Euromeet 2014 - Personal Highlights
05-25-2014, 01:26 AM
#1
Euromeet 2014 - Personal Highlights
Completed the whole Minvo convoy route and what an epic journey it was.
Highlights are too numerous to mention, but here are some of my favourites :
1] The impromtu Black Forest run organised by KaiS2k as we crossed the border into Germany. What an afternoon - screaming VTECs through the hairpins and swooping bends. A MASSIVE thanks to Kai for taking time out from work to meet and guide us, and such a nice guy to boot (and apparently Miss BabyCar rather likes him too
)
2] Euromeet run. AE promised that it would be run with Minvoesque military precision. Errm no, typical Italian chaos was the order of the day! Hung around in hotel car park for an hour or so waiting for a briefing, then rumour had it we were setting off by hotel order. Handed a map (of limited use as too small a scale) as we headed down the road as well as a fistful of other gubbins and we were off.
Within a couple of hundred yards we were split up as a group of Belgians joined us from another junction and then just hung on to the car in front and a coupe of 'detours' ensued as we headed out of Trento. Eventually ended up in a group being headed by an Italian with a mixture of nationalities and we tucked in behind Le Sau. Despite the chaotic start the group then gave a perfect demonstration of fast convoy formation driving as we flew through the Dolomites, what a buzz. Funniest thing was a motorbike trying to keep up with us through the hairpins, no chance. Lunch outside amongst the snow, then the majority of the UK crew setting off at fast pace lead by Minvo for a rapid descent then a beautiful climb to the afternoon stop. Given that we were first to set off, we had pick of the parking spots which came in handy for the lowered cars. More fast hairpins back down to Trento.
On a more poignant note - Alan (le Sau) winning the auction for Hayes Belgium beer collection, then dedicating it to Ian Sunley (RTVGreenEagle) and distributing some of the bottles to UK attendees.
3] The Euromeet run was great...only to be surpassed in IMHO by our Sunday convoy run. Cross mountain route via some lovely mountain villages and rather narrower than anticipated roads (Megameet stylee) down to Riva Del Garda. Off to Limone and down the Tremosine gorge road to encounter a Ferrari 458 and Lambo Gallardo (?) coming the opposite way and asking if they would make it up to the top! Then meeting NineBolts and the Loon on a hairpin coming in the opposite direction. Back down to Lake Garda via the rock tunnels and then lunch on a veranda over the lake with some wonderfully fresh chargrilled local fish.
After lunch, across some more bendy roads via Lake Valvestino to Lake Idro. Only hold up for a while was a Harley who had to come to an almost complete stop at every bend in order to negotiate it but refused to move over
- eventually got past it and a great run down to Lake Idro and a well deserved break on the lakeshore in the sun.
Then when we arrived at Ibis Cremona only to go into immediate concern at the amount of graffiti covering the hotel (which wasn't evident in the photos). Everybody thinking to sleep in shifts to watch the cars only to discover that they had secure car garage parking (not mentioned by receptionist..). Actually secure was an understatement - the underground garage had a sliding steel door which would have done Fort Knox proud. Everybody now much calmer and a well earned beer before heading out for food. I'd found a well reviewed local restaurant a short walk from the hotel, though concerned once again as well walked past a graffiti-covered park to a housing estate and eventually to the restaurant. We bumped into a local carrying a huge pizza box who assured us the food was excellent. Despite being a Sunday night the large restaurant was packed but they managed to get a table for our group and the food was indeed great.
4] The SS45 en route to Portofino - more hairpins!
5] Three nights in Nice - fantastic old town, lovely sunshine and warm (despite the wind on Wednesday).
6) The run through the Morvan forest on our way from Lyon to Reims, long route but rewarding (though getting past Lyon in rush hour was a nightmare). Stunning views, villages, weather and a chance for an off road excursion on the way to a view point.
7) The monsoon we encountered on the motorway between Troyes and Reims, couldn't see any road markings due to the amount of water, could barely see 40 feet in front of us and HRS2000 insisting on driving with his roof down, though he eventually had to admit defeat - we suspect it was due to fact the Haye's car had turned into a bath by that stage!
8) Arriving at Circuit Gueux buildings for photos. They were having a classic car photo shoot and as we relocated the cars the induction noise brought the French out to see what the cars were (some thought it must have 8 cylinders!). General good chat and some engine bay inspections followed. A full VTEC drive-by as we left got heads turning..
Discovering Leffe Royale at the bar in Reims Cathedral square. Shame we didn't have time to attempt the 'metre of beer'.
Dinner at the La Trattoria - some of the best Italian pasta dishes you could find. Our Lasagne de la Mer had scallops, crevettes, and large chunks of fish sandwiched between sheets of soft fresh pasta and a saffron sauce - so tasty.
9) Driving up the M20 from the Tunnel with fork lightning ahead and thunder rumbling above with the roof down.
10) Our farewell dinner and final one-by-one peel-off on the M11 which signalled journey's end
The journey wouldn't have been the same without our traveling companions:
Minvo and McMinny - wonderful company, meticulous organisation as always, obsessive car cleaning etc etc
Rich 'The Cow Whisperer' - it's those magic fingers, and Debs - hope you get to grips with your sat nav then you can lead!
Rich and Katie - so sorry we lost you as we left Lyon.
Haye 'Rubber Duck' Renders - we thought your roof must have been broken..respect is due.
Rich (TTS) and Denise - think the car should be nicknamed Eeek - the sound made everytime the cold brakes were used. Look forward to seeing your GoPro vids sometime.
Mark and Teresa - for the many laughs and tales. Great that you could meet us in Calais for the final leg home. Never knew an S could hold so much wine.
My superb navigator - Sarah aka BadGirl aka PW
To those that couldn't make it - Andy and Maryam, hopefully next time.
And all the others that joined us for various legs of the trip. Hope your Euromeet experience was as good as ours.
A final big thanks to the Euromeet organisers.
See you for the 20th Anniversary...
Highlights are too numerous to mention, but here are some of my favourites :
1] The impromtu Black Forest run organised by KaiS2k as we crossed the border into Germany. What an afternoon - screaming VTECs through the hairpins and swooping bends. A MASSIVE thanks to Kai for taking time out from work to meet and guide us, and such a nice guy to boot (and apparently Miss BabyCar rather likes him too
)2] Euromeet run. AE promised that it would be run with Minvoesque military precision. Errm no, typical Italian chaos was the order of the day! Hung around in hotel car park for an hour or so waiting for a briefing, then rumour had it we were setting off by hotel order. Handed a map (of limited use as too small a scale) as we headed down the road as well as a fistful of other gubbins and we were off.
Within a couple of hundred yards we were split up as a group of Belgians joined us from another junction and then just hung on to the car in front and a coupe of 'detours' ensued as we headed out of Trento. Eventually ended up in a group being headed by an Italian with a mixture of nationalities and we tucked in behind Le Sau. Despite the chaotic start the group then gave a perfect demonstration of fast convoy formation driving as we flew through the Dolomites, what a buzz. Funniest thing was a motorbike trying to keep up with us through the hairpins, no chance. Lunch outside amongst the snow, then the majority of the UK crew setting off at fast pace lead by Minvo for a rapid descent then a beautiful climb to the afternoon stop. Given that we were first to set off, we had pick of the parking spots which came in handy for the lowered cars. More fast hairpins back down to Trento.
On a more poignant note - Alan (le Sau) winning the auction for Hayes Belgium beer collection, then dedicating it to Ian Sunley (RTVGreenEagle) and distributing some of the bottles to UK attendees.
3] The Euromeet run was great...only to be surpassed in IMHO by our Sunday convoy run. Cross mountain route via some lovely mountain villages and rather narrower than anticipated roads (Megameet stylee) down to Riva Del Garda. Off to Limone and down the Tremosine gorge road to encounter a Ferrari 458 and Lambo Gallardo (?) coming the opposite way and asking if they would make it up to the top! Then meeting NineBolts and the Loon on a hairpin coming in the opposite direction. Back down to Lake Garda via the rock tunnels and then lunch on a veranda over the lake with some wonderfully fresh chargrilled local fish.
After lunch, across some more bendy roads via Lake Valvestino to Lake Idro. Only hold up for a while was a Harley who had to come to an almost complete stop at every bend in order to negotiate it but refused to move over
- eventually got past it and a great run down to Lake Idro and a well deserved break on the lakeshore in the sun.Then when we arrived at Ibis Cremona only to go into immediate concern at the amount of graffiti covering the hotel (which wasn't evident in the photos). Everybody thinking to sleep in shifts to watch the cars only to discover that they had secure car garage parking (not mentioned by receptionist..). Actually secure was an understatement - the underground garage had a sliding steel door which would have done Fort Knox proud. Everybody now much calmer and a well earned beer before heading out for food. I'd found a well reviewed local restaurant a short walk from the hotel, though concerned once again as well walked past a graffiti-covered park to a housing estate and eventually to the restaurant. We bumped into a local carrying a huge pizza box who assured us the food was excellent. Despite being a Sunday night the large restaurant was packed but they managed to get a table for our group and the food was indeed great.
4] The SS45 en route to Portofino - more hairpins!
5] Three nights in Nice - fantastic old town, lovely sunshine and warm (despite the wind on Wednesday).
6) The run through the Morvan forest on our way from Lyon to Reims, long route but rewarding (though getting past Lyon in rush hour was a nightmare). Stunning views, villages, weather and a chance for an off road excursion on the way to a view point.
7) The monsoon we encountered on the motorway between Troyes and Reims, couldn't see any road markings due to the amount of water, could barely see 40 feet in front of us and HRS2000 insisting on driving with his roof down, though he eventually had to admit defeat - we suspect it was due to fact the Haye's car had turned into a bath by that stage!
8) Arriving at Circuit Gueux buildings for photos. They were having a classic car photo shoot and as we relocated the cars the induction noise brought the French out to see what the cars were (some thought it must have 8 cylinders!). General good chat and some engine bay inspections followed. A full VTEC drive-by as we left got heads turning..
Discovering Leffe Royale at the bar in Reims Cathedral square. Shame we didn't have time to attempt the 'metre of beer'.
Dinner at the La Trattoria - some of the best Italian pasta dishes you could find. Our Lasagne de la Mer had scallops, crevettes, and large chunks of fish sandwiched between sheets of soft fresh pasta and a saffron sauce - so tasty.
9) Driving up the M20 from the Tunnel with fork lightning ahead and thunder rumbling above with the roof down.
10) Our farewell dinner and final one-by-one peel-off on the M11 which signalled journey's end
The journey wouldn't have been the same without our traveling companions:
Minvo and McMinny - wonderful company, meticulous organisation as always, obsessive car cleaning etc etc
Rich 'The Cow Whisperer' - it's those magic fingers, and Debs - hope you get to grips with your sat nav then you can lead!
Rich and Katie - so sorry we lost you as we left Lyon.
Haye 'Rubber Duck' Renders - we thought your roof must have been broken..respect is due.
Rich (TTS) and Denise - think the car should be nicknamed Eeek - the sound made everytime the cold brakes were used. Look forward to seeing your GoPro vids sometime.
Mark and Teresa - for the many laughs and tales. Great that you could meet us in Calais for the final leg home. Never knew an S could hold so much wine.
My superb navigator - Sarah aka BadGirl aka PW
To those that couldn't make it - Andy and Maryam, hopefully next time.
And all the others that joined us for various legs of the trip. Hope your Euromeet experience was as good as ours.
A final big thanks to the Euromeet organisers.
See you for the 20th Anniversary...
05-27-2014, 10:33 AM
#3
Administrator
Great write up Gary
On 2. Well, I was going from experience from last time!! I think due to the reduced number of cars (!) they felt they could do it a simpler way this time. The issue was Beppe was leading us and he got hit from behind by another Italian (seems to be tradition) so we lost our group leader as he had to sort that out. Last time there were italians who knew the route dotted between us in each group.
It seemed to work out, and next time I will try to ensure there is more military precision!
05-28-2014, 01:57 AM
#5
Community Organizer
What a great write up Gary 
It was EPIC.
My best points (not in any order and some copied from yours!):
1, Meeting Kai and the forest run
2, The radio tuning
3, The thunder storm
4, The great sat-nav blunders
5, The hairpin in a tunnel
6, The support from everyone after the deer
and finally.... it would have not been the same without such great company.
Minvo
It was EPIC.
My best points (not in any order and some copied from yours!):
1, Meeting Kai and the forest run
2, The radio tuning
3, The thunder storm
4, The great sat-nav blunders
5, The hairpin in a tunnel
6, The support from everyone after the deer
and finally.... it would have not been the same without such great company.
Minvo
05-28-2014, 09:00 AM
#6
Registered User
Super write up Gary - what a fabulous experience it was!
It's difficult to be specific on favourite bits, as I loved every single minute of the trip, and would do the whole thing again tomorrow given half a chance.
The drive to and around Lake Garda was spectacular and it was a beautifully sunny day too, with a lovely lunch stop thrown in for good measure.
Whilst the driving was a real treat with fantastic scenery and roads in abundance each day, the other highlight was the 'après' driving' - with some great company to enjoy and while away the evenings with.
Thanks to the organisers of the euro meet event Ian, Sue and the Italians - but, most of all thank you to Steve Gary & Haye for the hard work you put into organising the route and to Sharon & Sarah aka 'PW' for their expert navigational skills (you would both make brilliant rally co drivers). Oh, and of course thanks to our wonderful cars - all fabulously reliable despite being thrashed and loaded to the hilt each day
Hope we can meet up again soon!
Rich (and ET666)
It's difficult to be specific on favourite bits, as I loved every single minute of the trip, and would do the whole thing again tomorrow given half a chance.
The drive to and around Lake Garda was spectacular and it was a beautifully sunny day too, with a lovely lunch stop thrown in for good measure.
Whilst the driving was a real treat with fantastic scenery and roads in abundance each day, the other highlight was the 'après' driving' - with some great company to enjoy and while away the evenings with.
Thanks to the organisers of the euro meet event Ian, Sue and the Italians - but, most of all thank you to Steve Gary & Haye for the hard work you put into organising the route and to Sharon & Sarah aka 'PW' for their expert navigational skills (you would both make brilliant rally co drivers). Oh, and of course thanks to our wonderful cars - all fabulously reliable despite being thrashed and loaded to the hilt each day
Hope we can meet up again soon!
Rich (and ET666)
05-29-2014, 11:23 AM
#7
Former Sponsor
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: SILVERSTONE
Posts: 547
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I can't put into words how much i enjoyed the trip, The time and detail that was put into it made it what it was and I am so grateful to have been part of it. The friendliness of everyone involved made it all the more special. Thank you all.
Trending Topics
06-14-2014, 12:15 AM
#8
Honda S2000 Euromeet. Storia in italiano dei russi 
http://honda-club.ru/forum/showpost....94&postcount=2
http://honda-club.ru/forum/showpost....94&postcount=2
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
nofearofdanger
Australia & New Zealand S2000 Owners
212
02-10-2012 05:59 PM
B.C.
California - Southern California S2000 Owners
151
02-08-2003 03:09 AM