just got back from France.....
Discussion
and what a trip! The response the Chim got from the French was amazing. People stopped in their tracks and watched the car go past. The porter in the hotel came out especially, when he saw that I was about to start her up, and then just shook his head in disbelief when the V8 fired up! The Chim never gets ANYWHERE near this much attention back in the UK. Only bad point was being stopped by the Gendarmes for speeding on the way back to Calais...90 Euro fine 
Anyway, me and the Chim are off to live in France now.....
Anyway, me and the Chim are off to live in France now.....
Buzzsaw, I live in Belgium and get the same response from my OceanHaze (or is it OceanMist) green Chim 500. The Belgians LOVE the car and you can see on their faces that they haven't got a clue as to what it is!! I work alongside a lot of other nations as well and their comments are " Wow man, what sort of a car is that?" to which I reply "A TVR" and they say back "Is that a Ford or a Jaguar??"
IDIOTS!!
IDIOTS!!
There have been threads on this before. Ben Pike aka Pikey did a particularly good run down of what he used to carry, it may be on www.pikeynet.com
As a minimum try and find out what the bits are that are hard to get hold of (e.g. the serpentine belt in the right length) and carry them, plus some fuses and a can of tyre foam. Am putting together my spares list for my 10 day Le Mans trip, will let you know what I find out.
Cheers,
Steve
As a minimum try and find out what the bits are that are hard to get hold of (e.g. the serpentine belt in the right length) and carry them, plus some fuses and a can of tyre foam. Am putting together my spares list for my 10 day Le Mans trip, will let you know what I find out.
Cheers,
Steve
I too have recently returned from a trip to Chiantshire. My experience was very different.
1 I was more or less threatened with violence in Metz on 4four seperate occaisions late at night. I had planned to stay their as my first night in Europe but vaguely remembered stories about flash cars being torched in the Strasbourg area, and knowing how many stipulations Suninghill place on me I didn't fancy waking up to a pile of smouldering fibreglass worth considerably less than £26,000. So I drove on - the usual drill: drive until I start halucinating then pullover and kip in the car.
2. I didn't see any TVR's in 12 days until at the last minute a cerbie at the Calais side of the tunnel. Did see a lotus or two though.
3. I was regularly going at Mach 2 on the famous northern french salt lake flats - without interuption from the vieux guillaume.
It's funny how when you get back to blighty the lane discipline actually lasts for about twenty miles... until you reach the African bloke in his jap saloon executing his God given right to sit in the fast lane at 70 mph. Home sweet home.
1 I was more or less threatened with violence in Metz on 4four seperate occaisions late at night. I had planned to stay their as my first night in Europe but vaguely remembered stories about flash cars being torched in the Strasbourg area, and knowing how many stipulations Suninghill place on me I didn't fancy waking up to a pile of smouldering fibreglass worth considerably less than £26,000. So I drove on - the usual drill: drive until I start halucinating then pullover and kip in the car.
2. I didn't see any TVR's in 12 days until at the last minute a cerbie at the Calais side of the tunnel. Did see a lotus or two though.
3. I was regularly going at Mach 2 on the famous northern french salt lake flats - without interuption from the vieux guillaume.
It's funny how when you get back to blighty the lane discipline actually lasts for about twenty miles... until you reach the African bloke in his jap saloon executing his God given right to sit in the fast lane at 70 mph. Home sweet home.
Buzz - we were in France (Rheims) at the end of March - but with eight TVRs - full story should be in Sprint soon. The response from the French was amazing. They were stopping work in the fields to watch us go by, waving and shouting bonjour. We were really worried as US & UK had just invaded Iraq - but the reception was great. Will certainly go again.
buzzsaw said: I covered 900 miles in 4 days. No problems at all. Hardly used any oil or water. I also had the AA 5 star breakdown cover but didn't need it (nice to have as a backup though!) Previous owner left some spare bulbs in the car when I bought it - the only spares I had with me!
Hey Buzzsaw- so glad you had a good time.
When I responded to your concerns about the trip back in March, I realise now that I may have sounded a bit clinical (AA 5 star, spare bulbs etc.) But I think you did the right thing- even though you didn't need them-
it's always good to know you have that back-up.
Bet your back there later in the Summer
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