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M25 - Any stories?

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Guest

Guest

Posted
Posted

Hey, Autoshiters!

 

For a dry run for my upcoming return to Higher Education ('LOL'), I've been tasked with writing an article about the M25 Orbital. One anecdote that interests me is that yuppies racing from South Mimms services on a loop in the late 80's. Wikipedia mentions it in passing, and there was a Radio 4 documentary narrated by James May a few years back.

 

Will anyone here admit to being there? Or to knowing someone who was there? Or took part themselves? Who would also be willing to be interviewed? No real identities will be divulged.

 

I realise I'm asking a lot. Accounts like these border on the apocryphal, and I've had a great deal of trouble getting people to come forward. Living in the North West and not being born until 1983 doesn't help either.

 

Can anyone out there help me?

outlaw118 Rank: Lancia Gamma

outlaw118

Posted
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The M25 circuit race was not just yuppies......

 

If i remember correctly (can't be arsed to look) it was finished 86/87? when myself and buddies got our driving licences, and would go on random road trips, M25 circuit being one of them.

I did my first circuit in a Renault 4gtl JLE627V, from tunnel to tunnel, in about 2 hours.

"Cruisers" used to meet at Thurrock services and "race" round, and as far as I remember, a bloke on some silly motorbike holds the unnoficial record well under the hour - that was probably 15+ years ago, in the middle of the night, and pre speed cameras.

The last time I did it must have been 1995/6 with a few chaps, in my Capri, in 1 hour 15 minutes - I could have done it quicker, but the attention of the Essex police put pay to that by pulling me over just past Junction 28!! They were just coming on to the motorway at J28, and I went past - fortunately I saw them quickly and backed off (and pulled the handbrake on a few notches), they tugged me and estimated my speed to be around 120. As my Capri is only a 1600 (we won't talk about the modifications!) and therefore top end is officially 105ish, and they were on their way back to base at the end of their shift, they let me off with a stern warning!.

meggersdog Rank: Renault 16

meggersdog

Posted
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South Mimms services back in the early ninties was plagued by dodgy salesmen with fake Italian accents selling fake Italian leather coats.There was also wideboys selling dodgy watches.There was always five or six prowling the carpark during the day."excuse me,mate,have you got the time ? No,wanna buy a watch then?"

warren t claim Rank: Matra Rancho towing a Tagora

warren t claim

Posted
Posted

The Transit chase scene in the film The Fourth protocol was filmed on a section of the M25 just weeks before it opened.

MrRegieRitmo Rank: Renault 16

MrRegieRitmo

Posted
Posted

The Transit chase scene in the film The Fourth protocol was filmed on a section of the M25 just weeks before it opened.

when did it open? That film was late 80s wasn't it? Has the M25 only existed as long as that?! :shock:

FredTransit Rank: Lancia Gamma

FredTransit

Posted
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I got finished in sections, I recently found a 1986 Great Britain atlas with parts of the M25 still shown as dotted lines...

The Liberator Rank: Austin Maxi

The Liberator

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Does anyone else remember J'adore the M25 from the mid '90s, basically half an hour of Will Self driving around the M25 in a Scorpio with 200 JPS and a camera for company?

Guest

Guest

Posted
Posted

Has the M25 only existed as long as that?! :shock:

Feels like longer, doesn't it? :D

 

www.cbrd.co.uk/motorway/m25/

Fascinating, fascinating website. I want a pre Worboys sign. Dammit, I need one!

Rod/b Rank: Renault 16

Rod/b

Posted
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A friend of mine was a quantity surveyor on the M25 between South Mimms and St Albans and has told me a few stories about it. One of the most telling is that there a stretch that is built on landfill which at the time it was built, was only 3 years out of service. The minimum required settle time is something like 15-20 years.

 

As a result the road in that area is a bit of a roller coaster. One of the bridges over that particular stretch was designed to subside on it's foundation something like 20mm in the first 25 years. It managed that inside the first 18 months.

Pillock Rank: Matra Rancho towing a Tagora

Pillock

Posted
Posted

There was an article in Max Power (I know, I know...) about the circuit racers.... back in the mid to late 90s it's alleged there was a club who used stickers from the group "Orbital" on their cars to identify each other and race in the early hours.

Rusty Pelican Rank: Renault 16

Rusty Pelican

Posted
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Wasnt road to hell written because of the M25

Guest

Guest

Posted
Posted

Wasnt road to hell written because of the M25

It was. Chris Rea got stuck in a traffic jam somewhere on the way home.

Richard Rank: Talbot Matra Rancho

Richard

Posted
Posted

The Transit chase scene in the film The Fourth protocol was filmed on a section of the M25 just weeks before it opened.

when did it open? That film was late 80s wasn't it? Has the M25 only existed as long as that?! :shock:

Part of Withnail and I (1986) was also filmed on the M25.

FredTransit Rank: Lancia Gamma

FredTransit

Posted
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Some years ago there was a chap who put a video camera in his car and drove a complete circuit of the M25, filming his journey. As far as I can remember, he sold quite a few copies.

 

I think the sequel involved driving round in the opposite direction.

 

 

On the same carriageway? I bet a lot of coppers watched that one :lol:

25v6turbo Rank: Citroen Ami

25v6turbo

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i THINK Reigate section was the last section to be finished??

AXrescuer Rank: Citroen Ami

AXrescuer

Posted
Posted

The Transit chase scene in the film The Fourth protocol was filmed on a section of the M25 just weeks before it opened.

According to Britmovie, that scene was filmed on the Chelmsford By-Pass before it was officially opened.

 

The motorbike chase from the Cafe scene was filmed in Luton in case anyone is interested! :wink:

chaseracer Rank: Matra Rancho towing a Tagora

chaseracer

Posted
Posted

M25 is for amateurs :wink:

 

Try the Paris peripherique at Friday rush hour, or the DC Beltway at just about any time. The mental scars are not yet healed... :shock:

warren t claim Rank: Matra Rancho towing a Tagora

warren t claim

Posted
Posted

M25 is for amateurs :wink:

 

Try the Paris peripherique at Friday rush hour, or the DC Beltway at just about any time. The mental scars are not yet healed... :shock:

Like this guy?

 

FredTransit Rank: Lancia Gamma

FredTransit

Posted
Posted

M25 is for amateurs :wink:

 

Try the Paris peripherique at Friday rush hour, or the DC Beltway at just about any time. The mental scars are not yet healed... :shock:

Then come off and go round the Arc De Triumphe........

Dead_E23 Rank: Renault 16

Dead_E23

Posted
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Have you read 'London Orbital' by Iain Sinclair?

Good book! I think it's the best one of his that I've read.

 

According to the rather excellent 'On Roads' by Joe Moran, Bob Geldof worked on the construction of the first stretch of M25, driving a 'T23 muck-shifter'. Too bad he didn't stick at that.

chaseracer Rank: Matra Rancho towing a Tagora

chaseracer

Posted
Posted

M25 is for amateurs :wink:

 

Try the Paris peripherique at Friday rush hour, or the DC Beltway at just about any time. The mental scars are not yet healed... :shock:

Then come off and go round the Arc De Triumphe........

:shock:

 

Point well made, Fred. No thanks... :wink:

Mr Lobster Rank: Lancia Gamma

Mr Lobster

Posted
Posted

M25 is for amateurs :wink:

 

Try the Paris peripherique at Friday rush hour, or the DC Beltway at just about any time. The mental scars are not yet healed... :shock:

Then come off and go round the Arc De Triumphe........

I absolutely love driving in / around Paris. Arc de Triomphe is gr8. Think of it as a challenge and an opportunity to hone your driving skillz. :D

nigel bickle Rank: Renault 16

nigel bickle

Posted
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With Monsieur Crustacean on that one.

 

Arc de Triomphe?

 

Just imagine a big pointy sharp impaler welded right on the front - with points added for thenumber of impaled frogs.

 

Makes it simple, really.

 

Might go round twice-just to increase the points total.

FredTransit Rank: Lancia Gamma

FredTransit

Posted
Posted

We once lost somebody going round the Arc De Triumphe, in two Mk2 transit lutons. It was the follower's first time in Paris, so he just went round and round till we came back and picked him up! :lol:

 

I find the best way to go is

 

Full beam

Hang on the horn

Take no prisoners.....

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