Today we received the first information about the Torpedo Run 2008:

This years’ Torpedo Run will be held between 12th September 2008 and 14th September 2008. With the start in Ahaus, North of Düsseldorf (Germany), and end in St. Tropez (France) at the Mediterranean coast, you can look forward to an extraordinary mobile party. Torpedo Run gives you a weekend of sheer fun: action-packed events, awsome locations, amazing views and breathtaking mountain passes. In addition culinary pleasures, luxury hotels and stylish parties. New challenges and exclusive events are going to await you at all times.

During the Torpedo Run you experience several European countries. Starting in Ahaus you drive across the Benelux countries to Paris, the luxury capital of France. From thence across the land of the volcanos to Lyon. Before arriving at St. Tropez, the embodiment of jet set tourism, you will experience thrilling mountain roads and impressive massifs. Each night you will stay in luxury hotels, revel in culinary pleasures and celebrate eccentric parties. Torpedo Run is not a race, it’s about passion. There is no timing and no competition. Nobody is pressed for time to enjoy the whole event. So we got the official go of the government and administrative authority.

The locations and venues this year are something not to be missed. The motto “Torpedo Run in the altitudes” runs through the events. Teams who have already participated in the Torpedo Run know that we organize superb events coming along with a lot of fun. We bring a wealth of experience: Torpedo Run already takes place for the fourth year in succession.

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Fun events, cool parties, luxury hotels and challenging racetracks: that’s the Torpedo Run! In 2007 the varied tour included several European countries and the highest pass roads of the Alps conquered by cars like Lamborghini Diablo SV, Ferrari F430, Porsche Turbo, Corvette Z06 and Mini Cooper S. Enjoy this short excellent vid, made of the video footage of the Torpedo Runners (special thanks to Andy, Martin and Sacha).

Next Torpedo Run will be held in September 2008, again starting in Germany and leading across several European countries. More information about the Torpedo Run can be found at www.torpedorun.com.

20. September 2007 – Day 0 Torpedo Run

Thanks to Torpedo Run organiser Christian we secured a spot on the grid of this automotive adventure. Our car of choice was a 2007 Mini Cooper S. A lot of the participants were quiet nervous, if everything would be okay…. But the Torpedo Run is different from most other rallies. That’s the reason the German government gave the official okay for the Torpedo Run and the Torpedo Run was the only rally allowed to drive across West-Germany this year..

On Thursday everything started for me: My things were packed, batteries for the camera were charged. Navigation system (as far I could) programmed and off with the train to Ahaus, where I met up with Des. After the arrival at Ahaus, Des picked me up with the Mini and we drove to the “Ratshotel Ahaus” to check-in and ditch the luggage. Soon we were back on the road to get the car washed as the organisers requested the cars to be clean before the stickers were applied. A washbox, 5 euro and a lot of water and soap later the car was almost as dirty as before but we didn’t feel like doing it again so we drove to the rally check-in…

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Team GTspirit.com had the opportunity to take part at this years Torpedo Run. We participated with a Mini Cooper S and surprised alot of the other Torpedo Runners, with its performance. It was great to meet the other car enthusiasts. To keep the memories of the Torpedo Run alive, we made this compilation video with pics from the event. Enjoy!
To get more info about the Torpedo Run visit our forum!

The success of the Torpedo Run: one man is behind this extraordinary event. Christian made the impossible possible. After long discussions with the German government, he got the official ‘go’ for the Torpedo Run. And all the work he put in this event was worth it. Now Christian shares his experiences about this exciting three days:

21st September 2007
» Ahaus, Germany
» Papenburg, Germany
» Luxembourg

Torpedo Run started in Ahaus, Germany. Nobody expected in the city North of Düsseldorf such a spectacular location: the Tobit.Elements. Entertainment, action, restaurant and hotel at the same place. The Torpedo Runners agreed: It was the perfect choice.

In the virtual world of the Tobit.Elements the participants were able at the sing-in to show their skills as a rally pilot in a simulator and got to know what it means to dash an aircraft with high speed. The simulators allowed unlimited twists of 360 degrees over the roll as well as over the pitch axes - a real adrenaline rush! The sportcars and exotics like Lamborghini Diablo SV, Porsche Carrera GT, Ferrari F430, Porsche 997 Turbo, Hummer H2, Corvette Z06, Porsche GT3 und Jaguar XKR were parked safely in a hangar which is also located on the same area.

In the morning the Torpedo Run started to Papenburg (Germany) to have fun on a special racetrack. Torpedo Run is not a race, it’s about passion. So the organizers have the official go of the government and administrative authority to start the event in Germany.

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This years Torpedo Run was defenitiv one big superb event. The participants had a lot of fun together and experienced things, which they will never forget. One of the biggest German TV stations, SAT1, accompanied the event. This saturday, the 6th October 2007 at 5 pm CET, the ‘SAT1 Automagazin’ will report about the Torpedo Run, to show the fascination of supercar-enthusiasts during such legal event.

Torpedo Run 2007 was traditionally held in September for the third time. With the start in Ahaus, North of Düsseldorf (Germany) and end at Lake Garda in Italy. Car enthusiasts enjoyed an extraordinary mobile party, includig eccentric parties, luxury hotels, legendary racetracks and exclusive events. Torpedo Run gave the participants a long weekend of sheer fun!

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Enjoy this great write-up by Team NASA, Natasa and Sacha, about their great time during the Torpedo Run 2007! Thanks alot to you both. Was great to meet you there!

Day 0

We had to drive extremly early to the airport, because we had to fly to Hamburg. After a 300km drive with our new Jaguar XKR, we arrived at Ahaus. Other participants and television was already there. After some drinks, we pasted the stickers on the car. Then I found out, that the TV-Station wants Team Bavaria and Team NASA as actors for their TV-reportage. Ok, first interview after grappa and some beers… We hat to make all things 3 times for the TV-Crew…perfect… that included also to park the car 3 times in the same parkingslot… After the interview we went for eat. Easy cool conversation with PX, Des and the crew from SAT1. We were early in bed, because I liked to be fit for the next day. But was really nice to meet all this people. We were sure to have a lot of fun the weekend.

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Torpedo Run Day 2: (Photos)

After a great party in the ‘White’ club in Luxembourg everybody woke up a little bit late this morning. Only the Christian and Andy made it to breakfast before 8am, so the 8.30 starttime was delayed until 9.30. With all the cars safely making it out of Germany we put all the Torpedo Run stickers on the car in the carpark of the hotel in Luxembourg. After everybody stickered up their car and collected still sleeping team members we drove out of the garage together and stopped in front of the hotel so the SAT1 film crew could film us.

First stop after leaving the hotel was an Aral petrolstation at the highway in Luxemburg. After driving solo most of the way the day before we decided to drive together in small groups to the karting checkpoint in Switserland. We teamed up with Andy in the Opel Speedster, Sasha and Natasha in the Jaguar XKR Convertible, Martin and Hansie in the Ferrari F430 and the guys in the Mercedes CLK Convertible. We made our way through France and stopped a couple times to wait for others or refuel. We got ahead of the others near Strasbourg by taking a different toll gate and we took it really easy after that, 2CV’s overtook us like we were standing still. When Andy and the Bayern F430 boys popped up in our mirror we sped up a little and followed them to the Swiss border. There Hansie stopped the F430 on the hardshoulder to drop all the illegal goodies they picked up in Holland in the bushes… just kidding!

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Day 2 brings the Torpedo runners and the wonderfull grid to Switzerland. After the party of last night and the first leg of today, they can show their racing skills on a kart track in France. This promisses to be a challenge and let’s hope that our GTspirit team beats them all! For a full write up of day one you can click here!

Update #1:
10:31 CET by PX
Day 2 has started with a big delay. Now we are in France and on the way to the kart center in Switzerland.

Update #2:
11:54 CET by PX
We arrived now in Strasbourg. Traffic is getting busy!

Update #3:
13:59 CET by PX
Arrived at kart! Time to for some hot laps …

Update #4:
18:08 CET by PX
The Torpedo participants left Karting and are on their way to Geneva. This evening there will be an exclusive party on a private boat!

Day 1! (Photos)

This morning we got up really early, I skipped breakfast as usual for an additional 10 minutes of sleep Then put all the gear in the car and drove to the startline at Tobit.Elements. A growing crowd gathered near the hangar and startline with the police present as special guest.

We were the third car to leave but parked the car right after the start to film and take some photographs. We then left with only 7 cars remaining, where all the satnavs told us to go right, my reckon plus knowledge of the police traps on that road made me decide to go left and within no-time we made it to the highway without seeing any police.

First checkpoint was the test-track in Papenburg about 150km north of Ahaus. On the highway we saw multiple police cars keeping an eye out for us but we all drove according to rules and regulations. Closer to the track more radar and laser controls greeted us but we couldn’t be bothered we knew a track was waiting for us less then 10 minutes away.

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Today is the official start day of the 2007 Torpedo Run. Day 1 one brings the participants from Ahaus (Germany) to the checkpoint in Papenburg where from they all drive to the final destination of day 1 in Luxumbourg. Like yesterday, Des and PX, will bring updates during the day which you can follow here in our forum. For pictures of day one you can visit our photo gallery!

Update #1:
08:02 CET by PX
Just checking out now. Only need to install vid cam and second navigation system and then we are on our way to the start!

Update #2:
09:26 CET by PX
On nice german Autobahn now. Everything without going fine. In about an hour we are in Papenburg!

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The first collection of Torpedo Run photos is added to our Torpedo Run gallery. Day 0 is traditionally a day of meet & greet with other participants and registration, and at a gathering of petrolheads a very important aspect is checking out eachothers rides. One of our favourite cars at the Torpedo Run grid is a Lamborghini Diablo SV. The 5.7 liter engine in this ‘Sport Veloce’ variant of the Diablo produces a whopping 510 hp. Another very special car is the CLP 5000 DTM based on the CLK AMG-DTM.

For more Torpedo Run 2007 tune in to our Torpedo Run channel or Torpedo Run forum!