Chimps Back From Le Mans

[ChimpOnGas]

Well that was fun

"Ol Gasbag" did me proud, pulling her first LPG powered 140 while passing a Lambo on the way home today.

You should have seen the look on his face when later on we both pulled into the same petrol station & he watched me filling with GPL.

Who else made it home fine free?

[Andav469]

I got back in the early hours after a superb run there and back, had a bit of fun trying to get through Rouen with the bridge out of action!

Great to see lots of locals out on the bridges and at the toll booths, it was a traffic light start on leaving each toll booth and always got an immediate cheer from the crowds!

[Monsterlime]

I got home this afternoon. She was perfect the entire time, I spoke to several people on my campsite/while travelling and a few friends - all expressed amazement at how reliable it is, and that I am not surprised that it made without issue.

[ChimpOnGas]

Monsterlime said:

I got home this afternoon. She was perfect the entire time, I spoke to several people on my campsite/while travelling and a few friends - all expressed amazement at how reliable it is, and that I am not surprised that it made without issue.

Unbelievable isn't it.

My mate went in his £80,000 Maserati Granturismo, half way down he complained his oil light was coming on.

So I checked it for him and there was no oil on the dipstick whatsover, just a kind of dirty brown granular deposit on the end of it, it took 2 litres to fill.

An hour later he lost 1st gear, then it died completely, although it's a flappy paddle we pushed it to 10mph, he hit the starter and away it went getting him to Le Mans (just).

On the way back the gearbox completely died, and that £80,000 Masser went home on the back of a low loader.



On the flip side my 17 year old TVR went like a rocket, swallowed masses of stuff in the cavernous boot, did the cost equivalent of 36mpg on LPG at a steady 100+ & was totally reliable.

As always



At the camp.





Radio Le Mans & a glass of wine in the TVR.





Gassing up with French GPL.




Yet another amazing TVR road trip, this car just keeps giving

Edited by ChimpOnGas on Tuesday 25th June 08:47

[Phoenixcat]

Nope! This was my car at Le Mans yesterday. I had to get it towed all the way back home to Bromley!

See my previous thread for more info:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

I thought I could get it home but it was much worse yesterday and eventually broke down on Arnage Corner. I got back at 10am this morning as they wouldn't tow me back to Calais instead taking me to Cannes where I had to get the night ferry.

[Andav469]

Phoenixcat said:

Nope! This was my car at Le Mans yesterday. I had to get it towed all the way back home to Bromley!

See my previous thread for more info:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

I thought I could get it home but it was much worse yesterday and eventually broke down on Arnage Corner. I got back at 10am this morning as they wouldn't tow me back to Calais instead taking me to Cannes where I had to get the night ferry.

Glad you got back safely, sorry I couldn't get back to you, we left on Sunday afternoon.

I have a spare coil that you can have if you in no rush and can wait a few days.

[ChimpOnGas]

Phoenixcat said:

Nope! This was my car at Le Mans yesterday. I had to get it towed all the way back home to Bromley!

See my previous thread for more info:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

I thought I could get it home but it was much worse yesterday and eventually broke down on Arnage Corner. I got back at 10am this morning as they wouldn't tow me back to Calais instead taking me to Cannes where I had to get the night ferry.

Sorry to hear it ended that way Pheonixcat

I'm with MSM & have the same European breakdown cover as you, which now doesn't sound like its the best from your experience.

The ignition side of these cars needs as much if not more regular maintenance as everything else, it's just things like the coil seldom get changed until they leave you stranded.

I recommend fitting a fresh Bosch coil which are cheap enough from a Land Rover specialist.

Anyone thinking of setting out on a Euro tour may want to read what ChimpOfDarkness (whoever he is?) said here.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=124...

First up on his list is....."Personally I would replace the coil every 30,000 miles"

Still hindsight is a wonderful thing of course, I'm just glad you and the car are back safe & sound.

[peaktorque]

My scabby old Chim performed faultlessly there and back - despite dragging it's arse along the floor all the way

Note to self next year - don't carry a 20 stone passenger who insisted on bringing along he's air craft hanger sized tent and massive blow-up mattress.

Only used 3 tanks of fuel for 764 miles, quite respectable I think.

[ChimpOnGas]

Amazingly I made it back without a fine

My mate in his Porsche GT3 wasn't so lucky.

[Chunky Dave]

I did a 1050 mile round trip on 4 tanks of fuel. No problems what so ever, the car went like a dream and showed a fresh pair of heels to a mates TR8. Happy days

[Phoenixcat]

Andav469 said:

Glad you got back safely, sorry I couldn't get back to you, we left on Sunday afternoon.

I have a spare coil that you can have if you in no rush and can wait a few days.

Thanks for the offer.When I got home I didn't think it was the coil as I checked the resistance and it was fine (10k ohms). So I changed the ignition module, no difference. I then found the dizzy to be loose so changed that and the rotor arm, still no difference. So it must either be the coil or the king lead. I have a coil and a set of leads on order.

ChimpOnGas said:

Sorry to hear it ended that way Pheonixcat

I'm with MSM & have the same European breakdown cover as you, which now doesn't sound like its the best from your experience.

The ignition side of these cars needs as much if not more regular maintenance as everything else, it's just things like the coil seldom get changed until they leave you stranded.

I recommend fitting a fresh Bosch coil which are cheap enough from a Land Rover specialist.

Anyone thinking of setting out on a Euro tour may want to read what ChimpOfDarkness (whoever he is?) said here.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=124...

First up on his list is....."Personally I would replace the coil every 30,000 miles"

Still hindsight is a wonderful thing of course, I'm just glad you and the car are back safe & sound.

Cheers for the link, very useful. I had a major service at Taylor TVR just before I went and it got a clean bill of health. These electrical items are not on the servicing list so they often get left out.

MSM insurance I have found to be very good, helpful and respond to emails. The breakdown service Eurohome, not so much. When I got home I read the small print which stated that the ferry crossing is not covered so I didn't get a refund for my 276 euro I spent on the crossing. The bloke on the phone was very rude as well. He basically stated that my breakdown had already cost them £1000 so I should be grateful. What annoys me is that I agreed to drive my car onto the ferry and drive off, which was a pain as it was cutting out. If I had refused and the lorry had come with me I would have been covered for the ferry. So if you do break down don't drive onto the ferry, ensure the truck goes with you.

[pincher]

Chunky Dave said:

I did a 1050 mile round trip on 4 tanks of fuel. No problems what so ever, the car went like a dream and showed a fresh pair of heels to a mates TR8. Happy days

I think I saw you round Yvetot way on the Monday, just before the toll booth to get back on the A28 and a couple of times shortly after - were there another couple in your convoy as well?

I was bimbling along in my silver E39 enjoying the noise

[SILICONEKID343HP]

are points added on to your licence if you get caught speeding ?

[pincher]

Not in France, no. You'd probably get a €90 fine and told not to do it again. Unless you are seriously over the speed limit, at which point you could find your car impounded and facing a court appearance several months down the line.

[Chunky Dave]

pincher said:

I think I saw you round Yvetot way on the Monday, just before the toll booth to get back on the A28 and a couple of times shortly after - were there another couple in your convoy as well?

I was bimbling along in my silver E39 enjoying the noise

Hi Pincher, we certainly can back via Yvetot on the Monday and there was four cars and a van in the convoy. Sounds like it was us, hope you made it back ok!

[pincher]

I think it must have been you. Did you have in-car comms in the Chim or was that someone else I saw that had it?

[Chunky Dave]

pincher said:

I think it must have been you. Did you have in-car comms in the Chim or was that someone else I saw that had it?

That was definitely us!

[pincher]

Looked cool

[Chunky Dave]

pincher said:

Looked cool

Cheers my friend

[ChimpOnGas]

Phoenixcat said:

Cheers for the link, very useful. I had a major service at Taylor TVR just before I went and it got a clean bill of health. These electrical items are not on the servicing list so they often get left out.

MSM insurance I have found to be very good, helpful and respond to emails. The breakdown service Eurohome, not so much. When I got home I read the small print which stated that the ferry crossing is not covered so I didn't get a refund for my 276 euro I spent on the crossing. The bloke on the phone was very rude as well. He basically stated that my breakdown had already cost them £1000 so I should be grateful. What annoys me is that I agreed to drive my car onto the ferry and drive off, which was a pain as it was cutting out. If I had refused and the lorry had come with me I would have been covered for the ferry. So if you do break down don't drive onto the ferry, ensure the truck goes with you.

Extremely helpful info Phoenixcat, I'll keep it in mind should the worse ever happen.

Thanks, Dave.