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Oct 25, 2014 12:29:34 GMT
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Hello everyone, As some people may remember I went and checked out Le Mans Classic this year and as suggested in this thread we really liked the venue we stayed at and wanted to do something there in 2015. I had a meeting with the relevant folk a couple of weeks back and we're on! So pack your knotted hanky and cucumber sandwiches Retro Rides is going on a summer holiday, like Cliff Richards (but without the police raids). Details: Date: Friday 17th July to Monday 20th July Location: Chateau Rive Sarthe ( Google Map Link) Cost: £60 for three nights, includes continental breakfast (when in RomeFrance and all that). We also have the option of pre-erected tents, and gites with actual roofs and everything for groups (obviously priced differently) Activities: Day time: Currently we are discussing the activities available. Visiting the museum at Le Mans seems like a sterling plan, should be quieter than when large events are on there. We can also take a drive around the full track. When we have the French motorsport calendar published we'll know if there is anything on at the Bugatti circuit (the smaller part of Le Mans that gets used often for club level motorsport), we will also be looking for French hillclimbs and sprints. Away from the obvious attractions at Le Mans, there are many nice drive outs in the area, or if you don't fancy a drive boat trips can be organised, wine tasting, visits to other houses in the area. There is also some serious Go karting near by apparently, prize for the winner?  Evening: Movie projector, good food, good drink, great company. Travel: It is very early to be booking ferries, but the current plan is to arrange a meeting point on the autoroute just outside of Calais, let people decide how they want to travel (Eurostar, ferry, swim...) then meet there and cruise down together, we may arrange a couple of these meeting times. For those in the South West it is possible to get across much nearer to Le Mans, via Cherbourg or Caen from Poole or Plymouth. There is our outline of our plans for our summer holiday, looking to get fifty or more heading over to make for a nice atmosphere. What do you think? Interested? Questions?  |
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Last Edit: Oct 25, 2014 12:30:59 GMT by HoTWire
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stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,865
Club RR Member Number: 174
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Something I keep meaning to ask in general - ferry ramps/Eurostar ramps - what sort of angle are they? I wouldn't want to book a ticket then not be able to get my car on when I got there.
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Dez
Club Retro Rides Member
And I won't sit down. And I won't shut up. And most of all I will not grow up.
Posts: 11,715
Club RR Member Number: 34
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Oct 26, 2014 10:09:33 GMT
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I'm interested, same question as matt though. also how much does the ferry/tunnel cost these days?
don't suppose you know how that falls with school holidays do you?
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Doyal
South West
Posts: 168
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Oct 26, 2014 12:10:32 GMT
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This would be epic!
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BMW E28 M535i dog-leg
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olduns
Part of things
Posts: 326
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Oct 26, 2014 12:59:10 GMT
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I'll be there and back by this time next year, no 7 weeker again for me covering the 24 & Classic  never too early to start booking ferries/tunnel, schools usually break up around the latter part of week you're there, however different areas may finish earlier? possibly a French National race meeting, one there around 19th July this year. Hotel de France in Chartre sur le Loir worth a visit, recently refurbed by new owners, original pics & paintings replaced by wallpaper print of said objects but still retains its aura. runs out to Loire valley via Chartre to Amboise, Blois, chateau runs worth it as well |
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Last Edit: Oct 26, 2014 12:59:27 GMT by olduns
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Oct 26, 2014 18:15:00 GMT
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stealthstylz and Dez ... the lower section of the Eurotunnel has no ramps (other than the long roadway ones to get on and off the platform) I've seen some seriously low stuff get on and off that for trips to Belgian shows as well as some of the super car runs, reckon you should be okay. Not too sure on the Ferry side of things, but I have again seen pictures from super car runs where they have taken some very low stuff on there okay. As for booking, nothing seems to have prices for that far in advance yet. I took the Eurotunnel (not Eurostar, if you are taking a car you want eurotunnel) when I went over there and it was about 90 quid return, there are occasionally sales if you keep your eye out. I've not checked ferry prices as I can't seem to get the P&O site to play ball, but I remember it being a bit cheaper if you booked it early enough. Doyal We hope so olduns cool I'll have to check those out 
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Dez
Club Retro Rides Member
And I won't sit down. And I won't shut up. And most of all I will not grow up.
Posts: 11,715
Club RR Member Number: 34
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Oct 26, 2014 18:39:50 GMT
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thats not too bad then, price wise. its a 450 mile trip for me, don't know if that includes the distance the ferry/tunnel covers? gunna try to do a bit of costing for fuel as well. is fuel cheaper, more expensive, or the same in that there fench france?
the missus is home now, and has confirmed that she breaks up from school on that friday, so it would be doable.
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olduns
Part of things
Posts: 326
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Oct 26, 2014 18:53:01 GMT
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Probably 320 ish miles from Calais to chateau via m'way, tolls currently are €30 ish each way.
Devil fuel cheapest at supermarkets is around €1.35, so approx10-15% cheaper.
Petrol is dearer at around €1.50 at supermarkets.
Cross country N roads are a lot slower but obviously more scenic, the nearer Calais you are the fewer direct roads there are until Abbeville way.
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ferny
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 985
Club RR Member Number: 13
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Oct 26, 2014 19:10:59 GMT
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Ooh, I like the idea of that - assuming I've not killed the herald by then!
Ferry is roughly £45-75 return, depending on how luck you get.
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Seth
South East
MorrisOxford TriumphMirald HillmanMinx BorgwardIsabellaCombi
Posts: 15,521
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Oct 26, 2014 19:42:50 GMT
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Still term time for us unfortunately or I might have been in a position to do some persuading.
Dez/Stealth, I know my car isn't *that* low but it is fully loaded (two and a half people, bicycles, fridge, clothing etc) and towing the trailer tent when we get on and off the ferry. Steepness can vary a bit in my experience, probably depending on the tide. A couple of times I've not touched at all but usually there's a bit of a scrape on the gearbox crossmember/exhaust/whatever is lowest in the middle. The ramp sections are usually rubbery.
I've always run super-unleaded when abroad in the hope it is likely to contain less ethanol. Cost seems to be much the same as here, motorway service stations obviously being more expensive than suburban supermarkets.
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Follow your dreams or you might as well be a vegetable. |
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Oct 26, 2014 19:54:28 GMT
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Day time: Currently we are discussing the activities available. Visiting the museum at Le Mans seems like a sterling plan, should be quieter than when large events are on there. We can also take a drive around the full track. When we have the French motorsport calendar published we'll know if there is anything on at the Bugatti circuit (the smaller part of Le Mans that gets used often for club level motorsport), we will also be looking for French hillclimbs and sprints. Away from the obvious attractions at Le Mans, there are many nice drive outs in the area, or if you don't fancy a drive boat trips can be organised, wine tasting, visits to other houses in the area. There is also some serious Go karting near by apparently, prize for the winner? Sounds like an ace idea  It might be worth considering the Matra Museum? 2hrs from Le Mans may be a little far for some.... Those that do go won't regret it!  Matra_Museum_20140616_019 by mwggriffiths, on Flickr |
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 1990 BMW 318iS, 1971 Range Rover V8 |
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Oct 26, 2014 20:15:23 GMT
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Still term time for us unfortunately or I might have been in a position to do some persuading. When does your term end? Our dates are still a little liquid, I moved it earlier in the month than originally proposed due to proximity to The Gathering from an organisational stand point, but if we're likely to come across a lot of people still at school, might be worth moving a week? |
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stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,865
Club RR Member Number: 174
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Oct 26, 2014 22:03:24 GMT
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That definitely sounds doable then, 90 quid return sounds pretty reasonable to me. Any idea what the French police's view on errr...iffy fuels in UK (kerosene) are? If they're not bothered I'd just chuck a couple of barrels in which should give me enough range to do there and back.
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Dez
Club Retro Rides Member
And I won't sit down. And I won't shut up. And most of all I will not grow up.
Posts: 11,715
Club RR Member Number: 34
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Oct 26, 2014 23:02:51 GMT
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i was gunna ask the same regarding veg- is it legal to use it over there? don't really want to find myself pleading my case to a grumpy gun toting gendarme by the side of the road when i don't speak the same language.
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10mpg
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 4,253
Club RR Member Number: 204
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Oct 26, 2014 23:13:30 GMT
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That looks ace, I stayed in a very similar chateau (possibly even the same one) the last time I went to the Le Mans Classic, if it's inside school hols I'd be well up for this, that said I'm to much of a wuss to take anything retro, would I be shot for coming in a modern air conditioned 4x4??
Last time I was there the fuel gauge failed in my Range Rover, not wanting to pay French port fuel prices (in a 120litre tank) we decided to push it over the 300 miles between fill ups we had allowed ourselves, bang on cue we ran out of fuel on the single lane section of the 'on ramp' for the eurotunnel, cue lots of very curse word off Frenchmen and about 15 mins before someone with a tow rope and a 4x4 was found to pull us off the ramp and let the others on then a two hour wait for a surly looking eurotunnel employee to take a 20 euro note to fetch us 5 litres of petrol......
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Last Edit: Oct 27, 2014 21:27:39 GMT by 10mpg
The Internet, like all tools, if used improperly, can make a complete bo**cks of even the simplest jobs...
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tunnel roughly 100-150 return - end of june is 46-49 each way july would be slightly more (wont let me look) www.eurotunnel.combrittany ferries from portsmouth caen looking at 300 return www.brittany-ferries.comportsmouth le harve slightly cheaper at 220 ish ld lines dover calais between 80-90 depending on times but they take an hour longer than p and o (used them for the bike (11 quid each way) and its a loooong time www.ldlines.comthey do portsmouth le havre but it wouldnt let me look and the biggie?? caen to le mans is 100 miles and 15 euro in tolls calais to le mans is 250 and 35 ish in tolls 10mpg - Hw would ignore me id be on the bike :lol: |
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Last Edit: Oct 27, 2014 0:38:59 GMT by hairnet
2001 HONDA CT110 (NOT RCV)
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This sounds like fun!
I normally use DFDS ferries and price varies, cheapest I have had in the summer is £19 each way but looking on their site now it looks about £35 each way for the 17th-20th.
Veg oil is fine to take abroad as fuel, no idea on kerosene, I expect they wouldn't take kindly to it if they found out!
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qwerty
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,410
Club RR Member Number: 52
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Oct 27, 2014 18:48:22 GMT
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Save up your tesco clubcard points and use them for your chunnel crossing.
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Oct 28, 2014 21:17:41 GMT
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The Matra Museum is excellent, I went a couple of weekends ago and will be uploading photos when Photobucket stops being a dick. A perfect-sized museum for an afternoon, and two hours really isn't that far. Newhaven-Dieppe is also an option; it's a longer trek than Cherbourg or Caen but it's well cheap. |
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1989 Peugeot 205. You know, the one that was parked in a ditch on the campsite at RRG'17... the glass is always full. but the ratio of air to water may vary. |
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Oct 28, 2014 21:40:20 GMT
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This sounds like fun! I normally use DFDS ferries and price varies, cheapest I have had in the summer is £19 each way but looking on their site now it looks about £35 each way for the 17th-20th. Veg oil is fine to take abroad as fuel, no idea on kerosene, I expect they wouldn't take kindly to it if they found out! check with who ever you sail with as they have big restrictions on anything that's not actually in the tank! I'd love to do this but don't think her indoors would be happy as we set off for the annual drive to the south a week after |
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