Hertz renter thrashing

[BMK]

Hi all,

Well I can tell you all it was not only the 60's Shelby Hertz cars that got a workout...

I am currently holidaying in the UK and picked up a neat little six cylinder BMW hire car and was winding through country roads in the Cotswolds on my way to Bath west of London.

I guess you have all seen those English country roads.....narrow sweeping and tight bends.

I caught up with a VW turbo coupe on side roads and the challenge was on apparently, when I passed him in a corner.

Next minute he was on my rear bumper and pushing me along....so he thought. Time to throw down two gears..

Well he was not going to let some grey hair guy in a family BMW pass him.

For the next ten mile it was my time to push the BMW to its limits - brake fade and sliding through corners.

I really did not think the BMW was so stable and quick for a family sedan.. any wonder Backdraft use the BMW suspension components.

He caught me once or twice in the bends and tight corners. He tried to run me down in the straights as he had the turbo advantage.

But my late braking and kerb to kerb edge use of the road had him fade in my mirror a few times..

A bit of fun in a hire car..

It took about 10 minutes for the brakes to stop smoking when I stopped. I noticed I had run the edges off the tires as well.

Any further and I would have shredded the Michelins. Guess that would be hard to explain to the car rental when I took it back.

.. I could always blame the Valet at the hotel....

This young guy pulled up a few seconds later. My comments to him that I was just casually driving to Bath had him - fun to see the look on his face..

Now if I had my Kirkham over here he would have seen what a 468ci would
do...

Mmmmm looking forward to getting back home next month and warmer drives down the coast in Australia...

In the interim I will look for another turbo VW..

[fordracing65]

Your terrorizing England, next will be the USA, what a life...

[Jamo]

One of my favorite areas in England...we like to stay in Stow on the Wold and do day trips...great lodge right off the town center square.

On the other hand. we have decided as a family not to try Bath for a third time. It's like a casino...draws you in by design and then damn hard to find your way out. Italian (well...Roman) town design (nothing straight) and typical English vagueness for street signs...we have had family fights there on two family trips...wife and three daughters all ganged up on my sorry lost ass.

Where else ya headed Bernie? Try Northern Wales...Harlech to Portmeiron is a great area.

[ERA Chas]

Wonder how many Brit 'speed cameras' you're appearing on Bernie???

[BMK]

fordracing65

I get into the USA in November. But head straight to SEMA then, as I will be with some race team owners and friends.

McDonald Brothers Racing have worked on my cars and have invited me along and we head to Pomona Motorplex for the NHRA drag racing.

The boys will be catching up with teams, suppliers and the guys whom have raced in a Australia. So a great opportunity to see some quick engine builds etc. on Funny Car team cars.

Anne has been overseas a bit in the last twelve months so we are traveling together in the UK on this trip.

... No car events just spirited driving.

[BMK]

ERA chas

I have kept an eye out or them.

My Garmin alerts me to fixed cameras and the mobile ones seem to stay off the narrow country roads..

So far good luck.

[BMK]

Jamo

We stayed in Oxford for a coupe of nights and travelled up to Chipping Norton but did not get up the last few miles.

Oxford was as imagined full of students and universities...

But we took a Hop on Hop off bus and had a great day looking at everything in the town.

Now down to Bath then onto St Ives.

I took a private guided tour of the Roman Baths with an archeologist that Anne organised. Surprisingly it was very interesting and the guide knew her stuff. Not to mention the mid forties guide was no average looking archeologist..

Anne has been watching the pay TV shows and wanted to stay at Olga Polizzis hotel Tresanton and The Endesleigh nearby. So we are spending a week at the two locations. St. Ives and St. Mawes areas.

Then onto Brighton for three days.

The last week of August is in London heart.

We will head back next year so will do some of the northern country side then.

Anne hasn't ganged up on me yet, but every wrong turn is my fault not her GPS entries being misspelt etc..

[ERA Chas]

Originally Posted by BMK

fordracing65
McDonald Brothers Racing have worked on my cars and have invited me along and we head to Pomona Motorplex for the NHRA drag racing.

.

Gonna hook up with the Rapisardo bunch?
Bring ear protection.

[BT SNAKE]

Bernie,
Sounds like you're having a great time at the rentals expense. I can only imagine what it would be like if Jamo was over there at the same time.

Hope to see you this year in Vegas SEMA.

HERSH

[Jamo]

I utterly destroyed a Ford Mondeo the first trip...asspecially the left front tire by finding every curb I could. A Disco TD made a better family drive, and actually hauled ass on the secondary roads...plus you can see over the roadside hedges and see the countryside.

Bernie...Oxford-Chipping Norton put you at the doorstep of Blenheim, my favorite great house/palace. Duke of Marlborough kicked some French ass, loaded up most of the furnishings of Versailles and put them in Blenheim, which Queen Anne built for him for doing such a fine job in teaching them that next time they should retreat (now they can't stop). Churchill was born there.

We stay at the Marriott County Towne Hall. Here's what's cool about it...it's part of the big crescent shaped old building behind the Wheel. Many diplomats from other countries stay there because you're across the river from Parliament and Whitehall, so the great breakfast room is full of folks of many costumes and cultures...even a few Aussies. Walk across the Westminster Bridge, and the tube station takes you everywhere. Or...go east across the curve of the river and you can cross right into the heart of theatre district. We got rooms in the crescent of the building, and Big Ben was our alarm clock...open the window and it's right there.

We're planning on heading over again next year...early spring...without the kids (grown up now, or at least they think so). Couple of days in London, renting something cool and driving to Edinburgh...seem some Gasholes in the Midlands (Wilf, Dingo)...just taking our time.

I love England and the English...just so damn cute acting all formal and thinking they still rule the world. Almost feel like tipping them for putting on their little quaint performances.

[tcrist]

These stories is why I would NEVER buy a car that was a previous rental.

Oh yes, and guilty as charged.

[OnyxRider]

Wow that brings back a lot of memories. I wish I could remember the names of the roads or highways we use to tear up in Britain. My best mate Cozy was a terrible influence on me, or was I the terrible influence when it came to racing. I think we fueled each other on. Well I know going toward Wales on the M-4 was a favorite in the dark of night. Too many car chases and races to mention. Unfortunately or ironically he died in bad weather on the same road.


Also loved playing car tag(lighting touching the other car) in that old cemetery near Robert Plants Welsh sheep farm. Night time with lights off almost was a disaster when I hit a curb and went a tad bit airborne.

I still think the best was racing across the US and hooking up with him when he was touring the US.

Oh I might ad the signature I posted below was from RP's Big Log single which was about reflecting about a race across the US.

[BMK]

Hersh

Look forward to catching up in Vegas. I will let you know we're we are staying.

The Route 66 Gt40 kit car magazine article is the best drive ever!!

(Google those words!!)

Talk soon.

[BMK]

Jamo

A couple of country pubs and a slow drive home today. The Police have not got a sense of humour when you fall out of the car with a beer in your hand..

We headed down the coastal roads today - Lyme Regis and Portland - then onto Dorchester over the North Dorset Plains.

Nice tight country lanes. A few times I thought I was driving up someone's house driveway it was so narrow.

[BMK]

OnyxRider

There are quite a few classic cars out and about being Sunday here. The motorcycle crew really ride it like they are training for the next Isle of Mann.

Stonehenge hosted a super car display today, but we had committed to going down the coast when we heard a car radio add for the event.

[Bob Lacey]

When stage rallying as a Toyota team driver in the 80s in darkest Africa on the Castrol International we had already used our spare gearbox from the service truck ,when it too stuck in 4th luckily just before a rest halt.
One of our service crew disappeared and within 30 minutes a shiny rental similar model Corolla (RWD) appeared from nowhere. it was a miracle
Donor box installed we were off .I missed the close ratios and I was surprised that a stock helical box could handle the power and sometimes clutchless shifts.
However we finished the 2000 mile event and luckily for the rental car the final loop finished in the same area so we were able to re install its gearbox with thanks.
I actually think we added value to the rental ,it now had a partial motorsport history and the gearbox whined like it had expensive straight cut gears .
Happy Days in Africa
Bob Lacey

[Bob Lacey]

I must just add when my mate returned the car to the rental company he explained that we had borrowed and returned the gearbox ,the guy in the office thought this was great ,we lived in small country -Swaziland - which had amazing forest roads and we were the only entry from that country so they all rooted for us !
Bob

[BMK]

Bob

Great story.

I have heard of late model cars having moulds taken off them also, for race cars and drag cars...

I do have one confession to make though - to protect me - the car I have is not a "Hertz" renter. I don't want the agency billing me for tyres, disc pads and bits....after reading the Forum.

I know they search uTube etc looking for video, Forum Posts etc..

Out shortly looking for another VW GT...

Doing Taunton into the country roads and small towns.

I must keep the revs down and get into the "Econo" mode out of the "Sports" fuel is expensive..

[BMK]

We drove down quite quickly to St. Mawes on the Cornwall coast today - Cornish coast for locals.

Narrow winding roads that even dropped down through lane ways in private farm land. The roads were wet and slippery so I was well behaved..

Staying at the Tresanton Hotel owned by the Polizzi family and planing on a day harbour cruise...

So the a Hertz rent a racer is parked today..

[Roger Bray]

I live vicariously through you BMK. Great story