Yet another Road Trip

As a kid I always struggled to connect to Volkswagen, My granny had a Mk1 Polo while my mum swore by her Golfs’, in fact every single mother I knew seemed to parade around in the same, Blue Mk4-5. Come the time to get a first car and my female friends all went for 2^nd hand, green Polo’s while the mothers were making sure their shopping runs could go indiscreetly with a popular switch too grey, only the number plate as a clue to their identity.

VW participation in Motorsport too had never caught my eye, too young to absorb their heroics in F3 a brief stint in WRC was all I could go on. The nail in the coffin came a few years ago when my mother took delivery of a fuel saving, eco warrior, the Golf Bluemotion, which the rest of West Sussex soon adopted. I rolled my eyes, hoping never to need to save the planet. I would much rather go fast and that seemed like the comprimise. Despite the efforts of the R32 and GTi badges I never felt that ‘fast’ was in VW’s remit.

I have been heavily involved in the F3 Euroseries for years making the programmes and then commentating with legend Andrew Marriott, so the exciting news of VW’s involvement had a direct impact with me. Moreover when the Sirocco Cup was launched I suddenly started to take note, perhaps VW could be a brand to be part of, a sporty, cool badge? I think you’ll all agree the road going Sirocco is a stunning piece of kit and continues to surprise me pulling away from the traffic lights.

On the Dakar, the team was fantastically friendly and surely gained huge exposure from dominating for 3 years but frankly the Touareg that toured the desert resembled nothing of the road car. Sadly for the Dakar VW have decided on a new test, the WRC and then we will see the metal of the brand. Subaru and Mitsubishi thrived off their Rally heritage like no-one has ever been able to repeat, will people see the Polo rallying and go and get one? The other thing that VW have been involved in for the last few years, is the Nurburgring 24 hours. Its not really on the radar of the Motorsport public like Le Mans, so globally they don’t get the same exposure but their Sirocco has done some magical things in that event, taking class wins and putting on a great show. This is there is something special, google: Golf24, and you’ll see their new challenger, 4 wheel drive, 440hp built ‘for the fans to celebrate 35 years of the GTi’. The only way too see it in anger is to head to the race at the end of June. If I can blag a lift I would love to go. Perhaps the brand perception is changing, but I have to drive the car to really know.

My job this weekend led me to the ILMC at Spa and like two weeks previously I chose to drive. With the race on the Saturday I decided to return for the 3^rd round of the British Endurance Championship at Donington on the Sunday which, I though would have been a great idea. Perhaps it was but man it killed me. My weapon for the drive was kindly supplied by VW and arrived on Thursday Morning for a departure later that day….it was a Golf, a BlueMotion Golf.

 I had never driven Mums but had teased her endlessly about her little obsession and I was about to spend 1000 miles with my new friend. Criteria for a good car for me these days are an iPod dock or Aux adaptor, which the car had, and when adjusting my seat I soon found a fantastic seating position. I shouldn’t have been surprised but I was already slightly impressed. The drive from Calais to Spa is only 3 hours and I had Louise Beckett (WTCC Pit Reporter and Golf GTi Driver) for company. In a blink of an eye, we were there. Painless, comfortable and still without visiting a fuel station, the car had done 500miles!

The only job for Friday was to say hello to various teams and drivers, chat to friends and get Louise sorted. This provided me with much amusement, Lou is super little and while racing drivers are also pretty short there was no way the bosses would have found a race suit (compulsory in the LMS pits) to fit.....search my twitter for photos of the new LMS flying squirrel.

On the Friday night we decided to take the back roads to the hotel, which was some 40mins away. The trusty Sat Nav told me and showed me the route home while I concentrated on getting the most out of the car. My everyday vehicle is an import meaning the indicators are the opposite side to European cars so at Every junction I tapped the windscreen wipers on rather than the indicators yet Just when I started to properly moan, the rain started to fall and like magic and confusingly for me, the wipers came on automatically, my god! Technology! The drive was mega, considering its ‘boring’ eco credentials, the car came alive when ignoring the gear change lights; accelerating out of the corners hard with no hint of understeer, braking was stable but enough to feel the car working under you. Like!

The plan for Saturday was to make the highlights straight after the race, then voice them so we could leave at 1am, which we did giving us 2 hours 45 mins to get to Calais. Sat Nav told us an we’d need to find 10 minutes but it was soon clear that the roadwork’s it was diverting us around would not be jammed at 2am. We flew to Calais; Mike slept in the back, Lou surrounded by Haribo in the front and me, still buzzing from an OD of Monster for my commentary earlier on, started to revel in the time spent with the Golf, I wouldn’t let go of the steering wheel! After 620miles the tank needed a refill (50litres only) and the cruise control kept us just legal and we got to Calais with minutes to spare.

The Ferry crossing was a bit of a blur really, even the coach loads of French kids couldn’t stop Lou and I falling asleep in the bar area to the sounds and videos of Ian Dury and The Blockheads. I don’t remember a lot else after that, I set up camp in the back as Mike drove the final leg to Donington arriving at 8:20am. It must have been the first time I have slept in the car without getting back ache or the like. For the remainder of the day the car sat pride of place beside the Britcar Hospitality; it had done a sterling job and not missed a beat. It had held its own on the B-roads overtaken well on the A-roads and cruised faultlessly along the motorway yet by Monday it was gone. Ok, I admit, it wasn’t as fun as the GTi I took to Dijon last year (or was it the year before) but it had blown away every prejudice I had. It was eco friendly yet didn’t feel slow and so I genuinely felt a little sad seeing my little VW Golf BlueMotion disappear.  I guess no more ribbing for Mum anymore