Alan Jeffery

So who's up for this one?

https://www.thegreatrally.com/

I've booked up, it sounds like a blast!

sprigeteer

iTrader: (9)

Camping or hotel Alan?

Lee_

I'm seriously considering this, thanks for posting Alan.

I've been wanting to go on a road trip in my RB5 and have had a load of work carried out to bring it up too a better standard mechanically (including a twin scroll conversion!).

I may go on this one!

Lee

JDM_333

Tempted, but would like to take the bike as well and hit some of those Alpine climbs on it as well as the Scoob.

netbeast

Whatever people would be saying, but somehow the route seems senseless to me (i have studied tourism management, btw).

It should look like an 8 on the map (or at least a circle), so that you return to your departure place, otherwise you end up in Hungary and what then? leave your car there and take a flight back?

Especially because the departure is described as - a short drive away from Calais, which means that they obviously target the UK clientele, the arrival is in Hungary, you end up 2k miles from home and need to drive back? It is a bit more in expense then the advertised 395 (995) quid...

TGR

I'm unsure why the route seems senseless to you. Our event is about the driving experience, we target some of the best driving roads in Europe and we avoid using motorways as much as possible. As the most direct return route utilises motorways it seems senseless to include this as part of the rally. Although other rallies spend the majority of their time on motorways, we do not believe this to be a true driving experience! Also, let's not forget that there is a time constraint at play. Having said that, we do offer a convoy back for those heading towards the UK.

As around 40% of our members are from outside of the UK and are scattered all over Europe and internationally. Our route offers an opportunity to extend your adventure in any direction you wish, time permitting. But, for the most part, people have work to return to and want the most direct route back.

FYI, it's not 2,000 miles between Hungary and Calais, it's just under 1,000 miles. You can do the return trip in a day if you're tight on time but we take two going at a cruising pace.

With all due respect, studying Tourism Management and running a car rallies are two very different things. Our event's are build upon first hand experience and feedback from our valued members. Our customers are not your average tourists, they are enthusiasts after the ultimate driving experience.

Back to the 'round trip', we've been there and done that, in fact we were one of the first companies to offer a round trip. But the feedback from our members was quite conclusive and now there's no round trip!

The Great European Rally 2015 originally had a limit of 50 teams, we've since increased this to 100 teams and we are almost fully allocated well ahead of schedule. Many of our customers have been on similar events previously and comment very positively on our route.

If it's not for you, then it's not for you. But please feel free to consider aspects of our routes to help you create your own adventure.

Wishing you all the best for the new year.

Mike @ The Great Rally Ltd.

TGR

Thanks for the support Alan. Feel free to offer your discount code to those interested!

Look forward to seeing you on the event and happy new year!

netbeast

Studying Tourism Management and planning car rallies (and running them if you specialize in tour group guiding) are exactly the same thing as most of your study time you spend planning and researching routes, going for niche products (which is this one), finding accommodation, researching the availability of sight seeing etc etc.

Of course, if your members wish to have a route of this sorts, fine, but I was talking about what they call the "good practice" in setting up a route, while i understand that this is a specific and tailored event.

I am more talking about the fact that if the non-UK members are going to go to Brussels, they will already have an adventure. and if they want to split off shortly before, they can.

the 2k miles was an exaggeration, do not get fired up by it.

and thanks for the intervention here as I can see that you actually care about your product

Alan Jeffery

Camping... lol..

Er, HOTEL..

Alan Jeffery

If anybody wants to join team "Enginetuner" (Sticker) they can have 10% discount!

I have a discount code which you can enter when registering, all you gotta do is ask me for it!

samSCOOBY

How much is fuel?

Lee_

Estimate 3,000 miles at 120p (high average - fuel prices will increase again) would be about £700.

Does this sound about right? - I'm not entirely sure of how the pricing will change across the continent, presumably it would be cheaper.

matt-c

iTrader: (5)

98/99 Ron available all the way?

Lee_

You make a good point. I have switchable maps but normal running is 99ron only.

It's worth trying to find the answer to this question!

Alan Jeffery

Apparently, German, Swiss and Austrian yes, Italy a bit dodgier.
Of course you can't guarantee 99 across the UK either!
My advice is to use switchable mapping wisely, drop the boost a touch, it isn't a race, remember, it's a tour, and carry octane booster instead of tea in your flask if you have to have the hard stuff.

Alan Jeffery

This is what it's all about...



San Bernardino Pass.

You won't see that on your daily commute!

Lee_

What car will you be doing it in Alan and at what state of tune is it at?

Thanks
Lee

theboy

Ive driven to Venice when i had the ST, wife & myself with 2 small kids camping on the way down there. Some wonderful roads and getting good fuel was not a issue, if im honest i wouldnt take the family in the RS but then im not a youngster. Give it a blast and getting home is not a issue, we made it from Italian border to Calais in a day.

Alan Jeffery

I've agonised over it! Of course I could take a Subaru, we have a few!, but I'm looking forward to the Mountain Air in a convertible, and Subaru don't make one.
I have an MX5, which isn't at all a bad choice when you think about it. It's reliable, great fun to drive and cheap enough to be kind of disposable. It's also rear wheel drive, which suits me. Having said that, I'd like something with just a bit more pizzaz, so we'll see what comes up. I have plenty of time to work that one out.
I'm told there are at least a half dozen Scoobies booked so far, several MX5's, a couple of Evos, a Mk 1 Cortina, various hot and cold hatches, a GT3 and a Ford Mustang amongst many others. And loads of BMW's. A few are going for bangers, then leave them in Hungary and fly back home. Assuming they get there!

Lee_

Thanks!

I'm a little nervous about taking the old girl although she's never broken down in the years I've owned her. I've been replacing parts at a furious pace over the last year and after its recent VF37 conversion I now need to replace the clutch (it has a Exedy clutch but its slipping) and gearbox.

I do own other far more modern cars but they are used for work duties and are diesel and I wouldn't really want to drive them if I do go.

Alan Jeffery

I don't see it as a big deal at all to be honest. The first day is a trip to Brussels from Devon, we're going via the tunnel. After that it's 1500 miles ish which is an average of roughly 200 miles per day. Easy! The first stop is the Nurburgring, but it ain't compulsory to rag it around there, or even drive on it at all. I'm not that fussed either way personally, I'll make my mind up when I get there. Part of me would want to avoid the ********* that can infest it. Of course the other part would want me to run um off the road!
On road of course, you'd have to stick to local laws. Bear in mind the Swiss Police carry guns..
Make sure you have recovery, then forget it and have fun.

Alan Jeffery

A few other cars going, a C63 Mercedes, 3x MGB's, A Nissan GTR and a Volvo 850 T5R.

theboy

We did Leeds to Dover first night, ferry in morning folowed by a stopover in Metz. Next day loved the way we set off from France, had lunch in Switzerland & camped in the Italian Lakes. Loved every minute of it, did the Stelvio Pass on the way back. We planned to call at The Ring but the weather was awful. Dont let the distance bother you, id rather breakdown in Germany than say Scotland!!

Alan Jeffery

It looks like a good opportunity for a decent getaway in company with a lot of like minded people. Or fellow nutters..
My son Lewis and I will be having a ball regardless. It's what you look forward to when they are babies you know..

hedgecutter

iTrader: (5)

Careful Alan; my immediate thought upon seeing this thread was " Oh, it`s all right, AJ will look after my car if it breaks down"

hodgy0_2

you need to be slightly careful with this, don't assume the will "recover" your car (and you from) from somewhere like Hungary back to blighty

fine if you are in a C63 Merc, but in a 15 year old £1500 car - they would probably not bother and pay you a "value" and tell you to leave it (after all it would cost them 1000's and 1000's)

so you need to make sure you have agreed all this upfront - i.e. read the small print and if in doubt ask the question

Alan Jeffery

Actually, I think I'll do what they do on "Top Gear"..

Alan Jeffery

Fair comment, always read the small print!

Alan Jeffery

RAC Euro cover cost me £91 on top of my usual cover. That's for recovery, hotels, limited labour charges etc. If it takes more than a day to fix the car over there, they give you a car then pay for you to go back to pick yours up. It's a damn sight better than no cover at all!

Lee_

Thank Alan and Hodgy for the tips! I think if I go ahead my car will go to its specialist for some preventative work and I need to make sure I've got good cover and a tool kit.

Can't really do much more than that right?