I went to Spa...........Twice.

So here we all are, one week after Spa and I'm still knackered from all the late nights leading up to that weekend, then there was the the return journey!

Pull up a chair with a coffee as I need to get this written down.

Firstly it was a fantastic weekend and I'll be back there next year without fail. The car performed perfectly Saturday and Sunday on the track and driving Spa in the rain on 888's is serious fun so all my fears of them being no good disappeared as soon as I realised they were in fact still better then road tyres. The whole weekend was wicked and it was good to finally put some faces to European names, Martin, Per, Jurgen and Kayjay to name a few
Saturdays sessions were lively, a little busy on the parade but the 2nd scuderia soon let me stretch my legs so I could get to know the track better. Sundays 1st scuderia was very wet but the tyres performed really well once you got some heat into them, Mrs CC took the last few laps of the morning and says that next year she'll take her own Coupe as she was worried about denting mine, don't worry I said, just go for it

Anyway things had gone fine all weekend and we'd packed up and said our fair wells to the last of the people and drove off back to the hotel for a quiet evening on our own. Coming out of the garage down in Spa and changing from 1st to 2nd the engine coughed, just for that second there was a drop in power, I wasn't boosting or giving the engine a hard time, all I was doing was taking it easy as we were fully loaded and chilling on our way back to the accommodation, it wasn't right though I could feel it under my foot so I said nothing as I didn't want to spoil the day and we arrived back for a quiet meal, few beers and bed.

Early next morning I was under the bonnet doing some tests and my fears were confirmed after a compression test, number 5 cylinder was down at 50psi [censored] not good, I couldn't risk driving it back the 500 miles as I'd destroy the engine because of carrying all the extra weight, and I didn't fancy sitting on the side of the E40 broken down in hot weather (Monday was scorching by the way ), so I rang the RAC and made use of their fully comprehensive recovery service which was great, car was collected around midday and taken to a local garage so they could confirm the issue. Apparently this needs to be done so that the RAC can assess repatriation or repair, so we get a phone call saying this can't be done until later that day and they'd like to send a cab to collect us so that we can be driven to collect a Hire car to get us back to the ferry. This is done and we travel back to the UK via Calais, another hire car at Dover to get us home and we're back safe and sound by 1am Tuesday morning.

The next day however things get interested, I ring the RAC in the morning and they inform me the repair costs are going to be £7k becasue it needs a new engine and the Glasses guide valuation for the car is £2.2 so the car will be scrapped and I'll receive a cheque in the post in a week or so "you [censored] what! have you guys got any [censored] idea of the try valuation of these cars"? They say the case is closed and that's it, no repatriation!

I ring the UK RAC to see if there's anyone over here in the UK who can advise me and possibly liaise with Belgium, "No Sir afraid not, the European RAC is completely separate from the UK and the best I can do is transfer you to the Belgium customer support team, but I've been ringing them and they've been constantly engaged all morning" I say, "sorry Sir there's nothing we can do and you'll have to keep trying" W A N K E R S!!!

So by now I've been on the phone the best part of 5hrs and I'm getting no where, I try something different and ring the breakdown line in Belgium again and talk to the same women from the day before, I explain the situation and she suggests talking to the technician who prices the repair valuations, we chat finally and I explain what I do for a living as well as talk about the issue and repair costs, "The problem here Sir is you shouldn't know how to self diagnose an issue like this, or know what's needed for repair or pricing" so I says that's [censored]! I do know what's wrong and how to repair it and just because a car is 10yrs old doesn't mean it's not been refurbished or it's a shed, thus the book valuation is out the window and it'll need to be seen or personally inspected to view what it's like, so he's now coming round as he asks me if I'd be willing to pay half the repatriation costs, so straight away I agree and he says he'll re-open the case and I'll get a call within the hour, one hour no call, two hours and now I'm wondering wtf? I call them, "yes no problem with bring the car back" and they've agreed to cover all the costs "but it could take 10-14 days before you see it", "what about the personal effects in the car" I was told these would be Ok, " no sorry the RAC doesn't cover any personal items and these have been left at your own risk" great I'm going to loose the [censored] lot by the time she gets back, track tyres, tools, spares, even my mobile phone and Dogcam as these were left in the glove box, they'll be gone for sure, I can feel it in my water!

So what to do well the only thing really, book another return ferry from Dover for that evening and go get the bloody stuff

4pm Tuesday afternoon, ferry booked for 10pm, grab another shower and drive, drive, drive Missed the ferry because the traffic was mad so my brother and I went over on the midnight crossing, we drive through the night, couple of stops and then arrive at the garage around 5am Wednesday morning, early cup of coffee at the local patisserie and a quick drive round the south side of the Spa circuit just to waste some time. Garage opens at 7.30am and we load up everything and head back to Dunkirk, Midday ferry back over to the UK but not before having the car emptied and searched at customs

We finally pull up outside my house at 6.30pm Wednesday, in 5 days I've driven over 2000 miles not including the track time at Spa, I've burnt the best part of 8 tanks of fuel and to top it all off I visited Spa TWICE in 2010! The car still isn't back, [censored] knows when I'll see it but I'll chase an update on the ETA tomorrow.

So to summarise the lessons learnt here:

1./ Treble check repatriation when you take out European recovery, I stated that the cars value was £10k and this was an insured agreed amount, means nothing to the technician pen pushers who flicks through the glasses guide!

2./ Stay with the car if you can, I feel if I'd done this the situation would of been different, RAC were great for getting us back, too quick if anything.

3./ Keep your ears about yourself at all times, you never know if you might bump into another Coupe owner Cheers for your assistance Bob

So back to work today as normal, one Coupe still missing in action but I'll update things when they happen. One thing I'll definitely be doing next year is taking a dedicated track car and a trailer

Hope you enjoyed the read, rambled a bit I know but it was good to write more then just one line

That's a truly amazing story. Sounds like it's finally coming to some sort of positive conclusion, even if it's taken a massive amount of effort on your part to get it there.

I'll admit I thought that European cover would work the same way as UK cover...I mean, you wouldn't lost an aux belt on the M4 only for the AA to come and try to crush your car!

I certainly think you did the best thing by going to pick up your belongings...

Hope it all gets untangled soon.

Gareth

I had a feeling in my water that afternoon Joe.
Thats why we stayed until you was all packed up.
I thought about giving you a call on monday morning to make sure all was well.But i knew how much effort you had put in,in getting the car ready.I guessed you both needed a bit of space.
I had a monster trailor that could have got you home mate.
Can i help now?

Bloody Hell Joe!!!
Hope she gets back in once piece!!
So is the car coming to you still broken or are they fixing it? also you said you had to pay half the cost? Was that half of the 7k they needed to fix it???

at least its not put you off coming to spa next year!!

Crap - I hope you get it all sorted out Joe. Not a nice situation.

What a nightmare Joe.

How much they stinging you for the (half) repatriation?

Was it not possible to grab a trailer for the second visit & bring the car back too?

Hope it all works out OK.

Joe, thats shocking...

i would go over with a traileor and bring it back.

7k.. there mad!!

fingers crossed you get her back, cant lose a Vinci in spa!!

After watching the videos again last night I now know how and why this issue came about, the Sunday morning Scuderia session was mega wet and I touched the white line several times, the break in traction was shooting the revs up and I reckon this was the start of my problem but because the cars engine was hot all day it didn't really have an effect until Monday when things had cooled off.

I very nearly rang up Joe, but to be honest I didn't want to spoil your Monday or add additional mileage to yourselves as you're not exactly local to Spa even though you live in France, I now you guys would of been more then willing to help a stranded member and I appreciate that mate, the RAC were meant to make things easy, unfortunately this wasn't the case Tuesday morning

I've had an update this morning, she should be back with me on the 7th July, if things change or they piss me about any more I might just take a couple of days off and take you up on your offer of your trailer or bring my transporter over



The car will still be broken once it arrives back in the Uk, the £7k was their estimate to repair the issue even though it's only a cracked piston and not in need of a new engine (idiots ) I agreed to pay half the repatriation costs on the day but they've now agreed to waive this payment and the RAC will cover all the costs.
Once she's back I'll repair her myself or build a new engine.

Now where did I put those forged rods, pistons and FCSS stage 3 head



I nearly did take the transporter but after they agreed to repatriate the car my interests were more on the personal belongings and getting everything back asap, work was booked in and I didn't want to to let anyone down. If the car gets damaged in any way it's covered but hopefully it'll make its way here safely and it'll be a happy'ish ending.

Not what I was expecting

There had to be one coupe on a tow truck,didnt think it would be yours though....
Hope it gets sorted

after seeing the vids of joe going around the track like a tomahawk missile i think the engine held up very well.

bring on the fully forged, lightened track day car for next year

Terrible luck Joe, not the story i expected to read. Fingers crossed you get it back in good condition.

and i thought you were going forged with it before Spa?

Very unlucky indeed! Makes you think though, there's quite a fair chance something will break on the track. Something to consider for next year (I didn't even make any special arrangements myself!)

On the other hand, I was very impressed with the repairs on site! Very safe idea to have a few coupe specialists come along. As long as it's not fatal (like an engine...) there's a fair chance you'll get home

Anyway, good luck with the recovery!

Crap, really sorry to hear about this Joe

ADAC would have brought the car home. On my last road trip into Europe, when I was in Holyhead ferry port on the last part of the trip home, there was an old Toyota Avenvis on a ADAC transport waiting to go on the ferry to Ireland.

Joe,

I have aged a few month just reading this...

Note to self..... RAC Euro Recovery are pants.

I always use the German ADAC. If there were ever any issues I would be at least looking for them to get the car to the ferry port.

Interesting tale, glad you got the back safely. Will you be posting any info. on the work you did to prep. the car for Spa? (Sounds like a good project).

Gutted for you Joe, just reinforces the feeling that you can't believe 100% what these big organisations claim [for instance trying to get money out of DirectLine travel insurance/airlines after ashcloud incident].

You gotta keep at 'em all the same. Hope they sort it soon.

Makes one appreciate those that actually do as they say, eh Joe.

Simon.

sorry to hear to hear you had such a frustrating time of it but focus on those positives..its the excuse to go forged run more power and go even quicker next year!..where i might add i hope to give you a run for your money

KTM after seeing joes vids of his track time there wasnt many keeping up with him at all, but that just makes people want to hunt him down more on.

i know myself, patch 234 and Chalky have all said we are going to be over taking joe next year but like Highland said
"There can only be one"

ok i wont lose my head over it

Bloody hell Joe - I've just seen this now! Hope you manage to get everything sorted mate, you're the last person i'd have expected to have any problems!

Blimey, thats not a good read (well it was, but not if you know what I mean).

If 'repatriation' is literally classed as to Dover and then leaving you stranded, you are more than welcome to store the car at mine if it helps.

In the end of the day, I'm near the port, have space which is quite safe and/or can offer a tow, push, drive, tea, whatever mate. So shout if I can be of help, it's *not* an inconvenience.

Bad luck Joe - your car was beautifully turned out, you had clearly put a lot of effort into preparation - a real credit to you.

How did it all turn out Joe?I presume the coupe is home with you now?

Still thats one sexy photo