The e30 320 'ring got us there and back, but not without the odd teething problem. This re-enforced just how strong Bavarian's finest are, which was good ;)
We arrived at Goodwood on the 19th April for the launch party to be joined by a variation of cars from the sublime to the ridiculous.
A Robin Reliant Van, two ex ambulances, Rover 820 turbo (running 15psi), 2.0 16v GSi engined Chevette (old Vx thing), a camouflaged Honda accord, two Porka 944s, a playboy bunny white & pink Mr2 (drive by two blokes?!) ex Police Omega MV6, Mercedes 500SE, 190E "AMG" 2.6 and a myriad of BMWs. I counted four E34 and three E30; a four door and another Touring, just like our car. There was also two big 7 series barges. More BM's in fact, then anything else. Great minds and all that.
At the launch we checked and double checked everything again, only to find that the BM had signs of water contamination in the oil....bugger. We had noticed too, a slight loss of power on the way down to Goodwood which although was a concern, was not a major worry.
Good thing we had arrived in good time. I rang James at BR who was joining us at the launch party who said he'd have a look when him, Mark and Svend arrived. He said not too worry he'd bring spares.
With live music, 300 odd people, including the guys from Beemer Redeemer and John from Bespoke Leathering and Sarah from H2N on our guest list, the event was a good success. The teams were certainly fired up, with several co-drivers and navigators enjoying the go juice and leaving the driving as someone's else concern. The holy rollers (dressed as Nuns) took control of the wheels of steel spinning the vinyl. An interesting site; a man nun with headphones lop sided lining up the next track...
The launch included a charity raffle in aid of Winston's Wish (this years Rally's chosen charity), which included a track day at Goodwood, 2x tickets to the British GP (all weekend) and a 500SE from last years rally which included 2008 Scumball entry fees paid. The Merc went for £200.....bargain!
On arrival at Dover at around 01.30hrs, we had a rather long wait for our 06.30 ferry. Twas the only decent kip I had over the four days! Goodbye Blighty see you next week!
On the ferry we had our own private aptly named "Silverstone" bar, where again various navigators and co-drivers consumed more go-juice. Here we were given a drivers briefing and handed our route cards for day one. The route card contained one check point and a final check point for later that day. At the first check point each team needed to buy/find or steal a receipt as proof of arrival, which was handed in at the end of the day on timed arrival at checkpoint two.
We had to make way to a Maccy D's in Anderlecht, Belgium finishing day one in Stuttgart, Germany - great, the Autobahn here we come!
Somewhere in Belgium the E30 developed a terrible misfire, which got worse and worse. We pulled into some services and proceeded to change the airflow meter, spark plug leads, distributor cap and arm (which was a real barsteward) with the help of Team Scuderia Sheridan and Scumcabs who spotted a fellow Scumballer with the bonnet up. Stars. A bottle of fuel injector cleaner thrown and some rad weld in the hope it would fight the leaking head gasket in for good measure and the car seemed OK, but back on the auto route it seemed a lot worse....after a couple of KMs though the BM was running sweet. Result!
After working out the speed limit system on the Autobahn, I was lucky enough to be in the right seat and on a 1hr stretch of full speed 'bahn. I squeezed 122mph recorded on TT, before loosing bottle (remember we had a blown headgasket). I was chuffed with this as currently the top Scumball claimed speed is 140mph on the clocks of a 730i (non-GPS speed).
We drove past an interesting place, but alas it wasn't the day to drop in. We had other places on our minds.
Somewhere along the way we ended up traveling through the Netherlands which was nice. Three countries in one day!
On arrival in Stuttgart we found a rather pleasant camp site, loads of BBQs, lots of beers (including a supply of Bitburger collected en-route) and a bar full of strange camping Germanic types and various scumballers - some rather drunk, some in fancy dress and some more...
The following morning our high spirits were somewhat dampened when we found the camp site was swarming with Bundespolizei types who had heard that a high speed Cannonball type gang were going to rip up the German roads. Hardly. Ed and the Scumball team re-assured the German Police that this was not the case, but the Germans insisted on undertaking full paperwork checks on all competitors & vehicles, breathalising all drivers and undertaking a MOT test on each vehicle.
Only three of the 80 vehicles failed the inspection with two having remedial work required. Not bad considering the strict Germans and a £500 banger...
Day two we were destined for Bardonecchia, near Turin in Italy. Now, fortunately not travelling at 122mph, but nevertheless whilst traveling over 100mph on the autobahn the 2 metre CB aerial came unaffixed from the e30's roof. The tip of the aerial came down with such force on the rear window it shattered it. Great. Yes, I was driving and, yes, I did sh!t myself...Lots of wide and thick cellotape provided a temporary fix.
Bardonecchia is right on the Alps and the scenery was amazing. By this time we had a convoy consiting of the merc 190e 2.6, an Alfa 164, a Pug 407 hire car (don't ask) and one of the Scumball film crew car.
Having a fully working and mapped Tom Tom and an air of knowing what we were doing meant that others wanted to follow our lead. The film car included the model Vikki Thomas who's claim to fame includes being on Ian Wright's BBC celebrity stitch up show and her pneumatic bust! We traveled through Switzerland, where I inadvertently entered the wrong lane which resulted in the whole convoy being ordered aside for special attention. Luckily this consisted of being told that we needed toll and get a nice window sticker and both myself and a member of the pug team being told off for filming. I should know better! When the police saw I had only taken pictures of cars they were OK.
The cellotape now wasn't really doing the job, so we knicked a few rolls of rigging tape from the camera crew(s) and made 'good' the rear window!
Lot's of posing to be had for the cameras and a bit of stunt driving in an (almost empty - save two drivers standing outside the gents, one of whom was not wearing a shirt?!) lorry park somewhat delayed our arrival at the camp site. We drove through the amazing 17km Mt Blanc Tunnel before arriving in Bardonecchia. Although the tunnel was virtually empty we resisted the urge to exceed the limit. We later discovered that fellow scumballer had not and was greeted by the Italian Police demanding a 90 Euro fine when he finally cam out the tunnel. The heat inside the tunnel was incredible and the lights were eerie. The 190e also had a straight through exhaust which added to the atmosphere. It was pitch black when we got there, but were pleased to find a bar and restaurant on site serving steak & chips and more beer. Good stuff! Our spirits dropped when we saw blue lights heading towards the camp, but soon we realised that it was one of the Scumballers ambulances who had accidentally put his blue lights on (honest!)
The following morning we found that the Italian camp was situated at the bottom of a picturesque valley with two ways out. One way back through the Mt Blanc tunnel, the other through the Alps. I tapped in our next destination, in Dijon France and chose to avoid tolls. The resulting route was a 7.5hr run through the Alps; two hours longer than the toll and via the tunnel. Followed by the Merc, Alfa, Pug and a 1.8 Mazda 'Scumcab' we ventured up the twisty mountain roads. Alas, it wasn't to be as after 45 mins an oncoming Italian driver informed us that the road was closed. Obviously, we ignored him but discovered 5 mins on that huge stone bolders had been placed in our way. Turning around we had time to get a few piccies and enjoy a snow ball fight. Oh well, at least we were to enjoy the Mt Blanc tunnel again!
We arrived in Dijon late afternoon and thus had plenty of time to put up tents, buy more beer, enjoy the pugs team BBQ and prepare for the Scumball final night party at a private bar in Dijon. We all attended a cocktail party held by Team Scuderia Sheridan, where we all had G&Ts and toasted the queen. Actuarius SS's driver was dressed for the occasion. What a character!
We then all helped out for the opening scene for the Scumball3000 2007 DVD, where Vikki announced the DVD title. It took a few takes!
The pug team, armed with 2 litre water cannons, decided on doing a drive by on the 'Camel Lovers'; a team of guys in a 500SE dressed as arabs. The got well drenched but it was red hot and was all taken in good jest.
Much fun was had at the last night party with interviews by Men & Motors and the Scumball Rally crew. Everyone had a great time, with no negative incidents to report. We had well over 150 people in attendance and no sign of the French Police. I'm not saying we didn't have a good laugh - we did!
Well it was the last day so we packed up ready for the route card expecting a northly target.
It came as no suprise when it directed us back to Calais, specifically 'Eastenders'. Most teams arrived around the same time, which was rather good. Here the wards for best Scum and 'Wolverace sprit of Scumball' was awarded to 'The pussycat trolls' - an all female team in pink overalls driving a pink wrapped shogun - yuk! and the 'Camel Lovers'.
From here it was on to the ferry port, where most of the teams managed to get on the 18.25 ferry whereby we secured almost our own floor. The sirens, hooters, PA systems and other sounds was something else when we arrived in Dover. A group of four bikers joined in with burnouts galore with one Suzuki spitting flames, backfiring and hitting the rev limiter. Scumball3000 was home!
For some reason, we soon became known to all as 'Team Beemer Redeemer' Why?
How low..?
We were protected by the god of Radweld and Thundercats!
Goodwood; just prior to the launch. Lookin good.
Duck tape is strong old stuff.
Rear view vision (spy hole)
"Fixed" with perspex (temporary repair)
No, I'm not trying to take a poo!
Thumbs up from the STIG.
Team Beemer Redeemer and CSLM side by side
Astraboy & DaveS (CSLM) party with 'Rave Dolphin' in Dijon
Random French bloke with Team Italian Stallion hairpiece and Rave Dolphin.
Too much speed = too much pressure = more antifreeze / water mix
Dooo'ooH!
Simone (Team Italian Stallion) 'I can't hear you - the window won't open, hold on' (lesson - don't drink & navigate)
Scumcab returns down the alpine pass
Nightrider Toyota - mad, really mad....
Swiss alps
164 pulls away fast
One broken Ford Limo on the m25 = one pug 407SW hire car = five (large) hot members of the 'Addams family'. Great guys!
The Addams take a wrong turn. Hurry up!!
The queue for the German Police inspection.
Old Porka
Candid camera - German Polizei style.
Our sponsors at the launch party
Team CSLM with their ex police Omega MV6 (where's Rave Dolphin??)
Indestructable STORM V1 kit (we tried!!)
Over 2100 miles in four days driving from the UK to France to Belgium to Holland to Germany to Switzerland to Italy to France to the UK was a great crack. The BM had a couple of hiccups, but did us proud. The support from Beemer Redeemer was there right to the time we left for Calais. Top guys!
Words cannot describe the whole experience and knowing that between us we have raised over £1000 for Winston's Wish charity. OK, it has cost more than I thought but it's a great trip, great laugh and a great deal of cash (overall) for the charity.
This is how the old girl looks now...
