Bail out of the office early, and Uncle Ron is on the phone for some chat about the arrival - he's gutted not to be making the trip.
I've been trying so hard not to think about the trip as I've been let down so many times with regards to Ariel and with the week I've been having something has to go right!
Anyway, head home to meet my Dad, taxi to the airport, fly to Bristol, hire a merc and stay at one of my mates - crash at 12.30am for a 7am start, but i'm so tired i'm straight to sleep.
Wake up wanting to go! Bouncing down the stairs to the Merc, sat nav set from Crewkerne, and then we're off. As usual end up competing with my Sat Nav's eta and beat it by 30 minutes - woops!
Grab some brekky and get to the factory for 9am. As we drive through the fence at the entrance (there's work being done) i glance right to the old workshop and office to see no lights - bugger - then look left - fall in love - there is R8 ATG sitting lit under the roller doors in the workshop! And it looks awesome! Its finally happened, 13 months after ordering!
Walk down and meet with the chaps for the handover, spend some time chatting to Simon about the changes, and my Dad is looking at the car awestruck - me too - its mine - f***!
Go through the handover chat, check round it, sign some docs, and then get in to my Ski gear for the drive - hop in with MP3 player plugged in to the intercom system and helmet on.
It starts on the button, and i shimmy up the drive - Dad's infront with the Merc and Sat Nav as we head for Bristol Airport to drop the rental off.
First impressions - well i pull out on to the road and as we take an immediate right, i get it sideways (new 48's in the damp) correct immediately, and its back in line - the steering feel makes the RLC feel a bit wooly - it is that good. I'm laughing outloud and the intercom means i can hear my laugh in the speaker system - weird!
Through the lanes i take it easy, but as the roads get A status, Dad starts overtaking - the Atom is stupidly fast - not hesitation, just instant go, and thats before 5k rpm - once v-tec kicks in - wooooooooooooo!
Robin would have been happy he wasn't in the pax for the next few miles
As we join the M5 I gun it up the 2 lane slip road and pass the Merc like its doing a brake test! Hit the m-way and give it some beans - massive poke and cars are vanishing all around.
I'm happily giggling away listening to my tunes in my dream car - happy days!
I scalp a few Porsches but am still following the Merc so don't prat about too much - have loads of people with camera phones taking pics, and waving at me!
We arrive at the rental return;
Drop the merc off and the Atom has some admirers while we pack. Drive off, making sure my Dad is strapped in - leave the car park mentioning to Dad that this is pretty quick - just as he's reponding i nail it round a left hander, slightly sideways through 2nd in to 3rd - and i calm down - hee hee - Dad looks a bit amused/shocked!
Hit the M5, point it North and try to keep around 90tuts to make the journey pass quicker - its after 12 so i want to do as much as possible in daylight - the tank will do about 160 miles, but by that stage your happy for a quick stop!
Scalp a Porsche Turbo, Corvette and SL500 on route to Manchester, simply in acceleration, but that are all waving and giving the car a thumbs up after
Stop the other side of Manchester and after a roadkill snack, Dad takes over the controls - he's driven the 111r a few times but thats about it, so i'm slightly nervy and theres rain ahead.
He's fine though, and 10 miles in he's enjoying the performance and despatching other cars with glee - the occassional giggle, and despite the carsh helmet you know he's smiling - its an awesome feeling.
I nearly doze off after that for 10 mins or so! Crash helmets are pretty comfy!
We hit the rain and Dad after saying he'd pull over actually has loads of confidence in the car so he continues - for 110 miles - only giving up the keys when i ask him to eventually - he confesses to hoping to drive it all the way - but its now dark and wet so i take over. And there was me wondering if this would be too extreme for him! I laugh when he cracks 120tuts, and then later when he proudly announces he's the first person to break the 100tut barrier in Scotland in it
What have i created!!!The lights are crap, the front wheels hiding the sharper corners from light and therefore vision, and I'm now trying to make it home. Its tipping down, visibility in the crash helmet is impaired and with on coming car lights very tricky. Still having a ball though - feeling it sliding here and there, having a few sideways moments, and trying not to engage the vtec due to the lack of grip on offer.
We hit the A68 (after Hawick, previously we'd been on the A7) and i know this road REALLY well - where the puddles sit well - and things are instantly better - 6pm and we're home! An Elise would have left us on the A7, but I'm just happy we've got back in 1 bit.
Mum has the fire on and Dad is off to raid the Whisky cupboard for some special drops - 25year old Talisker is out to celebrate an epic trip.......and R8ATG takes up its place in the garage! Looking awesome.
Dinner tastes very good, as does the wine!
Sunday, and I'm 38 miles south of Edinburgh, forecast is for heavy rain - back on the A68 though, I'm happy, rain bouncing off and over taking is just outrageous! SO much go!
Come up behind a focus after skipping past 2 cars and as he pulls in i nail 5th - wheelspin - and its stopped raining by this stage - hilarious! Went past the focus like I'd hit the afterburners though
All sorts of people waving as i hit Dalkeith and then Edinburgh - the chap in Lauder pertol station even knew what it was and asked if it was the new one, with the new engine mounts!
Hit the bypass, nail it - one thing I can't get used to is how fast your mirrors clear - its unreal!
Go and see Robin, Greg (who wants to dry hump it!), my cousin and then round to Lawrences who's invited some the boys round - i think Lawrence likes it
I've not really taken too many corners without some correction its so much fun - like Scottys 340rr but even more lunatic at 460kg's!
Gutted i'm off to NYC this wedesday and not taking it to KH, but that time will come and often! Delighted!
