Drive 7's in the Alps ?

[phieziem]

Hi all

I am planning my next business which is running a small fleet of Caterham 7's in or near to the Alps. I see the cars as being fairly stock and not too high performance as not all the customers will be experienced with the cars. I thought about giving it a 60's feel and maybe using the old prisoner paint job which may be naff to you guys !

Just wondered if you had any pointers (too cold in the winter ?) for me and I would reward you with a hefty discount when up and running.

I currently run a bike rental business in Spain called www.GSheaven.com where I rent the large BMW 1200 GS Adventures so it would be a similar business model.

The cars would be based at a cool 'Auberge' and round trip routes planned and given on laminated maps and put into sat nav (Tom Tom Riders ?) where stops at other Auberges would be included - all booked in advance, customers just fly in to Geneva (for example) I would collect from airport and take to Auberge where car is waiting.

Any comments would be welcome !

cheers

Russell

[Marcellus]

Russell yhm.

But for public discussion I would have thought that it would be highly impractal to run a fleet of caterhams during the winter in/around the French Alps.

For the experienced/highly skilled it would be great fun but I reckon even then they would draw the line of safety grounds.

During the course of the winter you see far more suitable cars (4x4s etc etc) in ditches where they've lost traction plus a lot of the roads which you would really like to drive are closed off.

However, as summer business opportunity I would have thought that there was considerable scope.

You could either have great circular day trips or stay in different places each night, some of the auberges and refuges do make stunning stop overs.

[trotsky]

Russell,Yes I agree with Marcellus, As a regular visitor to the Alps Skiing 2/3 x a year i would agree with his comments re weather and roads, even when dry the roads that I would want to drive in a Caterham i.e twisty mountain roads, these are often littered with black ice at times, plus copious amounts of salt grit.Hideous stuff, Not only eats aluminium but makes accelerating and braking sketchy too. Great idea for warmer times, tho, I am thinking of a similar venture using various classic BRITISH /ITALIAN
sportscars when I move to Vancouver Island, the climate is much milder year round on the island, taking the caterham of course tho wont be letting anyone take that out, its my new baby after all. Was amazed at the number of old british sports cars on the island. Trotsky (also a Russell)

[phieziem]

Thanks guys,

I would probably base the business 'lower down' but within reach of the Alps, we are heading to Lake Como in Italy as it looks like a good spot with a milder climate, close to Milan. Mainly a 3 seaon business I think, as are my bikes but they are slow in summer due to the heat in southern Spain !

Let me know if you get going in Vancouver Island, one of my favourite places on the planet, I will be a customer ! Best of luck.

Russell

[trotsky]

My guitar teacher has recently moved to Tuscany/northern Italy, not sure exact spot, He's a cracking bloke, Scottish and a superb guitarist/teacher, all styles. also a petrol head and almost fluent in Itailiaiaiain. he's planning to have a small music/academy holiday place in the Tuscany/Italian lakes area. I am planning a trip out there in the Caterham this summer when are you planning the car thing and from where? it would be interesting to meet up so i could pick yer brains, Just had a look at the GS site, Very good mate, looks a cracking laugh, not got a bike license but 4 brothers who are keen bikers. Fantastic pics.

Planing to move to Vancouver island in a couple of Years all being well. Going to buy some land in the Comox Valley area to take advantage of the fantastic climate,mild on coast with skiing and mountain biking 0n your doorstep.plus fantastic driving roads with views and food to die for. Going to build a nice home and some log ski lodges to let out year round, will take people on ski trips in winter and mountain biking nearly year round. The car hiring thing is just a very nice idea at the moment but am giving it serious thought, I have a real passion for cars so why not do something else i love, cant ski and mountain bike everyday, theres snowmobiling and fishing and driving the tractor and polishing then thrashing the caterham to do!!I hope you get the hiring caterham thing going it would be a success I'm positive, sure lots of people would love to drive the alpine roads but don't because they don't want the drive to get there. Not me tho, cant wait for the summer,also going to the ring this year,

you'll be welcome to be a customer in B.C, but got to join me in a playing of Dueling banjos on the porch of me home stead so get in touch with my Italian mate n start pickin.

[phieziem]

I'll know more in the next couple of months as to when I will get going as long as it seems viable.

Keep in touch though, we may be in the area for the summer, would be great to meet up.

Watch the mountain bike idea, I knew some guys tried that in spain and really struggled, I think it is a percieved value thing, easy to take your own bike / rent one etc. there is a real limit on what you can charge.

cheers

Russell