The car is packed and Europe awaits

[jack panzica]

I am beginning to collect data and will be posting more details on the technical aspects of the trip.

Here are a few tid-bits.

Days away from home 58
Days driving corvette 42
Number of gas stops 54
Different Hosts 43
Countries visited 10

Miles driving corvette 7,490
Miles on trains 800
Miles on ferries 930

Air miles 7,650

Total miles traveled 16,870

Would I do it again ? You bet !

Mileage and repair details next report


Mileage Report


327/250 L-79
M-20
3.70 rear
stock Holley
300.000 miles on original engine , matching #'s drive train

7,490 miles driven data is plus or minus 1%

Gas used 2116 liters 558 US Gallons

Cost $5,022 US dollars 3,863 Euros


Cost per mile $0.68


Average miles per gal 13.4


Average price Gas 1.80 Euros per liter $8.85 Gal US


Oil used 5 Qts 7,490 miles 1,500 per qt.


Oil change 5 Qts no filter $200 $20 Qt.


Tolls about $200




Only one repair needed !


Repairs 1 outer u-joint half-shaft No Charge NCRS.nl
Andre Boer Dutch Corvette Collection did repair.




Insurance and shipping approximately $10,000 (insurance $2,000 two months)


This number can be reduced by choosing different methods of shipping. I will go into detail on next post on the logistics of shipping your car to Europe.


Jack

[jack panzica]

I have been spending hours going over all the photos and videos from the European Tour. I will soon be posting as I get them in some kind of order.

This particular video was posted on the German forum. It makes me laugh every time I view it .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qEC1eyk4MQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qEC1eyk4MQ

Jack

[jack panzica]

I am off to NYC tomorrow to spend a few days with my wife Patrica and son Adam. We have friends to visit and we try to make the Thanksgiving day parade every few years. I use to put my son on my back to see over the crowd, now at at 6'6" , he stands above most, plus I can't lift him anymore.

I thought I would post my blog address http://jackpanzica.blogspot.com/

for some text and photos from both the 48 state and European tour. Still working on all the photos and videos from Europe. My car is on the high seas and I hope New Jersey ports will be ready by the 29th of November when my car is due in.

Jack

[Patrick]

What an adventure you had. Looking forward to seeing photos.

[jack panzica]

I thought you might like to see some Finn Cars for a summer show. Reposted from Hara on the Finnshark forum.

Next summer something like this:

Part 1

Part 1

Part 2

Part 2

Also, you can see how they drive in Russia. We did not need the cold war, just give them cars to drive.

Or maybe an adventurous trip to Russia :leaving:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPkE2hHneP4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPkE2hHneP4

[/QUOTE]


No I don't think so, no Russia for me ! Great videos above,

I just got word , my car has finally left Germany after two weeks delay. It gets in on Dec 6 or 7th. Has any one seen my car on German roads last week?

Service: Europe - North America Outbound Service Schedule
Voyage: CA247-TUR
Vessel: TURANDOT

Date
Point Name
Direction
Mode

11/21/12 Bremerhaven Departs Ship


12/06/12 New York Arrives Ship

[jack panzica]

While waiting for my car to come back to the USA from Europe, I had the chance to spend time with my family in NYC to see the sites and watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Here are a few photos of the day.

The Twin Towers Site Ground Zero



The reflecting pool site of north tower, names of victims written on rail



New Tower and buildings





The Behind the scenes blowup of balloons the night before parade





NYC Finest




Times Square after Midnight

[jack panzica]

I thought I would post a picture of my wife with me in NYC on boat to Statue of Liberty with Empire State Building in backround



Without my son Adam and Patricia's support, my trips would not be possible.

Jack

[jack panzica]

I wish all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I am working on my project and need your help. I am having trouble reading the handwriting of members who I stayed with or met on my trip. I am also editing the many photos and videos from the trip. I am working on a book and many magazine articles and want to give proper credit

If I stayed with you or met you at one of the Corvette events, could you please send me the following information. Contact information including ( Name , address, phone, screen name, email) also two to three photos of your car (s). Pick the car you drive or love the most. One photo should have you in car or on side .
.
Please send to jack@corvettevagabond.com

This message is to all on my European trip, and also on my US 48 state trip. Lots of info to organize and it was very hard to record as the trip was taking place.

Jack

[jack panzica]

The car is on a dock in New Jersey. It waits in line to be inspected by Customs. Car arrived on Dec 6th. I had gone to NYC expecting to pick up car on 14th. Did not happen. Back in Maine and will wait until I get call from agent that car is released.

It is on a dock with hundreds of others , each one gets inspected, so who knows when they with get to my car. I hope it is not filled with water by the time I get to it.

I hoped to drive it home, the weather was great. Now we have snow on the ground in Maine.

Should be fun driving home one of these days. Good that I had some practice on snow in Finland. The car left home on June 8. It has been away from home for almost 6 months.

Jack

[jack panzica]

I just got the customs release late this afternoon. I will fly from Portland to JFK, 6 AM Thursday, get a ride to New Jersey docks, pick up car and head back home by 2 pm on Thursday and be back in Maine around 8 pm.

To bad the release came this weekend and not last when it was sunny and warm.

I will be glad to get the car home. One more ride to end the year. 331 miles, plus 8,500 on the continent for a total of 8,800 plus miles covered in car from start of trip in Maine to end of trip in Maine.

Jack

[jack panzica]

I just got the customs release late this afternoon. I will fly from Portland to JFK, 6 AM Thursday, get a ride to New Jersey docks, pick up car and head back home by 2 pm on Thursday and be back in Maine around 8 pm.

To bad the release came this weekend and not last when it was sunny and warm.

I will be glad to get the car home. One more ride to end the year. 331 miles, plus 8,500 on the continent for a total of 8,800 plus miles covered in car from start of trip in Maine to end of trip in Maine.

Jack

[jack panzica]

Final Update of Europe Trip. Thursday, 20th, I flew to NYC at 6 AM , Bus to NYC, Bus to Newark NJ, Cab to Port America, jump start car, and start to look for a gas station.

Car ran rough with old gas (couple of gals left in tank) . Once filled with new gas, engine ran like a charm. Averaged 15 mpg on ride home of 331 miles.

A big storm was heading up the coast and I wanted to get home before it hit. Left at 11:30 am and was home by 7:30 pm with stops for food and a car wash.

Thanks to all for the interest in my trip. I will start to work on the book and posting this coming year.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Jack
Corvette Vagabond

Dirty at the docks



New Jersey Turnpike and Car wash in Mahopac NY 100 miles north of NYC





A moment of reflection and sadness as I drove through Newton CT




Home at last

[PNHNDLE96CE]

Awesome trip! Thanks so much for sharing.

[jack panzica]

Hello to all and I hope Santa was good to you and best wishes for a Happy New Year :party:

The weather in Maine is very changeable as you can see.

This is Christmas Eve day 2 pm , waiting for Santa



Christmas day, 2pm Santa off for a ride in his sleigh !

[jack panzica]

Sun yesterday, blizzard today, I may have to wait till this afternoon to go for a ride !