Europe - The Mountains Tour

[Carol]

Dear Bachi, Robin, Jim,
Dear PN-Team in the background,

We have just arrived back to the rainy UK from our Alpine Tour and even if I am knackered (it was not only me who was kept alive today by a couple of Red Bull cans..) I am far from being able to get asleep..

I had an absolutely amazing time and I want to thank you for your professionalism in handling all the major and minor things on tour. When I signed up for the Alpine Tour I was wondering if you were able to top the Millau Tour - and indeed you were!

Great people, fantastic roads, nice hotels (OK, leave one aside but everybody knows that I haven't seen much of that hotel anyway because some people had the great idea to get some beers from an alreday closed bar...)

It was another pure driving holiday, who cares about lunches when you can go the nice road you just did one more time (or maybe twice)?

As we learned at Mont Ventoux: It's all about the people, the roads are a nice supplement!
And so it will be no major surprise that I can say it in one word:

Againagainagain!

:party:

Thank you all, you did a brilliant job

Carol, who will spend the money for a new rear wheel instead of a Gucci Handbag in Cannes...

[Bigburd]

+1

Encore! Wieder! Ancora!

Would have done Swiss but the about translation of a well known PN phrase covers those of no official language

Oh and on the way home...


I forgot I have broken Audi gearbox and an Engine Management light on it.
I following a van with the word DOGS in big letters (if it was stopped would have put Ruf! Ruf!)


Mega thanks to all involved, drivers and organisers alike...See you all next time but remember (as per the Marcos Sticker)

Race It!
Break It!
Fix It!
Repeat!


BB

[p4dhu]

Bachi/Robin/Jim
Thanks for a fantastic trip...didn't have anything to compare it to but it far exceeded my expectations of what i imagined it to be!
Met some great people and had a real laugh on and off the roads!
Organisation and support were fab...thanks again to all for stopping in the sweltering Italian heat to help fix my belts :)
The wife is a bit more of a petrolhead now too!
Summary of some of the highlights for us:
- Great mix of drivers/tourers
- Awesome roads
- The Scenery - every day had some breathtaking stuff!
- Learning German driving etiquette on narrow roads
- Being chased away from that Route Napoleon pizzeria for pissing off diners by misunderstanding their sign language - apparently "rev your engine" in England actually means "turn off your fucking engine!" in France!!
- The bath towels at Albergo Hotel in Stelvio
Only constructive suggestions i have are:
- Rethink if Bologna is necessary as a stop...perhaps a small town/village/villa nearby would be a better option. However, the restaurant that night was super!
- Some of the routes turned out to be a bit long...might not have been a problem if morning departure was a bit stricter e.g. depart at 8
Once again though...it was a superb trip. Very well organised and planned and great value!...thanks again guys!
Rgds and see you all at a meet/run soon
Adarsh

[Mustow]

Thanks Robin, Bachi, Jim and all the tourers for a fantastic time. I thought after Millau that this tour would just be a longer version but I was amazed by how different it was. The roads were better and more challenging and most of the hotels superb, but having said that i would stay in a tent if i could drive those roads every day.

A great mix of cars and people really added to the enjoyment and i can't wait to do it again.

The most memorable parts were:

- the incredible drive along the Route Napoleon

- being so confused after being stopped by Italian Police on the Stelvio Pass that i ended up in Switzerland rather than Italy... thanks Robin and Kurt for waking them up and having them waiting for me :-)))

- the incredible scenery on the Alpine passes

- getting soaked to the skin in Switzerland by the stom that is yet to be named... "did you have a dog in the car?"

- the fun of surprising people again with my car.... Kurt told a German in Davos that i drove it like i'd stolen it... i take that as a compliment :-)))

to repeat Carol's mantra..... againagainagain

[TheStoat]

Hi guys,

Still tired after the trip but not too tired to say thanks for another great tour :) As somebody famous once said - Againagainagain! :D

Fantastic roads, amazing scenery and brilliant company. If only I didn't have to go back to work now... Lovely hotels and enjoyable driving inbetween was the order of the day. All this managed despite a few breakdowns and incidents. Needless to say "my car" performed flawlessly throughout (not sure that's a standard PN service though)

Thanks again for a wonderful time, definitely recommended to anyone considering a tour :)

[Pau1]

Bachi,Robin, Jim

Thanks gents for a fantastic trip.

The roads and the hotels were simply stunning, but what perhaps amazed me most was the support you guys provided when something went wrong (not that I experienced any of that support personally!).

There's been a lot of discussion about the mileage, I think it was right, it is after all a driving experience, but as Adarsh says, it requires discipline in setting off early. This would allow us to also enjoy the fantastic hotels / venues, and to unwind and relax after the "enthusiastic" driving.

Overall, a fantastic experience with great people, great cars, and great roads.

Cheers

Paul

PS I got "spotted" on Pistonheads in Maranello! That's a record for me

[speedyellow]

Hey all!

Had an amazing time, seem to have done a lot of sleeping since arriving home last night!

I guess the only thing you need to do is get that pace car going a little faster at times.... ;)

Look forward to seeing you at the ACE meet.

Kurt

[Bigburd]

Hey all!

Had an amazing time, seem to have done a lot of sleeping since arriving home last night!

I guess the only thing you need to do is get that pace car going a little faster at times.... ;)

Look forward to seeing you at the ACE meet.

Kurt

Without mention in the Scores on the Doors! Glad you had a good time in that VW! Looks like mine is chilling out in Besancon for a couple of weeks.



The roads and the hotels were simply stunning, but what perhaps amazed me most was the support you guys provided when something went wrong (not that I experienced any of that support personally!).



Not quite sure what you mean...



There's been a lot of discussion about the mileage, I think it was right, it is after all a driving experience, but as Adarsh says, it requires discipline in setting off early. This would allow us to also enjoy the fantastic hotels / venues, and to unwind and relax after the "enthusiastic" driving.



Early bird catches the worm! On that note, what about the person that cried wolf over a suspected stolen jacket and sat-nav <snigger> Can we have a post tour award thread...

Suggested Awards and Nominations
Upset the Germans - Jointly to myself and Paul for a team effort in the Black Forest
ASBO in the Tunnels - Nominees Robin, Adarsh & Jon
TVR Reliability Award - Robin, Rob and Carol

Spirit of Alpine Tour 2009 - John and Karen (correct me if I've got the names wrong) who after losing a TVR on Day 2 continued in a hired Golf GTi ED30

[john mckeown]

Hi All

As you all know car let go on 2nd day, however still had a great time. I'll be on the look out for future events, but not sure if I'll risk the Cerb again!!!

Small (and I mean small) constructive observations as follows:

As a veteran of European road trips the driving, although a very important element, should not be the only consideration to this driving holiday. Therefore you must be realistic about arrival times at Hotels.

Maybe reduce mileage enabling us to enjoy lunch, arrive at destinations earlier and enjoy the fantastic hotels to the full with great company.

Thanks Bachi and Robin and hope to see everyone soon.

John and Karen McKeown
TVR Cerbera C13RBA

[Harsh]

Guys, thanks for the feedback, it's great to hear all the positive comments and also importantly all the constructive suggestions.

We've always tried to run the tours on a relaxed schedule so it doesn't feel too regimented however it does seem there's room for a little bit of whip cracking to ensure we keep to certain time constraints.

There is a lot of driving involved on our tours so we'll be looking at the options available, e.g the splitting of the groups and the giving of options to take more direct routes to certain hotels if timings are tight.

The problem is there are so many good roads that we want to try and do as many as possible. :D

We may well have tried to cram in too many fine pieces of tarmac. It's a shame to leave any of them out but in the interest of a cohesive tour we may look at that as an option for an alternative /itn file for those who want it.

[hahithesteiveboy]

I echo all of the above. Pace was a bit hard at times but otherwise, great hotels, great food, great company and great roads.

Stephen.

[Dan H]

I take it the S was on good form and in it's element??

P.S. from the pictures, it looks like Paul's old one??

[hahithesteiveboy]

I take it the S was on good form and in it's element??

P.S. from the pictures, it looks like Paul's old one??


The S' was indeed good and in it's element much of the time. However (especially with 2 on board) I found it had insufficient firepower to stand the pace (especially for overtakes) at times. I dont think it was ever owned by a "paul". I bought it off a chap called Richard who posts on pistonheads as "gemini".