Carfreax

DAUPHIN COLLECTION

Have we been here before? Virtually yes, but let's hit it one more time. Another CFX visit to a place full of hidden pleasures. It is the beginning of december and to top off an exciting year with a dose of inspiration we have decided to head north, direction Nuernberg. Somewhere in a little village we hit our target, dressed up your average industrial complex. Here one would expect a company specialized in milling machines, elevators perhaps or even tooling parts for the industry.

Behind these doors you will be blown back by a tsunami of heavenly metal. To cut it short, we are visiting the Dauphin Collection, a private party, an oasis of car history, packed, cramped, stuffed into a 21st century barn. The cars are lined up side to side. This is not not your usual museum tour or car show. A collection of cars, ranging from German, Italian to British. A feast for the eye and a hard one for the man behind the camera. One hundred cars in the first our and after that a walk through the second floor, filled up with more than 250 motorcycles. Details, details, details. A photo impression. Enjoy.

- Matt.

LIFE ON MARS

My opinion has changed. The four wheelers that rattle through the inner cities look out of place; cafe posers from another planet.

But these days I discover the true qualities of quads. And yes, it might have to do with the fact that it is me that has landed on another planet.

We have enjoyed the "summer in the winter" at Fuerte Ventura for a couple of days. Now it is time to sign up for a slightly different exploration of the volcanic island.

The good thing about rental cars is that you don't own them and most of the time they come pre-dented. Nevertheless it is still a challenge to get a reasonable speed out of the little four potters, especially when you are winding heavy gravel roads to find that perfect surf spot. We leave the climatised comfort zone of our Polo and head up to the cramped box office of the local x-trailers. After signing the usual papers with tiny letters we find ourselves sitting on the whirling contraptions. The instructions are brief; brake, another brake and ,most important, the thumb gas lever. "Have fun guys, but no rocks, right?!"

Four hours of sheer fun follow, trailing the hidden paths, volcano sites and dunes of Fuerte Ventura. Could this be Life on Mars? Although we have to follow our african guide as a convoy we quickly find out that there is more in racing than overtaking. Uli drives in front of me as he displays the first power drift of the day. Many will follow, increasing in length and drama. These machines are fantastic! With speeds well beyond 80 km/h we dust through the landscape, circling around the stones on our path.

It is at lunch time that we find out the "no rocks" part of the instructions did not apply to avoiding stones themselves, but more with the way we have dealt with it so far.

No drifts, no fun. During the second half of our trip we use every possible alibi to get the fat tires into spin. Driving quads is a drug. We come home with a brown tan, out of thick dust that is. That same night Floris and I experience a cold turkey and decide to go back the next day. We try to make a deal with our guide: "we want to go for the two hours trip, but you can leave the touristic bullshit out of it, speed is what we crave for!" The man, dressed in authentic african style, smiles. "I knew you guys will come back for more, don't worry you will have fun! relax."

Unfortunately our need for speed is disturbed by the unexperienced rest of the group. In the first bend, the first Italian tourist decides to go straight ahead into the stones. At the first touristic stop Floris and I get the sign. "I promised you will have fun!" We trail off with full throttle, leaving a long tail of dust behind us. In the broken rear mirror a can see the beginners taking pictures of  the "wonderful volcano panorama".

More impressions at the other channel after the bleep.