|
|
Oct 26, 2022 12:58:34 GMT
|
Last day (hurrah I hear you say!) Cortina had modern expensive company in the hotel carpark. Well the last day was basically a run to the ferry. I again decided against the Autoroutes and stuck to the N roads. I followed the sat nav towards Reims, and the fuel gauge started to get a bit low (I really should have filled up in Chalons!). The first petrol station on the sat nav turned out to be a building site, the second was only selling really low octane fuel, which given the Cortina is set up to run on Super Unleaded wasn't going to do it any good, so I figured I'd carry on and see what I could find. And then the road was closed - not just a bit of roadworks - the whole four lane road just stopped! Not sure why the newly purchased sat nav didn't know that but hey! So I turned round and followed my nose around the edge of Reims and off into the countryside, with the fuel gauge getting lower and lower - sure there would be a petrol station around soon. Once the sat nav had recalculated it reckoned the next petrol station was in 40 miles! Given the fuel gauge was on the red that was a bit alarming. So on I went, the countryside is pretty open and farmed intensively, not many trees or anything to photograph. I did a bit of hypermiling, rolling down hills in neutral trying to keep off the gas until absolutely necessary, slowing down, but still the gauge dropped - off the bottom of the red. I was expecting it to start coughing and spluttering but it didn't. Finally, I found a self service station in a rural village that was open! Hooray! Stress over. So I filled up the tank and the jerry cans. Well, to cut a long story short I made the ferry with plenty of time to spare. Onto the boat We were right at the bow - out in the open - good job it wasn't stormy as I could almost hear the Ford steel rusting. At the other side, we were off the ferry pretty quickly and out of Dover. A bit of traffic on the motorway but made good time home. safe and sound
|
|
Old Fords never die they just go sideways
|
|
|
|
|
|
When I went round the Cologne factory in September there was only one Fiesta production line running (in the peak of production there were four) and they were busy refitting the rest of the factory for electric car production.
Its a shame but sadly a sign of the times.
|
|
Old Fords never die they just go sideways
|
|
|
|
Oct 25, 2022 13:45:34 GMT
|
MOGGY not sure if you frequent the book of faces but there is a group on there called "The Jaguar Customising Forum" where a chap is just starting a project putting a BMW Diesel into a Mk2 - his brief sounds pretty close to yours - as in power with MPG. cheers Cortinaman
|
|
Old Fords never die they just go sideways
|
|
|
|
|
At Chalons aux Champagne we had a tour of a Champagne house booked so there was a deadline to get there (I had also been volunteered to give another member of the group a lift to the tour as her husband was not interested in Champagne - so I couldn't be late!) not too many photos plenty of windmills though Travelling alone again, and avoiding the Autoroutes, I got to Chalons well in time and had a wander around the town Town hall I then met up with my travelling companion for the trip out to the Champagne House - Champagne Alfred Tritant www.champagne-tritant.fr/en/ is a small family owned vineyard. We turned up early, having got the time wrong! However, of the ten of us supposed to be taking the tour only four turned up! We sampled several of their products which were very pleasant and bought a couple of bottles as it would be rude not to! So back to Chalons. It turned out that Steve and Rob who were supposed to be on the Champagne Tour found the Hotel Obis they thought they were booked into had no record of their booking so they had to find another hotel, and then the starter motor failed prompting a carpark replacement. We met up for a few drinks and then decided we wanted a curry - found somewhere, but having sat for 20 minutes without even being offered a drink we moved on. We eventually found a Chinese restaurant which was a good substitute. Last day tomorrow - the run for the ferry.
|
|
Old Fords never die they just go sideways
|
|
|
|
Oct 21, 2022 14:03:51 GMT
|
I'll just leave this here (not a Mk2 despite what they say - but close (S-type)
|
|
Old Fords never die they just go sideways
|
|
|
|
Oct 21, 2022 12:49:41 GMT
|
On my own as I wasn't going to do any more toll roads - and I had paid an extortionate amount of money before the trip for a Vingette to drive on Swiss roads, so I thought I might as well use it. With the sat-nav set to avoid toll roads it sent me round some back roads on the way to Geneva Pretty poor picture of the water jet in the lake at Geneva. The out into the Swiss countryside The road up into the mountains was wide and perfectly surfaced, while I stopped for a pee an Aston Martin SUV went up the hill sounding like a rocket ship - then came back down again a few minutes later - someone showing off their new toy! Up into the mountains and across the French border, stopped for a snack. A bit of rain but nothing too serious. crisscrossing the railway line - not the best picture of a railway bridge Down onto more level country - dead straight roads with hardly any traffic. Through picturesque villages Avenues of plane trees - I'm sure I was told they were planted by Napoleon so his troops could march in the shade! Who needs motorways! we stayed in the same hotel in Dijon as ten years ago - when we were there before the tram network was just being opened with free tram rides (not today though). A bit of local architecture Can you tell where the Cortina has been parked? Had dinner with Clare and Graham who organised the trip along with Magnus - no food pics I'm afraid! Off to Challons aux Champagne tomorrow - last stop before home.
|
|
Last Edit: Oct 21, 2022 12:50:27 GMT by cortinaman
Old Fords never die they just go sideways
|
|
|
|
|
On the way from Turin to Evian les Bains. We managed to loose two cars coming out of Turin so Steve and Rob and me convoyed together. For some reason my camera decided to take black and white photos for some of the day. We took the toll autostrada and went through the Frejus Tunnel - to be honest it was a bit stressful as the toll machines wouldn't always accept cash and one swallowed Rob's card (fortunately a man came and got the card out!) Lake Geneva view from the hotel Unfortunately, Evian was a bit short on restaurants, but we eventually found one - and had the best steak I've ever tasted (no pics I'm afraid). Heading to breakfast the next morning I looked out of the windows of the glass corridor and through - wow the hotel have a crazy golf course. It must have been too much driving befuddling my brain as it turned out to be a Chinese style garden! Off to Dijon tomorrow, and I decided to go it alone as I couldn't face any more toll roads.
|
|
Old Fords never die they just go sideways
|
|
|
|
|
Sadly I'm doing this about a month in arrears and I don't have any more food pics. Hmmm, Italy (like others) had a very dry summer this year and if that was still so when You were there the lago was rather small and dirty, maybe that's the explanation for the ducks' pool party? To be honest the lake didn't look much different to 10 years ago - it was a little lower but still clear. I suspect the ducks liked the pool cos they are likely to get fed!
|
|
Old Fords never die they just go sideways
|
|
|
|
Oct 20, 2022 12:47:46 GMT
|
It's on long term loan and Chris Williams pops out once a year to fire her up at 15 litres per minute but that's what you get for using a bomber engine. As you're in Italy we also need to see some food pictures please Sadly I'm doing this about a month in arrears and I don't have any more food pics.
|
|
Old Fords never die they just go sideways
|
|
|
|
Oct 20, 2022 11:34:26 GMT
|
Really enjoying the thread but any chance you can remember what Chris Williams' Packard Bentley 42-litre V12 1500bhp is doing in a German museum? I don't remember reading anything about it but this link to the museum website might shed some light:- speyer.technik-museum.de/de/packard-bentley
|
|
Old Fords never die they just go sideways
|
|
|
|
|
|
Is the old fiat factory now a hotel? Part of it is. One or two floors are a shopping centre, there is also part of the University in the building plus a theatre and art gallery.
|
|
Old Fords never die they just go sideways
|
|
|
|
|
Those cowls look like engine cowls off a light aircraft - hence the flap and lightweight construction.
|
|
Old Fords never die they just go sideways
|
|
|
|
|
So the next day was a run to the airport outside Milan - so no photos, although the sat nav took us to what appeared to be the staff entrance to the airport! Fortunately we had left loads of time before the flight so managed to find the drop off point without any dramas. Chatted with the owner of this chunky G-Wagen at the motorway services on the way to Turin, he had never seen a Cortina before. The run down the autostrada to Turin was rather busy and congested, and I hit Turin as the rush hour was starting. The road surfaces were appalling (about British standards!). I found where the sat nav said the hotel was, and could see the building but no signs for the hotel itself. So I drove round the block and ended up in a tunnel - now sat navs don't work very well in tunnels! Eventually after a bit of driving around I came up behind two Cortinas who looked like they knew where they were going! So I followed them to the hotel (it turned out the signs for the hotel were for the chain and not the name of the hotel itself). So here is where we were staying: It's not easy to photograph a building that's half a kilometre long! Anyway, it is the old Fiat Factory at Lingotto - famed for its rooftop test track and The Italian Job. View from the room The rooms were decorated with Fiat ephemera and design classic furniture The rooftop test track is used as an art gallery and for demonstrating electric Fiat 500s - so for 2euros we went for a look. The banked ends are still in place. Giant scissors - apparently they are a commentary on late 20th Century feminism (who knew!) The helipad on the roof designed by architect Renzo Piano was impressive. The ramps at each end are still in place - spectacular in-situ concrete for architecture buffs. Another famous rooftop from The Italian Job. For dinner we found an outside restaurant nearby as being in a suburb rather than the centre of Turin there wasn't a huge number of eateries - and it was getting late. It turned out to be attached to a supermarket - but the food was great! Next morning - ready for the off to Evian les Bains on Lake Geneva
|
|
Old Fords never die they just go sideways
|
|
|
|
|
[/quote]Something I've always wanted to do in my Firenza. Outside Florence, obviously, not outside Cortina. But it's a long way away. Good to see someone actually doing it, though.[/quote] Firenzas to Firenze - I like the sound of that! Only about 1000 miles each way - when's the anniversery of it's launch? now..... Capris to Capri? Granadas to Granada? or Morris Oxfords to Oxford......
|
|
Old Fords never die they just go sideways
|
|
|
|
|
Here's a few more mountain shots: 2CV Well I picked up Mrs Cortinaman and we drove up the side of Lake Garda - which is scenic but a bit slow. As we were arriving a few days earlier than the rest of the group we had the allocated parking all to ourselves. I won't bore you with holiday snaps but the ducks were entertaining - despite there being a huge lake a few metres away and several decorative ponds, they wanted to be in the swimming pool, much to the annoyance of the life guard. Eventually they gave up and sat by the pool like the rest of us. They also rather liked the fountain in town. A bit of architecture It was rather picturesque. Off to drop off Mrs Cortinaman at Milan airport tomorrow, then on to Turin.
|
|
Old Fords never die they just go sideways
|
|
|
|
|
What? Then it must be my screen settings! It must be - although I'll admit it does look blue in the last couple of photos!
|
|
Old Fords never die they just go sideways
|
|
|
|
|
I'll just leave these here - all I can say is Do it!
|
|
Old Fords never die they just go sideways
|
|
|
|
Oct 18, 2022 19:23:35 GMT
|
What color is Your car? Seems like a very dark blue, something like prussian blue maybe? It's BMC British Racing Green.
|
|
Old Fords never die they just go sideways
|
|
|
|
Oct 18, 2022 12:59:41 GMT
|
There's not many brits get over there in the summer months. I was there in 2018 for a sports tournament and it truly is magnificent without the snow (and the skiers). It's still worth a run up the hill into resort, twisty mountain roads through some wooded areas. We had a blue light police escort in coaches which was genuinely terrifying, the coach drivers harrasing the the police to get a move on. Looks like a great trip. The landscape is certainly epic round Cortina and the roads are pretty exciting to drive. I was only in Cortina for one night, as I was moving on to Riva del Garda for a few days with Mrs Cortinaman who was flying into Verona. But first a bit of a look round Cortina d'Ampezzo A few Cortinas outside Hotel Europa Fiat Panda 4x4 in its natural habitat The bell tower lit up at night looked like a rocket taking off! It would be rude not to sample the local brew. View from the hotel balcony. The town square - weather was much better than yesterday. On the way out of town, stopped for the obligatory photo by the Cortina sign. Up in the Dolomites on the Passo di Giau to the west of Cortina d’Ampezzo- using a bit more fuel than expected. The flight was delayed by an hour and a half so I went and found a cafe in a nearby town to sit in.
|
|
Old Fords never die they just go sideways
|
|
|
|
Oct 17, 2022 12:48:13 GMT
|
I thought you might like some video from Rob's Savage Mk2 of me in the clouds on the way to Cortina - its about here that I discovered that the gearbox liked to jump out of 1st when going down hill!
|
|
Old Fords never die they just go sideways
|
|
|