Dijon L'Age D'Or

[Mike Bell]

Peter Auto event, including GpC and plus U2TC

[Mike Bell]

Not far away, June.....

Timetable here- https://peterauto.peter.fr/files/pdf...-timetable.pdf

With added interest from the Formula Junior grid, going to be a cracking weekend. And looks like our races will be done by end of Saturday, so can spend sunday watching Delta work!

Just hoping we get the weather Dijon should have in June....

[Mike Bell]

There was some obvious concern being shown by Peter Auto regarding the recent French protests and strikes, but no news is good news so ferry is booked. Still worry for some with possible French ATC action, even yer private jet needs them!

Lists of 'engages' and general info here- https://peterauto.peter.fr/en/actus/...r+this+weekend

For those that haven't the willpower to look through the entries, the 2 CER grids total 62 cars. Sadly my favourite Ford F3L not shown, but two Ferrari 512s, and the usual pair of 908s (Langheck and Flunder), plus the normal McLaren M6C is joined by an M8. 2 Peugeot 905s in the GpC total of 22 cars, but no Jag XJR14, maybe suffering from its accident at Spa still. 60 cars for 60s Endurance 2hr race, and 28 Touring cars (Incl GpA Mustang and Volvo, Capris, BMWs, Escorts, and a pretty little Gp2 Scirocco!) for their races. Along with 15 Pre War cars, 24 FJs (from memory) and 20 Italian beauties in the Trofeu race, should be a visual feast as always......

Not hoping for too much with the weather, I've been at the L'Age d'Or in 30 degrees heat and one year 24hrs continuous rain...... Guess something in between this time.....

[HRSTR5]

Has anyone managed to get a proper update on fuel situation?? My motorhome won't make it to Dijon without a refuel, I could make a massive diversion and run through Belgium/Luxembourg and then drop down, in which case if full at Luxembourg I could get back to Luxembourg on way out.

Ideally I'd take the direct route of course, but I must be 'surfing' the web inefficiently because I've been unable to convince myself that there is fuel available on the autoroutes ... is anyone able to advise!

[356sc]

http://penurie.mon-essence.fr/w/

This map gives an indication of which fuel stations are ok and which ones have no or limited fuel, and there is an app you can download too.

Hopefully we will see you down there!!

[MartinH]

Originally Posted by 356sc

http://penurie.mon-essence.fr/w/

This map gives an indication of which fuel stations are ok and which ones have no or limited fuel, and there is an app you can download too.

Hopefully we will see you down there!!

Looking at the active map, it does not seem to be too bad in France now, but for those that do go via us in Luxembourg, be aware that all fuel/diesel prices are the same at all stations - we are good communists ! - so no need to queue for ages at the motorway services which are always very busy, when you can go to any other station & pay the same price and avoid the long wait !

If the Aral at the aire de Berchen on the E25 looks full, just take the following exit no.2 by the Hotel Ibis, turn left towards Livange & there's a Total after 1km or so.

Diesel is now 95c & 95 unleaded is eur 1.11, & beer & ciggys are quite cheap as well !

[Mike Bell]

Yes, I keep getting told how cheap fuel is in Luxembourg! Trouble is the extra mileage to fill up would likely wipe out any price advantage.....

I'm sitting in the Dover truck park waiting for whatever ferry am on. No use looking at the time on the paperwork, as all late anyway! There are some good service areas between Troyes and Dijon, so that's where I'm aiming.

[MartinH]

Mike, hope you get moving soon !

I'm aiming to get to the circuit around 5 on Thurs evening, so see you there.

[Mike Bell]

Well, the good news is that am the circuit and had no trouble getting fuel on the autoroutes. As always, cheaper down here than N France, though.

The bad news is that appears to be no-one here, except for me and a CARS truck! Several Swiss registers cars gone in, but don't look like competitors.....

Apparently there is a portaloo somewhere close by, might be needing it!

[356sc]

Good to hear that you got down ok, and thanks for the fuel update!

All being well should see you tomorrow morning!

[Mike Bell]

Latest- there's a PA bod here and looks like we should get in after whatever is on track this pm stops making a racket. Can't even have a kip with all the noise!

[gary396]

All very quiet on this thread - how did the 'Tenthers get on? Good weekend for all hopefully?

[Mike Bell]

We're on way home Gary, Delta likely on eurotunnel train by now, and guess Stevens family already back! Crap phone signal and no wifi down there, so ran out of data on iPad! Our races were both on Saturday, and Friday we had two free test and two qualifying sessions, so quite busy.....

Sadly the B8 failed to make the start in CER due to a serious engine problem (from noise) on the green flag lap. There had been concern during Q, after which the g/box was removed to look at the clutch. It was found that the bolt heads were touching the bell housing, so they were 'machined' down. Obviously the problem was more deeply rooted.

In 60s Endurance the SLR qualified 15th in grid of 60, thanks to superb team tactics on a drying track. In the race John was going very well, pulling out a gap on the hoard of 911s, when the clutch pedal went solid. Using just 3rd and top, he still held onto the class lead when coming on to hand car over to Bill. Luckily the pit stops are compulsory 5mins, so we had time to look round the car. Nothing we could do about the clutch, but the vibration from whatever had broken was making the g/box chuck out oil, so we topped that up. (Easy on a Moss box!) Bill went out with a few seconds in hand over the fastest 911, and despite the problems pulled away a bit more. We were praying for the race to finish early, and our prayers were answered, with a red flag after an Elite broke a hub and finished up in the middle of the track. So P17 and class win for all our efforts! Must also mention another giant killing performance from Will and Bill in the 356, beating some 911s again!

[delta]

Sorry Gazza . We lost James with broken diff on the way to assembly area . Duncan was bit of form for some reason . He finished both races . I have never changed so many U J's . Apparantly. one of the N Z drivers had another U J go in the first race but he was to frightened to ask me to change it . Daft twit . Mike let me sleep in his truck . Very posh . We had a great bike ride to the BBQ at the airfield . There was so much food . All in all brilliant meeting well organised and some super cars . We just arriving in U K on the train . Nice and quick might start using it a bit more . Could be home by 11.00PM . Cheese on toast awaits 😜

[grantp]

Originally Posted by delta

Sorry Gazza . We lost James with broken diff on the way to assembly area . Duncan was bit of form for some reason . He finished both races . I have never changed so many U J's . Apparantly. one of the N Z drivers had another U J go in the first race but he was to frightened to ask me to change it . Daft twit . Mike let me sleep in his truck . Very posh . We had a great bike ride to the BBQ at the airfield . There was so much food . All in all brilliant meeting well organised and some super cars . We just arriving in U K on the train . Nice and quick might start using it a bit more . Could be home by 11.00PM . Cheese on toast awaits 😜

On the train?

Good grief man. Going a bit "up market" aren't we?



On the other hand the time saved will likely pay for the "track time".

You could try that new tunnel under the Alps soon.

According to a "report" I scanned that was is going to save "a million trucks".

Taken at face value it sound's like that result won't do much for EU unemployment figures.

I suspect there may be a different interpretation required.

[Mike Bell]

Re: Delta on the train- Helps to have a Eurotunnel shareholder as a mate.....

I started out at 0230 UK time this morn and am just leaving Calais on board the 'Pride of' something. Just had black pudding sarnie in food court as hadn't got time to have own brekkie before loading. That's a first.... Strewth, could even be home by teatime

[midgetman]

Delta on a Train - sounds like a movie sequel. Patrick Stewart to play Delta of course.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

[356sc]

Another good weekend for us in our little 356.

Free practice was wet, and v slippery. Our lack of power in comparison to the big guns (usual array of Cobras, e-types and assorted 911s) worked in our favour and we posted a time good enough for 16th out of 60odd cars.

Quail later the same day was unfortunately for us, on a drying track, and sadly the quicker cars could now get the power down! This together with the organisers throwing a chequered flag to end the session which was then withdrawn allowing several cars that we are usually ahead of to post a quicker time in the final minutes of the session while we along with several others were back in the pits meant we only managed a 39th on the grid....beaten by all but 2 of the 9 911s and a couple of MGBs ....very disappointed!!
It is fair to say that several of the drivers had put brains into neutral for this session, one particular car managed to spin 3 times on 3 different laps, all on the same corner!!

The Race itself late on the Saturday was dry. Despite repeated mentions in the drivers briefing for no overtaking before the start line at the rolling start, the usual candidates jumped several places before the line.....it would ne nice to see these guys penalised by the stewards at some point. We made good progress early on, passing several of the 911s, the MGBs and the Porsche 550 (driven by Gerard Larrousse no less!!), but progress was halted by the first of many yellow flags/safety cars, which seemed to drag on for an eternity. Several good dices with assorted 911s and the Marcos kept us royally entertained for most of the race. We managed to drag the old girl up to 26th overall at the end of the race, beating all but 3 of the 911s...result!!!

All in all a great weekend, capped off by catching up with 10/10th legends Mike B and Iain R at the bbq....next outing LMC....can't wait!!

PS commiserations to James...sorry to hear you didn't manage to get out!

[one-two]

Another great performance by the sound of it Will - sorry to miss it! On the rolling start issue, it might help if the same rule applied everywhere. You and I were in a briefing at Spa recently where it wasn't clear if there was a rolling start rule let alone what it was!

[rbm]

how was the fuel situation?

[Mike Bell]

With our racing over by Saturday eve, Sunday morning gave me a chance to check out some of the other series and cars racing.

It was great to see the CER2 grid joined by a Porsche 924GTR, the actual 1981 Boss sponsored car. I think in truth it's a 924 GTP, using the 2.5l 944 engine in place of the Audi 2.0l, unless there's another one.... Sadly it didn't start the race due to mechanical problems. There was also another awesome Ferrari BBLM, this one white and carrying 'Sheila Wong Chong' sponsorship. It raced at Le Mans in 1981, entered by Brit Simon Phillips. Any ideas who or what Sheila Wong Chong was?

In GpC a new kid on the block walked the Sunday race. Sadly the Jag XJR14 was missing from the weekend, likely due to damage sustained at Spa, and neither Peugeot 905 was running on Sunday. The new kid? One of the 3 built Lola T92/10 Judd V10 cars. They were far from successful in period, and I'm guessing the car Nathan Kinch was pedalling so convincingly was Chassis 3, which raced in Interserie in the Mid 90's. The best sounding car on track all weekend......

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by rbm

how was the fuel situation?

If you mean at service stations, there wasn't a situation! All normal.....

[dwh43scale]

Rather fancy coming to spectate at this next year ... and take the odd photo

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by dwh43scale

Rather fancy coming to spectate at this next year ... and take the odd photo

Do it, there's a lot to like! The countryside around is fantastic, Dijon lovely, restaurants excellent, and the event gets loads of spectators. Then there's the circuit itself......

It's one of my favourite places to go, and luckily will be back in October for the 'Motors Cup' meeting.

[henk4]

http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/event...-Age-d-Or.html

Our report is ready.(finally)