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Conference terri::cars_uk

Title:Cars in the UK
Notice:Please read new conference charter 1.70
Moderator:COMICS::SHELLEYELD
Created:Sun Mar 06 1994
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2584
Total number of notes:63384

566.0. "geneva to calais in 6 hours" by ANNECY::PARKER () Wed Apr 26 1989 17:36

    
    
    		< Tell us the full story>
    
    Last Friday, 21st April, a Ford Sierra Cosworth was RUMOURED to
    be travelling at 150 mph, yes MPH!!..up the A6 to Paris.
    I know that this excuse for a low flying cruise missile was occupied
    by two Digital people from Ferney Voltaire....both Brits needless
    to say which does nothing to play down our 'les hooligan' reputation.
                                        
    Lets have the full story of 'Geneva to Calais in 6 hours!''
    You know who you are.....
    
    
T.RTitleUserPersonal
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566.33 Still catching up! 8^) SUBURB::POWELLMNostalgia isn't what it used to be!Fri Jan 15 1993 16:0037
    
    	Well, I'm taking the afternoon off on Tuesday - just for a quick
    trip to Geneva AND back!  I should be home again (Bracknell) in time
    for dinner.
    
    	Beat that.
    
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    	I'll be on the flight deck of a B.A. Boeing 757 though!
    
    				Malcolm.
566.34Surely the record needs to be broken... ;-)RUTILE::BISHOPWhat the HELL are you talking about man!Fri Jan 15 1993 16:1511
    Actually with the motorway being completed all the way now, it's quite
    possible to do this trip in 5 hours (easily). Directions are;
    
    Geneva (St Julian) -> Macon -> Troyes -> Riems -> Arras -> Calais
    
    It's so easy you CAN'T get lost - Stevie P... are you out there! ;-)
    
    
    
    				Lewis.
    
566.35JURA::JURA::KEHILYJust an unscheduled learning experience.Fri Jan 15 1993 17:156
It's still over 500 miles according to my speedometer. I think 5
hours might be a bit ambitious :-)

Cheers,

Graham.
566.36SAC::LETCHER_PBargain basement BritainFri Jan 15 1993 20:289
    Six hours is about right; if you get caught doing even the average
    speed (100mph) for the five hour run then you lose your licence
    immediately in France. And the French police, rather flamboyantly, do
    actually rip it up for you, on the spot (I saw this done last year).
    
    Don't know how this would affect a UK licence, but it certainly screws
    you up with French one.
    
    Piers
566.37All those wide open autoroutes ....CHEFS::OSBORNECSat Jan 16 1993 13:0217
    
    I'm doing Reading/Geneva on Monday, then onto Valbonne. A regular run
    for me. No dramas, no excitements, nice easy ride.
    
    I typically do the wide open middle bit quite quickly on cruise -- even
    when pulling in excess of 100mph for many tens of miles I am regularly
    passed by the quick guys at 120mph. In my 20,000 miles on autoroutes
    in the past 10 months, I've yet to see anyone nicked -- other than 
    at the approach to Calais. Not saying that it doesn't happen -- just 
    that it doesn't seem that common.
    
    FWIW, Calais/Cannes is an easy 9 hour run these days -- in the winter.
    Still a shame to blast through the nicest country in Europe though --
    much nicer to get south of Lyon on Day 1, then drive over the hills on
    Day 2 to arrive in the Alpes Maritime for a decent lunch.
    
    Colin (who's not going to attempt any record to anywhere)
566.38 TRUCKS::BEATON_SI Just Look InnocentSat Jan 16 1993 16:593
    So how come it takes me 4-5 hours to get from Southampton to York then?
    
    
566.39Livin' on a island!BRUMMY::MARTIN::BELLMartin Bell, TCC, Birmingham UKMon Jan 18 1993 11:1313
... ah, thats probably because you use "British Motorways"!

The French auto-routes are designed for high speed, long distance
driving in relative safety - you pay a little for the privilege, but
it is worth it!

We do the exact opposite, and thus our high-speed backbones fail
miserably.

;-)


mb
566.40OPG::CMITCHELLChris MitchellMon Jan 18 1993 11:5314
    The only problem is getting caught, surely. I once did Ayr to Reading
    in 5hrs 30mins including one stop for petrol and another for takeaway
    food plus petrol. That was 405 miles in about 5 hours on the road and
    the first 100 miles are across country. The drive was a doddle and, in
    my opinion, safe, even though it was bucketing down for some of the
    way, but I would hesitate to try it again because I don't want to get
    caught.
    
    My recent claim to fame was getting caught on the M23 doing 92mph by
    an unmarked Sussex Police car. Where was I going? The Sussex Police
    headquarters in Lewes! I got nicked, anyway...
    
    
    
566.41Nearest note to ferries I could findUFHIS::GVIPONDFree Winnie Mandela with every 2 gallonsMon Jan 18 1993 17:557
566.42SAC::WARBURTONMon Jan 18 1993 18:115
    
    Cost me 65 quid one-way from Calais to Dover, with one car, one person.
    
    Julie.
    
566.43PLAYER::BROWNLFree the BBC1Mon Jan 18 1993 18:353
    The price depends on may things, dates, times, duration of trip etc.
    
    Laurie.
566.44MOEUR1::CROUCHFree the River SevernMon Jan 18 1993 18:3913
566.45Thanks.UFHIS::GVIPONDFree Winnie Mandela with every 2 gallonsMon Jan 18 1993 19:463
    
    
    
566.46BAHTAT::HILTONBeer...now there's a temporary solutionMon Jan 18 1993 19:596
    There's a deal for skiers, Dover to Calais, car, insurance, 2 people
    about 150 pounds I think.
    
    Greg
    
    PS It's from P+0
566.47SAC::BETTS_WTCC/S, UCG, DTN 781 1848Mon Jan 18 1993 20:147
    
    Does anybody have the phone number for P&O? I'm looking to take
    a car with two people to France, on a five day return, travelling
    between Dover and Calais.
    
    Thanks,
    William.
566.48LARVAE::JORDANChris Jordan, TSE - Technology Services, End-User ComputingMon Jan 18 1993 20:476
566.49MOEUR1::CROUCHNah... It's a potatoTue Jan 19 1993 11:115
    P&O Bookings	(0304) 203388
    Sealink		(0233) 647047

    Andy
566.50FORTY2::MITCHELLTue Jan 19 1993 14:082
    
    or try the AMEX travel office in DEC Park........
566.51Seacat for me every time ...CHEFS::OSBORNECThu Jan 21 1993 11:3014
    
    Depends on period. I just paid 35 pounds for a day return on Seacat,
    for car + up to 5 people (although there was only little ol' me).
    
    Bought one day return for Monday just gone, & one for next Friday for
    the return. Throw away the coupon you don't use, & it's cheaper than the
    published return ticket for the 10 days I'm away.
    
    All official via the operator, but I have to buy the tickets myself --
    Amex won't do it although it's for business use, & saves Digital
    considerable money each time I do it.
    
    
    Colin
566.52VANGA::KERRELLDavid Kerrell @REO (830) x2279Thu Jan 21 1993 11:496
>  Amex won't do it although it's for business use, & saves Digital
>  considerable money each time I do it.

Did they give a reason?

Dave.
566.53No reason, but commission reduced.....CHEFS::OSBORNECThu Jan 21 1993 19:186
    
    No reason given -- just a refusal to cover this option. Would only
    quote on standard published fares in the tariff, not on promotional
    specials.
    
    Colin