AMAZING ADVENTURES Archives - waynesworldofwheels

What Did You Do Last Week? – We Had A Blast!

Editorial Team — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 15:12:12 +0000

It’s 9pm on a Sunday night and we find ourselves excitedly mingling around the docks at Portsmouth … WWOW Supercar club are heading to Spain and Portugal – home of the finest driving roads in Europe – We are 13 Supercars and 18 lovely people.

V12, V8, Flat 6, a few 4 Pots with lots of turbos.

The two nights on Brittany Ferries to Bilbao build the anticipation, excitement and camaraderie until we finally hit land.

8am Tuesday morning and we immediately head for the Spanish Mountains

Our Epic Road Trip Begins

It’s land-side Day 1 of our epic road trip which whisks us along the pristine coastal motorway until it’s time to turn off into the Spanish Picos.

We twist and turn around the base and go vertical up the peaks heading for one of the most beautiful hotels you will ever find!

Paradors are national treasures, and this one is a beauty in the Spanish 🇪🇸City of Leon.

Ambushed by local Instagram photographers, the cars (and some drivers) instantly become heroes to the passing public.

Challenging Mountains

Day 2 Wednesday our day plan is to head over more challenging mountains and down into Portugal on one of our favourite lake side roads.

Heading North out of Leon, it takes us into the Luna National Park delivering an intoxicating mix of dramatic scenery, stunning roads, fabulous cars and very happy people!

The whole day flies by (including an impromptu chat with the local fuzz) as we burst into Portugal around 4pm.

Chaves Casino Hotel is our base for the evening… some of us were more lucky than others on the roulette wheel and card tables.

Adrenaline Rush

Day 3 Early start…. We love this time of day! 7.30am and the cars are ready, whilst the drivers are still sleeping.

Slippery dew mingles with splattered bugs on the cars and a light fog makes the sleeping beasts look very cool and slightly intimidating.

We are blessed to have the services of a local guide today; Rui, an Alpine driver of great skill, has offered his services and route knowledge, navigating the mountains of Northern Portugal.

Rui escorts us to the WRC hill climb rocketing to the top of the mountain at an unmatchable pace.

He follows that adrenaline rush with 20km of the best mountain road ..ever .. ever … ever…phew! Time for lunch in stunning sunshine

The group split at this point, some wanting, and needing more excitement, others (me included) wanting to calm down, and the lightweights took a 2 hour meander through Vineland’s and valleys on the north of the river to our 5 star hotel in the Douro Valley.

We travelled the Douro Valley Road, on the north side of the river.

It’s often voted one of the most beautiful areas in Europe. We agreed as we skirted welcoming villages in full bloom. That early blast through some mountains has prepared us for our evening dinner together

The friendships formed, the laughter shared and the memories made, have us all falling in love with Portugal.

Sun, Fun and Celebration

Day 4 We enjoy a wonderful relaxing day, driving Europe’s most beautiful road the 222 on the south side of the Douro Valley. We took coffee at the DD hotel which dangles precariously above the river, followed by lunch at a lovely spot at a large bend in the valley.

Sprint time after lunch on the motorway into the big city delights of Porto.

Our sea front hotel is incredibly welcoming. It’s Michelin Star dining for some tonight. Villa Foz is a must stay hotel (we plan to have two nights here in 2026).

Day 5 Some enjoyed a stroll along the sea front before pressing the Go Button for our ignitions, and we roar out of the Vila Foz’ private garage to gather in their courtyard. Drenched in more glorious sunshine we are kicking off the day beside the crashing Atlantic waves. The outstanding weather and constant sunshine is now an expected part of the trip.

Our deliberate late start allowed us all to enjoy a morning in the beautiful city of Porto.

This is followed by a sprint for our 4.30pm wine tasting. Monverde Wine Hotel are our hosts at their wine lands hotel … Hilarity followed as some struggled to find their rooms post a few glasses of vino!

We had held a superb wine tasting session as a birthday party for the leader of our Team Alonso.

A Rock Star Welcome

Day 6 Sore heads were beaten into submission by our groups desire to wizz up the Atlantic Coastline for a great lunch at Vigo…

A late start had been compulsory due to celebrations which went deep into the night… again.

A shorter driving day was always the plan .. We lost an hour to BST and a further hour when hopping back into Spain.

60 minutes further on from Vigo was our goal for tonight, the Pilgrims destination Santiago de Compostela.

We lodged at the Parador De Santiago de Compostela, the oldest 5 star hotel in Spain. However, the best was yet to come, as we entered the narrow cobbled streets leading to the main square where we were privileged to be allowed to park outside the Parador, and rather cheekily….in front of of the Cathedral.

We received a rock star welcome by 100’s of tourists and car spotters who absolutely loved, and swarmed around the cars taking photos.

What a site they were, dirty, panting, covered in bugs … and that was just the drivers! Absolutely Fabulous!,

Petrolhead Heaven

Day 7 of our epic adventure was indeed EPIC!

An 8am departure from the enchanting city took us to the base of the best road of our tour. The 340, petrolhead heaven, particularly when blessed with beautiful skies.

We pushed hard as the clock was against us. We aimed for Bilbao, almost 400 miles away by 6pm… the promise of a champagne reception on the rooftop bar of The Art Hotel, with the Guggenheim museum as our backdrop, motivated everyone.

The challenging curves of the 340 induced wide grins and produced some outstanding driving memories.

Driving into, above, through and below the clouds all in the same hour was freaky and inspiring in equal measure.

Such was Team Sainz’ progress, that as we swung past Oviedo, a group decision for lunch at Fernando Alonso’s F1 Museum was a welcome surprise.

Fed & motivated for our final leg, sweeping along the Northern Coastline. Crashing waves on our left and snow capped mountains on our right, was truly jaw dropping.

This is a beautiful place to be, Aston Martins in front of us, McLarens behind, just added to the spectacular views.

We made it! 5.42pm at the hotel and 5.57pm on the jaw dropping rooftop bar. Fresh ice in the bucket, chilled sparkling Cava in the hand, it was time for the WWOW Tour Awards Ceremony!

This is wwow.uk

This is fun 🤩

This is how we roll and we would love you to roll with us on your next WWOW Supercar Adventure.

Hasta La Vista

Day 8 … final countdown. Don’t miss Bilbao, what a stunning city it is… we had work to do with a 1pm ferry and an 11am check out

It was easy to get lost on the 22 minute drive to the ferry and half the group did! Finally we filed onto the boat. Exhilarated, enthused & ready to do it all again asap!

In 30 hours we will be back in England. In 48 hours we will all be back at work. In 72 hours we will all be glued onto WhatsApp with pictures videos, stories, memories & laughter

By the weekend we will all have paid our deposits to return in 2026 🇪🇸🇵🇹🚙💨 … phew 😰

Hasta la vista

baby…. We will be back!

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Uncover The Thrills On Our Isle Of Man Adventure

Editorial Team — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 17:14:38 +0000

On the Isle of Man, the unmistakable bark of an Italian V10 or immense burbling of a cold German V8 under your bedroom window ensures there is no need for alarm calls

It’s 4.50am, sleepily pulling back the blackout curtains reveals a Police van with APR cameras patrolling our significant, colourful gathering… front plates a must here or a daily £100 fine!

You certainly don’t feel awake, but you sure as hell know you need to be very alert, very soon. The first thing to check is the mountain. Is it clear of clouds? Excellent, visibility is good …

Let’s go!

There is absolutely nothing that can prepare you for a totally unrestricted, early morning full speed Supercar run across an almost empty mountain road on the Isle of Man.

Time is short, so you’ve fuelled up the night before, but probably stayed up a bit too late as it’s always someone’s turn for a round, so you’re definitely on edge

The 2-3 police officers permanently camped out at the top of the hairpin give you a friendly wave & smile knowing exactly where you are heading on the Isle of Man, precisely why you are up so early and probably a little envious of what you are going to do next…..

Still on cold tyres, weaving through the cones, definite wheel spin at the tight and undulating Gooseneck, your sleepy eyes are on stalks now as you squeezed that loud pedal harder than normal and it’s already well above any other UK speed limit.

You see an easy 85- 90mph indicated on the cold climb out of Ramsey, pushing a bit harder each time through Joeys wiggle onto the Mountain mile it’s easy for it to be the last time your eyes drop as they super glue themselves onto the road ahead.

If my fears would subside (and the steering stop twitching which is taking the crazy McLaren 720s perilously close to the sheer drop) I’m sure I could do better than the glanced 165mph

You can hear the cold air being sucked into that twin-turbo V8; it’s demonically howling behind your head, ripping through the gears & punching you in the back; a booster rocket throwing you mercilessly onwards towards the horizon.

Through the frightening bends the Mc’s active downforce pulls on your stomach as you deliberately aim for that thin inside white painted line, the one that’s just inches away from brave photographers huddled against the wind, perched expertly on the apex for hour after hour searching for that elusive great picture

On the Isle of Man, it’s not just about the speed, as it’s certainly possible to go a lot quicker than me. Adding some driving skills with a bucket of bravery helps!

In year’s previous I’ve been humbled by local legend Julian Wood darting past in his wife’s mini.

In 2018 rumour has it that a nun in a Suzuki Swift, a tad late for 7am communion in Douglas did me round the outside at Windy Corner.; surely a beer induced embellishment … but there have been many, many pass me in the few years I’ve been coming to the Isle of Man.

The twists, curves, undulations and thumbs up from the local police at The Bungalow fizz by in a frenzy of colour as you once more floor whatever it is you have underfoot through second, third and fourth gear up the hill away from the dip.

Overtaking unsuspecting & surprised bikers at 120-140mph is a physical challenge as is staying alert to local two-wheel leather clad missile pilots who go from a dot of light in your rear-view mirror to a spec on your horizon barely 10 seconds later.

In just under 6 minutes, you’ve covered 10 miles of the Isle of Man; it goes so quick that it feels like a 90 second intense heart & cardio workout.

At The Creg-Ny-Baa pub it’s time to drop down to the coast and mainly 30-50mph roads back to Ramsey… wondering just how many more giggling, heart pumping white knuckle runs we can still fit in this morning?

Two, maybe three more before local traffic builds; all those white vans, numerous SUVs and the occasional vicar, who all use this public road 24/7 on route to work.

The early-morning adrenaline is addictive, and in some ways we are thankful it’s over by 8.30am, leaving the remainder of the day/s for meeting with mates you see once a year but wind up weekly on Social Media.

There is relentless car based predominantly laddy-bants over lunch at the Calf of Man plus our attempt at giving a little back to the Isle of Man with a couple of hours of charity work

Displaying the 30-odd supercars in the park and collecting donations for local hospitals, whilst squeezing in the odd cheeky youngster for a pic in the pilot seat

Kids young and old love the spectacle of nose to tail cars in the park. Talking with owners, seeing so many marques and colours, hearing them fire up and the lucky or cheeky ones climbing into the cars.

They are not short of opinions these youngsters!

“Wow Mister! Have you just won the lottery?”

“Whoa, love those doors…. is it a DeLorean?”

Or the all-time classic “You lot must be rulers of small African nations, stealing from the diamond mines with cars like that!”

Isle of Man Tours are a whirlwind 84 hours including little sleep, lots of laughter and inevitably, many beers. It also requires maximum respect & concentration for the roads, your speedy mates, local drivers & those leather clad missile pilots!

In today’s woke world it’s amazing such hedonistic, life affirming petrol-based fun still exists at all – you just have to grab this opportunity whilst it still exists!

WWOW supercar club can smooth the way and make it happen

If you would like to participate in the next Isle Of Man Amazing Adventure or any of our other drives and events apply to join WWOW Supercar club today

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