2007 August | Alex Roy's Team Polizei 144 Blog

Archive for August, 2007

The Road Home from Londino

Published by JF August 27th, 2007 8 Comments

The vacation for Alex and Michael is coming to an end. After having a wonderful time on the Londino, the two have started their way back north towards London. With Alex driving the entire leg because Master Piloten Ross has lost his driving privileges within France, the two have successfully made it from Saint Tropez to the Euro Tunnel in less then 11 hours. But it isn’t as simple as it sounds. Alex and Michael decided to take the usual Team Polizei long-cut through different cities such as Le Luc and Toulon which resulted in an additional 50 or so extra miles to the trip. Quite an impressive stint for a single driver; even for Herr Roy. For a majority of the trip, the two convoyed north with new friends in an Aston Martin Vantage Roadster. Two beautiful roadsters heading north from the French Riviera.. what a sight it must have been.

To sum up today’s drive
Departure St Tropez: 215pm
Arrival Calais: 1254am
Total driving: 760miles

Published in the following categories: Alex Roy, Londino 2007, Londino Automobile Tour, Team Polizei - Garage and Team Polizei - Michael Ross.

de Grisogono Londino Transnational Automobile Tour - Update #6

Published by JF August 25th, 2007 5 Comments

We won the Jabra and "pal Zileri" sponsor trophies, which means we each will receive the custom made suit of our choice. Jens won the de Grisogono watches for his noble struggle in getting his red Lamborghini Diablo into the checkpoints each day, especially after the vicious curbing of one of his rims. Unofficially - since we are on vacation and the Londino.. a transnational, automotive treasure hunt - it would be inappropriate to discuss our two first place and one second place stage finishes.. especially since we made some tenacious friends. More importantly, we had a fantastic time and can’t wait to do another. The Londino organizers and teams were fantastic and wonderful people, unparalleled in their generosity and warmth.
Details to follow. - Alex Roy

Published in the following categories: Londino Automobile Tour.

de Grisogono Londino Transnational Automobile Tour - Update #5

Published by JF August 25th, 2007 6 Comments

The last day of the Londino Rally has brought some of the best driving on some of the best roads in the world. Here’s what Alex has to say:

Departure Geneva 0945hr local. First picture taken, Harbor crescent statue in port of Ouchy, Lausanne. Past town of Brig, 1pm… Past Simplon pass in mountains at 1:20pm. Past border into Italy at 1:40pm. Headed toward lunch checkpoint at Stresa. Arrived second at checkpoint, now departing early for special detour. Dep Stresa 3:15hr… now 102mph southbound on A26 Autostrada. Although Final stop at portofino is 220km, todays task includes taking ten pictures of the theme of "style", therefore we are taking detour to town of Serravella to Londino Sponsor "Palzileri" clothing store - there to acquire items more stylish than the white outfits we are now wearing that have accumulating dirt, spilled drinks, Italian and Swiss chocolate.

Published in the following categories: Alex Roy, Londino 2007, Londino Automobile Tour, Rallies, Team Polizei - Garage, Team Polizei - J.F. Musial, Team Polizei - Michael Ross, Team Polizei - Miscellaneous and Vehicles.

de Grisogono Londino Transnational Automobile Tour - Update #4

Published by JF August 24th, 2007 5 Comments

Day two, Paris to Geneva

Michael Ross decided he wanted to make a few new friends today while on the Londino. Those new friends? The Police Officers of the elite French Highway Patrol Unit driving Subaru WRXs. Thats right. Alex and Michael got pulled over just shortly after leaving Paris this morning on the A16 south near Auxerre. So what does this mean? Well, Michael Ross official now has the first ticket ever given to a Londino participant. 191km/h in a 130km/h zone.

Master Piloten Ross is banned from driving in France for two months, but no worries, Switzerland is only a few hours away and Alex is at the wheel of the BMW Z8. The good news is that Alex and Michael made great friends with the officers who pulled them over. The officers were amazed that they pulled over Alex and Michael; it seems Polizei team members are the catch of the day for highway patrol officers around the world. The officers of the elite unit even invited Ross and Alex to dinner when the rally is over. Alex and Michael wanted me to point out that the Londino doesn’t deserve this. Michael feels terrible and shamed for bringing the first ticket ever to the event.

Otherwise, the event seems to be well organized and lots of fun. On a side note: I’ve never heard Alex so happy on a rally before, it really is a vacation for them.

Published in the following categories: Alex Roy, Law Enforcement, Londino 2007, Londino Automobile Tour, Rallies, Team Polizei - Garage, Team Polizei - J.F. Musial, Team Polizei - Michael Ross, Team Polizei - Miscellaneous, Team Polizei - Special Operations and Vehicles.

Day 1 Photos - de Grisogono Londino Transnational Automobile Tour

Published by JF August 23rd, 2007 1 Comment

Published in the following categories: Alex Roy, Londino 2007, Team Polizei - Michael Ross and Team Polizei - Miscellaneous.

de Grisogono Londino Transnational Automobile Tour - Update #3

Published by JF August 23rd, 2007 5 Comments

Mobile Update from Alex Roy:

Gas stop and unnecessary big mac chasers at Auchan shopping center 25 miles from Paris. 12 minutes lost… from vacation clock. alas. Now entering A15 south towards paris. Unknown Position, but, like going to the beach, you don’t need to sit by the water to catch the sun.

N49 02.283

E 002 11.884

Have shifted garmin waypoint to Arch of Triumph for mobile driveby picture opportunity (eta 0638hr) then proceed east on Champs Elysees for driveby shot of Obelisk at Place de La Concorde, then east to Place Vendome and Rit final checkpoint of the day.

de Grisogono Londino Transnational Automobile Tour - Update #2

Published by JF August 23rd, 2007 2 Comments

Message from Alex:

"After a FANTASTIC lunch of Foie gras and salmon - sitting with Hudson Morgan - senior editor at Mens Vogue, and Laura Hughes, editor of Elite Traveler… we are now traveling at good Polizei speed. Light mist allowed for top down cruise, sudden mild rain and grey clouds necessitated a stop for roof raise. 2000 Z8 fantastic cruiser and unappreciated. People keep asking what it is!

182 driving miles since london

ETA Ritz Paris - 623hr local

In the lead with with Black Audi S5 factory loaner driven by Swedish girls, Pia Granberg and Annika

Photos on the way, being sent over phone."

Published in the following categories: Alex Roy, Londino 2007, Londino Automobile Tour, Team Polizei - Garage, Team Polizei - J.F. Musial and Team Polizei - Michael Ross.

de Grisogono Londino Transnational Automobile Tour Begins

Published by JF August 23rd, 2007 3 Comments

Departing at 0925GMT from Bluebird in London this morning, Alex and Michael Ross in a BMW Z8 made it to the Channel Tunnel at around 1100GMT. Alex and Michael report that the event is very relaxing, fun, and nothing compared to what they have ever done before. With a total of 17 cars included a new Audi S5, Lamborghini Diablo, Gumpert Apollo, and a range of other exotics, this year’s challenge is considered to be a treasure hunt. Each team was provided a Sony Cybershot camera in order to take photos of certain locations, acts, and adventures throughout the day. Today’s required photos include: L’Auberge Du Moulinel and the Arch de Triumph. The idea is not to just take photos of each location, but to do it in the most creative way.

So far, Alex and Michael want to express how pleased they are with this "Invitational, Exclusive, Transnational Automobile Treasure Hunt and Tour." They both want to compliment and thank Anders Bernunger, and Erik & Jens Trulsson for organizing one of the most pleasing, relaxing, and fun automotive events. Being that the event is not a race, or even a rally, Alex and Michael have been enjoying their time, even with the poor weather conditions in the area.

Next update in a few hours with photos taken on the road. Ross’s BMW Z8, the same Z8 which was in the 2001, 2002, and 2003 Gumballs, is only semi "Polizei equiped" but is running flawlessly.

Team Polizei Joins The Londino!

Published by Alex Roy August 21st, 2007 19 Comments

A generous last minute invitation received via aSmallWorld has resulted in Team Polizei’s first vacation in nearly four years…in other words, I - as in Master Piloten Michael Ross and I - will be joining the Londino. The Londino is neither a rally nor a race - it is, according to its site, an "invitation-only, transnational treasure hunt with automobiles, between London and Portofino-"

Although I’d heard of the Londino before receiving our invitation only last week, I’ve yet to meet anyone who’s participated since its inception in 2005. A Google search yielded only this one account from 2006, and this is the official blog and press release regarding our entry.

I’m sure none of the 2007 entrants, including my old friend Michael Ross, are remotely interested in the twin de Grisogono watches to be awarded the winning team. As Ross and I are on vacation, we will be participating "undercover" in an all-new, heretofore undriven-as-a-Team Polizei-interceptor Interceptor…unstickered, in outfits more comfortable than our usual fare.

Rumors suggest the Londino will depart London Thursday morning at 0900hr, with stops in northern France, Paris, Geneva, Stresa and, ultimately, the Hotel Splendido in Portofino this coming Sunday. Each stage requires the deciphering of various clues, with some as-yet unclear method of awarding points and/or prizes, none of which matters to us…of course. We’re on vacation.

We, with help from Polizei Operations Chief J.F. Musial, will be blogging both here and posting updates (and video, as possible) via FastLaneDaily. and GTSpirit.com. More to follow…

Published in the following categories: Alex Roy, Cory Welles, GPS, Laser Jammers, Londino 2007, Londino Automobile Tour, Media - Miscellaneous, Media - Print/Online, Rallies, Social Networking, Team Polizei - Garage, Team Polizei - J.F. Musial, Team Polizei - Michael Ross, Team Polizei - Miscellaneous and Technology.

Gumball-Live.com Goes Live!

Published by admin August 19th, 2007 2 Comments

Several hard-working friends have just launched a new fan site called Gumball-Live. This comes at precisely the right time, since Gumball’s official fan forums have recently been plastered by spam posts.

I wish them the best of luck.

Published in the following categories: Gumball 3000, Media - Miscellaneous, Media - Print/Online, Media - Video, Rallies and Social Networking.

Alex Roy’s Team Polizei 144 Blog