An Aston in the Alps
Discussion
mikey k said:
That's the "old" St Gotthards pass, often called Tremola it is cobbled 
The new one goes the other side of the valley through tunnels
Hmm - cobbled road doesn't sound like it'll be fun for the bikes on our trip..The new one goes the other side of the valley through tunnels
In your opinion is it better to do the Andermatt loop clockwise or Anti-clockwise?? Or does it make no difference!
Or our last option is not not do the whole loop - but instead to either just the top half or bottom half in both directions?
We're currently planning to do one side of the loop on-route to Davos (Nufenen & St Gotthard) and the other side of the loop (Susten) on the way back
What a fantastic post!! Really inspiring but 3800+ miles, I just got back from Le Mans with about 850 on the clock and that seemed a lot. Combo of late nights and beer doesn't help though 
Not sure how to persuade the OH along, maybe fly her out for the good bits (hotels) while I do the driving? I want to plan something similar ending up in Geneva with some other watch collectors, some great pictures to inspire on here.
Not sure how to persuade the OH along, maybe fly her out for the good bits (hotels) while I do the driving? I want to plan something similar ending up in Geneva with some other watch collectors, some great pictures to inspire on here.
As we're in the Aston section, here are a few more pics from the same trip
Plenty of these = plenty of
A bit of snow on the Col de la Bonnette
Outside the Grand
Run to the sun
Nice ass
Verdon
Driving lake tweakyboo
Really glad I didn't buy a Zonda at this point
Col de la Platriere
Hamsterdam
Rock and Ice
On the way to Blofeld's fortress
The view at the top - Awesome
Plenty of these = plenty of
A bit of snow on the Col de la Bonnette
Outside the Grand
Run to the sun
Nice ass
Verdon
Driving lake tweakyboo
Really glad I didn't buy a Zonda at this point
Col de la Platriere
Hamsterdam
Rock and Ice
On the way to Blofeld's fortress
The view at the top - Awesome
Edited by Pie n Chips on Wednesday 15th June 14:05
Edited by Pie n Chips on Wednesday 15th June 14:16
Janosh said:
Hmm - cobbled road doesn't sound like it'll be fun for the bikes on our trip..
In your opinion is it better to do the Andermatt loop clockwise or Anti-clockwise?? Or does it make no difference!
Or our last option is not not do the whole loop - but instead to either just the top half or bottom half in both directions?
We're currently planning to do one side of the loop on-route to Davos (Nufenen & St Gotthard) and the other side of the loop (Susten) on the way back
No real difference do it all both ways In your opinion is it better to do the Andermatt loop clockwise or Anti-clockwise?? Or does it make no difference!
Or our last option is not not do the whole loop - but instead to either just the top half or bottom half in both directions?
We're currently planning to do one side of the loop on-route to Davos (Nufenen & St Gotthard) and the other side of the loop (Susten) on the way back
good work Pie nice to see you over here 
. Janosh said:
We're currently planning to do one side of the loop on-route to Davos (Nufenen & St Gotthard) and the other side of the loop (Susten) on the way back
Don't forget to do the Fluela pass into Davos - one of THE great driving roads in Europe IMHO, so good me and Mike did it twice on our last visitGreat write up. Put my effort on my nurburgring trip to shame!
I was also in the Alps in May with the Elise and though it's hard to imagine a better car for alpine passes than that, a V8V Roadster would be a top contender. Of the two passes you did I had a fantastic run up the Susten pass which was closed at the top. Actually that was a good thing because we only saw one other car the whole way up, so we had all those hairpins to ourselves. The Susten pass could have been made exclusively for the Elise. Very little could touch it up there, you'd think Hethel was on top of a mountain.
But the Grimsel pass was wider, faster and better surfaced and somewhere you could use more than 190bhp. I vowed that I must return there in the Vantage. Still, the roadster element adds a lot especially when the scenery is the alps. So all in all your trip was a fantastic use for your car. I doubt there's a better trip for it in the world.
We ended up following the Mille Miglia in Italy and for those in search of driving nirvana the only place in Italy that came close to the alpine passes was the Futa Pass. But really it's not worth the extra mileage, unless you're doing something like following the Mille Miglia. Next time I'd be happy to stick to the Alps.
I'd set off again tomorrow if I could.
I was also in the Alps in May with the Elise and though it's hard to imagine a better car for alpine passes than that, a V8V Roadster would be a top contender. Of the two passes you did I had a fantastic run up the Susten pass which was closed at the top. Actually that was a good thing because we only saw one other car the whole way up, so we had all those hairpins to ourselves. The Susten pass could have been made exclusively for the Elise. Very little could touch it up there, you'd think Hethel was on top of a mountain.
But the Grimsel pass was wider, faster and better surfaced and somewhere you could use more than 190bhp. I vowed that I must return there in the Vantage. Still, the roadster element adds a lot especially when the scenery is the alps. So all in all your trip was a fantastic use for your car. I doubt there's a better trip for it in the world.
We ended up following the Mille Miglia in Italy and for those in search of driving nirvana the only place in Italy that came close to the alpine passes was the Futa Pass. But really it's not worth the extra mileage, unless you're doing something like following the Mille Miglia. Next time I'd be happy to stick to the Alps.
I'd set off again tomorrow if I could.
Edited by The Pits on Saturday 18th June 11:42
The Pits said:
The roadster element adds a lot especially when the scenery is the alps. So all in all your trip was a fantastic use for your car. I doubt there's a better trip for it in the world.
Thanks PitsI had a similar experience to you with the souh side of the Stelvio - nirvana!
We would never move a way from a roadster for exactly the reason you mention.
You see so much more and feel part of the landscape as you move along, you get the smells (wild garlic, meadows & cow pats!) and the noises (cow bells, tunnels water falls)
It's going to be tough to beat it but I have some ideas already
Just planning my autumn Jock Hoon at the moment as a come down
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