National Day 2008 through a Belgian eye
19-08-2008, 07:17 PM
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National Day 2008 through a Belgian eye
Right, here it goes.
We came together on Friday morning very early 9.15am at a gasstation nearby Antwerp.
Upon arrival, we saw that everybody was already there.
Our Chris wasn't all too happy because of a small problem with his Motorsport S1 and he wanted to cancel the whole trip. Luckily, the guy has more RS cars in his garage then the most of us Belgian guyz and he lives nearby so a quick run to his house to pick up his blue RS2000 and we saw the roads again a big hour later.
De drive went without any problems (not even a congestion on the E17 where there are alot of roadworks) and the speed went up a bit due to the fact that we had a train to catch. Upon arrival at the Channel Tunnel Terminal, we were pleasantly greated with the fact that we could take a train earlier. :newshock: How was this possible???
I had been reading the last check-in time as departure time of the train. :whoeha:
But we made it in the end and after a brief but friendly question to stay on the ground floor in the train because of our very low cars, we were on the way for a safe Eurotunnel crossing.
And then came the journey in the UK what didn't go as well as planned anymore.
The M20 was doable, busy but drivable. When we went on the M25 in the direction of Dartford Tunnel, things took a turn howver. Congestion, congestion, congestion, more congestion and even ALOT more congestion.
1,5hour delay on a stretch of road of not even 7miles in a bit of summer temperatures caused that I didn't pay attention for a brief moment and there was a lorry stationary on the hardshoulder just in front of Dartford Tunnel. I was looking at the lorry instead of the road and all of a sudden I heard a big bang, some glass falling on the road and we stood still against a Peugeot 406. :bigcry: :bigcry: :bigcry:
The feeling that then kreeps upon you is undescribeble. You stand there still on the 3de lane with cars coming along side left and right and you wanna get on the hardshoulder without risking your life. After making this clear to the "Englishman", we finally made it.
Eventually, I did get out of my car to suspect the damage but it was MUCH worse then I would expect for a "crash" at maybe 5miles/hour.
The Peugeot in front of me wasn't even damaged unless you count that pretty big scratch in its bumper and a tiny piece missing out of a black bumperpiece. I don't think that the guy was genuine as he didn't understand a word I said and I don't think that my English is that bad. Going by his looks and accent, I think he came from something Eastern like Poland or Ukrainië or something like that. Another older man came out of the car at that point, inspected the damage, waved, said goodbye and off they went.
Now, the damage to my car was worse then I first expected. The bonnet is folded in front and raised in the back. De front bumper is all out of shape but it is not torn. The headlight cover I got of Radman a few weeks back is of course gone and so is the headlight itself. The front grill is damaged and we also saw that my indicator has a crack in it.
We do think that we can save the front bumper by taking the metal out but only time will tell when we can get the car in the air and take everything off.
We came together on Friday morning very early 9.15am at a gasstation nearby Antwerp.
Upon arrival, we saw that everybody was already there.
Our Chris wasn't all too happy because of a small problem with his Motorsport S1 and he wanted to cancel the whole trip. Luckily, the guy has more RS cars in his garage then the most of us Belgian guyz and he lives nearby so a quick run to his house to pick up his blue RS2000 and we saw the roads again a big hour later.
De drive went without any problems (not even a congestion on the E17 where there are alot of roadworks) and the speed went up a bit due to the fact that we had a train to catch. Upon arrival at the Channel Tunnel Terminal, we were pleasantly greated with the fact that we could take a train earlier. :newshock: How was this possible???
I had been reading the last check-in time as departure time of the train. :whoeha:
But we made it in the end and after a brief but friendly question to stay on the ground floor in the train because of our very low cars, we were on the way for a safe Eurotunnel crossing.
And then came the journey in the UK what didn't go as well as planned anymore.
The M20 was doable, busy but drivable. When we went on the M25 in the direction of Dartford Tunnel, things took a turn howver. Congestion, congestion, congestion, more congestion and even ALOT more congestion.
1,5hour delay on a stretch of road of not even 7miles in a bit of summer temperatures caused that I didn't pay attention for a brief moment and there was a lorry stationary on the hardshoulder just in front of Dartford Tunnel. I was looking at the lorry instead of the road and all of a sudden I heard a big bang, some glass falling on the road and we stood still against a Peugeot 406. :bigcry: :bigcry: :bigcry:
The feeling that then kreeps upon you is undescribeble. You stand there still on the 3de lane with cars coming along side left and right and you wanna get on the hardshoulder without risking your life. After making this clear to the "Englishman", we finally made it.
Eventually, I did get out of my car to suspect the damage but it was MUCH worse then I would expect for a "crash" at maybe 5miles/hour.
The Peugeot in front of me wasn't even damaged unless you count that pretty big scratch in its bumper and a tiny piece missing out of a black bumperpiece. I don't think that the guy was genuine as he didn't understand a word I said and I don't think that my English is that bad. Going by his looks and accent, I think he came from something Eastern like Poland or Ukrainië or something like that. Another older man came out of the car at that point, inspected the damage, waved, said goodbye and off they went.
Now, the damage to my car was worse then I first expected. The bonnet is folded in front and raised in the back. De front bumper is all out of shape but it is not torn. The headlight cover I got of Radman a few weeks back is of course gone and so is the headlight itself. The front grill is damaged and we also saw that my indicator has a crack in it.
We do think that we can save the front bumper by taking the metal out but only time will tell when we can get the car in the air and take everything off.
19-08-2008, 07:18 PM
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We could finally continue our way to Dartford Tunnel after traffic had been standing still for over 15 minutes and after I collected my license plate of the central lane of the motorway. :newshock:
Through Dartford Tunnel and yet again 1 hour delay for about 10 miles due to a bloody V Festival apparently after phoning with my m8 who happened to be going there.
Then we had to take the M1 and it happened that they are widening that motorway so yet again congestion due to the road works luckily without any huge delays.
We then stopped at Newport Pagnell services to feed the inner human and then en route again for the final 70miles to Donington. Without any problems you would imagine but no. There was an accident on this leg of our journey aswell. :newshock:
We finally arrived at 7.00pm at the camping site after a delay of over 3 (THREE) hours due to all the traffic. !!!
A quick dash to Pizza Hut on Friday night and then off to bed with the bloody planes going over.
We went to visit GGR on Saturday because we thought that we would be greated with a great store if you go by the looks of their website. What a disappointment when we were greated in a pretty small shop which sells shampoos, oils, etc :down: :down: :down:
A mate of mine had ordered a fuel pump which took them more then 15 minutes before they could find it.
And then we wanted 2 sets of THEIR lowering springs where we were greated with the fact that they werent in stock after 15 minutes of searching. Simple then, sent them to us for free and you get an order for 2 sets and we pay immediately. He could not do this but he would go in the warehouse again to have another look for the springs. Ofcourse that search came up empty. Customer service at GGR is not as good as with Burtons where they DO sent you the item with free shipping if they dont have it in stock.
I kept pestering him about the FREE SHIPPING and I think that our Andy Girling went a little mad about it.
Anyway, he would call the supplier on Monday to hear when they could deliver them and he would ask his boss if he could do the free shipping for us. Ive yet to hear from the man and we are Tuesday evening already.
We also removed the headlight, sidelight and grill on Saturday so that the damage wasnt ass noticeable as before. :mrgreen:
We also bent the bumper back a bit which went pretty well to my surprise.
Through Dartford Tunnel and yet again 1 hour delay for about 10 miles due to a bloody V Festival apparently after phoning with my m8 who happened to be going there.
Then we had to take the M1 and it happened that they are widening that motorway so yet again congestion due to the road works luckily without any huge delays.
We then stopped at Newport Pagnell services to feed the inner human and then en route again for the final 70miles to Donington. Without any problems you would imagine but no. There was an accident on this leg of our journey aswell. :newshock:
We finally arrived at 7.00pm at the camping site after a delay of over 3 (THREE) hours due to all the traffic. !!!
A quick dash to Pizza Hut on Friday night and then off to bed with the bloody planes going over.
We went to visit GGR on Saturday because we thought that we would be greated with a great store if you go by the looks of their website. What a disappointment when we were greated in a pretty small shop which sells shampoos, oils, etc :down: :down: :down:
A mate of mine had ordered a fuel pump which took them more then 15 minutes before they could find it.
And then we wanted 2 sets of THEIR lowering springs where we were greated with the fact that they werent in stock after 15 minutes of searching. Simple then, sent them to us for free and you get an order for 2 sets and we pay immediately. He could not do this but he would go in the warehouse again to have another look for the springs. Ofcourse that search came up empty. Customer service at GGR is not as good as with Burtons where they DO sent you the item with free shipping if they dont have it in stock.
I kept pestering him about the FREE SHIPPING and I think that our Andy Girling went a little mad about it.
Anyway, he would call the supplier on Monday to hear when they could deliver them and he would ask his boss if he could do the free shipping for us. Ive yet to hear from the man and we are Tuesday evening already.
We also removed the headlight, sidelight and grill on Saturday so that the damage wasnt ass noticeable as before. :mrgreen:
We also bent the bumper back a bit which went pretty well to my surprise.
19-08-2008, 07:19 PM
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The drive up to Donington Park on Sunday morning was a pretty short one of about 5 minutes due to the locating of our camping site. We then tried to fill our ENORMOUS Local Group stand as good as possible with us 3 cars.
We then went each our own way because you never want to see the same all together.
Someone might be into concourse, while the other is into track action.
We then went each our own way because you never want to see the same all together.
Someone might be into concourse, while the other is into track action.
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19-08-2008, 07:51 PM
#9
FANTASTIC DIARY.
I breifly met you with Neil from Fastford I was with him when he took your details and some photos.(Blue fastford jumper and he stripy hat)
The Car looked stunning such a terrible shame of the incident on the way to Donnington. Good to see it didnt dampen your RS spirit for the show.
I breifly met you with Neil from Fastford I was with him when he took your details and some photos.(Blue fastford jumper and he stripy hat)
The Car looked stunning such a terrible shame of the incident on the way to Donnington. Good to see it didnt dampen your RS spirit for the show.
19-08-2008, 08:03 PM
#12
Testing the future
good report and pics, thanks geert 
sorry to read about your bump, hope you get it repaired to your satisfaction. as for the traffic, that's england for you
it's revenge for all of the times i've been held up on the E30 in belgium
sorry to read about your bump, hope you get it repaired to your satisfaction. as for the traffic, that's england for you
it's revenge for all of the times i've been held up on the E30 in belgium
19-08-2008, 08:05 PM
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FANTASTIC DIARY.
I breifly met you with Neil from Fastford I was with him when he took your details and some photos.(Blue fastford jumper and he stripy hat)
The Car looked stunning such a terrible shame of the incident on the way to Donnington. Good to see it didnt dampen your RS spirit for the show.
I breifly met you with Neil from Fastford I was with him when he took your details and some photos.(Blue fastford jumper and he stripy hat)
The Car looked stunning such a terrible shame of the incident on the way to Donnington. Good to see it didnt dampen your RS spirit for the show.
I'm anxcious to see what he will come up with for the magazine.
Need to talk to him again after I've seen it for something in the future.
19-08-2008, 08:20 PM
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lol
19-08-2008, 08:23 PM
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just realised you were camping next to us (we had the blue impreza sti on the trailer) did not realise you travelled so far, sorry to here about the accident, defo would not have been an Englishman driving or there would have been a whiplash claim in !
20-08-2008, 05:53 AM
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Good story, I feel sorry for your accident though!
Great pictures too
Was that RS1700T an original one?
Great pictures too
Was that RS1700T an original one?
Last edited by RSRoy; 20-08-2008 at 10:02 AM.
20-08-2008, 08:02 AM
#28
great little write up and sorry to hear of your incident!!
on a side note, has the other mk2 focus cossie that andrew gallagher built now been painted the same coulour as the new one? cos there is two of the buggers here!
on a side note, has the other mk2 focus cossie that andrew gallagher built now been painted the same coulour as the new one? cos there is two of the buggers here!
21-08-2008, 07:15 AM
#35
geert,i had heard from kelv that you had had a bump nut i didnt even notice when i was taking the photos of it
at least it isnt too bad.
good write up and great piccies shame none of you were near the cars when i was taking pics as wouldve been good to say hi.
at least it isnt too bad.good write up and great piccies
shame none of you were near the cars when i was taking pics as wouldve been good to say hi.
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