Circuit des Remparts Angouleme

[retrognome]

Anyone else going to Angouleme, unfortunately the same weekend as the Spa Six Hour.

[compte deGraves]

Originally Posted by retrognome

Anyone else going to Angouleme, unfortunately the same weekend as the Spa Six Hour.

Delta is going to Angouleme.

[midgetman]

Your Dutch namesake Pieter Bakker is aking the Legendary Circuits series there, I'm sure he'll be along soon

[retrognome]

Confusing sometimes, but he is a lot more successful than me. We treat Angouleme as part holiday. Slow drive down, decent hotel, good food with friends, and a day of atmospheric street racing. Then another N road drive back home topped off with a final meal in Calais. Looking forward to the taking our newly acquired Jaguar MK2, albeit the unloved 2.4 litre. Beggars know how to compromise.

[midgetman]

I've always wanted to go ever since we stumbled across the town on holiday some years ago. I hadn't heard of Le Circuit des Remparts, but there was a section in the local museum devoted to the period races. Gradually my Pineau-befuddled brain realised the pictures of K3s and MG C Types had switched to colour and the drivers were friends of mine, and an obsession was born.

One year I'll make it, either as spectator or preferably competitor.

[delta]

Spare seat in the delta truck max unless g p changes his mind

[midgetman]

Ohhhhh tempting Iain! Let me check calendars, I'm "Doing a Delta" on this karting lark at the moment and may be running some young drivers that weekend.

A windy army parade ground alongside the A303 or the sunshine of Angouleme? Decisions, decisions.....

[john ruston]

Great place!

Won the concours in 1996 and had to do it in fancy dress.

Had a dish dash and finished with five Dior models in car.Told them Laurence of Arabia was previous owner!

Went to the party in the overed market the next day and got completely ****ed and missed Sunday.

Highlight of miserable old mans life.

[Colin McKay]

John, you should be ashamed of yourself.

Only five?

[FISCracer]

Would love to do it and Pieter Bakker has done an excellent job getting a grid there. Spectated many years ago and loved it but unfortunately the clash with Spa 6Hrs means no can do. If it didn't I'd be first in the queue

[Lancsbreaker]

The town where I went to Grammar school (Bury) is Angouleme's twin town and I've often threatened to go there - guess this is just another excuse (reason) so to do

[Celia Stevens]

We are going with an entourage of five cars! Ian racing the Warwick, me in the Allardette (!) a G4, G12 and a Midget. Really looking forward to it. Ian has raced there four times before and I have twice. Fab place, great atmosphere, unique 30s style street racing and incredibly enthusiastic crowds. Anyone going come and find us!

[compte deGraves]

I despair. Fabulous weekend, wonderful weather and really lovely people BUT the organisation does leave a great deal to be desired. When there was a three car crash in the Junior race completely blocking the track only yellow flags were waved whilst the drivers tried to push their cars out of the way!

[delta]

Yes but now with the big screan we could all watch the action from the paddock. Pile up was the best TV I have watched I hope you can see the footage sometime.It was just so funny.

[Peter Mallett]

I confess, I always thought this was a sprint rather than a race meeting.

[compte deGraves]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

I confess, I always thought this was a sprint rather than a race meeting.

17 laps round one of the most demanding street circuits I have ever driven and in 30 degree heat is no sprint!

[grantp]

Originally Posted by delta

Yes but now with the big screan we could all watch the action from the paddock. Pile up was the best TV I have watched I hope you can see the footage sometime.It was just so funny.

Got the event quite a bit of local press coverage by the look if it.

I assume that the French marshals were probably on a break. There didn't seem to be many around at the incident as viewed on the big screen. To be fair the circuit opened at 7:45 and closed something like 20:00 so it was a long day for everyone. Well, sort of. I think lunch was a solid 2 hrs or maybe a little longer.

As Compte has pointed out is was very hot, especially in Sunday. At one point I saw an ambulance evacuating what we were told were poorly spectators from the circuit. Fortunately they only had to drive off the circuit to be in the middle of the town.

A remarkable place that, when it works out, hosted some very hard racing yet still catered for some comedy moments.

I liked the doubled up 'garages' for the Juniors. Just about a car wide and, removing the noses, about 1.5 cars long. Unless there was a tree or scaffolding in the way. This did not prevent the organisers expecting the car to be 'garaged' where they had hung up the sign even if there was no obvious way to get it in.

Security could be more than a little hit and miss in terms of getting in or getting out. It's strange to be told you have to wait 2 minutes to get out for some unspecified reason as you watch others escaping or finding a way in just a meter away. Large people in dark clothes with a very important job. Only the language changes.

Watering the paddock surface was a nice touch on Saturday night. Saturday had been a little dusty ... On the other hand it just meant that stuff got some fine white mud attached and the dust returned within an hour or so as the areas dried.

For all that, very scenic, some interesting vehicules throughout the weekend of events and great food. I seem to have added about 1lb a day on the trip - that was not part of the plan.

Camping outside the City Hall in the middle of the town was especially useful. Even managed to find some portable facilities that were viable. Just.

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=ang...=12,21.98,,0,0

Hopefully the link will work.

This is where the Delta truck was parked. To the left, the light sandy looking area, was the paddock, though with added fences, gates and security as you would expect.

[DaveGT6]

Just read an article in Octane magazine stating that the future of the meeting may be under threat as it has lost money in recent times due to increased security and crowd control requirements whilst sponsorship has not increased in line with costs.

I nearly went this year with the Fisc crowd but the clash with Spa prevented it. I hope I haven't missed my chance.

[GORDON STREETER]

A mate of mine drove down in his old Alfa to watch this and then drove all the way down here to Mojacar, he told me this morning that it was "terrific" and it "shouldn't be missed" and "go as soon as you can as it might be closed down".

[Peter Mallett]

Originally Posted by compte deGraves

17 laps round one of the most demanding street circuits I have ever driven and in 30 degree heat is no sprint!

I think...... that was my point.

[Alan Cox]

Nice to see Delta in the paddock enjoying himself. he reminded me that he finished third in a previous FJ race with Mr Rabagliati's Alexis.
Lovely place to take photographs. I read of the financial problems in the local paper over the weekend - the town can scarcely afford to lose the event as it is the big tourist event of the year. I've been going now for 20 years and I wouldn't miss it for anything - my favourite motoring weekend of the year.
1. Alastair Caldwell's Alfa 6C 2500SS Torpodino on Saturday's rally
2. Bugatti driver Bo Williams takes a breath test before practice - fortunately he had stuck to the orange juice
3. Bugatti race winner Jean-Marc Laffont
4. Ingo Zeitz' Morgan 4/4
5. Angouleme local boy and Remparts specialist Damien Kohler Porsche 911S - he won three races on the day
6. Ian McDonald with the Warwick

[Alan Cox]

1. Celia Stevens with the Allardette
2. Bugatti runner-up takes to the kerbs in his pursuit of Jean-Marc Laffont
3. Angouleme debutant Bo Williams placed third with his 35B
4. Richard Ellingworth FJ Gemini
5. Damien Kohler had added a 35B to his stable in the hope of adding the Bugatti race to his list of victories, but no joy this time
6. Karine Blanchard - Type 37

[Peter Mallett]

Great pictures thank you.

[Alan Cox]

1. Michael Ashley-Brown - Volpini
2. Delta wishes him well

[grantp]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

I think...... that was my point.

Admittedly the last two races were well into the evening on Sunday but it was still rather warm. The main protagonists were the same in both - a GT race followed by the GT Finale. The result was also the same but I have to say that watching the video screens one had to have a lot of admiration for the guys who had completed a very warm and very competitive race and then went stright back out for a repeat. In fact I think they simply returned to the collecting area and continued a few minutes later.

As a meeting it is difficult to compare with anything else - except maybe Pau. Sort of.

One might think of Monaco Historique - but that would miss the point entirely.

The big difference is that Monaco and Pau make significant efforts to eliminate big kerbs and major bumps. That's really not an option at Angouléme. You have to accept that as part of the deal.