The car is packed and Europe awaits

[jackfit]

The famous "Dutch Corvette Collection" & Le Mans

The trip to Le Mans is shaping up. A little background; Ruud Zeller, a member of the Dutch NCRS Chapter, had generously offered me a ride to the races in his beautiful '63 roadster. Due to timing, I was not able to accept, and of course, another lucky person will be riding with Ruud.


In the meantime, the Corvette Club of France extended me an invitation to the race, including a prime parking spot.


In the spirit of Corvette fellowship, Andre Boer of the Netherlands and owner of the famous "Dutch Collection" has helped sponsored my return to Europe and to drive one of his cars, a C-5 from the Netherlands to Le Mans. (home cooked meal included)


This gesture exemplifies the passion for Corvettes in Europe and the USA. Cooperation like this will keep the 60 year Corvette legacy going well into the future.


Check-out Andre's collection (link here), I guarantee you'll want to go along for the ride.


More details to follow.


http://www.autobedrijfandreboer.nl/


http://www.corvetteblogger.com/2012/12/21/video-dutch-corvette-collection-is-europes-largest/


Andre 2012 Corvette Vagabond European Tour

Next Generation working on Corvettes son Johan and Grandson

 

[Toms007]

How cool would that be? I will have to live it through you, Jack.

 

[jackfit]

How cool would that be? I will have to live it through you, Jack.

Thanks Tom,

I hope you and your family are doing well. I admire you and all who live in small towns and make it work. I truly enjoy sharing my travels with all. Not many ever get to experience travel as I do, and to share knowledge and understanding through out the corvette world and beyond is a joy for me and others who supported me on my trips.

Jack

 

[Toms007]

I'm 100% sure that I am NOT the only one living these excursions of yours through your writings and posts.

 

[jackfit]

Corvette Club Norway Magazine Article

I would like to share some photos of the Corvette Club of Norway Magazine. Great photos of activities in Norway and a little article on my trip to Norway last fall. Thanks to all the Vikings for their wonderful hospitality and a lots of 700 hp blown cars.


Many are coming to America July 1, 2013. Over 100 vintage American cars are being shipped to NYC USA for a Lincoln Highway Tour, from Times Square NYC to LA, California on the Lincoln Highway 100 year old celebration.


I hope to be back from Le Mans on June 26, and drive from Maine to NYC to lead them out the Lincoln Tunnel to New Jersey. On their own in NJ.


Jack


Here is a link about the trip. I am sure they would love to have you join them along the way. More details later.


Official Link www.lh2013.com

Press Link

http://brianbutko.wordpress.com/2011...-highway-tour/



Now if I could only read Norwegian ofl:

 

[jackfit]

Some added information. Most of the Scandinavians are "not" retired. They get 5 weeks of vacation a year and this trip will be 4 weeks long. They will be drivings a lot of wonderful Caddies, Lincolns , and other 40's - 80's American muscle and luxury cars.


They are always on the look out to buy more. If you have an interesting car, does not have to be rare, but is unique, old tow trucks, or work vehicles . You can check the route and contact the group as they move across the country.


They are a fun bunch of men and women and kids, and you will enjoy meeting them.


Jack

 

[jackfit]

Smile you are on candid camera !

I have been honored with a article in AMCAR Magazine, leading lobbying and American Car owners organization in Scandinavia. Thanks to the many Norwegians who made my visit unforgettable, well somethings I may want to forget....not many...


AMCAR

Jack

 

[LT4man]

Very cool, Jack!

Well deserved!

 

[Toms007]

Very cool, Jack!

Well deserved!

Totally agree, Jack!

 

[jackfit]

Trial Fit of Trim

I got home and unwrapped the polished trim. I will do a post on Back Bay Customs, a great mod-hot rod shop, that helped me out with polishing.


I wanted to trial fit the trim. The front piece must be placed so that equal distance of ends are under side trim , for trim to fit in corners.


I put on the top piece first, followed by the outer side trim only, with only one screw to hold it to birdcage loosely.


I put one end of front trim into side piece to get right distance under trim. I clipped down 1/4 of front so I could mark trim and having marked windshield , I had a mid point to always line up front piece for later final fit.


I had no trouble with clips catching as I cleaned out the space between rubber and front fiberglass, as stated in earlier post.


There still is a slight problem in the corners , as the rubber does seem to bow out a bit, pushing the trim away from the body, the clips catch but there is a gap. I am not going to fix the rubber. no leaks in windshield. I will fill it with a flexible sealer.


I hope this helps others in trim work. Total time to put trail fit about 1 hour. Should take about the same for final fit. It helps to have two people , one on each side to slide side pieces into place with front at same time. Or, if you start on one side as I did, get two or three clips to catch, then go middle an lock down center two clips , go back and finish one side and work your way to other side, stop about two clips from end, side in side piece with front, push together and down, screw in side piece , all should be clipped.


Again, there must be enough space between rubber and fiberglass to push trim edge in far enough to catch clip. With new clips, get one to catch , look at it , and see how it catches. You must get it in same position alone the front for clips to grab trim. I have original clips , so it was lack of space , that would hinder clipping, not clips.


Now I have to take it all off, side pieces first, slide them out from front trim, get first clip to release and off you go.


I will post pictures of removal as I have to finish cleaning up excess sealer from the windshield install last year.

 

[Tom Bryant]

It looks very nice.

Tom

 

[Toms007]

Very shiny Jack.

 

[jackfit]

European Corvette Forums

I am, as the Corvette Vagabond ,proud and honored to announce that my post "Visit to Finland with a C-2" is at almost 50,000 views on the Finnish corvette forum. Hard to believe such a response in a country with only 5.5 million people. They truly enjoy life, hard work, and of course "Corvettes"


FinnShark - The Finnish Corvette Forum


I have heard from some members of the German Corvette Forum , that I should mention my post on their forum.


I am very proud to announce the the Corvette Vagabond has had over 50,269 views of my European Trip. Many thanks to Yankeededandy (Martin) on the forum for introducing me to a great group of Corvette enthusiasts.


corvetteforum.de | Wer weiß was | Jack aus Maine möchte mit seiner 66er C2 Europa bereisen - Tipps?

 

[jackfit]

Le Mans Trip Corvette Vagabond

Hello to all,


Sorry for the long delay in stories, but I have been busy getting things in order for this summer's travel. Mostly getting my personal life in order , so that while I am having a great time traveling , my obligations at home are taken care of . Thanks again Patrica and Adam.


Le Mans Tour June 16 - 25 2013


I have the honor of being invited to attend the 24 hour Le Mans race by the Corvette Club of France. They have a special area reserved for cars and a famous BBQ on Sat. night during the race.


Andre Boer of the "Dutch Corvette Collection "


Museum


is sponsoring part of my trip by lending me a C-5 Silver Corvette to drive for the week. I land in Netherlands on June 17, and will be picked up by Johan Boer, one of Andre's 3 sons, and taken to Wezep, home of Andre and Dutch collection.


On Tuesday , I leave Wezep and head toward Normandy, picking up Dutch NCRS and UK members along the way. We stay overnight in a small town , and reach Le Mans on Wednesday , June 18 th.


Lots of activities during the week at the track and off location. I hope to bring you pictures every day. I may meet two of the top drivers for the both the Corvette and Ferrari race teams, Oliver Gavin , Corvette team and Olivier Beretta , Ferrari and former Corvette team driver.


Lots of Corvettes to see, many of the Dutch NCRS members are driving 60, 63, 66 cars and lots of C-3 to C-6 Corvette owners.


Thanks for all your support over the years and I have enjoyed sharing my travels with you. Let me know if you have any special requests.


Jack
CorvetteVagabond.com
@corvettevagabond


I hope the weather is not like this, New Hampshire a few days ago





I hope it is more like this

 

[jackfit]

I thought you would like this card !

Just wanted to share a wonderful card that my very understanding wife gave me as a send off to Le Mans in two weeks. Without my families support , none of my adventures would be possible. To all the significant others that support their partners passions , Thank you.


ps She said, " Have a good time "


Jack
Corvette Vagabond

 

[jackfit]

The Vikings are coming to the US

It is going to be a very busy week in late June. I am meeting over 200 Vikings who are bringing almost 100 vintage America cars back to America to drive the Lincoln Highway.


Norwegian plans for 2013 Lincoln Highway Tour | Books by Brian Butko


We know the dock workers are having fun driving their cars all over NJ , but that aside, Tour is from June 30ish to end of July. I will be in France for the Le Mans race June 16-25, Arrive back in Portland Me on Tuesday. I had planned to drive my car down to NY-NJ that weekend to say hello and send them off to the wild wild west of New Jersey. No, I am not driving to San Francisco with them.


If you like or have a Vintage car, you will be in heaven seeing some of these cars. They will be traveling from NY to San Francisco on the Lincoln Highway, one of the first cross country roads in America 1913.


I will post contact numbers to call in US once they arrive.


https://www.facebook.com/lh2013
They have a link on Facebook and other media.


This is one of the cars coming

 

[jackfit]

Corvette Vagabond lives off of land (in France ? )

Starting to make a check off list of things needed for the Corvette Vagabond's return to Europe this Sunday.


I leave Portland , ME on Sunday, June 16, 3 pm and get to Amsterdam , Netherlands on Monday morning June , 17th, 10 am.


Here is a picture of of Amsterdam from last fall on the 2012 Tour.





This link will take you to my Goggle map, showing the first day's drive of 350 miles from Wezep, NL. to Forges les Eaux, France.


Stay the night and head to Le Mans , France on Wed, June 19th. Lots of photos and vids if possible of the road trip.


I will be driving a C-5 provided by Andre Boer from his collection of cars. " Dutch Corvette Collection. link to collection http://www.autobedrijfandreboer.nl/


Map Link update June 11th


https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Wezep,+The+Netherlands&daddr=49.8288957,2.2529664+to:49.668704,1.934422+to:49.5998434,1.5297664+to:Le+Mans,+France&hl=en&ll=50.240179,3.054199&spn=5.95222,16.907959&sll=50.233463,3.10148&sspn=5.953096,16.907959&geocode=FWl9IAMdS5lbACklfrGxfNnHRzFqHppwNFnnaQ%3BFR9U-AIdpmAiACm9RoBzTYPnRzENeexVOyctPA%3BFWDi9QIdVoQdACnF3rDL1hLnRzERiFV1RF-Jew%3BFWPV9AIdplcXAClV4INhrTbnRzE-IAfM89e6yA%3BFd6D3AIdhAsDACkxqvMU0ojiRzF_4H1qTF0CaQ&oq=l&doflg=ptk&mra=ls&via=1,2,3&t=m&z=7

 

[jackfit]

Lost in Traffic Paris France

Bonjour,


It was great driving into Paris until I made a turn , lost in traffic for 3 hours, so this time I will go around Paris on my way to Le Mans from Netherlands.






Corvette Vagabond


Lots of activities during race week at Le Mans. I hope to post pictures every day. Wine, Women, Cars, should be fun

 

[jackfit]

Le Mans Trip Corvette Vagabond

How hard is the parking lot at Le Mans. It seems that no one goes home for extended periods of time. I have slept in my C-2. Is a C-5 more or less comfortable. More adventures for me. Any first hand tips from the peanut gallery on 4 days and night at Le Mans would be appreciated. My hosts, the Corvette Club of France , told me not to worry. And as Alfred E. Newman once said " What me worry ? " I fly off to Europe, camera , computer, phone, fast dry pants and a "sleeping bag" ?





Long back straight , speeds at 170 +





Behind Grandstands








Many little cottages like this in the Loir Valley in France not far from Le Mans. French Finance Ministers built their summer digs like the one below. Own it today, lose your head tomorrow, and a new owner smells the roses for a little while. How 16th and 17th Century Real Estate agents worked in France at the time. ofl:

 

[Toms007]

Never slept in my 64 coupe when I had it, Jack. But the C5 is very comfy.