Posts Tagged Belgium
GE 2006 – and finally even more pictures were contributed…
Posted by Lars Schenk in Meetings on September 4th, 2006
Mr. Rik Gruwez from Belgium (father of the Cadillac Mailing List) was the first one who uploaded pictures from the Grand European Cadillac Meeting on 1st to 3rd September. Enjoy his brilliant photos from the amazing meeting in Zeebrugge that was one of the largest Cadillac meetings ever held in Europe.
Tanja und Lars Schenk’s pictures were online now and you can read the picture story about our trip to GE 2006 in Belgium.
And here are the the long awaited pictures contributed by Dirk van Dorst. They are not chronological sorted yet but I’m sure you will enjoy them very much.
Luciano di Sabato from Spain contributed his pictures.
The Oskarssons from Sweden drove 3500 km and now they share their pictures with us. And back in the USA Mr. Yann Saunders (aka Mr. Cadillac) contributed his pictures.
Jan Ivan and his wife from Norway made the trip to Belgium and contributed their pictures here.
Update: Wolfgang Tauchert and Ulli Müller from Cadillac-Museum, Germany contributed their pictures on CD-ROM. I’ve uploaded them and you can watch them here.
If there were more participants out there and if you don’t know how to log in and upload your pictures, you may send your pictures by email to me: [email protected] and I’ll add them for you.
Last Update: Here is my video showing the opening speech from Mr. Dirk van Dorst. I hope you can understand his message:
Cadillac Grand European 2006
Posted by Lars Schenk in Meetings on December 26th, 2005
Two Thousand and Six will see one of the largest car events ever held in Europe: The Cadillac Grand European. The Cadillac LaSalle Club of Belgium is proud to organize and host this gathering, held over three days, September 1st, 2nd & 3rd, 2006 at Zeebrugge Beach, on the Belgian coast.
All affiliated Cadillac La Salle Clubs both within Europe (and outside it) are invited to participate in this major and significant Cadillac and LaSalle-only event. Nowhere else will there be seen on the Continent such a wide variety of Cadillac and LaSalle vehicles, attending from so many countries at the one time. This will be a true celebration of Cadillac, officially sponsored by Cadillac Europe who, in true “Cadillac Spirit” will present the latest model Cadillacs – giving participants and visitors alike, the most comprehensive array of Cadillacs ever seen in Europe!
The Cadillac La Salle Club of Belgium extends to you a warm invitation to participate with your Cadillac or La Salle, to meet and mix with fellow “Cadillac People” from across the Continent and beyond, and experience the unique atmosphere, the elegance and excitement of the Cadillac Grand European, 2006, at this special, weekend beachside event. There will also be an awards presentation, as part of the programme.
Please note:
As this will be the inaugural, official Cadillac LaSalle Club affiliates event, we hope to ensure that this becomes an annual Cadillac tradition for Europe in the coming years. This not only requires enormous effort from the host-Club and sponsors, but the participation of you, our fellow Cadillac enthusiasts, to make this a secure event on your calendars into the future.
We look forward to welcoming you at Zeebrugge Beach for the 2006 Cadillac Grand European!
Further infos, downloads of flyer and program and for the registration, please visit
Further reading:
Grand European 2006 in progress…
Pictures of the upcoming Grand European 2006
CLC WHO is WHO
Want to become part of the CLC? Check out this link:
Cadillac-LaSalle Affiliated Clubs
Please help to promote this event. If you want to link to this page use this URL:
http://www.classic-cadillac.com/ge2006/
Eldorados and Champagne – 21 Aug 2005 CLC B meeting
Posted by Lars Schenk in Meetings on August 24th, 2005
Sunday the long awaited Cadillac La Salle Club driving tour was held in Northern Belgium. The tour was organized by Dirk, Diana and Sven Van Dorst and saw the helpful cooperation from 1950s Eldorado Biarritz collector Gert Verberk, Cadillac Europe and Cadillac repair shop Garage Talisman.
A few days ahead of the event, the weather forecast looked rosy, but with only one day to go “unsettled” weather was forecast for that particular Sunday. Indeed, there were lots of low clouds and a gloomy drizzle when I set off on Sunday morning 8:00 AM to Grobbendonk, about 90 miles from my place. Due to the wet conditions, I opted to not take Pauline, the 1967 Convertible, but rather Louise, the 1959 Coupe.
With the newly installed fan clutch she should remain pretty cool throughout the journey. She did a healthy 75 to 80 mph on the freeway, which was corroborated by the portable GPS I had with me. Even with the slightly larger than original P235/75R15 tires, the speedometer is very accurate. (Maybe it was actually less accurate with original tire size). The temp gauge needle stayed neatly between the 1/4 and 1/2 mark, even after 1.5 hours of driving. Good.
The more I approached my destination, the more the skies cleared. By the time I had arrived, it was warm and a bit cloudy. But there were also traces of sunshine and conditions would improve as the day wore on. Upon arrival at the meeting point — a local hotel with a big parking lot — I immediately saw this was going to be a splendid day. A lot of Cadillacs were already parked in the lot and Louise graciously moored along the other land yachts. One hour and a breakfast later we started the first leg of our trip, a signposted cruise through “De Kempen”, the green part of Northern Belgium and through Southern Holland.
A bit after midday it was time to stop at the house of Gert Verberk. Some of you may remember Gert as the “Eldorado Snatcher”. His Cadillac Eldorado collection started with a 1959 Eldorado Biarritz and a 1953 Eldorado, but soon it would be expanded. Two years ago he purchased a 1958 Eldorado Biarritz in California. Shortly thereafter he also acquired a red 1954 Eldorado, the same one that had initially been found by Jeff Stork for another Belgian, also in SoCal. And only this summer a green 1956 Eldorado Biarritz and a white 1957 Eldorado Biarritz arrived at the Verberk residence. He missed out on a deal with a 1955 Eldorado Biarritz. So if any of you guys know of a very nice ’55 Biarritz for sale, do not hesitate to get in touch with me or Dirk Van Dorst, and we’ll pass on the information to Gert.
Although I had been in Gert’s garage before, I was once again in awe when I saw all those cars lined up. Surrounded by batwing aircleaners, tri-power and dual-quad setup, I could only marvel at all those nice toys. Dirk, trying to keep the driving tour on schedule, literally had to drive us out of the garage and into Gert’s garden. By that time the weather had become very nice and we could all enjoy champagne in the beautiful surroundings of the landscaped garden.
Unfortunately, I had another appointment later that afternoon in Bruges, so I could not participate in the second leg of the driving tour. But still I had thoroughly enjoyed the day with other Cadillac aficionados.
On the way home I noticed to my bewilderment that the temp gauge needle would move up all the way to the 1/2 mark. How could that be possible? Well, after a while I realized I still had the “rally plate” attached to the car’s grille. I stopped at a layby, removed the plate and now Louise stayed “cool” again. 
Regards,
Rik
(c) Copyright 2005 Rik Gruwez
Picture albums:
www.classic-cadillac.com/gallery/album248
www.libertysoftware.be/eldoschampagne
www.kapperludo.com/gallery/album04
Circuit d’ardennes Belgium 2005
Posted by Lars Schenk in Meetings on July 4th, 2005
Hello from your European reporter.
This weekend sat/sun the “circuit d’ardennes” (French speaking Belgium mountain side ) will be held again. Open for cars and motorcycles pre 1900 (!) till 1970.
Saturday the oldest “machines” take there start… everything made before 1900 starts @ 8 am… and every hour another decade takes a starts… @ 9 am from 19.00 to 1918….. Sunday the junger cars take a start.
The rally takes place in Bastogne , where still manny traces of WW2 can be found.
Big forests and empty roads in this area , a paradise for everybody who loves the road (no police, no speedguns, no speedbumps…)
Our Belgium CLC member René Verbist who owns several antique caddy’s took a start in he’s 1904 cadillac, together whit he’s wife. Typical for this area is the “gray sky”…..full of soft continusly rain (like fog )… not ideal for driving without a windshield , conv. top or anny protection at all…
Just as on a motorcycle, your cloths are the body… plastic jackets, boots…
It was fun to drive behind the 04 cad… uphill you are faster by foot… downhill the fun starts (if you don’t have to brake). Ever see a 1904 cad and a Bugatti racing downhill ???
The 04 cad finished the rally (it’s a non competitive rally) whit just one nut lost… the driver side rr splash gard was almost falling off… but René got a whole assortiment of bolts/nuts and metal wire whit him.
This is the kind of rally without lady’s on high heels… but the one whit much smoke and noise… rusty and original examples that are showing the wear of time, and car guy’s in old leather cloths… also showing the wear of time.
Enjoy the pict’s, next will be the Vasteras “Power big meet” in Sweden.
Dirk Van Dorst
Note: The photoalbum of this meeting can be found here.
Author of this article is Dirk van Dorst. Thanks for allowing us to post your article here.
Geralds 59 Coupe
Posted by Lars Schenk in Cadillac Owners on December 12th, 2003
Hello all, here is Gerald Fourdin’s, one of our Belgium clc members 59 Coupe.
Gerald lives in the “ardens “, the french/moutainside off Belgium , not the most common place to restore a 59 Caddy.
Altough he is only speaking french, and a true “hobby restorer”, he did the job compleet on his own.
I saw the car this summer , and she is realy stunning !
Black is magic !
Gerald Fourdin
(Posted by Dirk van Dorst/Lars Schenk for Gerald Fourdin)
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