Day 02:  From Champagnole we head south over this year’s first pass, the Col de la Faucille, providing an excellent view across Lake Geneva on the way. Running around the Swiss border to avoid Geneva, we then travel down through the beautiful city of Annecy, and over further passes including the first from SELOC’s Top 20, the Col du Galibier. Finally we skirt around the eastern side of Europe’s largest man-made lake (Lac de Serre-Ponçon) at Embrun before arriving in Barcelonnette (complete with curious Mexican influences) at the heart of the Ubaye valley.

Day 03:  A feast of passes lie in wait for us today! Short and long options are available, but we’d highly recommend an early start to take in the long option as there are some fantastic Cols. They include the highest paved road in Europe (the Col de la Bonette at 2802m) with it’s cheeky 2862m loop at the top, along with four more SELOC favourites (Col de la Cayolle, Col de Vars, Col d’Izoard, Col d’Iseran). There’s also a brief sortie into Italy over the Col de Montgenèvre before finally arriving at the prestigious ski resort of Val d’Isere back in France.

This day was the first time I drove with Rich in his Silver Honda Powered S2 on a Stelvio run. Midget was pax that day so it was also my first encounter with Chris. I don't remember much of that first day driving with them both, suffice to say that they must have driven well, which has been the case for every other Stelvio run I have made with them both, otherwise I would have remembered!

Day 04:  Two route options available again today, including a brief trip into Italy over the Col du Petit St Bernard, then into Switzerland over the Col du Grand St Bernard. From Martigny, we then have to take the Swiss motorway (don’t forget your Vignette) through the Valais region alongside the river Rhône and some of the country’s highest mountains, before arriving at Fiesch. IMPORTANT Be sure to allow plenty of time to catch the cable car (last one at 18:00) from Fiesch up to the car free mountain village of Fiescheralp/ Kühboden, where we will be staying for the night. If you arrive early enough (approx 14:30-15:00), there should be time to head up to the station atop the Eggishorn (2926m) to gaze over the awe inspiring Aletsch Glacie. Hotel

Irish and I paired up again not sure if that is how the day started but it certainly ended up that way. We were held up firstly by picking up two hitch hikers. I got the pretty girl and Irish, her boyfriend. We had to double back 10 miles or so to drop them off at their destination, the girls fathers hotel, who turned out to be a Rally driver, so our fast driving was like water off a ducks back for her. Secondly we were further held up by road works on the Grand St Bernard and then we hit the traffic in Valais region after stupidly not going on the motorway. What followed was a very high speed run as we desperately tried to reach Fiesch before the last cable car left. Rob Beeves refused to allow the cable car operator to close the doors on the cable car as he could hear us on the radios pleading for someone to hold the cable car as we were only minutes away.

Day 05:  Passilicious! There’s no other word for it. Ten passes available, with seven SELOC favourites on offer, combine to make one of the best days of the tour. Take an early cable car down (first one at 08:00) from Fiescheralp, then there’s just enough time to get the car warmed up before diving straight into the Nufenenpass, followed immediately by a choice of the cobbled Tremola or the sweeping St Gotthard (the TomTom itinerary goes via the Tremola). The passfest continues along the Furka, Grimsel and Susten, then a short break to the Klausenpass with it’s motorsport history and cobbled hairpins. We end the day along the Albulapass before stopping for the night at the luxurious Hotel Castell overlooking Zuoz. Hotel

(There are two lasting memories from day 5 for me;
Firstly my ascent of the Nufenenpass with the two S1 Honda Powered Elises. This was the first year that we had seen the Honda S1s on a Stelvio and my god they were quick. I remember bumping in to Rob Beeves at the bottom of the pass as I had been separated from my group, he suggested the three of us including the other Honda S1 ran to the top together. Rob and I driven a number of Stelvios together and he was aware that I can be quite quick when I want to be. James didn't know me and was a little perturbed by this as these two had been running together for most of the trip due to the huge power advantage they had over the other cars and perhaps they felt that they were being held back when they ran with the rest of us. I knew they would be faster than I, so I tucked myself into position 3 so as not to hold them up. They did pull away but not by much. I had the Exige solidly on the 2nd Cam all the way up which saved me from total embarrassment. At the top James came over and asked me if my Exige was a Exige S or a standard NA. That was probably the best compliment he could ever have given me!!

Day 06:  Stelvio beckons... so be sure to leave enough time to make it for lunch. First off, it’s the ever popular single file Munt la Schera tunnel (Max's Tunnel of love) to blow out the cobwebs. Exiting the tunnel, we run alongside the lake into the tax free principality of Livigno, ensuring the tank is brimmed with cheap fuel on the way through. Further passes await, before tackling the unforgettable Passo di Gavia (long option), and finally onto Passo dello Stelvio itself for the traditional lunchtime rendezvous at the top. Pictures taken, pleasantries exchanged, postcards purchased and a “McStelvio” consumed from perhaps the highest burger van in Europe, we head off down the eastern side towards Merano. The day ends as it has done in previous years by climbing the fantastic Timmelsjoch/Passo del Rombo into Austria. Note: The large wooden gates at the top are closed at 8pm and there is a 13€ toll into Austria (cash only). Finally, we run down through the Lord of The Rings inspired landscape to Obergurgl, and the wonderful tour favorite, Hotel

(As we approached Max's tunnel of love I spotted my second Hitch-hiker of the trip. As the Hitch-hiker was clearly dressed in a skirt I stopped before I realised that she was in her 50's and none to attractive.  Well I was committed by this stage so I asked her to jump in.  I remember she was also somewhat smelly to add to her poor looks but she only wanted a lift to Livingo and that was only a short distance away. I dropped her off at the fuel station in Livingo and filled up my car with cheap 100.  When I came to get my wallet out of the car I couldn't fine it anywhere and was forced to borrow some money from one of the other group members.  I was livid as I was convinced this smelly, ugly, old hitch-hiker had stolen it and if I had seen her again, I would have taken her straight to the nearest police station. In the mood I was in probably requested she was hanged.  It wasn't till that evening that I unpacked the car at the hotel that I discovered my wallet had slid underneath the Pax seat!!!  )

Day 07:  The route heads north out of Obergurgl continuing through the Austrian Tyrol, covering four passes including the Silvretta Pass which is a toll road (11.50€), before crossing into Germany and along the northern shoreline of Lake Constance.  We continue past the Zeppelin factory at Friedrichshafen, finally arriving in Radolfzell at the north western tip of the lake. Note: We are split between four hotels tonight in Radolfzell (see page 20 for map), with dinner booked for the group at a local restaurant. Hotel

(More Hitchhikers again, actually I think they were walkers but we just asked if they would like a ride chancing our arm. I was really making up for all those lost opportunities on previous years. This time with Mr Knight who was feeling well left out, was desperate to experience a Hitch-hiker too. I have always remembered them as the Little and Large Hitch-hikers, in fact very little and very large would be a more accurate description. As luck would have it, the little one got into my car and Mr Knight must have been squashed up against his door window with the large one. We picked them up at the bottom of the Silvretta pass and decided to take them up to the top and bring them back down again, Fair do's to mine, she didn't make a squeak but I am sure Mr Knight had to add an extra 50 feet to his braking points.  )

Day 08:  The final day in the mountains as the tour heads back towards Blighty, with two options available. First up, we head through the southern region of the picturesque Black Forest passing the Hohentwiel fort at Singen. The road then winds on alongside the remarkable Wutachtalbahn railway with it’s many hairpins, viaducts and tunnels as it runs along the Swiss/German border near Epfenhofen. We continue onwards past Lakes Schluchsee and Titisee, then through the narrow Höllental (Hell Valley) before climbing the twisty Schwarzwalder Panoramastraße. There’s a short motorway stint south crossing the mighty Rhine back into France, then up into the Vosges mountains for some final passes along the Routes des Crêtes before pressing onto the city of Metz for our fi nal night. Both these areas of Germany and France are popular holiday destinations, so traffic could also be an issue, especially as we’re running through on a Saturday. If that should be the case, it will be easy to take a more direct path to Metz and the hotel bar. Hotel

(This was to be my last day for this Stelvio as I needed to make an earlier run back to the Uk than the rest of the Group. I recall that Chris (Midget) also needed to get home early so the two of us travelled home on the German autobahns leaving Rich to drive solo in the Black Forests and on the homeward run. It would also be the last time I saw Irish's S2 for in heavy rain on the French Auto-route he aquaplaned into the crash barrier. Thankfully he was all right, if not a bit shaken, but the car was a complete right off.)