
UK Drive-Ins: the Detour guide
It’s the strangest summer ever. But 2020 has seen a resurgence in outdoor cinema, theatre, concerts and comedy that you can enjoy from the comfort (and COVID-19 safety) of your car.
Chris Ingram, European Rally Champion
Chris Ingram recalls his first time attempting Rally Mont Blanc, travelling to the event with his Dad and being blown away by the Alps during the summer.
Detour #58: Route 50, The Loneliest Road, Nevada, USA
Large chunks of the classic road movie Vanishing Point were filmed on Nevada’s Route 50 – dubbed “The Loneliest Road in America” by Life magazine back in 1986.
Detour Pit Stop #29: Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater, Pennsylvania, USA
Architect Frank Lloyd Wright was one of the original petrolheads. He incorporated garages into his homes as early as 1909 and invented the car port. Fallingwater is the most spectacular example of his craft.
Neill Briggs, founder of BAC
BAC founder Neill Briggs closed down the mountain section of the Isle of Man TT circuit for an unforgettable Detour.
Detour #57: Great St Bernard Pass, Italy-Switzerland
It’s on the Great St Bernard Pass between Switzerland and Italy that the iconic opening scenes of The Italian Job were filmed.
Jane Curtis, Detour Finance Director
Freedom camping in New Zealand led Detour’s Finance Director Jane Curtis to her favourite Detour on the road to Queenstown.
Ice racing: the most fun you can have with your (many) clothes on
It’s minus 30 degrees centigrade, but I'm sweating profusely. I'm driving a car with no roof at a speed that must boost the wind chill factor to a thoroughly frostbiting figure, and yet things continue to heat up inside the cockpit.
Detour #56: Hawaii Five. Oh!
This tropical paradise erupted from the Pacific ocean in an archipelago of 137 islands. Its abundant nature and wild volcanic topography make for some terrific road trips.
A last Detour in London?
London’s Congestion Charge is being extended to 10pm every night, seven days a week in a bid to keep the capital’s pollution in check. Leisure driving – such as it was –in London will disappear overnight.
Detour #55: Peak Pyrenees, France
For the best roads in the Pyrenees make the town of Luz-Saint-Sauveur the gateway to your mountain getaway.
Drive the world from your desktop
Imagine if you could drive through the world’s greatest cities from Amsterdam to Zurich without leaving your home.
Detour #54: The Marvels of Montenegro
Bring oxygen. If ever there was a view to take your breath away it is that from Montenegro’s coastal route.
Dickie Meaden, journalist and racer
Dickie Meaden was far out of his comfort zone on a race from Moscow to Mongolia. But that’s part of what made the drive so memorable.
Intersections
Sometimes you need to take a step back to appreciate things. Or, in this case, up. Viewed from above there is a wonderful geometric beauty to the world’s complex road networks.
Detour Pit Stop #28: Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, China
The world's longest road link across open sea joins Hong Kong to Macau.
Peter Dumbreck, Racing Driver
Peter Dumbreck has raced professionally for Aston Martin, Lexus, Mercedes and Opel but the 46-year old hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons when his Mercedes CLR attempted to fly like a bird, during the 1999 Le Mans race
Detour #53: Anglesey, Wales
Anglesey might be associated with its scenic race circuit but this compact island has so much more to offer.
Detour Pit Stop #27: Ace Cafe, London, UK
Its location is far from glamorous but the Ace Cafe has a long history, rich in motor oil and leather.
Maximillion Cooper, Founder & CEO, Gumball 3000
It’s 21 years since Maximillion Cooper organised the first Gumball 3000. One epic drive over three continents remains the standout.