Red Roadster - Chasing the Dawn
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Red Roadster - Chasing the Dawn
My alarm went off at 4:30am – as a favour to a friend I was taking her to Truro station on her way to Norwich. Threw some clothes on and tiptoed down the stairs and out to the car. After a few moments of deliberation sitting in the darkness I thought – the hell with it – and took the roof down to let the night air pour into the car.
I turned the key and the engine barked into life, headlights pierced the night and I attempted to leave Penryn quietly – difficult with a Janspeed exhaust but I tried my best. A quick blat along the road around Penryn into Falmouth to pick up my friend from the high street. While I waited for her I tuned the radio and set the heating. Friend and luggage loaded (on her lap, this is a Roadster after all!) I again attempted to edge the the car out of town quietly, wincing at the reverberations off of the narrow streets and tall houses.
Once clear of Falmouth I sped up on the National Speed Limit roads linked by multiple roundabouts that lead to Truro, in my mind taking it steady to make sure I was awake and that the road wasn't damp/oily/muddy. Not to mention the leaky front shock, adjusting to a new car and the occasional sharp breath intakes of breath from my (non-driver) passenger.
After a short 15 mins I arrived at Truro station, dropped my friend off and set off home.
Only kidding! The winding empty Cornish roads, pre-dawn lack of traffic and my eager right-foot beckoned the Red Roadster out to play.
With no real destination in mind I headed west out of Truro (seemed like a good idea, I'd not been along that road before) and my heart sank as I encountered 40mph limits, speed cameras and industrial estates. I stuck to my guns, though and kept going and eventually civilization gradually petered out to reveal an empty open road and our favourite black and white road sign.
I slipped down from 4th to 2nd and floored it, the revs crescendoing into a howl that snarled and barked as I went past 7k rpm and changed up to 3rd, continuing along the rev range until I spied the first corner in front of me. Braking sharply and going down to 2nd I flowed round the corners, right left, right until the road straightened out to accelerate.
Slowing down for an approaching town and changing up a gear to try and be quiet I crept through Redruth, turning left to head towards Helston. Houses trickled away and fields surrounded me as the road opened up before my headlights and I was off again.
Countless winding sets of corners, long sweeping bends and open straights streamed beneath the tyres, feeling the car balance itself and always, always looking eagerly for the next corner. I played with the idea of carrying on past Helston down to the Lizard Point, no doubt losing most of the morning and at least half a tank of petrol (!). But as the sky started to lighten and a pink blush stole across the horizon I turned and headed back towards Falmouth.
Traffic started to appear and early commuters went on their journeys in their VWs, Vauxhalls and Peugeots and I blessed the moment I decided to get back into driving a car that wasn't just a tool, wasn't my way of getting from A to B as cheaply and comfortably as possible, but a reflection of my personality and an extension of my soul.
I turned the key and the engine barked into life, headlights pierced the night and I attempted to leave Penryn quietly – difficult with a Janspeed exhaust but I tried my best. A quick blat along the road around Penryn into Falmouth to pick up my friend from the high street. While I waited for her I tuned the radio and set the heating. Friend and luggage loaded (on her lap, this is a Roadster after all!) I again attempted to edge the the car out of town quietly, wincing at the reverberations off of the narrow streets and tall houses.
Once clear of Falmouth I sped up on the National Speed Limit roads linked by multiple roundabouts that lead to Truro, in my mind taking it steady to make sure I was awake and that the road wasn't damp/oily/muddy. Not to mention the leaky front shock, adjusting to a new car and the occasional sharp breath intakes of breath from my (non-driver) passenger.
After a short 15 mins I arrived at Truro station, dropped my friend off and set off home.
Only kidding! The winding empty Cornish roads, pre-dawn lack of traffic and my eager right-foot beckoned the Red Roadster out to play.
With no real destination in mind I headed west out of Truro (seemed like a good idea, I'd not been along that road before) and my heart sank as I encountered 40mph limits, speed cameras and industrial estates. I stuck to my guns, though and kept going and eventually civilization gradually petered out to reveal an empty open road and our favourite black and white road sign.
I slipped down from 4th to 2nd and floored it, the revs crescendoing into a howl that snarled and barked as I went past 7k rpm and changed up to 3rd, continuing along the rev range until I spied the first corner in front of me. Braking sharply and going down to 2nd I flowed round the corners, right left, right until the road straightened out to accelerate.
Slowing down for an approaching town and changing up a gear to try and be quiet I crept through Redruth, turning left to head towards Helston. Houses trickled away and fields surrounded me as the road opened up before my headlights and I was off again.
Countless winding sets of corners, long sweeping bends and open straights streamed beneath the tyres, feeling the car balance itself and always, always looking eagerly for the next corner. I played with the idea of carrying on past Helston down to the Lizard Point, no doubt losing most of the morning and at least half a tank of petrol (!). But as the sky started to lighten and a pink blush stole across the horizon I turned and headed back towards Falmouth.
Traffic started to appear and early commuters went on their journeys in their VWs, Vauxhalls and Peugeots and I blessed the moment I decided to get back into driving a car that wasn't just a tool, wasn't my way of getting from A to B as cheaply and comfortably as possible, but a reflection of my personality and an extension of my soul.
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Re: Red Roadster - Chasing the Dawn
amazing words that spelled a stunning vision of the bond between car and tarmac...
...not bad photos either
...not bad photos either
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Re: Red Roadster - Chasing the Dawn
Nice
You can't beat the Cornish roads when they are empty. They are really satisfying when you have the right tools under your right foot
Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 4
You can't beat the Cornish roads when they are empty. They are really satisfying when you have the right tools under your right foot
Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 4
1993 Revision 3 Turbo - Restoration Underway
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Re: Red Roadster - Chasing the Dawn
well it took me sometime... but i read it lol. Great read hun and looking forward to seeing you tomorrow and
yeah your a paid up member now I hope you will do more of these
yeah your a paid up member now I hope you will do more of these
Current - modified 265bhp PFL MR-S in Gulf Livery
Previous - Rev1 turbo, Rev3 turbo, Rev5, Rev3 V6, PFL Roadster
Previous - Rev1 turbo, Rev3 turbo, Rev5, Rev3 V6, PFL Roadster
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Re: Red Roadster - Chasing the Dawn
Great write up Laura and stunning pictures.
Andy.
Andy.
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Re: Red Roadster - Chasing the Dawn
Brilliant post & pics!
I bet there aren't many other forums out there where the members get so much sheer pleasure from simply driving their cars alone around some country lanes.
Great to see & read.
I bet there aren't many other forums out there where the members get so much sheer pleasure from simply driving their cars alone around some country lanes.
Great to see & read.
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Re: Red Roadster - Chasing the Dawn
nicely written Lauren, lovethe photos
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Re: Red Roadster - Chasing the Dawn
Laura, love the write up of what must have been a great drive.
get those pics on S&S for September
get those pics on S&S for September
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Re: Red Roadster - Chasing the Dawn
You appear to have mixed her up with someone on IMOC.Brian JW wrote:nicely written Lauren, lovethe photos
You been overindulging on Riggwelter again mate?
If you're not living life on the edge, you're taking up too much room!
HM wrote: TonyleFrog aka "The Fog Penetrator"
HM wrote: TonyleFrog aka "The Fog Penetrator"