Euro Trip 2009. Ring/Amsterdam/Stelvio/Italy

[Lauren]

It's my summer holiday basically. Fancied trying to make it a bit of a trip and would like to open it up to like minded people who fancy a damn good/fast drive.

Here is the basic idea:

Ring dates:

Samstag, 04.07.09 13:30 bis 19:30 Uhr Touristenfahrten, 04.07.2009
(Nordschleife)
Sonntag, 05.07.09 08:00 bis 19:30 Uhr Touristenfahrten, 05.07.2009
(Nordschleife)
Montag, 06.07.09 17:15 bis 19:30 Uhr Touristenfahrten, 06.07.2009
(Nordschleife)

So 4-6 July. Just need to work out the rest of it. The plans are to take in a few days at the Ring, go via Michael Shumacher's karting centre and go on to drive the Stelvio Pass and hopefully some historic hillclimb routes on the way down into Italy. From there we are looking at a trip to Maranello. I guess Modena would be possible too. The idea is basically to drive fast on some beautifully scenic roads, have a nice cold beer in the evening and eat nice food.

Mark and I are hoping to go via Amsterdam and stay in Zandvoort and have a few days on the beach before the big trip. Am estimating our whole trip time of around 14-16days. Obviously people can meet us at various places. I will obviously need to work out routes and hotels etc. The Ring is the easiest part of the trip to sort out, it's just the rest I need to play with.

[cantfindausername]

Sounds like it should be a good one. I'm arranging a Stelvio trip again this year. Decided against fitting the Ring into the trip though to save the brakes.

I love the roads around Northern Italy, they are the best I've seen around Europe.

[tonigmr2]

I'm definitely up for a bit of a trip...going via Monte Carlo at some point.

[Lauren]

I'm definitely up for a bit of a trip...going via Monte Carlo at some point.

Well Toni, if we can fit it into the timescale why not? I wouldn't mind going myself. Do I need to pack a cocktail dress then?

[tonigmr2]

I'm definitely up for a bit of a trip...going via Monte Carlo at some point.

Well Toni, if we can fit it into the timescale why not? I wouldn't mind going myself. Do I need to pack a cocktail dress then?

LOL no, but you'll need about £10 for half a pint of beer.

[Lauren]

LOL no, but you'll need about £10 for half a pint of beer.

Is it really that pricey?

[Michel]

Why would you go to Amsterdam.. such a gay place. Better spend a day driving in/around the Eiffel.. that's the area around the Nordschleife.. twisty roads.. very nice. I can give you some nice routes towards the Nordschleife.. I always drive the tourist route to the Nordschleife.. I can take the autobahn but hey.. that's boring hmkay.

[mattcambs]

Why would you go to Amsterdam.. such a gay place..

booze, weed, hash cake, prostitutes, clogs, Tulips?

[Steve Horrocks]

Why would you go to Amsterdam.. such a gay place..

booze, weed, hash cake, prostitutes, clogs, Tulips?

yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuude!

[Michel]

You can get it all at any place here except for the red light district in Amsterdam.. which to be honest.. kinda sucks anyway lol.
Amsterdam is overrated.

[Lauren]

Why would you go to Amsterdam.. such a gay place. Better spend a day driving in/around the Eiffel.. that's the area around the Nordschleife.. twisty roads.. very nice. I can give you some nice routes towards the Nordschleife.. I always drive the tourist route to the Nordschleife.. I can take the autobahn but hey.. that's boring hmkay.

I like amsterdam, i've been 11 times. Nowt wrong with a gay place.

Besides there are things like supplies to think about.

Plan is for myself and my other half to get a hotel at Zandvoort and chill out for a few days before driving down.

[tonigmr2]

Why would you go to Amsterdam.. such a gay place. Better spend a day driving in/around the Eiffel.. that's the area around the Nordschleife.. twisty roads.. very nice. I can give you some nice routes towards the Nordschleife.. I always drive the tourist route to the Nordschleife.. I can take the autobahn but hey.. that's boring hmkay.

Up for hearing about the tourist routes.

[Lauren]

Up for hearing about the tourist routes.

I'm up for that. No probs, the aim really is to get in some great driving roads.

[Michel]

Ok..you might want to check this on a map while reading lol. It can be confusing. It's a very straight-forward route though in words it's a challenge to explain lol especially since I'm not English.

Well if you're heading for the Nordschleife from Amsterdam.. you'll be driving south on the A2 through Holland.. You'll get past the bigger cities like Utrecht, Den Bosch.. Eindhoven (be aware here.. lots of construction going on here..lower speed limits and many gestapo's with laserguns) and then from Eindhoven you'll have to follow the A2 heading towards Maastricht and Aachen (D). Keep following the A2 until you're here :

(the red spot in the black circle marks a big intersection)
http://i42.tinypic.com/29kqihv.jpg

You'll have to follow the A76 to : Kerkrade and Aachen (D)
Then after like 10~15minutes you'll enter Germany.. and you're driving on the autobahn A4 now. From here you'll follow this route :

google maps

I seriously hope that works lol.. if it doesn't, I'm screwed.

[Lauren]

Michel, thanks will take a look.

[tonigmr2]

Link does work. Will take a look.

[Lauren]

Okay over a a G&T or three i've been trying to get a basic outline of the route:

Basically starting in Zebrugge (we'll catch an overnighter from hull):
1 day Leave late afternoon factor in a day.
1 day to Amsterdam (get there chill)
1 day in Amsterdam (chill)
1 day driving to Nurburg (autobahns)
3 days in Nurburg (Nurburgring) Cow on a rock, track time..
1 day driving to Stelvio (hopefully good roads up to Stelvio)
1 day down the Stelvio to Sant A'gata (do stelvio pass on the way down in Italy) stay in Hotel at Sant A'gata or nearby.
1 day lamborghini and Ferrari (lambo production line tour €39, then onto Ferrari Museum) Eat at Il Cavalino restaurant opposite factory gates to Ferrari. Stay in Maranello.
scrap this I think 1 day Monte Carlo (though this may not make it as it's a substantial and expensive detour)
1 day to Cern (Hyrdron Collider for the geek in my life)
1 day Cern to Dijon (stay somewhere on the way to Paris basically as it's too far to do in a day)
1 day Dijon to Paris (stay in Paris romantic meal etc, eat some snails, gorge on cheese).
1 day morning in paris then 1 day to Calais and onto London ie my mum's.
1 day drive to sunny Manchester.
16 days in total.


Date start leave on overnight ferry 30 June. Arrive home 15 July.

This Mark and I's basic itinery, obviously if people are interested in coming then you can pick up what bits you want.

I've yet to work out full costings but to do that lot is going to be fairly expensive I think. Am thinking close to 2K (very rough guess).

[jim-mapps]

I like the route Lauren, As yer know I'm off this summer too, so depending on howmy hunt for Silverstone tickets goes I'll either be meeting yer out there or be a month behind ya!

[Lauren]

I like the route Lauren, As yer know I'm off this summer too, so depending on howmy hunt for Silverstone tickets goes I'll either be meeting yer out there or be a month behind ya!

Good stuff Jim, let's hope we can meet up.