Dear UK Barchetta Club Members
During the Club AGM held during our successful Kent & East Sussex meeting earlier this year the idea of a potential trip to Turin was discussed. This subject had also been raised before, with some members expressing interest in such a trip.
With this in mind, and the fact that 2025 will be the 30th anniversary of the launch of the Barchetta, we are pleased to present a proposal below that has the potential to be a very memorable event. To aid with the organisation of what could be quite a complex and time-consuming task we have spoken to Mark Andrews who runs and owns a company called European Driving Tours who specialise in such trips. I have personally been on two trips organised by Mark in my Barchetta (some photos below), and both have been fantastic experiences, incorporating great driving roads (programmed into the provided SAT NAV unit for each car and covered in the provided road books), quality hotels and interesting locations.
Due to the length, nature, and the cost of this proposed trip in comparison to those we have arranged in recent memory we realise this will have a limited appeal and that it will not be for everyone. However, in the spirit of their being nothing ventured nothing gained, we would like to offer the opportunity for what could be viewed as a ‘trip of a lifetime’ for some.
The proposed starting date for the trip would ideally be around the 20th of June 2025.
Please remember that you would need to budget for fuel, any toll roads and potentially the Swiss driving permit in addition to the price below and the usual other costs.
The full details of the trip that Mark has prepared for us are below. So, if you would like to attend or have any further questions, then please email Neil on info@fiatbarchetta.uk and I can pass them on if needed.
UPDATE 20th October – we have now extended confirmations for this trip until mid-November.
Many Thanks – Neil
The trip will start and finish at a lovely hotel in Laon where we will include a group meal on the first and last evenings. Laon is 2.5 hours from Calais so it gives people coming from different locations in the UK plenty of options both getting there and home afterwards.
I’ve set my plan out below;
Day 1 – UK to Laon
Day 2 – Laon to Beaune – 265 miles – 5.75 hours driving time or 254 miles – 4.5 hours driving time. This is your “distance” day. The longer version takes you 50/50 on motorways and scenic roads via the source of the river Seine. The shorter way is mainly motorway but you could have a long lunch in the town of Langres. Hotel is in the centre of Beaune with great options for the evening.
Day 3 – Beaune to Martigny – 176 miles – 4 hours driving time. Scenic roads through the Jura mountains and into Switzerland. Lunch and early afternoon in Montreux on Lake Geneva with loads to see and do. Hotel in the town centre with plenty of options for the evening.
Day 4 – Martigny to Turin – 206 miles – 5.75 hours driving time. Fabulous driving day crossing the Grand St Bernard, Petit St Bernard, Col d’Iseran and Col du Mont Cenis. Hotel is the old FIAT factory at Lingotto in the centre of Turin with a metro stop directly outside.
Days 5 & 6 – Free Days in Turin. Loads to see and do including the National Italian Car Museum which is just a 20 minute walk from the hotel and the Heritage Hub which is now open to the public.
Day 7 – Turin to Stresa – 115 miles – 4.75 hours driving time. Beginning with a visit to the old Lancia facility at Chivasso and then a scenic drive to Arona on the shore of Lake Maggiore and then follow the coast road to a wonderful hotel overlooking the lake in Stresa. Lots of lakeside bars and restaurants for the evening
Day 8 – Stresa to Langenthal – 234 miles – 6.25 hours driving time. Another fabulous drive over the Simplon, Nufenen, Gotthard, Furka, Grimsel & Brunig passes. There are options to shorten the day by missing three of the passes if necessary. Fabulous motoring themed hotel with great facilities
Day 9 – Langenthal to Laon – 257 miles – 5 hours driving time. A drive across the Ballon d’Alsace in the Vosges mountains then some more major roads with a stop at the old circuit at Reims before continuing to the hotel from Day 1.
Day 10 – Laon to UK. We will book tunnels for everyone’s preference but there is plenty to do between Laon & Calais if people want a later crossing to the UK.
All hotels are 4* with good parking and we will provide the usual package of Sat Navs, high powered radios, roadbooks and the usual content. We will give a group briefing as long as we can get everyone together.
As usual, the price includes:
- Return Eurotunnel
- Hotels
- Hotel parking
- Breakfast included at each hotel and group evening meals on days 1 & 9
- Hotel rooms are upgraded from standard to superior subject to availability in the price quoted
- Fully programmed SAT NAV unit for each vehicle and printed road book
I will get a firm price once we have some registered interest, but I would imagine the cost would be somewhere around £1750 per person for two people sharing a twin or double room and a car.
It would make sense to travel on a Friday and return on a Sunday as people would only need one week and a day off work (assuming that they don’t work weekends!). I would suggest 20th June given the passes we have included but you should be ok on 13th June.
We would need to get firm bookings for this by mid November at the latest so if you could pass this to interested parties and let me know the take up as soon as possible I’d be very grateful.
This promises to be a memorable trip. Expensive, yes but very special. I hope that some of our members feel able to seize this “once in a lifetime” opportunity. Many thanks to Neil Mead for this preliminary preparation.