Approaching 8th anniversary with the S1 and about to embark on a European tour with our friends from Nyloc.
Brave, or foolhardy?
In the course of checking out a few things on the car, I realised I have been doing about 3,400 miles a year, so I reckon I’m getting good value out of my motor. The increased mileage might be diminishing the cash value though, but who cares!
Neither IMHO. Have a great time 
Thanks,Tim. Will put a few more miles on it this Sunday with you and the Northern Chapter
I’m very jealous and would love to do something like this. I’m with Tim its neither brave or foolhardy after all the worst that could happen…it has to be recovered home.
So tell us more about the route and itinerary…
Blog your way through it and takes us all with you! 
Only wish I was going Steve will be a great trip
Well, the route has been put together by seasoned Euro traveller SJW who occasionally posts on here.
I’m really in the hands of the experts, those Nyloc folk who’ve made these trips before.
I planned to go last year but chickened out when I realised that Slovenia was the further most destination.
This year it is, Hull- Zeebrugge ferry. Drive to Champagne region, via Reims, Champagne to Massif Centrale(Clermont-Ferrand, I think), Massif to Provence, then to Monaco. Monaco to Guillestre, on to La Thuile, Italy, La Thuile to Grindelwald, Switzerland, then to Wolfach, Germany, then Vianden, Luxembourg, Vianden to Rotterdam, ferry to Hull.
So plenty of mileage to add there!
There are a few changes to that following attempts to get hotels in advance:
Zeebrugge Ferry to Piney, Champagne, France
Piney to La Bourboule, Massif, France
La Bourboule to Orange, Provence, France
Orange to Monaco
Monaco to Guillestre. Hautes-Alpes, France
Guillestre to Courmayeur, Italy
Courmayeur to Grindlewald, Switzerland
Grindlewald to Wolfach, Black Forest, Germany
Wolfach to Cochem, Moselle, Germany
Cochem to Rotterdam Ferry
I would dearly love to invite more people from exiges.com as well as Nyloc, but even with 7 cars, and preferably 7 rooms, you cant simply rock up to a town at 6pm ish and expect to find somewhere to stay.
So I have had to book everything in advance this year.
In the early days these trips were very much ad hoc, with 2 or 3 of us on bikes, turning up into a town and finding somewhere to stay, of any quality. The route would largely be decided in the bar for the next day.
But peoples expectations are higher now, and whilst I could throw such a trip open to lots more, the hotels would by definition have to be bigger, and in bigger towns and cities, something I have steadfastly tried to avoid.
Not sure whether I would want to do that, since it then becomes harder to plan, routes would have to be clearly defined, everything regimented, commitment would mean paying up front, and dare I say it, the whole trip would be probably not as friendly.
By the way, my average stands at 7000 miles per year, USE IT !
There you have it, from the whipper in!
SJW, as you are the organiser, you should continue exactly as you are! Your trips are bloody fantastic in every possible way, & it is absolutely crucial that you 100% enjoy them as much as other participants (even if the odd hospital visit crops up!!!).
If you were doing this for work/business you would have to do things differently - I do however seriously think you should look at the pros & cons of doing a couple of trips a year on a commercial/professional basis (whilst still doing your traditional September trip for purely personal pleasure).
Thommo - you’ll never ever forget this1st trip with SJW & friends, & I’m sure your Exige will be the perfect partner throughout! Only worry about $hit in the most unlikely event of it happening!
Thanks, Mr P. I have complete faith in SJW and the rest of the Nyloc crew. Wish you were coming with us.
Are you out Sunday? See 6970K posts
Flew the mountains at Grindelwald … awesome scenery and home of the legendary Eiger.
Well expensive mind , also had to buy a vignette (motor tax) to enter Switzerland 
You missed Romania off the list 
I recommend it for next year. The prices are a lot more appealing to Yorkshire men than Switzerland
Have a fantastic trip, I’m sure you will.
It has been considered several times (along with Norway) but the additional 1000 miles each way has put me off, even with the prices 
One day…
Love it round there, summer or winter.
Couldn’t resist!!!
I’m driving over to meet you at Burts in Monaco for the BBQ!
See you again and a BBQ - perfect excuses for a ‘short’ drive 
Miss double D will be navigating 
Great news, see you there
Another trip Pierre, you lucky bugger Are you making sure you maximize the value from your tyres before fitting the winter ones
Have a great trip
Third set in 12 months! Definitely maxing them out
Thanks. It’s just a short sunday drive for a bbq, lol
AS the buildings lining the roads through the villages start to thin out, the engine notes begin to rise, the sound growing steadily as the cars head towards the open roads ahead.
The noise level climbs as the drivers hit the throttles. And then they are free of the confines of speed bumps and speed limits, heading for the swoopy curves on the high ground between endless fields, then diving down between trees with light filtered through the branches and leaves around a succession of tight bends.
Every car, every tractor and trailer, every camper van – they’re all targets to be passed in an instant so the drivers can reach the clear road ahead.
And so it was for 10 days as the Nyloc European Tour 2014 carved a path from Zeebrugge, across France to Monaco and then on through Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium and Holland.
Day 3 was when the senses were really sharpened by the drives on the climbs (and descents) of the Col du Pendu, the Col de Meyrand and the Valgorges. There were amazing views of the Auberge but it was best to keep the eyes firmly fixed on the snaking mountain road as there were huge unprotected drops. It reminded me of Tarmac rallying in the late 90s when the Peugeot 205 of Gilles Panizzi and the Citroen Xsara F2 of Phillipe Bugalski battled on roads such as these.
En route we dropped in on the Reims circuit and the one-time home of the French GP at Clermont-Ferrand.
Monaco brought more motoring memories. After bringing Casino Square to a standstill for the classic photo shoot, the convoy of seven headed for the hills to Isola via the famous Monte Carlo rally stage, the Col du Turini. Later, the Col de la Bonette proved a challenge for the VHPD, struggling for breath at 8,907 ft. More climbs followed, including the Tour de France favourite, the Col d’Izoard.
The Route Des Grande Alpes brought us to Guillestre but the pace of the trip was relentless as we headed next for Italy. Instead of sunshine and dry roads we had mist, clouds and rain but a challenging day finished at the foot of Mont Blanc in Courmeyeur. We piled up the mileage but I did not expect to add any by travelling by train until our guides suggested a trip on the car train from Goppenstein to Kandersteg.
Despite being encased in the hot, noisy cabin of the Exige, the earthy smells of rural Europe wafted in. Pine scented forests, timber yards with the smell of fresh cut wood as we roared towards the Black Forest and its most famous road, the B500. It was a Bank Holiday weekend and the roads were packed with drivers whose aim was not to enjoy the endless sweeping curves at speed but more intent on providing mobile road blocks. But it is a road not to be missed.
Treis-Karden is a pretty town on the banks of the Mosel. A pity that our hotel chose to overbook, thus leaving 11 people without rooms. However, it was a blessing in disguise, as it gave us the opportunity to drive through yet more open roads through fields high with maize for an overnight stop at the Nurburbring.
The Ring had only been a possible stop on our itinerary as others on the trip had already been there. But with a classic car race on the GP circuit, three of us headed to the Green Hell. It was a Bank Holiday, remember, and all of Germany’s track day warriors were out.
Scores of what looked like race-prepared BMWs blasted past on the edge of adhesion, often followed by howling packs of GT3s.And then the BMW M5 Ring taxis loomed large in the mirror for a split-second and were gone.
Once round the Ring confirmed that anyone who can race and win there is verging on superhuman.
It was time to set the satnav for home.
Total mileage: 2,405
(Ends)