JohnD Posted July 3, 2018 Share Posted July 3, 2018 Who needs the high passes, rockets in the sky and heroic cyclists? I've just braved the M6 road works (speed limit 50, actual avg speed 11mph) an M25 (road works south of Heathrow, traffic solid) and the dreaded South Circular Road to get to my son's family house in Sarf Lunnen for the night! No matter! Grandson No2 kept up for bedtime stories, delicious meal cooking, and tomorrow, La Belle France! If i get up in time to catch the ferry. Going early to take a long loop around Paris to revisit the bold Reims-Gueux road circuit. First used in the 20s, extended after WW2, ALL the great names of the Golden Age of F1 raced there. Most of all it was the venue for The first European race for Fangio, and his last. His gearstick broken, he was lagging. But Mike Hawthorne in the lead would not lap him out of respect for the great man - and from Hawthorne that is an enormous compliment. More when I'm there. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted July 4, 2018 Author Share Posted July 4, 2018 Early start secured more open roads and I'm now at Dover Port. But waiting for "French Security Checks" in a queue that has waited 30 mons already. SofS does not like queuing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted July 4, 2018 Author Share Posted July 4, 2018 (edited) Made it! I'm at Le Circuit du Reims-Gueux, the best preserved pre-WW2 road racing track, probably in the world. It was preserved purely by luck, as the circuit fell out of use in the 70s, and no one bothered to knock down the buildings, now in the care of Les Amis du Circuit de Gueux. And they are doing a great job. I was here four or more years ago, when its pathetic state was nostalgic. Now, the repairs and restorations by Les Amis ate inspiring! They have repaired and opened the pits building and timekeepers offices over them and completely restored the circuit offices. Clearly, the Andre Lambert Pavilion, next to the pits is next for restoration, and repairs have been made to the Tribunes, that are not safe at present and closed. You can walk under the road from the pits to the tribunes via the original tunnel and enjoy the gardens, and the wonderful scoreboard that still stands in the paddock. Anyone with an ounce of Castrol Racing on his hair should visit. It is so evocative of its day. When you are here you realise why, still today, a Formula One driver is called into a pitstop with the word "Box". The pits are counters, next to the road, no pit lane, like boxes at the opera! You drove up to your counter, your crew jumped over and did whatever repair or refuelling was needed right next to the cats still racing by at 180mph! Standing here, I can still hear them! Edited July 4, 2018 by JohnD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted July 4, 2018 Share Posted July 4, 2018 Nice one John Was there in 2015 as it was a waypoint in the 10CR. Whilst there we were serenaded by a couple of well-tuned sixes yowling up and down the straight. It is a very atmospheric place. Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorkshire_spam Posted July 4, 2018 Share Posted July 4, 2018 27 minutes ago, Nick Jones said: Was there in 2015 as it was a waypoint in the 10CR. Are you sure? 2013 maybe? ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted July 4, 2018 Author Share Posted July 4, 2018 (edited) Of course, and in the day, it wasnt all fun. On the Gueux Curve, a fast left hander, Luigi Musso died in 1958, the same French GP that saw the last of Fangio. The road is truncated now, a dead end in a field, but a cross commemorates him and all young drivers who died when F1 lives were cheap. Edited July 4, 2018 by JohnD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted July 4, 2018 Author Share Posted July 4, 2018 I tried to record a six yowling down the straight, by setting this phone and taking a video. Aborted the first, as traffic got in the way, but the second went well - over ninety before the pits. Thought better of doing it again as France has just reduced the speed limit on country roads to 90 kph(55mph?) _ueux_run_to_the.pits Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted July 4, 2018 Author Share Posted July 4, 2018 MkHere's a few more of the Gueux pit area. Tonight, I'm 'wild camping' in the Montagne de Reims National Park, as long as no parkies nab me. Already this evening the traffic on the N51 is dying down and the birds are singing. Last time I stayed in this establishment, I was astonished to see a family of wild pig, two adults and a litter of piglets, crossing a track in front of me as I went to relieve myself early on the morning! I think I saw your thunderstorm, Roger, as I left Gueux and headed south into the hills of the "Montagne". Clear blue sky now, fingers crossed for CLM! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted July 4, 2018 Share Posted July 4, 2018 2 hours ago, yorkshire_spam said: Are you sure? 2013 maybe? ;-) Damn...... you're quite right. Both aforementioned yowling 6s are in the lower picture. Lawrence's lovely TR5 (on Webers IIRC) and Tom's monster TR6 Good luck with weather and Parkies John..... Nick PS. to get Johns video to run you need to download and change the filename to end ".mov" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
triumphlux Posted July 4, 2018 Share Posted July 4, 2018 Great pictures and an enthusiastic video BUT take care, the speed limit changed from 90 km/h to 80 km/h on country roads JC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulAA Posted July 4, 2018 Share Posted July 4, 2018 Great pictures, John. Just stumbled across this old film of the circuit, from 1954 https://youtu.be/nvtpSKqnSfU Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted July 5, 2018 Author Share Posted July 5, 2018 Nick, thank you for the software engineering, I amazed myself by posting it at all! Roger, had a torrential down pour on way to Le Mans about 1000 today, standing water on the road, aquaplaning the lot. Le Mans had thunder and a shower, but forecast is good. Have you arrived yet? I think I may have been first in the TSDC tent for a beer. Join me? And any.other Sidewayezers here! John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guppy916 Posted July 5, 2018 Share Posted July 5, 2018 Nice pic's John, and even better video, thanks for the name change Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted July 5, 2018 Author Share Posted July 5, 2018 I videoed a full lap last time I was at Gueux. Its still on YouTube, search for "SofS Gueux" as I don't know how to post URLs via my phone. And a million other laps by other people, why there isn't a speed camera I don't know! John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guppy916 Posted July 5, 2018 Share Posted July 5, 2018 Lets just be glad there isn't Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted July 7, 2018 Author Share Posted July 7, 2018 made it to Le Mans! See pic, parked in Tertres Rouge. Rogerguzzi and I linked up for a great chat - see you again before we leave Roger! Meanwhile, I've joined the team I'm.spannering for in CLM. Bit different to Triumphs, with straight six engines, but what engines! 3L, with the same basic design and bore, but stroked to about 150mm! This is the 1931 Talbot racing team, now owned by Pace Products that owns four out the original six and has recruited the other two to join them. Practice yesterday, daytime and nighttime sessions, and congratulations to our No.1 driver, Gareth Burnett who has pole position! Back at campsite, about 0130 - people still up, watching boxing on the TV!!!! At Le Mans!!! - crashed out woke at 0900 by the cars assembling for track laps. Back to work soon cars to prepare for the real thing. We're in Grid 1, so start the event at 1600, prompt! Back to the grindstone! John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted July 7, 2018 Share Posted July 7, 2018 Sounds like fun! They'll be watching football today....... Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted July 7, 2018 Author Share Posted July 7, 2018 And I'm didling on my phone. But then all the cars are serviced, ready to race! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guppy916 Posted July 7, 2018 Share Posted July 7, 2018 John I bet you had more fun, Iv'e just got back in the roads were empty , the girls in Wickes were all watching footie on the check out screens Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorkshire_spam Posted July 9, 2018 Share Posted July 9, 2018 On 7/4/2018 at 6:46 PM, JohnD said: John, I showed a colleague your photos, he was very impressed because the last time he was there (2001) it looked like this: (Photos by Nick Mclean 2001) Cheers, Sam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRTOM2498EFI Posted July 9, 2018 Share Posted July 9, 2018 Hi Nick, Cheers. There is some video footage on YouTube of it, and the overall event my co-driver kindly created. Roll on 10CR 2019. Hope all is well with you. Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted July 9, 2018 Share Posted July 9, 2018 Thanks Tom - and welcome. Found Lawrence's TR5 video but not clever enough to find yours so far...... Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRTOM2498EFI Posted July 9, 2018 Share Posted July 9, 2018 Hi Nick, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXUuHU_hf0Y Perhaps forward circa 2mins 20sec into the video. My co-driver was piloting at this time, so pace my seem a little sedate ? Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted July 9, 2018 Author Share Posted July 9, 2018 Les Amis du Circuit de Gueux have a website. http://www.amis-du-circuit-de-gueux.fr/-Accueil- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogerguzzi Posted July 9, 2018 Share Posted July 9, 2018 Hello John This is the best I have! Roger P s nice to meet you and did mean to seek you out again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now