Parker Baltic 900 with 2 x 275hp Verado's

[Nauti Buoy]

Well, as you know I went to Poland on the weekend, for the sea trial, flew into Warsaw and was greeted by Chris Scott (Parker Poland). Firstly I would just like to say what a really decent chap he is. Some of you would have met him at Ribex, he was the young chap driving the Baltic most of the time.

Now normally I love snow, become a big kid, however why does it snow when you really don't want it to!!!

Anyway, I arrived and we drove about 220km to Ostroda where the factory is for the trial the following day, it had started snowing when we left Warsaw and the further north we got the more the snow fell, by the time we got to Ostroda 2.30am some 3-4hrs later we had about 1' of snow, and it was still snowing. The snow had taken Poland by surprise, it was predicted to be a light dusting. So off I went to bed to be woken up at 4.30am by this huge bang, jumped out of bed to see a snow plough coming sideways down the hill bouncing off a wall then carrying on down the hill. hmmmmm not looking good.

Chris came and collected me from the Hotel, and there was now about .5m of snow outside and still snowing, we chatted and I pretty much knew the Trial was not going to happen as the Rib was still in their factory, so we all took the sensible approach and called off the trial.

Saw the rib, and wow, it looks superb, I was asked to look all over it, and as much as I tried, could not flag up anything, top job lads. They have done a superb job, the wiring under the consul is a work of art, will post a piccy when I get it back to the UK. Cannot wait to bring it back now, all that is preventing that is Snow and lots of it.

Chris and I then slowly drove the 220km back to Warsaw, there were trucks, cars, trees all over the road on the route back. Superbly driven, weaving in and out of the carnage, through copius amounts of snow, as well as some lovely controlled sliding around some bends . Thank god we were in a Volvo 4x4. We were amused how useless BMW's and Mercedes are in the snow, rear wheel drive is hopeless, they were snaking, pirouetting (would have made Torvil and Dean proud) and god knows what up the hills and even in the flat.

Hope you like the pics, wish we had mad a snowman now on the sun deck!!!

[Nauti Buoy]

Shame we don't get as much as this!!! would have to buy another toy!!

[Mark Halliday]

Originally Posted by Nauti Buoy

wish we had mad a snowman now on the sun deck!!!

Thats it then.
Name sorted...................













YELLOW SNOW

[jwalker]

I like the night shot. Can feel it.

Parker appear to be taking pride in their work, it's good to see.

[Nauti Buoy]

Originally Posted by Mark Halliday

Thats it then.
Name sorted...................


YELLOW SNOW

Very Good

[codprawn]

RWD is NOT useless in the snow - it's great fun and more controllable than FWD - IF you know what you are doing!!!

[mdt]

And at least you know which end is going to go 1st…

[Alan]

Originally Posted by codprawn

RWD is NOT useless in the snow - it's great fun and more controllable than FWD - IF you know what you are doing!!!

But of course compared to you oh wise one, no one knows what they are doing. Pity us mere mortals.............

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by mdt

And at least you know which end is going to go 1st…

Exactly - the number of FWD cars I see understeering into lamposts etc when we have snow is amazing. Also don't be fooled by traction control and ABS. I had a Vectra GSi for a while on hire. It was scary in snow - nice fat tyres don't help!!! ABS can be really bad in the snow. Just a touch on the brakes sent me drifiting off the road down the camber towards a ditch - the only thing that got me out of it was the accelerator!!!

[Nasher]

Richard

Looks like you've seen the best of Poland now.

Two years ago I got caught out by snow in Lodz, (pronounced wootch) which is normaly about 2 hours drive from Warsaw airport, the journey took nearly 5 hours.
Luckily I was business class so just booked into a hotel overnight near the airport and flew out the following morning.
I think I've told you before how much I like Poland, I miss going there very much.
The Frost is also amazing during the winter, when the temp stays below zero for a few days the frost builds up in layers day after day until the trees etc look like they have ben iced. Bit dangerous when the power lines start to fall across the road because of it though.

By the way, years ago before my 4x4 days I had a Volvo 360GLT for a while that was great fun on snow and even wet roads. It was realy well balanced as the heavy gearbox is attached to the back axle and was so easy to control once you'd stepped the back out. Not that I ever did it on purpose of course!

Nasher.

[bedajim]

Originally Posted by Nasher

Richard

Looks like you've seen the best of Poland now.

Two years ago I got caught out by snow in Lodz, (pronounced wootch) which is normaly about 2 hours drive from Warsaw airport, the journey took nearly 5 hours.
Luckily I was business class so just booked into a hotel overnight near the airport and flew out the following morning.
I think I've told you before how much I like Poland, I miss going there very much.
The Frost is also amazing during the winter, when the temp stays below zero for a few days the frost builds up in layers day after day until the trees etc look like they have ben iced. Bit dangerous when the power lines start to fall across the road because of it though.

By the way, years ago before my 4x4 days I had a Volvo 360GLT for a while that was great fun on snow and even wet roads. It was realy well balanced as the heavy gearbox is attached to the back axle and was so easy to control once you'd stepped the back out. Not that I ever did it on purpose of course!

Nasher.

Did you stay in the Grand Hotel?

[Nasher]

bedajim

Hi.

Yes the grand was a home from home.

Used to stay there for a few days every couple of months and never did get used to the odd chairs in the breakfast room!

When I first started going the 'Party guardian' was still stationed on each floor by the lifts, but this practice soon stopped and the desk was removed.

Great place once you get used to it, especialy Jurasic park, otherwise known as the hotel bar, and so named because of the age of the resident 'Professional' ladies.

The Irish bar across the street was also popular.

I presume you've been there yourself.

The Ibis on the other side of town is a modern characterless Dive.

Nasher

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by Alan

But of course compared to you oh wise one, no one knows what they are doing. Pity us mere mortals.............

You never give up do you - nasty snide little remarks all the time - it's getting VERY tiring along with your pathetic signature line.

[bedajim]

Originally Posted by Nasher

bedajim

Hi.

Yes the grand was a home from home.

Used to stay there for a few days every couple of months and never did get used to the odd chairs in the breakfast room!

When I first started going the 'Party guardian' was still stationed on each floor by the lifts, but this practice soon stopped and the desk was removed.

Great place once you get used to it, especialy Jurasic park, otherwise known as the hotel bar, and so named because of the age of the resident 'Professional' ladies.

The Irish bar across the street was also popular.

I presume you've been there yourself.

The Ibis on the other side of town is a modern characterless Dive.

Nasher

Yes i spent a couple of months there last year nothing has changed as far as i could tell, guys I worked with are still there.

James

[Nasher]

Codprawn

Take comfort in the fact that Alan does not even appear to own a boat, or at least not one he's prepared to admit to.
And that being an ex-pat he's hiding behind a computer to wind up people a long way away. Its also a very old joke now.

Nasher

[Andre]

Guys, In respect for Richard can you take your discussions elsewhere and not contaminate this thread as these have nothing to do with his rib
Thanks

[jackeen]

Originally Posted by jwalker

I like the night shot. Can feel it.

Parker appear to be taking pride in their work, it's good to see.

That has definitely come across JW and we Solenteers are looking forward to seeing a great new Parker RIB at close quarters.

Great photos BTW Nautibuoy. Hope you had a little dropeen of vodka to help you survive the cold.

Kathleen & Paul

[Nasher]

Sorry Andre

Wouldn't want to ruin the best free advertising you've ever had.

Nasher.

[codprawn]

Yup me to - but some people....

[Andre]

Thanks guys