Hello to you all. Like many I have spent a few years building my Cobra - which because I work overseas has taken some time. I attended the very first ECM in Millstatt but not in a Cobra - I was very warmly accepted despite being in an Aston Martin. A super organisational job by Thomas Lederer that set the standard for all ECM's to follow. We then attended the St Tropez ECM at the "Villages de Vacance" where I drove an MGC Roadster, my son drove a 1966 Mustang fastback and my Brother in Law drove a Caterham - not just any Caterham but the very car that was built on TV by the UK Topgear team ( he recently just bought it back again !) My third ECM was the one in Holland, but nothing very exotic for me - just a plain old tin top BMW The point is - this UK ECM I will hope to have my Cobra on the road - after many years !
Post by Roel de Vringer on Dec 6, 2015 19:08:21 GMT
Hi Chris & lovely Lady Lutman,
I certainly remember your appearance on the first ECM next to the lake in Millstatt, what a nice event it was indeed! And what a perfect host Thomas Lederer was. We had a very good time, some nice mountainroads to drive and a visit to Gmund where the Porsche Museum was. We stayed in the wonderful Hotel SeeVilla, run by Count Tacoli and family. What a charming 'Anglophile' he was, right down to the tweed-jacket! If I remember correctly, he admired your Aston quite a few times... All in all, cars are very important, but it's the people driving the cars that matter most I think.
Do you remember that Graf Tacoli, who was the acting Mayor of Millstatt at that time, during his welcome-speech, spoke the magic words on that very Parking: " Dr. Lederer has informed me that there is more than 30.000 horsepower present in this parking.... So, my question is: Gentlemen, START YOUR ENGINES!!" And so we did! For more than half a minute it was a glorious Day of Thunder in that quiet resort by the lake... We could do this again, maybe?
In 2013, on our way to our 6th ECM in La Croix Valmer, we drove from our house in Czech Republic through Austria and stayed 2 nights at SeeVilla. Graf Tacoli was ever so pleased to see us again in the trusty Cobra and we had a fun evening with him and his 2 sons, who are classic enthusiast too.
This year it's Britain who is hosting and so far I've been impressed by all the efforts of both David and Alan, they do a great job!
Dear Roel They certainly were great times in Millstatt - The "soundtrack" next to the lake was fantastic - it included my first time up close to a Daytona and I was also impressed by the number of GT40's joining in the V8 orchestra. The climax for me was that drive up that mountain pass - somehow it was opened just for us,the first day it was open after the winter, up through the snow and ending up at the Porsche museum. Stunning views especially at the top of the glacier. Unfortunately there will not be any glaciers in the UK despite the current weather we are seeing there ! I feel sure that David and Alan will arrange something spectacular - If they are able to arrange "Brooklands" as a visit that will be something special to match the Porsche museum trip.
Post by Roel de Vringer on Dec 27, 2015 11:06:13 GMT
Hi Chris and other friends,
The Millstatt ECM was fantastic and just to get in the mood for the oncoming ECM, i found a video on YT of the very first ECM, made by our Austrian friends.
Good to see this video again Roel! Wonder who can be this daydreamer driving this grey Cobra seen at 1'49"? Any idea...??
That, my very dear friend Michel, is of course that crazy man from Holland who picked up his girlfriend ( now his wife ) in Czech Republik just 2 days before that very day..... And because i had so much attention for her and not always for the road... i stupidly went straight where every-one else turned right... hahaha But we enjoyed it a lot to finally be together, and i am not just talking about the driving....
We still do enjoy driving through Europe to/from the ECM's by the way...
Best of luck, health and love for the New Year from us XX