Alps road trip, or, can't I *ever* get a break??

[GeorgeK]

There was our national radiology convention in Interlaken this week from Thursday to Saturday. As I got my Carrera 3.o back 10 days ago, I arranged a hotel with a secure parking, and made plans for a drive every evening after the congress sessions. Interlaken is close to the best mountain passes in central Switzerland, so I had a choice of roads. We decided with MC my fiancee that she would come to meet me in Interlaken on Saturday so we could drive a few passes together.

So First evening, The Susten. It turns out that last week's snowfalls prevented the passes from opening to the top, but a long part was open. The car was a hoot! light agile, precise. All other road users were reduced to pesky chicanes:



On top I got into heavy fog, and vey high snow walls:



[img]

Still very nice drive, and the car behaved beautifully.

Next evening, the Grimsel...
Well if that da**ed car didn't let me down... Into a high speed curve, the whole cockpit filled instantly with heavy smoke. I stopped the engine, coasted to a stop. Luckily, no overheat, and good oil pressure at the second I switched off (I have grown a very good and fast reflex for checking the vitals of the expensive parts whenever things go weird, which they seem to do on a regular basis lately...).
So get out, go back, crawl underneath, and surprise:

[img]http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads2/WeekendInterlaken 023s1084641192.jpg[/img]
Of course the pic won't upload, but an oil line split, and the car proceded to vomit about 8 quarts of oil on the roadside, luckily with a shut off engine.



Luckily I am a member of the Swiss Automobile Club. They will give me a frequent flyer card soon.
Waiting for the tow truck:



I hate this so much I can't even take a good pic of the scene:



When we arrived at the garage, I could put things in perspective; this guy was less lucky (the car is toast):



So the car is out of action, I have 40kms to get back to the hotel, and MC is to arrive the next day. What do I do? Easy. Call her and tell her to take the 930

[GeorgeK]

So Saturday, she arrives with the 930 and her niece and nephew for a last day in the Alps. We drove up the Susten again with the sun this time:





Can't they ever get serious?





There are worse places to drive:



So now the car is on a flatbed on its way to my meachanic, the 930 is outside waiting for a wash, and it was still a great time.
Anyone care to guess what will happen to me next time?

[GeorgeK]

The split oil line:

[speeder]

I could not view the link, what went wrong with the Carrera?

At any rate, beautiful scenery and it looks like the weekend was salvaged quite nicely! You have a great small collection of 911s and people to enjoy them with, consider yourself very lucky! Keep the cards and letters coming!

[fintstone]

Two great looking cars! Looks like a nice trip! I always enjoyed driving in that region...even though I could not afford a Porsche back then. I did drive an unusual performance car for that area though, a US spec Toyota Supra. It embarrassed me on one trip by breaking an alternator belt. since it had dual belts, I could get enough out of the alternator for it to run, but it died when I slowed down. I had to push it though the Austria, Germany, and Italy border crossings...One Italian border guard with a machine gun asked me if all US cars were started that way.

[Jim Richards]

Anyone care to guess what will happen to me next time?

You'll finally have a great time without any mechanical drama. Or at least I hope so! Great pics and write up, George.

[Wil Ferch]

Gerorge:
I was in Interlaken just a few years ago on a business trip where I also took my wife and kids...can't remember the name of the hotel at the moment, but it was the classical cookoo clock building with about 8 rooms. The room we got was 2 stories and the 'loft" only had about 1 meter (3 feet, say) head room, but the loft had a large kingsize bed, requiring a steep ladder to get to the top. That was the "kids" room. Any chance you stayed there? Not that many hotels right in the center of the two lakes ( hence "Interlaken") ...and I ask only because a work associate of mine had chance to go there a year prior to my trip...and when we compared notes...not only did he have the same hotel....we had the same room ( #4) ! How 'bout that? Went up the (sp?) Schilthorn mountain on a cable car.... breathtaking view... great roads....great place...
---Wil

[GeorgeK]

Will,
My hotel was the Krebs. There are now quite a few Hotels, from the smallish family pension to the 500$ a night Victoria. There are some really wonderful family run places in the smaller villages in the ascents to the passes.

[dheinz]

George,
Great pictures of a most beautiful area. Sorry about the bad luck split oil hose.
Are there many older American cars such as the 1959 Plymouth behind the wrecked 944?

[Bill Verburg]

Great pics George!

[84toy]

You are right, the best spot to start in Switzerland is the Interlaken\Lauterbrunnen area. Tons of passes. I go every year on a motorcycle but would love to try out a 911 on the same roads. Since you missed out on Susten, here is what you missed...


Here is a couple of pictures of Stelvio pass which scared the .... out of my wife.

[speeder]

Paul, Do you rent a MC over in Europe? This is something that I would be very interested in. TIA.

[rdane]

Awesome pictures, thanks. The Eiger..great place

[84toy]

Yes, I rent a motorcycle in Thun, just a short distance from Interlaken. Here is the Eiger which looks more awsome than when Clint Eastwood did the Eiger Sanction.

There are a few more pictures at http://www.sayegh.org/Alps/Alps.htm

[rdane]

Lauterbrunnen Wall, west face of the Eiger on the left in the cloud, with the top of the north just peaking throught the clouds on far left. North face of the Monch in the sun and North face of Jungfrau, again in cloud. One of the most famous alpine climbing areas in the world. The result of a misspent youth

Great picture Paul!

Anyone know what it would take to ship a 911 to Europe?

[Wil Ferch]

Neat....the Stelvio pass was featured in a number of Porsche print ads in the 70's.
--Wil Ferch

[Wil Ferch]

The Stelvio pass...recognize it?....featured in many Porsche ads in the 70's.
--Wil

[Wil Ferch]

Sorry for the double post...been having some computer "delay" issues.
--Wil

[Grady Clay]

WOW, beautiful roads. You actually have outside barricades!

Here in Colorado many of those roads are just perched on the side of the mountain with no guardrail or barricades. This is so the snow plow can just dump the snow off the edge of the road and down the cliff. Late each summer we find some “missing persons and cars.”

However, it enhances the adrenalin rush when you hang the tail out in a 911 at speed.

Cool trip. Great to have a 930 as a backup 911.

That failed hose should be a lesson to all of us.

Best,
Grady

[GeorgeK]

I think we have an explanation for the split hose:
My mechanic altered the hard line that attaches to the split line and goes behind the engine, to allow fitting the SSIs. After 28 years in one place, the rubber line certainly didn't like having it's position changed.
This is a good reminder that every rubber line should be changed after 25+ years, not only brake lines.
On the subject of SSIs, I ordered them 19 days ago from our gracious host, asked for updates 3 times, and got nothing. Not one peep. Is that normal??

EDIT: as I was writing this, I got a mail from Pelican with info, so all is well