Where to get help in Europe?

[CerbWill]

On 16 July I'm off round Europe, hopefully, assuming all goes well with a glass-out respray and some trim work between now and then. I'll have a boot full of essential spares and but if people can advise where some TVR specialist garages (or helpful PHers!) are it might make my life easier should the worst happen. I'll have breakdown cover but it'd be nice if it could be fixed rather than returned home and me left with a dull hire car. Route is as follows, but with some slight deviations for fun roads:

Calais
Bruges
Gottingen
Stuttgart
Lake Como
Nice
Geneva
Reims
Calais

[NilsP]

there's a tvr specialist in Mouscron --> http://www.passionengineering.eu/pages/171696/_HOM...
he's very helpfull.
I live near Antwerp and have a shed full of spares for a Cerb and always willing to help
If you want I can PM you my telephone number. Always welcome to ring me if you're in trouble

[CerbWill]

Nils, thanks very much! Feel free to PM me your number, although hopefully I wont have to avail myself of your help! We're in Bruges for 3 days so I'll keep my eyes peeled for another Cerbera.

[ukkid35]

NilsP said:

there's a tvr specialist in Mouscron --> http://www.passionengineering.eu/pages/171696/_HOM...
he's very helpfull.

I can second that. They helped me when my clutch hose let go on the E40 in the worst traffic jam ever.

Your route from Zurich to Genoa would be a lot slower if you go further east and include the Umbrail pass, which would connect to the Stelvio pass, but it will be very memorable indeed.

I also strongly recommend that you adjust your return slightly so that you include Route Napoleon from Cannes to Digne, with a possible detour to take in the Gorge du Verdun.

[CerbWill]

We were thinking Furka & Grimsell passes as per this article http://jalopnik.com/the-worlds-greatest-road-actua... We should be able to get Route 500 in Germany done too. On the way from Nice to Geneva were hoping to get some of Route Napoleon done along with Route de Gentelly and Col de la Bonnette.

[ukkid35]

CerbWill said:

We were thinking Furka & Grimsell passes

Definitely. Stelvio has had a lot of very effective marketing, but in reality is it slow and relatively tedious, as you can see in my video here.

http://vimeo.com/152494143

However Umbrail is fast, flowing and dramatic. I haven't done Furka or Grimsell but friends of mine rate them highly.

[NilsP]

I hope the Tour de France is over by the time you'll be there.
Those buggers WILL NOT get out of the way

Anyway, this is my long distance travel toolkit.
Haven't had to use it fortunatly

[bluezeeland]

God almighty, your are thorough, Nils, could you make me one like that ?

[aide]

Hey Will

That looks like fun!

The auto payagé for the French autoroute works brilliantly:
https://www.saneftolling.co.uk

A few spare relays would be definitely worthwhile too.

Have fun!

Aide

[FarmyardPants]

Yea get a sanef tag, well worth it. Looks like a great trip. I've done loads of Europe trips and never needed to be recovered. Cerbs eat tours like that for breakfast, enjoy!

[bluezeeland]

NilsP said:

I hope the Tour de France is over by the time you'll be there.
Those buggers WILL NOT get out of the way

Anyway, this is my long distance travel toolkit.
Haven't had to use it fortunatly

Whats with the lighter, Nils ? To set it ablaze when it really, really get on your nerves ?.......

[aide]

Possibly old hat nowadays but still worth mentioning is E10 petrol:
http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/forum/possible-prob...

[CerbWill]

NilsP said:

I hope the Tour de France is over by the time you'll be there.
Those buggers WILL NOT get out of the way

Hadn't thought of that, fortunately we only arrive in Nice the day the Tour de France ends.

aide said:

Hey Will

That looks like fun!

The auto payagé for the French autoroute works brilliantly:
https://www.saneftolling.co.uk

A few spare relays would be definitely worthwhile too.

Have fun!

Aide

I had no idea this existed, definitely getting one as I'll probably be in the car by myself for some of the french motorway, should make life easier.

On the spares front I'm taking:

Coil Packs x2
HT Leads
Oil Pressure Relief Spring
Oil Pressure Switch
Throttle Cable
Crank Sensor
Spare Throttle Pots x2
Lambda Sensors x2
Spark Plugs
Big Fuses
Assorted Blade Fuses
Spare relays, complete set
Wire & assorted connectors
Alternator belt
5L Coolant
4L Oil
Assorted jubilee clips

Jack
Socket set w/ screwdriver & a variety of bits
Roll of spanners
Wire crimp tool
Pliers
Torch
RS-AJP


If I can't make it with that lot is probably gone badly wrong!

[bluezeeland]

On the SANEF thingy, it will save you a lot of time on the peages, in a GRP car I found you need to wave it, out of the car (not kidding here....)

[Montauge]

NilsP said:

I hope the Tour de France is over by the time you'll be there.
Those buggers WILL NOT get out of the way

Anyway, this is my long distance travel toolkit.
Haven't had to use it fortunatly

Mate! That is totally awesome. I'm not sure I'd know how to fit all of the spares you have there, but I'd love to have that lot as a Christmas present all the same. What is the list of the spares you have?

[ukkid35]

My memory must be playing tricks on me, as I've just checked out these Tuscan videos and I seem to have conflated Umbrail Pass and Flüela Pass.

http://vimeo.com/gnomeza/videos

Anyway, I'm sure you'll have a great time. Be sure to post pics and videos from your trip, it will inspire me to go back again one day.

[JezF]

ukkid35 said:

Definitely. Stelvio has had a lot of very effective marketing, but in reality is it slow and relatively tedious, as you can see in my video here.

http://vimeo.com/152494143

However Umbrail is fast, flowing and dramatic. I haven't done Furka or Grimsell but friends of mine rate them highly.

Stelvio is great but maybe better for Lotuses! The Rombo is epic though. Did Furka and Grimsel on our trip but be super careful anywhere in Switzerland, friends have had issues before including licence confiscations - the Swiss do not like loud fast sports cars and they will call the Police.

The Sanef toll sensors are brilliant, never had any problems in my plastic cars.

[Mr Cerbera]

Careful of your gas stops in France. There are delivery drivers' strikes at the mo'.
(Also seem to remember some mobile Traffic Cameras around Rheims)

You will be very lost if you pass-by us but if you get stuck then we are in Lux.

There used to be a good dealer in Dienst, Belgium but I can't seem to find his details now. Perhaps he went under ?

Careful of Lake Como. Gorgeous for touristic stuff but a lousy drive with tiny, lakeside roads and always coaches coming the other way. Fab, curvy Motorways around Monaco 'n' Nice.

Best o'

Edited by Mr Cerbera on Sunday 5th June 13:41

Edited by Mr Cerbera on Monday 6th June 07:48

[CerbWill]

Just ordered 1 of these http://www.gitup.com/en/home/12-gitup-git2-pro-act...

Anyone know where the best place to put an external microphone for exhaust noise is? As its a mini-USB connection extending it shouldn't be a problem

As theres only 1.5 petrolheads on the journey we're going to touristy places but managing to squeeze in some decent roads in places, I wasn't planning a tour of Lake Como at 180mph!

Mr Cerbera, I've copied your phone number now if you want to remove it. Thanks!

[crypto]

Two contacts in (northern) Switzerland which would service TVRs
Eggimann Racing
Gewerbestrasse 3A, 4450 Sissach
Phone: [phone]

Garage Hofmann
Willestrasse 1, 8957 Spreitenbach
Phone: [phone]

Of course you may contact me should any problems arise and I might help (or just to join you for a beer )
Why not just the Gotthard pass ? I think passes are great going uphill, but downhill are pain as you are permanently on the brakes. In other words, choose a pass which is winding uphills, but has long straight roads downhill so you can let it go ...

Peter

Edited by crypto on Sunday 5th June 21:37