by "Clemsie McKenzie" (thestirringcolumn)
Published 03/27/2017 at 13:02
by "Clemsie McKenzie" (thestirringcolumn)
Published 03/27/2017 at 13:02
Tags: Europpomeet
STARS: 26
It’s the first (hopefully) annual Europe (and brexiting UK) Oppomeet! And it was absolutely perfect. We met at Spa-Francorchamps, drove to the Nürburgring, ate eggs and bacon and got lost. What more could you ask? Except heated camping, of course.
We met Saturday morning at a small and picturesque place near Spa called Coo. Time to greet each other, grab a drink, and head to the track via some sweet countryside roads.
Pretty much immediately after getting to the track, we started our pace-car lap of the full circuit. Even if the Volvo pace car wasn’t pushing it, it still was an amazing experience to drive on such a mythical place, especially trying to go up Eau Rouge in the Clio! Man, that thing is steep. I was especially shocked by Blanchimont, the corner where Max Verstappen made that overtake in 2015. Eau Rouge and Pouhon are scary enough, but Blanchimont is basically a 90° corner that they take flat out at 150+ mph. Madness.
We were then treated to a guided tour of the paddock buildings and a bit of a history lesson, which, as an F1 geek, I found quite nice.
During our stay there, people had rented the track for the day (which costs €25k as our guide was keen to point out, and attracts “uninteresting millionaires”), and they were going at it quite hard with a very varied selection of cars, from a private supercar club to GT3 and Porsche Cup cars probably training for the season ahead.
We then headed back out for a bit of a group pic with all the cars. We were all blown away by the diversity of the group, but I suppose that’s Oppo for you!
We then went to Stavelot, a town near the track, to visit a museum dedicated to the history of Spa-Francorchamps which was funnily enough located in an abbey. It was filled with cool cars, and we even took time to visit a Templar Knights exhibition.
After the museum we met back in the lovely town to grab some waffles and plan our trip to the campsite.
The roads there are really cool, and of course some of us (me included), lost sight of the convoy and got a bit lost. But we all got back in the end for a quick game of Mario Kart in the bigger house we rented, which was thankfully big enough to allow us all to drink some different varieties of beer later in the evening. And bacon in the morning.
The campsite wasn’t perfect, but hey it was cheap and we didn’t travel all this way to sleep anyway.
The whole morning was dedicated to getting from Spa to the Nürburgring. Following Out, but with a ZZW30 , our guide for this trip (thanks mate!) we crossed the Eiffel hills between the two tracks along some very nice roads: tight, technical, and empty enough to have some fun. Despite the walkie-talkies some the group split a couple of times, but I have to say more than 15 cars following each other in sunny Belgian and German countryside is quite the sight!
We eventually arrived to the Nürburgring, and watched the cars go by, which is an excellent way of getting scared for the following track laps, as I found out! The elevation changes are massive, and people drive fast cars very, very fast.
As we were about to go for our lap, someone crashed on track and the whole Ring closed, which is a regular thing apparently. So we took this opportunity to eat some massive German burgers, so we could have something to puke later on. And as we were getting ready again to go on track, the same thing happened again. So we waited on the dusty car park next to the entrance.
But finally, less than an hour before the official closing time for the track, it opened back and we all rushed to the cars.
What ensued will remain one of my all time favorite things to do in a car. Even in my modest 94hp Renault Clio, the Ring is extremely fun. Adrenaline immediately kicks in and along with a bit of red mists it blows all fear away. I hanged to the BRZ’s back for a while, and then let most of the faster cars of our group past. Everybody seemed to be having the time of their life! People are surprisingly patient as well, as long as you let them go on the left when you can.
Despite being the longest racetrack in the world, it all goes by very, very quickly, and soon it was time to say goodbye and go home.
The trip to Paris was quite nice in itself, especially the nearly empty derestricted Autobahn, when I hit a surprising 200kph in the Clio, and managed to cruise at a shockingly peaceful 180kph to the Luxemburg border. Then it was a quite boring 3.5 hours stretch on the much slower French Autoroute.
I then went pretty much straight to bed, smashed by two full days of Oppo adventure.
I would do it again tomorrow if I could. It was brilliant meeting you all, and the activities were some of the best things you can do in a car. Big thanks to everyone who had a part in organizing the trip, paying stuff upfront or cooking eggs and bacon!
Thanks for the leftover bacon guys, and see you next year. I don’t quite know how we are supposed to top that, but I’m sure we’ll find something...
Here’s a Flickr album with slightly more pics of the meet:
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"duurtlang" (duurtlang)
03/27/2017 at 13:09, STARS: 6
To illustrate: beer and eggs.
"CB" (jrcb)
03/27/2017 at 13:13, STARS: 3
Sounds like you guys had an awesome time! I’m pretty damn jealous.
"Clemsie McKenzie" (thestirringcolumn)
03/27/2017 at 13:15, STARS: 0
The EurOppo fuel! Mix beer and eggs, and ZOOM! To the Ring.
"BvdV - The Dutch Engineer" (dutchengineer)
03/27/2017 at 13:16, STARS: 1
Great write up Clemsie! Indeed a lot of fun was had, we definitely need to do another one next year.
"vondon302" (vondon302)
03/27/2017 at 13:16, STARS: 1
Sounds like an awesome time! And yeah pretty jealous too.
"duurtlang" (duurtlang)
03/27/2017 at 13:16, STARS: 2
I know you apparently can’t get it in France, but don’t forget the bacon. Never forget the bacon!
"StndIbnz, Drives a MSRT8" (stndibnz1)
03/27/2017 at 13:17, STARS: 1
Thats amazing. You guys looked like you had a great time!
"Clemsie McKenzie" (thestirringcolumn)
03/27/2017 at 13:17, STARS: 0
The leftovers are in my fridge right now!
"Viggen" (viggen37)
03/27/2017 at 13:19, STARS: 2
Looks like you guys had a good time. Hope an American Oppo Meet can be arranged some day. And was that, a Donkervoort on the track?
"duurtlang" (duurtlang)
03/27/2017 at 13:20, STARS: 3
I didn’t give you that package of bacon for nothing. It was an effort to instil some culture into you ;)
"Clemsie McKenzie" (thestirringcolumn)
03/27/2017 at 13:24, STARS: 0
Oh I don’t need it! I need France to wake the fuck up and offer more bacon in supermarkets!
"Clemsie McKenzie" (thestirringcolumn)
03/27/2017 at 13:25, STARS: 0
Yes it was! Dude probably had tons of fun.
"Clemsie McKenzie" (thestirringcolumn)
03/27/2017 at 13:26, STARS: 1
Thanks mate! I can’t wait to see your pics as well. Hope to see you next year!
"Clemsie McKenzie" (thestirringcolumn)
03/27/2017 at 13:27, STARS: 1
We did! It pretty much was the perfect Oppo weekend!
"Out, but with a W - has found the answer" (belg)
03/27/2017 at 13:27, STARS: 1
It was. We need to show that one to a certain Oppo member.
"$kaycog" (skaycog)
03/27/2017 at 13:28, STARS: 1
Good job, Clemsie! It looks like you guys had a blast!
Obligatory bait taken also! :D
"Viggen" (viggen37)
03/27/2017 at 13:31, STARS: 0
Awww that’s so cool
"Clemsie McKenzie" (thestirringcolumn)
03/27/2017 at 13:33, STARS: 1
Thank you! We really did have a lot of fun, as did that GT40 owner, probably!
"Svend" (svend)
03/27/2017 at 13:36, STARS: 4
WOW WOW WOW, WAIT UP, BACK THAT TRUCK UP A BIT!!!!
France isn’t into bacon. Bacon the savour of many a meal, the elixir of life in food form?
WE MUST DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. STATIM!!!!
"Clemsie McKenzie" (thestirringcolumn)
03/27/2017 at 13:44, STARS: 0
Yeah, France is the home of many delicacies, but bacon isn’t one them at all. It’s very hard to find any here, and the little I could find was always some semi-hipster overpriced stuff. And overpriced bacon is half the fun missed.
"Svend" (svend)
03/27/2017 at 14:04, STARS: 4
That’s craziness.
Yet, just on the other side of Belgium, some 250 miles from France. I used to work in a factory that slaughtered 6,500 pigs a week.
There’s nothing like a bacon roll on warm bread with a little brown sauce.
It’s the main ingredient to a full English breakfast. Without it an English man would hunt the chef down and give him a few choice words of disapproval.
That’s it. What ever happens, the next EurOPPOmeet, I’ll be there with bacon, Cumberland sausages and black pudding.
It’s my mission and yes, I choose to accept it.
"fintail" (fintail)
03/27/2017 at 14:11, STARS: 1
Sounds awesome, we need a PNW one of these.
I would have taken this to the ‘Ring:
"Klaus Schmoll" (klausschmoll)
03/27/2017 at 14:14, STARS: 1
Congrats on the perfect GT 40 shots!
"Out, but with a W - has found the answer" (belg)
03/27/2017 at 14:15, STARS: 0
If you’re ever downtown, Aux Deux Cygnes is a pretty good apéro bar in Bastille, with some very amazing bacon sandwiches.
"duurtlang" (duurtlang)
03/27/2017 at 14:24, STARS: 0
I would like to see that combat the winged Bel Air mister Rustholes chose not to bring to the Ring.
"fintail" (fintail)
03/27/2017 at 14:29, STARS: 0
I wonder if there are any shots of a 59 Chevy on the Ring. I’ve seen racing style fintails there anyway.
"Clemsie McKenzie" (thestirringcolumn)
03/27/2017 at 14:30, STARS: 0
Noted! But bacon in something is not the problem, you can find it quite easily at McDonalds for example. It’s bacon uncooked, by itself, that’s quite hard to get by!
"Clemsie McKenzie" (thestirringcolumn)
03/27/2017 at 14:32, STARS: 0
Thanks! It took quite a bit of post production but I feared it was going to be worse so I’m glad.
"Clemsie McKenzie" (thestirringcolumn)
03/27/2017 at 14:33, STARS: 1
The problem is that seatbelts are mandatory. And also that I’m not sure I’d want to be in something that big and slow with the crazy locals flying around...
"fintail" (fintail)
03/27/2017 at 14:36, STARS: 1
It has lap belts, and anchors for shoulder belts (these were advanced cars). I’d have to keep far to the right for sure. It’d be cool though. If I win a lottery and send it over to the MB Classic Center for restoration, I’m taking it to the Ring on the break-in drive.
"Jobjoris" (Jobjoris)
03/27/2017 at 15:10, STARS: 1
Thanks for this awesome summary. Too bad I had to miss day two but it’s nice to finally meet someone from Paris that is actually nice ;-)
See you next year!
"BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires" (biturbo228)
03/27/2017 at 16:09, STARS: 1
Great writeup of a stunning weekend :) c’est magnifique
"Clemsie McKenzie" (thestirringcolumn)
03/27/2017 at 16:28, STARS: 1
Haha merci! :)
"Clemsie McKenzie" (thestirringcolumn)
03/27/2017 at 16:30, STARS: 1
It was nice seeing you too! Hopefully I’m bringing back some niceness to the Parisians...
"RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars" (rallydarkstrike)
03/27/2017 at 17:10, STARS: 1
Looks like a blast gents! Glad you enjoyed yourselves! Looking forward to an OppoMeet if there is ever one close enough I can get myself to! :P
The Clio makes me think my Accent is maybe not quite so useless after all with it’s meager horsepower if your 94hp Clio can manage the ‘Ring! :D
"DutchieDC2R" (dutchiedc2r)
03/27/2017 at 17:58, STARS: 1
It was fun meeting you Clems! Ill make sure to bring some proper bacon next year...:D
"duurtlang" (duurtlang)
03/27/2017 at 18:53, STARS: 1
It’s not just hp, chassis and tires are important too. I’d bet the Clio has a much better chassis than the Accent.
Coming back to hp; both Twingos had substantially fewer hp than the Clio.
"Clemsie McKenzie" (thestirringcolumn)
03/27/2017 at 19:02, STARS: 1
Actually, brakes and gearbox were the biggest limiting factor here. Low weight and low power go well together!
"Clemsie McKenzie" (thestirringcolumn)
03/27/2017 at 19:03, STARS: 1
I’m gonna be so fat after EurOppoMeet 2018 that I won’t fit in the Clio anymore...
"RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars" (rallydarkstrike)
03/27/2017 at 19:04, STARS: 0
The Twingos had lightness I imagine! The Clio probably does have a better chassis, but the Accent doesn’t handle that bad for what it is, really. With some decent tires and new shocks (mine a quite worn), I don’t think it would be too bad!
" The Compromiser" (charger)
03/27/2017 at 20:23, STARS: 0
Next year go see Laird Andy up north. Or Maranello