GstaadLife

Following on from his victory from this year's 24 heures du Mans, Schönrieder and Gstaad Automobile Club member Karim Ojjeh and his team have notched another victory in this year's prototype endurance series at Silverstone in the UK.

Hope you witnessed these 80 magnificent old (and new) Jags parading down the Promenade in Gstaad last Sunday June 19 2011 as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the E-Type. And there are more beautiful cars to come this weekend - the 41st edition of the Gstaad Veterans Oldtimer rally will be taking place from June 24 to 26 2011. On June 25 at 16h00 the cars, which are all pre-1970, can be viewed in the Gstaad Palace parking lot.

 
The Jaguar Drivers' Club of Switzerland is celebrating in Gstaad-Saanen this year, commemorating two events next weekend June 16 2011. Firstly, the club was founded 35 years ago. Secondly, and far more importantly, 50 years ago on March 15 1961 the Jaguar E-type was presented for the first time at the Geneva Salon International de l'Automobile. The highlight of the weekend is planned for Sunday June 19 2011 from 10h00, when about 120 classic Jags and Daimlers will parade between Gstaad and Saanen. And if you just want to drool, the parking lot of the Steigenberger will be the place to be.

 
You've probably known him for many years - Ruedi Brun - the friendly and helpful filling station attendant at the Rütti garage. Well, he is going into his well-earned retirement having worked for the Rütti Garage no less than 44 years! All the best from GstaadLife.com.

Wondering around Gstaad this Easter Saturday, we bumped into a surprising number of chalet owners, most of them hanging out with Claudio at Scheufele's wine shop. Between them and the day-trippers, there was a surprising amount of life on the Promenade. Seems like with the good weather, some are choosing the mountains over the beach this Easter. Also might have something to do with the rather bizarre holiday schedule at the JFK School in Saanen, where classes for the spring term began on last Monday April 18.

In any event, when you do venture into town over the coming days, you'll find the parking lot across from the cinema closed for three weeks from Tuesday April 26 2011. The trash depository is being moved to the Carparkplatz Tschieneli, which is normally the bus parking lot next to the river when you turn into Gstaad on the Oberbort side. Oddly the note from the Gemeinde didn't mention alternative parking, so we'd recommend the same bus parking lot, the Litzi parking garage across the street, or for the exercise-challenged amongst you, just use the more expensive Bahnhof railway station parking.

With access through the center of Saanen closed since the beginning of September, travel from Rougemont to Gstaad or vice versa has involved the use of the new tunnel. This has proved too much for some who have taken to the Hindergässli and Bahnhofsgässli in Saanen as part of an ill-conceived scheme to save no time whatsoever and upset the neighbors in the process. Well, this little cut-through is no longer possible, and bypassing the bypass has been brought to an end with barriers that promise to bring peace and safety back to the residents of Saanen's back-alleys.

 
The first snow has fallen - time to change to winter tires, and yes that includes drivers of 4x4 vehicles, in particular owners of Greek, Spanish, and British-registered Range Rovers... you have been warned.

Photo engadinerpost.ch

From Monday October 18 until Friday October 22 2010 from 7h30 to 16h30 the road up to Chalberhöni will be closed completely for resurfacing work. During these times you can still get up to Chalberhöni by following the orange diversion signs from Gstaad on the Gsteigstrasse towards Feutersoey then right just after the Wispile base station and up over Eggli.

On Friday August 20 2010, the Saanen bypass was officially inaugurated. Since Monday August 30, it is no longer possible to drive through Saanen, making the drive from Gstaad to Rougemont about one or two minutes longer depending on traffic. As for the village, it already feels a tad too quiet -- those of you with kids who are Lightning McQueen fans will understand what we mean when we say the whole place feels a bit "Radiator Springs". But it's what the people wanted, and hopefully things will liven up when they get around to turning the main street into a proper Promenade.

Work on the road to Chalberhöni, which was destroyed during recent flooding, is progressing rapidly. The road is now passable on weekends, with construction work during the week requiring residents and visitors to take a partially-offroad adventure up over the Eggli from Grund.