15-50 November Sun Run 1st - 4th November 2008
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The event started at ‘La Ferme des Tourterelles’ in Eclance which is in the southern part of the Champagne Region. Although not as well known as the area around Epernay and Reims, it produces lots of the grapes that go into the famous brands of champagne that are well known in the UK.
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The objectives of the 15-50 November Sun Run is to provide a tour open to classic cars within the reach of many that can only aspire to the expensive events that take place on the continent. The tour is to provide access to the roads rarely taken but with magnificent scenery as well as covering some of the classic routes taken by the big events such as the Monte Carlo Rally. In addition, it provides the opportunity for experienced drivers and navigators to pass on their knowledge to those new to rallying or touring.
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Day 1 Eclance to St Etienne - 425 kms The run set off bright and early at 0800 hrs and the day passed without too many incidents. The day was marred for HRCR members Jan and Mike Molloy, when Jan decided to take an early photo at the first tea stop falling over the kerb and badly spraining her ankle. She gamely carried on completing the day. The run passed swiftly through the beautiful if somewhat rainy countryside of Burgundy collecting the code boards that were placed on the correct route to the lunch stop at Blanzy.
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The cars then headed for Roanne again following the rolling countryside past some amazing chateaus. This first day gave the crews the opportunity to get their code board ‘eyes’ in gear with only Peter Pratt and Margaret Dear collecting all boards correctly. After the cars regrouped and checked in everyone set off for the evening hotel in St Etienne. This is where the ‘fun’ began. About 30 minutes from the hotel the skies opened and the driving conditions became very dangerous due to the heavy rain and the dark skies. We found ourselves amidst the worst weather front that France had experienced for 28 years. On the ring road around St Etienne the lack of visibility and not being able to see the signs clearly in the rain caused problems for most crews, not made easy by most of the cars having only sealed beam units. Eventually all crews made the hotel. What an afternoon! The serious weather continued all night until just before dawn.
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Day 2 St Etienne to Aubenas 295 kms The day started with Jan Molloy arriving at the reception having had a terrible night with her ankle. We quickly found out where the nearest hospital and it was agreed that she and her husband Mike would catch us up during the day The hospital they were directed to was a brand new hospital 5 minutes from the hotel, unfortunately this was closed and they had to go to the other side of town. They reported later that the treatment was superb.
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With Sarah my wife, who had not taken part in an event since the speedsport championship in the 90s (she had been thrown in at the deep end due to my regular navigator Adrian having to cancel due to a problem at work.); we set off in better weather than expected and found ourselves being trailed by Roger Agate and former hrcr member Ted Roberts in their mini 1275 GT on the outskirts of St Etienne. We decided to pass the exit junction to see if he knew the route but when he followed us we led him a merry dance around the outskirts of town trying to lose him but to no avail.
Once back on route we pulled over and let him go. The weather suddenly brightened up and we found ourselves in brilliant sunshine. We took a different route to the crews participating and were to put out code boards before arriving in St Bonnet le Froid. We were with Robert Fenn in the other marshalls car and as we drove the D44 (a modern Monte Carlo route) the devastation was plain to see. The river was in deep flood and streams of water were flowing down the sides of the route. Stones and mud from the landslides covered many parts of the route from St Bonnet Le Froid and the sight of a dead cow floating past us in the river highlighted the severity of the previous days storm.
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The mornings route tested many of the crews navigational abilities as well as understanding of the regulations. Stephen Roberts and James Silverstone in the Austin Healy Sprite flew past us well ahead of the field and their starting position. They missed every code board and on the narrow roads they had not overtaken any other crew but were confident they had followed the correct route! In addition, Roger Agate and Ted Roberts in a mini cooper, again flew past us and did not stop until they realised they had reached a control point with code boards with a start time well into the afternoon. They turned around and again flew past us as we were setting out control boards for the afternoons run, just in time not to get any penalty points! No time for lunch for this crew.
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On the first section of the afternoon, the crews had to slow down due to hunters and then were treated to a typical hunting scene of a wild pig being slaughtered on the bonnet of a 4x4. After a superb circuit of Burzet, again a route taken by the Monte Carlo Rally, the cars then headed for the overnight stop in Aubenas followed by a really good evening in a local restaurant. It was nice to see the Volvo crew at the hotel after Jan Molloys experience at the hospital.
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Day 3 Aubenas to Aix les Bains 385 kms The weather was fantastic, no rain and the sun was shining. This did not last for too long catching the sprite unawares with their hood off and stored in the Volvo spacious backseat. Heading up to La Soche and the Col du Pendu, the skies opened and the wind became almost gale force. All crews found the control with the exception of the mini cooper crew of Kevin Card and Brian Woodly who simply drove straight on and over the top without stopping.
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We regrouped in Valence for lunch ready to head out of the flat valley of the Rhone straight up within minutes into the Drome Mountains with amazing views. Just before La Vacherie the road was closed due to a major landslide due to the recent rains. A control was quickly set up in a café and with the owners local knowledge a diversion was organised but unfortunately meant that the code boards could not be set out. This diversion proved to be a wonderful drive in its own right and further fun and games were had when a couple of crews passed yet another diversion sign (3 metres high by 2 metres wide!) not knowing what it meant. Just before Villard le Lens the Austin Healy Sprite of Stephan Roberts and James Silverstone who had been having overheating problems finally gave up and stopped as they were approaching the top of a col. Having made it to a rest halt the crew were waiting for it to cool down when we arrived. We stayed with the sprite until it cooled down and then towed it uphill to start it. This took quite a while but it eventually got going and then shot off leaving us to follow to the hotel at Aix les Bains with no more problems. At the hotel a couple of crews got together after dinner and the head gasket was changed, starting at 22.05 and finished at 23.35 pm.
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Day 4 Aix les Bains to the Alpe d`Huez. 160 kms The final leg proved to be as exciting as the last 3 days. The first hour was through the U shaped glacial valleys of pasture land before the big climb. Most crews had little difficulty with the route even though in one section crews kept flying past each other as they were seeking the correct junction. There was also one village which proved tough even for experienced crews. Only one crew, Alex Trueman and Peter Fitzgerald in the Hillman Imp found the two code boards strategically placed in the village. Just before the climb up and over the Col du Glandon, Sarah and I booked into the tourist office at the start of the climb to make sure it was open and although due to the unprecedented snow at the end of the previous week, they advised us it would be passable due to the increase in temperatures. This fantastic route is part of the Tour de France and my hat goes off to the cyclists. It is a tough route in a Land Rover Discovery never mind a bike. A fantastic climb with only about 5 metres of snow on the road at the top. This climb of over 6000ft is one of the great drives in the alps. The biggest surprise of the event was the totally standard Hillman Imp of Alex Trueman and Peter Fitzgerald absolutely flying up the col, with its 875cc engine. It was outstanding. Peter Pratt said he likes to be scared once a year and that was it. An amazing sight on the way down was a lump of rock in the road about 1m3 but still allowing cars either side to pass. With the exception of the Sprite crew all made the route over the col with no mishap, Kevin Card and Brian ended up taking the incorrect route at the top, finding themselves going over yet a second col, only having to return and do the col again. At the bottom where the route was to go across country to the Alpes d’Huez, we found yet another closure, this time due to snow and rocks. At the control, the alternative route was given to the crews. We received the news that the sprite crew just did not have the power to get up the col due to weak mixture etc. The alternative route used the main road and led to a magnificent climb of 21 hairpin bends covered in graffiti from the Tour de France before the summit. The best lunch of the tour was had overlooking the snow covered mountains. The crews then made there own way back to the hotel for the awards. All crews made the finish.
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Final results saw the Hillman Imp crew of Alex Trueman and Peter Fitzgerald just taking the award from Roger Agate and Ted Roberts (mini 1275 GT) with Peter Pratt and Margaret Dear (Austin Maestro 1275cc) in third place.
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Thanks to all those who helped to make this an enjoyable event. In addition, thanks to the marshalls without whom, this event could not have taken place. Special thanks go to David Kirkham for his help on checking through the road book and his useful suggestions on the regulations. With the help of Yvonne Fenn he also took a training session in Andover which all who attended, really appreciated.
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Next years event will be from the 4th to the 7th November 2009 and will visit the Mountains of the Jura and Vosges. The event will finish with a prize giving evening at the excellent Peugeot Museum in Montbeliard. If interested please contact early as only 25 places available. Overall Winner: Alex Trueman & Peter Fitzgerald (Hillman Imp) Winner Class: Kevin Card & Brian Woodly. Winner Class: Roger Agate & Ted Roberts. Winner Class: Peter Pratt & Margaret Dear