. I'm sure 138 indicated will do hehe, at that rate it would be a fuel stop every half hour!

Dan

Yeah its plenty enough! I was so impressed with the R27 on the trip, not once did I find anything to dislike about it, on the roads leading up to the nurburgring it was awesome! It also felt great on the motorways and the recaro's looked after my back, even after 400 miles with only a small break it was still perfectly comfortable (so much for the press saying its no good on motorways!)

 

[Sarah]

great pics as ever nick

 

[Leeshez]

Crackin piccy

 

[Poopensharten]

that C2 GT brings back happy memorys of the car that once was lol

 

[mini_nick]

that C2 GT brings back happy memorys of the car that once was lol

It went surprisingly well around the nurburgring! wasnt too bad all round really, just the guy driving it nearly passed out without aircon

 

[Poopensharten]

Aye that was the one thing i wont miss about it lol

Very capable cars even with the tractor like centre of gravity lol

 

[PrincessJessica]

like i have said nick i want my invite next time!!!x

 

[Poopensharten]

Id defo be up for a trip to the 'ring

Tiz a trip worth made if not for the experience but to say you have been...!