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 | Trans Alpina - 4 to 16 October
2011 (Part 4)
Report
by Jim Paterson
Through the Black Forest to Nurburgring
Chur to Strasbourg - 13th October
We
had finished the “col bashing” section of the tour, and the
236 mile run from Chur to Strasbourg via Lichtenstein, Austria, and
Germany, through the Black Forest, ending up back into France at
Strasbourg.
The Sprite crew had noticed the car really toiling
on the climbs coupled with quite a thirst, so it was decided to check
the carbs. Deep in the underground car park of Ibis Chur we checked the
plugs to find No 4 sooted and No 1 white. We dismantled the twin SU's and
reset the jets and turned them down the regulation 8 flats. After
reassembling the car started first time and we were off.
Running
much better and much less popping on the overrun we enjoyed the run
over to Strasbourg, even chasing the “Red Train” through
Switzerland. We felt like Count Barnato racing the “Blue
Train”, but he did it in a Bentley. Wrong train, wrong colour,
wrong car, but hey ho one can dream. The weather was a bit damp, but we
arrived in Strasbourg to sunshine.
Strasbourg to Nurburgring - 14th October
Another
“touring” day from Strasbourg to Nurburgring. This was
a long 287 miles, along the Mosel valley, famous for the German
vineyards.
Before leaving Strasbourg the Sprite crew went
walkabouts to view the sights, and of course took in the Cathedral,
which some of the other crews had done the previous evening.
 The
route took us west towards Metz before a quick dip into Luxembourg,
where petrol is a lot cheaper than other EU countries. We kept crossing
over the river Mosel between Luxembourg and Germany for a while and
some of the crews headed right up the side of the river Mosel to see
the vineyards that seem to perch on the mountainsides. How they reach
the vines to harvest the grapes is an act of acrobatic skill, such is
the incline at some points.
 Searching for fuel was always a
problem for the Sprite, with only a 5.5 gallon tank. Tom Tom displayed
a few, but they were either shut or out of business. It was the start
of a holiday weekend too and we got caught up in rush hour traffic
alongside the river. Nowhere to stop and the fuel on Empty. As the car
started to splutter an exit slip appeared. Prayers answered. Pour in
the 10 litre jerry can reserve, and off we went. Of course we found a
petrol station within the next couple of miles, but then we guessed we
would.
Arriving at Nurburgring we found our hotel at Adeneau
which had a fantastic view over the circuit. We all had rooms with
balconies to take advantage of the view.
Part 1 - Getting to the start at Reims
Part 2 - Reims to Menton and the Nuit du Mentonnais
Part 3 - The Col Bashing
Part 4 - Through the Black Forest to Nurburgring
Part 5 - Nurburgring and Home
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| Updated 27 November 2011
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