Au secours, je dirai même plus, HELP!

[David Balkwill]

Mesdames, Messieurs,

Je vous prie de trouver ci-dessous un message posté hier sur le forum MGOC. J'ai proposé à Tim de vous transmettre sa demande. Quelque chose me dit que la voiture doit être intéressante à voir.

Bien octagonalement

David

I'm a new member so please be gently! I have owned a B some years ago now and have just acquired another. Good news (kind of) is that the car's been left to my daughter in a will. Bad news is that it's in Carcassone. Yes, that Carcassonne, in the south of France.
Everyone has advised me to get it trailered back....which is why my daughter and I are flying down on 9th of May to drive it back!
I'm sure most people will respond with more trailer advice but what I'm hoping for are friendly contacts in France and any advice to help on the journey.
The car's not an unknown quantity, it belonged to a relative and has had quite a bit of work done, also I'm 'handy with the spanners'.
The aim is to take about three days to travel through France. Might even do an article for the MGOC mag. Hopefully it won't end in "M'aidez"!
For 80's rallying buffs the car belonged to Rob Arthur, co-driver to Tony Pond, Jimmy McRae et al; sadly Rob died last September so in the spirit of his exploits, we really should drive it.
MR TIM ALDERSON
North Yorkshire
tim.alderson@btinternet.com

[David Balkwill]

Voici un mail de Tim ce matin avec plus de details.

Hi David,

Many thanks for your comments; a circulation on the French Forum would be very helpful particularly as my French is moderate, to put it politely. "La voiture a tombe en panne...encore une fois." may come in handy along the way I suspect.

We're probably heading pretty much directly north from Carcassonne to Aurillac then slightly east towards Clermont Ferrand. My intention is to use more scenic and pleasuable routes, certainly not a motorway slog although if we run short on time we could use them for short bursts. I'm hoping to overnight somewhere between Mauriac and Clermont Ferrand for the first night. Then north via Moulins, Nevers, Auxerre to (possibly) Troyes on the second night, before heading north to Zeebrugge for the overnight ferry to Hull.

Any suggestions as to the best roads or places to stay will be welcome and particularly places where we might find help if we should need it; which is pretty likely. We fly down on 9th and have until Monday morning to prep the car then hit the road on the 11th with a ferry from Zeebrugge on the evening of the 13th.

Kind regards,

Tim

[Renou-Invité]

Hi David,



For your friend's infos, the A75 starting from Lodève ( 50 km north above Montpellier ) upto Clermont-Ferrand
crosses gorgeous landscapes and scenaries. Cost of toll is only the asked price for "Le Pont de Millau", about 6€.
I rode this fantastic road on some professionnal travels and I woud recommend it to whom might be interested in.
You may discover GEVAUDAN countryside where by the end of 18th century a supposed wild undetermined animal
frightened local population with awfull crimes, hotel accomadations is really easy along it, for example St Flour ( Cantal )
not far from Aurillac, and have a look to the "viaduc de Garabit" the very fist metallic bridge realized by Gustave Eiffel.
Starting from Carcasonne, he may reach Lodéve passing through "montagnes noires" avoiding the heavy traffic
on french south motor way to Spain.
About the car, I believe It was ran in the Pirelli Marathon Classic during the 90's. I remember some EMG articles relating
tracing this pretty race car performances driven by Tony Dron; am i right ?
I hope that help. regards.

[Tim Alderson]

I have registered with your forum as well as with the GB forum. Firstly my apologies because my French is very poor but I hope to improve. Secondly many thanks for your kind responses. Almost everyone is suggesting that I drive the A75 to Clermont Ferrand and the route sounds very exciting, especially the Millau Bridge.

Suggestions as to good places to visit and stay for the first night, close to Clermont Ferrand will be very welcome.

Also if anyone can suggest interesting routes from Clermont Ferrand towards Troyes then I would be please to hear from them.

We leave Carcassonne on Monday 11th and need to be at Zeebrugge by Wednesday evening. It would be great to meet some French MG enthusiasts along the way.

Cordialement,

Tim

This is my 'Babel Fish' attempt which David asked me to include - I'm assured it's very funny in French!

Bien que Rob ait connu Dron élégant je ne pensez pas que la voiture sera la voiture d'emballage du marathon de Pirelli. Rob a maintenu la voiture en état original avec seulement des modifications mineures. L'A75 retentit comme si ce sera un bon choix de route et le pont de Millau sera passionnant. Il serait bon de rencontrer quelques fervents français sur le chemin et nous passerons probablement la première nuit (le 11 mai) près de Clermont-Ferrand. Tim

[David Balkwill]

Well done Tim, it's not easy finding how to register on a foreign forum.

Alors Mesdames, Messieurs, avez vous de bonnes adresses sur la route entre Carcassonne et Zeebrugge? Quelques bonnes tables, quelques lits douillets?

Est-ce qu'il y a un Club et un forum en Belgique?

David

[Totof-bisrepetita]

Bonsoir David,

As Tim is driving via Auxerre, I would suggest a pretty good restaurant at Nitry. It is about 35 kilometers far away compared to Auxerre, and south direction. It's the Auberge called "la Beursaudiere". Nitry is not that big, it will be easy to find. According to me, one of the best place to eat Bourgogne's food.

A+. Totof

[David Balkwill]

Totof,

Ah, ca donne envie. Un peu loin de Manchester, mais je note l'adresse au cas ou!

Souvenir d'enfance du coup. On descendait en famille vers l'Italie avec tout le necessaire de camping au bord de notre Lancia Aurelia. Oui oui, les Anglais sont les seuls au monde a penser aller faire du camping dans des vehicules pareils! Nous sommes en France quelque part entre Calais et la frontiere Suisse. Le moteur commence a tousser, perd de la puissance et finalement ne marche plus du tout. Au point mort, mon pere laisse l'inertie nous porter aussi loin que possible et on s'arrete devant une auberge sur le bord de la route. L'auberge "No man's land". Faut le trouver! Le patron appelle le garagiste du coin qui arrive avec sa DS. Diagnostique la bobine, l'echange avec celle de la DS, on mange et on repart. Avis aux collectionneurs - il y a quelque part, une Aurelia B20 serie 5 de 1957 equippee d'une bobine de DS (SEV Marchal peut etre).

Tim, you must write up your "Road movie" when you get back, so we can all enjoy your adventures.

David

[Tim]

Ma fille prendra des photos et et, peut-être, une vidéo. J'espère écrire un atricle pour le magazine de MG.

Merci Totof, nous attendons avec intérêt notre repas à la Beursaudiere!

Tim

[Renou]

G'd evening,

And last but not least, Burgundy food may be excellent !
But Burgundy wine is yet better, the original one of course,
the one that was picked up onto burgundy hills (France)!
Other fine place to have lunch: Avallon...

Enjoy and have a nice trip.