Switzerland Drive
Discussion
Received a phone call last Wednesday from my local TVR club organiser, asking if I would be willing to allow Avon tyres to use my car(as the factory car had been blown up in an auto car track test) Apparently the only hitch was that I would have to drive the car to the location of the shoot, all expenses paid + a new set of tyres, when I discovered the location was Switzerland, you can imagine it didn't take me too long to reach a decision.
New tyres arrived yesterday true to their word and I'm off on the ferry Sunday for a hopefully fantastic drive across France and into Switzerland.
anyway I'll let you have a full report on my return! (assuming we get back ;-))
New tyres arrived yesterday true to their word and I'm off on the ferry Sunday for a hopefully fantastic drive across France and into Switzerland.
anyway I'll let you have a full report on my return! (assuming we get back ;-))
Just a quick update for those of you who are interested. We made it back in one piece. The car was fantastic the whole trip 1800 miles! The return journey from Switzerland to La Harve (690 miles) was achieved in just under 9.5 hours, including 5 refueling stops.
We had only two technical problems. First the washer system packed up after a heavy downpour, but was quickly fixed with some improvised duck tape repairs. Second (still to be resolved) we found the front right wheel was making contact with the body work of the car when on full left lock. You wouldnt normally notice this in every day use, but hammering down an alpine pass with hairpins every half a mile made it quite apparent. The solution was wider turns into the corners ;-) Hopefully the dealers will have a more suitable long term fix for the problem.
I've got a lot of photos from the trip which when developed I'll get set up online for those that want to see the car in a truly stunning setting. I also too some amazing footage of the climb up the mountain pass at speed, which looks and sounds incredible, as soon as i figure out a way of getting it online in bite size chunks i'll let you all know (total footage of the climb is over 17 mins long!) I was told by some admirers at the top of the pass, that they could hear the car coming from over 6000 feet below.....
We had only two technical problems. First the washer system packed up after a heavy downpour, but was quickly fixed with some improvised duck tape repairs. Second (still to be resolved) we found the front right wheel was making contact with the body work of the car when on full left lock. You wouldnt normally notice this in every day use, but hammering down an alpine pass with hairpins every half a mile made it quite apparent. The solution was wider turns into the corners ;-) Hopefully the dealers will have a more suitable long term fix for the problem.
I've got a lot of photos from the trip which when developed I'll get set up online for those that want to see the car in a truly stunning setting. I also too some amazing footage of the climb up the mountain pass at speed, which looks and sounds incredible, as soon as i figure out a way of getting it online in bite size chunks i'll let you all know (total footage of the climb is over 17 mins long!) I was told by some admirers at the top of the pass, that they could hear the car coming from over 6000 feet below.....
quote:
Excellent James, glad you had a good time.
Tell us more about the reason you went in the first place?
What did Avon get you to do, etc?
What were people's reaction to the car, etc?
Cheers.... Andrew (ex gb61390)
The trip was for an Avon tyre promotional brochure due out at the end of the year. They needed a Tamora and the press car had been wrecked at the auto car speed trials so they needed a replacement at short notice. I was the lucky guy that got the call from the TVR club and agreed to go on the all expenses paid trip ;-)
The guys doing the shoot all work on various mags, Evo, autocar, auto express etc. The photo shoot involved 2 days of shooting various angles of the car. Some involved us moving down an alpine pass chasing an audi TT with a photographer hanging out of its boot, others we're statics of the car possed on a hairpin bend with the mountains in the back drop.
The car got more attention than ive ever seen a car recieve. We had people pulling over at the side of the road running back and grabbing camcorders and asking us to rev the engine louder! We did a shot in a quiet little village on the italian border, which had most of the village out in their droves to take a look at this strange looking car theyd never seen before.
quote:
James...on your wheel problem....do you have 18" fitted by your dealer? When ordering mine I was told retro-fitting 18" required wheel arch modification whereas cars ordered with 18" from new were sorted in the factory. Just a thought...
Nice trip!!
Not on the 18's which is what makes it all the more strange really.
>> Edited by JamesCross on Thursday 12th September 19:59
Hello guys,
Those who never had a chance to do it can only hardly imagine how it feels to be able to “fully open” over the Swiss mountain pass roads (never a single speed controls
); and to have a cold drink under the sun and admire the snow reflex on your car….
Sorry, I have a Griffith 500 not a Tamora-Big-Wheels, but you can check some pics waiting for James to post his stuff. http://community.webshots.com/album/49905954ddTWMi
Regards,
Ozren
PS – it seems that there are only very few real “connaisseurs” in Switzerland driving TVRs, these cars are not known over here and you should see the Porsche drivers’ faces when they realize that they can not go faster than you…
Those who never had a chance to do it can only hardly imagine how it feels to be able to “fully open” over the Swiss mountain pass roads (never a single speed controls
); and to have a cold drink under the sun and admire the snow reflex on your car…. Sorry, I have a Griffith 500 not a Tamora-Big-Wheels, but you can check some pics waiting for James to post his stuff. http://community.webshots.com/album/49905954ddTWMi
Regards,
Ozren
PS – it seems that there are only very few real “connaisseurs” in Switzerland driving TVRs, these cars are not known over here and you should see the Porsche drivers’ faces when they realize that they can not go faster than you…
Hi Andy,
In fact, TGE brought the car to their “leather man”. I do not remember the name of a guy, but it seems that he also executed the full leather interior for a limited number of Smart cars, ordered by the manufacturer himself – definitely, Ch. Pulver (TGE) will be able to help you with the name / phone number. In any case, they opened the seats and modified the structure for better lateral support. They used the original leather (quality and color) and the “coutures” (I do not know the word in English) are exactly as the original ones. It’s amazing; you do not see any difference. For this very professional work you should calculate approx. CHF 3’500. The other alternatives I considered were:
(a) to replace the current seats with racing seats – probably less expensive, but in my opinion look horrible in this car (I put one in to see, but I did not like it at all as I believe the overall look should remain a sort of old fashioned British); and
(b) to order the original Cerbera (pre-2000 model) bucket seats (like in the last 100 Griffith cars – not the current Cerbera/Tuscan seats), but here the cost is approx. CHF 4’000 per seat (I was told by TGE, but did not check it personally).
In any case, I will see if I can make some good quality pictures and send you the stuff, but if you seriously consider modifying your seats it might be worth meeting somewhere so you can also sit in.
Talk to you soon.
Ciao, Ozren
PS – I believe that I saw you coming down from Susten Pass (I was going up), I do not remember the exact date, but it was on the same weekend as Tour de Suisse (cycling).
In fact, TGE brought the car to their “leather man”. I do not remember the name of a guy, but it seems that he also executed the full leather interior for a limited number of Smart cars, ordered by the manufacturer himself – definitely, Ch. Pulver (TGE) will be able to help you with the name / phone number. In any case, they opened the seats and modified the structure for better lateral support. They used the original leather (quality and color) and the “coutures” (I do not know the word in English) are exactly as the original ones. It’s amazing; you do not see any difference. For this very professional work you should calculate approx. CHF 3’500. The other alternatives I considered were:
(a) to replace the current seats with racing seats – probably less expensive, but in my opinion look horrible in this car (I put one in to see, but I did not like it at all as I believe the overall look should remain a sort of old fashioned British); and
(b) to order the original Cerbera (pre-2000 model) bucket seats (like in the last 100 Griffith cars – not the current Cerbera/Tuscan seats), but here the cost is approx. CHF 4’000 per seat (I was told by TGE, but did not check it personally).
In any case, I will see if I can make some good quality pictures and send you the stuff, but if you seriously consider modifying your seats it might be worth meeting somewhere so you can also sit in.
Talk to you soon.
Ciao, Ozren
PS – I believe that I saw you coming down from Susten Pass (I was going up), I do not remember the exact date, but it was on the same weekend as Tour de Suisse (cycling).
Hi Ozren
thanks for the detailed answer! I considered ordering the Cerbera seats, but got the same price info from Mr. Pulfer and thought it was very expensive.
I was indeed making a nice tour the day of the Tour de Suisse...Brünig, Furka, Grimsel, Susten...loads of fun. Were you in the Griffith and I missed you?
Are you from the Ticino? Depending on the weather I might visit someone in Luino this weekend and we could meet if you have time... You can contact me via private e-mail if you like (scrivimi pure in italiano, non c'e problema). a presto Andy
thanks for the detailed answer! I considered ordering the Cerbera seats, but got the same price info from Mr. Pulfer and thought it was very expensive.
I was indeed making a nice tour the day of the Tour de Suisse...Brünig, Furka, Grimsel, Susten...loads of fun. Were you in the Griffith and I missed you?
Are you from the Ticino? Depending on the weather I might visit someone in Luino this weekend and we could meet if you have time... You can contact me via private e-mail if you like (scrivimi pure in italiano, non c'e problema). a presto Andy
I've finally got one of the photos taken during the shoot.
http://community.webshots.com/photo/58224829/58224928QMECYZ
I'm told the rest will follow in the new year. As editing is still going on for the brochure.
http://community.webshots.com/photo/58224829/58224928QMECYZ
I'm told the rest will follow in the new year. As editing is still going on for the brochure.
Ahhh,... photos reminded me of my recent alpine trip. I did 2500mile round trip over the Alps through Austria, Italy and Switzerland. The road from Bolzano to Cortina in the Dolomites was a real stunner.
OK, OK I was not in a TVR (my T350 does not arrive until the spring
) but my MCoupe Batmobile was enough to scare the locals in some of those sleepy alpine villages. Memories of a serious duel with a yellow NSX as we crossed from Italy to Switzerland.....Hmmm thinking I may have to relive the journey in my T350 when it arrives????
OK, OK I was not in a TVR (my T350 does not arrive until the spring
) but my MCoupe Batmobile was enough to scare the locals in some of those sleepy alpine villages. Memories of a serious duel with a yellow NSX as we crossed from Italy to Switzerland.....Hmmm thinking I may have to relive the journey in my T350 when it arrives???? Gassing Station | Tamora, T350 & Sagaris | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff