Mat's BX Blog

scarecrow · Post by **scarecrow** » Tue Aug 10, 2010 2:35 pm

It reminds me of the one I lived in on top of a hill and up a rough track through a very cold Scottish winter. I loved it - I could reach everything from my bed and the pot-belly stove was cracking.

Hmm - that's some wine cellar you have in the V-Dub, Mat! Where was the Château btw? I don't think I've seen one that big before!

Post by **Defender110** » Tue Aug 10, 2010 8:25 pm

Yes Mercedes 814

scarecrow · Post by **scarecrow** » Tue Aug 10, 2010 8:26 pm

Do I get a bottle of wine as a prize?

Post by **mat_fenwick** » Tue Aug 10, 2010 9:48 pm

Nope, sorry we've run out now...

I don't think I've seen one that big before!

Not something I usually hear.

It's Chambourd, a few miles from the Loire. I think it's the biggest in France - we were driving for a few miles after we went through the gates!

Wine cellar is handy but it does mean we've nowhere to put the sleeping bags - maybe the answer is to put lots of holes in the floor into which I put blocked off drainpipes?

I reckon it's earlier than an 814 TBH - I'd put it as being from the 70s underneath(?)

JayW · Post by **JayW** » Tue Aug 10, 2010 10:10 pm

Merc 508

Post by **mat_fenwick** » Tue Aug 10, 2010 11:20 pm

That's the fella! I think it's the same as Todds van, although his might be the real speed merchant 506 variant. It did impress me that Merc actually put grease nipples on the door hinges though - from an age before the bean counters got their way.

Dollywobbler · Post by **Dollywobbler** » Wed Aug 11, 2010 11:56 am

Blimey - your visit to Loheac reminded me of that video. All good fun and then people suddenly get crushed by a rally car...

Not good considering that kids can watch the video quite easily.

Did you put any money in the organ near the restaurant? One of the funniest things I've ever encountered...

Post by **mat_fenwick** » Wed Aug 11, 2010 12:00 pm

We didn't this time, but I remember it well...

TBH after spending a few hours on the lower floor I think Lana was a little worried when I said we were only half way round! So we whizzed through the top floor a little faster.

Philip Chidlow · Post by **Philip Chidlow** » Wed Aug 11, 2010 12:05 pm

Dollywobbler wrote:Blimey - your visit to Loheac reminded me of that video. All good fun and then people suddenly get crushed by a rally car...

Not good considering that kids can watch the video quite easily.

This is the film (or pretty close to) the one playing there. Warning: for watchers of a nervous disposition that the crash in question occurs at about 1:53.

I must agree, kids watching it might get a bit upset. I'm no kid but I did.

Post by **mat_fenwick** » Wed Aug 11, 2010 2:47 pm

Not quite the same - it (fortunately) misses out the slow motion repeat of the crash.

To be fair they may have given a warning in French about the suitability for kids. And I think it's important that it was included as it was part of the reason for its demise.

I can think of more shocking motorsport videos they could have shown...

JayW · Post by **JayW** » Wed Aug 11, 2010 4:59 pm

The slow-mo is here @ 1:30s

I always remember the front of the RS crumpling on impact with the spectators. It also has slightly better footage of Toivonens demise.

Trouble is they still occur regularly... Michael Park for one. RIP.

And spectator ploughs...

This particularly nasty one
And this which has been kicking around for ages (and is on par with the '86 group B killer)

Philip Chidlow · Post by **Philip Chidlow** » Wed Aug 11, 2010 5:23 pm

Sobering. And also makes you realise people are incredibly stupid. Motorsport is dangerous - as marshals are very keen to point out. And with good reason.

JayW · Post by **JayW** » Wed Aug 11, 2010 5:38 pm

1 ton metal + high speed + loose surface = Fun.

1 ton metal + high speed + loose surface + 70kg flesh & bone - brain = Death.

Let me see, shall i stand on the apex or the run off... I know, i'll stand on the run off, i'm sure i can dodge a 70mph, 11 feet long bullet...

Post by **mat_fenwick** » Wed Aug 11, 2010 6:04 pm

JayW wrote:1 ton metal + high speed + loose surface = Fun.

Not always - just look back a couple of pages...

scarecrow · Post by **scarecrow** » Wed Aug 11, 2010 6:48 pm

JayW wrote:Merc 508

That was the one I lived in - it was all wooden and nice inside with a clever wooden bed that could be stretched out to make a double. Very rusty though and about 30 (EDIT: more like 20) years old at the time.

I could regale you with anecdotes about my brief stint working at the "White House" château near Perigord with a reformed heroin addict, his mum and the mad dutch architect - he drove around in a 2CV with all of the pillars cut off and had a beautiful CX Athena(?)... Better save something for my autobiography I suppose