Chat from the Chair

A lot of talk went on at the last meeting about our meeting place. Decisions are hard to make - The Anchor is very central but the room has become smaller. Well the new design means that the windows don’t open and there are a lot fewer spaces for bums on seats.

The Royal Oak at Pirbright has a lot going for it - big car park, lots of space, good bar, superb garden but it is a bit to the west.

We are also looking a pub in Woking - so please help us to decide. Our next meeting is at Pirbright so come along - see what you think. After all it is your club and you are part of the decision making.

                Gill

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Citroën Cars Down Under !

We would like to share our enjoyment of our holiday in Australia with you all, to let you know that even on the other side of the world, they are still driving Citroën cars: yes there are 2CVs along with many other types. We borrowed a DS Safari to travel around in and to go to a Citroën rally, over the Easter weekend, from our friend George.

Friday 2nd April.

Good Friday, we travelled to Shepperton (AUS) where the rally was being held with Janet & David Gries and their 2 children Morgan & Lucy. We arrived at the motel to be greeted with many Citroëns - even Barry’s 2CV that he took out to do the Raid in 1996. Well Bill, the guy who did the raid with Barry, bought the car and has travelled far with his little 2CV. It is in wonderful condition although he has had a few people crash into him ! No problem when you have the Roo Bars on ! Evening time we went to book in for the rally. They laid on 2 types of soup, sandwiches and fruit. There were friends from Sydney, Warranbool, Melbourne and New Zealand.

Saturday 3rd April.

After a wonderful breakfast in the motel we met up with all the DS’s in the car park. What a good turnout ! We set off to convoy round the town. Slight problem - the police were allowing a few at a time to go round the roundabouts so after a while people were getting parted at traffic lights. Hence we followed this guy and others followed us. (yes, we were a little lost) but soon found everyone again at the park by the lake, what a setting, the weather was about 80° - not bad for autumn ! There were 112 cars in total. In the evening there was a 3 course meal, an auction and a few awards.

Sunday 4th April.

At the race course there were car events for each type then a novelty event with six teams. Barry was on the International side (3 New Zealanders and him) -they did very well and came second.

Monday 5th April.

A farewell breakfast and some people made their way back to Sydney, Queensland, Adelaide and many other places. They had also planned a visit to a steam train and that was good fun, when we got there.

We wanted to see a very old town (well a few houses anyway) but we were following our friend George when our thermostat went. Lucky for me I’ve my own mechanic who took out the thermostat filled up with water from a massive pool we had gone through and off we went.

What a weekend !

Thursday 8th April.

Coming back from Phillip Island we were following Bill in his 2CV (Barry’s old one) when we felt a thump, thump. Gloria said ‘we have a puncture’ so we had to get off the highway and we lost Bill. Barry checked the tyre - ‘what tyre’ was his reply ! We limped to a side road and had to call George to bring another wheel. Our spare was flat as we’d changed it in Shepperton (being Easter there were no repairs). Just goes to show that you can have a flat tyre in a DS and not know - the rise is so good.

The Australians asked what their events were like compared with ours ? Well we are not so spread out as they are, the cars were in fantastic condition and they couldn’t believe how many people turn up to our events.

           Barry, Gloria, Peter & Louise

Loseley Car Show - 8th & 9th May

The Surrey Advertiser held their car show at Loseley House on Saturday 8th & Sunday 9th May.   All the main local dealers had stands showing off their latest models, with most vehicles open to the public for a hands-on experience.   The local Citroen agent was there of course, with a full range of current models, including a camper van, but there was no sign of the car they propose to introduce as the new 2CV.   In contrast, Volkswagen brought along one of their new Beetles, & placed it beside one of the first original Beetles ever to be brought to Britain.   The new model drew large crowds of admirers, anxious to try out the comfortable seats & spacious interior.   The exterior bears a strong resemblance to the old Beetle, but it seems to be more curvaceous & to have more muscles!   The front-engined, front-wheel drive layout gives it ample space inside, indeed more than one might expect of such a small car.   Audi also had a large stand, including a 4-track Scalextric layout for the children.   The main point of interest however, was aimed at road safety & consisted of a very effective demonstration of the security of seat belts.   A conventional 4 door family saloon with minor crash damage had had its engine & other running gear removed, to allow it to be mounted as if on spit.   This allowed it to rotate at a slow speed about a longitudinal axis, & the public were invited to experience the effects of a 360^o roll, as if the vehicle were to be involved in an accident.   Another interesting event.

 

                     Andrew

Le Mans Report 1

I am sure lots of people wanted to go but for various reasons couldn’t. Many of those of us who could, met on the Portsmouth to Caen ferry at about 7.00 am. As usual, Barry was the last to arrive with Ray. However this time he said that it was Ray’s fault for being late to Guildford. How many times has Barry been last on the boat ? (Barry says that he has a reputation to keep up - ed)

The crossing was uneventful so we slept or chatted. We assembled on the docks, met a Frenchman who was on his way and set off in a convoy of six. We all stayed together well after a petrol and supermarket stop. I was desperate for a loo-stop south of Alençon. We found an ‘Aire de Repas’ and I was saved but bad luck struck Dave Shove. His alternator had gone so we had to bump start him in reverse. At Le Mans signs appeared for 2CVs and by 7.15 we were registered and on the camping area reserved for 2CVGB - between the Orleans club and Citro Aisne.

We set up out tents - some with more speed than others and got a meal. We were then ready to crash out.

Thursday - I sat by our tents and sold jewellery etc. & did well. The Rooneys of the Wessex Ducks arrived and squeezed their tent and car in so I guess we were then complete. Other Brits arrived but had to go opposite us. Bill visited the flea market and came back with a few bits. In the afternoon we went out in search of a bar - not for drinks but for ‘English loos’. We had a few beers and returned. It was a pretty laid back camp - no hassle to do anything. This night was a bit noisy - a few bikers on the road outside the campsite but we did sleep.

Friday - I sold in the flea market in the morning. Later a ‘Ballade dans la campagne’ turned into a traffic jam in Le Mans. We Madhatters turned round, found Carrefour and returned to the site. I had not planned a traffic jam for my convoy so I was a bit disappointed. That evening a few chats under a gazebo or two and we crashed out ... well the bikers were out in force so sleep was a long time coming.

Saturday - up and breakfasted and ready to line up for the ‘Defilé sur le circuit Bugatti’ at 8.30 (yes really !!) It was a thrill to eventually get on the track with about 800 2CVs. Driving under the Dunlop arch along the straights, past the Grandstand etc.... In the afternoon we went to the Car Museum and a small supermarket.

That evening we booked in for the meal. It was great, local food, singings and lots of wine. A charming man from Le Mans sat with us as an interpreter and suggested we did a song for the French - so Adrienne Rooney, led us in a Music Hall Medley - next year the full cabaret !

Bed time was fraught - a 24 hour bike race to one side and the town bikers to the other !

Sunday - Up early - clear up and off by 10 am and that plan was kept. A leisurely drive to Caen and a meal at Ouisterham finished off a wonderful weekend.

I could write more but ... REMEMBER next year the meeting is in PROVENCE 1st - 4th JUNE. A fortnight in Provence to include this seems a good idea.

 

                     Gill

Le Mans Report 2

A group of 12 British 2CVs travelled to the Le Mans 24 hour motor racing circuit for the 7th French International 2CV meeting held between 13th & 16th May.  

The camp was laid out in a pine wood close to the main grandstand, conveniently laid out to keep club groups together.   Some groups had more space than others, & the British contingent only just managed to squeeze into their allocated area, but in the end everybody found somewhere to put up a tent.   Fortunately the weather stayed fine, & as the organised programme included something for almost everybody, there were plenty of opportunities to get away & do our own thing, so that is what we did.  

David Shove suffered further difficulties when his alternator failed on Wednesday afternoon, & having tried without success to find a suitable replacement locally, was eventually able to acquire one with Barry’s help, & this was fitted on Friday in time for the convoy.   The loss of his car keys during a tasting of regional produce brought along by visiting clubs was an extra worry we could have done without, but with a little ingenuity the problem was quickly overcome, & a temporary solution kept his car mobile for the rest of the camp.  

An interesting programme item was the fuel economy challenge held on the Thursday afternoon, the idea being to determine how far a 2CV could run on a small measured amount of fuel.   Each car taking part was modified so as to isolate the vehicle’s fuel pump & allow the engine to take fuel from a small temporary supply within the engine compartment.   This turned out to be a very popular event, & a long queue developed.   Some were disappointed however, as the small stock of fuel eventually ran out.  

Some of our group took part in the convoy on Friday afternoon, but as with many convoys, it soon got split up & turned into a leisurely trip to the local supermarket;  others set off with the express intention of going shopping,  & were then able to pass a few quiet moments in a local bar on the way back to the camp.   Most of Saturday morning was occupied one way & another with trying to take part in a tour of the Bugatti circuit  -  truly the highlight of the day.   It seemed to be the most popular activity of the whole camp, & all or most of those present took part, & although the track was extremely congested as a result, it was well worth waiting for!  

Another interesting diversion was a trip some of us made to the motor museum just outside the western perimeter of the circuit.   The collection includes a number of interesting exhibits from the early days of French motoring, together with some of the more modern vehicles to have visited Le Mans for race meetings.   In addition to a small diorama section on the development of the 2CV, there was a large family saloon incorporating some of the innovative design features later incorporated into the 2CV itself.  

During the late afternoon a small group of owners of 4WD 2CVs gave an short display of the off-road capabilities of their vehicles for those interested.   Barry took the opportunity to acquire another car & disappeared at lunchtime on Thursday to collect it.   He finally re-appeared with it (an Ami 6) later that evening, & spent the next two days preparing it for the journey home.   Robyn’s Hoffmann conversion was a star among the cabriolets, & was admired by many.   A film crew arrived, & spent a while filming with Robyn & Jasmine for inclusion in a video of the camp, which is expected to be released in June.   Among the more unusual visitors to the camp was a pedal-car  -  a full-sized, 4 man-powered 2CV, powered entirely by a complicated geartrain based on bicycle technology.   There was also a three-wheeled rear-engined hybrid, using the front half of a conventional Honda motorcycle & the back half of a conventional 2CV.   This very strange arrangement was achieved by mounting the rear portion of a 2CV body on the front section of a 2CV chassis, complete with engine & gearbox, but without the steering components.   At the end-of-camp dinner it was announced that 997 cars had attended  -  evidently the largest ever French international.   It seems to be getting bigger & bigger all the time  -  very encouraging!  

We have again made contact with members of the Calais club who hosted their first international event at Easter, attended by three cars from Madhatters.   A raid is planned for their next meeting, which is being held in Calais on 8th June, starting at 20h00.   By chance, their meetings coincide with ours, so the raid scheduled for that day will be in addition to the usual Madhatters meeting.   Our hosts have kindly facilitated the arrangements by providing a limited number of travel vouchers for the occasion, which will allow us to use the Shuttle at prices not available to other members of the general public.   The plan is to join a Shuttle train leaving Folkestone at about 17h00 & gather in a suitable bar for a meal, before meeting the French group at their usual venue.  

We will need to leave them at about 22h00 in order to catch a train which will get us back home at a reasonable hour.   If you are interested in joining the raid, please contact Andrew or Gill for more information.   We are grateful to the French group for their generosity, & are hoping for a good turnout.   If you can’t make it on that day, watch this space for a report on the raid to find out how we got on.

                     Andrew