European Tours: Almost in 4k :)

[andyvvc]

Myself, my wife Lydia and a bunch of friends have been driving silly distances to see epic-mountain ranges etc for a number of years.  

Wales.  Scotland. Europe. Even as far as Andorra last year lol!

Anyhoo, rather than bore folks with some text, I've uploaded a few of the videos (excerts from) to YouTube.  So feel free to have a watch (hopefully in 4k where bandwidth permits)

One thing i will say:  having a twin-turbo 911 at 10,000 feet altitude is hilarious in so much as thin-air has no impact on power (the ECU compensates and tells the turbos to suck in even more air)  

[chrisb]

Andy, excellent, looks like we shared some roads, it would have been fun to have met up.......after we overtook you that is......

[mikael]

A gorgeous car - with a gorgeous sound, even at moderate revs!

And beautiful places - thank you for sharing

[andyvvc]

A few more videos   

Gorge du Cians:  



V8 Vantage GT4 rally car: 

(Turn the audio up for this one!)


Col du Croix de la Fer:

[mikael]

Great movies, Andy. What a pleasure it must be to drive such a car!

The Aston Martin V8 rally car is spectacular indeed. Thinking about it, it is a pity, in a way, that the World Rally Championship (WRC) doesn't comprise cars of that caliber. While the WRC continues to be spectacular in its own way, the fact that the cars are now limited to, essentially, economy compact cars, makes it - in some way - also a bit of a "tame" show. Just imagine how it would be if any production car could compete, and if manufacturers like Aston Martin and Porsche were part of the game!

Vic Elford in the factory Porsche 911 at the 1968 Rally Monte Carlo

Lancia Stratos, winner of the WRC in '75 and '76 - with V6 Ferrari Dino power :-)

Porsche rally cars participating in national championships in certain central European countries

The wonderful Lancia Stratos in '75 and '76

[René]

Great videos Andy, thanks!

Mikael, the Lancia Stratos is one of the coolest rally cars of all time. Definitely. And it's a very small car when you see it in the flesh, really very small.

I made these pictures of the Stratos at Spa Italia in 2017.

[chrisb]

thanks Andy, the Aston especially was magnificent, and François a truly spectacular driver, remembering him in the Fords and Pugs of yesteryear, gosh to ride/ drive those roads when they are empty, woohoo that would be fun. Now what car would I like best of all to drive them....


totally agree Mikael, there is something magnificent about these cars, the Stratos, the Porsche 911 and I will always remember Roger Clark in one at the RAC in the Rothmans colours, but that is the first time I have seen the Aston in rally trim, in a way it reminded me of one of my favourite cars the Austin Healey 3000 mk111, but with comfort and those great days of almost anything goes,   

[mikael]

This company has been the dealer of some amazing collector's cars, including quite a few Lancia Stratos'. The site includes some some beautiful photos of them:

girardo.com/