European road trip

[Novasport]

After forgetting one of my quarter panels a few years ago I decided to do another parts trip from the UK to Luxembourg & Germany to get it along with a few more parts. Royston & I set out on Thursday night to travel to Dover where we stopped overnight before getting the 06:30 ferry to Calais. We then made a mad dash to Steve(Duick) in Luxembourg to drop of some rather awful seats:confused:. From there we headed to OCP to make the first collection of parts, 8x new LH doors and a few more boxes of stuff(Well about 1,100 Euros worth over the price of doors :tard:).
Friday nice we headed back to Steves to drop everything off before we had a good look around all of his large collection of cars & parts, including a very special Corsa A :thumb:. The night was topped off with a few beers and some great food in Luxembourg, thanks again Steve. BTW, if anyone has the chance to go, Luxembourg is a beautiful City & country. It is well worth a visit.
After a few hours kip, we started out early Saturday morning & picked Steve up to head into Germany to collect something special. Before crossing into Germany for the 12 hour round trip, we filled up in Lux with diesel which worked out at £1 per litre!!!!! After maxing the van out at 107mph(Thanks for the sub 17mpg Royston lol) on the Autobahn we headed to an Opel dealer to collect another panel, a RH rear inner wing then headed to a friend of Steve's to collect my 'special'part and see his collection of Cars. Well it is more like a barn find of the most rare Corsa's, a Michalak Spider, Corsa Sprint-C and an ex Irmscher press Spider:eek:
We then went on to see Marcel and his Corsa A 1.6, 180bhp hill climb car & his new Ex-Works Corsa Super 1600, both an amazing piece of kit.
We then headed back to Steves to pack the van for our return on Sunday. After a lot of head scratching we managed to get it all in, some how, then headed for a pizza and an earlyish night.
After a 06:30 we headed back to Calais in lovely weather for the crossing back to Blighty. After a good run up to Derby we emptied the van and somehow found room in my garage & the conservatory(Sorry Kate!)
Just want to say a big thanks to Royston for coming with me & sharing the driving. A massive thanks to Steve for everything at what is a difficult time for him. Also everyone else we met along the way like the guys at OCP, Marcel & Christian.
All in all, a great weekend. Enough chat, here is the pics...

On our way...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/NovaSport/20140228_085331_zps6a68c9a9.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/NovaSport/media/20140228_085331_zps6a68c9a9.jpg.html)

A small part of Steve's collection...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/NovaSport/20140228_172701_zps7cbb3655.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/NovaSport/media/20140228_172701_zps7cbb3655.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/NovaSport/20140228_172712_zps757e4efb.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/NovaSport/media/20140228_172712_zps757e4efb.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/NovaSport/20140228_172737_zpsbed55673.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/NovaSport/media/20140228_172737_zpsbed55673.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/NovaSport/20140228_172856_zps8d16ed3e.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/NovaSport/media/20140228_172856_zps8d16ed3e.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/NovaSport/20140228_172908_zpsb5c22d5f.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/NovaSport/media/20140228_172908_zpsb5c22d5f.jpg.html)

A couple of dodgy characters lol
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/NovaSport/20140228_180435_zps2180382d.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/NovaSport/media/20140228_180435_zps2180382d.jpg.html)

More pics to come...

[Novasport]

The best barn find ever...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/NovaSport/IMG_0513_zps59392f9f.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/NovaSport/media/IMG_0513_zps59392f9f.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/NovaSport/IMG_0542_zps123db0e4.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/NovaSport/media/IMG_0542_zps123db0e4.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/NovaSport/IMG_0531_zps6d22fd52.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/NovaSport/media/IMG_0531_zps6d22fd52.jpg.html)

The Michalak
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/NovaSport/IMG_0523_zpsc076a5fa.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/NovaSport/media/IMG_0523_zpsc076a5fa.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/NovaSport/IMG_0525_zps4e71f1e2.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/NovaSport/media/IMG_0525_zps4e71f1e2.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/NovaSport/IMG_0532_zpsa6d75f85.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/NovaSport/media/IMG_0532_zpsa6d75f85.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/NovaSport/IMG_0534_zpse86b54a8.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/NovaSport/media/IMG_0534_zpse86b54a8.jpg.html)
The Sprint
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/NovaSport/IMG_0519_zpsa018a46a.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/NovaSport/media/IMG_0519_zpsa018a46a.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/NovaSport/IMG_0521_zps33bf9f08.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/NovaSport/media/IMG_0521_zps33bf9f08.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/NovaSport/IMG_0529_zps20a20c96.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/NovaSport/media/IMG_0529_zps20a20c96.jpg.html)
The Spider, an ex Irmscher press car
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/NovaSport/IMG_0527_zps2780a5ac.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/NovaSport/media/IMG_0527_zps2780a5ac.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/NovaSport/IMG_0538_zpsc7a31a98.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/NovaSport/media/IMG_0538_zpsc7a31a98.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/NovaSport/IMG_0522_zps1c7efc19.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/NovaSport/media/IMG_0522_zps1c7efc19.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/NovaSport/IMG_0516_zps31844c17.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/NovaSport/media/IMG_0516_zps31844c17.jpg.html)

[Novasport]

Marcel's Corsa A

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/NovaSport/IMG_0544_zps50df506b.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/NovaSport/media/IMG_0544_zps50df506b.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/NovaSport/IMG_0546_zps78cb2fb2.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/NovaSport/media/IMG_0546_zps78cb2fb2.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/NovaSport/IMG_0548_zps102c707a.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/NovaSport/media/IMG_0548_zps102c707a.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/NovaSport/IMG_0549_zps2fa94a00.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/NovaSport/media/IMG_0549_zps2fa94a00.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/NovaSport/IMG_0559_zpsa6492218.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/NovaSport/media/IMG_0559_zpsa6492218.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/NovaSport/IMG_0545_zps48bf4b50.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/NovaSport/media/IMG_0545_zps48bf4b50.jpg.html)

And the Ex Works Super 1600. I actually saw this car in the service area & in action with Kris Meeke at the wheel on the Rally GB in 2001 or 2002

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/NovaSport/IMG_0545_zps48bf4b50.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/NovaSport/media/IMG_0545_zps48bf4b50.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/NovaSport/IMG_0550_zps60e44609.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/NovaSport/media/IMG_0550_zps60e44609.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/NovaSport/IMG_0551_zps8b2eb060.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/NovaSport/media/IMG_0551_zps8b2eb060.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/NovaSport/IMG_0552_zpsfcc3d3cf.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/NovaSport/media/IMG_0552_zpsfcc3d3cf.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/NovaSport/IMG_0553_zps6c59d0f5.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/NovaSport/media/IMG_0553_zps6c59d0f5.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/NovaSport/IMG_0555_zps84e22aa7.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/NovaSport/media/IMG_0555_zps84e22aa7.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/NovaSport/IMG_0556_zpsf1c06fc8.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/NovaSport/media/IMG_0556_zpsf1c06fc8.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/NovaSport/IMG_0558_zps1123e80d.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/NovaSport/media/IMG_0558_zps1123e80d.jpg.html)

[Novasport]

Expert van maxed out on the Atobahn at 107mph lol

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/NovaSport/20140301_132648_zps607d29e1.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/NovaSport/media/20140301_132648_zps607d29e1.jpg.html)

Got this baby home, something special for the Spider...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/NovaSport/20140302_180813_zpsce359065.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/NovaSport/media/20140302_180813_zpsce359065.jpg.html)



















A hardtop :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/NovaSport/1383735_506415136116450_545689648_n_zpsde9dd0b5.jp g (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/NovaSport/media/1383735_506415136116450_545689648_n_zpsde9dd0b5.jp g.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/NovaSport/1377151_506415166116447_1743242527_n_zpse933aef2.j pg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/NovaSport/media/1377151_506415166116447_1743242527_n_zpse933aef2.j pg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/NovaSport/1375148_506415516116412_1541902721_n_zps7288eff3.j pg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/NovaSport/media/1375148_506415516116412_1541902721_n_zps7288eff3.j pg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/NovaSport/1157541_506415299449767_1649365476_n_zpsfc816fd4.j pg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/NovaSport/media/1157541_506415299449767_1649365476_n_zpsfc816fd4.j pg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/NovaSport/1380493_506415199449777_9184180_n_zps80058668.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/NovaSport/media/1380493_506415199449777_9184180_n_zps80058668.jpg. html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/NovaSport/1378754_506415272783103_1726946606_n_zpse8ab5068.j pg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/NovaSport/media/1378754_506415272783103_1726946606_n_zpse8ab5068.j pg.html)

[Novasport]

Also something else very very rare. One of only three known Corsa games. The road rolls and you drive the model Corsa down the road lol.
It has it's own ignition key and you can change the speed with the gear stick, how cool is that!!!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/NovaSport/20140302_173843_zps8156de47.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/NovaSport/media/20140302_173843_zps8156de47.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/NovaSport/20140302_224030_zps055681bf.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/NovaSport/media/20140302_224030_zps055681bf.jpg.html)

Also got a rare parts book for the Spider

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v305/NovaSport/20140302_204050_zpsd8a69123.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/NovaSport/media/20140302_204050_zpsd8a69123.jpg.html)

[L33 LEG]

Excellent trip, very jealous!

Never seen the hardtop before (I don't think), that's going to look ace!

[clubberlang23]

Wow, eventful weekend! Nova heaven

[millworm]

good haul

[Novasport]

It was very tiring & very expensive but worth the effort :)

[Novasport]

Hopefully Royston will have some more pics.

[Kev Turbo]

Great report

[Vlietje]

First picture that shows you sitting on the couch playing the Nova game wins a beer!!! LOL

Seems you boys had a good weekend out!

[DaveMarshall]

Cool, can't beat a dash across Europe, love the hardtop, very rare.

Dave.

[marcel]

Hi Richard, it was a plessure for me to met you and Roystone. :)
I think we see us this year in billing again.

[duick]

Was great to meet you both again :thumb: Had a few good interesting chats
Was a loooong journey on Saturday and my right knee is still mis-shaped due to no-space in the Partner lol lol

(do I spot a few more "cars" parked up in the back of your garden??? lol)

[NoVaBoOt26]

Sounds like a class trip, I want one of them games :D

[NOVA13SPORT]

Excellent shopping and some nice and rare bits got and some nice and rare cars seen
Hopefully more pics

[turbojolt]

how many miles did you end up doing then looks like a epic weekend adventure..............bit mental going all that way for spider improvements when the local corner shop sells matches :p

[Dan Stanley]

Im quite jealous. Looks like the sort of Nova nerdy trip I'd enjoy!! All except the monumental money you must have spent on those bits! lol

[Royston]

Well it certainly was an epic weekend, not done a road trip quite like it! Mileage wise it was........

@ 135 miles for me to get to Richard's house
@ 220 miles from Derby to Dover
few miles on the ferry
@ 285 miles to Steve's (Duick)

Trip to Opel Classics @ 60 mile round trip

Trip to collect the hardtop into northern Germany @ 540miles return

@ 285 miles to Dover from Steve's (Duick)
few miles on the ferry
@ 220 miles from Dover to Derby
@ 135 miles for me to get from Richard's homefew miles on the ferry

A total for me of @1880 miles

Was a little cramped in the van, with the three of us, Steve got the short straw and was in the middle!

I'm just sorting a few pictures will add soon

[Royston]

Here are some pics

Very Dodgy interior, exported from the UK to Luxembourg, 2 full sets of seat stuffed into my Range Rover, and transfered to the van
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v697/1297cc/20140227_175610_zpsb9790788.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v697/1297cc/20140227_175639_zpsf401b6b5.jpg

A dodgy geezer I found on a ferry with a van!!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v697/1297cc/20140228_061211_zps774a4124.jpg

Lunch in Belgium,
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v697/1297cc/20140228_125520_zpsd34c8fc4.jpg
I thought we were in Luxembourg (sign said "Prevence de Luxembourg") Steve Corrected me!!

Opel Classics, Germany,
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v697/1297cc/20140228_160024_zps27ddc468.jpg

managed to snaffle a couple of doors
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v697/1297cc/20140228_151829_zps3cb35f3a.jpg

and a few other spares
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v697/1297cc/20140228_153446_zps70f44e02.jpg


Called at a Opel Dealer in Weil for a inner quarter panel
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v697/1297cc/20140301_101317_zpse59d9b6d.jpg

Richard was taking a fancy to this one!! unfortunately it wouldn't fit in the van!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v697/1297cc/20140301_120552_zps063052ef.jpg
The Trabant was in Christain's drive

It was great meeting Marcel and Christain, and viewing their cars

A big thank you to Steve for looking after us whilst there, and acting as local navigator and translator for the various places we visited!!

Looking forward to catching up with him again hopefully at Billing!!

A truly great weekend, I was a little tired at work today.................



Rich when are we going again, did you forget anything this time?...........

[Royston]

Here are a few pictures of the van fully packed, just before we unloaded it all

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v697/1297cc/20140302_164006_zpsb92bc935.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v697/1297cc/20140302_164133_zpsac5bfde5.jpg

One carefully wrapped and packed hardtop, we ran out of duct tape, so Christian got us some...........never seen camoflaged duct tape!!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v697/1297cc/20140302_170311_zpsd215417d.jpg

[nova_niek]

Good writeup! A mind boggling 1,880 miles... and I thought Jeff and myself were mad! lol

[Edd]

What you doing with all them doors? ! lol

Sounds like a good trip

[ben doodar]

Epic trip there lads. Would love to do the road trip, let alone collecting all those parts and seeing some awesome Novas.

[jimbob-mcgrew]

lol your nutz :) - sounds like a bit of an adventure tho

[NOVA13SPORT]

Friday nice we headed back to Steves to drop everything off before we had a good look around all of his large collection of cars & parts,
including a very special Corsa A :thumb:. ???
...
Any clues on this rich Royston or steve ??

[Royston]

Any clues on this rich Royston or steve ??

Nope, Steve(Duick) will reveal it one day............when he's ready

[Mike]

I did notice all your facebook check in's lol looks right good fun trip tho.

[Novasport]

Was a great weekend but very tiring. Still need to catch up on some sleep.
The new van is well run in now, especially the gearbox eh Royston? ;)
Sorry about your knee Steve. We did have some man touching, accidental of course lol

[Royston]

I am a senior test engineer, perfectly capable of testing the extremes lol

I must confess, I stroked Steve's knee more than once ;)

[pastry]

Nope, Steve(Duick) will reveal it one day............when he's ready

great trip! If its the corsa that I think it is your talking about.... it really a special one! And I must say I can think of a better owner. ;-)

[duick]

Hmm, Pastry, I don't think it's the one you're thinking about. It's not the silver one ;) :d