 |
| Model of Vaux-le-Vicomte at France Minature |
On Tuesday 8th April 2014 the 24th Tour Auto took place and the participants started officially from the Chateau Vaux-Le-Vicomte and set off towards to Dijon. We joined them close to Chablis and took the lovely pictures that accompany this post. It is lovely seeing these old sports, touring and GT cars on real roads rather than modern race tracks. This reflects the real tradition of motor racing in France. On Saturday 12th April the cars finally arrived in the old port of Marseilles and the AC Cobra of Shaun Lynn and Kevin Kivlochan was declared the winner.
 |
| Shaun Lynn in the winning AC Cobra driving towards Chablis |
 |
| The winning 1963 AC Cobra of Shaun Lynn about to enter Chablis. |
The main competition to Shaun Lynn came from a number of other AC Cobras, especially that of Ludovic Caron, and some Jaguar E Types.
 |
| 4th placed Jean-Marc Merlin in his beautiful 1963 AC Cobra driving through Maligny |
 |
| Hugo Payen at speed in the 3rd placed 1963 Jaguar E Type |
There was some nice racing exotica present as well as the E Types and Cobras such as the GT 40s and particularly the Ferrari 250 GT Breadvan. I saw the Breadvan at speed leaving Maligny and then later broken down just outside of Chablis. Luckily the mechanics got it going again.
 |
| Chris Wilson in his 1964 Ford GT40 passing the Chateau in Maligny |
 |
| Martin Halusa in the rare Ferrari Breadvan near Maligny |
 |
| Ferrari Breadvan undergoing repairs outside of Chablis |
 |
| Repairs continue |
 |
| The V12 Ferrari engine is a work of art! |
As well as the famous cars there were a number of famous ex-F1, sports car and rally drivers in the field including Rauno Aaltonen, Olivier Panis, Erik Comas and Jurgen Barth.
 |
| Erik Comas in the 1974 Grp4 Lancia Stratos |
 |
| Olivier Panis in the Ferrari 308GTB |
 |
| Jurgen Barth in the 1973 Porsche 911RSR passing the famous Chablis vines |
It was not all about overall victory and famous cars and drivers. Everyone was racing for victory in the Index of Performance and in their class.
 |
| Runner-up in the Index of performance was Vincent Tourneur in this 1954 Porsche 356 |
 |
| Winner of his class was Roman Rocher in his 1966 Porsche 906 |
 |
| 2nd in the same historical category was Philippe Vandromme in his 1967 Ford GT40 |
 |
| 3rd in his historical category was Jean-Claude Basso in his BMW 3.0CSL |
The feature of the 2014 Tour Optic was the honour given to the BMW and Minis many of which had competed in the early events.
 |
| The 1965 Ausin Cooper S of Jean-Louis Lachet in Maligny |
 |
| Siegfried Brunn and his 1961 BMW 700S in Maligny |
 |
| Julien Lemeille and the 1965 BMW 1800Ti pass the Chateau in Maligny |
 |
| Arnaud Gaudel and the 1971 BMW 2800CS and the Chablis vines |
Perhaps the marque that seemed the most represented was my favourite - Alfa Romeo. They were represented from the 50s through the 70s and even included a police car!
 |
| Pierre Adamski and 1973 Alfa Romeo Guilia Super police car |
 |
| Beautiful 1962 Alfa Romeo Guilieta SZT crosses the bridge in Maligny |
 |
| 1961 Alfa Romeo Guilietta Sprint Veloce passes the Chateau in Maligny |
 |
| Jean Laurent-Bellue in the 1963 Alfa Romeo TZ |
 |
| Charles Nearburg's 1965 Alfa Romeo 1600GTA |
Many other marques were represented including Mercedes, Alpine Renault, MG, Austin Healey, De Tomasco, Triumph, Lotus, Citroen, Renault etc.
 |
| 1965 MGB of Eugene Deleplanque |
 |
| A pair of 1955 Mercedes 300SL Gullwings pass through Maligny |
 |
| 1954 Austin Healey 100/4 of Stefano Frischa |
 |
| 1967 Renault 8 Gordini of Gerard Salat in Maligny |
 |
| Stephane Guyot-Sionnest and 1957 Triumph TR3 |
 |
| 1964 Lotus Elan 26R of Mike Humphreys |
 |
| Norbert Fradin thundering past the Chablis vines in his 1972 De Tomaso Pantera |
 |
| 1973 Alpine Renault A110 of Christian Chamboral |
 |
| The 1970 Citroen Maserati SM of Eric Belooussoff in Chablis |
If you are still not convinced to come to next year's event, here are a few more of my favourite pictures from the day.
 |
| Terence W Hefty and his 1955 Lancia Aurelia B20S |
 |
| Dominique Vuillaume and 1972 Lancia Fulvia 1300S heads out off Maligny |
 |
| Thanks for hooting as you drove past! |
 |
| One of there largest cars, a 1963 Ford Galaxie of Stephane Sabates |
 |
| Another Ford, this time a 1965 Mustang 289 |
 |
| A real beauty, the 1965 Ferrari 275GTB of Eric Everard |
 |
| The Mr John of B/Sibel 1966 Porsche 906 races by the vines |
 |
| 1971 Porsche 914/6 GT of Jacques Bertoni |
After seeing all these cars we retired into Chablis to visit one of our favourite wine makers and restaurants - Daniel-Etienne Defaix in Chablis. He is unusual in that he sells mature Chablis - we sampled the 2003 1er Cru Vaillon and would recommend it.
 |
| At Daniel-Etienne Defaix's restaurant - La Cuisine au Vin. |
The photographer, John Etherton asserts his copyright to all photos in this blog. If you are the owner or driver of these cars please email me at rouenlesafx@gmail.com should you wish a full format copy of any of these photos.
 |
| One of the older cars, a 1950 Jaguar XK120 of Didier Benaroya |
