Motor Racing, H:O Scale Slot Cars, Classic Cars, the building of my slot car circuit

Les courses automobiles francaises et voitures classiques

Sunday 16 September 2018

Le Boullay-Thierry Foire Artisinale 2018

Citroen Avant au Boullay Thierry.
Le Boullay-Thierry is a very pleasant small village in La Beauce area of France not far from Chartres and Nogent Le Roi.   Every September they hold a "Foire Artisinale", for local artisans to sell their produce.  Often they also invite enthusiasts to show off their classic collectors cars and classic tractors and other agricultural vehicles..  These are photos from the 2018 edition.
Simca Aronde, Citroen Avant, Renault 4CV and other "voitures de collection" at Le Boullay-Thierry.
Renault Gordini R8.
Ford Mustang Convertible.
Renault 4CV

You don't see many old Morris Minor vans in France.
John Etherton asserts his copyright to all of the photos on this blogpost.  However, you may post the photos elsewhere on the web as long as you credit the photographer, John Etherton, and this blog post, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com and provide a link to this page.

John Etherton affirme son droit d'auteur à l'ensemble des photos sur ce billet de blog. Cependant, vous pouvez poster des photos ailleurs sur le web aussi longtemps que vous créditez le photographe, John Etherton, et ce blog, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com et fournissez un lien vers cette page. 
A Saviem agricultural vehicle.
SFV Tractor "face".

Saturday 15 September 2018

Chartres en Lumières 2018

Citroen 2CVs at night in Chartres
From the middle of April until the middle of April there is an amazing light show after dusk in Chartres, in France.  We went in September this year and viewed Chartres en Lumière (Chartres in Lights).  The show on the front of the cathedral is particularly good.  During our visit we bumped into a meeting of classic Citroen 2CV cars.  Their was also a Ciitroen Mehari which is variant on the 2CV and a Volkswagen Beetle.  They were outside Le Grande Monarque hotel and restaurant in Chartres.  A few pictures below both of the light show and the classic cars.

Some of the amazing light projections on the buildings of Chartres.
Citroen Mehari.
Volkswagen Beetle.
John Etherton asserts his copyright to all of the photos on this blogpost.  However, you may post the photos elsewhere on the web as long as you credit the photographer, John Etherton, and this blog post, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com and provide a link to this page.

John Etherton affirme son droit d'auteur à l'ensemble des photos sur ce billet de blog. Cependant, vous pouvez poster des photos ailleurs sur le web aussi longtemps que vous créditez le photographe, John Etherton, et ce blog, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com et fournissez un lien vers cette page. 

Citroen 2CVs surrounding a Citroen Mehari.

Sunday 2 September 2018

Etretat-Bénouville Hillclimb 2018 - Pre War Standard and Modified Sports Cars

Barry Foster in the paddock with his 1931 MG Montlhéry.
My final post on the 2018 Course de Côte d'Etretat-Bénouville VHC, covers the Pre War VSCC standard and modified sports cars.  The earliest was from 1925 and the latest from 1939.  I managed to take a reasonable variety of photos both on the course, just after the finish line and in the paddock.  All of the cars that competed are shown below, in the order that they were classified with the fastest first.   My favourites this year were the MGs, particularly that of Barry Foster who was looking very French in his beret.
Fastest of this group was Peter Edney in his 1939 MG TB.
The radiator grill of Peter Edney's MG.

Joanna Blakeney-Edwards in her 1929 Frazer-Nash Super Sports.

Simon Blakeney-Edwards in his 1929 Frazer-Nash Super Sports.
Clive Fidgeon in a 1932 Frazer-Nash TT Replica.

Barry Foster's 1931 MG Montlhéry.

Barry Foster working on his MG Montlhéry.

The rat emblem on Barry Foster's MG.

More detail on Barry Foster's MG.

Andrew Morland in his 1933 MG L1.
Detail on Andrew Morland's MG.

The Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport of Roger Buxton.

The front of Roger Buxton's Alfa Romeo.

Annabel Jones in her 1926 Frazer-Nash Boulogne Vintage.

The 1928 Frazer-Nash Sports of Robin Lightwood.

Andrew Messent in his 1927 Morgan Super Aero 1.1 litre crossing the finishing line.

The 1930 Frazer-Nash Super Sports of Locky McKenzie.

Rachel Holdsworth in a 1935 MG PB.

The 1935 Frazer-Nash TT Replica of Richard Matthews.

The front of Richard Matthew's Frazer-Nash.

Alain Muckensturm in a 1934 MG NA

John Etherton asserts his copyright to all of the photos on this blogpost.  However, you may post the photos elsewhere on the web as long as you credit the photographer, John Etherton, and this blog post, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com and provide a link to this page.

John Etherton affirme son droit d'auteur à l'ensemble des photos sur ce billet de blog. Cependant, vous pouvez poster des photos ailleurs sur le web aussi longtemps que vous créditez le photographe, John Etherton, et ce blog, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com et fournissez un lien vers cette page. 


Drivers eye view from a Frazer-Nash.

Saturday 1 September 2018

Etretat-Bénouville Hillclimb 2018 - Pre War Racing Cars and Sport Specials

Francesca Wilton in her 1935 Austin Seven 750cc racing car at speed heading up to Bénouville.
This pre-war group of cars was undoubtedly my favourite group at Etretat this year.  Hence, more photos than the other groups.   Lots of really old racers - I am talking about the cars!     Austin Sevens, Frazer-Nash, Rileys, a Wolseley and of course a very fast Morgan three wheeler.  However, perhaps my favourite was the vintage GN Spider of David Leigh. Amazing old car!   I also really enjoyed having a quick chat, between shots, with the enthusiastic car owners and drivers such as David, Ron and others.  Saturday was a real pleasure, just like historic events should be.  All of the cars competing in the VSCC Pre War classes for racing cars and sports specials are featured below.  They are presented in descending order of their fastest times.   I tried to get a few different shots this year and I think i succeeded.

Sue Darbyshire was fastest of the pre war vehicles in her 1929 1,260cc Morgan Super Aero 3 wheeler.

Morgan Super Aero in the Bénouville paddock.

David Leigh piloted the amazing 1923 GN Spider to a fast time.

The 1923 GN Spider has an even older 1,86cc motor.

The GN Spider has chain drive.

The GN Spider is an amazingly rustic but effective car.

Paul Baker in this 1934 2 litre Frazer-Nash Super Sports.

A 1935 Riley 1.5litre MPH drivem by Colin Wolstenholme.

Keven Morton cornering his 1931 1.1 litre Riley 9.

The beautiful 1934 Wolseley Hornet Special of Ron Turner.

This Wolseley has a supercharged 1.6 lire engine.

A sting on the tail of the Wolseley Super Hornet.

Paul Weston in his 2 litre 1934 Frazer-Nash TT Replica. 

Iain Cheyne locking up the 1937 Frazer-Nash Semmence Special.

Work in the paddock on the Frazer-Nash Semmence Special.  It has a 2 litre engine.

Timothy Pryke urging his 1935 Frazer-Nash Colmore around the corner.

Francesca Wilton in her 1935 Austin 7.

The 1937 Frazer-Nash TT Replica driven by Iain Roche.

Bill Croxton in his 1933 Frazer-Nash TT Replica.

This 1932 Riley 12/4 of Andrew Oliver missed Saturday's run as its engine was undergoing repair.

Bringing up the tail of the field was Richard Wyatt in his 1931 Austin Seven .

The 1931 Austin Seven Lanterne Rouge Special
John Etherton asserts his copyright to all of the photos on this blogpost.  However, you may post the photos elsewhere on the web as long as you credit the photographer, John Etherton, and this blog post, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com and provide a link to this page.

John Etherton affirme son droit d'auteur à l'ensemble des photos sur ce billet de blog. Cependant, vous pouvez poster des photos ailleurs sur le web aussi longtemps que vous créditez le photographe, John Etherton, et ce blog, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com et fournissez un lien vers cette page. 
Wolseley Super Hornet dashboard.