nurburgring car transport

[b3kaw]

hi, a few months ago i purchased a truck, at present things are going well and i'm looking into offering something a little bit special, my latest idea is

converting a trailer to take 8 cars and offering a delivery service to the ring, will collect from any address, cars will be available for 2 days at the ring.

i have checked insurance and its not too bad.

what do you think??

[Chris_w666]

Nice in principle but where will my stripped GT3 be kept when it isn't in my Garage?

I want my car 2nd, 3rd September and my mate wants his 4th and 5th.

How do you deal with having to deliver one motor to Aberdeen then collect one in Swansea and one in Exeter in the same run?

Lots of variables to work out if it is viable.

[mc_blue]

Our main business is vehicle rescue and recovery however we do provide national vehicle transportation services, which is worth approx 5% of our turnover.

Have you looked at the sort of price you have to compete with to win this business?

Would your transporter be enclosed or open?

Do you have an International Operator's Licence?

Finally, as mentioned above you have to look at the logistics of collecting vehicles all over the UK. Provided you have got some reliable sub-contractors this wouldn't be too difficult - we could always help you out with West Midlands and northern coverage.

[14-7]

Just my two pence worth . . .

I would say that firstly you would need it to be planned well in advance. Someone has already raised the problem of cars being all over the country. How would you get around that? Pick all up seperately within a week prior to departure? Pick them up in one run? (in which case the owners would have to fit around you which they won't) Will you get a seperate trailer and vehicle to pick the cars up rather than use the 8 car transporter? (again fuel will need to be taken in to consideration).

I reckon that the cars only being available for two days won't appeal to most either. If you are doing a weekend run over then it would make much better sense to be there on Thursday and leave either late Monday or Tuesday.

What happens to the cars once you are there? Do the owners collect them and keep them for the two days (one night)? Or do you take them back to a secure area?

[Stu R]

Could be a good one, but there's a feck load of variables as Chris said.

Not sure if you're aware of some of the bike trackday companies that offer a service down to almeria track in spain, for example. You've got to get your bike to them by ABC date, and it'll be back at XYZ date. Storage is important though. Someone going to the 'ring though, will probably be expecting their car back promptly, let's not forget there's no shortage of daily drivers that go over there...

I think it could be viable, but I wouldn't want to run it solely as a transport business. I think I'd personally be looking to tie in with various other companies and offer a complete service where for a fixed price you could offer the transport (the core service really), and some discounted accommodation, and so on.

[sonic_2k_uk]

I thought evading the Belgian police trying to catch the dunkirk ferry was a statutory requirement of any nurburgring trip, this would take all of the fun out of it!

[b3kaw]

thanks for the replies.

transporter is enclosed, international o license.

you could offer several dates throughout 2011, i'd only be looking for 8 cars so hopefully they will not be too far spread out, single car subbies could be used or you could ask to meet at motorway service or junctions.

cars could be re loaded over night and truck could be parked somewhere secour overnight.

i think an advert in evo would work well.

[sniff diesel]

How many drivers would you need to get the job done around the tachograph hours?

[Stephanie Plum]

i'd be inclined to approach the TDOs that run track days at the Ring and twin up with them. Collection could still be an issue though - I would suggest a central drop off point, or two.

[Arnold The Bat]

+1

I was recently at a track event at the Hungaroring and the organisers had a couple of transporters bringing cars mainly from Sweden and Germany. The cars were delivered to the circuit, used for the trackday and getting to and from the hotel before on the final day being loaded up and taken back to where ever.

[b3kaw]

my vehicle will be doubled manned.

most track day companys tend to use the cheapest east european trucks to move the cars, i was hoping to offer a more personnal service to the customer.

i have been measuring the trailer and think 8 cars would fit great.

so how much do you think is a fair price for the ring?

thanks.

[sniff diesel]

b3kaw said:

so how much do you think is a fair price for the ring?

There's loads of firms on Ebay offering car transportation for £1 a mile, suppose you could charge a bit more for going abroad.

[The Riddler]

While waiting for a mate at the hospital tonight I picked up Autocar magazine, and while scanning the ads in the back came across these people - http://www.kentvale.co.uk/ I remembered reading the thread while at work earlier so thought I would share with the OP.

[carreauchompeur]

On face value it seems like the costs involved would be too great to turn a profit, however I imagine there is a market for it, particularly with thirsty exotica where their fuel bill over would be mahoosive. Lots to think about. Maybe targeting it at owner's clubs would help, effectively they would be getting the cars in one place first for a "joint" run. Owners fly over?