Project Shrek: ski rack and a road trip
08-15-2010, 10:47 AM
#1
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Project Shrek: ski rack and a road trip
I finally found a factory roof rack/ski rack. I lucked into a NOS pair of roof bars, which I bought without knowing at the time that the complete ski clamps (both sides) were included, new in the factory boxes, with instructions, keys, tools, everything.
I bought it in Germany, and had a friend of a friend take it with him into Switzerland on a holiday trip of his.
Now, he has brought the rack in Switzerland, at the other end of the country. I needed to go and get it. Let's see... 400Kms in 3 hours on the highway, or 290 Kms in 4 hours Kms across the Alps, west-to-east, across 2 passes.....Tough choice. Not.
Since Shrek has passed the official tech inspection and has now over 1500 miles of my driving without problem, I decided to go with it. Departure at 5.45am.
On the way there it rained NON-STOP, except when rain turned into snow. God be praised for the C4 and locking diffs. They closed the pass after me for snowblowers. In freaking mid-August!
After 4 hours, the rain stopped for me to fill up and pick up the rack. I tried it on for giggles on top of the Furka Pass with the remaining snow, almost all melted in 5 hours. As you can see the rear legs are longer and angled so that the skis are flat on the roof, very useful to avoid unwanted lift at 200 on the german highway.
The trip was also the acid test for my modified driver's sport seat. Worked a treat. By playing with the lumbar support, I avoided any pain, and the nerve compression on my right thigh has not happened thanks to my remodeling the lower side bolsters.
The car on stock shocks/ Eibach lowering springs understeers. A lot. In the rain it took a lot of late braking to tuck the nose in and a decided right foot on exiting the turns. Need to do something, likely shocks for starters..
Enjoy the pics!
I bought it in Germany, and had a friend of a friend take it with him into Switzerland on a holiday trip of his.
Now, he has brought the rack in Switzerland, at the other end of the country. I needed to go and get it. Let's see... 400Kms in 3 hours on the highway, or 290 Kms in 4 hours Kms across the Alps, west-to-east, across 2 passes.....Tough choice. Not.
Since Shrek has passed the official tech inspection and has now over 1500 miles of my driving without problem, I decided to go with it. Departure at 5.45am.
On the way there it rained NON-STOP, except when rain turned into snow. God be praised for the C4 and locking diffs. They closed the pass after me for snowblowers. In freaking mid-August!
After 4 hours, the rain stopped for me to fill up and pick up the rack. I tried it on for giggles on top of the Furka Pass with the remaining snow, almost all melted in 5 hours. As you can see the rear legs are longer and angled so that the skis are flat on the roof, very useful to avoid unwanted lift at 200 on the german highway.
The trip was also the acid test for my modified driver's sport seat. Worked a treat. By playing with the lumbar support, I avoided any pain, and the nerve compression on my right thigh has not happened thanks to my remodeling the lower side bolsters.
The car on stock shocks/ Eibach lowering springs understeers. A lot. In the rain it took a lot of late braking to tuck the nose in and a decided right foot on exiting the turns. Need to do something, likely shocks for starters..
Enjoy the pics!
Last edited by GeorgeK; 12-11-2014 at 02:44 AM.
08-15-2010, 11:16 AM
#4
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Mountains roads with snow like that, intense. I don't know how comfortable I would feel on those roads! Nice pictures I enjoyed them and seeing someone taking advantage of a C4 and using it in the snow!
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08-15-2010, 04:38 PM
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Hi George,
Wow, snow at the Furka. Those photos bring really good memories. Can't wait to show Margaret the Belvedere shots.
Very cool ski rack. What a great find and perfect for you guys. Speaking of skiing, any room in the 'inn' over end of December, first of Jan. this year (seriously)? Annie wants to come over there.
Wow, snow at the Furka. Those photos bring really good memories. Can't wait to show Margaret the Belvedere shots.
Very cool ski rack. What a great find and perfect for you guys. Speaking of skiing, any room in the 'inn' over end of December, first of Jan. this year (seriously)? Annie wants to come over there.
08-15-2010, 11:28 PM
#10
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1964 "Goldfinger" 007
Oops Karlusmagnus beat me to it...
Oops Karlusmagnus beat me to it...
08-17-2010, 10:39 AM
#13
Rennlist Member
The rack looks great. Can you take closer pictures of the whole system, would love to see the design features...are the load bars inter changeable with Thule bike carriers, or does each attachment system (bikes, boats, cargo) need to be a P-Design specific piece?
Sounds like a great road trip, you made the right decision to drive over the mountains, instead of the highway...good excuse to test your seats!
You mentioned understeer and stock shocks...of course new shocks/springs would make a big difference BUT (just curious) would a rear swaybar change also made a difference (on your current set up)? A cheap and simple upgrade until new suspension.
Sounds like a great road trip, you made the right decision to drive over the mountains, instead of the highway...good excuse to test your seats!
You mentioned understeer and stock shocks...of course new shocks/springs would make a big difference BUT (just curious) would a rear swaybar change also made a difference (on your current set up)? A cheap and simple upgrade until new suspension.
08-17-2010, 01:12 PM
#15
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Beautiful pics George - it's great to see your C4 doing what it was designed to do - I think the Porsche engineers would be proud.