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World Cup 2006 Blog

From our reporters in Germany

Svan on the move

paul_fletcher.gif A GARAGE FORECOURT, DREIEICH-OFFENTHAL - Magic mechanic Schacher has installed the new immobiliser part in Svan and we are on the move again.

We are heading south, stopping for the night near Hockenheim, where Ricco will do his best , driving Svan around the .

Schacher and Dennis, who ordered the part we needed in double quick time, were immensely helpful.

gerhardcampsitedayseven270.jpgThat said, it took me a while to see the funny side when Schacher started joking that the spare key we needed to reprogramme the new unit had not arrived.

Schacher laughed and laughed.

We left our campsite this morning but not before the owner, Gerhard Schonweitz, showed us his entire collection of cuttings from the site's 36-year history.

Pride of place went to a piece in the local paper showing all the England fans that had stayed for the game against Paraguay standing in front of a customised limo-style Hummer.

It was painted in the colours of the George Cross and Gerhard could not have been more pleased that a "Hammer" had been to his site.

The only slightly distressing aspect of talking to Gerhard was when he wandered around for a chat wearing his tiny swimming shorts.

Distracting indeed.

Comments  Post your comment

  • 1.
  • At 01:39 PM on 14 Jun 2006,
  • Neil Meadows wrote:

Gerhard..pictures from 36 years...swimming costume...

was this "just a thong at highlights"?

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  • 2.
  • At 02:28 PM on 14 Jun 2006,
  • Jim wrote:

I'm really getting into this excellent blog - thanks for doing it - it really cheers me up, being a remote ex-pat in the wildest reaches of arctic Sweden to read of your escapades (the ups and the downs) in Germany!

It reminds me of when I drove through Frankfurt once and quickly learnt that mechanics everywhere do that "das ist nicht gut!" look - plus "zwei neue gummi!" isn't a phrase you want to hear after 10 hours' driving...

I look forward though to reading how Svan handles the Hockenheim track - perhaps you should do a race between Svan and one of you on inlines?? My money's on a draw...

Personally I'm looking forward to driving my red Saab coupΓ© to England in 2 weeks' time for the Final - complete with St George's flag on the roof, Γ  la "My car is Swedish but I am not so please don't trash it!!!"

Best of luck - I'll keep reading - but might skip future references to German campsite owners in swimming trunks....*shudder*.....

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  • 3.
  • At 02:39 PM on 14 Jun 2006,
  • boredatwork wrote:

You guys are Krazy!

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  • 4.
  • At 03:48 PM on 14 Jun 2006,
  • Simon Schafer wrote:

Don't forget to crank up the stereo to the tune of "The Chain" by Fleetwood Mac when you are flying around the track! I can hear Murray Walker now.

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  • 5.
  • At 03:59 PM on 14 Jun 2006,
  • Terry Mills wrote:

You guys should see if any of your Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ contacts can get in touch with that crazy German woman who drove Richard Hammond around the Nurburgring for Top Gear, she would give Svan a very energetic workout and I doubt Svan would ever experience being handled that expertly by a woman again!!

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  • 6.
  • At 04:39 PM on 14 Jun 2006,
  • JamesK wrote:

Well, then the first thing you guys should do is head for the Nuerburgring NOT the Hockenheimring. The Nordschleife (former Nuerburgring) is open to the public and a great track. As far as I know Hockenheim isn't open for the general public, and anyways it's nowhere near as good as the Nordschleife...

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  • 7.
  • At 04:58 PM on 14 Jun 2006,
  • wrote:

I just finished Spain VS Ukraine. This was one of the best games.

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  • 8.
  • At 05:10 PM on 14 Jun 2006,
  • Godfrey Benn wrote:

awesome stuff

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  • 9.
  • At 07:15 PM on 14 Jun 2006,
  • p. gunn wrote:

can u please tell me is it the world cup that the bbc are showing or is it the england road-show?


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  • 10.
  • At 07:18 PM on 14 Jun 2006,
  • Mike wrote:

You're not doing a very good Clarkson impression mif you try a lap of the Hockenheim F1 circuit. Clarkson's far more impressive feat was a lap of the awesome Nurburgring Nordschleife (again avoiding the sanitised GP cicuit which shares the illustrious name "Nurburgring" but is a pitiful attempt to cash in on the name).

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  • 11.
  • At 07:26 PM on 14 Jun 2006,
  • Patrick Mullan wrote:

What would you recommend as a half time snack to create an authentic German atmosphere (not your favourite, their favourite)?

Do they criticise or congratulate themselves in the media on the way they are organising the world cup?

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  • 12.
  • At 07:43 PM on 14 Jun 2006,
  • Mike wrote:

You can't be doing a Clarkson if you are driving the Hockenheimring, especially not in its new over sanitised F1 circuit guise. Get Svan over to the awesome Nurburgring Nordschleife and do a 'Clarkson' in style...just keep it away from the pitiful joke which is the Nurburgring GP circuit.

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  • 13.
  • At 07:50 PM on 14 Jun 2006,
  • Rob P wrote:

Good luck on Hockenheim lads.

I've never read a blog before this but now I'm hooked. It's excellent! You should have your own TV show.

Since Svan's on the mend, I'd love to see you pop down to one of my favourite shops near Munich. It's one of Germany's finest purveyors of traditional German
dress.

Given Fletch's criticism of his German host's attire, I'd love to see him paying proper homage to Germany's sartorial riches. Let's see him in Lederhosen!

Angermaier
Am Viktualienmarkt
Rosental 10
²ΡΓΌ²Τ³¦³σ±π²Τ

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  • 14.
  • At 08:24 PM on 14 Jun 2006,
  • wrote:

Was it you that gave me a toot in passing on the A3 today, or was it one of the several hundred other British camper vans heading Southwest?

Ps. Go on, give us a link!

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  • 15.
  • At 12:29 AM on 15 Jun 2006,
  • wrote:

Patrick, you wrote:

Do they criticise or congratulate themselves in the media on the way they are organising the world cup?

Well, I am one of those sceptic Germans donΒ΄t believing that Β΄06 was going to be a great World Cup. But hey: Really everyone praises the great atmosphere in the stadiums, in the streets, in the bars (IΒ΄m a regular Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 1-listener), most games are nice to watch and maybe itΒ΄s just a new kind of Germany the world sees, what makes this World Cup for us Germans so special.

As I said before: Not only me was sceptic, but what we experienced by now itΒ΄s going to be a terrific World Cup (and IΒ΄m looking forward to Germany vs. England ;-)) so maybe we can really be proud a litte bit, canΒ΄t we?

Best,

Lars
(Essen, Germany)

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Just for the record - we desperately wanted to go to the Nurburgring but it was shut because of a 24-hour race.

I thought it was pretty decent of Hockenheim to fit us in at such short notice so make sure you check out Ricco's blog on it.

And as for Rob P - if you think I'm wearing traditional German dress....

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  • 17.
  • At 12:27 PM on 21 Jun 2006,
  • odeh godwin ogbole wrote:

PLS persenter.
Help us tell FIFA that we are not happy with the way some of her refer, look away when some clear peneties offence are committed againt African Teams

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