From running the London Marathon to Cycling 100 miles for charity we love a challenge.
So when Chris saw a poster in his local hairdresser advertising the “Swiss Run: 8 countries in 4 days” challenge it was too tempting to turn down.
The “James bond rally: Swiss Run” is a 4 day car adventure from London to Italy. Taking in iconic destinations from James Bond movies, historical French race tracks and an opportunity to drive the world famous Italian Stelvio pass.
We also decided to drive the whole thing in a car with a value of less than £500. A Skoda to be precise. It was only when we turned up on the start line we realised this wasn’t a pre-requisite! We parked our Skoda between an Aston Martin and a Lotus Esprit and worried we had made a terrible mistake with our choice of motor.
Day 1 – Briefing
The day started in London, with a short drive down to Dover & meeting up with our fellow “Fireballers” for a bite to eat and pre-event briefing. We settled in and admired the huge range of different cars ready to take on the challenge.
We were very excited, slightly nervous touring novices and not sure what we were about to embark on.
There was a mixed crowd, of Fireball veterans to a few first timers like us. It was about this time that we started to realise how woefully under prepared we were.
We had a simple sleeping bag, a small amount of super noodles and the legally required safety triangle and breathalyser for driving in Europe.
Day 1 – Dover to Italy is a long way
Day 1 started with a 4am start. Although it would have been impossible to sleep much more anyway as the cars were revving up and the hooters were blaring across the campsite. We packed our things and headed for the 6am Ferry from Dover to Calais. Fry ups and lots of coffee on the ferry and a few hours later we are off into the French Countryside.
The first stop of the day was an old French racetrack. A fantastic piece of racing history and a lovely first stop on the journey. However time was very much against us and we had the small matter of a further 13 hours of driving ahead of us.
Spending 13 hours in a car with friends was a lot of fun. We worked our way through the limited CD collection very quickly, including the popular James Bond anthem album at least 3 times, before stopping at a small French Cafe for a steak and chip lunch. Fully fuelled we pushed on through the French countryside and eventually down in Switzerland.
Realising it was now the evening and we had many hours of driving ahead, we pushed on. Several hours later and the little Skoda was still going strong, finding the twisty steep roads of Switzerland heavy work.
It was around 9pm by the time we arrived at the campsite, many hours behind the rest of the rally. Luckily we were just in time to order Pizza and enjoy what was either the best, or most anticipated ice cold Swiss beer we have ever enjoyed. A couple of beers and some pizza later it was time for bed. Settling down in our sleeping bags with just time to think that this morning we woke up in a Kent campsite and are now settled down by a beautiful Swiss lake.
Day 2 – Mountain adventures
It was day 2 we got talking about businesses. Many a successful business has been set up on holiday. Innocent for example was conceived on a Ski trip.
We found the whole experience or finding a car to buy quite daunting. Was it worth the money? Has it got any “Hidden secrets”? Has it got any finance?
The Skoka wasn’t actually the first car we tired to rally it. A year before Chris had purchased a cheap Ford escort, perfect for the trip. Perfect until he took it to a garage and was told the car was barely good to get back from Milton Keynes. Let alone across Europe.
Then when it came to insurance for a few days, guides to driving in Europe, we couldn’t find a perfect source. The thing we wanted, was somewhere to collate all the data into a handy report & a website full of useful driver information.
Day 2 started with a trip to the rotating restaurant from a James bond Movie. We took a cable car to the top and took in the breath-taking Swiss alps. Switzerland is one of the most beautiful countries we have ever visited. High peaked green mountains rolling up to breathtaking ice capped mountains.
We followed this with a drive to the incredible “Goldeneye” dam. With the full intention to jump off the top. We arrived to see the ropes being pulled up, we were too late to take the jump. Disappointing but something for another time.
It was time to head off again, and this time we camped on the Swiss/Italian Boarder. Another late arrival meant we rushed to join the faster travellers in a Italian eatery, who took pity on us and allowed us to fuel up on pasta and great red wine. Then off to bed ready for the Stelvio Pass.
Day 3 – Into and our of Italy
A member of the team, Bruce, was using his spare time to buy and sell cars and bikes. To help him know the value and background of the cars he was buying he would use a car check site. He had used plenty of sites but always felt there was room in the market for a much better alternative. Something that was slick, fast, simple to use and offered all the info a new buyer needed, without all the noise they didn’t.
Day 3 started with a drive up with Stelvio pass. This is a world famous twisting, turning road up an Italian mountain. Except it’s much more of a mountain run for the Italian and Swiss owners of supercars. Ferrari’s, Maserati’s, Aston Martin’s, even a McLaren were for a while all sat behind our tiny Skoda as we rolled up the mountain. Until we came to a tight mountainside passing place and the supercar parade left us struggling up the hill.
It’s in their honor we are offering the drive in a Ferrari competition.
After Italy, it was time to head back. This time we took in the German Autoban, and even popped over the boarder into Belgium. We covered 5 countries that day.
Day 4
It was time to head home. We drove back to Dover and made our way slowly back to London. Feeling tired and proud of our incredible adventure.
The trip ran at the end of Sept 2019. It was soon after this we decided that we wanted to set up a business focused on helping the novice auto car buyer. Little did we know what was going to happen only a few months later, settling our plans back. During this time we did launch another business, but that might be another post for another time.
Like all good business idea’s you didn’t do because of lockdown, the idea for checkamotor was reborn in the stands of a very raining Enfield town fc match in January 2023, and refined in the pub afterwards.
Now we are finally ready to go, but as well as the business we are already planning our next adventure. So watch this space for adventures with wheels, small rockets and a very long runway.
