Road trip Italian GP

[NUALFAMAN]

Well it appears I have an upcoming road trip as tickets for the Italian Grand Prix have just been purchased. This will be a father son affair as we both celebrate land mark birthdays this next year (daughter does too but I cant see her wanting to watch cars going round and round) and my son very generously buying the tickets for my birthday.
So the plan so far is to drive through France to the Swiss boarder then through Switzerland and Alps then on to Monza, hotel booked between Monza and Milan for the weekends GP. Then the Monday a visit to the Alfa Romeo Museum before heading back through Switzerland and France (need to book hotel in Switzerland for out and return legs yet).
Loads more to think about and plan, non the less which car to take, whether the 33 if I get it finished in time, would be epic, brave or plain silly, or the modern and possibly more reliable Giulietta (diesel too so cheaper fuel) as well as the actual route, sat nav, toll roads, road taxes etc etc.
Any tips from anyone who has done similar trips?

[Kegsti66]

I can not help with tips, but it sounds a fantastic trip.
I hope you have a great time and look forward to reading your story when you get back.
Lots of photos please, safe trip and good luck.

[Johnboy]

Hi NUALFAMAN
Can't help with the trip to Italy apart from watch your speed.As the European feds love to nik Brits . Wife and I drive to the German GP in the summer . Amazing .Plus got up close with Hamilton after the race . He climbed up on the fence .Infront of us .Plus we met these blokes . The atmosphere was amazing .Your love the Dutch fans .

[junior]

If you head via Basel I would fit in a visit to the Schlump Museum. (may be spelled wrong).

Swiss very keen on speeding, ie 1 klm over limit will get you a ticket from a camera.

Fuel/ food always seems to be cheaper in France than Switzerland.

Good luck with the Italian driving.

[NUALFAMAN]

Sounds and looks like you had a great time in Germany "Johnboy" and great to see how accessible people were. Hope similar in Italy. My son is keen to storm the track at the end of the race as per the tifosi too.
Good luck with the Italian driving. Now that's got me worried "junior" as its about the road trip and the experience of the driving that appeals to me especially if its possible in the 33.
Interested to see what Schlump museum is as we were looking at Basel as the possible Swiss stop over. I will be looking it up tonight.

[Johnboy]

Hi
I got lucky with ski boys as they had just missed the bus lol . Ted kravzits was a wanker sadly. But the others where great . Damon is a hero of mine .So I was buzzing . Had I real good laugh with him plus dropped the fact that I'd driven spa afew times as you do .
Would love to go to Monza tho

[Alfasixnut]

Excellent idea for a GP road trip - the Schlumpf museum is in Mulhouse and is fantastic - but huge, so really needs a day or more!

[STEVE5M]

I can tell you about my drive to Tuscany in 2015 if it helps. I took my 1986 Alfetta GTV6. We drove through France into Italy and back again taking our time. My biggest observation is that driving through France the novelty of driving a classic car soon fades. You spend most of the day on the motorways and experience the downside of classic car ownership. Noisy engine, unsophisticated cruising, no aircon, poor wipers, poor heater, no luggage space, vague petrol guage, etc A modern car would be much better for this.

However, when you get to Italy it all changes! Your car is admired and appreciated, the speed limits are completely ignored on the strada's and you will have to gun it to keep up with the flow! Then there are the tunnels. If your car has a nice sounding exhaust it will be fantastic fun. There are so many tunnels!

Finally, the tolls will cost you as much as accommodation does. Factor that in.

Have fun and I hope it all goes ok for you!

[Johnboy]

Good shout with the toll roads . We did them going to Germany through France . But came back through Holland Belgium then frence .No tolls . As my wife booked the wrong port so look into going that route as for driving an older car .Took the 33 to spa three times .Had no trouble keeping up with the traffic but Italy is a lot further. So I get what Steve's saying . But if you can .Take the 33

[STEVE5M]

Good shout with the toll roads . We did them going to Germany through France . But came back through Holland Belgium then frence .No tolls . As my wife booked the wrong port so look into going that route as for driving an older car .Took the 33 to spa three times .Had no trouble keeping up with the traffic but Italy is a lot further. So I get what Steve's saying . But if you can .Take the 33

I would take the 33 as well. Just be aware that it won't do motorway cruising like a modern car and normal levels of conversation might not be possible! .

Night Johnboy!

[Johnboy]

Talking in a boxer powered Alfa .There's a first

[NUALFAMAN]

Thanks for the info thus far guys, really got me thinking re 33 or Giulietta "Steve5m". However got until September to decide and plan.
And yes really looking forward to it.
The hotel I have booked in Italy was cheap enough only £185 for twin room for three nights so a bit in the budget for toll roads food etc, but may look at different routes and assess both cost and best car
Certainly driving a 33 in Italy really appeals.

[NUALFAMAN]

So Italian GP this weekend so 33 pretty much ready for the trip.

Next its younger sibling.

Been planning the route and timings etc for the trip and the GP so schedule all set. A bit late in the day I know but we had a pretty good idea where we were going so the plan is to leave tomorrow afternoon (Wednesday) to get to Dover for late evening so we can either early morning crossing to calais then a bit of a rest then drive across France to Basil in Switzerland for an overnight stay then an start to get to Monza mid morning hopefully to catch all the free practice. Then clearly the GP Saturday and Sunday then Monday a trip to the Alfa museum.
Planning to keep the thread updated daily with progress and photos of this trip.
Son Aaron is insured for the weeks trip so we can share the driving, I am guessing that I might not get the lions share of the driving as he seems quite excited about the trip.
AA European cover sorted so hopefully should be covered should the worst happen.
Looking forward to a memorable trip.
Paul.

[KevJTD]

Looking forward to seeing the pics mate, hope the trip goes to plan

[NUALFAMAN]

And we are on our way.

And guess who got the short straw for the first stint.

[KevJTD]

Let Aaron do the lions' share mate, enjoy the scenery

[Kegsti66]

Hope you both have a great trip.
Looking forward to the updates. Keep an eye out for the "Feds".

[NUALFAMAN]

Some pics of the trip so far.

In a small French services. Letting the car have a brief rest and a refill.

Through one of the tunnels before we got to the Swiss border.

And another. Car sounds great but restricted to 70kph in the tunnels.

Reaching the Swiss border, had the vignette so drove straight through without stopping.

[NUALFAMAN]

Got parked up for the night in an underground car park a couple of streets away from our hotel for the night.

Barely saw any Alfas in France, but just inside Switzerland there seems to be plenty of Giuliettas and 147s the odd 156 surprisingly no Mitos as yet.
But then just up the road from where we parked was this lovely 155.

Might just have to be my next project to get hold of one and turn it into something like this.
Oh and the last photo for today.

One for the library as if the worst happens the last thing I will want to do is take photos!

Just checking fluid levels really.
So heading out early in the morning across Switzerland to Monza to hopefully catch the F1 free practice sessions.
Caio for now.

[Kegsti66]

Great start to the trip.
Nice spot with the 155.
Tell us you had the windows open in the tunnel.

[KevJTD]

Those roads look nice and empty, decent progress guys, 155 a good spot.
Bet the tunnels make a nice bark

[NUALFAMAN]

Haha, yes windows down in the tunnels, I think there's a couple more today, early start should be nice open roads looking forward to driving the 33 in Italy.

[NUALFAMAN]

So good day started with rain during the drive the Switzerland. Met up with another dad and son going to Monza half way.

liked my car but for some reason not keen to swap also wouldn't let his son drive.
Then followed another Ferrari for a short while.

.
Although raining the views where fantastic and many many tunnels so when we were on our own, as the traffic was very light until we got close to Italy, the windows were down and the rasp from the 16v flat 4 was a sound to behold. Ferraris took the Micheal though.

Got to Monza by midday and got the park and ride to the circuit. Some lovely vintage /classic cars on display.

6c and 8c.
One for Kev but I think a bit early for his tastes.

Onw Last pic of the 33 in the park and ride park as we left it.

.
And now back at the hotel in Milan and enjoying a pizza, really cheap, and a coffee planning the next couple of days, I think the 33 will stay in the hotel car park for the weekend as we will use the train service to the circuit and give it a well earned rest before the return leg, not before we visit its birth place though at the Alfa museum on Monday.
Will update Monday after the museum visit as you will be able to see the GP for yourselves on TV unless I see something unusual and alfa related
Oh and just remembered, but didn't get a photo, saw my first Stelvio in the F1 team car park. There was also an Alfa stand near the entrance to the park, asked if I could park the 33 next to their. Giulia QV, they said no problem but would have to get past the police at the entrance so might not bother.

[KevJTD]

If you wanted to bring that Aurelia back mate I'd have no problem using it Love the 50's Lancia's not too early for me, I'd be 'appy in an Appia...

[NUALFAMAN]

Forgot to mention I treated the 33 to some proper fuel the likes it's not seen since it's birth possibly.

[NUALFAMAN]

If you wanted to bring that Aurelia back mate I'd have no problem using it Love the 50's Lancia's not too early for me, I'd be 'appy in an Appia...

Right Kev I will see what I can do, might have to offer them a a trade in against the 33 with cash in my favor, do you think they would except? I would be willing to let them keep it until Sunday evening after the race!

[NUALFAMAN]

So that's the GP done, great Friday, a little wet Saturday, actually a lot flipping wet Saturday, and a fantastic Sunday. The tufosi are crazy people awesome atmosphere and met some great people.
Invaded the track along with a few others.

Got to taste his champagne as he sprayed it on the crowd.

Even Hamilton took our photo for us

Managed to get onto the old track too on the Friday, unbelievable steep. How those guys drove around that God only knows but still a great engineering feat in the day. Totally blown away.
Great GP weekend and many memories to save.
Saw many many Alfas around the circuit from the new QV's and Stevio's to old 156 sw course cars.
Now on to the Alfa museum tommorrow before we head back home to complete the trip.
Many photos will be the order of the day.
Oh and one to finish the GP weekend with.

[Kegsti66]

Some great photos there and a good memory for you both.
You did well to get so close to the action.

[KevJTD]

Have a safe journey back guys, some nice pics from the Museum to come I hope...

Glad it was a bit drier today but looks like you had a better day today. Some nice scenic pix too

[Johnboy]

Hi chap
So glad the 33 is doing great . I watched most of the f1 coverage over weekend. Saturday crazy wet and awesome qualifying by Hamilton. Great race too. Was at Hockenheim last year and got up really close to lewis .plus met Damon hill
Looking forward to seeing photos