Geneva road trip & tour of JLC Manufacture

[v8woollie]

As some of you know I have arranged with the watch manufacturer Jaeger-LeCoultre, which has very close links to Aston Martin, to have up to fifteen to twenty spaces reserved for us for a visit to the Manufacture in Le Sentier, just north of Lake Geneva. We can have as many cars there as we like as they have a big car park.

The first date is the 10th/11th April and these have already been booked for us at the Manufacture. They are trying to get an alternative date of the 23rd/24th April. Please let me know if you have any preference. I assume (and I will check) that we can aim to arrive in Geneva in the afternoon of the 10th and have the tour of the Manufacture on the 11th. So that means leaving the UK on the 9th and arriving back on the 13th.

We can either fly to Switzerland (a one day trip), in which case JLC will arrange for Aston Martin cars to be waiting for us when we arrive in Geneva to take us to the Manufacture and then back to the airport. Alternatively we can take days out and drive with our Astons to Geneva (a 4-5 day trip). JLC are very happy to cover the accommodation and all meals for our group whilst we are in Geneva (so lunches, a couple of dinners and a couple of nights in a hotel), so they only require that we would have to make the flights arrangements if we decide not to drive.

Personally I would prefer to give places intially to those that wish to drive as I am sure JLC will make much of this and want to take pictures and write about the visit from a fleet of Astons driven by AM and watch fans. Good publicity opportunity for them and a fun few days out for us.

Lewis (yeti) has been voted as chief route organiser and of course we have quite a few months to go before firm plans need to be agreed. However, the sooner we have a route the better in terms of looking forward to a great trip and some good driving roads.

I will update you on any other details as I get them. Perhaps JLC can arrange for a One-77 or a Zagato to be there for us to have a drive in I am sure there will be some goodies from the Manufacture, albeit I doubt it will be a watch

We obviously have many months to go but I figured the sooner I told you all the sooner you could block out the time in your diaries.

The list so far:

v8woollie
yeti
jonby
AstonZagato
Niki M +1
DavidV12V
Behr
Neil1300R
Threesixty

Edited by v8woollie on Wednesday 26th September 09:03

Edited by v8woollie on Wednesday 26th September 09:05

Edited by v8woollie on Wednesday 26th September 09:05

Edited by v8woollie on Wednesday 26th September 09:28

[v8woollie]

Neil1300R said:

Is it 10 cars or ten people?

I just spoke to JLC. We can have fifteen people on the tour of the Manufacture. They could go to twenty but at one point the tour would have to split into two as some rooms are quite small.

We can have as many cars there as we wish as they have a large car park at the rear of the building. At one point they will want to get around ten out the front for a photo shoot though.

[v8woollie]

mikey k said:

Passed there on Saturday

An opportunity to go in this time

[v8woollie]

George H said:

If its limited to people rather than cars I think +1s should be banned from the tour.

I should be ok for a 3 day trip but don't want to spend any longer

Given we are seven months from the actual trip I am happy to have +1s in the list and maybe we will have thirty people wanting to go. When we get nearer the time I am sure some may drop out and if there are no places left for AM owner/drivers to attend the tour then we will ask if +1s could not do the tour but of course are welcome to do the trip. Geneva has some great shops

By way of example, my wife would love the trip, has no interest in watches and would love the shops!

[v8woollie]

v8woollie
yeti
jonby
AstonZagato
Niki M +1
DavidV12V
Behr
Neil1300R
Threesixty
jamesc12 (+ 1?)
AMDBSNick
V8 PLL

[v8woollie]

As nobody has said otherwise then let's confirm the 10th to arrive in Geneva and the 11th for the tour.

On the subject of +1s. The first fifteen to twenty people in the list will be able to do the tour of the Manufacture. Please indicate if your +1 is coming along for the trip or if he/she does also want to do the tour. As it said my wife may come for the trip but she wouldn't be very interested in the tour.

Nearer the date we will confirm the list for the tour. I'd be pleasant surprised if we get more than twenty people wanting to do the tour.

[v8woollie]

Please could you all update the list and put (Tour) next to your entry if a) you have a +1 and b) your +1 wishes to go on the tour of the Manufacture.

[v8woollie]

Molly GT said:

Robgt + Molly GT - I haven't discussed with himself yet but I know he would love this (just to be different we have a JLC clock).

Atmos owners are VERY welcome You will love the room where they make them and the display room with all the ones they have ever made on the shelves.

[v8woollie]

George, I'm sure I can organise for an Aston to pick you up and deliver you back to the airport.

Lewis, when we get to twenty for the tour I will start the reserve list.

All, if you have a +1 and haven't put (Tour) next to your name I will assume only you will be on the tour and not your +1.

[v8woollie]

I count 19 for the tour so far. If any of those that are earlier on the list update to tour for their +1s then I will recount and redraw the reserve list boundary which I think is fair as they got on the list first and may not spend as much time here as I apparently do to keep up to date with things.

[v8woollie]

v8woollie +1
yeti (+1 for TOUR)
jonby
AstonZagato
Niki M +1
DavidV12V
Behr
Neil1300R (+1 - no not Aston Annie!)
Threesixty + 1
jamesc12 (+ 1?)
AMDBSNick
V8 PLL
Robgt (+1 - yes, Molly GT!) TOUR x 2 or x 1 if someone more enthusiastic about JLC NEEDS my place :;
Mac355 + 1 TOUR *2 if poss
b4rnst4ble + 1 tour
Dougie81 +1

You are on the list. As things stand one of you can go on the tour although you may both be on the tour reserve list once earlier responders let me know.

Just to be clear, even if you are on the reserve list for the tour of the Manufacture you are of course welcome to come along on the drive.

[v8woollie]

v8woollie +1
yeti (+1 for TOUR)
jonby
AstonZagato
Niki M +1
DavidV12V
Behr
Neil1300R (+1 tour)
Threesixty + 1
jamesc12 (+ 1?)
AMDBSNick
V8 PLL
Robgt (+1 - yes, Molly GT!) TOUR x 2 or x 1 if someone more enthusiastic about JLC NEEDS my place :;
Mac355 + 1 TOUR *2 if poss
b4rnst4ble +1 (Tour)

Manufacture tour reserve list (you can still come on the trip) :

Dougie81 +1

Edited by v8woollie on Wednesday 26th September 15:16

[v8woollie]

yeti said:

Woollie, where will we stay in Geneva? Is this going to be sorted by JLC?

Stayed in a very interesting hotel last time I was there as it had secure undergroud parking... It was however slap bang in the middle of Geneva's red light district, who even knew they had one. Stood from my room, I can remeber counting around 15 hookers, 4 puimps and two drug dealers. Being Geneva though, you never felt lesss than safe

Mrs Yeti was rather put out that the only outfit she had left was a (very) short dress and (very) tall boots... it wasn't quite the look she was aiming for...

JLC will organise the hotel. Last time they entertained me we stayed in a very nice hotel on the shore of the lake. They will organise secure parking which I made a point of requesting again when I spoke to them this morning.

On my last trip I was accommodated here:

http://www.hotelpwilson.com/en/

and had a wonderful meal here:

http://www.beau-rivage.ch/uk/le-chat-botte.php

Edited by v8woollie on Wednesday 26th September 15:33

[v8woollie]

yeti said:

/runs hands with glee

Need to decide who to sit next to... who is most likely to leave half their dinner, last time I got most of (AdamV8's other half) Romi's steak

I'm sitting next to JuliaAnne. She's not a big eater.

[v8woollie]

AMDBSNick said:

I believe you also had some of my supper

Supper. What a quaint word. Don't hear many people speak of supper any more.

[v8woollie]

V8 PLL, as you didn't add (tour) I assume your +1 isn't doing the tour so the reserve point remains the same?

[v8woollie]

yeti said:

If Mrs Yeti is coming, I'll be sat as far away from Julia-Anne as possible and denying ever having met her

Mere est le mot

[v8woollie]

V8 PLL said:

That's fine, have been out of the loop since this morning, just playing catch-up.

No problem. You can both do the tour. I will adjust the reserve list start point later today.

[v8woollie]

yeti said:

I suppose the fact she'll say 'hi!' when she sees me will give it away anyway

She's just a bit too attractive for her own good really, the poor thing.

Fancying a new (to me) piece to celebrate this... AMVOX II or Reverso Grande GMT?

I have the Amvox but even if I didn't and you wanted a special piece I'd go for the iconic Reverso. It epitomises everything about JLC and its history.

[v8woollie]

v8woollie +1
yeti + 1 (tour x 2)
jonby
AstonZagato
Niki M +1 (tour x 2)
DavidV12V
Behr
Neil1300R +1 (tour x 2)
Threesixty + 1
jamesc12 (+ 1?)
AMDBSNick
V8 PLL +1 (tour x 2)
Robgt +1 (tour x 2)
Mac355 + 1 (tour x 2)

Manufacture tour reserve list (you can still come on the trip):

b4rnst4ble +1 (Tour)
Dougie81 +1 

Edited by v8woollie on Wednesday 26th September 19:33