Have you heard the one about the Irish man, English man, 2 Yorkshire men.......

Parisien · Apr 27, 2012

As the original Monte carlo or Bust thread is now novelette like long (183 pages), I've decided to start a thread with the un-expurgated version of said event.........

I expect to be contacted by several libel lawyers and be made take down certain compromising photos and perhaps have to go to confession after I have posted all and sundry items on this thread.....

Deep breath guys.......hang on to what ever is nearest to hand..........................

You have been warned.......................

P

Parisien · Apr 27, 2012

It all started with this from Lewis....................

Monte Carlo or Bust...

DATE NOW CONFIRMED AS WEEKEND OF 14 APRIL 2012

Just watching old Top Gear and fiddling with Google Maps.

Le Havre to Monte Carlo is 736miles if you go to Grenoble and drive the famous Route Napoleon, very easily doable over 2 days, or even one day with the right level of commitment (i.e. our partners don't join us!). I picked Le Havre due to the overnight ferry option from Portsmouth, you arrive in France early morning, raring to go after a decent brekkie and shower. It's always my preferred route!

I have never been to Monaco and would like to go, probably too late this year, espeically with our Swiss Alps trip this month, but next spring... who fancies it? I'd be happy to do the leg work and find the places to go, just wondering who'd like to join me?

Register your interest please

EDIT. ITINERY AS OF 28 FEBRUARY

12th April: Depart Dover to Calais (tunnel at 08:20) via Reims (few photos), D396/996 (Dijon Road, highly recommended) to Beaune, stay in Mercure Beaune.

13th April: Depart Beaune 9:30am, autoroute to Grenoble, find N85 (Route Napoleon, world class driving road) do 20 miles and stop for lunch. Head for Nice, 190miles, arrive at Elysee Palace. Dinner in Nice.

14th April free day, tour Monte Carlo, dinner somewhere swanky, black tie at Casino, usual cheesy stuff.

15th April group splits. Half go to Millau Gorge, stay at Bourges and arrive Calais 16th April (Or Paris, or Reims), the other half go into Italy, stay at Lake Como, tour the mountain passes below 1500m then head home on the West side of France or into Germany, possibly Black Forest. Calais 18th April.

Seemed like a goer....after all it was some 8 months away...........hhhhhmmmmmm

P

Parisien · Apr 27, 2012

As the furthest point away from the agreed rendezvous point, Eurotunnel on the Thursday morning I naturally had a bit more to do, arrange and drive than the rest, plus take in a full service at Autoshield in Manchester then stay with sisters near Gatwick, so by Thursday morning I'd already done 460 miles, spent a small fortune and had one ferry journey.........who said I don't suffer for our forum?!

P

Parisien · Apr 27, 2012

It was a lovely morning, up early, dry, M23, M25 and M20 all to ourselves...............I was mildly excited to say the least ...well thats what Madame Parisien said when she checked my portable heart monitor.....

Needless to say keeping an eye our for the motorway Stasi, cameras and various passion killers we kept to the various and numerous limits.

Eurotunnel hove into view, never done it before, sure enough in the carpark, two Maseratis were parked up......Miles and James......what a sight for sore eyes!

Coffees on board we indian filed towards the loading area, but all three of us were pulled to one side and had the cars drug swabbed........notoriety at last!!

Finally we were loaded onto a carriage by ourselves plus a nice looking Jag behind..........and as you can see from the photos.....a positively lottery like co-incidence if you see what I mean!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

P

Andyk · Apr 27, 2012

Good stuff Frank....

Parisien · Apr 27, 2012

Using the Eurotunnel really is a delight.......quickly on and quickly off.............next member to join was Robert at the first autoroute service area.......sure enough there he was at the pumps!

Second coffee of the day dispatched, introductions made and off we went.......

P

Parisien · Apr 27, 2012

The clouds had gathered as we drove ominous black plumes on our right......as we swiftly ate up the kilometres......we seemed to be able to keep our distance from it.......

Using our fancy SANEF autoroute bank account drainers we counted off the toll plazas one after another......( soon to be deducted from our accounts....yikes!)........Miles in his lead GS MC with sat nav veered off for the old REIMS race circuit remnants............a stand and whats left of the pits.......

P

safrane · Apr 27, 2012

Swabs are not for narcotics but for Arms & Explosives!

Always use the Chunnel and would never take a Ferry again...full of seamen!

dem maser · Apr 27, 2012

Very good frank......
Very funny peter.....

Whos is the black GS?

Is that an AC i see??

BennyD · Apr 27, 2012

The black GS is JamesC69. I did the Mersey tunnel with him a while back; we sounded awesome.

Emtee · Apr 27, 2012

And Robert (well more precisely Glenis

) has the AC.

dem maser · Apr 27, 2012

Your car looks the ******** miles.....can't wait to meet her......

So that's the famous hodroyd then?!

Parisien · Apr 27, 2012

We wound our way out of Reims, onto some D roads......lovely surfaces......properly cambered.....great sight lines........nearly empty........corners and curves were taken at GP speeds, local peasant traffic, when it did appear was dispatched with alarcity........( but more of that later.....

.....)....we drove on towards out first stop Beaune, a truly lovely little town devoted to wine and food..............perfect.

The meal that night was our first bonding session....Miles had chosen superbly........a wonderful meal was served and enjoyed, the company of Maseratisti strove to outdo itself...after each peel of raucous laughter......fabulous!

P

dem maser · Apr 27, 2012

Wish I was there.....

Anyone got any pics of what Nikos looks like??

Parisien · Apr 27, 2012

Not sure I have Dem.......but Nikos took a few pics of us and then we of him on his camera.......

P

Parisien · Apr 27, 2012

The next day dawned....bright but cool.......the man himself put in appearance in his Aston.......Lewis.........route Napoleon beckoned.....the N85.......what a road, what fun......the now driving legend called Robert...(Hodroyd) showed the rest of us what it was all about, virtually glued to the rear bumper of Miles' GS.......its silver rear hunched down when he planted his right foot......wow...what a driver!

We made our way up many small winding roads, then down the other side before stopping for a magnificent lunch in a fab plush restaurant at the top of a pass....Hotel de Poste in the village of Corps.

As we left, some noted a tray on the wall by the door, yes a tray......with a Trident on it....a present from the Maserati club of Holland no less, someone has a pic of it.....FREAKY OR WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!?????????????

As you can see, still lots of snow on the mountains......conditions then deteriorated and took the edge off the driving.

P

OzzieAl · Apr 27, 2012

Yes but you loved it we know you do
The picture book story looks great thanks for sharing it
Ozzie

Andyk · Apr 27, 2012

Great thread Frank....Really enjoying it...

2b1ask1 · Apr 27, 2012

Thanks Frank, great stuff. I love the long shot of the tree lined avenue and the trio of trident tails!!!

DaveT · Apr 27, 2012

Great stuff Frank.

Eagerly awaiting the next instalment.

Have you heard the one about the Irish man, English man, 2 Yorkshire men.......

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