The QMG Citroën Classic Challenge 2012

[Mike E (uk)]

Thanks for putting up the pictures Hilary.

Glad that you are all obviousley enjoying yourselves.
Looks like alll the planning and stickering!! has paid off .
Looking forward to your next updates.

Vicky(Mike E's wife)
p.s. the weather has finally improved and the grass will need cutting when you get back

[Caffiend]

Woooow at that last pic particularly.

I am GOING next year, even if I have to stow away in someone's boot!

Thanks for the pix, glad you're all having a good time, although I am deeply envious.

p.s. the weather has finally improved and the grass will need cutting when you get back

(NB Don't like the new lol smiley)

[saintjamesy89]

Woooow at that last pic particularly.

I am GOING next year, even if I have to stow away in someone's boot!

Thanks for the pix, glad you're all having a good time, although I am deeply envious.

Seconded, definitely coming on the next BX French road trip thingy, even if I have to organise it myself (IIRC Phil wasn't planning on organising another one)

[Dollywobbler]

There has been talk of a similar undertaking in Wales. Saves all that boat/chunnel/changing money effort! Think of it as a budget challenge - which suits me!

[saintjamesy89]

There has been talk of a similar undertaking in Wales. Saves all that boat/chunnel/changing money effort! Think of it as a budget challenge - which suits me!

That does sound very appealing, I would bring the GT for that, somehow I wouldn't want to take it around France, but Wales I would. I've read on the mk2 astra forum (who have been around Wales en mass several times) that it's great fun, with all those twisty mountain roads and pretty scenery etc.

Definitely up for a Wales adventure!

[mat_fenwick]

A couple more photos from today:



I was slightly worried to see liquid dripping from the underside after returning to the car - fortunately it was just melting snow from a quick play in the white stuff.



Tim's overheating was caused by non running fans, but easily sorted with a wire direct to the battery. Unfortunately today's problem is not so easily fixable....Jaba's BX has lost a spark plug due to stripped threads in the head. Removing the sealing washer (to hopefully allow it to screw in further to a non damaged part of the thread) and using paste to seal might just get it to a garage so they can helicoil it.

[Dollywobbler]

Crikey! That's some view.

[mat_fenwick]

Not bad I guess...

Hilary mentioned meeting the 4x4 coming down - what he didn't say is that he kindly moved to the inside edge of the track, leaving us to try and squeeze past with a precipitous drop inches away. Unfortunately I was having to go so slowly that when I was cross axled over a series of potholes I didn't have enough momentum to keep going when one wheel had very little weight on it. It was at that point he saw sense and reversed back up to a smoother area.

This is the view over the lake from last night's campsite:



Tomorrow we head to Switzerland, where we'll be meeting up with Todd.

[Des Smith]

Just read through the latests posts since Friday... Absolutely awesome and looks like a cracking good drive. Well done guys, and I'm looking forward to more piccies!!

[hilarystone]

Some more pics to add to those posted by Matt.



Some games in the snow at the Col de Lauteret - I didn't look under mine like Matt did...




Three of the cars looking as if they are about to jump from the top of the Col de Lauteret.

Later we went onto Beaufort (there had been a rally there) before going over the Col de Saisies - Les Saisies is a ski town during the winter but a ghost town during the summer:




Some fun was had on the climb.



Mike Sims GS leaned well.

And Mark enjoyed his 16V:




During the descent there was more fun to be had:

[mat_fenwick]

One more photo while I still have free wifi - the descent from the Col de Vars:



Hairpin after hairpin, followed by several miles of long sweeping fast bends. Worth the trip just for that day alone!

[Paul296]

Well, I'm speechless (almost); AMAZING

[Caffiend]

Mouth and eye-watering.

Who needs porn when they have recent posts on this thread to look at? Er, that's a rhetorical question boys!

[hilarystone]

A few more pics:



Tim's BX behind last night's hotel - the scenery was very dramatic as was what happened to Jabba's GTI which shed a spark plug taking the threads out of the head. After several unsuccessful tries at getting the spark plug to stay in the head Kermit used some plastic metal - this lasted this morning until he had visited two of the local Citroen dealers who were not able to helicoil the threads within less than five days! So Jabba decided to limp with the stuck-in plug for Calais and home... Hope its got you home, Jabba!

Today was quieter on the col climbing front as we drove over to Switzerland.



Three of us myself, Mike S and Mike E climbed the Col du Pillon which had a very spectacular ski lift to the summit of the local mountain. And then it was onto Interlaken.



This was the view just before I got to my hotel in Beatenburg.

[saintjamesy89]

WOW at those photo's. that is amazingly picturesque. So so so very jealous of the view, that lovely red P1 16v, the awesome times you must be having - I can keep going... The nice wine and food... Good company and citroenness...