parade du pilotes

parade du pilotes

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yeti

Original Poster:

10,523 posts

275 months

Wednesday 24th March 2004
quotequote all
Us Marcos types have been asked by the organisers to supply 10 cars to take part in the driver's parade through LM town on Friday evening. 10 of us have duly submitted our details and pictures and are now busily polishing our cars and replacing our rotten chassis' and mini metro indicator stalks.

This is all very well, but none of us seems to actually know what's involved. Can anyone shed any light on the proceedings? I'm usually ratted on the Friday, made it into town for the first time last year just in time to see the green haired boys but that was it.

What have we let ourselves in for??? I seem to remember dancing girls...

Liszt

4,329 posts

270 months

Wednesday 24th March 2004
quotequote all
You get to drive around the town in the convoy. Don't forget to take you video camera it is a sight to remember.

A couple in our group where in it with TVR's a couple of years ago.

the fury

593 posts

242 months

Wednesday 24th March 2004
quotequote all
Never managed to make it into town for the parade yet – what time's it all kick off and where's the best place to watch from?

Liszt

4,329 posts

270 months

Wednesday 24th March 2004
quotequote all
Well worth it. We get there for about 3ish.

Start at the big square infront of big church Place de Jacobins, I think.

We then follow parade up to Place de Republic and find a bar and get more pished! Then its find a seedy club and back to the tent for 4 am. Bit of a kip then beer and cornflakes for breakfast in preparation of the race.

Have a look at the help forum on club-arnage.com. Very useful.

vetteheadracer

8,271 posts

253 months

Friday 26th March 2004
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I got to do the Parade du Pilotes in 2001 and 2002 and it is a blast! Get to the Place du Jacobins about 3 p.m. and there is a car park behind a big building sort of opposite the Cathedral. You form up here in club areas, and then get moved to a holding area in front of the Cathedral some time later (being French the organisation is a bit iffy!)
You then set off thru the town past 1000's and 1000's of people at about 1 mile per hour. It is considered rude not to rev the nuts off your engine when requested by the locals.

Bring a camera, preferably a video and also your autograph book as all of the drivers parade thru the streets in vintage cars as part of the parade. Also look out for the majorettes as some of them are very fit!

Hoping to do the parade again this year as the Corvettes are also invited, just don't know how many will be allowed.

Nacnud

2,190 posts

269 months

Friday 26th March 2004
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Two years ago the TVR group was headed up by the new Tuscan R which was doing the most awesome burnouts - so us us following Tivs had to follow suit. Can't let the public down

Other marques were much more sedate though.....

My side-pipes burnt quite a few ankles as the crowds pressed in and I lost count of the children who burst into tears as I past

And the timing of the parade was WAY late. Never got to the free food with the mayor. Nor did I make the secure car arrangements in time so I failed to make the follow-up beers. I ended up back in Houx watching a Tina Turner concert nursing quite a few beers. Worked out all right I suppose

yeti

Original Poster:

10,523 posts

275 months

Friday 26th March 2004
quotequote all
Nacnud,

this is exactly the type of info I'm looking for - what's this about free grub and secure parking? I realise you didn't get to it but do you know anyone who did and whether it worked out OK?

Secure parking? Pah, if I'm staying sober I'm off down Mulsanne/Indy/Arnage for some late night speed runs )

Nacnud

2,190 posts

269 months

Friday 26th March 2004
quotequote all
yeti said:
Nacnud,

this is exactly the type of info I'm looking for - what's this about free grub and secure parking? I realise you didn't get to it but do you know anyone who did and whether it worked out OK?

Secure parking? Pah, if I'm staying sober I'm off down Mulsanne/Indy/Arnage for some late night speed runs )

Secure parking....
The plan was to drive back to Houx, drop the cars off, and a bus was organised to bring us back into town for the rest of the evenings festivities. The TVRCC laid this on for us and they seem to have got Friday night planning to perfection. The number of coaches they laid on to get people into town for the Friday piss-up last year was absolutely staggering!

and you are right.....
I can't answer any of the other questions at all!