Singapore to North Thailand: 7500 kms Round Trip

[Supercharged in Asia]

Currently in Bangkok but drove up in my Singapore registered MCS to Chiang Mai - Pai - Mae Hong Son - Doi Inthanon. What beautiful, mountainous roads from Chiang Mai, skirting the North West Border with Burma. Started my journey from Singapore passing through Kuala Lumpur, Cameron Highlands and Penang in Malaysia and then up to the border at Kayu Hitam and through to Had Jai-Krabi-Phuket-Khao Lak-Prachuap Khiri Khan-Hua Hin-Bangkok-Pattaya-Sukothai-Lamphang. North Thailand has the best driving roads that I have encountered in South East Asia. Also managed to get a few track days in Thailand at Bira Circuit, Thailand Racing Circuit in Nakhon Chaisi and Bangkok Racing Circuit. Now, I just have to figure out how and when to go back home, I'm enjoying this long drive quite a bit!

Previous round-trips were Vancouver-San Diego (Boxster2.7), London-Copenhagen (Golf GTI) and Sydney-Melbourne (rented Toyota Corolla Hatch).

The Mini has been fantastic and reliable and in near stock form (aside from 15% pulley, CAI, 22mm sway bar, after market 16" rims, Yoko AD07s) got me a bit of tin at the last track day at Bira. The Mini community are fantastic and friendly and always helpful in Asia.

Minis Rule!

[shoeboy]

First, welcome to NAM!

This must have been an awesome trip. Motoring in a Mini is always special, but road trips are even better. It sounds like you have quite a bit of experience in this area.

So, with Asia, Europe, North America and Australia down, I'm guessing that South America is next??

Finally, great pictures!
I especially like this one, as it is a great example of the Mini's allure.



Well Done!!

[Supercharged in Asia]

Still haven't finished with the drive! In fact, CarreraCat and AllBlackS on Nam, in MCS JCWs (one cab) from Singapore are heading up to join me in Bangkok in ten days time. Together perhaps with JCW30 and Si Power (also on NAM), two Thai JCWs, we are then heading back down to Singapore again - the long way, via all the beach resorts, hill climbs, race circuits and track days that we can find and plan for en route.

Though there have been some bombings by separatists in the South of Thailand, we have marked out our route to minimise incursions or intrusions into restive areas. We hope to skirt these problem areas, and these dudes are insistent on driving anyway!

MINIs are utterly reliable, fantastic, faithful companions on long drives!

I would love to do the Motorcycle Diaries route at some stage through Chile and Peru! I just need a sponsor, ha ha, are you listening MINI?

If you are a fan of winding roads, I would recommend Chiang Mai-Pai-Mae Hong Son-Mae Sariang-Doi Inthanon (700 klicks and over 2,000 bends - see www.gt-rider.com) in North Thailand and Cameron Highlands/Guar Musang in Malaysia as two roads that you must definitely do in your lifetime. Our versions of your dragon, but longer!

There is also Jakarta-Borobodur which I did in a BMW X5 - splendid scenery also.

Let's Motor!

[carreracat]

Road trip, Road trip, Road trip!! 4 days to go, bring it on!!!!!!

[Supercharged in Asia]

Dude

This is what is coming up. Get ready!

[Maxicooper]

Great...., I really miss Thailand.

If you get a chance, try a trip to Khao Yai national park. Great road though.

I'm planning to go back for next year vacation (not with my Mini ). But I might be able to get a hold of my friend Mini to drive around.
Stay in touch, May be we can get together once I'm there.

[clubspec330i]

I love the northern road..did a routine run from Lamphun to Chiang Rai in my modified Honda.

A year ago, I had an idea of shippin my M3 CS back to Thailand so I can drive those road again. Now, as I enter my 2nd week of MCS ownership, I want to do those roads in my Mini. I wander if it is possible to rent a mini in Thailand for half a month or something, 15-20k baht?

Keep the story coming. I am now officially jealous of you..

[Scavenger]

Originally Posted by Maxicooper

Great...., I really miss Thailand.

If you get a chance, try a trip to Khao Yai national park. Great road though.

I'm planning to go back for next year vacation (not with my Mini ). But I might be able to get a hold of my friend Mini to drive around.
Stay in touch, May be we can get together once I'm there.

I was just thinking of Khao Yai! The mountain road going to the top is very twisty!

[Maxicooper]

Only one thing, you have to look out for some wild elephants.
Seriously, I was charged by a wild elephant when I was trying to take a picture of him from my car at night. But that was like 20 somethings years ago.
I think he didn't like flash from my camera or the sound of my car's exhaust.

[Supercharged in Asia]

Hi Guys!

Was in Khao Yai National Park (great wineries there) and have done the fantastically high speed sweeping Chiang Mai-Chiang Rai run as well. Also saw many elephants on the Mae Sa Valley run. Thailand has great roads, save for Bangkok and it's surrounds!

The return leg saw Pyugala (Thai JCW) and myself head down south to Krabi, where we hooked up with Han-Tzen (S'pore JCW), Mark McGurran (S'pore JCW Cab) and Ken Lim (280bhp E36 coupe), where we stayed overnight. Went up to Bangkok (Highway 4 and 401 are bad from Hua Hin all the way to Bangkok) for some fun and frivolities for a couple of nights before heading down with an overnight at the Khao Lak Meridien and then set off to Kuala Lumpur overnight at the Mandarin Oriental and The Ascott, whilst criss crossing the South of Thailand and experiencing wondrous roads.

Stayed in Singapore for a couple of nights with a track day at Johor Circuit before heading around and back up to Bangkok via Cameron Highlands (what a hill climb!) and Phuket.

Just the return leg was a whopping 6467.5km.

Here is a link with some photos of the trip:

http://s161.photobucket.com/albums/t...ateur/?start=a

I think I might give my MCS a little break and some TLC (servicing and detailing) for a while before heading somewhere else, the poor wee thing.....

[Scavenger]

Nice pictures! I'd love to do a journey through Thailand with MINIs!!!!

[Supercharged in Asia]

Scavenger

You can! Just passed a Hertz on Sathorn Road in Bangkok and they are renting MINI Coopers!

Would love to experience your Dragon as I have read a lot about it on this site. I also have some video and it looks like a challenging bit of twisty. Enjoyed my drives in North America very much, especially Highway 1. Heaven!

Canadian roads are fantastically well paved and memorable too - the Sea to Sky to Whistler and especially up to Pemberton and Lilooet as well as Vancouver to Banf in Alberta.

You are all very blessed to have such lovely roads and wonderful scenery en route. I feel road trip fever coming on!

Cheers

[fairladyz_gt-r]

Originally Posted by Supercharged in Asia

Dude

This is what is coming up. Get ready!

WOW~~!!! i have been through the exact streach of road, is that the road from Chang mai heading up to Chang Rai?, which route did you take crossing into Malaysia? through Had yai (SP)? How is it? because I am planning a similar trip in my Cefiro this summer with my girlfriend when I go back to Thailand (BKK, Hua Hin, Samui,KL, Sg, cloud top, Phuket, BKK). My parent (and I) are quite worried about the safty down in the south.

I hope you enjoy ur time in Thailand!

PS: The Hertz are renting them for 6500baht a day which i personally think is way way way over price!

[Supercharged in Asia]

Hi FairladyZ

I have a 350Z too! Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai is a great road and very windy but wider as it is a two lane carriageway both ways. The stretch that is pictured is a stretch of road from Mae Sariang to Doi Inthanon.

In respect of safety issues in the South, you will be fine if you enter and egress through Sadao (30km or so from Had Yai) and if you make your approach and stay West. The Deep South (where the problems are and located in the Far South East (Yala, Narthiwat etc) are the areas which you should avoid. The roads in the South West are fantastic, especially if you take Chumphon-Ranong-Khao Lak-Phuket-Krabi-Had Yai (this route coming down from Bangkok), though the stretch between Bangkok to Hua Hin is just awful (lots of potholes, roadworks and silly weekend drivers).

Good grief, that much to rent the Mini Cooper CVT! That really is a bit of a silly price, isn't it?

[Supercharged in Asia]

double post! Sorry!

[Supercharged in Asia]

double post!

[Supercharged in Asia]

double post!

[fairladyz_gt-r]

Really!? wow~! great u might be able to help me out a great deal then!! I am wondering, if you are to be only able to have one car for and u are in college which one will it be? 350z or MCS?

Also thanks for the heads up, so I will cut across the penisular after I get back to mainland from samui. Thanks!!

and yes its definetly too much, and that;s why its still sitting in the hertz's silom show room ;)

[Supercharged in Asia]

Dude

I really like both! That's a hard question for me. They offer a different driving proposition, dynamics and character. However, you can go to www.windingroad.com or www.motoringfile.com, both of which feature comparison tests of both cars.

Take care, and enjoy your upcoming drive. It'll be a good one! Currently checking into NAM from Tokyo and found some time to visit some Mini specialists and the Mini dealership in Rappongi over the last few days. Lots of MINIs and 350Zs here!

Cheers!

[fairladyz_gt-r]

Thanks man! I will really really look into both car, and i hope you have a great trip in Japan!