Sorry for the delay on this one, I got back late yesterday and of course the unpacking from such a trip isn't simple. The final update:
Sunday:We arrived at the Gueux circuit for 9am:
Unfortunately my NS bearing had other ideas as did the hub. A burning brake and loose bearing, on a Sunday in the middle of France isn't an ideal situation.
Help was summoned from the next hill. The team regardless of language barriers were incredibly helpful and reassuring. Sure enough, an hour later the nearest Mini specialist garage produces the socket and a new split pin to go in. All be it a ratchet, this held the bearing all the way home the next day.
The international gourmet lunch
The main club stands - everything goes. Beetles, MGs, Minis, Renaults, Pugs, Porsches etc.
Come the afternoon, we left half the Minis at Reims and piled into the rest for a trip to a local champagne producer, for a tour of the modern process and tasting:
A pano' of Reims' skyline in the evning from Hotel de la Paix:
Monday:After we said our goodbyes Sunday night, Monday came along and unfortunately, due to my partners travel sickness we chose to head home early. Never the less, the drive from Reims to Calais was very pleasant. This is one of a number of rest stops - some English towns have smaller parks than this:
We arrived to a very cool and foggy Calais and met the chap from Sky 1's UK Border Force TV series. Really nice chap, and there was many a joke made as to how much I could get through customs in the Mini.
Extra:The MINI France sponsorship came in the form of 2 MINIs for display purposes and polo shirts for everyone, with the flag of your country on the right:
Your team number...
...and a Union Jack reverse collar:
Lessons learned from the journey:I may well be preaching to the converted here, but for those that haven't travelled across France there's a few things worth noting:
- Unleaded 95 (Sans Plomb 95) is 10% Ethanol in almost all of the petrol stations, and can cause damage to your fuel systems and seals. Super Unleaded 98 (Sans Plomb 98) is available even at the smallest of petrol stations. I used it for the entire journey and never had a problem.
- Take all the sockets you would ever need. I covered the basics but never even thought to bring the castle-nut sized socket with me. It pays to be well prepared for any eventuality. Same goes for parts - take a spare bearing front and rear, fan belt, radiator cap, sparks (plugs, points, rotar arms and cap etc), oil filter and so on. It's sods law the time you need it is the time you didn't take it with you.
- Services in France on a Sunday are blood-stone material. Most of the major highways will still have them open but inner town is most likely to see your local gas station operator slurping coffee in the central café.
- There are 2 types of services- Petrol stations, and rest-stops. Unlike our Welcome Break (et. all) style, you pretty much get a petrol station with toilets and that's your lot. Rest stops are large green spaces, with toilets and park benches. Parking might seem tiny in capacity but the French highways, unless you're close to a major city, are very quiet. I think the idea is, you actually *get* a rest and some quiet time from driving, rather than have the hussle and bussle of what we have here.
- If you use the highways- there's a toll (péage). Pick up the ticket on the way in, pay on the way out. Calais to Paris is €20.50 and Reims to Calais is €21.90 to give you some idea. The AA have a slightly outdated summary of all the tolls.
- Driving through Paris is like being in the middle of a rugby game. If you don't take *that* space, you'll have half a dozen other cars/bikes wanting it instead. Go with the flow. Use City-Park car parking if you stay overnight (secure car parks that can be reserved) to prevent the "French Kiss" dents and knocked mirrors you see often in the city streets.
Most of all I had a fantastic time driving like something posessed through the North of France, with a team of incredible people. The Gueux Circuit rivival happens each year, with the goal of restoring the race circuit infrastructure to its former glory, and re-open it for full races. I will certainly be going back next year.
Edited by nev_payne, 29 May 2012 - 07:59 PM.
