After a break from banger rallies in 2011, instead concentrating on other motoring related events, we’ll be back behind the wheel of a sub-£250 car for the very special tenth anniversary running of Staples2Naples.

We took part in the fifth running of Staples2Naples, where it merged for two days with Home2Rome, at one point bringing 270 cars to the sleepy seaside resort of Sottomarina in Italy. We covered 2,681 miles on a £51 Renault Safrane, finishing the event in 24th place overall.

This time there’s a limit of just 100 cars, and we’re looking for a top ten result.It’s likely that The General Lee(xus) will come out of retirement, although a new paint job will be needed (feel free to share your ideas!), although there’s a couple of back up cars in the form of a SAAB GM900 and a Toyota Celica.

The event isn’t running until next August so don’t expect too many updates just yet, but keep checking back as the time will approach quicker than we expect!

2012 Staples2Naples

Modern cars are of such a high standard that there is no such thing as a bad car, just one that is more or less good, and for years I’ve maintained that any modern car can be fun. So I was challenged to prove it.

The challenge was set to prove that what is perceived as being the dullest car on sale, the Toyota Prius, can actually entertain. Not simply drive up and down roads reliably and in comfort, but make you smile.

Nothing more specific was laid out, so I made life easier, and booked the amazing facilities at Millbrook Proving Ground for a day. I’d now have every kind of road and surface available to play on, with complete safety and no oncoming traffic.

Using a new Prius, kindly provided by Toyota, I collected some motoring friends and set off for my first drive in a full hybrid. As a road car, the Prius is exactly as you’d expect any other road car to be; it made no effort to appear overtly green, although the weight saving thin body panels made their presence known with a rattling twang when slamming the doors shut. It’s quiet, smooth, surprisingly firm, and just works.

The official fuel economy figure of 72mpg is perhaps a little optimistic, but a smooth A-road run over 120 miles returned an average of exactly 50mpg, so it’s reasonably frugal.

But you’re not interested in that. You just want to know if you can have fun in a Prius.

Following a breakfast meeting at Little Chef where the crew assembled, we started out at Millbrook’s Steering Pad, getting to know the car a little. Hard turns, unsympathetic braking and rapid handbrake application was the order of the day, but the CVT gearbox and foot operated parking brake hindered progress. Our best handbrake turn frankly wouldn’t have looked out of place in a Halfords car park late on a Saturday night, such was its inadequacy. This wasn’t a good start, but was it us or the car?

Deciding to give up on that before we ruined the tyres, we headed to the High Speed Bowl. The Prius spec sheet suggested a top speed of 112mph, so that was our target. Pushing the 1.8 litre petrol engine and accompanying electric engine, we saw 121mph on the head up display. Whilst quick, the bowl is particularly undemanding, despite the barrier being just four feet from the car. No fun had yet been had.

The City Handling Circuit was next, and this was going to be against the clock. A full course caution was handed out to any other users, as the various speed limits from 5 to 20mph were going to be ignored. The ridiculously narrow and twisty course, with hairpins tighter than a Prius can manage on full lock, finally unlocked some entertainment, with the HUD showing 64mph on one run, squirming under braking for every turn and generally being resentful of what was being asked. A best run of 1:36.7, a worst run of 1:40.6, between five drivers showed it’s at least consistent. And we’d started smiling. The brakes and tyres had also started to make their presence known.

Heading to the Hill Routes, it was time to stretch the legs of the Prius once more. Initially using Hill Route Two, a short 650 metre ovalish route that encompasses an elevation change of some 20 metres, the Prius was asked to perform harder than it’s ever gone before, with speeds of 81mph being achieved at the dip. On the top turn, the stability control interjects, suggesting the speeds are somewhat outlandish but, on the exit, gives up its fight and hands control back to the driver, just as the front washes away like a window cleaner on speed. Dropping two wheels just off the tarmac, the Prius waved a disapproving finger and showed its displeasure with a slide from the rear. I catch it with a dab of oppo and I’m away.

Away to Hill Route Three that is, with gradients of up to 21%. And not just up, but down as well. Heading in to the penultimate turn at a leery 55mph, after being advised to take it at 40mph, the following crest looms large, the suspension compresses, the car squats, and then… silence. The slippery shape of the Prius cuts through the air, unhindered by such things as tyre or tarmac, clear space beneath the chassis showing the aero treatment metered out all round to maintain the Cd 0.25 figure. Then… bang. We’re back down, and scrubbing off speed rapidly for the approaching left hander. Dramatic? Yes. Tidy? No. Fun? Hell yeah!

The photographer is unhappy though, so we have to go round again. And again. By the end of the run, I’m unsure if it’s my back or the Prius that has taken most abuse.

The high speed work done, we head back to the Steering Pad, more aware of the capabilities of the car. Handbrake turns still embarrass, but J-turns are a different matter. Slipping backwards at 30mph before flicking the wheel hard round, it’s actually possible to see the tyre shedding rubber, some of the hotter bits of which remain stuck to the door panels. Halfway round, it’s a move to Drive, straighten up the wheel, and power out. Yes, J-turns are possible. As are reverse donuts, and all manner of other inappropriate behaviour. Right up to the point that the Hybrid system overheated, but that’s nothing a ten minute break couldn’t fix.

All day there’d been nothing but smiles and laughter. Yes, that was in part due to the company we were keeping. But a big part was behaving this way with a Prius.

It performed far far better than anybody expected. It put up with more abuse in one day than most cars get in a lifetime, yet still it returned a surprisingly high 21.2mpg and still it started first time, took us home in comfort, and returned 50mpg once again. Amazing.

And fun. Case proven.

Thank to Millbrook Proving Ground Ltd. for helping to make this possible, and Toyota (GB) Ltd. for being brave enough to lend us the car. Thanks also to MPS Photography for taking some stunning pictures.

Other Events

A shiny Toyota Prius arrived at Cima Racing Towers yesterday, its gleaming white paintwork looking impressive next to the mucky orange that now adorns The General Lee(xus) sitting next to it.

Thus far, we’ve managed a reasonable 50.7mpg, despite making no effort whatsoever to drive particularly economically. The transition from battery to engine to hybrid power is smooth, and the car feels surprisingly taut.

I’m looking forward to seeing what it can do on a closed course. Heavy rain is currently forecast, so that could make the handling circuit more interesting!

All I need to do now is figure out how to turn off the traction and stability control…

We’re doing all this as we want your money so that Comic Relief can help to transform the lives of people across the UK and throughout Africa, so head to our fundraising page athttp://my.rednoseday.com/priuschallenge2011 now and donate.

Other Events

You’ve probably seen us on Twitter where we’ve said any car can be fun to drive. Can’t it? Even a hybrid with a CVT gearbox and foot operated parking brake?

Using a Prius kindly supplied by Toyota, and the wonderful facilities at Millbrook Proving Ground, we’re going to take a break from our usual banger rally silliness and find out.

We’ll be pushing the car hard, round alpine roads, city circuits and skid pans, all in the name of research. Don’t think this will be easy – it’s hard graft we’re putting in, just so you know you can buy a fun car and do your best for the environment.

And we’re doing it all for Comic Relief, so do hand over your money.

If you’re a petrolhead (like most of those involved are) then perhaps you’d like to give 50p or £1 for every MPG we’re under the official government figure (that’s 72.43 mpg) at the end of the day?

Perhaps stick some money in and drop us an email with a guess at the final MPG figure – closest could win something, although don’t get too excited.

Or just stuff some money in as you’re a thoroughly nice person?

Either way, we want your money so that Comic Relief can help to transform the lives of people across the UK and throughout Africa, so head to our fundraising page at http://my.rednoseday.com/priuschallenge2011 now and donate.

Do it. Now.

Other Events

It’s a very sad day at Cima Racing Towers.

Our very first banger, the Cima Racing Renault Safrane RT V6 FW14B S2N Rally Special has been sold and is heading to a new home in Norfolk.

The good news is that it’s going to compete on yet another banger rally, taking in the East to West, Who Goes Best? Rally from Lowestoft to Lands End and back over the Easter weekend.

With an engine that won’t start, some brakes that have seen better days, no heating or ventilation, and a scoop that could remove itself from the bonnet at any moment, we wish them the very best of luck!

2007 Staples2Naples

The General Lee(xus) was put through its paces at Silverstone recently, thanks to the wonderful people at the Silverstone Track Club.

Invited down to put their new track day product to the test, we decided to stretch credibility to its limits and eschewed the option of a BMW sports car or an aging Toyota MR2, and instead arrived with a two tonne, four litre luxury car. Painted orange. With a Confederate flag on the roof.

However, The General was still very much under-tyred, with the front tyres being somewhat shy of the legal minimum tread depth. Fortunately our good friends at Continental Tyres stepped in and provided a new set of ContiSportContact 2’s, so we weren’t in danger of sliding off the damp circuit.

Thrashing The General round the technical Stowe and super fast Southern circuits, we managed to achieve 8mpg, but did show a clean pair of tail lights to a Porsche Boxster, amongst other less exotic machinery. With no metal bent, and tyres still mostly in one piece, it was definitely a successful day.

The dry run for Silverstone’s product went well too; they’ve got a great package for track days available, and we’d recommend at least taking a look. Race instructors and sports psychologists sre on hand, so your technique will improve, and you’ll come back a better, more confident driver.

2010 Home2Rome, Other Events

It’s alive.

Yes, The General Lee(xus) will soon see action again, as it’s heading to Silverstone to terrorise the Saxo’s, Corsa’s and Fiesta’s of this world at one of Silverstone’s ever popular track days.

Courtesy of Silverstone Circuits Ltd, we’ve got a full day on track and, rather than taking something seen as traditionally sporty, thought we’d give the cobwebs on the General a dust off and put it through its paces. Sadly, we have to take the roll cage out as anything moveable is considered dangerous; as it’s not actually attached to anything, it’s probably safer out of the car than in it.

Tyres are an issue but, thanks to the lovely people at Continental and the crew at STS Tyre Pros in Huntingdon, there’ll be a complete new set of boots on the car by the time we reach the track. Once they’re in place, we’ll have fun seeing just how much of Northamptonshire we can flatten with the back end of a luxury barge.

If you happen to be passing by on Sunday, do drop in and say hi. We’d love to see you.

2010 Home2Rome

The General Lee(xus) grabs a fair chunk of attention wherever it goes, with stares, waves and laughter being common as it’s driven around the UK and Europe.

However, it’s also managed to get attention in the press. To date, it’s appeared on the following sites…

Jalopnik.com
CarDomain.com
Newsodrome
MotorNewsHub
StreetSafari
AutoBlogger
Kilometer Magazine
Lexus Owners Club USA
Lexus Owners Club UK
The Lexus Enthusiast

And many others, including, er, GayCarFans.com. It will also be appearing on the official Lexus website in the near future.

Bear that in mind when we’re looking for supporters for our next project…

2010 Home2Rome

2010 Home2Rome

It’s taken a while, but the StreetSafari team have finally got the scores for Home2Rome finalised and out, and the Cima Racing team took The General Lee(xus) to ninth place overall.

Using an unfathomably complicated scoring system, we scored an impressive 4,495 points, ensuring a top ten position; not a bad achievement when there were 70 starters.

Whilst we’d not entered to win, intending to enjoy the event more as a social do rather than a competition, our competitiveness meant a decent score was a key goal. Thanks to the support of a number of people, we certainly managed that.

Top five for 2011?

2010 Home2Rome

2010 Home2Rome

After a few days rest and relaxation in Rome, it was time to take The General Lee(xus) back home, making it the Home2Rome2Home rally, and putting another 1,250 miles and numerous mountain passes on the car. Again.

Leaving Rome was interesting. The road up to the Vatican had been closed for an event but, as that was the only way out of our hotel, we had no choice but to ignore the signs and drive the not inconspicuous General Lee(xus) past the guards and exit as quickly as we could. From there, it was north for a brief stop in Pisa.

Yes, it leans.

Driving north west from there, we hit the glorious Italian Riviera motorways on the approach to Genova, and then from Genova north to Mont Blanc. If you’ve never thought a motorway could be fun, head to northern Italy and you’ll soon be proved wrong.

After passing through the Mont Blanc tunnel, we stopped overnight at Archamps, just outside Geneva, before heading north the next morning to Paris. Where in Paris, we have no idea. We’re meeting a good friend there, but she’s not told us her address. Still, that’s all part of the adventure.

Arriving in Paris, we stop by the Notre Dame and then the Eiffel Tower, before getting an address via text. Entering it in to the sat nav, we’re faced with navigating round the famous Arc de Triomphe roundabout. That said, seemingly driving a five metre, bright orange Lexus means you’re given a wide berth. Result.

An evening with friends, a short day in Paris, and then we were off again, this time heading all the way home to Cambridgeshire on an uneventful, even boring, final stint.

After 3,210 miles, 511 litres of fuel, 11 days and six countries, The General Lee(xus) and crew made it home in one piece.

Home2Rome 2010 was, by far, the best banger rally we’ve done. We can’t wait for the next one.

2010 Home2Rome

This was it. The last day of the main event.

Fortunately, after the mountains, floods, tunnels, France and snow, it’s a relatively simple motorway drive down to Rome. Although the Italian idea of a motorway is a pot hole ridden, narrow, concrete lined, roughly tarmaced, poorly repaired, badly surfaced, race track. Still, we’re in The General so we were sure we could cope.

Twisting through some of the low mountains, the drive was pleasant as the sun shone and outside temperatures rose. By the time we hit Rome, it was 32c and we had to face the infamous city centre traffic.

We thought we were good at bullying other cars, especially in a massive orange Lexus, but we’ve got nothing on the Rome drivers. Somehow we made it to the hotel unscathed, and headed in to Piazza Navona for the finale.

A meal, some wine and a prize giving ceremony. We’d made it. We’d got from Home to Rome in a £150 banger unscathed.

We weren’t the winners, but we feel everyone who made it to Rome (and not everyone did) was a winner in their own way.

Now it’s time to relax for a few days, before turning round and going back again…

2010 Home2Rome

Today saw us heading down Stelvio and driving in to Venice. Dressed as nuns. Oh dear.

There’s always a costume day on these events, and this year it was ‘Nuns on the Run’, so our best nuns outfits were dusted down and we gathered at the top of Stelvio for a photo shoot. And water pistol fight.

The drive down Stelvio was every bit as good as the drive up. Hundreds of hairpin bends, hot brakes, no tyres and narrow roads with roadworks in places meant there was an equal balance of joy and fear. The General Lee(xus) being five metres long and feeling very wide perhaps didn’t help…

After Stelvio, there was rain of biblical proportions. Perhaps the whole nun idea wasn’t so great. Visibility on the Italian motorways was near zero, but that didn’t stop the locals driving at crazy speeds. We felt very slow, and that perhaps wasn’t helped by the lonely single millimetre of tread our front tyres are carrying. Standing water isn’t fun right now.

Driving on to the Venice island and parking there, we headed by water bus to St Mark’s Square, where we managed to be the only people there, thanks to the huge amounts of rain coming down. our challenge was to be photographed with groups of people and, thanks to them all sheltering, it wasn’t too difficult to achieve.

It also meant we didn’t give Venice a fair crack, as it was dark, depressing and major sites were covered in advertising hoardings, hopefully covering up restoration work. Perhaps we’ll be back. Apparently the city flooded soon after we left, but we’re not sure how that’s possible.

From Venice it was off to Sottomarina for the night, before the final leg to Rome.

2010 Home2Rome

This is it. The big one. The day that will kill any cars that have any problems, no matter how minor.

Starting of at Menton, it’s an easy but glorious drive through the Italian Riviera, taking in awesome mountinside motorways and hundreds of tunnels to Genoa, before turning north and heading to Milan. Stopping off at Malpensa airport to pick up good friend Jaime Michavila, it was then a short drive to Lake Como, and that’s where the fun starts.

Driving alongside the lakes, looking at the stunning scenery, and picking out bits of road used in James Bond films, was just the prelude to what as to come.

Turning in to Switzerland, we headed to St Moritz, where the roads took on a different feel. Climbing up Bernina Pass, the General Lee(xus) guzzled its fuel as the altitude added steep hills, crazy bends and less oxygen. At the other side we dropped down a frighteningly narrow and poorly maintained pass, with nothing but plastic tape in places to keep you from a very long and painful drop, and headed in to Livigno.

Historically, whoever owns Livigno (and the Italians and Swiss keep arguing about it) keeps taxes low, so filling up The General at 80 pence a litre was pleasing.

From Livigno it was a steady drive to Bormio, where Stelvio then loomed large.

Stelvio. The highest mountain pass in Europe. One of the steepest and narrowest. And we took The General all the way to the top.

Despite it being late July, there’s still snow in places it’s that high. glaciers are a stones throw away. It was 32c at the bottom, but it’s only 6c at the top. And there’s no air –  the stairs to the fourth floor room are surprisingly difficult when you can’t breathe!

We’re here for the night, and then we head down the other side. We can’t wait…

2010 Home2Rome

Day three was always going to be an incredibly easy day, and it proved to be so.

After meeting at the collection point, the rally split in to two groups – one group took a tortuous route through some stunning French scenery, passing through the Gorge du Verdon, while the other half took a leisurely drive down to Monte-Carlo to hang out with the rich and famous.

Most teams parked outside and got the train in to Monte-Carlo, but we’re braver than that. Parking may be a nightmare in the tiny principality, but we’re in a bright orange Lexus, so how can we fail to find a spot.

And, after driving round the Grand Prix circuit, find a spot we did. Outside the famous casino. Alongside the Lamborghini’s, Ferrari’s, Bentley’s and so on. The General Lee(xus) fitted right in.

After a meal and a mooch, it was off the the seaside town of Menton for the night, ready for a big day tomorrow…

2010 Home2Rome

France exists purely to get to somewhere else. It’s dull. Mind numbingly dull. It’s dull enough to put ditchwater out of a job. And today we drove through most of it.

Arriving at the start line slightly late, we were one of the last to leave before heading down the motorway to Reims. Oddly, despite setting the crusie control to a fuel friendly speed, we arrived at the historic Reims GP circuit first, and took pole position for the photo shoot.

After a bite to eat, it was down the motorway again, this time right down to Montelimar. 578 miles of near straight motorway, with nothing but a few toll booths to break up the monootony.

And then we arrived at Montelimar, the only town I know of with a town centre area with a nice restauraunt that doesn’t serve food in the evening. Time for bed and then to Monte-Carlo tomorrow.

The sooner the better.

2010 Home2Rome

Finally, it’s time to put The General Lee(xus) through it’s paces. Home2Rome has officially started, and we’re on our way across Europe in £150 of knackered Lexus.

Day one is traditionally an easy day, with nothing more strenuous than a gentle motorway drive down to Calais, where the fun really starts the next day. After topping up the fuel tank in the morning before we left (with a calculated average of 13.6mpg), we headed down on a non stop run to Calais.

Non stop apart from popping in to the co-driving totty who joined us on Bangers4BEN last year for tea and cakes. And then in Dover for more fuel. Still, 163 miles on £28 of petrol isn’t too bad. For a 4.0 V8.

Next stop is Reims tomorrow morning for a photoshoot, and then on to Montelimar. Only 577 miles. What can possibly go wrong…

2010 Home2Rome

After three months of preperations, everything becomes very real tomorrow morning. The car is ready, we’re ready. We’re off to join Home2Rome and drive our £150 banger 3,200 miles or so across Europe.

Along the way we’ve been assisted by some very generous people, so here’s a quick run down to thank you all…

• Richard Porter at BBC Top Gear
• The staff at ASAP in Huntingdon
• Jason McKnight at J M Auto Services
• Danny Jones at Spectrum Signs and Display
• The team at Invent Partners
• Jason Jenkin
• Stew Toal
• Anthony Phoenix

Thank you all. We just hope we make it…

Phil & Sam.

2010 Home2Rome

Dixie Horns sound great, and they’re a vital part of the whole Dukes of Hazzard experience, so The General Lee(xus) really should have some fitted.

Fortunately we got some delivered some time ago, and last night it was time to fit them. First up, we wired it all up to check everything worked, and left them dangling out of the front of the car.

Amazingly, the sound came out and locals were bemused.

Amusingly, the wiring caught fire.

Oops.

2010 Home2Rome