Introduction. Dig a little deeper, however, and you ll soon uncover a real passion for cars and a

Transcription

1 Introduction France is the world s most popular destination for tourists. If you re reading this guide, there s a good chance you ve already been there perhaps many times. For car enthusiasts, France sometimes gets a bad press, with its arsenal of speed cameras and pollution-beating measures in major cities. Many French people have traditionally shied away from conspicuous displays of wealth, and large, powerful cars have long been heavily taxed. Dig a little deeper, however, and you ll soon uncover a real passion for cars and a profusion of things for the car enthusiast to see and do. A survey carried out by the French historic vehicle federation, the FFVE, in 2005, documented 5500 events taking place each year, or the equivalent of one in every département every week of the year. Over the past fifteen years I have had the good fortune to live in Paris, and to discover many of these places and events with fellow car club members. Some, like Rétromobile in Paris or the Cité de l Automobile in Mulhouse, need no introduction. As I talked with friends back in England, however, I realised that many of these attractions often in areas popular with holidaymakers were little known, and that it was hard to find information about them, especially in English. In fact, there didn t seem to be a guide like this in English, or even in French. And so the idea for this book was born. France for car enthusiasts Each chapter in this guide has five sections, ordered as follows; Museums, Shows & Tours, Market Place, Motorsport and Circuits. France has fewer grand collections Speed or style, sometimes you don t need to choose! (Courtesy Le Touquet-Paris-Plage) / Opposite: A 56 Porsche 356 in the 2010 Trophée en Corse. (Courtesy Rallystory). 4

2 The Netherlands UK Calais Belgium Luxembourg Gravelines Calais UK Germany A25 A16 Saint Omer Boulogne-sur-Mer Rheims PARIS Béth NORD-PAS DE CALAIS Berck Le Mans Isbergues A26 Auchel Étaples Northern Vosges Dijon Morvan Jura Mountains Switzerland A16 Lyon Limoges Bordeaux Écrins Albe 14 Cévennes Toulouse Pyrénés Montpellier Marseilles Spain Corsica E46 Coutances Saint-Lô 18 Lannion Douarnenez Quimper Concarneau 37 Rennes Mayenne Vitré A1 A13 4 PARIS Dreux A5b Château-Gontier Le Mans 12 Vertou Pornic A87 Challans A83 Les Herbiers A85 Chinon Les Sables-d Olonne Luçon 5 Romorantin-Lanthenay Vierzon Loches 4 Bourges Mont Guéret POITOU-CHARENTES Saint-Jean-d Angély A837 Saint-Am Rochefort Châteauroux 2 Niort 1 Issoudun Le Blanc 8 Poitiers Fontennay-le-Comte La Rochelle Châtellerault Parthenay 42A83 Glen La Roch-sur-Yon M A71 Tours Amboise Bressuire 31 A87 E1 A19 Blois Thouars E3 Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez Vendòme 32 Cholet A77 Orléans Saumur 7 Ne Pithiviers 33 A85 3 Nantes 41 Angers Fo A6 Châteaudun 27 La Flèche Segré PAYS DE LA LOIRE Guérande 38 Saint-Nazaire A11 Sablé-sur-Sarthe A11 Châteaubriant La Ferté-Bernard A81 Redon E Nogent-le-Rotrou 29 Laval Bruz 25 Auray Vannes Crell Chantilly Méru 6 Alençon Ploërmel Quimperlé Hennebont Lorient E402 A88 Fougères 19 Loudéac Pontivy 39 Évreux L Aigle Argentan Saint-JustClermont Vernon 11 E3 Dinan E401 BRETAGNE Bernay Falaise Flers Gisors Val-de-Reuil UPPER NORMANDY (HAUTE-NORMANDIE) Lisieux LOWER NORMANDY (BASSE-NORMANDIE) Beauvais A84 Saint-Brieuc Lamballe Rouen Pont-Audemer A13 A813 E401 Avranches Saint-Malo Guingamp 20 A84 Vire Granville Caen PIC Barentin A Ouistreham Bayeux Yvetot Bolbec Honfleur E44 A29 30 Cherbourg-Octeville Le Havre Brest A28 Fécamp Perpignan Morlaix Landivisiau Landerneau Amiens Dieppe The Nature Park of the Causses de Quercy Landes de Gascogne Abbeville Italy Vercors Saintes Royan Saint-Junien Cognac Aubusson Limoges 3 A La Rochefourcauld Angoulême 26 Ussel Brantôme 6 36 Périgueux Saint-Laurent-Médoc 24 Ambarès-et-Lagrave Saint-Médard-en-Jalles E72 A63 16 AQUITAINE Pissos Bazas Moustey 9 Marmande Dax The Nature Park of the Causses de Quercy Cahors Villeneuve-sur-Lot Figeac Decazeville Rodez Landes de Gascogne Agen E72 A65 E7 A62 Condom Moissac Aire-sur-l Adour Carmaux Montauban Castelsarrasin Mont-de-Marsan Soustons Langon Aurillac 15Sarlat-la-Canéda Bergerac Villenave-d Ornon La Teste-de-Buch 58 Bordeaux 35 Tulle Brive-la-Gaillarde A89 Gaillac MIDI-PYRÉNÉES Albi Graulhet

3 Southern France Museums Shows & Tours Market Place Motorsport Circuits Trophée en Corse Porsche 356 against a backdrop of the Mediterranean. (Courtesy Rallystory) Where the Tour de Corse Historique (page 140) has a strongly sporting bent, the emphasis for Rallystory s annual tour of Corsica is on leisure and enjoyment. Taking their inspiration from the 1921 Corsican Grand Prix, the organisers prepare a different route each year, divided into six stages and covering about 1000km (620 miles) around the island. Entrants meet in Marseille for the ferry crossing to Bastia, or another of the island s ports, and then spend three days on the island s winding backroads, staying in 4-star hotels and enjoying meals on the beach or quayside. There are no average speed requirements or special stages on closed roads, simply an itinerary to follow and prizes for everyone who keeps to the route. Clearly, the formula appeals; the Trophée en Corse celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2013 and attracts over 100 participants. Entry is open to all classic cars, primarily covering the period from It s understandably popular among owners of sports cars from manufacturers such as Alpine, Lotus and Porsche, who come to enjoy the so-called island of 10,000 corners. There s also a smaller GT category, open to more recent GT and rally cars. Lotuses old and new enjoying the trip. Left: The distinctive logo for the event. (Both courtesy Rallystory) Practical information October every year Different route around Corsica each year (0) contact@rallystory.com 118

4 Central France & the Alps Museums Shows & Tours Market Place Motorsport Circuits Circuit de Mornay, Bonnat Deep in the rural département of the Creuse, the Circuit de Mornay is a delightful place to visit. When it compared the racetracks of France a couple of years ago, French magazine Sport Auto had no hesitation in giving it top marks; for its beautiful setting, the undulating and The author s Ford Mustang GT beside the château at Mornay technically challenging track and the welcome of its hosts. The circuit was established by Pierre Petit, a successful former racer, who was the French Formula 3 champion in 1982 and went on to achieve pole position at Le Mans in It has been designed to stretch drivers skills, with a carefully structured ten-level training programme, inviting participants to progress from the basics of track driving to the champagne of a podium finish! The school utilises its own Formula Renault 1700 and 2000 cars, which can reach a top speed of 250kph (155mph). The track is also used by the motoring press and manufacturers, and can be hired by clubs like the Mustang Club de France, who chose it for its annual track day. The beautiful 15th century château has a large restaurant and a billiard room in which to relax after a day on track. Practical information Circuit length: 2300m Open by reservation (contact circuit) Château de Mornay, Bonnat N, E (0) info@circuit-mornay.fr 198

5 Event calendar 24 May Month Event Chapter / Region Section Page All year Vincennes monthly meeting Paris & the Ile-de-France Shows & Tours 33 Jan Traversée de Paris en anciennes Paris & the Ile-de-France Shows & Tours 32 Rallye Hivernal Classic, Vallauris Southern France Motorsport 138 Rallye Monte Carlo Southern France Motorsport 128 Rallye Monte Carlo Historique Southern France Motorsport 130 Ronde Hivernale Historique, Serre Chevalier Southern France Motorsport 139 Salon Auto Moto Prestige et Collection, Nîmes Southern France Shows & Tours 116 Jan/Feb Exposition Concept Cars, Paris Paris & the Ile-de-France Shows & Tours 28 Feb Rétromobile, Paris Paris & the Ile-de-France Shows & Tours 20 Traversée de Bordeaux Western France Shows & Tours 84 Trophée Andros (final), Super-Besse Central France & the Alps Motorsport 186 Rallye Neige et Glace North-East France Motorsport 225 Feb/Mar May change Monaco Motor Legend Southern France Shows & Tours 114 Mar Coupes de Printemps, Montlhéry Paris & the Ile-de-France Motorsport 50 Rallye de Paris GT & Classic Paris & the Ile-de-France Shows & Tours 30 Avignon Motor Festival Southern France Shows & Tours 112 Les 100 Tours, Circuit du Castellet Southern France Motorsport 132 Bourse d échange d Arras North-East France Market Place 221 Salon Champenois des Véhicules de Collection, Reims North-East France Shows & Tours 220 Apr Tour Auto Optic 2000 Paris & the Ile-de-France Shows & Tours 22 Youngtimers Club, Montlhéry Paris & the Ile-de-France Shows & Tours 34 Top Marques, Monaco Southern France Shows & Tours 117 Apr/May Expomobile, Chelles Paris & the Ile-de-France Shows & Tours 27 Odd years Vintage Revival, Montlhéry Paris & the Ile-de-France Motorsport 51 May Odd years Rallye Dior Paris Granville Western France Shows & Tours 78 Rallye International du Pays de Fougères Western France Shows & Tours 79 Tour de Bretagne Western France Shows & Tours 83 Even years Grand Prix Historique de Monaco Southern France Motorsport 122 Grand Prix de Monaco F1 Southern France Motorsport 124 Grand Prix de Pau Historique Southern France Motorsport 126 Corse Sud Classic Rallye Southern France Motorsport 134 Critérium des Cévennes Historique Southern France Motorsport 135 Rétro Auto Forum du Var, Fréjus Southern France Shows & Tours 115 Classic Days, Magny-Cours Central France & the Alps Motorsport 180 GT Days, Magny-Cours Central France & the Alps Motorsport 184 Uriage Cabriolet Classic Central France & the Alps Shows & Tours 178 May/Jun Locomotion en fête, La Ferté-Alais Paris & the Ile-de-France Shows & Tours 29 Rallye Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux Western France Shows & Tours 76 Circuit Historique de Laon North-East France Shows & Tours 213 Jun Autodrome Heritage Festival, Montlhéry Paris & the Ile-de-France Shows & Tours 25 Rallye des Princesses Paris & the Ile-de-France Shows & Tours 31 Classic British Welcome, Saint-Saturnin Western France Motorsport 91 Grand Prix Historique de Bressuire Western France Motorsport 93 Le Mans 24 Hours Western France Motorsport