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Fellow self-employees out there know that downtime is a rare event when working for yourself. I don’t remember the last time I had a holiday, but there’s a break in store at the start of April.

Me-time at Ferdinand Towers equals two things: Friday geek-out on Sky F1 during Grand Prix weekends and my annual trip to the Essen Techno Classica. This year, Essen runs from April 10-14th, at the Messe Essen in the heart of the West German city.

Techno Classica is huge. Historic Tour de Corse & Classic Le Mans might be better events for the inner petrolhead, but Essen is a favourite few days away each year. A few self-employed mates in a great country with just one thing in mind: to relax and recharge.

Check out the Ferdinand Facebook page for an album of Essen 2012 iPhone pictures. It’s not just cars on stands: there are cars all over the city, car parks dotted with interesting classics, cars for sale in the outside show areas and lots of club displays.

For us, it’s more than Porsche. Mercedes and BMW both bring huge presences – much bigger than Porsche’s stand, which is now pushed in to the Volkswagen hall – plus there’s a bar in every corner, and food and drink everywhere.

After a few years flying out and back, it’s now officially a road trip, but the wheels don’t really matter. I’ve done it in my 911, one of Porsche GB’s 997s, a Renault Clio V6 (top), the work Subaru and they’ve all been good craic.

This year looks like either my old M3 BMW or Delaney’s new 996 with M030 suspension, though if we use that I’ll probably end up bidding on it. We’re staying in Essen: same hotel as last year. I’ve tried staying in Dusseldorf and some of the hotels around the fringes, but town is definitely easiest.

Are you doing Essen? We’ll be there from Wednesday night to Saturday morning: Thursday and Friday at the show. Maybe see you out there!