Some Pics

Mille Miglia 2009 – Day 9 Teams TVR, Porsche & Maserati Home!

Moring breaks. Weary and unwashed bodies wander around the train. Some were even members of our group.  

Frank brings breakfast which is a joy. Croissant in a plastic bag, a cup of brown-warm and a few assorted packets of jam type stuff.

Ralph appears, whilst getting dressed this morning (there really is not enough room in a cabin for two world-class lunchers like Ralph and James) when the dividing door slides open exposing Ralph to an elderly lady in the adjoining cabin, and of course vice versa. Luckily, being a fluent European linguist he was able to apologize and gloss over the incident. Rumor has it that subsequently Ralph was not able to face the croissant in a plastic bag.

The train arrived two minutes late into Dusseldorf, cars are recovered all safe and sound and we head off to Calais. Push on through some very heavy rain and arrive at chunnel 2hrs early to eat my last ham&cheese baguette.

Drive home uneventful, Friday eve rush hour slow but ok.

Team TVR parks up at home at 6PM after driving a total of 2,330 miles and having a fabulous adventure with great mates.

We made it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It’s good to be home.

The file attached shows the full route of Teams TVR, Porsche and Maserati. Team Ferrari travelled to and from Brescia a slightly different way.

Cheers

Peter

Mille Miglia 2009 – Day 8 Team Ferrari Heading north to home - Stelvio at last

We depart the comfortable and quiet hotel in Brescia to head north to try the Stelvio once again. We say a tearful goodbye to the other teams who have a Car train booked in the evening to take them to Duesseldorf. They head for the Mille Miglia Museum while we have another 5 hours of driving to complete the pass then another 12 hours to get to Calais and then home. 


For the first time the weather is not kind to us and it rains most of the way to Stelvio. The pass itself begins gently enough but then the hairpins start. An old 'gent' in a Lancia slowed us and a German in a Merc down to a to a crawl. A few polite pips of the horn and a couple of inpolite blasts on it and the Italian pulls over. The Merc however had other ideas and continued a slightly faster crawl. Had to resort to the V8's full power to get past him on a small straight that appeared out of nowhere. The pass is relentless all the way up and then 48 hairpins down again, some extremely tight in first gear the others scarily fast in second or third. At one point we pass through a cloud an had to slow to walking pace. The the slowest motohome (German) then appears doing 1mph. The chap ignores all polite and impolite requests to pass to had to resort to brute force to pass him on a bend (do not try this at home...). Unfortunately the cloud cover prevented us from getting the ultimate photo of the ultimate road but it finished off an excellent adventure.....

Mille Miglia 2009 – Day 8 TVR, Porsche & Maserati Heading north to home

We awake after a little lie in at our spa resort retreat in Brescia.

Team Ferrari depart, they are heading off to do the Davos to Stevlio pass (the best road in the world ever) and then drive home.

On my way into the hotel last night I caught the Tiv exhaust on a nasty metal lip. It was the biggest graunch of the trip and the car now sounds a bit off.

On the way out over the lip I ask Paul to walk to minimize possible damage, no graunch! He must be the tipping point…………..

Teams TVR, Porsche and Maserati struggle through busy Brescia rush hour traffic to the Mille Miglia Museum. The museum car park entrance is being re-surfaced and so we had to complete a short rally stage to get in, all is well. Paul shot straight into the shop to buy some stickers but the girlies were none too pleased with him being the wrong side of the counter. He nearly gets asked to leave….

The museum was surprisingly interesting with some great stories of past events, daring do and glories.

We noted that Stirling Moss (clearly the greatest winner of the Mille Miglia) was only mentioned a couple of times where as every Italian driver that ever took part had wall plaques, posters and even some video. Not to worry, we know S Moss is the best. He completed the whole route in 10hrs 7mins 42secs at an average of 92.4mph, it took us 4 days. We think that we could shave a few mins off if we go round again.

Every year the Mille Miglia route changes, all differing roads plus some years it goes clockwise and others anti-clockwise. Which is the right way to go? A minor squabble does not get resolved.

We had a coffee at the most inefficient coffee shop in the world. 6 coffees really confused the poor chap behind the counter.

Set off to Lake Gardia which is extremely pretty. Could be ideal as a combined trip to Verona for fortunate and  lucky young ladies.

Our team Catering Manager (Ralph) locates a fabulous restaurant in Roina on Lake Guarda. It was the best meal of the week (apologies Team Ferrari). Dom says the lemon Sea Bass (not ill-tempered or evil) is to die for.

At the next stop Ralph announces that although the meal was superb it has given him wind. James is surprising unperturbed and gives thanks to the highly efficient air filtration system in the Maserati. I may need to test this out on a Saturday morning after a rim-burner from my local India restaurant called the Mysore.

Carry on with a short special stage into the hills around Lake Guarda and finally arrive in Bolzano to catch the DB Autozug train. This train will take us overnight to Dusseldorf (400miles) so we should be home Friday eve. Cars loaded safely on the train and we retire to a bar to await departure.

All looking forward to an early night in the comfort of the DB Autozug. How many can we get in one bunk bed??? Let’s hope there are lot’s of distractions in the bar before we have a hearty German breakfast and arrival in Dusseldorf at exactly 8.40 at the Haptbahnhof. Fast track to blighty let’s see shall we?

We have just gone over 2,000 miles ……………..

Just as I am writing the blog my mobile goes, it’s the current Mrs H who, after an initial preamble, confesses that she may have been flashed by a speed camera whilst in my car…….

We board the DB Autozug and enter a whole new world.

We have three twin cabins which are not big enough for chaps as comfortable and mature as us.

Our car attendant arrives (i.e. squeezes past). ‘What’s your name I say’ trying to generate a good impression. My name is ‘F**k*d’ he says (no, really - honest!), but you can call me Frank. Help!!!!!!!!!!!!  

The only option is to head for the bar/restaurant car. Paul gets there first to baggsie a table. On my long walk to the bar/restaurant car (at least 100m) I passed lots of tiny cabins. Each was occupied by couples opening their picnic. The signs were not good.

                         

The bar/restaurant car had a fine bode of fare but the first round of beers were warm. The red wine ‘passable’ (it got better the more you drank), and the food interesting. We ate sparingly and were surprised to see the bar/restaurant car lightly attended.

Key clientele were Ernst Blofeld, Ms P Galore and an angry assassin with steel teeth…….

After they had gone to ‘bed’ the bar/restaurant car staff opened the good stuff and had a party without asking us. We believe that one was a ‘Hof’ stalker, the rest just plain weird. Help!!!!!!

Although it was uncomfortable, slow service and poor food/beer we laughed more than any time this week. At one point I thought James was going to explode. The ‘adult TV channel failure’, ‘heavy water’ and ‘Germans make good bread’ moments were priceless.

Before retiring for the evening I went to complete my toilet, only to find that the tiny room allocated was totally and utterly unfeasible. One can only be concerned how a locally grown DB Autozug regular can be expected to squeeze in to squeeze out.

Am writing this blog in ‘bed’ with a none-too gentle rocking/vibration/annoying noise and muted talk from the cabin next door. Paul has the upper bunk and is snoring already.

Dusseldorf here we come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It really does not get much better than this…………………………………………

The adventure never stops.

Cheers

Peter

Mille Miglia 2009 – Day 7 To the Finish……………

Awake in Maranello after excellent night’s kip.

Team Ferrari get up early and nip round the main Ferrari sights for photos.

The rest of us get up at a normal(ish) time and all drive to the special Ferrari  Fiorano test track for team photo.

James (Team Maserati leader) has blagged us all a private viewing at the Panini Museum. Matteo Panini (for t’is his name) made his fortune by travelling to Argentina with just a moped, selling 800,000,000 collectable sticky cards (i.e. pre-top trumps, you would recognize the logo) plus making the very best parmesan cheese. He bought the entire Maserati historic car collection when the company was in trouble in the 80s and now has an amazing set of cars in an amazing big garage. Maserati sent along a junior chap to guide us round the collection and tell fab stories for each car. Top bloke and way too good looking. He probably goes down well with girls. Bob takes a picture ‘for my wife’……………..

While we are there an old chap wanders in with his big Alsatian dog. He turns on most of the lights and wanders off again. Turns out he is Mr Matteo Panini himself. Top bloke.

Top job James!

Drive on for pictures outside Maserati. Just as we arrive a car shaped like James’ GT dives into the main gate but it’s covered in black plastic to disguise the shape….A new car prototype, or one that went wrong? We think it’s the new GT (like James’ soft top). Take lots of pics and off we go.

Drive on to Lamborghini which is nothing special. Just a big factory until one of their finest screeches up and shoots inside. Then, amazingly a big Lambo arrives covered in white plastic to disguise the shape. A new car prototype, or one that went wrong? Clearly the color helps the motoring press spies identify the car.

Drive on to Pagani which is not easy to find. Navigator number 3 (Ralph) proves his mettle by remaining calm under extreme pressure of being ‘lost’ but works the problem and finds the factory. However, Pagani were not impressed and would not even answer their door bell…………..

On to Bresia and finish the route. Sounds easy when you say it quickly. 1,000 miles of the most tortuous roads in Italy. Switchback mountain passes, crazy cities, busy Super Strader motorways and all in 34C heat was tough but also no problem. All chaps in fine form, all cars running spot on. No major health or mechanical problems reported.

What could possibly go wrong?

Can’t find way into hotel in Brescia, no signs! Eventually check in with a charming young lady. She reminds me of the old joke of a girl who goes to the doctor. He takes out his stethoscope and says ‘deep breaths’, she says proudly ‘yes, and I’m only sixteen’. For our younger readers an efficient and effective cardiovascular system is essential to long life and vitality.

The lift in the hotel is extremely unusual. It has a glass door but does not work. At least unless the young lady steps in with you and holds the button without releasing it, then the lift will move. She demonstrated the technique for me ('Sir, keep your finger on') and the lift moved up by a couple of feet and got stuck. After a few moments mild panic (on her part) the lift descended again. Phew! Ralph (viewing from the security of terra firma) thought this was great fun.

Another night out in Brescia and we are all a bit tired. Ralph is our Catering Manager and has provided affine selection of food all week; he maintains the high standard this eve.

NOTD? James was nominated for three instances. Driving for miles with his hazard flashers on,  nearly being overtaken by a big white lorry and I can’t remember the third. Anyway, he gets the (now very smelly) hat.

Bed and zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Tomorrow off to the Mille Miglia museum for our celebratory stickers, then the DB Autozug train from Bolzano to Stuttgart. Don’t be late ‘cos we won’t wait.

Cheers

Peter

Mille Miglia 2009 – Day 6 North to Maranello

Big day today, 300 miles north through Umbria and Tuscany to Maranello.

We take a few pics outside our hotel, close to the Basilica, in the middle of a main road. The local Police are very relaxed, but this could change.

Rome traffic, even going out of town against the rush hour, is absolutely manic. Some simple rules must be followed.

1/ Ignore all other road users.

2/ If your nose is in front go wherever you want

3/ Under no circumstances indicate

4/ When in the wrong (i.e. always) refer back to rule 1 with distain

Have coffee stop at a one-donkey small town called ’30 mile’. It’s located on the Mille Miglia route 30 miles from Rome. One day a year these folks shine, however when we arrived it was not that day.

It is HOT.......................33C in an open top car............................................

James and Ralph announce they have just about mastered the air con controls......

We drove on to a cute little medieval walled town called Viterbo. The route took us into the centre of town down smaller and smaller roads. The sort of roads that are really tiny, narrow cobbled walking streets.  I went round one corner that was only just big enough for the Tiv. No – hang on, it was way (way!) too narrow for the Tiv. On either side were steps for houses, posts and other solid and unforgiving nonsense to catch out the unwary automotive traveler. I knew we were in major trouble so stopped my car to rush back and warn the others just as the red Ferrari nose appeared round the corner. ‘Nooooooooooooooooo’, how on earth are we going to back out of this mess? Team Ferrari slowly pulled round, caught the bottom of their front bumper on a low step and appeared triumphant. Phew. Then, the Maserati appeared. ‘Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo’, how on earth are they going to back out of this mess? James adopted a steely glint, took a couple of adjustments (also catching the low step) and came round the corner similarly triumphant. Now we are in major, major trouble. No way can we back out!

We crawled along a bit further. The road (i.e. narrow path) was a challenge of the highest order. The Tiv and Ferrari go down one bit that could have passed for a narrow alley. A wise local steps forward and with a shrug wags his finger at the Maserati and points to a different (slightly wider) route.

Luckily, we all meet at a small (I mean tinky winky tiny) square. What do we do now? The GPS is confused with the one way streets and we have no clue how to get out. Down one alley we see sunlight and after some jiggery pokery get all the cars to a slightly bigger square with an enormous church. Unfortunately, the only exit was the way we came in. ‘Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo’. The chaps scatter to find a way out. Hope was staring to fade when a Nun came out of the church and jumped into her Fiat. She MUST know a way out. ‘Follow that Nun’ was the order and sure enough she leads us slowly but surely out of Viterbo. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh!

After escaping Viterbo we drive on into Tuscany and some amazing scenery and roads. Eat Wild Boar (with spaghetti) in Pienza and continue north. The roads are smooth, windy, with great views and great fun is had by all.

Eventually arrive in Maranello about 630PM very tired. Quick run round the Ferrari factory and arrive at hotel right buy the Ferrari factory gates. Beers are drunk (dehydration is a bad thing!). So far we have arrived at each hotel and drunk them out of beer. Last night (in Rome) was the first time we failed!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lots of beer and giggles in Maranello.

Paul’s bed has a bit missing, one of the slats has been removed and so he sits at an unusual angle that does not look entirely comfortable. We surmise that a previous room occupant was building a tunnel from our 3^rd floor room into the Ferraro factory (that we can see for our window) to find out what goes on behind the closed doors. What other explanation could there be?

We re-group after industrial strength showers (at least in my case this was a dire necessary –long hot day glowing (sweating) in the sun………..) and eat in the Ristorant Cavallino. This place, as I am sure you all know, is the favored eaterie of the Ferrari senior folk and race team. Unfortunately, on this occasion we were the only ones in. Lots of interesting Ferrari memorabilia on the walls to keep us amused.

Too much healthy Italian food and restorative beers/bottles of wine allowed us to return to our hotel in a merry state. Just as a driving team from Poznan (Poland) arrive. One big Mercedes CLS, one yellow Ferrari 360 and one Audi R8. These chaps are from Poland, how do they make their cash? ‘I run a data centre’ was not totally convincing but they were good blokes having a great time.

NOTD? Well it was me I’m afraid. Two things; ‘What’s the Italian for Lothario?’ (I can’t explain this now) and leaving the key in the Tiv.

NOTD for tomorrow? Leo for trying to start the Ferrari in gear and kangarooing down the road. ‘I didn’t do that’ was a poor excuse that didn’t even get to the race stewards.

Off to bed, very tired.

Cheers

Peter