Classics to be banned from Paris within two years

[v8250]

This has just arrived in my inbox from Classic and Sports Car

http://www.classicandsportscar.com/news/general-cl...

Having just returned from Paris and seeing only one red TR3A, but at least 30 Porsche Cayennes and more Range Rovers than at the Gaydon pre-delivery car park, one has to ask what the hell is Bertrand Delanoë up to?

[vixen1700]

1989 was the last time I was in Paris in an old car (MGB) and the engine blew up. Took a month to get it home then I found out they'd moved it around on a fork lift, crushing all the (new) stainless steel exhaust.

I won't be rushing back there in an old car.

[Crapaud]

I won't be driving my 22 year old Bentley into central Paris ever again. In August I had crazy mad woman crash into my car and do £12,000 worth of damage.

Apparently it is just "Law of the Jungle" anywhere within a mile of Arc de Triomphe. Police attitude was that it doesn't matter at all providing nobody is injured.

Plenty of other nice cities to see in Europe. Stuff the French, I'll spend my money elsewhere.

[Daisy Duke]

I hope Tour Auto gets special dispensation though, and it'll have an impact on other rallies/tours too.

[v8250]

Daisy Duke said:

I hope Tour Auto gets special dispensation though, and it'll have an impact on other rallies/tours too.

One can't imagine events like the Tour Auto being banned. I think it's clear they are targetting car drivers with the intent on raising punative revenues under the anti-polution guise. There are many 1000's of cars over 17years old within the Periphique area. Getting rid of these forces people to either buy new, i.e. a new French car, or take public transport. In both cases it's a win-win for the Mayor's Office and the French Govt'.

But, the French Govt' being who they are will implement this in an underhand way to their financial advantage in the same way Sarko's Govt' did with the near invisible painted grey speed cameras, and, this years banning of satnavs being able to show fixed speed camera positions. France now has over 2700 speed cameras generating much annual revenue.

At this stage I believe both FIVA and FBHVC have made representation to the Mayor's Office. The big question is...what would happen to Retromobile??

[Monty Zoomer]

Cars like Bugatti, Citroën DS & SM, Delahaye, Facel Vega and Hispano Suiza are all banned to make way for more Kias and Protons

Are the French really that determined to kill off what's left of their culture?

[v8250]

Monty Zoomer said:

Are the French really that determined to kill off what's left of their culture?

Don't talk to me about 'la culture francaise'. It/the buggers almost killed me on Sunday night in Paris...ate a delicious fruits de mer over a long supper...come midnight was talking to the porcelain telephone for 1 1/2 hours. Culture? Pah, far too many cultures of the bacterial kind!

[Roy C]

I wonder if anyone in the city's traffic department has any interests in car manufacturing?

[v8250]

Roy C said:

I wonder if anyone in the city's traffic department has any interests in car manufacturing?

Roy, that's a very good point and yes they do. Have you come across the infamous l'UTAC organisation?

http://www.utac.com

These people are very influential within the the french automotive industry [read: a pain in the arse!]. They are based next door to the old Monthlery circuit at Linas and were instrumental in getting Monthlery closed down. If l'UTAC are involved it'll soon be no cars over 10 years old and only to be replaced with a CRaP car [CRaP = Citroen, Renault, Peugeot].

from their website...

>>Serving the French administration

Actions of the Ministry of Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and the Sea linked to security and vehicles emissions are supported by UTAC thanks to:

- Official French Technical Service

- Missions and technical expertise for administration

Our experts take part actively to regulations evolution and national and international standardization.<<

[lowdrag]

Discussed this topic only yesterday here in France. One person doesn't give a hoot because he has always kept his Healey on British plates, so it can't apply and others are planning the same route. That's an interesting point though - will the ban apply to foreighers as well and how would they enforce it if it does?

[Hooli]

There is no reason to ever go to paris anyway.

[Daisy Duke]

Hooli said:

There is no reason to ever go to paris anyway.

There is if you're taking part in Tour Auto - this was the route this year. http://www.tourauto.com/ml/images/content/document...

[Roy C]

v8250 said:

Roy C said:

I wonder if anyone in the city's traffic department has any interests in car manufacturing?

Roy, that's a very good point and yes they do. Have you come across the infamous l'UTAC organisation?

http://www.utac.com

These people are very influential within the the french automotive industry [read: a pain in the arse!]. They are based next door to the old Monthlery circuit at Linas and were instrumental in getting Monthlery closed down. If l'UTAC are involved it'll soon be no cars over 10 years old and only to be replaced with a CRaP car [CRaP = Citroen, Renault, Peugeot].

from their website...

>>Serving the French administration

Actions of the Ministry of Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and the Sea linked to security and vehicles emissions are supported by UTAC thanks to:

- Official French Technical Service

- Missions and technical expertise for administration

Our experts take part actively to regulations evolution and national and international standardization.<<

I'm not surprised.

Some French govt policy seems to be driven by "vested interests" these days (the recent Breathalyzer business for example).

British politicians seem to be more straightforward. They just use good old-fashioned fraud.

[v8250]

Daisy Duke said:

There is if you're taking part in Tour Auto - this was the route this year. http://www.tourauto.com/ml/images/content/document...

Frankly, the organisers of Tour Auto and other Paris kick-off events will simply move the start line to Versaille, Chantilly or Fontainebleau...or even team up with the ACO and Le Mans. Actually, here's idea...

Tony, why not have the start AND finish line at your place? Quick dash up to Reims, zip down to Paul Ricard, over to Pyrennees for mountain section, a gentle blat to Monthlery, then all back to 'chez lowdrag' in time for Tea. Next two days run/include a 'proper' 24HR Classic down the road. Start/finish line has to have the most expensive 'Peage'...let's say 250Euros per car...all donated to a good cause...suggest the v8250 XKSS project fund

[a8hex]

v8250 said:

...let's say 250Euros per car...all donated to a good cause...suggest the v8250 XKSS project fund

Does Tony have parking for 20,000 cars then?

[lowdrag]

Of course I do, we stack vertically here. I mean, I'm in the forest, and there is the old sand quarry on t'other side of the road, I'll get in a caterer and we'll have a hog roast (locally killed - we have thousands of the barstewards here) and I'll wield the starting flag. Oh, and V8250, I'll loan you the XKSS to do the rally if you want. Just start saving now for the fuel bill.