Brian_Innes
Member
This photo shows the body roll angles on the A110 Legende GT. From inside the car this seems perfectly natural.
Brian
Brian
Life after Cayman - My 2021 Alpine A110 Legende GT.
- Thread starter Brian_Innes
- Start date
Brian_Innes
Member
Keeping as close as I dare to the sausage kerb at the chicane.
Brian
Brian
Brian_Innes
Member
Here we go again! Three wheeling at Clark's corner. One of the three notable understeer corners.
Brian
Brian
Brian_Innes
Member
Clark's corner is one of the trickiest corners to get right.
Brian
PS. Full report on previous page.
Brian
PS. Full report on previous page.
]
EVO magazine have also just tested the revised Alpine models, with high praise being given. It can be found online atBrian_Innes said:
https://www.evo.co.uk/alpine/a110
Brian_Innes
Member
A follow-up from my previous post regarding my DVLA driver's licence renewal application.
Increasingly concerned at the reports in the press regarding an astonishing 945,000 backlog of DVLA medical driving licence applications awaiting processing, I was getting really worried that I would be put off the road when my driver's licence expired in two week's time. Although I had Royal Mail proof of delivery of my renewal paperwork at DVLA Swansea on February 22, I had not received any postal acknowledgement or electronic communications since then. The reports in the press about huge trolley-cages of mail lying unopened in a store room did nothing for my confidence.
With a head of steam rapidly building in my mind, I decided my first course of action would be through the DVLA Medical Group portal online. On March 30th, I completed an online pathway for chasing up an already lodged driver's licence medical renewal. This was immediately acknowledged with an auto-reply email making the point of informing me not to phone DVLA, as no more information would be available at this time. Crikey. Some service this for a vital piece of everyday documentation essential to our daily lives.
To my great relief, my new 3 year driver's licence, with no restrictions, other than HGV's and PSV's, arrived in the post yesterday. I was almost breaking out the champagne in celebration. The whole process was unnecessarily stressful. At least I don't have to worry about the next renewal until 2025, which is long time away.
Finally, a word of early warning for those intending touring in the Highlands and elsewhere in the north of Scotland this summer. Police Scotland are expanding their mobile safety camera operation on all tourist routes this year. Camera vans, unmarked patrol cars, and HGV undercover vehicles, will all be deployed to enforce traffic violations and inconsiderate or dangerous driving. Road users are also being encouraged to submit dash cam footage to the police of any instances deemed to be breaking traffic laws. This is in response to a high number of irresponsible and inconsiderate driving instances on rural and trunk road networks during the staycation boom in the Highlands last year. Wonderful roads to enjoy in the north of Scotland, just be aware that eyes will be watching. Both official and civil.
Brian
Increasingly concerned at the reports in the press regarding an astonishing 945,000 backlog of DVLA medical driving licence applications awaiting processing, I was getting really worried that I would be put off the road when my driver's licence expired in two week's time. Although I had Royal Mail proof of delivery of my renewal paperwork at DVLA Swansea on February 22, I had not received any postal acknowledgement or electronic communications since then. The reports in the press about huge trolley-cages of mail lying unopened in a store room did nothing for my confidence.
With a head of steam rapidly building in my mind, I decided my first course of action would be through the DVLA Medical Group portal online. On March 30th, I completed an online pathway for chasing up an already lodged driver's licence medical renewal. This was immediately acknowledged with an auto-reply email making the point of informing me not to phone DVLA, as no more information would be available at this time. Crikey. Some service this for a vital piece of everyday documentation essential to our daily lives.
To my great relief, my new 3 year driver's licence, with no restrictions, other than HGV's and PSV's, arrived in the post yesterday. I was almost breaking out the champagne in celebration. The whole process was unnecessarily stressful. At least I don't have to worry about the next renewal until 2025, which is long time away.
Finally, a word of early warning for those intending touring in the Highlands and elsewhere in the north of Scotland this summer. Police Scotland are expanding their mobile safety camera operation on all tourist routes this year. Camera vans, unmarked patrol cars, and HGV undercover vehicles, will all be deployed to enforce traffic violations and inconsiderate or dangerous driving. Road users are also being encouraged to submit dash cam footage to the police of any instances deemed to be breaking traffic laws. This is in response to a high number of irresponsible and inconsiderate driving instances on rural and trunk road networks during the staycation boom in the Highlands last year. Wonderful roads to enjoy in the north of Scotland, just be aware that eyes will be watching. Both official and civil.
Brian
Brian_Innes
Member
Something I haven't had happen before are problems with shedding wheel balance weights.
I'm unsure as to the causes, but on the list of possibles are the following;
a) Applying two coats of Poor Boy's wax sealant on the inner wheel rims.
b) Heat transfer from the brakes and Cup 2 tyres following my Knockhill track session softening the adhesive bond of the weights.
c) Careless Karcher pressure washer activity when cleaning salt from the car following the A9 drive from Knockhill.
I first noticed a detached wheel balance weight lying on my driveway after washing the car. I had been rinsing off the salt from underneath the wheel arches and inner wheel wells with the Karcher. When I checked the other wheels I found another balance weight hanging off and one completely missing. The weight's adhesive backing had not bonded securely with the wheel rim. Never had this problem before.
I have removed the offending three wheels from my A110 and will have the wheels rebalanced next week at GT Tyres. I was intending taking the wheels off anyway to check the brake pads.
When my car valeting neighbour Mike heard about this, I received the following tip. Cover the inner rim balance weights with black Gorilla adhesive tape. Apparently other sports car owners have had similar problems. Maybe it depends upon the quality of the adhesive backing on the weights? As a precaution I have now applied black Gorilla tape over the remaining weights on both my sets of wheels. I'll repeat this on the rebalanced wheels next week before refitting.
Whilst the wheels were off I inspected the tyre treads and removed several sharp flints and stones which were working their way into the tread rubber. Some of which were quite deeply imbedded. The Cup 2 rubber compound is notoriously soft when warm and picks up everything from the road surface. The A9 route being gritted last week didn't help.
Brian
I'm unsure as to the causes, but on the list of possibles are the following;
a) Applying two coats of Poor Boy's wax sealant on the inner wheel rims.
b) Heat transfer from the brakes and Cup 2 tyres following my Knockhill track session softening the adhesive bond of the weights.
c) Careless Karcher pressure washer activity when cleaning salt from the car following the A9 drive from Knockhill.
I first noticed a detached wheel balance weight lying on my driveway after washing the car. I had been rinsing off the salt from underneath the wheel arches and inner wheel wells with the Karcher. When I checked the other wheels I found another balance weight hanging off and one completely missing. The weight's adhesive backing had not bonded securely with the wheel rim. Never had this problem before.
I have removed the offending three wheels from my A110 and will have the wheels rebalanced next week at GT Tyres. I was intending taking the wheels off anyway to check the brake pads.
When my car valeting neighbour Mike heard about this, I received the following tip. Cover the inner rim balance weights with black Gorilla adhesive tape. Apparently other sports car owners have had similar problems. Maybe it depends upon the quality of the adhesive backing on the weights? As a precaution I have now applied black Gorilla tape over the remaining weights on both my sets of wheels. I'll repeat this on the rebalanced wheels next week before refitting.
Whilst the wheels were off I inspected the tyre treads and removed several sharp flints and stones which were working their way into the tread rubber. Some of which were quite deeply imbedded. The Cup 2 rubber compound is notoriously soft when warm and picks up everything from the road surface. The A9 route being gritted last week didn't help.
Brian
Brian_Innes
Member
The same wheel after applying the black Gorilla tape.
Brilliant news on your licence renewal Brian, we were wondering how it was going. A great relief!
Re the missing wheel weights - I have never lost one in all my motoring years. But I don't pressure wash wheels, and I don't polish rims before balancing. I have the reverse problem in that removing old wheel weight glue after changing tyres and rebalancing is a time-consuming chore. If the weights have come off but not left any sticky glue behind I would suspect the polish.
Re the missing wheel weights - I have never lost one in all my motoring years. But I don't pressure wash wheels, and I don't polish rims before balancing. I have the reverse problem in that removing old wheel weight glue after changing tyres and rebalancing is a time-consuming chore. If the weights have come off but not left any sticky glue behind I would suspect the polish.
Brian_Innes
Member
My thoughts also Brian. The polish is very waxy and no doubt affected the bonding of the weight adhesive.
Thanks for your comments on my licence renewal.
Brian
Thanks for your comments on my licence renewal.
Brian
Very glad indeed to hear of your success at getting your renewed licence in time. It must have been very stressful indeed.
I also hope that manage to solve the problem of losing balance weights.
We must hope that Police Scotland are so busy with the Highlands that they leave the magnificent Borders roads alone!
I also hope that manage to solve the problem of losing balance weights.
We must hope that Police Scotland are so busy with the Highlands that they leave the magnificent Borders roads alone!
Brian_Innes
Member
Mindful of the Easter weekend looming and the anticipated influx of tourist traffic, I had an enjoyable driving day tour to Loch Alsh. I stopped for a picnic snack lunch overlooking the picturesque Eileen Donan castle. I avoided the congested castle car park for a quieter and more spacious car park at the nearby community hall and recycling point only 500 meters to the north of the castle. This vantage point provides perfect views of the castle on the loch shore without the manic scenes at the official car pay-and-display park. Parking is also free at my chosen spot.
My route took me south from Inverness on the A82, turning right at Invergarry onto the A87, 7 miles south of Fort Augustus. The weather was overcast with intermittent light drizzle for much of the route, but that did not impede my progress nor the thrill of driving the A110 on roads ideally suited to this nimble little car. The combination of the wider wheels and Cup 2 tyres are a perfect match. The sublime steering and superb feedback from the road surface is pure joy to behold. Thankfully standing water on the road was not an issue.
Traffic density was higher than I had expected with cars, camper-vans, motor-cyclists, and a surprising number of European registered cars on the route. Netherlands tourists being particularly numerable. Regrettably the poor condition of the road surface on some parts of the route meant that I had to be on the alert for potholes. Road maintenance in the Highland region is unfortunately falling behind, as is the case in many parts of the UK. Best to keep well back from vehicles in front to allow time for evasive action should a pothole suddenly come into view. The scalpel sharp steering of the A110 an advantage when quick avoiding action is necessary.
The route took me north on the A890 Loch Carron road, a narrow single file route needing care for fallen rocks from the cliff face adjacent to the road. Potholes abound also. I turned right at the T junction after Strathcarron heading to Achnasheen and Garve. A wonderful driver's road. Best to be mindful of your speed here. Unmarked police cars are periodically in operation to enforce the traffic laws. No warnings, just convictions.
My driving day out was around 200 miles altogether with an average of 36mpg recorded in sport mode and mainly manual gear-shifting. A very enjoyable day indeed, and hopefully more such days to come in the course of the year.
Brian
My route took me south from Inverness on the A82, turning right at Invergarry onto the A87, 7 miles south of Fort Augustus. The weather was overcast with intermittent light drizzle for much of the route, but that did not impede my progress nor the thrill of driving the A110 on roads ideally suited to this nimble little car. The combination of the wider wheels and Cup 2 tyres are a perfect match. The sublime steering and superb feedback from the road surface is pure joy to behold. Thankfully standing water on the road was not an issue.
Traffic density was higher than I had expected with cars, camper-vans, motor-cyclists, and a surprising number of European registered cars on the route. Netherlands tourists being particularly numerable. Regrettably the poor condition of the road surface on some parts of the route meant that I had to be on the alert for potholes. Road maintenance in the Highland region is unfortunately falling behind, as is the case in many parts of the UK. Best to keep well back from vehicles in front to allow time for evasive action should a pothole suddenly come into view. The scalpel sharp steering of the A110 an advantage when quick avoiding action is necessary.
The route took me north on the A890 Loch Carron road, a narrow single file route needing care for fallen rocks from the cliff face adjacent to the road. Potholes abound also. I turned right at the T junction after Strathcarron heading to Achnasheen and Garve. A wonderful driver's road. Best to be mindful of your speed here. Unmarked police cars are periodically in operation to enforce the traffic laws. No warnings, just convictions.
My driving day out was around 200 miles altogether with an average of 36mpg recorded in sport mode and mainly manual gear-shifting. A very enjoyable day indeed, and hopefully more such days to come in the course of the year.
Brian
That sounds a very fine day out Brian, and I can only wish that I had been there to do the trip with you.
My most memorable, and certainly the fastest, journey on the A87 was in the other direction returning from Kintail where I had been doing some winter climbing with my friend Fraser, who was a Mountain Guide and a prominent member of the Glencoe Mountain rescue team. Wed had a fine day out but on returning to my car he received a message about a serious accident in Glencoe and everyone in the Mountain Rescue Team who could possible get there was needed. Fraser looked at my car, a Subaru Impreza STI with the Prodrive Performance Pack, and he said "How fast can this thing really go? Can you get us back to Glencoe in less than an hour?"
"Not without seriously breaking the law" I said, and Faser assured me that Rescue Team members on their way to a rescue would be afforded immunity by the local Police. I took him at his word and we travelled at an astonishing pace, the STI becoming alive in a way it never did at lower speeds. The car was in its element, doing what it was made for, and I genuinely don't think we did anything dangerous. We managed to get there with some time in hand, and fortunately we didn't have to put the "immunity" to the test. This was almost 20 years ago, I suspect times have changed. But it was certainly a very memorable drive.
My most memorable, and certainly the fastest, journey on the A87 was in the other direction returning from Kintail where I had been doing some winter climbing with my friend Fraser, who was a Mountain Guide and a prominent member of the Glencoe Mountain rescue team. Wed had a fine day out but on returning to my car he received a message about a serious accident in Glencoe and everyone in the Mountain Rescue Team who could possible get there was needed. Fraser looked at my car, a Subaru Impreza STI with the Prodrive Performance Pack, and he said "How fast can this thing really go? Can you get us back to Glencoe in less than an hour?"
"Not without seriously breaking the law" I said, and Faser assured me that Rescue Team members on their way to a rescue would be afforded immunity by the local Police. I took him at his word and we travelled at an astonishing pace, the STI becoming alive in a way it never did at lower speeds. The car was in its element, doing what it was made for, and I genuinely don't think we did anything dangerous. We managed to get there with some time in hand, and fortunately we didn't have to put the "immunity" to the test. This was almost 20 years ago, I suspect times have changed. But it was certainly a very memorable drive.
Brian_Innes
Member
In the traffic police handbook of excuses, your explanation Graham, had you been stopped, would probably register close to the "pass" category following the usual authenticity checks all those years ago. Twenty years ago and beyond, Highland roads were mainly the preserve of local and commercial traffic with tourism being confined to a narrow summer season. Hill-walkers and mountain-climbers were, and still are, an all-the-year-round pastime, and as you so eloquently described, had wonderful traffic-free roads to enjoy while getting there and back.
Unfortunately times have changed dramatically in recent years. The advent of the North Coast 500 route in 2015, and the staycation tourist boom of the past two years has caused a huge increase in tourist traffic over an extended holiday period. In place of the previous summer season, predominantly June, July, and August, the Highlands now attract visitors from March to November. The popularity of television programmes such as Top Gear have also publicised the far north of Scotland as a driver's delight. It wouldn't be too unkind to suggest that the NC500 has been a victim of its own success.
The high costs of accommodation, particularly on the NC500 and its associated access routes, have encouraged the camper-van and wild-camping tourists. The Isle of Skye has been particularly blighted by this phenomenon. At one point last year the local council on Skye even considered banning camper-vans and motor-homes due to the damage caused to roadside verges and inconsiderate parking. It also has to be said that not all sports car drivers have ingratiated themselves with the local population. Inappropriate speed, noisy exhausts, and inconsiderate driving, especially regarding Passing Place etiquette have all caused both irritation and safety issues to be aired in the local press and tv reports. Free-roaming sheep and cattle are also frequently encountered, and local crofters are not best pleased when their sheep and lambs are killed or maimed by thoughtless or careless drivers. Many of the single track roads in the far north of Scotland have deep drops at the edge of the blacktop tarmac where resurfacing has raised the level of the road far above that of the soft verges on either side. Should your low-riding sports car put a wheel off the road, the consequences can be both dangerous and expensive. See example photo below.
My advice to Porsche owners is to do your planning and research for a Highland tour well in advance, and take into account the standard of the roads you are likely to encounter on the tour. Timing is all-important. Avoid the busy tourist season at all costs. It's not fun to be stuck behind a slow-moving camper-van for miles on end. Equally distressing is to be confronted with streams of traffic coming the other way on single track roads. Giving way by using the designated passing places is an object lesson in looking far ahead, as is anticipation of on-coming traffic at blind bends. It's a different skill-set for many drivers unfamiliar with the territory.
Brian
Unfortunately times have changed dramatically in recent years. The advent of the North Coast 500 route in 2015, and the staycation tourist boom of the past two years has caused a huge increase in tourist traffic over an extended holiday period. In place of the previous summer season, predominantly June, July, and August, the Highlands now attract visitors from March to November. The popularity of television programmes such as Top Gear have also publicised the far north of Scotland as a driver's delight. It wouldn't be too unkind to suggest that the NC500 has been a victim of its own success.
The high costs of accommodation, particularly on the NC500 and its associated access routes, have encouraged the camper-van and wild-camping tourists. The Isle of Skye has been particularly blighted by this phenomenon. At one point last year the local council on Skye even considered banning camper-vans and motor-homes due to the damage caused to roadside verges and inconsiderate parking. It also has to be said that not all sports car drivers have ingratiated themselves with the local population. Inappropriate speed, noisy exhausts, and inconsiderate driving, especially regarding Passing Place etiquette have all caused both irritation and safety issues to be aired in the local press and tv reports. Free-roaming sheep and cattle are also frequently encountered, and local crofters are not best pleased when their sheep and lambs are killed or maimed by thoughtless or careless drivers. Many of the single track roads in the far north of Scotland have deep drops at the edge of the blacktop tarmac where resurfacing has raised the level of the road far above that of the soft verges on either side. Should your low-riding sports car put a wheel off the road, the consequences can be both dangerous and expensive. See example photo below.
My advice to Porsche owners is to do your planning and research for a Highland tour well in advance, and take into account the standard of the roads you are likely to encounter on the tour. Timing is all-important. Avoid the busy tourist season at all costs. It's not fun to be stuck behind a slow-moving camper-van for miles on end. Equally distressing is to be confronted with streams of traffic coming the other way on single track roads. Giving way by using the designated passing places is an object lesson in looking far ahead, as is anticipation of on-coming traffic at blind bends. It's a different skill-set for many drivers unfamiliar with the territory.
Brian
Saving the best until last, the A87 is always the icing on the cake on my drives to the Isle of Skye, with its spectacular views of Lochs Garry, Loyne and Cluanie, as well as the sea Lochs Duich and Alsh, and then on to an impressive view of the Skye Bridge in the distance … when it’s not raining! 
I’ve always preferred to visit the Highlands early and late in the year - May and September - but from what you’re saying Brian it seems that even those months are attracting more visitors, which is disappointing to hear. A sign of the times I’m afraid.
I’ve been a fairly regular visitor to Skye for more than 30-years - back when there was the ferry between Kyle and Kyleakin - and there’s no doubt that it’s grown considerably in popularity in that period … and has become much smarter too! There’s no doubt that the bridge has made access much easier, and SocMed-broadcasted “selfies” of people in front of spectacular views has made the island much more attractive to visitors, even if that doesn’t mean necessarily that local businesses benefit proportionally.
Jeff
I’ve always preferred to visit the Highlands early and late in the year - May and September - but from what you’re saying Brian it seems that even those months are attracting more visitors, which is disappointing to hear. A sign of the times I’m afraid.
I’ve been a fairly regular visitor to Skye for more than 30-years - back when there was the ferry between Kyle and Kyleakin - and there’s no doubt that it’s grown considerably in popularity in that period … and has become much smarter too! There’s no doubt that the bridge has made access much easier, and SocMed-broadcasted “selfies” of people in front of spectacular views has made the island much more attractive to visitors, even if that doesn’t mean necessarily that local businesses benefit proportionally.
Jeff
Brian_Innes
Member
jmaddox said:
Unfortunately in my case online applications for driver's licence renewals were not available for my declared medical condition ALS.
I had no alternative but to go through the all hoops of 10 pages of paperwork including providing supporting medical and driving assessment statements. A very stressful experience. Thankfully successful.
Brian
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