Frank Baelde

Introduce yourself — who is Frank?

Hi, I'm Frank, 33, from Gorinchem. I work via secondment for Rijkswaterstaat on major projects in the Rotterdam and Utrecht regions. On those projects I am responsible for traffic flow and coordinating disruption. Since I was 18 I have been looking at what car I wanted to drive. That started with the idea of a Porsche 944 and, via various detours, actually landed on Corvette in 2019.

Which car(s) do you drive on the tour(s)?

I did my first two tours in a pearl-white Corvette C6 Convertible. After that my Corvette C7 Convertible was registered and I could join my third tour the day after delivery (the High Tea tour in Limburg on 8 August). I bought the C7 in December 2020 almost sight-unseen in America. That was an adventure that actually went quite smoothly, but getting a car registered during COVID took a bit longer.

What is your ultimate dream car?

For a long time it was a Pagani Huayra… but I probably wouldn't fit with my height (2.03 m). A recent Koenigsegg (Regera, Jesko or even CC850) still fascinates me. Christian von Koenigsegg is a genius who keeps pushing the wildest corners of hypercars. In a slightly more realistic scenario I would love an Aston Martin DB12 or DBS Superleggera. But honestly, my current Corvette is and remains a dream car! It is a joy every time to drive such an amazing car.

How did you find FancyCarTours and what was your first edition?

That was already 4 years ago. I think I saw it on Facebook. A run through the bulb region on 2 May 2021, right in the middle of COVID. It seemed fun — out with like-minded people and their passion. At that point I had had my C6 for 2 years (and the C7 was waiting in the Netherlands for its plates). Before that I mostly did my own drives (and occasionally took it to work).

Which edition is your favourite and why?

Pff, this is a tough one, even though I get this question more often. I am now at 32 participations, of which 11 multi-day tours. I can't really say I have one favourite, but multi-day trips are preferred over day trips by now. You get to know people better and see much more of an unfamiliar area. The Benelux multi-day accounts for 3 of the 11 multi-day rides and is therefore one of the favourites. The roads are wonderfully rolling with generous corners (a bit easier for an American car).

Which route or location impressed you most and why?

Again a tough one — with the various multi-day tours I now have many great memories. A top 5 (in no particular order):

The Stelvio Pass (Dolomites 2023). There you really feel the respect between all road users with all those hairpins.

Alpe d'Huez (France 2022 and 2024) remains impressive with Alpe d'HuZes in the back of your mind.

Col du Galibier (France 2024) is such a phenomenal climb, including the snow at the top.

Furka and Susten Pass (Switzerland 2024) — consecutive passes with wide roads, beautiful views and a huge grin over the passes!

Benelux multi-day, then day 1 through Germany. Wide roads and therefore driving and enjoying at a high pace.

Bonus: the entire Normandy tour. Very special to visit the liberation beaches and museums. A bit less of a “tour”, but a brilliant excursion!

What is your most unforgettable FancyCarTours moment?

The Dolomites edition then. It already started on day 1, when one of the other Corvettes (Eric) was stranded with problems at the first stop. His Corvette couldn't continue and had to be towed. Not much later I myself broke down on the Stelvio. About a kilometre from the top my Corvette stalled due to lack of air. Within no time at least five fellow drivers were with me to see if they could help. And that's when you really notice what a great group of people join a tour like this. Luckily the car started again after 10 minutes and I could calmly continue. Then Eric rode with me on day 2 and the first half of day 3, because you wouldn't wish anyone two days stuck in a hotel (and I was doing that tour alone anyway).

If you could design a route yourself, where would it go?

Haha, I already had that chance — that was Friesland 2023! For work I stayed in Harlingen for almost 2 years. With tips from hotel staff I could string Friesland highlights together. Then Erwin and Shirley shaped it into a nice tour format. But so much goes into it! That gave me even more respect for their preparation, because every time it is good! I wouldn't want to design a route again, but a general line would be: the Alps, but with fewer narrow mountain roads! I regularly went through corners and tunnels full of tension, hoping no oncoming traffic would appear (because passing was nearly impossible).

Would you recommend FancyCarTours?

Yes, without any doubt. And I have basically been saying that for three years. In that time FancyCarTours has also grown incredibly. The trips keep getting better, with more luxurious restaurants and hotels and therefore a much more luxurious experience. And you meet many new people, which has led to great friendships and even resulted in a different job (where I work now)!

Finally, what is your favourite photo (taken during a tour)?

I have too many of those by now… But one of the most special is a photo that didn't end up on the website, which I received thanks to Jerome (photographer). This was during Switzerland 2024, a tour where the weather often didn't cooperate. This misty shot shows the amazing contrast with such a bright car — and for me confirms that a sports car in a screaming colour (for me) is much more fun than grey, black or white.