Be careful entering and exiting the villages (speed limit 50km/h) as they like to set up mobile radar traps there and also on the faster roads where you see the wooden silhouttes of people. I don't know if they do this in the UK but in many French departments they put up life-size wooden silhouettes to signify people who have been killed on the roads and some roads have quite a number of these to tell you that it's a dangerous road. Our friends monitor these roads a lot. Generally speaking, you can have a blat on many of the routes down through France if you are careful and don't go mad.

 

Been looking at various sites to find out the definitive answers on various inurance covers while using the ring, but the responses seem to be to read your policy docs very carefully, but don't initially talk to your insurer for this advice (alerting their suspicions!)

Having scoured my travel ins policy, the optional 'hazardous activities' is limited to organised events where you have a trained supervisor.

For motor ins, there seems to be conflicting opinion as to whether the ring is classed as a public toll road or a track, with insurers trying to wriggle out of claims made on that basis.

Also seen a post that notes AA 5* rescue cover specifically excludes the ring! Charlie, if that's what you've just upgraded to, maybe need to check?

This was an interesting read Soz if it's been posted/discussed before.

For the regulars to nurburg, what's your view?

Thanks

 

missyc - thanks for that, it was a very useful read

 

Eh don't crash

No seriously, I have never really bothered, but I do know a lot of breakdown policies do not cover you from the Ring or surrounding area. And in the past people have towed, if possible, or got a local company to trailer the car outside the normal 10mile exclusion zone then called for assistance. It kinda sucks really. But there are policies that will cover you for breakdown inside the Ring. And you can get track day insurance, I would say that you don’t need it but I won’t because that’s tempting fate.

Get decent breakdown cover though that covers the Ring as its more likely something will break on the car, its not a car testers nirvana for no reason. That reminds me I must get a tow rope.

If anyone gets some track insurance for the Ring can they put the detials up here please?


Mrk

 

More useful stuff MRK but of course you can't tow a Scoob without damaging the diffs so does local recovery (on whatever policy if its in force) include low-loader recovery?

 

I don't have any more useful stuff. Sorry

Why can't you tow a Scoob if all four wheels are on the ground??

If you have recovery for your car then it has to include low loader

 

Have spoken to Egger Lawson who I use and recommend. Have had a realistic quote per day of £126 for 10000k cover. Excess is high (normal for track insurance).

As for towing Scoobs and Evos can be towed but ideally should not be used for towing.

Non LSD cars are fine to tow with i.e. a UK Turbo. With P1, Spec C, Type R etc and im pretty sure my Evo VIII handbook said you should not tow. So if you have a non LSD car can I have your number on the open pledge of loads of beer;-)

See you in a couple of weeks

 

That'll be me then!!!!!!!!!!!

Bought some Swiss Francs yesterday, best rate and no commision at M & S.

 

didn't know M & S did money exchange!

Francs and Euros are on my todo list.

Thanks for replies above re insurance.

Better start getting sorted... only 2 weeks to go

I think we're travelling down from Peak District on the Monday afternoon for Canterbury.

See you all at the ferry, if not en route to Dover

 

A couple if webcam links...

It's snowing around Stelvio already

Same as above without the google translation

and another link here

 

Snow chains anybody !!

 

We used these AutoSocks in last winter's heavy snow spells in the Peaks.

Don't laugh I wouldn't have believed they'd work until we had to use them a couple of times

Seriously tho, what's the likelihood of heavy snow up there in early Setember, that would warrant chains or socks?

 

Apparently (according to an article in the Motorcycle Action Group's Streetbiker paper) the Simplon Pass is closed at the Italian side from 10am to 3pm for road repairs for some time to come. Either you need to leave early, or get a train from a town called Brig costing £12.

 

Better start getting sorted... only 2 weeks to go

Very True, lending my car to Lindsay my Co driver this weekend so he can
have a play to get used to it.

Two more weeks at work how cool is that.

 

Hi all, just thought I'd drop you a note from sunny antequera in spain
I'm home this weekend, sat/sun night, and obviously have some catching up to do, not least on the currency, as I didn't realise I'd need anything other than euro's
See you all soon, and looks like I'll be packing my long johns for the trip, going off the webcams up stelvio
chris.

 

Those webcams look scary. Its a white out up there

I better pack my snowboard for this summer holiday. Now theres a twist, snowboard & summer holiday

 

Autosocks, cool idea. Do you really think we will need them??

Also I didn't realise the Stelvio Pass is a whopping 3000m up

 

Hmm now where are my Ski's

 

And the bl00dy Long Johns!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I don't think that the Autosocks are a necessity - if the road is undriveable then it will be closed off. So long as your tyres aren't at minimum then you should be ok.

Well I would suggest that your tyres should be at nearly maximum

 

My tyres got a ZERO rating in snow


Terry have the route packs etc gone out??

 

As far as I know they should be arriving in the next day or two

 

Snow at the top again today

 

Looks quite wet up there this morning actually

Local Weather report

Not quite 'Scorchio'

I was having fun last night flying trough the mountain passes on Google Earth (Broadband users only!)

The Furkapass, Grimselpass & Sustenpass look very nice I think I've sussed the route out already

 

http://webcam.popso.it/stelvio.php?PASSOEST
10am this morning.

Whatever the weather I can't wait!!!

 

Brrrhhh BBRRHHHHH

this looks wicked, thanks

 

I have recently aquired a new set of standard (MY01) 17" wheels & 215/45/17 P Zero Tyres, which I will fit to the car (so I have been ordered, as they are in more shiny than the existing ones!)

This means I have 4 similar Toyo T1-S fitted wheels (incl. 2 brand new tyres) to choose from as spares. I obviously won't be taking all 4 with me in the car but if anyone else needs the loan of a full sized 'standard' spare I can provide at least 1.

Toyo's are, strictly speaking, directional so it would be sensible for us to take one of each side (between us).

Anyone interested?

btw a full sized wheel will fit in the boot space, but you will need to remove the tray which sits on top and on mine it lifts the floor panel about 1/2"

 

Hi Frenchie

Hope the tests went OK.

All the best

 

A nice clear, sunny start to the morning up on the pass today

That's more like it.

Quite a change from the last 2 wet/foggy/snowy days.

Fingers crossed we have blue skies.


MrsC_772 did you have a fruitful search for useful phrasebooks? I'll do a quick amazon search too, if not.
My French is OKish, and I'm sure I can memorise a few useful phrases to woo a gendarme (a futile exercise no doubt!)
But 1st year school German was years ago...

 

Hi MissyC, well....good news and bad news from the tests I'm afraid. The diagnosis is a little worse than was first thought (the tests were much more intrusive then before) but the specialist has put me on more aggressive medicine -- the sort of stuff athletes aren't supposed to use as they would cause a doping scandal. I'll be off work for at least another couple of weeks to see how things go but if I'm honest with myself I really can't see me making the 6 hour drive from Geneva to Stelvio as it would be too much for me at this time