flango
Hardcore MB Enthusiast
Yep wish I could be there too but off down under tomorrow, have a great one 
st4
Banned
You'll be missed and your both missing out, big time
Simon_M
MB Enthusiast
An pics yet?
This is Pete
Active Member
- Joined
- Dec 8, 2011
- Messages
- 462
- Car
- E350 CDI Sport Estate, Porsche 911 CS4
I did much of the southern loop over the past week. The scenery on the west coast is simply stunning, especially when the clouds lift and the sun decides to come out.
Rayny
Active Member
I believe that day has already happened for this year.
I have a couple of photos, but it appears that USB is not so Universal - I have 3 different USB cables with me, but none of them fit my camera.
I shall get the pictures off the camera when I get home tomorrow, and post them if they are of acceptable quality.
st4
Banned
Ray, sorry for not saying good bye, I thought you were going to go up as far as Tomintoul and then back. Was good to see you and thanks for making the sizable effort to come
Album here
Album here
2012_09_Forum Grand Tour - a set on Flickr
Album here
Album here
2012_09_Forum Grand Tour - a set on Flickr
Buster'stheboy
Active Member
Thanks for pictures 
, two things spring to mind:
Where's that dam?
No 124's?
, two things spring to mind:Where's that dam?
No 124's?
st4
Banned
Thanks for pictures
Where's that dam?
No 124's?
See the write up. Its Loch Laggan just passed Tulloch on the A86 that runs between Spean Bridge and Newtonmore.
Should have come and made a showing for the 124.
http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/general-discussion/136849-touring-cairngorms-nw-highlands-forum.html
the route this year was wonderful .. our resident tour director ***, once again excelled himself. He even reversed the route and replanned the whole thing to take account of the weather.
*** and I played catch all over the mountains where there was ample opportunity to make the V8 roar. What impressed me was the amazing agility and balance of ***'s 204 estate. It kept me honest .. although, in my defence, my tyres were past their best.
it was enormous fun too on Sunday morning leading the pack with igurisu and corned on the sweeping and bumpy A road along some Loch whose name I have forgotten. Only on a steep uphill was igurisu convinced of the difference between a V8K and 4K
the company was excellent, and it was really great to see old faces from last year, and new ones this year.
most of all, thank you so very much to all you fantastic folks for helping out with that half egg sized boil on my near side front tyre wall .. acquired after I hit a rock on some narrow road in the Highlands on Sunday late morning.
I drove the CLS approximately 280 miles before I could get a replacement tyre.
Thank you to sspeed for spotting me in the layby and following me to the next rendez vous. Thank you to everyone for driving slowly to MB Inverness and hanging around as various options were explored.
And platinum star of the trip to trapperjohn for following me all the way from Inverness to Aviemore, and then to Milngavie .. at around 47mph. trapperjohn had to suffer some angry traffic, some blinding headlights and horrendous boredom as I nursed the car for around 230 miles with him being my guardian angel. There is no finer gentleman. Sir, thank you from my heart, I owe you big time.
Driving Miss Daisy has its benefits. You notice the vast, stunning and quite beautiful landscape, the sky, the lightly formed and quite shapely clouds, and the odd bird. Plus some lush heather.
Some yoofs passed me in a Polo .. I saw the passenger spot my V8 Kompressor badge, turn around tell his mates, they all laughed and then sped off. No doubt on a VW forum somewhere is a tale of how a 1.3 liter Polo burned off a 5.5 liter supercharged V8 Merc ..
Thanks also to Harry (HB) for organising the replacement tyres with incredible speed and efficiency. Harry has a musical Scottish accent I could actually understand. Thanks for your help Harry, and for helping me to get back home tonight.
My tyres were fitted at Skidz (where *** has his E class tyres fitted) in Falkirk. They were good, I would rate them 8.5 out of 10. My only criticism is that they did not use seat covers despite me asking and pointing out the near white leather seats. They did not damage, scratch or kerb my alloys, which is a big plus. And they gave me a lift to the Falkirk Wheel, which is a marvel of design and engineering.
I decided to change all 4 tyres (again MO XL Continental Sport Contact 3), which Harry sorted out at a great price.
Driving back to London, a journey of some 430 miles via the A66 and A1 and A1(M), as recommended by corned, was magic. The A66 is really quite a road, almost like driving at the top of the world, with jaw dropping scenery all round, lit by the setting sun in blaze of gold, orange and many other colours in between.
New tyres were definitely needed, despite at least 4mm left front (which has done about 21k miles) and rear (about 9k miles). The old tyres had seen 2 Goodwood track days and some hard Scottish driving .. they were kaput.
I was wondering why airmatic had seem to have failed, and why there was increased road noise and rumble. Answer, tyres dead.
With new tyres, it was as if airmatic was switched back on, and as if the roads had been resurfaced. The cabin 'upgraded' itself back to first class for refinement, comfort and hush.
It's like a new car all over again.
Thanks again everyone.
*** and I played catch all over the mountains where there was ample opportunity to make the V8 roar. What impressed me was the amazing agility and balance of ***'s 204 estate. It kept me honest .. although, in my defence, my tyres were past their best.
it was enormous fun too on Sunday morning leading the pack with igurisu and corned on the sweeping and bumpy A road along some Loch whose name I have forgotten. Only on a steep uphill was igurisu convinced of the difference between a V8K and 4K
the company was excellent, and it was really great to see old faces from last year, and new ones this year.
most of all, thank you so very much to all you fantastic folks for helping out with that half egg sized boil on my near side front tyre wall .. acquired after I hit a rock on some narrow road in the Highlands on Sunday late morning.
I drove the CLS approximately 280 miles before I could get a replacement tyre.
Thank you to sspeed for spotting me in the layby and following me to the next rendez vous. Thank you to everyone for driving slowly to MB Inverness and hanging around as various options were explored.
And platinum star of the trip to trapperjohn for following me all the way from Inverness to Aviemore, and then to Milngavie .. at around 47mph. trapperjohn had to suffer some angry traffic, some blinding headlights and horrendous boredom as I nursed the car for around 230 miles with him being my guardian angel. There is no finer gentleman. Sir, thank you from my heart, I owe you big time.
Driving Miss Daisy has its benefits. You notice the vast, stunning and quite beautiful landscape, the sky, the lightly formed and quite shapely clouds, and the odd bird. Plus some lush heather.
Some yoofs passed me in a Polo .. I saw the passenger spot my V8 Kompressor badge, turn around tell his mates, they all laughed and then sped off. No doubt on a VW forum somewhere is a tale of how a 1.3 liter Polo burned off a 5.5 liter supercharged V8 Merc ..
Thanks also to Harry (HB) for organising the replacement tyres with incredible speed and efficiency. Harry has a musical Scottish accent I could actually understand. Thanks for your help Harry, and for helping me to get back home tonight.
My tyres were fitted at Skidz (where *** has his E class tyres fitted) in Falkirk. They were good, I would rate them 8.5 out of 10. My only criticism is that they did not use seat covers despite me asking and pointing out the near white leather seats. They did not damage, scratch or kerb my alloys, which is a big plus. And they gave me a lift to the Falkirk Wheel, which is a marvel of design and engineering.
I decided to change all 4 tyres (again MO XL Continental Sport Contact 3), which Harry sorted out at a great price.
Driving back to London, a journey of some 430 miles via the A66 and A1 and A1(M), as recommended by corned, was magic. The A66 is really quite a road, almost like driving at the top of the world, with jaw dropping scenery all round, lit by the setting sun in blaze of gold, orange and many other colours in between.
New tyres were definitely needed, despite at least 4mm left front (which has done about 21k miles) and rear (about 9k miles). The old tyres had seen 2 Goodwood track days and some hard Scottish driving .. they were kaput.
I was wondering why airmatic had seem to have failed, and why there was increased road noise and rumble. Answer, tyres dead.
With new tyres, it was as if airmatic was switched back on, and as if the roads had been resurfaced. The cabin 'upgraded' itself back to first class for refinement, comfort and hush.
It's like a new car all over again.
Thanks again everyone.
Last edited:
Sounds like a great trip. Unfortunately, I had to call off at the last minute due to some family issues. I'm sorry I missed the drive / scoff and seeing you guys again.
- Joined
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Glad you made it home safe Sean and that you all had an enjoyable weekend.
