Trip to the Cotswolds: Sunday 5th of August?

Micloi · 29 Jul 2018 at 17:08

After the success of last Saturday's trip to Wales (despite forecasts for a cataclysm that never materialised!) we are repeating this with the Cotswolds as the destination

Sunday 5th of August, put your names down!

1. Abarth 595 competizione
2. Nissan 370z Nismo
3. Skoda Superb tsi
4. BMW E92 M3
5. Saab 9-3 Aero
6. Skoda Superb tsi
7. Abarth 124 Spider
8. E63 AMG
9. MX-5
10. Westfield
11. BMW E92 M3

Will also have a VBOX and a Dragy with me if people want to borrow them.

Below photos from Wales:

(20 Photos):
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/hzgl3tu5vc5um8c/AAAPrqDbhiNEXGb5-bFWb8Jua

James oakey · 29 Jul 2018 at 17:14

So tempted but fairly busy :-(

Yesterday’s trip was spot on

Micloi · 29 Jul 2018 at 17:18

Someone else is bringing his Superb so we don't need yours anyway

James oakey · 29 Jul 2018 at 17:21

Housey · 29 Jul 2018 at 17:36

Sorry can't make the 5th but enjoyed the Wales run even though I only did the Evo Triangle and then left....like this:

Micloi · 29 Jul 2018 at 17:55

Never mind

Micloi · 30 Jul 2018 at 07:31

1. Abarth 595 competizione
2. Nissan 370z Nismo
3. Skoda Superb tsi
4. BMW E92 M3
5. Skoda Octavia VRS
6. Skoda Superb tsi
7. Abarth 124 Spider

Micloi · 31 Jul 2018 at 11:18

We are up to 7 cars.

Rough plan (currently working on maps etc) is
1. to meet at the British Motor Museum in Gaydon
2. drive through the Cotswords
3. take some photos at a Castle or similar
4. have lunch at a nice place and
5. drive back through different interesting roads through the Cotswolds.

Will also have a VBOX and a Dragy with me if people want to borrow them.

ianh · 31 Jul 2018 at 11:43

Having driven around the Cotswolds for a few years here's some of my highlights (mainly fast A-roads and historic towns) -

1. Fish Hill - twin lane uphill and single downhill semi-Alpine style switchbacks with a near 1 mile straight at the bottom and a quick turnaround at top/bottom for multiple runs.
2. "Cotswold Triangle" - From Stow on the Wold up to Moreton in Marsh and across to Bourton on the Hill then back south to Stow. I found it best to keep this "triangle" as the middle point of the map on any run and branch out from there.
3. Burford to Stow on the Wold - Follow the A424 north from Burford upto Stow along this fast A-Road with great countryside views after Burford.

There's a few good roads down towards Swindon but that maybe too far out of the way. Tourist traffic is always a bit of a nightmare so I always preferred shorter roads which you can attempt 3-4 times rather than longer roads you only get 1 shot at.

Micloi · 31 Jul 2018 at 12:06

ianh said:
Having driven around the Cotswolds for a few years here's some of my highlights (mainly fast A-roads and historic towns) -

1. Fish Hill - twin lane uphill and single downhill semi-Alpine style switchbacks with a near 1 mile straight at the bottom and a quick turnaround at top/bottom for multiple runs.
2. "Cotswold Triangle" - From Stow on the Wold up to Moreton in Marsh and across to Bourton on the Hill then back south to Stow. I found it best to keep this "triangle" as the middle point of the map on any run and branch out from there.
3. Burford to Stow on the Wold - Follow the A424 north from Burford upto Stow along this fast A-Road with great countryside views after Burford.

There's a few good roads down towards Swindon but that maybe too far out of the way. Tourist traffic is always a bit of a nightmare so I always preferred shorter roads which you can attempt 3-4 times rather than longer roads you only get 1 shot at.

Thank you Ian, good tips. It's a shame you cannot join us.

SC0TTRS · 1 Aug 2018 at 10:43

Looks like you all had a blast!

Hoping to get on the next one, typically I’m busy again this weekend....

Showing interest for the 3rd road trip Micloi !

Django x2 · 1 Aug 2018 at 12:55

Why is that R8 so slow off the mark?

Micloi · 2 Aug 2018 at 07:40

Thanks to Raoul for helping me create the map below!
Places and approximate times on the map.

NOTE: People that wish to attend need to let us know by Friday evening as we need to inform the restaurant of the number of people AND their order from the online menu:
https://www.themaytime.com/restaurant/

1. Abarth 595 competizione
2. Nissan 370z Nismo
3. Skoda Superb tsi
4. BMW E92 M3
5. Saab 9-3 Aero
6. Skoda Superb tsi
7. Abarth 124 Spider
8. E63 AMG
9. MX-5
10. Westfield
11. BMW E92 M3

Micloi · 2 Aug 2018 at 16:37

The restaurant and menu choice has to be booked today, will be calling them at 6pm. If anyone else wanted to join for lunch please let me know asap. Thanks

vertica · 2 Aug 2018 at 23:08

Some comments/suggestions/options from someone who uses various parts of your route every day:

Section B is a fairly straight run into Kineton. However if you turn left just before B and do the loop visible on your map, south, around Radway, it has a nice switchback on the descent of sunrising hill. You can then take the Tysoe Road up to Kineton at the bottom of the hill, rejoining the original route.

Road C is a nice stretch of road, it goes behind JLR's test track, and is used by Aston Martin as an unofficial test road. It's got loads of laybys, but it is a popular road for cyclists and horses at the weekend, so just be aware along there!

Crossing the fosse, the road chosen down into Wellsbourne from Morton Paddox is also nice another switchback on a descent.

After your fuel stop: the A429 south of Wellsbourne to Halford is really dull. They are also building a load of new housing along it, so a whole section is under temporary traffic lights and has contraflow roundabouts under construction etc.
A much more enjoyable option would be to head back out of Wellsbourne the way you came in, but take the road up to the fosse roundabout shown just north of Combrook on your map. Then take the Fosse down to Halford. It's nowhere near as straight as it looks on the map and repeatedly climbs and descends through the countryside. An infinetly better drive!

After that it looks good!

Micloi · 2 Aug 2018 at 23:12

vertica said:
Some comments/suggestions/options from someone who uses various parts of your route every day:

Section B is a fairly straight run into Kineton. However if you turn left just before B and do the loop visible on your map, south, around Radway, it has a nice switchback on the descent of sunrising hill. You can then take the Tysoe Road up to Kineton at the bottom of the hill, rejoining the original route.

Road C is a nice stretch of road, it goes behind JLR's test track, and is used by Aston Martin as an unofficial test road. It's got loads of laybys, but it is a popular road for cyclists and horses at the weekend, so just be aware along there!

Crossing the fosse, the road chosen down into Wellsbourne from Morton Paddox is also nice another switchback on a descent.

After your fuel stop: the A429 south of Wellsbourne to Halford is really dull. They are also building a load of new housing along it, so a whole section is under temporary traffic lights and has contraflow roundabouts under construction etc.
A much more enjoyable option would be to head back out of Wellsbourne the way you came in, but take the road up to the fosse roundabout shown just north of Combrook on your map. Then take the Fosse down to Halford. It's nowhere near as straight as it looks on the map and repeatedly climbs and descends through the countryside. An infinetly better drive!

After that it looks good!

Many thanks for the comments and suggestions! You live practically next door to me. Even if you cannot join us on Sunday we should meet one day for a drink and a chat as there are a few of us that live in Warwick and Leamington.

Micloi · 5 Aug 2018 at 19:24

Another great day, lots of fun!