Και καθώς είδα τα μελλοντικά σχέδια των αγοριών για τον γύρο της Ελλάδας σε 13 μέρες, θυμήθηκα την δική μου 24ωρη βολτούλα στην Μεγάλη Βρεταννία, τότε όταν είχα μόνο τον Μπέμπη τον Μικρό τον 316i.
Το κείμενο δημοσιεύθηκε στο BMW Car Club Magazine από τον τότε εκδότη Jeff Heywood
Παρακαλώ, πάρτε καρεκλίτσα, καφεδάκικαι αρχίστε
Πάλι όμως στα Αγγλικά...και δεν έχω φωτό, καθώς κυριολεκτικά είχα αγώνα δρόμου με τον χρόνο...
"THE TOUR OF BRITAIN IN…24 HOURS IN AN E36 316i
It is 2am. A cold winter morning. I don’t want to get up from my bed. But I know I have to. My appointment with a business partner in Barnstaple, North Devon, is in eight hours time. And I am going to drive there from Glasgow.
02.40: Ready, steady, in the car, go. It’s pitch dark and the road works on M74 just outside Glasgow don’t help. The weather doesn’t either; thankfully the road is already gritted. There is snow at the edges of the road on both sides! Me and few lorries here and there at this time of the day. At least my lights are good and I am sitting in the comfort and pleasurable ambient temperature of my car, with the right soundtrack surround!
04.00: Entering M6, approaching Carlisle and Penrith. More cars appear now and the inside and middle lanes are mostly occupied by lorries and tracks. I start to see the snow covering the fields by the motorway.
The traffic starts to become heavy-ish outside Preston, Manchester and Liverpool from the early starters. A quick stop to drink a cup of coffee and then go. More road works outside Wolverhampton and Birmingham and a really heavy traffic, where nothing practically moves for a while. Time then for a break, fill up the car and have my second breakfast! It’s nearly 7.35am and I am really hungry.
Time to move on. More patience exercise for me on M5 outside Bristol in another traffic jam, complimented by driving skills exercise on more road works further south at the level of Weston-Super-Mare. It seems that the whole of UK motorway network is under continuous refurbishment…hopefully with a good result soon!
Exit from M5 at Junction 27, direction Barnstaple on A361. So far, so good. It’s 9.10am and I think I am going to make it on time! The weather is good, compared to the real nightmare I’ve just experienced, so no worries! Yes, I am in Barnstaple, but surprise, surprise: …a traffic jam! Actually the worst imaginable traffic jam that a small town can have. Having spent a year there in the past, how did I forget about it? Those of you who have visited Devon and Cornwall understand what I’m talking about.
It’s already 10am. My car parked in the multi store car park at Queen street and me rushing to the building just next to it for my appointment. And yes, I made it, just on time!
11.00: The meeting was a success! Time to leave Barnstaple. But I am not going back…yet. Did I mention that I have another meeting in London, Trafalgar Square at 3.30pm? Well, it’s true and I have to be there on that time the very latest, because the doors will be shut after 3.30pm…
Now, the question is, shall I drive to London or shall I take the train from Tiverton Park? Let’s see how it goes…I thought. Forty minutes later, I rejoined the M5 and decided to carry on by car. Traffic is not too bad and I easily reach the M4.
There’s only one thought on my mind now: where am I going to park in London and how am I going not to…get lost!?! I’ve driven in London before, but only in the west suburbs and that was nearly three years ago, so no chance to make a second attempt now. An idea comes to my mind: I will park in the short car park at Heathrow airport and then take the tube to London! Another short break at Membury services and then back on the wheel.
14.15: Reached Heathrow airport and parked the car in the car park 1A. Remember it, I said to myself. A short chat with a helpful couple and a friendly NCP car park officer and I got my directions how to get to Charing Cross. In the train of Piccadilly line at last and armed with my mini London guide, I pray for the time to go slowly and the train to go faster…! I have less than an hour left and if I don’t make it…oh, don’t want to think of this scenario. I am confident I will make it.
15.25: Arrived to Charing Cross station. Practically running on Trafalgar square, going to my destination just a hundred metres from the station. It’s 3.30pm and I am in the building walking to the meeting room. Yes, I made it once more, just on time! Thank God.
16.00: Appointment over, another successful agreement. I jump back on the train, direction Heathrow airport to pick my car. Now I am far more relaxed; a feeling of satisfaction is all over me and I can even have a short nap…on the seat.
17.15: Back in the car park and ready to drive off. It’s the peak time of the day and the congestion on M25 direction north is horrendous. Never mind. I have all night long (!) to go back to Glasgow. First thing, find the nearest service station and have an early dinner. About an hour later, I reach Toddington services on M1 and stop for the much awaited break for food and petrol!
19.30: Fresh, I am back on the wheel heading north on M1. No much to see, am a bit tired (!) and mainly focussed on the road in front of me…!
I carry on on M1 and then enter the A1(M). At 10pm I arrived at Scotch Corner. I like this service station a lot; they must know me well by now: visited the place four times in the last 72 hours!!! There was a police Volvo V70 parked nearby, with Yorkshire number plates. Instantly I thought of the series on TV about crime stopper traffic cops and started a chat with the officer; he smiled and rushed to say “Oh, I am one of the good ones”, adding “If you go fast down the road, I will catch you in 10 min”. I wonder why he would tell me the last bit….”Goodnight, have a safe journey” he said, “Goodnight, have a quiet shift” I said.
Driving on A66 is not the best thing to do on an ice cold night. It was past midnight when I rejoined the M6 northband, but never mind. All went smoothly and according to plan (!) so far!
It’s 1.45am. I am in the garage, parking my car. I am back!!! Safe and sound. I inspect the car: looks OK apart from the colour, which changed from Montreal Blue to “Grit” Blue and the alloys have acquired a natural “grey-smoked” colour instead of the original chrome! A good wash will restore everything.
I din’t feel particularly tired after this little adventure. I have to say that the sweet (!) BMW 316i did a very good job: the driving position is excellent and the seat comfortable enough to keep the driver awake and in shape. No aches at all anywhere whatsoever. Only my hands are slightly sore, but after 17 hours of almost continuous driving (!), this is to be expected I reckon…
Some more statistics: In these 24 hours, I didn’t sleep at all and I covered 1800 km (1120 miles converted) in total, with a respectable fuel consumption of 7.7lt/100km (just over 36mpg).
The car has added several thousands kilometres, since my last letter in April/May 2004 and now it has about 200000km (124000 miles converted). It’s a wonder of basic engineering: 4-cylinder with 8 valves.. The only modification it’s got is a K&N panel filter fitted some 25000km ago. And that’s all.
Right. That was it. Hope you didn’t get bored reading all the above!
Speak to you again…"
Απάντηση με παράθεση
Τα δε πλαστικά? Τολμώ να τα συγκρίνω ως εφάμιλλα με εκείνα του φθηνότερου αυτοκινητου που έχω κάνει test drive: Dacia Sandero! Εκείνο τουλάχιστο είναι φθηνό...μα το Mini?!?
οπότε συμβιβάστηκα με 2 Depon και 2 Ibuprofen, όταν έφτασα στον προορισμό μου... Πηδάω από το αμάξι και ο κινητήρας από έξω μουγκρίζει σαν κακορυθμισμένο αγροτικό diesel...Αποκλείεται λέω, δεν πιστεύω στ'αυτιά μου.....This is a MINI!!!!
Κάθεται λοιπόν και...αρχίζει τα παράπονα για την άβολη θέση...Εγώ ξεκινώ κι εκείνος κάνει μισή ώρα να βρει βολική θέση....
Και αυτό το μουγκρητό, τι έιναι?!? Ο κινητήρας χρυσέ μου, απαντώ.... No way...!!! Σταματώ, βγαίνει έξω και ακούει με τα ίδια του τα αυτιά...
