France trip 2025

This trip was originally going to be to the Spa Classic in Belgium but they changed the usual weekend after our younger members had already had to book their holidays!

So we changed it to going back to France again. This time our friend Geoff came with us making six of us in total. We did the usual crossing from Newhaven to Dieppe on the afternoon sailing so arrived late into Dieppe and stayed the first night there.

On south more or less following the coast, the Midget had developed an annoying rattle when decelerating, eventually discovered the air filter foam elements had disintegrated and the metalring inside was vibrating, cured by removing them! We crossed the Seine on another of the small free ferries before visiting Pegasus Bridge and the museum, then on to our hotel near Caen. Next door to the hotel was a sort of upmarket transport cafe where we had a great evening, good, basic food and wine. When one of our party asked if he could have ice cream with his pudding he was told 'no, you're too fat'!

Further south the next day to Le Mans so we could drive around the parts of the track that are public roads and on to the wonderful Hotel de France in La Chartre sur le Loir which many teams have stayed at.

Next day south east to Romoratin where we had a picnic lunch by the river before visiting the Matra museum and an afternoons drive to an Air BnB in Sancerre where we bought local cheese and wine from the vineyard opposite. A lovely breakfast was delivered at 7.30 the next morning.

A short drive across the Loire to a 'velorail', thats a disused railway line that you cycle 4 seater machines on. We hired two and together with a couple of others did a lovely mornings trip in the sunshine. Another picnic lunch and a coffee stop took us north to Romilly for our night stop and evening meal.

On the Sunday we drove to Fere Champenoise where there was one of the many monthly classic car meets. A wonderful welcome when we arrived and although not as big as the event last year in Liseaux there was a good variety of cars and the lady 'in charge' introduced us to many of the owners. Martin did a wonderful sketch of a Mercedes too.

In thee afternoon we were supposed to continue further north to Albert but not long into the journey the Heralds gearbox gave out, grinding noise and not able to select a gear. After a mix up with location with the recovery company (they initially thought we were in Spain!) a recovery truck arrived and took the Herald crew of David & Herbie with it. The rest of us continued in the Midget and Mini a bit delayed so we missed our trip on a steam railway but did see the loco returning to the shed!

In the morning the Herald crew organised a hire car and the rest of us set off on the original plan to visit various 1st & 2nd World War sites. We all met up again later that day at a V1 launch site near Campneuseville before our final night stop in an old abbey in Blangy sur Bresle.

Final day and a short drive to Dieppe for the afternoon ferry.