Did your car behave?
Discussion
We had our fair share of problems this year. Left Derby 3.00am for Dover, got to Dover 6.15 (planned for fry up then Speedferries) got to the BP roundabout and the water pump seized. Made it to the Premier Lodge, called RAC (16 mins on hold FFS!) eventually got through to be told there was no way they could fix an Aston, they’d just send a low loader. Got to nearest Aston dealer at about 10.00 (New Romney), had a water pump same day couriered from London (£634 to you sir) got it fitted and made the 7.45 evening Ferry. Made “good progress” to Le Mans after a few petrol station worries (no way will those 24hr unmanned ones take English cards). Got to campsite 3.00am next morning . Friday drove to Indy/Arnage corners, had a great couple of hours then found out it wouldn’t start. Big thanks to the crowd that gathered offering solutions and also to the Aston mechanic who showed me how to short the starter relay out. From then on it was bonnet up and screwdriver out to start the car each time until we found a way to “upgrade” this to two red wires gaffer taped to the centre console. On the way home the air con fan belt snapped after 10 mins use and also derailed another belt. Roadside fix replaced the other belt but left us no air con. Its hot inside a V8 any time of the year but crawling through Rouen it was hotter than a glass blowers convention. Finally on the way home from Dover the passenger window wound down then jammed solid so it had to stay down all the way home on the M1 – a tad noisy to say the least. On the whole though still a fantastic weekend and well worth all the aggro. Roll on next year.
Anyone else have any mechanicals? I thought I saw vetteheadracers machine on the back of a low loader Nr Mulsanne on Sunday?
Anyone else have any mechanicals? I thought I saw vetteheadracers machine on the back of a low loader Nr Mulsanne on Sunday?
We took two scimitars and a saab turbo for the run this year and the only problems we had were one scimitar running a bit hot and the other's overdrive deciding it was holiday time and gave up!
No doubt the cerbie in the garage will be speaking to the scimitar before next year's outing!!
What a great trip!
Rob
No doubt the cerbie in the garage will be speaking to the scimitar before next year's outing!!
What a great trip!
Rob
Sorry to hear that Tiger, I saw a couple of striped up TVR's parked to one side as we got onto speedferries Boulogne 5.30 hope it's nothing serious.
M-Power - I saw (and heard) your convoy but we were still on the move at the time, mines a Blue V8 and were travelling with an AC Ace and a 968, also blue!
M-Power - I saw (and heard) your convoy but we were still on the move at the time, mines a Blue V8 and were travelling with an AC Ace and a 968, also blue!
Alanq said:
Sorry to hear that Tiger, I saw a couple of striped up TVR's parked to one side as we got onto speedferries Boulogne 5.30 hope it's nothing serious.
M-Power - I saw (and heard) your convoy but we were still on the move at the time, mines a Blue V8 and were travelling with an AC Ace and a 968, also blue!
Yep that was us
1st gear playing up on the way back, and used 2.5 liters of oil. 
and made it back in one pice 
, now weres mi spanners...... Having coped impeccably on the rather rapid way down, our 2 Buttmonkey/Tyresmoke convoys then proceeded to disintegrate as we thought about the drive back. First on the lowloader was the R32 Skyline, which after a legendary run down the N138, was sporting a flat at Arnage corner on Friday morning that was later diagnosed as a cracked rim. Next to expire and also still somewhere on a flatbed in France was the 996 TT with its as yet unknown turbo/hose issues. On the journey back the Charger was briefly leaking water but despite the concerns proceeded to right itself and roar home. Next up the T350 spewed its coolant all over a layby near Chartres but also recovered to finish the trip. Not to be outdone, the R32 ate its clutch (a good weekend for flatbed drivers in the region we suspect) and then the Corvette trumped them all by ‘meeting’ the Armco at 90 odd and then continuing home sporting assorted battle scars all down one side.
C’est tout bon!
>> Edited by inigo on Tuesday 21st June 14:04
C’est tout bon!
>> Edited by inigo on Tuesday 21st June 14:04
Other than a pre-existing climate control problem which meant occasional bursts of hot air at the worst times (like queueing through Rouen) my 18 year old 928 never missed a beat down or back, Scarborough to Slough to Le Mans.
It was so relaxing to drive that I non stopped the return leg with only fuel stops!
It was so relaxing to drive that I non stopped the return leg with only fuel stops!
:alanq said:
I thought I saw vetteheadracers machine on the back of a low loader Nr Mulsanne on Sunday?
Bugger.....hoped that no one would notice me
Clutch hydraullics let go as I went to change gear whilst pottering out of Mulsanne Parking.
Car is in a garage in Ecommoy about 5 miles south of Mulsanne and the current plan is I collect it Friday after it has been fixed as all that failed was a length of Dash 4 aeroquip hose.
Saw a lot of broke stuff this year I think the heat probably killed a few plus the traffic queues can't have helped.
Old MG and Truimph Vitesse in the garage where mine was taken.
>> Edited by vetteheadracer on Tuesday 21st June 16:00
Balmoral Green said:We figured that when we saw the Porsche on the Flatbed in Houx, that it was just the TVR owners had clubbed together to hire both vehicles to simply drive around Le Mans!!!
...There did appear to be rather a lot of cars being moved around on flatbeds.
:runsawatandgetscoat:
y camera both times...
No probs with the car but it very nearly went so worryingly wrong when a frenchman pulled out to overtake a caravan whilst I was mid overtake with him. Cue rapid deccelaration and lots of cursing. Missed him by centimetres.
Also had a big bang just under my seat at 140 of the british ones. I think a stone just bounced up and hit the bottom but it worried me for a second or two.
Also had a big bang just under my seat at 140 of the british ones. I think a stone just bounced up and hit the bottom but it worried me for a second or two.
No problems in the Saab 9-5 Aero. Not exactly the most intestesting motor to take to this event but it did its job. Chilled out occupants, freezing cold air con. difference of 20c between inside and outside at Arnage when we left ~ 17c inside, 37c outside.
Had a moment when the Cruise Control wouldn't engage and I have to acutally press the bloody accelerator on a French Autoroute so nearly a major headache ~ well almost !
Went via Arras and stayed overnight at a hotel, proper shower and a real bed which was a bonus. Car still honks of unshowered bodies though !
More interesting transport required for 2006 though.
Just too much of a bland Eurobox.
>> Edited by blackscooby on Tuesday 21st June 16:41
Had a moment when the Cruise Control wouldn't engage and I have to acutally press the bloody accelerator on a French Autoroute so nearly a major headache ~ well almost !
Went via Arras and stayed overnight at a hotel, proper shower and a real bed which was a bonus. Car still honks of unshowered bodies though !
More interesting transport required for 2006 though.
Just too much of a bland Eurobox.
>> Edited by blackscooby on Tuesday 21st June 16:41
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