The car is packed and Europe awaits

[Jack P.]

Netherlands NCRS

I have the internet for a few hours and though I would catch up on posting pictures. I am in small town outside of Hamburg Germany.


As you may remember, I had noticed a rear wheel noise a few weeks ago.
The car was put on a lift in Paris and no damage was found, but the noise was still there. On to the Netherlands and an invite to a NCRS.NL chapter barn find show at Rob Muskquetier's workshop just north of Amsterdam in Akersloot.


I got to meet many Dutch corvette owners and we also put my car on a lift and checked again for the rear wheel noise.


Here are some pictures of the countryside from Amsterdam to Akersloot.












Looking for the reason for clicking and clanging and 63 SWC project car.


We did not find a direct reason for noise yet. More to come later.

[Jack P.]

A funny thing happen on the way to Amsterdam

I had a chance to take some pictures in the Netherlands ,windmills and city life in Amsterdam.

[Jack P.]

The Dutch Corvette Collection

There is a man named Andre Boer. He lives in Wezep , Netherlands. Some people say he has one of the most extensive collections of Corvettes in the world.


He is also one of the nicest. My car's rear has been acting up since Paris, maybe before. We checked it in Paris, in Amsterdam, in Breda, and Jack Jansen's repair facility, his corvette's later, we noticed problems with u-joint on the haft-shaft. Jack did not have any , but said he would call Andre Boer, a friend and Andre also fixes corvettes.


I set off for Andre's place and what I found , I would like to share.


Andre welcomed me, from under a car he was working on. Came over and told me that I had heard of my trip and that I was having a problem with my car.


He asked his son Johan to look at my car when he could, Martyn, his other son was also working on cars. A third son, Michel was studying finance.


He asked if I had time to look a car or two while work was being done on my car. I said "sure"


What I found was a man with a passion for Corvettes. A passion that has lead to having almost 100 great cars and 100 spare cars to keep the first 100 happy.


He was kind enough to show me every car and how he works on them for his collection and also as place where late model Corvettes and Mercedes can be bought .


Later in the day my car was fixed, new rear outer half shaft joint, peace of mind and to top it all, a home cooked meal.


I had dinner with Andre, wife Hinnie, three sons, daughter inlaw and two grandchildren. I felt very at home.


Here are pictures. I will post 12 more in next post. The link to his collections is

http://www.autobedrijfandreboer.nl/nl/museum

[Jack P.]

Re: The Dutch Corvette Collection

Additional Cars http://www.autobedrijfandreboer.nl/nl/museum

[Jack P.]

Hamburg Collection

Joreg and Jens. Good buddies and Joreg hosted me for a few nights . My car was happy and Joreg has a 66 slightly modified, and a 2003 for family drives.


He introduced me to a friend of his , Jens. Jens said he had a few cars and if I wanted , I could look at them. He drives most of them when he can. Keeps them all in a garage so he can just jump in the car of the day.


Lots of American Muscle Cars in Europe !














Jens





Joreg's 66 My 66

[Jack P.]

Travels with the Corvette Vagabond

I am in Helsinki this morning. Many members of the FinnShark forum have set out a great welcome mat. Stories later. I also have a few more private car collections to share with you.


I have been fortunate to have met some very interesting corvette owners in my European travels. Not only do they love corvettes, they also have other interests that I found fascinating. The partners of these owners also had careers or hobbies that I would like to share with you.


Mark and Garbriela and dog Felix, are one such couple. He owns a nice 66 coupe and a few other European cars. He in involved in the advertising business and art photography , he has published two books on European Car rallys with photographs of the event.


His wife Garbriela is a student and teacher of Yoga. She works with sound vibrations using gongs and bells as a yoga method of relaxation.


Pictures of Mark, Grbriela and me, hard at work , and some nice cars.


66 Corvette, 56 Continental Coupe
65 SE 220 c
2002 AMG Merceedes Coupe

[Jack P.]

Travels with the Corvette Vagabond the other half

Corvette Owners also have very interesting partners


Silke Knaap of Klein -Moor area of Hamburg, Germany. Silke has one of world's the most extensive collections of Lili - Barbi dolls from the 50's to present.


She has written books on the subject and attends and lectures at seminars all over the world. Her husband Joeg was my host in the Hamburg area and I was offered a place to stay.


You guessed it . My room was the Lili - Barbie room. I was surrounded by over 1000 dolls, clothes , and operating table for repair.


Enjoy

[Jack P.]

From Barbie to Big Game Hunting

While in France I met Regina and Michel at a Corvette of Club of France ralley. They live near Paris and invited me over.


Rigina is from Texas and Michele is a retired French business man.


He loves to hunt big game and has been all over the world. He is a true hunter, that goes into the bush, camps out and is out in front on the hunt.


Some pictures

[Jack P.]

Finland a wonderful place

I am in Jyvaskyla, Finland , central Finland lakes area. Here are some photos. More later. Grooyjay, (Jani and Mika , Tapio , Riku ) have paved the way for me. I have had 3 Sauna in 2 days. The last one a "Smoke Suana" very traditional with the sauna heated by wood and filled with smoke . Smoke is cleared and in you go. To say that I am getting relaxed would be an understatement.

[Jack P.]

Re: Finland a wonderful place Long ride today

Hi All,


On a ferry from Turku, Finland to Sweden, then drive to Oslo from Stockholm.


420 miles driving from Oulu to Turku.


Great time in Finland post and pictures later. Real tired


Jack

[Michael J.]

Re: Finland a wonderful place Long ride today

You haven't mentioned or shown the weather much. When I lived in them thar parts, it was usually cold and wet this time of year. Hope that 'Vette isn't developing rust.....

[Jack P.]

Long Ride today

One more 320 mile drive today from Stockholm , Sweden to Oslo , Norway.


I have just passed 7,248 miles driven on this trip. I am meeting with a reporter from American Car Club of Norway tomorrow and there is a large car show in Oslo this weekend and I will attend it.


The car comes home on a boat on Nov 1, and should be in NY in December. I fly home on Sunday and look forward to being home with my family,


Once home I will have time to start posting some great photos and videos


Thanks to all for their support. Corvettes are alive and well in Europe. I will do a recap of the trip tomorrow highlighting my stops.


Jack

Ps

The weather in Scandinavia held for me. I had a little rain in Southern Finland, and there was frost on the car windows in the morning. Not much different then late fall in Maine about 30' in morning and 40-50 or so later

[Jack P.]

Dusting of Snow

Good morning, Bonjour , and 8 other greetings from Europe.


Woke up this morning to a little snow . It will melt by mid-morning. I will drive to Oslo later and perhaps to Drammen , to get car transport details done. The return cost is going to be about $1,400 with fees.


The car will go Roll on Roll off. Had I sent it home in a container is could be close to $6,000. The money I save will be needed to buy a hot dog and soda in Norway.


I am looking forward to the Oslo Motor Show this weekend, I will have a chance to meet some of the Corvette people from my visit last month.


Here are some pictures of my car this morning. Just like being home in Maine.

[Michael J.]

Re: Dusting of Snow

That's the fall weather I remember. And I see you have noticed the incredible high prices for most things in Scandinavia. It is mostly due to taxes, Americans don't realize how good they have it until you go to these socialist states and see how much the government rakes in from the citizens. I remember buying a Saab 9000 in Norway. It cost $55K in 1993. You could get the same car in the US for $25K. The difference was taxes on all the options, including air bags and ABS brakes that had huge taxes on them too. Horsepower had the highest tax rate, no secret why all the 'Vettes you have encountered are older ones, not new ZR1s, for instance. Great trip you are having, what memories you will have, cheers.

[Jack P.]

Trip recap

I thought I would do a little summary of my travels in Europe. No pictures on this post just a timeline of places visited.


Sept 3-6, Flew into Oslo stayed with Corvette owners


Sept 7-12 Train to Bergen, west coast of Norway 350 miles from Oslo
Met many members of Corvette Club of Norway


Sept 13-14 Picked up car in Oslo in am and drove to Trelleborg Sweden for ferry to Germany 300 miles


Sept 14-15 Stayed in Castle in East Germany, then on to Berlin one night


Sept 15 On to Nurenberg Car show guest of honor


Sept 16 On to Stuttgart visit friends


Sept 17-18 Switzerland with Martin


Sept 19-20 Nice/ Monaco with Mario


Sept 21-23 Corvette Gang Beach Fun south east coast France


Sept 24-25 Stayed wit Alain, southwest France near Spain, owner of NASCAR team in Europe won Championship of Europe at Le Mans Oct 13


Sept 26-27 Off to Island de Orleon, English channel side of France


Sept 28 Off to small town near Le Mans, drove on track stayed with English couple that I though were French


Sept 29 Off to Brittany for Ralley with Corvette Club of France


Sept 30 Off to Paris to stay with VP of Corvette Club of France


October 1 Off to Normandy to see Omaha beach and war memorial


October 3 Back in Paris for lunch and stayed with French couple


Oct. 4 Off to Belgium stayed with Raytex, blue big Block


Oct 5 Off to Belgium, stayed with Alexander/ Ingrid Hellicopter designer


Oct 6 Off to Knooke Hiest on Belgium coast Car ralley


Oct 7 Drove to Netherlands Rob / Erik and NCRS group car joint acting up, stayed with Rob Musquetier


Oct 8 Stayed with Jack Jansen and wife, looked at car on lift Dad restores Mack trucks


Oct 9 Back to Belgium to interview Alexander


Oct 10 Andre Boer Dutch Collection of Corvettes


More later have to unpack car for shipment home