Andy Flexney

Sorry Don, I stole if from you but I thought the software would include the original cheeky person 😉 So let's do this again Cheeky Bugger  Bryce

cheeky bugger 😀 😀

Hi, I was hoping to attend this year but unfortunately I have had to change my plans. Andy

as everyone knows the 2017 10CR was over subscribed. It was only due to clever negotiations by Theo and Ellis that we managed to get the numbers up to 85 teams. There were still other people who would have liked to have done it. My question is why did these other teams want to do it? Was it based on the their past experience of the run, or was it the stories from other people who had done previous runs or was it they wanted to try the challenge as it was or some other reason? From the other couple of threads I have started on this theme I see some people like the idea of an overnighter dash and others like the idea of a leisurely 7 day drive around Europe with lots of time to stop, see things and socialise. I am presuming most of the people who like the leisurely option are people who have done many 10CRs and are now getting older and perhaps more wiser and are guaranteed over 50. I count myself into this group. But is there a younger generation who still look for that challenge and would like, as we did back in 2003 and 2005, to prove something to themselves? If so and considering the fact that the 10CR is over subscribed why not have 2 runs? They do not have to run at the same time and certainly do not have to have the same organisers. One could be in early summer and the other in its usual spot, or the leisurely one could run in the same years with the RBRR.  There be competition between the 2 runs i hear you say! I doubt it, as the target groups have different agendas. The idea of the 10CR was to offer something similar to the RBRR but on mainland Europe. Today it has morphed into something not really recognisable in that it is neither a RBRR equivalent nor is it a touring holiday. Time for a re-think perhaps? Cheers AndyF

John, glad to hear you are thinking of coming back into the fold 🙂 This year the extra night was added and basically the 2011 10CR was re-designed to fit (best it could) the timing. I also thought the starts were a little early and if the route was not cut the days were long. In the other thread it has been suggested extending using ALL the days i.e. Tuesday to Sunday or even add the Monday and go further east. I am sure the route planners will take all this input on board and who knows we might have a 14CR next time. AndyF

yes but that was going to be the surprise AndyF

not in the slightest Exacty, we have nearly taken a full week so why not go the 1 day more and develop the 10CR into a 12CR or a 13CR by including some of the roads in Eastern Europe. Apparently the roads in Slovenia were quite exciting and I am sure there are more to be explored. The idea of 2 versions did not really work the last time it was offered. A second all nighter was perhaps the wrong concept. I only know of 1 team that did that at the time, all the rest chose to have an extra night in a half decent bed. But if we were to officially start on the Tuesday in Mulhouse it would give teams an excuse to arrive late on Sunday or early on Monday and visit the museum before the start on Tuesday. Starting from that location on Tuesday would make it possible to visit Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, Slovakia as well as the Czech Republic, Poland and all the other the usual suspects. Of course I am presuming that UK citizens will still be able to travel freely in Europe in 2019 and the pound has not dropped under 1 Euro 😉 Please keep your thoughts and ideas coming, not that anyone will take any notice but it is good to get them in the open 😉 AndyF

One of the questions that has to be answered is do you want a fast and lean sprint around 10 countries or do you want a leisurely drive over 5 or more days? I know we keep going on about this but in 2003 we set off from The Plough on Friday afternoon, were in Nice for Saturday evening and after a swim in the Med on Sunday morning we were back at The Plough on Monday evening. In fact we were back in Yorkshire before closing time. Over the years it developed to what it is today; the amount of time taken for the run has doubling to 6 days. This year I needed to take 4 days holiday so decided to take the full week off and did a Pre-10CR run starting the Saturday before. If people have time, money and permission to be taking a full week off we could do much more with the 10CR and even look at visiting 10 different countries than we have previously. This would perhaps move the 10CR more into a European tour (similar to the Irish tour) rather than a mad dash over some passes. Perhaps we need to discuss what we all want from future 10CRs! AndyF P.S. A route for Scandinavia and the Baltics is already prepared 😉

The amount of available time driving has been reduced by at least 11 hours compared to a first night drive through. Therefore planning a re-start, even only once during the event, would cost most teams at least an hour and they simply do not have the time. I believe either the route has to be shortened, or we go back to the all nighter because it is not possible to comfortably drive 2000 miles in the available 39 hours. I have calculated the 39 hours as being 3 days @ 10 hours and last day @ 9 hours. which would give an average speed of 51 MPH for the 2000 miles compared to 40 MPH if adding 11 hours of night time driving. AndyF

did anyone else miss the re-starts after an overnight stop on this year's 10CR? AndyF

so it looks like it will be this for the 10CR

I bet it is in force later on Wednesday after 85 Triumphs have driven through 😀 😀 Looking at the map in detail, the start (in Englos) is NOT inside the ZCR/ZPA zone and detours around the zone are easy to navigate. See screenshot. Regards Andy

With all due respect surely each driver is responsible for his own fuel! I do believe it was known that about 150 miles per day were to be covered, so what is wrong with starting with a full tank of petrol and refiling at the end for the next day. What next? Point out where the next fish 'n chip shop is? respectfully Andy

did you buy it by mistake and have not been able to use it? Andy

Aaaaahhhh  doooom and gloooom best bring Brexit forward so we can go backwards quicker. God save good old 4 star leaded petrol!! (bursts into patriotic song) or you could just install neoprane seals and everything is fine, modern cars seem to survive on E10 why should a Triumph not? Or is it just the "modern" Triumphs that have problems? But again they are not "proper Triumphs are they 😉 Andy

1968Vitesse25, you obviously missed the point, which tells me you are only looking at one small piece of the jigsaw and not the whole. If you put on better brakes you will need to put on better (wider, stickier) tyres to get that braking power onto the road. By putting on bigger tyres you are straining the already weak suspension mountings and wheel bearings even more and therefore you will need to replace them more often. Perhaps the Triumph TR brakes are superior to the small chassis Triumphs but I doubt it. The TR brakes will out brake the tyres and the chassis without any problem. So really before you go putting on super brakes for a road car you should start by strengthening the chassis and suspension mountings so they can take the strain of better brakes and stickier tyres. Andy

do you really think the highly paid engineers at Triumph got it wrong? I would suggest there is little to gain by changing brake disc or pad size. Pad material might be different and moving to a fast road material might improve your brakes partially. However, if your tyres are not up to it then there is no point? If your standard brakes are set up correctly you should be able to bloke all 4 wheels. If not then either your tyres are not standard or your brakes are not set up correctly. If you are using larger/sticker tyres be aware of the wheel bearing as they are not designed for these and they need checking regularly. Good wheel bearings cost up to £100 and if you are having to change these several times a year then there is no saving in buying cheaper pads. My experience is that Triumph did a pretty good job of designing cars and we amateurs usually don't do a better job. Andy P.S. Mintex M1144 pads are readily available.

I heard of 2 from Germany, a 2000 saloon and a Scimitar, has one dropped out? AndyF

Oh, I remember it well the ground was so hard you needed a Hiti to get the tent pegs in 🙂 Those were the days on days like those .... (think I am getting my song titles mixed up 🙂 ) AndyF

that is what forums are for isn't it, chatting about silly unimportant stuff that is really not life changing AndyF

I have used Andrew Turner in the past and had a very good service from him. Perhaps not the cheapest but certainly the most cheerful. AndyF

knew what you meant Mike, I was trying to brush over it AndyF

see soft beds! I rest my case your honour. 🙂 AndyF

Tents? Nice idea but most of the crews are now so old they need soft beds every night    🙂 AndyF

mikew, Betty having a dig at me for not doing teh RBRR in my yellow TR3a and because I do not do it I am in no position to comment. Something I agree with wholeheartedly if you have never tried something don't knock it. AndyF