Road Trips Update
Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2015 2:24 pm
Well, it's been a while, a mixture of work and waiting for recovery vehicles, but we've done some big trips, some less successful than others.
First big one was LeMans. We had a great route down, we were the oldest car in the group between Lamborghini's and even one of those fancy 918's (the owner camped next to it, still don't know if that's genius or madness) The car was great the whole way but as we got to the circuit on Saturday, we got stuck in awful traffic due to a road closure for Francois Holande to visit, which essentially killed the Dynamo. We made it to the camp, but the return trip was a no go, I got put up for the Sunday night by friends and lectured on why I should have bought an Aston, and got a lift back to Blighty.
It then took a month to get the car home, the strikes at Calais and the French mentality not helping the matters. They did offer to drop it off at Porsche LeMans to get it fixed, but I told them they would be picking up the bill!
A quick turn around when she was home, a set of period correct Michelin's, a dynamo repair and a new battery and we were on our way back to the south of France.
Fuel pump died at Portsmouth but a quick fitting of an electrical inline pump got us on the next ferry. sadly the battery took a beating, resulting in some night driving with no lights and a night in the services as the Dynamo still isn't perfect.
We made it South, just in time for 40degrees heat, but had a lovely time, the roads were excellent, some real carving going on. Better half would have appreciated air con, even I did to be honest, the heat was relentless.
We then did a long winding route back north on some amazing roads, quickly left the chateau we had booked after the lady running it seemed to have a mental break down, checked into Hotel de France last minute (if you haven't already, stay there, it's superb and the food and setting it perfect) and then dragged ourselves back to Yorkshire.
I haven't driven her much since the trip, engine rebuild is planned over winter and hill climbs and more tours next year, but for now, on calls and some money earning!
First big one was LeMans. We had a great route down, we were the oldest car in the group between Lamborghini's and even one of those fancy 918's (the owner camped next to it, still don't know if that's genius or madness) The car was great the whole way but as we got to the circuit on Saturday, we got stuck in awful traffic due to a road closure for Francois Holande to visit, which essentially killed the Dynamo. We made it to the camp, but the return trip was a no go, I got put up for the Sunday night by friends and lectured on why I should have bought an Aston, and got a lift back to Blighty.
It then took a month to get the car home, the strikes at Calais and the French mentality not helping the matters. They did offer to drop it off at Porsche LeMans to get it fixed, but I told them they would be picking up the bill!
A quick turn around when she was home, a set of period correct Michelin's, a dynamo repair and a new battery and we were on our way back to the south of France.
Fuel pump died at Portsmouth but a quick fitting of an electrical inline pump got us on the next ferry. sadly the battery took a beating, resulting in some night driving with no lights and a night in the services as the Dynamo still isn't perfect.
We made it South, just in time for 40degrees heat, but had a lovely time, the roads were excellent, some real carving going on. Better half would have appreciated air con, even I did to be honest, the heat was relentless.
We then did a long winding route back north on some amazing roads, quickly left the chateau we had booked after the lady running it seemed to have a mental break down, checked into Hotel de France last minute (if you haven't already, stay there, it's superb and the food and setting it perfect) and then dragged ourselves back to Yorkshire.
I haven't driven her much since the trip, engine rebuild is planned over winter and hill climbs and more tours next year, but for now, on calls and some money earning!
)