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| A great run down the sand for these two hot rods with the 1930 Ford Model A of René Tepper leading. |
The most fun and unusual motoring event I have been to all year was September's first running of the Normandy Beach Race. It was held at Riva-Bella Plage in Ouistreham, France, the famous Sword Beach of the D-Day landing of June 1944. Very much based on The Race of Gentlemen for Hot Rods and Motorcycles at Wildwood, New Jersey, USA, apparently the idea for the Normandy Beach Race originated from a visit to a T.R.O.G. event in California in 2016. What a great idea it turned out to be; Americana but with some European flavour thrown in. A throwback in time to a place most of us didn’t know, but judging from the thousands of spectators, a time and a place we would all like to visit.
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| This guy in the high fashion for 1947 red and white trousers certainly brought a smile to some people's faces! |
The event consisted of side by side demonstration runs up a 1/8th mile drag strip on a sandy beach at Ouistreham. It didn’t matter that these runs were not timed; the winners were all of us who attended or participated in this great little event. It is difficult to imagine that there won’t be a repeat of this event soon. All of the vehicles were pre-1947 cars or motorcycles and there were about eighty of them. These included some very bizarre and unusual vehicles such as the lakesters made out of the drop or belly tanks of old military aircraft. The drivers and riders also included some rather interesting eccentrics which makes the event all the better for having them there. Amazing to see so many nationalities amongst the racers – France, UK, Belgium, Denmark, Switzerland, Spain and Germany were all represented. A special mention must be made of the flag girls who made such a show out of starting each run. My admiration for all the riders of the two wheeled machines, riding fast on a beach is not exactly easy, heroes all of you!
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| The flag has dropped and two bikes begin their run. |
I have to say that the event was very well organised, was blessed with great late summer weather and had an atmosphere I would seek out again. Hats off to the organisers. Chapeau!
Lakesters and Belly Tanks
I have to admit that these vehicles held the most interest for me as they are so unusual to see in Europe.
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| The Lakester of Christophe Mehault from France. |
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| The Belly Tank of Frank Flück from Denmark. |
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| Lakester in the paddock. |
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| The Belgian Belly Tank of Alexan Artunoff. |
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| The very unusual propeller powered belly tank. |
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| Danish Belly Tank in the paddock. |
Motorcycles
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| A Harley leads this run. |
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| Harley Davidson. |
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| A mad dash to the line with the three wheeler Harley Davidson in the lead. |
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| Concentration. |
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| Another great biker's battle. |
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| A fun pairing! |
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| Motorbike versus motortrike. |
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| Made in the USa. |
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| A Harley takes the flag at the end of a run. |
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| Red Indian! |
Hot Rods and other Cars
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| An early run from the 4 Banger withe English Channel (La Manche) in the background. |
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| closely foufht drag race along the beach at Ouistreham. |
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| A Ford Fot Rod. |
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| Closely fought beach race. |
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| Pure Americana! |
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| Model T dust up with Thierry Dubois playing catch-up. |
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| A bumpy ride for Ken Ronbinson from Spain. Bonnie and ..... |
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| ....Clyde makes a run! |
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| Determined drive in this Wildwood Special. |
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| A real crowd pleaser! |
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| Back to the future! |
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| Ford vs Ford |
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| Supercharged! |
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| Ford leading again! |
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| A Ford A Sedan from France driven by Gilles Gros. |
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| Beach racing! |
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| The shark! |
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| Hot Rod racing with beards! |
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| The Swiss roll along the beach! |
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| Sedan racing. |
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| Another Ford. |
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| Drag strip by the sea. |
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| Kustom Surfers Deluxe. |
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| Pure theatre at the start. |
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| Eat my dust! |
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| Sandy paddock. |
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| Brett Pillinger from England in his 1922 Ford Model T roadster. |
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| Beach huts. |
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| Happy and smiling! |
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| The're off! |
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| Lafayette Special. |
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| Sta-lube Special. |
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| The finish line. |
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| Speed thrills! |
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| Opposite lock! |
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| Hopped up! |
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| The inside line. |
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| Laid back! |
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| International. |
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| Pure Joy! |
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.
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.
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