I should refer too the book!

Oh god, I'm dreading things going wrong when I collect mine... on the day you leave as it happens!

Do try and stay positive old chap

Is anyone traveling through France on the 29th ?

Did we decide whether we need black tie for meals ?

Only 3 weeks to go..... Oooooo errrrrrr

I'm sure we've all got some matt black spray paint left over. A bit of cardboard to make a template and there's a black tie, easy as you like!

It's been a long time since I've driven the Coupe abroad. Since my trip will take in France and Italy, and Austria, Germany and Belgium on the way back, I've been checking what I need to carry with me in the car:

- driving license (and passport since no photocard license)
- registration document
- insurance documentation
- vignette for Austria, Saneftolling card for France (to make it easier for driver only in RHD car)
- GB sticker
- warning triangle
- reflective jacket/waistcoat
- first aid kit

I thought having a breathalyser was compulsory in France but from 25-Jan-13 the driver cannot be penalised for not carrying one, as the fine has been postponed indefinitely.

And now to the difficult one: headlights

Having tried to hack in to the headlight units before, and having used headlamp yellow or stick on-deflectors, all of which proved to be useless and damaging to the headlamp unit, what are other people planning to do, only drive during daylight hours and not turn on headlights at all*? Adjust the beam down to minimum? (I'd have to do that manually since the adjusters have been fried by the early adoption of HID's with poor screening) Anyone planning to fit LHD headlights?

* Daylight running lights are not compulsory in any of the above countries apart from Italy when outside built up areas during snow or rain causing poor visibility)

Austria needs a vignette now? I thought that was Switzerland... <googles> curse those Swiss, exporting their vignetting ideas! At least I can get a ten day vignette.

- first aid kit
- hi-vis jackets for *all* car occupants, *carried in the cabin*
- triangle
- bulb kit for all lights
- GB sticker - that's on my numberplate
- insurance documentation and copies of registration docs
- driving license and passport
- breathalyser kit as I have one anyway

Note most countries forbid the use of radar detectors.

For the lights I will be cranking them down. I haven't found a useful way of stopping that 'kick' on the left... I can't afford RHD lights and most of the driving will be done in daylight anyway. Austria also requires dipped lights in poor visibility conditions. And don't sound your horn in Vienna!

I strongly recommend knowing the local speed limits and sticking to them.

In Italy speed limites on highways is 130km/h, remember this!
There are some places where there are "tutors".
With a camera they take your number plate, and some km forward, they re-take your number plate. If your average speed is over 130km/h, you must pay 180euros for excess limit speed

In Switzerland limit is 110km/h, but I'm not sure.

Does anyone have posted his trip on Trip to Torino site?

130km/h is the same as France.. then 110km/h wet weather. Equates to 81mph dry or 68 wet.

My NA is geared high, so I won't be cruising at much more than 75.

Usually I stay on highways on 5th gear at 2000rpm, equal to 120km/h, instead of 130km/h.
So I bypass the turbo, with less consumption of fuel

My route (and that of injekciona ) is the first in this site.
We (maybe) can change the trip a little, because we have a problem with overnights around Venice, Treviso or ....

What's you problem? Do you need a place to spleep near Venice?

I can't/won't/don't do facebook but here's the approximate route out:

http://goo.gl/maps/ynIJi

and back:

http://goo.gl/maps/Bfz7v

With appropriate stops as indicated above!

Neil, are you not staying at the Holiday Inn at Piazza Massaua? Your trips end/start at Piazza Castello? Only 3 and a bit miles away but 1 hour to walk...or maybe Google treats this as the centre of Turin, a bit like Charing Cross is the reference point for measuring distances to London? I'm going back via Stelvio

Yes, I'm at the HI - this was just an approximation; that's where google stuck Turin.

We can have a meet-up here -> http://goo.gl/maps/K7Sva
and then go together to Torino.
Every one else who want to make breakfast all together?

Confirm nearer the time? We should have internet connection in the week before the event.

No problem, I will come from Varese, 80km from Milano

Still no word on black tie?

Nope.

Forgot to post this:

Came out great didn't it

I think I'll just take a smartish shirt. Possibly my "James May" floral one. At least I can then play the British foppish dullard if I need to.

I think I saw your car at Joe's today mate !

Better get your skates on !

I think the white linen suit with the carnation!

I shall meet you at the piazza. Come alone. No tricks.

We must be careful. El Colonel says the foolish British may start to suspect. They have forbidden the feeding of the ducks.

Piemonte website now hosts a short video showing some footage of the 2004 event
click to enter website

Excellent footage ! can't wait for this years event

Got to Joe's to collect the coupe today.

Paintwork is now excellent. Even the alternator has got better, though I have a spare to take with me.

Aaaaaand...

The exhaust fell off.

Bugger.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...............

That was an impression of Mango eating the kits spiggot ring

I thought that was more 'gronf gronf gronf'?

Here's a copy of the time table for the weekend courtesy of the Turin FB page.



https://www.facebook.com/FiatCoupeTripToTorino?fref=photo