Heading to the UK & Europe for a while. Ideas?

M

madpsi

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Location
Scottsdale, AZ USA
I'm flying into Heathrow on April 27th and not leaving until May the 5th, and I have absolutely ZERO plans. My buddy wants to spend some time in Brussels , since it's his favorite place to go, but that's the only stipulation. I have a couple ideas that I'd like to do, but it would be cool to get some ideas from all the local car nuts... I'm way NOT into touristy stuff...

Some ideas and questions:

- N?rburgring...obviously. Unfortunately I am not planning on shipping my car out there, but I'd like to do at least a couple laps...

- TG Test Track. Is it just a track, or would there be anything to do there? It would be cool to go there, but I'm not going to make it a day-long destination if there's nothing to do, or if you're not even allowed in...

- Any local car shows going on during that time that would be worth seeing?

Just brainstorming currently. Any car-related ideas are cool, since that's the only reason I'm going.

- Brandon
www.brandonbunting.com
 
You won't get access to Dunsfold as security is pretty tight there most of the time unless you work for one of the firms on the site. That said the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu has a TG exhibition..... http://www.beaulieu.co.uk/beaulieu/topgear . Also the British Touring Car Championship - http://www.btcc.net/html/home.php - will be at Brands Hatch on May 2nd - http://www.motorsportvision.co.uk/brands-hatch/index.asp and will feature Fifth Gear's Jason Plato as well as a host of guys who appeared on TG in some of their cheap motorsport challenges such as people carriers and motorhomes. Both of these are within a couple of hours' drive of Heathrow.

As for Brussels I can't comment having never been there, but it may be something like Bruges in which case you should seriously watch this in its entirety before committing.......


Whatever you do have a safe trip and enjoy your time in Yurp!
 
in brussels you definately should go to the jubelpark
parc-du-cinquantenaire-jubelpark-brussels-bebrcq1.jpg


on the left you have http://www.autoworld.be/
currently they have a bugatti exhibition. well worth the 6?! :p

on the right is the aviation museum http://www.airmuseum.be/
been there loads of times when i was a little kid :)

you want to go out there? should go to http://www.fuse.be/

if you just want to be tourist, go to the atomium
Atomium.jpg


the "rue de boucher"
rue-des-bouchers.jpg


manneke pis
brussel_manneke_pis.jpg

and his sister
humormannekepisvrouw.jpg


the "grote markt"
brussel-grotemarkt-grandplace-gilden1.jpg
 
madpsi said:
Some ideas and questions:

- N?rburgring...obviously. Unfortunately I am not planning on shipping my car out there, but I'd like to do at least a couple laps...
Click to expand...
be careful, the place is crazy!

there are a few things to keep in mind when driving on the track. it might be a track but its classified as a toll road, thus its actually illegal to overtake on the right, even if few people care about it. however, you must watch out for faster traffic, especially motorcycles which will overtake you at high speeds. in such cases stay in your lane or on the right and indicate to show them where you stay so that they can pass safely, they will thank you.

there are a couple of websites on driving on the ring, be sure to check them out beforehand.

opening times can be viewed here:
http://www.nuerburgring.de/ft/nordschleife/oeffnungszeiten-nordschleife.html?no_cache=1
 
madpsi said:
I'm flying into Heathrow on April 27th and not leaving until May the 5th, and I have absolutely ZERO plans. My buddy wants to spend some time in Brussels , since it's his favorite place to go, but that's the only stipulation. I have a couple ideas that I'd like to do, but it would be cool to get some ideas from all the local car nuts... I'm way NOT into touristy stuff...

Some ideas and questions:

- N?rburgring...obviously. Unfortunately I am not planning on shipping my car out there, but I'd like to do at least a couple laps...

- TG Test Track. Is it just a track, or would there be anything to do there? It would be cool to go there, but I'm not going to make it a day-long destination if there's nothing to do, or if you're not even allowed in...

- Any local car shows going on during that time that would be worth seeing?

Just brainstorming currently. Any car-related ideas are cool, since that's the only reason I'm going.

- Brandon
www.brandonbunting.com
Click to expand...

Is your buddy an arab gangmember? :p

Plenty off those.....and apart from the things Bone posted everything else is quite meh, seems in Brussels you have to be either a tug, or an elitist frenchie to fit in...... I would recommend spending some time either in Bruges , Ghent or Leuven (all less then an hours trainride away) , much friendlier places
Forget 'in Bruges' , Bruges realy is lovely, touristy yess, but as far as atmosphere goes It doesnt get more medieval european then that :p
 
WillDAQ said:
Have your own ?100 car challenge...
Click to expand...

Amazing idea. That has to happen! :) I'll find a minger and take it 'round the ring!

Might be a bit difficult being it that I'm not a citizen, and therefore don't have a license... That hasn't stopped me before. Are German jails cozy?
 
efoolution said:
Screw Brussels, visit AMSTERDAM!

AmsterdamLuchtfotoBmz.jpg


(I have never been to Brussels so I have no idea what I?m talking about here ... but all things considered, Amsterdam is prob my favorite City in the world ...)
Click to expand...

He man , Brussels might suck but it still beats the crap out of anything the Dutch cobbled togheter on that swamp they reclaimed :p






*Realises Brussels is on a swap to..................shit*
 
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Cowboy said:
Is your buddy an arab gangmember? :p

Plenty off those.....and apart from the things Bone posted everything else is quite meh, seems in Brussels you have to be either a tug, or an elitist frenchie to fit in...... I would recommend spending some time either in Bruges , Ghent or Leuven (all less then an hours trainride away) , much friendlier places
Forget 'in Bruges' , Bruges realy is lovely, touristy yess, but as far as atmosphere goes It doesnt get more medieval european then that :p
Click to expand...

I have no idea about my friend's fascination with Brussels. He's been there a few times before and swears he's going to move there one day. I'm just along for the ride... Maybe he meant Brussels as a generic place that I would know, but instead he really means those other places. I'll ask him. Thanks a ton!
 
ryosuke said:
be careful, the place is crazy!

there are a few things to keep in mind when driving on the track. it might be a track but its classified as a toll road, thus its actually illegal to overtake on the right, even if few people care about it. however, you must watch out for faster traffic, especially motorcycles which will overtake you at high speeds. in such cases stay in your lane or on the right and indicate to show them where you stay so that they can pass safely, they will thank you.

there are a couple of websites on driving on the ring, be sure to check them out beforehand.

opening times can be viewed here:
http://www.nuerburgring.de/ft/nordschleife/oeffnungszeiten-nordschleife.html?no_cache=1
Click to expand...

I LIKE crazy. I'm pretty comfortable on a track with a bunch of lunatics. I kart 2-3 times a week and road race on occasion, so I anticipate doing some overtaking. :) Thanks for the link.
 
Also the British Touring Car Championship - http://www.btcc.net/html/home.php - will be at Brands Hatch on May 2nd - http://www.motorsportvision.co.uk/brands-hatch/index.asp and will feature Fifth Gear's Jason Plato as well as a host of guys who appeared on TG in some of their cheap motorsport challenges such as people carriers and motorhomes. Both of these are within a couple of hours' drive of Heathrow.
Click to expand...

That's EXACTLY the kind of information I'm looking for! Thanks! I will definitely be attending that race. If anyone wants to meet up there, that would be cool.
 
Must admit I could be tempted. PM me a bit nearer the time, and in the meantime I may post a suggestion in the FG meets thread about hooking up for that one.
 
Have a right laugh go around the M25 anti clockwise - see what time you set (in a RHD of course). No perhaps not. Lots of good theatre in London and plenty of 'bucket' shops for cheap tickets if you are not too fussy about what you see. I like the Lyceum Sam Smiths pub next to the theatre of the same name - checks spelling. ...
 
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if you drop by Norway, let me know, cause the cheapest flight in Norway to the UK, and from the UK to Norway, flies from Oslo, and my town, Haugesund, though, they land at Stanstead, Ryan Air, cheap.. and no service at all XD
unfortunatly, you're missing most the events in Norway as far as none car stuff, 17th of May would be our 4th of july, and the viking festival ain't until June.

you're missing a car meet in Gothenberg Sweden at the 25th of april, though, there's a car meet at 1st of May in J?ren, not too far from Stavanger, a couple hours from Haugesund in Norway.

it's too bad you'd not stay longer, at 21st to 23rd of May, there's Gatebil, a huge trackday with lots of insane cars from Norway and Sweden, even some from Finland and the UK. THAT would have been an event to enjoy, at day, insane cars on the track, at night, alcohol and strip shows :p
 
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