The car is packed and Europe awaits
01-31-2012, 10:56 PM
#21
Melting Slicks
Jack,
Great adventure it sounds you are planning. I have been in and out of Europe on many trips, always wishing I had one of my own cars with me every time, especially in the Alps..
Noting the timeframe of your trip, I'll caution that the best roads across the swiss alps are likely to be already closed by the time you get there.. my wife and I attempted to re-trace our route from our engagement trip of 2006 when we went over last fall.. in 2006 it was June and there was still snow up there.. last fall, late September the pass was already closed. You'll likely be stuck to the main highway in Switzerland. Not sure how the other passes in other countries are through the alps, but check it out closely. It ends up being a looooong day when you get to 12,000 feet on the only road there is and have to turn around and backtrack for 5 hours!
If Monaco fits your schedule at all, you can drive part of the same route F1 drives by the marina and the casino!
Good luck in all your planning and execution of what will surely be another epic adventure watched closely by all of us who still work for a living!
Great adventure it sounds you are planning. I have been in and out of Europe on many trips, always wishing I had one of my own cars with me every time, especially in the Alps..
Noting the timeframe of your trip, I'll caution that the best roads across the swiss alps are likely to be already closed by the time you get there.. my wife and I attempted to re-trace our route from our engagement trip of 2006 when we went over last fall.. in 2006 it was June and there was still snow up there.. last fall, late September the pass was already closed. You'll likely be stuck to the main highway in Switzerland. Not sure how the other passes in other countries are through the alps, but check it out closely. It ends up being a looooong day when you get to 12,000 feet on the only road there is and have to turn around and backtrack for 5 hours!
If Monaco fits your schedule at all, you can drive part of the same route F1 drives by the marina and the casino!
Good luck in all your planning and execution of what will surely be another epic adventure watched closely by all of us who still work for a living!
02-01-2012, 12:42 AM
#22
Team Owner
Hey Moderators....Put this as a sticky up top..
Jack, if you get to Germany, open it up on the Autobahn and let us know what it was like
Jack, if you get to Germany, open it up on the Autobahn and let us know what it was like
02-01-2012, 07:54 AM
#23
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
No speed limit ......
Car begins to accelerate.............both needles go way past straight up on the tach and speedometer............
Nose comes up.................full power now...................
I am flying............smooth as glass.........front end just floats like a butterfly.......
I ask that familiar question......do I let up........do I press on..........
What to do ? What would you do ?
Jack
02-01-2012, 08:00 AM
#24
Drifting
Lets see......no speed limit......just step on gas and press down ................
Car begins to accelerate.............both needles go way past straight up on the tach and speedometer............
Nose comes up.................full power now...................
I am flying............smooth as glass.........front end just floats like a butterfly.......
I ask that familiar question......do I let up........do I press on..........
What to do ? What would you do ?
Jack
Car begins to accelerate.............both needles go way past straight up on the tach and speedometer............
Nose comes up.................full power now...................
I am flying............smooth as glass.........front end just floats like a butterfly.......
I ask that familiar question......do I let up........do I press on..........
What to do ? What would you do ?
Jack
02-01-2012, 08:06 AM
#25
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Much to learn before the trip
Jack,
Great adventure it sounds you are planning. I have been in and out of Europe on many trips, always wishing I had one of my own cars with me every time, especially in the Alps..
Noting the timeframe of your trip, I'll caution that the best roads across the swiss alps are likely to be already closed by the time you get there.. my wife and I attempted to re-trace our route from our engagement trip of 2006 when we went over last fall.. in 2006 it was June and there was still snow up there.. last fall, late September the pass was already closed. You'll likely be stuck to the main highway in Switzerland. Not sure how the other passes in other countries are through the alps, but check it out closely. It ends up being a looooong day when you get to 12,000 feet on the only road there is and have to turn around and backtrack for 5 hours!
If Monaco fits your schedule at all, you can drive part of the same route F1 drives by the marina and the casino!
Good luck in all your planning and execution of what will surely be another epic adventure watched closely by all of us who still work for a living!
Great adventure it sounds you are planning. I have been in and out of Europe on many trips, always wishing I had one of my own cars with me every time, especially in the Alps..
Noting the timeframe of your trip, I'll caution that the best roads across the swiss alps are likely to be already closed by the time you get there.. my wife and I attempted to re-trace our route from our engagement trip of 2006 when we went over last fall.. in 2006 it was June and there was still snow up there.. last fall, late September the pass was already closed. You'll likely be stuck to the main highway in Switzerland. Not sure how the other passes in other countries are through the alps, but check it out closely. It ends up being a looooong day when you get to 12,000 feet on the only road there is and have to turn around and backtrack for 5 hours!
If Monaco fits your schedule at all, you can drive part of the same route F1 drives by the marina and the casino!
Good luck in all your planning and execution of what will surely be another epic adventure watched closely by all of us who still work for a living!
Thanks for the tip.....still lots of work to do before I pull the trigger. I am making the journey more compact as I learn more about car locations and time needed to really enjoy the trip...
A little less driving and more living......plus there are so many historical car (tracks) and cars to visit.
I also want to have more time to photograph and do video . It will be fun to put forum members right in the car through video when I am on a track or mountain road.
Jack
02-01-2012, 09:10 AM
#27
Nose comes up.................full power now...................
I am flying............smooth as glass.........front end just floats like a butterfly.......
I ask that familiar question......do I let up........do I press on..........
What to do ? What would you do ?
Jack
02-01-2012, 09:25 AM
#28
Le Mans Master
Lets see......no speed limit......just step on gas and press down ................
Car begins to accelerate.............both needles go way past straight up on the tach and speedometer............
Nose comes up.................full power now...................
I am flying............smooth as glass.........front end just floats like a butterfly.......
I ask that familiar question......do I let up........do I press on..........
What to do ? What would you do ?
Jack
Car begins to accelerate.............both needles go way past straight up on the tach and speedometer............
Nose comes up.................full power now...................
I am flying............smooth as glass.........front end just floats like a butterfly.......
I ask that familiar question......do I let up........do I press on..........
What to do ? What would you do ?
Jack
02-01-2012, 09:52 AM
#29
Pro
Sounds like you are going to have a great time. I have visited Europe a number of times but have never driven there. Always did the train/bus thing.
As I'm sure you already know many streets are narrow from horse and buggy days and before. Your Corvette will probably feel like a fairly large car in some of those places.
In some cities (Rome comes to mind but it looks like you will bypass it) the driving tends to be pretty aggressive.
Keep us posted and enjoy!
Doug
As I'm sure you already know many streets are narrow from horse and buggy days and before. Your Corvette will probably feel like a fairly large car in some of those places.
In some cities (Rome comes to mind but it looks like you will bypass it) the driving tends to be pretty aggressive.
Keep us posted and enjoy!
Doug
02-01-2012, 10:01 AM
#30
Instructor
Hey Jack.
Sounds like a great trip. (again)
Autobahn should not be a problem.
Just like trying to keep up with Bob (67Heaven) on the 401!!!!!!
Regards, Tom
Sounds like a great trip. (again)
Autobahn should not be a problem.
Just like trying to keep up with Bob (67Heaven) on the 401!!!!!!
Regards, Tom
02-01-2012, 11:44 AM
#31
Instructor
Member Since: Jun 2008
Location: Forest VA
Posts: 202
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The drive along Lake Como, from Como to Bellagio, Italy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bellagio) is beautiful. It is one of the most vivid memories I have of my travels through Europe.....
02-01-2012, 12:05 PM
#33
Team Owner
Man you must need a wheelbarrow to cart your cojones around Jack. What about insurance - will your classic car coverage extend to Europe ? What about theft -- these cars are hugely popular over there (especially those with the rare third header soft top latch option) and I'm sure they are targets of theft -- the local constables in a foreign land might care less if some gringo got his classic car stolen. The disclaimer is that I'm jealous of your adventurous spirit for sure.
02-01-2012, 12:07 PM
#34
Le Mans Master
Sent you a PM Jack
Here is where i live 40 minutes drive outside Oslo
PS You can almost see the island where all of the shooting and killing last summer took place on this picture
Here is where i live 40 minutes drive outside Oslo
PS You can almost see the island where all of the shooting and killing last summer took place on this picture
02-01-2012, 12:43 PM
#35
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Nice place to visit
This trip is going to be a lot of fun.
The shielding for my car comes in a few days......
It is going to need to be polished.......
Jack
OH Great! Bare meg og min bil ..... i Norge ....... noen miles unna .....
Denne turen kommer til å bli mye moro.
Den skjerming for bilen min kommer om noen dager ......
Det kommer til å trenge å være polerte .......
Skål
Jack
02-01-2012, 12:53 PM
#37
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Frankie , Frankie
Man you must need a wheelbarrow to cart your cojones around Jack. What about insurance - will your classic car coverage extend to Europe ? What about theft -- these cars are hugely popular over there (especially those with the rare third header soft top latch option) and I'm sure they are targets of theft -- the local constables in a foreign land might care less if some gringo got his classic car stolen. The disclaimer is that I'm jealous of your adventurous spirit for sure.
Most know that I will need to be taken care of....they will give me nice routes with few cars.....I will watch out for bandits in the old country.
I am more concerned with communications , posts, internet access for posting.
I will throw myself at the " mercy of the crowd " a spare bedroom, a barn out back, I will sleep with the car in the hay with cows...... no pigs !
So, all the things you mention are on my list. I will post the results of my inquires into all topics. We all will learn ........
Better to watch Jack then we will know what not to do.......
Some Italian for you
Frankie Boy, è necessario parlare con Bluestripe, calmati ....... lo penso che andrà bene.
La maggior parte sa che avrò bisogno di essere curati .... mi daranno percorsi bella, con poche auto ..... Io attenzione banditi nel vecchio paese.
Io sono più preoccupato con le comunicazioni, i messaggi, accesso a internet per la pubblicazione.
Io mi getto alla "misericordia della folla", una camera da letto di ricambio, un fienile sul retro, dormirò con l'auto nel fieno con mucche ...... nessun suino!
Quindi, tutte le cose che si ricordano della mia lista. Io posto i risultati del mio indaga tutti gli argomenti. Noi tutti impareranno ........
Meglio guardare Jack allora sapremo che cosa non fare .......
02-01-2012, 02:17 PM
#39
Le Mans Master
The drive along Lake Como, from Como to Bellagio, Italy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bellagio) is beautiful. It is one of the most vivid memories I have of my travels through Europe.....
I would strongly agree with this.......and eat at the only restaurant on Isola Comasina. You have to take a gondola over to the island...and he will pick you up again in about 4 hoursIF you decide to use the Autobahn, I would advise that you replace ALL of your wheel bearings prior to your trip. You won't find any over there, and high speeds are MUCH higher than here in the US, so I would think about a 3.36 (at least) or a 3.08 rear end for this trip.
02-01-2012, 02:31 PM
#40
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Hey Guys !
I would strongly agree with this.......and eat at the only restaurant on Isola Comasina. You have to take a gondola over to the island...and he will pick you up again in about 4 hoursIF you decide to use the Autobahn, I would advise that you replace ALL of your wheel bearings prior to your trip. You won't find any over there, and high speeds are MUCH higher than here in the US, so I would think about a 3.36 (at least) or a 3.08 rear end for this trip.
No wait a minute.....let me call down to my mechanic........he is on the couch .....want to put in a 3.36 for the trip ??
He calls back.........Are you sh**ing me........ no way..........
So......you see.......I am stuck with my 3.70........
I will just have to park it in front of some nice cafe'.......a little wine.....a little cheese........a glance across the table.........
No.....I will live with it...............
Jack