The Aim
To drive, without interruption, round the London Orbital Car Park or M25 as it
is more commonly known.
Why ?
For the same reasons that people go mountaineering and visit the moon; because
it's there.
The Rules
This is the problem; there aren't any rules so what defines becoming one of the
elite drivers who can say. "I've driven round the M25" ?
Firstly, it's impossible to actually drive round the M25 as it isn't a
completely closed road system; the Dartford Tunnel / Dartford Bridge section
is actually a non-motorway road. It is however possible to drive along the whole
road that is the M25 motorway.So, what counts as driving round the whole of the M25 ?
Let's say you join the M25 at the M4, Heathrow Junction, travel clockwise around
the M25 and leave at the same junction you joined the M25.
There is going to be a little bit of road that passes over the junction between
where you originally joined the M25 and where you left, so, you haven't
actually travelled over all the road and there's an entire carraigeway ( going
the other way ) that you haven't even touched.
Also joining anywhere, other than at Dartford, means that you will have
travelled on the M25, on an A road and then on more of the M25. That doesn't
sound like a complete uninterrupted circuit round the M25 on paper does it ?
Although, on grounds of sensibility and cost, I would argue that it is.
So what we need are some proper rules; well here they are ...
The M25 Tour
Rules
- The M25 Tour must be completed in accordance with these
Rules and Attached Schedules.
- The M25 Tour is a test of endurance and not a race or a
challenge to complete The Tour in the shortest time. Safe speeds
must be maintained at all times.
- Being stopped by the police at any time during an attempt of The
Tour invalidates the attempt and The Tour must be recommenced
from the start.
- The journey is to start at any nominated junction of the M25.
- The journey continues from that junction either clockwise or anti-clockwise
until the original starting junction is passed through again.
- Having passed through the original starting junction; the vehicle should
turn round at the next suitable junction and rejoin the M25, travelling in
the opposite direction passing through the original starting junction
again.
- The journey continues in the opposite direction until the original starting
junction is passed through a final time. At this point The Tour has
been completed.
- At no time between starting The Tour and its completion must the
vehicle be stopped for petrol, food, drinks or other reasons other than by
way of accidents, road works or traffic jams.
- The M25 must not be left other than to turn round after passing through the
original starting junction after completing the first circuit.
The turn round must be completed without stopping for petrol, food, drinks
or other reasons other than by way of accidents, road works or traffic
jams.
Associated Schedules
- For those vehicles that do not have the fuel tank capacity to complete
either one or both circuits of the M25; they are permitted to leave the
M25 for the purpose of refuelling when necessary but the purchase of
drinks, food or any other item is prohibited.
- Although The Tour is a test of endurance; leaving the M25 is
permitted to answer calls of nature but the purchase of drinks,
food or any other item is prohibited whilst doing so.
- Vehicles leaving the M25 must rejoin at the same junction at which they
exited. Those with a conscience or of a honourable disposition should
return to the junction prior to their exit and continue onwards from
there.
Notes
- Each circuit of the M25 is approximately 120 miles; 240 miles in total
plus travelling distance to the starting point.
- Completing The Tour will take upwards of three and a half hours
of driving on the M25 ( at or below the legal speed limit ) plus
travelling time to the starting point.
- It will probably cost at least 22 UK Pounds in petrol plus 2 UK Pounds
in tolls ( correct for May 1998 ) to complete The Tour.
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So those are the rules; all you need to do now is get out there and join the
ranks of the small elite who have also completed The M25 Tour.
If nothing else it gives you something to talk about down the pub or at work
and, if someone ever claims to have, "Done the M25", you can ask them, "Did
you do it properly and in accordance with The M25 Tour Rules ? I did". Happy touring !
And whilst you're doing The Tour you can also partake in another,
unusual hobby; Pylon Watching
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