Driving non A/C TVRs to Spain
Driving non A/C TVRs to Spain
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Discussion

DustyC

Original Poster:

12,822 posts

282 months

Tuesday 20th January 2004
quotequote all
Does it get a bit too hot?
If you went, what time of year did you go?

Burianna, I know you told me before what time of year you went but I have forgotten!

Im guessing that May or October would be best.

(Would go in June but that month is booked for the rest of my life, or until the LM dates change!)

Lensey

2,526 posts

311 months

Tuesday 20th January 2004
quotequote all
I went in August and boy was it hot! It was bearable until we got just past Barcelona and then it turned so hot I couldn't put my hand on the gear stick. My mate and me were pouring water over our heads because we were burning up. They did have a practically hot summer this year though. Went again in September and it was still really hot but I did have a/c then.

shnozz

30,611 posts

299 months

Tuesday 20th January 2004
quotequote all
well i am hoping to make le mans a bit of a roadtrip this year, why not consider incorporating a trip to spain into the le mans weekend? save yourself a ferry fee. burrianno went in june and reported weather was v warm. certainly want to avoid the next few months, goes without saying. personally i would avoid october as you can have bad weather around that time of the year. have known november to be not much better.

DustyC

Original Poster:

12,822 posts

282 months

Tuesday 20th January 2004
quotequote all
I hoilday'd on the coast (all the way from Gibraltar to Nerja) in Septemeber and it was flipping hot. I didnt like it, far too hot for me so I spent a lot of time in my rented Corsa which had fantastic A/C!

Im thinking about incorporating it into next years LM but Im taking my grilfriend on holiday and she wouldnt like LM. Thinking about leaving her in a nice hotel on the coast somewhere on the way home while I slum it in the stale beer and burning tyre stench that is Le Mans!

This years LM is all sorted though so cant incorporate it.


shnozz

30,611 posts

299 months

Tuesday 20th January 2004
quotequote all
DustyC said:
I hoilday'd on the coast (all the way from Gibraltar to Nerja) in Septemeber and it was flipping hot. I didnt like it, far too hot for me so I spent a lot of time in my rented Corsa which had fantastic A/C!

Im thinking about incorporating it into next years LM but Im taking my grilfriend on holiday and she wouldnt like LM. Thinking about leaving her in a nice hotel on the coast somewhere on the way home while I slum it in the stale beer and burning tyre stench that is Le Mans!

This years LM is all sorted though so cant incorporate it.




like your way of thinking

either that, or since you live so close to Pompey ferry port, drop her at the ferry port in France, with money for a cab from pompey! leaves you free for le mans weekend and then home afterwards to the washing and ironing all done...

DustyC

Original Poster:

12,822 posts

282 months

Tuesday 20th January 2004
quotequote all
shnozz said:

like your way of thinking

either that, or since you live so close to Pompey ferry port, drop her at the ferry port in France, with money for a cab from pompey! leaves you free for le mans weekend and then home afterwards to the washing and ironing all done...


Thats perfect. I cant wait to tell her. Im sure she'll love me even more!

burriana500

16,556 posts

282 months

Tuesday 20th January 2004
quotequote all
shnozz said:
burrianno went in june and reported weather was v warm. ...personally i would avoid october as you can have bad weather around that time of the year.


Burriana went in August and reported weather was F***ING STINKIN HOT

And in fact is already planning the return trip this year, probably June just after Le Mans, although I don't have anyone lined up to go with (or a ticket for that matter).

I have looked at ferrying down to Spain, but the cost and the timetables just don't work. Far easier to Chunnel it for £230 return, trains every hour

If I turned up at Le Mans on the Friday afternoon what are the chances of a) getting a ticket to get in, or whatever you do, never been? and b) finding any other PHers and cadging a small tent and car spot? ... or is it just a massive, heaving packed out place that once your lost, that's it?

Oh yes, the original question Aircon? You're 'avin a larf aincha You saying you would go all the way down to sunny Spain and then put the roof on just so the A/C would work ... factor 20 and a good hat mate, sorted Oh and keep clear of July & August if you're really worried - anytime between now and then though should be nice

Shnozz - agree with you on Oct & Nov , they can be tricky weather wise.

Dusty - have you got a car sorted yet?

al.

shnozz

30,611 posts

299 months

Tuesday 20th January 2004
quotequote all
burriana500 said:

shnozz said:
burrianno went in june and reported weather was v warm. ...personally i would avoid october as you can have bad weather around that time of the year.



Burriana went in August and reported weather was F***ING STINKIN HOT

And in fact is already planning the return trip this year, probably June just after Le Mans, although I don't have anyone lined up to go with (or a ticket for that matter).

I have looked at ferrying down to Spain, but the cost and the timetables just don't work. Far easier to Chunnel it for £230 return, trains every hour

If I turned up at Le Mans on the Friday afternoon what are the chances of a) getting a ticket to get in, or whatever you do, never been? and b) finding any other PHers and cadging a small tent and car spot? ... or is it just a massive, heaving packed out place that once your lost, that's it?

Oh yes, the original question Aircon? You're 'avin a larf aincha You saying you would go all the way down to sunny Spain and then put the roof on just so the A/C would work ... factor 20 and a good hat mate, sorted Oh and keep clear of July & August if you're really worried - anytime between now and then though should be nice

Shnozz - agree with you on Oct & Nov , they can be tricky weather wise.

Dusty - have you got a car sorted yet?

al.


in answer to your le mans questions, its the car parking that will be the hard part. You can buy your admission ticket when you get there for you to get inside the track. You can then crash with any other PHers in their tent, but getting the car pass is the hard bit.

A trick that can sometimes be done is to gently fix the car "ticket" to the windscreen with double sided tape, sneak it out the track, affix it to car to come in and try and blag it. However, last year some campsites (including maison blanc where we were), were getting wise to this and issuing a second paper ticket when you left and took it off you when you came back - ie unless a car went out, it wasnt allowed back in

PetrolTed

34,468 posts

331 months

Tuesday 20th January 2004
quotequote all
I did Valencia in the S a few years back. Yes, it gets bloody hot!

www.pistonheads.com/features/tomatina.htm

DustyC

Original Poster:

12,822 posts

282 months

Tuesday 20th January 2004
quotequote all
burriana500 said:

Dusty - have you got a car sorted yet?



Damn, I knew Id forgotten something!

I go to Le Mans every year and if I can sort you out camping with us then I will. There are currently about 20 cars going in our group. Nice cars too

Cant garuntee it (or spell!) as we were fully booked up last time I looked. I'll double check the numbers and let you know.
If you cant get to park with us and have to leave the car in Parking blue then its just to walk across the road to us in Masion Blanche and the circuit
You are welcome to camp and drink with us, the more the merrier!

Email me on profile if you want and I'll send you my mobile number. You can call me when you arrive and I'll tell you where to go (politely though!)

shnozz

30,611 posts

299 months

Tuesday 20th January 2004
quotequote all
PetrolTed said:
I did Valencia in the S a few years back. Yes, it gets bloody hot!

www.pistonheads.com/features/tomatina.htm


not read that before, sounds a good trip. Tempting me to head to spain as part of the road trip now. The pyranees section sounds worthwhile.

brentstevens

952 posts

287 months

Tuesday 20th January 2004
quotequote all
For those with A/C, the real answer is:-

Top in boot
Adequate sunblock for arms
Good peaked cap and shades
Drive bare-footed
PUT AC ON FULL BLAST ON YOUR FEET.

Absolute unadulterated bliss!! Probably the fourth best feeling in the world. and NO - don't ask.

raftom

1,306 posts

289 months

Tuesday 20th January 2004
quotequote all
Last year in the return trip from LM I was having a rest after lunch in a service area near Tordesilhas when 2 guys came in a Austin Healey 3000 with the roof OFF!!

At 2 pm in central Spain, that was very brave!

I in a reasonably modern closed car even with A/C on felt hot as hell (and sunburned my left arm).

burriana500

16,556 posts

282 months

Tuesday 20th January 2004
quotequote all
DustyC said:


I go to Le Mans every year and if I can sort you out camping with us then I will. There are currently about 20 cars going in our group. Nice cars too

Cant garuntee it (or spell!) as we were fully booked up last time I looked. I'll double check the numbers and let you know.
If you cant get to park with us and have to leave the car in Parking blue then its just to walk across the road to us in Masion Blanche and the circuit
You are welcome to camp and drink with us, the more the merrier!

Email me on profile if you want and I'll send you my mobile number. You can call me when you arrive and I'll tell you where to go (politely though!)


Kind offer Adam thank you - just let me know if you find a space

Wouldn't be too keen on leaving the car else where - 'specially as I'm going to need it for my onward journey to Spain What is parking Bleu like, is it safe?

al.

weekender

33 posts

275 months

Tuesday 20th January 2004
quotequote all
no problem, drive fast, keep the roof on and the windows open. did Spain and Portugal in September of last year, 38c+ but didn't bother with the AC.

theblacktuscks

823 posts

281 months

Tuesday 20th January 2004
quotequote all
From experience: May, June & early July are all top. Anything else is uncomfortable for one reason or another. Spain 3 times last year. This year I'm going to concentrate on Italy, France & Portugal.

DustyC

Original Poster:

12,822 posts

282 months

Wednesday 21st January 2004
quotequote all
PetrolTed said:
I did Valencia in the S a few years back. Yes, it gets bloody hot!

www.pistonheads.com/features/tomatina.htm


That was one of the first things I read on PH. A very good tale. Did you ever go again?


Burriana- Parking Bleu is as safe as a big field (thats all it is!).
There is the possibility that we could sneak you AND the car into the campsite but it requires forward planning (and selotape!).

Thanks for the advice all. All I need now is a car and Im set!

burriana500

16,556 posts

282 months

Wednesday 21st January 2004
quotequote all
DustyC said:


Burriana- Parking Bleu is as safe as a big field (thats all it is!).
There is the possibility that we could sneak you AND the car into the campsite but it requires forward planning (and selotape!).


Don't mind paying to make it official - how are you all getting across, ferry or chunnel?

DustyC

Original Poster:

12,822 posts

282 months

Wednesday 21st January 2004
quotequote all
burriana500 said:

DustyC said:


Burriana- Parking Bleu is as safe as a big field (thats all it is!).
There is the possibility that we could sneak you AND the car into the campsite but it requires forward planning (and selotape!).



Don't mind paying to make it official - how are you all getting across, ferry or chunnel?


Already have some PHers joining us.
We have the cheapest package going (we organise bulk bookings every year) and are on an official campsite.

We are going across from Portsmouth on the Seacat (3hr crossing) to Cherbourg on the Thursday morning. About a 4 - 5 hour fun drive down with lunch break.
Coming back on the Monday evening, same route.

Unfortunately we closed our tickets before Xmas but I here rumors of people being busy in June. Would you be interested? Email me if you want mate.

burriana500

16,556 posts

282 months

Wednesday 21st January 2004
quotequote all
Very possibly, though I have just found out that my second in command has booked 2 weeks off slap bang over Le Mans! I now have to see if she is moveable on her dates.

I can't do Le Mans AND a separate trip to Spain, so doing Le Mans then onwards would be ideal.

I'll let you know as soon as I figure some way round it.

How much is the Seacat crossing?

al.

>> Edited by burriana500 on Wednesday 21st January 18:30