AdrianH
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| posted on 2/8/16 at 11:20 PM |
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Just general question getting and driving abroad with Kit?
Never done it and not been much of a person to do this type of thing, but?
Background..
A week or so ago I was up at the Hartside café near Alston, and there was a bunch of Lotus cars, all from Sweden. The guys had obviously driven down
from Sweden, crossed on the ferry to Harwich and had been driving up the country sight seeing as they go, the next stop heading for Hadrian s wall
and possibly above before heading back down and home?
Thinking to myself, I would like to do something similar at some point before I get too old. So to my questions:
Do you travel with your kit taking it across the waters?
What issues do you have?
Where do you go?
What are typical costs?
Also thinking here of an individual rather then a club outing, an open top car, no heater etc.
A few quick searches of ferries and that seems to be a big chunk of money for each way, the Euro-tunnel seems cheaper, but more driving and possibly
more delays with the French crossing at that point.
So what have you done and experiences?.
Many thanks
Adrian
[Edited on 2-8-16 by AdrianH]
Why do I have to make the tools to finish the job? More time then money.
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ali f27
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| posted on 3/8/16 at 06:08 AM |
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I too have never taken mine onto the continent and fancy it so will listen to whats said with interest hope you liked our test track
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benchmark51
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| posted on 3/8/16 at 07:27 AM |
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I have been twice in a hatchback, but not in the kit. I think there isn't much difference in a kit car except you have less carrying capacity
and are lower to the ground. I often slept in the drivers seat, but had a small 2 man tent for 2 day driving breaks which I took
now and then. A cheap tarp and some bungees, small stove for a cuppa. Sort out insurance that gets you and car home. I did one way crossings , (not
return ones) which is expensive. Overall a brill experience, but definitely go in a group. I toured between Amsterdam and Gibraltar and loved it,
would go again tomorrow if I could.
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Ugg10
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| posted on 3/8/16 at 07:29 AM |
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I know a number of guys have dimple the Laon classic car rally before, just an hour or so from Calais.
http://www.sceniccartours.com/laon-historique-2016/4588023529
Also a mate takes his Elise on track days in north France with Lotus on Track but I think they allow anyone, annual fee though.
http://www.lotus-on-track.com
And there are also a number of groups that go down to Le Mans and classic Le Mans.
I guess the main thing to watch for are insurance for over there and decent breakdown cover (not that you will ever need that) plus if you can get it
covered garage overnight at any hotels or go camping. Take some basic tools and some get you home spare parts if you can fit them in.
If you are a tesco club card user then they do Chunnel and ferry ticket vouchers, I have used the Chunnel that way before, will take about £30-40 of
voucher iirc.
---------------------------------------------------------------
1968 Ford Anglia 105e, 1.7 Zetec SE, Mk2 Escort Workd Cup front end, 5 link rear
Build Blog - http://Anglia1968.weebly.com
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Mash
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| posted on 3/8/16 at 07:34 AM |
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Bloke I bought my Indy from took it on some kind of rally across Europe.
He had a sticker in the windscreen certifying the emissions levels for the car for each of the countries he went through, about 4 IIRC, so it might be
worth investigating that...
He also had loads of spare bits ready to go, like a spare coil fixed next to the one in use so he could just swap the connections over, and lengths of
cooling hose cable tied next to hoses under bonnet.
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rdodger
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| posted on 3/8/16 at 07:40 AM |
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I'm sure Adi will be along with his latest travel report from his latest epic trip to Spain that I couldn't go on again! Until then....
I have been a few times and been through France, Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia etc . Driving as many Cols as possible, Stelvio Furkha, Col du Turini,
Route Napoleon etc.
We travelled between 2500, 3500 miles depending on the route over 10 days.
Cars involved have been BEC Phoeninx, BEC Fury, Caterham, GTM Libra, Elise, V6 Clio, Locost, MX5 and a couple of motorbikes.
Cost last time I went was approx. £1500 inc Hotels, fuel, food, camping and Champagne!
We have travelled through snow, monsoon rain, scorchio heat and fog.
I recommend wet weather gear, warm clothes, euro breakdown cover, basic tools and a well planned route.
Issues have been small accidents, breakdowns and one small fire.
We have done groups as high as 10-12 cars which was impossible to keep together. Around 6-8 would be perfect.
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Dick
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| posted on 3/8/16 at 09:14 AM |
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i drove my kit car to the arctic circle via Sweden and then back down through Norway with 2 other people from SKCC they do trip in and through Europe
most years. My trip was one of the legends that they do about 5500 miles in 9 days on some of the best roads in the world if you want to see more
details have a look on the skcc forum
[Edited on 3/8/16 by Dick]
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FatChapChipChop
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| posted on 3/8/16 at 03:40 PM |
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Top Tip - Fit a larger fuel tank. Most kits (of the 7 variety) struggle to get past 150 miles a tank.
Drive fast, don't look back!
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cliftyhanger
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| posted on 3/8/16 at 03:47 PM |
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last year I took my Spitfire (with a zetec) into europe a couple of times. Once for the Spa classic, and then in sptember for the Club Triumph 10CR
(10 countries 3k, in 5 days) Absolutely fantastic. One overnight trip, grabbing a few hours kip in the car. But lots of fun, mainly because you are
part of a group.
Then again, 25 years ago me and the missus spent 6 weeks in a spitfire, with a small trailer, going all over Europe.
Ideally going in a group is better, have some sort of itinery, book ferries, maybe hotels (I wouldn't bother booking campsites if thats what you
want to do) and go. Ferries or teh tunnel are £100-£150ish for the Dover crossings. More elsewhere.
Make sure you have suitable breakdown cover, carry a couple of credit cards and good to go.
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russbost
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| posted on 3/8/16 at 05:10 PM |
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I drove the Furore down to Le Mans & back this year, no problems.
Easiest & cheapest crossing is Dover Calais Ferry, don't use Eurotunnel - the words p1ss up & brewery spring to mind! Driving in France
you need to have your V5 & insurance confirmation with you (with A plan the insurance for up to 30 days cost nothing!!!), also a hi viz within
easy reach, I would check to see if there are any other requirements for other countries you would be travelling thro'. If going North then
Harwich to the Hook might be worth a look, less driving over there that way.
If you can get internet cheaply on your phone with a package it's worth doing as can be useful for maps, local info etc. but don't rely on
it as mine didn't work - plenty of wi fi in cafes/bars etc
If you don't have decent weather protection then buy a decent bike suit so you don't get soaked, (I drove 4 & 1/2 hours in complete
downpour from Le Mans to Calais, when I arrived I could wring out everything - including my underpants & that was wearing a so called rain proof
suit!) make sure you have a means of keeping spare clothes dry, if necessary put bin bags around the holdall or whatever.
A fire extinguisher is also a good idea along with first aid kit
Spares for anything that is unusual, likely to be hard to find over there, particularly if it's something that will stop the car dead, other
than that some basic tools, an external puncture repair kit & tyre inflation foam & whatever you do, don't forget plenty of cable ties
& duct tape!!
As said, travel with a group is a lot more fun & a lot less stressful!
Enjoy 
I no longer run Furore Products or Furore Cars Ltd, but would still highly recommend them for Acewell dashes, projector headlights, dominator
headlights, indicators, mirrors etc, best prices in the UK! Take a look at http://www.furoreproducts.co.uk/ or find more parts on Ebay, user names
furoreltd & furoreproducts, discounts available for LCB users.
Don't forget Stainless Steel Braided brake hoses, made to your exact requirements in any of around 16 colours.
http://shop.ebay.co.uk/furoreproducts/m.html?_dmd=1&_ipg=50&_sop=12&_rdc=1
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NOTE:This user is registered as a LocostBuilders trader and may offer commercial services to other users
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gremlin1234
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| posted on 3/8/16 at 06:27 PM |
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as well as rain, beware of the sun!
very easy to get sunburned face and arms, (you wont feel a thing in the breeze until its far too late) long sleeve white shirt helps
not so much of a problem now, but ferries used to be very good a ripping exhausts off low cars on loading/unloading.
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AdrianH
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| posted on 3/8/16 at 06:59 PM |
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Ok thanks for the responses, but the general gist seems to be do it in groups, carry some spares and tools..
Spare-bulbs, First Aid, breathalyser and Hi vis seems to be some things for France, Breakdown-cover a good thing to have and double check insurance
and probably Mileage restrictions on the insurance pops in my head as well.
What do people use as headlight deflectors I have the 5 3/4" round headlights?
Rain gear which is really Motorbike jacket and leggings is what I have, dry space in boot defo, been in that situation of drip drying before, not
again if I can help it.
I assume I would just need a British passport? I can take V5 and copy of insurance if required.
I assume speed signs are in KMH not MPH. Unleaded is still unleaded and is green on the handles of the pumps and don't forget to drive on the
wrong side of the road.
Just getting things in my mind, may not happen this year, but with thought it may some time.
Still like to know any more views and if anyone does it as an individual or single car event.
Adrian
Why do I have to make the tools to finish the job? More time then money.
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russbost
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| posted on 3/8/16 at 07:17 PM |
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Yeah, I missed spare bulbs!, I only have to carry 1 as the rest are LED!
What do people use as headlight deflectors I have the 5 3/4" round headlights? Just use black insulating tape, don't waste money on
deflectors, they don't really work with that type of light anyway, when facing the light just mask out a triangl roughly between the 3
o'clock & 5 o'clock poition & you should find you no longer have a kickup to the left which is all that is required
Edited to say the rest of what you have in last post is all correct TTBOMK 
[Edited on 3/8/16 by russbost]
I no longer run Furore Products or Furore Cars Ltd, but would still highly recommend them for Acewell dashes, projector headlights, dominator
headlights, indicators, mirrors etc, best prices in the UK! Take a look at http://www.furoreproducts.co.uk/ or find more parts on Ebay, user names
furoreltd & furoreproducts, discounts available for LCB users.
Don't forget Stainless Steel Braided brake hoses, made to your exact requirements in any of around 16 colours.
http://shop.ebay.co.uk/furoreproducts/m.html?_dmd=1&_ipg=50&_sop=12&_rdc=1
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NOTE:This user is registered as a LocostBuilders trader and may offer commercial services to other users
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gremlin1234
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| posted on 3/8/16 at 07:27 PM |
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quote:
What do people use as headlight deflectors I have the 5 3/4" round headlights? Just use black insulating tape, don't waste money on
deflectors, they don't really work with that type of light anyway,
black tape will work well enough, but the proper masking has a
reflective back to it.
edit, and copes better as the lights get hot
[Edited on 3/8/16 by gremlin1234]
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