MGCC of FRANCE EUROPEAN EVENT OF THE YEAR 2006

 A report on our attendance by Betty Baulch

We were enjoying a day at MG Silverstone 2005 when Terry suggested it might be fun to take part

In the MGCC De France 2006 European Event of Year in the Auvergne at Royat and on the Charade

Race Circuit 29^th June to 2^nd July 2006, and of course I agreed. We had a chat with friends and out came

the maps. Brian Rainbow got tapping on the internet to his many contacts and checked out and booked

Ferrys and Logis Auberges Hotels etc. en route. It was decided to make a fortnights holiday of the trip

taking three or four days to get to the event and a week to come back via the Loire Valley.

So Sunday morning 25^th June, TD packed to the gunnels, Terry went to get her out of the garage and

I have never seen such a look of incredulity on his face when all we heard was a pathetic URRRRGH ,

you guessed it, a completely dead battery , never to be revived. So a quick dash to Halfords in Rugby

for a replacement solved the problem.

We set off to meet the gang, Rosie and Brian Rainbow (TA), Barbara Ford (TC), John and Marie

Burton (TA), and Brian and Norma Cousins (TD), at a little tea shop in Bladon Oxfordshire. Our 5

cars then set off with radio intercom in first and last cars, these proved invaluble throughout (good

idea Brian ) , and headed for Portsmouth to catch 11pm L. D. overnight ferry to Le Havre (cabins booked ).

 After docking around 7 30 am French time we drove along hoods down looking for a café for breakfast

And admiring the Pont De Normandy when suddenly the architecture disappeared in a torrent of rain, all

 soaked, soon dried out munching croissants and sipping coffee (really ready for a full English but no

 chance in that café, never mind ). We had a good journey to Artenay (145 miles) our next overnight stop,

pausing at lunch time at a truckers halt for a fabulous 3 course lunch for 11 euros a head. After staying

at the Hotel de la Fontain we set off on Tuesday 27^th June ( Normas birthday ), first stop the Intermarche

Supermarket to buy our lunch time picnic, Then with Terry leading we headed towards Montlucon

stopping around midday in a lovely park with a stream for our picnic and demolishing Normas birthday

cake. Journeying on we arrived in Montlucon to find our route in town to the Hotel des Bourbon barred by

 road works , but Brian to the rescue with detailed map found us a way round. We enjoyed a super birthday

dinner in the hotel and later Norma danced in the local fountains ( no she wasn’t ), Terry and I joined the

 locals in reception to watch France v Spain football match France won and so car horns sounded most of

 the night. The hotel car park was like a dungeon very black and creepy but what the heck it was secure.

 Next morning 28^th June we motored the 60 odd miles to Royat (town of many traffic lights), as we

registered with the event organisers, and got our instructions, they presented each entrant with a very

 large red sports bag containing various goodies and Terrys expression, after thanking them ,was ,where

the hell am I going to put that!!?? It was a nice surprise to find on booking into our hotel, The Hotel

Le Chatel , that Linda and Malcolm Sayer (TD), Jim Gibson and Sue Walker (MGB GT V8) and

Tony and Silvia Lake (MGB GT V8) had all booked into the same hotel.

Thursdays event run for T Types started by passing out through Claremont Ferrand’s dozens of traffic

 Lights to gain open country but what scenery! Absolutely lovely, good job the cars had been well

prepared to cope with all the hills etc, The French laid on a super tour of chateaux’s and an excellent

French style lunch (2/3 hours ).

On Friday 30^th the T Types started from the railway station at 8-30am , when Royat became grid

Locked with MGs, as almost the first instruction read turn right at the viaduct, only problem there were

3 viaducts, Hey up here come the cavalry but the gendarmes waved their arms around a lot shrugged their

shoulders and disappeared. The French of course were trying to get to work and were not a happy bunch

and did a lot of hooting of horns etc,. Our 5 cars eventually escaped with John and Marie leading, we made

for the hills lakes and volcanos, the tallest Called the Puy de Dome , another splendid lunch in a fine

country hotel near Bourboule was taken before continuing back to Royat. That evening we attended the

Gala Dinner held in a marquee at the race circuit at Charade ,going by taxi. Getting back was a bit of

performance as the ordered taxis did not turn up as arranged Barbara nearly committed Hari Cari

desperately trying to stop a taxi for all of us. Terry lost our room key that evening ----- don’t panic we

eventually found it outside our hotel in the gutter ( no its not what your thinking ), it fell out of his pocket

as he left the taxi.

 Saturday and Sunday saw us all up at the Charade circuit acting out our fantasies on the circuit

Itself BUT NO OVERTAKING THE PACE CAR Tony and Jim spent more time on the circuit and nearly

Wore out their brakes. Sunday afternoon saw our group of T Types heading for the Puy de Dome and the

Hills as the temperatures reached the 90s and the roads were melting but the views were worth it.

 Monday morning the 3^rd July we left Royat for a leisurely weeks drive through the Loire Valley,

Visiting various chateaux as we went, staying at Chatearoux Hotel la Promenade that night. On Tuesday

and Wednesday night we had a superb hotel in the Auberge de Launay in Amboise visiting the Chateaux

Royal whilst there. Thursday evening saw us in Saumur at the Hotel du Parc having visited the Chateaux

Villandray on route unfortunately in pouring rain some of the very little we saw on the whole trip.

 Friday we passed through Le Mans what a busy large city that is especially as it was the weekend

of Classic Le Mans , and on to Mace for our last night in France staying at the hotel L,ile de Sees.

Saturday we headed for Le Havre and home.

 We covered about 1500 miles on a fantastic trip with great company ,one of the best things about

travelling in France in the old cars is the reception given by the general public there hooting of horns by all

and sundry, people waving and clapping in the street especially the older folk they really appreciate the

cars. A wonderful wonderful trip. Looking forward to Hieldelberg with MGCC Germany in 2007