Italy here we come!

Italy here we come!

Author
Discussion

Danblez

Original Poster:

276 posts

211 months

Friday 24th July 2015
quotequote all
Part of the dream of owning a TVR was to travel to europe over the Alps and since buying my car in January I have been busy getting it ready for the trip. It was touch and go for a while if we were going to make it including a last minute change of clutch master cylinder on Tuesday but I am glad to report we have made it to the chunnel!

I am really excited but a bit apprehensive, got a stack of spares and a few tools so hopefully should be ok.

I know it probably feels like nothing to some of you who seem to pop over all the time and I am sure confidence will build with the trip.

Already had two people stop for a chat who used to own them in the past. I love my TVR.


67Fox

452 posts

111 months

Friday 24th July 2015
quotequote all
Cracking good job!
I love the enthusiasm of the TVR guys & girls to travel abroad.
Have a safe and if I might say so an "uneventful" trip, if you know what I mean!
Enjoy wink One day I would like to do the same smile

FairfieldSteve

2,721 posts

165 months

Friday 24th July 2015
quotequote all
Lots of pictures please! A trip to the Alps in a TVR is on my list smile

Oldred_V8S

3,715 posts

238 months

Friday 24th July 2015
quotequote all
Have a great trip. You've done well to get to the tunnel. (That is not a reflection on TVR reliability, but the ever present operation stack).

Danblez

Original Poster:

276 posts

211 months

Friday 24th July 2015
quotequote all
Cheers all I will keep you posted.

Really lucky getting to the Chunnel. Sounded like a complete nightmare with 2 hour delays when you have managed to get to the port. Somehow managed to make it almost without stopping and even got on an earlier train!

Next destination Aachen Germany!

J400GED

1,202 posts

237 months

Friday 24th July 2015
quotequote all
Danblez said:
Cheers all I will keep you posted.

Really lucky getting to the Chunnel. Sounded like a complete nightmare with 2 hour delays when you have managed to get to the port. Somehow managed to make it almost without stopping and even got on an earlier train!

Next destination Aachen Germany!
Good luck Dan, hopefully you will be able to update us throughout your travels.

Ged

macdeb

8,508 posts

255 months

Friday 24th July 2015
quotequote all
We did a 2800 mile round trip to Italy in June, Fan-bloody-tastic it was. I know you will enjoy it. thumbup
note I didn't just say 'enjoy', for I friggin hate that shortened term
Have a great trip and prepare for attention the car will bring.

Nosh

982 posts

167 months

Friday 24th July 2015
quotequote all
Danblez said:
Cheers all I will keep you posted.
Enjoy!!

I love forum postcards!

So - don't forget the piccies!!

Nosh

Danblez

Original Poster:

276 posts

211 months

Friday 24th July 2015
quotequote all
Had a great drive down to Aachen not going to tempt fate by saying how well the car is running! Ha! Steady 75mph and returning 27mpg. Happy with that although autobahn tomorrow will change that!

First services we stopped at ended like this after the remote boot release failed. My fault really as I forgot to solder in a wire someone had just stuffed into a socket when they fitted it. Anyway all sorted, I can only wonder what the English family were thinking as they passed me holding a bunch of wires and my multimeter!



Better pics to come!

Down to Lindau tomorrow and then 2 days doing the alpenstrasse, can't wait.

http://www.deutsche-alpenstrasse.de/en/home/



Edited by Danblez on Friday 24th July 19:19

J400GED

1,202 posts

237 months

Saturday 25th July 2015
quotequote all
Glad you got that sorted quickly.
As for the rest of your trip:

ENJOY!! biggrin

macdeb

8,508 posts

255 months

Saturday 25th July 2015
quotequote all
banghead
smile

J400GED

1,202 posts

237 months

Saturday 25th July 2015
quotequote all
macdeb said:
banghead
smile
whistle

soad

32,882 posts

176 months

Saturday 25th July 2015
quotequote all
FairfieldSteve said:
Lots of pictures please! A trip to the Alps in a TVR is on my list smile
Of females, preferably. hehe

Danblez

Original Poster:

276 posts

211 months

Monday 27th July 2015
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Almost 1200 miles in and all going well. We had a bit of a miserable drive through Germany as we were chased all the way by a big storm. We mostly saw this all day.



What made up for the miserable weather was the interest in the car and some very excited thumbs up from other drivers.

Towards the end of the day we saw a bit more sun and then had a little fun along the unlimited autobahn.

http://youtu.be/Kx47uDQdOGg

Does anyone else have an inbuilt speed safety device in the passenger seat? To be fair that was as fast as I wanted to go as the weather was really gusty and it felt like the roof was about to depart.

Day three saw us set off from Lindau alone the start of the alpenstrasse. The weather was good so the roof of course was down and we drove along some stunning roads. Unfortunately it was really busy so it was a day of cruising along rather than having some fun.



I see the Alps!




We stopped halfway along the alpenstrasse last night in oberamagau, which is a beautiful town then got up bright and early. Weather was poor early on but this soon changed and we had fantastic day. Roads were much quieter than the weekend and we had a real mix of driving with occasional moderate hoonage.

Day started well behind a nice Dino. Some classic car rally was on with a few interesting motors about.






We are chilling out for a couple of nights now ahead of the Grossglockener pass apparently the highest route over the Alps in Austria.

This is such a beautiful part of the world and even better in a TVR!

Edited by Danblez on Monday 27th July 17:25

Nosh

982 posts

167 months

Monday 27th July 2015
quotequote all
Danblez said:
Almost 1200 miles in and all going well. We had a bit of a miserable drive through Germany as we were chased all the way by a big storm. We mostly saw this all day.

Towards the end of the day we saw a bit more sun and then had a little fun along the unlimited autobahn.

http://youtu.be/Kx47uDQdOGg
Great update - I so have to do this...!

And as for the vid - good to see the "go-faster-they-all-do-that-bonnet-movement" wink

Excellent!!

Nosh

Danblez

Original Poster:

276 posts

211 months

Monday 27th July 2015
quotequote all
Hehe, yep my wife was quite concerned and asked if the bonnet should be doing that!

I also forgot to say last night at the hotel all the chefs came out and gathered around the car. I couldn't tell what they were saying but could tell they were discussing what on earth it was, the only word I understood was Austin! laugh



Edited by Danblez on Monday 27th July 17:33

Nosh

982 posts

167 months

Monday 27th July 2015
quotequote all
Danblez said:
..........I couldn't tell what they were saying but could tell they were discussing what on earth it was, the only odd I understood was Austin!

Edited by Danblez on Monday 27th July 17:31
Dan

You have something unique mate - show it off and enjoy it. smile

Perhaps a card printed in 9 languages that outlines what the car is in, say, 30 words you can place on the bonnet when parked up?

That may help.....

.....but I have a feeling that the real petrol heads would know wink

Nosh

Richard 858

1,882 posts

135 months

Monday 27th July 2015
quotequote all
Looks stunning Dan, must be a terrific experience ! Love to do something like it myself one day, but I think my speed controller would be far more strict than yours !!

Danblez

Original Poster:

276 posts

211 months

Friday 31st July 2015
quotequote all
Wooohoooo, we made it and the car didn't miss a beat!

We were a bit disappointed we didn't get to enjoy the Grossglockener as the weather was so bad we took a smaller pass and more direct route. Bad weather has chased us all the way but we landed at our final destination yesterday in 38 degrees of sunshine. The car behaved faultlessly even in this temp with the needle never moving above 88 degrees.

What a fantastic journey, loved every mile and the car had so much attention, people genuinely interested in it.

Just heading out the the Ferrari museum now as guess what? Yep raining again! No pics at the moment because the wifi is sulking!


Pupp

12,219 posts

272 months

Friday 31st July 2015
quotequote all
Excellent stuff keep it coming (and keep it going)!

Oh, and if only for Mac's benefit, ENJOY!
smile