Citroën Classic Challenge 2015
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Re: Tour du Coeur Classic Challenge *NOW 2015*
2015 is a goer for me, 2014 wont be as Im having a "year off" camping!
Lots of Motors, mostly semi broken....
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Re: Tour du Coeur Classic Challenge *NOW 2015*
Crikey Tim, I know camping can test one's sense of humour at times, but a whole year off to recover?Tim Leech wrote:Im having a "year off" camping!
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
BX14TE St Tropez 1990 - now sold
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Kawasaki GPz550A4 1987
Xsara Forte 1.4i 2000
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Re: Tour du Coeur Classic Challenge *NOW 2015*
Des Smith wrote:Crikey Tim, I know camping can test one's sense of humour at times, but a whole year off to recover?Tim Leech wrote:Im having a "year off" camping!
Yes it was that wet!
Weve decided to rough it in 4 star hotel somewhere hot instead...
![Cool 8)](./images/smilies/icon_cool.gif)
Lots of Motors, mostly semi broken....
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Re: Tour du Coeur Classic Challenge *NOW 2015*
Oh I dunno, we managed to put the tents up in the dry most days, they just never came down dry!
What you need to do is go over to France and bring back a nice Ambulance, which you could then drop a Xantia TD engine into and kit out with enough facilities to put Timex to shame!
What you need to do is go over to France and bring back a nice Ambulance, which you could then drop a Xantia TD engine into and kit out with enough facilities to put Timex to shame!
Mike Sims
BX 19RD Estate Mk1 - Timex!
BX 4X4 Estate - Oh god, I've done it again!
BX 17RD MK1 - it called to me!
BX14 TGE, - SOLD
XM Turbo SD,GS Club Estate,Visa 17D Leader,HY Pickup,Dyane Nomad,Dyane 6,2CV AZL,Falcon S,Trabant P50,3x Land Rovers (88" series 1,109" series 2a FFR,series 2a Marshall ambulance),DKW F7, Lambretta LD150 x 1.5,Mobylette SP93,Ural Cossack,Ural M63,CZ 250 Sport,Honda Varadero 125,lots of bicycles & tricycles including (but not only) Sunbeams,Higgins & Bates!
BX 19RD Estate Mk1 - Timex!
BX 4X4 Estate - Oh god, I've done it again!
BX 17RD MK1 - it called to me!
BX14 TGE, - SOLD
XM Turbo SD,GS Club Estate,Visa 17D Leader,HY Pickup,Dyane Nomad,Dyane 6,2CV AZL,Falcon S,Trabant P50,3x Land Rovers (88" series 1,109" series 2a FFR,series 2a Marshall ambulance),DKW F7, Lambretta LD150 x 1.5,Mobylette SP93,Ural Cossack,Ural M63,CZ 250 Sport,Honda Varadero 125,lots of bicycles & tricycles including (but not only) Sunbeams,Higgins & Bates!
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Re: Tour du Coeur Classic Challenge *NOW 2015*
I quite like a night or maybe two at shows, I will be using my pop up at the National and CXM but a week is too much for me.
Lots of Motors, mostly semi broken....
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Re: Tour du Coeur Classic Challenge *NOW 2015*
I like the idea of a XM ambulance conversion. At least you'd have somewhere to kip when it breaks down. ![Smile :-)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
![Smile :-)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Mark Smith
Is it just me or is everything shit?
1989 BX GTi 16 valve. Blanc Alpine. Completed the Citroen Classic Challenge Ecosse and 1337 miles without a hitch.
2000 XM VSX 2.1 td Auto. Rouge Magenta.
TGD saloon many years ago.
1990 Swift 'Corniche' 12/2 aka BXClub HQ.
Honda Firestorm. Gone, but not forgotten.
2015 Triumph Tiger Explorer XC.
Is it just me or is everything shit?
1989 BX GTi 16 valve. Blanc Alpine. Completed the Citroen Classic Challenge Ecosse and 1337 miles without a hitch.
2000 XM VSX 2.1 td Auto. Rouge Magenta.
TGD saloon many years ago.
1990 Swift 'Corniche' 12/2 aka BXClub HQ.
Honda Firestorm. Gone, but not forgotten.
2015 Triumph Tiger Explorer XC.
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Re: Tour du Coeur Classic Challenge *NOW 2015*
ROUTE MAP UPDATE
3,500 kms in 9 days. That's gonna be a bit of a challenge in itself; we're not using toll roads (other than the Millau Bridge) and auto route use will be kept to a minimum. The dash south is always a bit mad: that's 510 kms on the first day![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Two versions: one gives an idea of the topography too.
![Image](https://bxclub.co.uk/forum/images/ext/9243baef4411914d83dd7c0c9bf1c606.jpg)
![Image](https://bxclub.co.uk/forum/images/ext/7f6c232f7b739af032eaf31a60f2397b.jpg)
3,500 kms in 9 days. That's gonna be a bit of a challenge in itself; we're not using toll roads (other than the Millau Bridge) and auto route use will be kept to a minimum. The dash south is always a bit mad: that's 510 kms on the first day
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Two versions: one gives an idea of the topography too.
![Image](https://bxclub.co.uk/forum/images/ext/9243baef4411914d83dd7c0c9bf1c606.jpg)
![Image](https://bxclub.co.uk/forum/images/ext/7f6c232f7b739af032eaf31a60f2397b.jpg)
• 1992 Citroen BX TZD Turbo Hurricane
• 2006 Xsara Picasso 1.6 16v
• 2006 Xsara Picasso 1.6 16v
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Re: Tour du Coeur Classic Challenge *NOW 2015*
Looks good. Pont de Normandie is a pretty pricey toll bridge, but probably some people would want to do it for the craic. The Tancarville bridge is cheaper and then again you could wiggle inland a bit and pay nothing. I would be up to do this, but I would probably duck out after Quillan. A must-do drive is the road through the St Martin-de-Lys defile to Axat, and on along the N117 along the Fenouillede valley en route to Queribus fort. Since there's a day set aside, that should work very well.
BX14TE St Tropez 1990 - now sold
Xsara Forte 1.4i 2000
Kawasaki GPz550A4 1987
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Kawasaki GPz550A4 1987
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Re: Tour du Coeur Classic Challenge *NOW 2015*
Hi Des, yes indeed a day set aside for some particularly memorable driving. Being June I hope the weather will be kind.
I agree about the Pont de Normandie although for those who haven't done it, it's worth doing once. Effectively it'll be a bit of a free-for-all after Flers with only a nominal route set. This is the same as previous events, people tend to have their own crossing timetable/itinerary.
I agree about the Pont de Normandie although for those who haven't done it, it's worth doing once. Effectively it'll be a bit of a free-for-all after Flers with only a nominal route set. This is the same as previous events, people tend to have their own crossing timetable/itinerary.
• 1992 Citroen BX TZD Turbo Hurricane
• 2006 Xsara Picasso 1.6 16v
• 2006 Xsara Picasso 1.6 16v
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Re: Tour du Coeur Classic Challenge *NOW 2015*
Another note for those familiar with N.France; Rouen can be a bottleneck which is why I have a fairly detailed route plan to skim around it... (I'll post it along with other more detailed route information in due course).
• 1992 Citroen BX TZD Turbo Hurricane
• 2006 Xsara Picasso 1.6 16v
• 2006 Xsara Picasso 1.6 16v
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Re: Tour du Coeur Classic Challenge *NOW 2015*
I did spot that. Very wise move indeed. Travelling through Rouen can be a short cut to complete mental breakdown, but like a moth to the flame, I inevitably find myself drawn to it...Philip Chidlow wrote:Rouen can be a bottleneck which is why I have a fairly detailed route plan to skim around it...
![Brick wall ](*,)](./images/smilies/eusa_wall.gif)
![Brick wall ](*,)](./images/smilies/eusa_wall.gif)
![Brick wall ](*,)](./images/smilies/eusa_wall.gif)
BX14TE St Tropez 1990 - now sold
Xsara Forte 1.4i 2000
Kawasaki GPz550A4 1987
Xsara Forte 1.4i 2000
Kawasaki GPz550A4 1987
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Re: Tour du Coeur Classic Challenge *NOW 2015*
I'm glad it's just not me that finds Rouen a complete nightmare. Got hopelessly lost there last year. The Tom Tom had smoke coming out of it after a while!! ![Very Happy :-D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
![Very Happy :-D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Mark Smith
Is it just me or is everything shit?
1989 BX GTi 16 valve. Blanc Alpine. Completed the Citroen Classic Challenge Ecosse and 1337 miles without a hitch.
2000 XM VSX 2.1 td Auto. Rouge Magenta.
TGD saloon many years ago.
1990 Swift 'Corniche' 12/2 aka BXClub HQ.
Honda Firestorm. Gone, but not forgotten.
2015 Triumph Tiger Explorer XC.
Is it just me or is everything shit?
1989 BX GTi 16 valve. Blanc Alpine. Completed the Citroen Classic Challenge Ecosse and 1337 miles without a hitch.
2000 XM VSX 2.1 td Auto. Rouge Magenta.
TGD saloon many years ago.
1990 Swift 'Corniche' 12/2 aka BXClub HQ.
Honda Firestorm. Gone, but not forgotten.
2015 Triumph Tiger Explorer XC.
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Re: Tour du Coeur Classic Challenge *NOW 2015*
Been through Rouen about half a dozen times in BX and C4. Even stopped to buy some stuff. No problem at all..
Actually first time it was so early in the morning I sailed through with the boat on the back, on my way to Garda.
around 6.45 am..
You do have to be alert for the signs and route numbers though, especially if like me you don't want the Peage, or at least can't be arsed to pay for it
Wasn't too bad really just follow the river and turn off where needed.
Actually first time it was so early in the morning I sailed through with the boat on the back, on my way to Garda.
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
You do have to be alert for the signs and route numbers though, especially if like me you don't want the Peage, or at least can't be arsed to pay for it
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
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Re: Tour du Coeur Classic Challenge *NOW 2015*
Well, this summer the Pont Mathilde has been closed and there's a real 'mare of a diversion that even has the most seasoned travellers wailing and gnashing their teeth. It's the main bridge across the Seine and the one you would normally use if you drive down the N28 and follow the Rocade into the city, so the alternative is to follow the 'deviation' signs which simply disappear. Happily, we don't own a satnav and Louise was using a road atlas to re-plot a route, so we figured out our own way through the mayhem. I would say, beware the underpass system on the south bank, because that did for us on the way back home.
BX14TE St Tropez 1990 - now sold
Xsara Forte 1.4i 2000
Kawasaki GPz550A4 1987
Xsara Forte 1.4i 2000
Kawasaki GPz550A4 1987
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Re: Tour du Coeur Classic Challenge *NOW 2015*
I've had reasonable and bad experiences, but it is a lottery and not something I'd do for fun if there was a more pleasant alternative...
So this is the proposed work-around: (Perhaps if someone's heading to that neck of the woods in the next year they could test it out?)...
Calais to Abbeville via Montreuil, then follow route Aumale to Gournay-en-Bray, and on to Entrépagny, to Vernon, to Pacy-sur-Eure, Oulins and on to Dreux...
Then, in a change to the last Challenge too: Dreux to Chartres but avoid Orleans by going to Toury, Pithiviers and on to Boiscommun and Ouzouer-sur-Loire, Benne before arriving in Gien.
So this is the proposed work-around: (Perhaps if someone's heading to that neck of the woods in the next year they could test it out?)...
Calais to Abbeville via Montreuil, then follow route Aumale to Gournay-en-Bray, and on to Entrépagny, to Vernon, to Pacy-sur-Eure, Oulins and on to Dreux...
Then, in a change to the last Challenge too: Dreux to Chartres but avoid Orleans by going to Toury, Pithiviers and on to Boiscommun and Ouzouer-sur-Loire, Benne before arriving in Gien.
• 1992 Citroen BX TZD Turbo Hurricane
• 2006 Xsara Picasso 1.6 16v
• 2006 Xsara Picasso 1.6 16v