Italy 2012

There has been a lot floating around the web on the 40th birthday on the 6th, 7th and 8th of July in Turin. Having seen the video Bones produce when a large group of our UK club members went over there, I'm very tempted. Its always been my dream to blast through the Alps. Anyone else considering it?

Make sure your exhaust doesn't drop off, and if it does explain to the guy behind not to get out and pick it up with his bare hands as its hot, don't then lose your cool go round a roundabout the right wrong way to the chorus of angry Italian horns..................lol

Great trip in 2010 though proper challenge.

Then on your way back from Italy driving through gorgeous Switzerland its rather a challenge when your head Gasket decides to blow and its after 1900 hrs on a Saturday evening.

All that said it was a fantastic trip we had back in 2010 - No regrets whatsoever - Go for it

apart from trying to coast through Swiss customs with no exhaust (you know how car friendly the Swiss are) without getting pulled (the car sounded like a commer walk through diesel) with Les and myself shoehorned in with luggage from two cars.
Oh and waiting for Martin the Hat to pack up his welsh dresser and dinning room furniture.

Feckin great night in Germany on the way back, its amazing how drunk you can get and feel like a lord on Pizza crisps and Warsteiner party can lager.

The Snow over the Alps in June and returning through the Tunnel, 20 mins of it.....................Good times

Alps 2010 Border between Switzerland and Italy

Great photo Mark.

Here's a couple of snaps of my Exxie with it's previous owners on the St Bernadino pass way back in 1985. I'd love to re-create these photos!

Very cool photos Jackytwoshoes - there is something so awesome about seeing ones car in grainy old fashioned photos from days before your ownership, wish I had some of my cars in their previous lives before they found their way into my hands.

Anyway if a trip gets off the ground next summer, I would be well up for it, I was on the trip way back in 2000 and I had a totally brilliant time, despite my gearbox blowing up in Italy and I had to limp all the way back to England with no 2nd gear to select...

Am keen to make this trip - any inside info on where to stay ?

Hooray! I'm going to Turin for the 40th event - anyone else hoping to go?

I think I might, but will make a long holiday of it including the Nurburgring, the Autobahns and the Swiss alps if I do go..
Is there a website with any more info on it?

Website: www.clubx19.it should show details when they are available.

I was going to go to Le Mans Classic on the same weekend, but this is more tempting so could be joining in, once in a lifetime and all that.

I know what you mean John, I'm very tempted, just got to look at the finances. Saving up for a house deposit isn''t fun at the moment. Sorry for the late response Andrew, I'm going to discuss the trip with a few members in my region and if a few agree I wil probably go.

Le Mans sounds cool... Wil have to see if my mate can come with me and take the. Freelander support vehicle.... italy sounds good to. Just wonder if I could offload the kids for a weekend.....

Think it was Steve Coupe and his mate did the weekend trip to the first Bertone X1/9 meet.They drove down on the Friday all day and night to arrive in Turin for the Saturday and returned home on the Sunday evening after the event had finished
Dedication ! or Just mad

The finances are always the thing on these trips. I’ve been having a look at options and have come to these conclusions – maybe they will save others a bit of time.
I don’t fancy the heroic all-day all night drive that Frosty mentions so I’ve planned a day to get across the channel and most of France (helps that I’m only 1 ½ hrs from Dover) and a day to enjoy getting over the Alps to Turin by some as yet undefined scenic route. Same plan on the way home.
Mileage is between 1600 and 2500 miles depending on the route. At 28 mpg, £0.82 per euro and e1.56 per litre for fuel means costs of £326 to £520 on fuel.
The ferry is about £90 return (crossing approx 2 ½ hrs), the Eurotunnel £140 return (crossing approx 1 ½ hrs). I fancy the ferry on the way out and the tunnel (‘cos it’s quicker) on the way home.
On the drive across France a simple Formule1 room (like a Travel Lodge) can be had for about £28 per night for a twin room.
Tolls on the French auto routes ( Péage) will be about 80 Euros (£65)
Not sure if I need 2, 3 or 4 nights in Turin until we get to see the program for the event but twin rooms in B&B type hotels can be had for about 45 Euros (£37) per night. It seems that B&Bs in the centre of Turin rarely have any car parking but I’ve found somewhere about 10 miles out that looks good.
£ Min Mid Max
Fuel 326 425 520
Channel Crossing 90 115 140
Room in France (2) 56 56 56
French Tolls 65 65 65
Room in Turin (2,3or4) 80 111 148

Total 617 772 929

(Sorry about the table - I cant get the formatting to survive the transfer)

These numbers will get two people and one car there and back again. That’s about £400 to £500 per head.
I haven’t included ; food and drink (I’d need that at home anyway), costs specific to the event like entrance fees and souvenirs, extra insurance (for car and people) or special recovery cover.
My usual co-pilot is my father, Derek, but he can’t do this European trip as he is recovering from heart surgery and can’t get the health insurance! So if anyone wants to join me as co-pilot or wants me to join them let me know!
Cheers Andrew