BXAGON CHALLENGE
- Philip Chidlow
- Over 2k
- Posts: 11594
- Joined: Fri Oct 07, 2005 1:08 pm
- Location: Chelmsford, Essex
- x 25
It's all rather good fun to be honest
We have had a bit of a session of fixing today, with Team Green Tiger (Ian Seabrook's) BX springing a bad leak from the bottom hose halfway down the mountains, but is in the 'workshop' (car park at the Albertville Etap) now and Mat and Phil et al. are working their magic, while I try to upload more pics and a report for the Facebook page. Phil B and I had to pop by a local Citroen dealers to buy a set of front pads (a cool €66) as the 2/3 worn set we had are not going to survive long given the punishing roads down the sides of mountains... All done now - we have brakes again ...
The mountain stages have been stunning and we stopped today forming an improvised cafe with hot curry, bread etc. cooked up on stoves in a big lay-by.
We get some funny looks, not least from the Gendarmerie, but have had compliments too. We were flashed today by another BX!
More later...
We have had a bit of a session of fixing today, with Team Green Tiger (Ian Seabrook's) BX springing a bad leak from the bottom hose halfway down the mountains, but is in the 'workshop' (car park at the Albertville Etap) now and Mat and Phil et al. are working their magic, while I try to upload more pics and a report for the Facebook page. Phil B and I had to pop by a local Citroen dealers to buy a set of front pads (a cool €66) as the 2/3 worn set we had are not going to survive long given the punishing roads down the sides of mountains... All done now - we have brakes again ...
The mountain stages have been stunning and we stopped today forming an improvised cafe with hot curry, bread etc. cooked up on stoves in a big lay-by.
We get some funny looks, not least from the Gendarmerie, but have had compliments too. We were flashed today by another BX!
More later...
• 1992 Citroen BX TZD Turbo Hurricane
• 2006 Xsara Picasso 1.6 16v
• 2006 Xsara Picasso 1.6 16v
I went and met up with The BXagon at the Formula 1 in Monswiler near Saverne on Sunday evening and greeted the teams with a case of Fürstenberg.
First in was Team Green Tiger, their satnav having taken them through Belgium, Germany and Luxembourg!
Here's Matt ( Ian aka Dollywobblers co-driver) and I enjoying a beer and waiting in the cold car-park for the others
When the others had arrived we went for dinner to 'The Sports Bar' - a very friendly establishment just over the road where the landlady took a liking to us especially Phil Chidlow Very enjoyable evening - we rolled out of there late after a sing-song and some France vs England bar football!
Monday on the way south, stopped between Colmar and Mulhouse where much fiddling with the CBs was done
We met up with 'The French Connection' Remy who took us to this scrapyard which was incredibly busy for a Monday afternoon. Note Mat Fenwick's scrapyard get up : boiler suit and lead pipe.. er breaker bar.
The BXagon take over! Mat surveys the site for more BXs. Lovely weather. The owner was very pleased to welcome us!
Phil and Remy
After this I had to - with much regret- peel off and head back over The Rhine to The Fatherland while the BXagon headed south to Pontarlier. I had such a great time and I wish the boys Bon Chance!
First in was Team Green Tiger, their satnav having taken them through Belgium, Germany and Luxembourg!
Here's Matt ( Ian aka Dollywobblers co-driver) and I enjoying a beer and waiting in the cold car-park for the others
When the others had arrived we went for dinner to 'The Sports Bar' - a very friendly establishment just over the road where the landlady took a liking to us especially Phil Chidlow Very enjoyable evening - we rolled out of there late after a sing-song and some France vs England bar football!
Monday on the way south, stopped between Colmar and Mulhouse where much fiddling with the CBs was done
We met up with 'The French Connection' Remy who took us to this scrapyard which was incredibly busy for a Monday afternoon. Note Mat Fenwick's scrapyard get up : boiler suit and lead pipe.. er breaker bar.
The BXagon take over! Mat surveys the site for more BXs. Lovely weather. The owner was very pleased to welcome us!
Phil and Remy
After this I had to - with much regret- peel off and head back over The Rhine to The Fatherland while the BXagon headed south to Pontarlier. I had such a great time and I wish the boys Bon Chance!
Todd
this yellow writing is really hard to read
this yellow writing is really hard to read
-
- Over 2k
- Posts: 3940
- Joined: Sun Dec 04, 2005 2:25 pm
- Location: Wales
- Contact:
Thanks for the pics Todd. Great to meet up with you. It was an amazing evening.
First internet of the trip for us, and the connection is not fast, but I'll try and get some pics up tonight. Coolant 'bodge' is just about holding up, but the 2000m mountain pushed it right to the limit...
This is a truly great event so many thanks to Phil for making it happen.
Team Green Tiger
First internet of the trip for us, and the connection is not fast, but I'll try and get some pics up tonight. Coolant 'bodge' is just about holding up, but the 2000m mountain pushed it right to the limit...
This is a truly great event so many thanks to Phil for making it happen.
Team Green Tiger
-
- Over 2k
- Posts: 3940
- Joined: Sun Dec 04, 2005 2:25 pm
- Location: Wales
- Contact:
Some pics.
Cold night in Saverne!
On top of a mountain near Geneva and Mont Blanc
Todd leads a convoy
To a scrapyard!
This broke free on Day 2...
And this developed a hole on day 3, so we bodged it with tape...
Mat Fenwick dived in to help remove/fit the pipe.
Actual snow!
Breathtaking...
Cold night in Saverne!
On top of a mountain near Geneva and Mont Blanc
Todd leads a convoy
To a scrapyard!
This broke free on Day 2...
And this developed a hole on day 3, so we bodged it with tape...
Mat Fenwick dived in to help remove/fit the pipe.
Actual snow!
Breathtaking...
Last edited by Dollywobbler on Thu Oct 22, 2009 8:22 am, edited 1 time in total.
-
- Over 2k
- Posts: 3940
- Joined: Sun Dec 04, 2005 2:25 pm
- Location: Wales
- Contact:
-
- Over 2k
- Posts: 3209
- Joined: Wed Apr 01, 2009 10:38 pm
- Location: M K
- x 1
- Philip Chidlow
- Over 2k
- Posts: 11594
- Joined: Fri Oct 07, 2005 1:08 pm
- Location: Chelmsford, Essex
- x 25
Too late to post a comprehensive report, that will follow soon, but the last two days have been great, but equally gruelling... The journey to Digne-les-Bains was certainly 'Four Seasons in One Day'... We started in fine weather and ended in a storm. The climb over the mountains was exhilarating but also tough. The BX's though, after their work outs were better than ever. Jaba joined us in his GTi which certainly 'went' on those twisting climbs!
Later on we hit snow. Dollywobbler's team actually experienced a touch of white out on a pass that was closed just after they entered...
The drive today was initially arguably the most pleasant drive yet, down from the alps to the Med at Nice. We detoured and drove some of the Monaco circuit but there was so much traffic and so many roadworks it was to be truthful a bit(ch) of a nightmare. Then, at about 3 pm the heavens opened and at 8 tonight were still bucketing down: Over 4 hours of the most horrendous driving conditions topped off by a Hotel that was harder to find than Lord f***ing Lucan. We are lucky to have made it I think. Today the event lived up to the 'Challenge' moniker.
370 mile plus today. All shagged out. Jaba's BX poorly but we'll look at that tomorrow...
TTFN
Phil
Later on we hit snow. Dollywobbler's team actually experienced a touch of white out on a pass that was closed just after they entered...
The drive today was initially arguably the most pleasant drive yet, down from the alps to the Med at Nice. We detoured and drove some of the Monaco circuit but there was so much traffic and so many roadworks it was to be truthful a bit(ch) of a nightmare. Then, at about 3 pm the heavens opened and at 8 tonight were still bucketing down: Over 4 hours of the most horrendous driving conditions topped off by a Hotel that was harder to find than Lord f***ing Lucan. We are lucky to have made it I think. Today the event lived up to the 'Challenge' moniker.
370 mile plus today. All shagged out. Jaba's BX poorly but we'll look at that tomorrow...
TTFN
Phil
• 1992 Citroen BX TZD Turbo Hurricane
• 2006 Xsara Picasso 1.6 16v
• 2006 Xsara Picasso 1.6 16v
- Philip Chidlow
- Over 2k
- Posts: 11594
- Joined: Fri Oct 07, 2005 1:08 pm
- Location: Chelmsford, Essex
- x 25
- Philip Chidlow
- Over 2k
- Posts: 11594
- Joined: Fri Oct 07, 2005 1:08 pm
- Location: Chelmsford, Essex
- x 25
But in the meantime: and remember we are second in a line of five BX's - Ian's team having gone another way (up a far more dangerous route!)...
But a short time later it all changed. We were racing ahead of the closing in weather...
Hence: Four Seasons in One Day broadcast from Matt via the CB
But a short time later it all changed. We were racing ahead of the closing in weather...
Hence: Four Seasons in One Day broadcast from Matt via the CB
• 1992 Citroen BX TZD Turbo Hurricane
• 2006 Xsara Picasso 1.6 16v
• 2006 Xsara Picasso 1.6 16v
- MULLEY
- Over 2k
- Posts: 8406
- Joined: Thu Jun 22, 2006 11:10 pm
- Location: Derbyshire
- My Cars: 1999 Xsara LX 2.0HDI (90) Hatch - Fern
2002 C5 2.0 HDI (110) Estate - Jasmine - SORN
2011 Mini Cooper D Clubman - SOLD
2016 Mercedes A180D Sport - Auto refinement
1992 TZD Turbo - Bluebell - SORN
1992 TZD Turbo Estate - SORN
1991 Gti 16V - Blaze - crash damaged, will get repaired - SORN
1990 Gti 8Valve SOLD - looks like it's been scrapped
2002 Mini Cooper S - SOLD - i miss this car
1992 TXD - Scrapped in March 2014
1988 CX 25 GTI Turbo2 - SORN
1996 - AX Memphis 1.5D - Dream - SORN - x 8
In the 1st video it was all going well, until 31 seconds in, you got overtaken by a suzuki Jimny Come on guy's, that was poor I expect another video to uphold bx honours
2002 C5 2.0 HDI Estate - Jasmine - Now SORN
2011 Mini Cooper D Clubman - SOLD
2016 Mercedes A180D Sport - Auto refinement
1992 TZD Turbo - Bluebell - My daily
1991 Gti 16V - Blaze - crash damaged, will get repaired.
1990 Gti 8Valve SOLD - looks like it's been scrapped
2002 Mini Cooper S - SOLD - i miss this car
1992 TXD - Scrapped in March 2014
1988 CX 25 GTI Turbo2 - SORN
1996 - AX Memphis 1.5D - Dream - SORN
I'm not just a username, i'm also called Matthew.
2011 Mini Cooper D Clubman - SOLD
2016 Mercedes A180D Sport - Auto refinement
1992 TZD Turbo - Bluebell - My daily
1991 Gti 16V - Blaze - crash damaged, will get repaired.
1990 Gti 8Valve SOLD - looks like it's been scrapped
2002 Mini Cooper S - SOLD - i miss this car
1992 TXD - Scrapped in March 2014
1988 CX 25 GTI Turbo2 - SORN
1996 - AX Memphis 1.5D - Dream - SORN
I'm not just a username, i'm also called Matthew.
- Philip Chidlow
- Over 2k
- Posts: 11594
- Joined: Fri Oct 07, 2005 1:08 pm
- Location: Chelmsford, Essex
- x 25
-
- Confirmed BX'er
- Posts: 35
- Joined: Sat Nov 10, 2007 9:44 pm
- Philip Chidlow
- Over 2k
- Posts: 11594
- Joined: Fri Oct 07, 2005 1:08 pm
- Location: Chelmsford, Essex
- x 25
Update from Alaigne:
The drive here from Montpellier was great, and the weather was fine - a massive contrast to Thursday... Last night was spent in a cafe where the host, Les made sure we tried the local hooch. Ah well, that was always on the cards as we knew we weren't driving the next morning. We visited a local scrapyard this morning, where we all got some bits: Andy picked up a carb and Ian a hose.... Matt Fenwick was quick off the mark and picked up a centre armrest/box before we could get to it - drat! Mike got some side window deflectors.
BBQ lunch was lovely; I can heartily recommend Chez Dyna to anyone touring in this area. Fantastic house and hosts.
This afternoon was spent in the workshop, where Ian's BX received its replacement bottom hose and Andy's engine problem was traced to the oil filler cap being pushed in too much restricting the breathing...
Glad that's sorted. Jaba's GTi still in Montpellier: water in the fuel tank was the fault there... he should be able to collect it as he makes his way home.
I'll be sending more pics over to home for posting on Facebook.
The drive here from Montpellier was great, and the weather was fine - a massive contrast to Thursday... Last night was spent in a cafe where the host, Les made sure we tried the local hooch. Ah well, that was always on the cards as we knew we weren't driving the next morning. We visited a local scrapyard this morning, where we all got some bits: Andy picked up a carb and Ian a hose.... Matt Fenwick was quick off the mark and picked up a centre armrest/box before we could get to it - drat! Mike got some side window deflectors.
BBQ lunch was lovely; I can heartily recommend Chez Dyna to anyone touring in this area. Fantastic house and hosts.
This afternoon was spent in the workshop, where Ian's BX received its replacement bottom hose and Andy's engine problem was traced to the oil filler cap being pushed in too much restricting the breathing...
Glad that's sorted. Jaba's GTi still in Montpellier: water in the fuel tank was the fault there... he should be able to collect it as he makes his way home.
I'll be sending more pics over to home for posting on Facebook.
• 1992 Citroen BX TZD Turbo Hurricane
• 2006 Xsara Picasso 1.6 16v
• 2006 Xsara Picasso 1.6 16v