What a day - the Mission to drive from the picturesque Budapest on the banks of the Danube to the Heart of new Germany - Berlin, a cool 600 miles away. Our strategy hatched over a couple of lite ales the evening before was to ignore the minimal 4 hours sleep, drag our sorrow bodies from bed and get on the road early and before the Polizei were warned of our impending arrival by hourds of English reg plates balsting along. Fastnet 993's secret weapon - a T Total Co driver!!
The Smokies and a Bandit convoy (1 BMW 530 diesel M Sport, 1 standard 530d and the Porker of Fastnet 993 - held together by the craic of the Irish, a loose adherance to the route plan, 2 walkie talkies and a combined intent to make time!! This was our first real convoy of the trip and what a fantastic day. We had everything; vile weather, again learning that lack of weight in the nose of a 911 makes her a handful in treacherous conditions, route issues (our convoy but not us today), some great top speeds and a 6th car arrival place into Berlin - oh and topped off by finding thee' best service centre in Europe.
Heavy rain made driving conditions very difficult for a time, at one point the Irish lost sight of the Porky under a blanket of spray. But once out of the rain we showed the tractor boys (diesel drivers) why a Porky deserves its reputation!! But don't tell my mum about the speedo pic!
Travelling in convoy and chatting on the radios as we go was for us the raison d'etre of this event , and it proved to be today. Unfortunately about 200kms from Berlin our superior routing (we had to get it right one day) saw the tractors go straight, us to find a brand new highway. After a futile attempt to allow them to catch up we decided to PRESS on and make the Porky feel properly at home in Germany! Once back on home ground, Germany, Felicity the Becker Sat Nav redeemed herself and took us right to the Hilton door.
Overall a great drive and we arrived into Berlin as 6th car.
ps found an amazing service centre underneath the hotel. The Porky got levels topped up, and yes - another full valet! The Irish tractor boys put in for more major surgery with serious vibrations from engine and brakes - fingers crossed for good news tomo.
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