Mustangdrive in France
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The Dutch Mustang Forum and MustangPassion organised a drive to a former F1 track in Gueux near Reims (Champagne area, France)
Eventually 39 cars from The Netherlands, Belgium, France and UK parked in front of the old stands. I was also there with 6 mustangdrivers.
Here are some pics....
Eventually 39 cars from The Netherlands, Belgium, France and UK parked in front of the old stands. I was also there with 6 mustangdrivers.
Here are some pics....
I take it the circuit is now just a normal road?
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Saturday, 4th of June 2005. On the Dutch/Belgian border 16 Mustangs gather very early in the morning for a trip to France. The road leads past Antwerp and Brussels to the Belgian/French border, were another 6 Mustangs are waiting. We take no more freeway after entering France, but scenic two lane roads instead. That also means crossing towns with traffic lights and roundabouts, so there are some tricks needed to keep the convoy complete. Tricks like taking a roundabout twice and blocking it a little for all Mustangs to join in again.
After some 250 miles our convoy arrives in Reims, France. Meeting point is the practical but far from romantic parking lot of the CORA Hypermarche (very large grocery store). Several French Mustangs are awaiting us there. Shaking hands, eating, inspecting each others cars and more and more Mustangs arrive. With 40 cars we leave the parking lot and head for our goal for this afternoon: the historic circuit de Reims-Gueux. On the small country roads we leave people staring at us with open mouth – a Mustang is very rare sight in the French countryside, but some 40 Mustangs in a row….
An incredible scene unrolls upon arriving at the remains the old circuit. Driving upfront I am one of the first to get out of the car and be able to photograph the traffic jam of Mustangs. Three more Mustangs had been waiting for us and Patrick, of the Ecurie Mustang France, goes to great lengths to stop normal traffic and guide each Mustang to its place in front of the pits. Fantastic, this spectacle of 40 Mustangs taking their spot in this historic environment. Not something I’m likely to see again. For a couple of hours everyone is exploring the remains of the circuit, and everyone can more or less imagine the old days when there were real races held here.
Next is The Route Touristique du Champagne, with romantic small towns crowded with Champagne growers and merchants, after which our Hotel in Epernay awaits us. A real haven for thirsty and hungry Mustangdrivers from Holland, Belgium and France.
Sunday, 5th of June 2005. After breakfast we are on our way to the famous Champagne cellars of Mercier. With even more cars, as 6 Mustangs from Paris who were unable to attend yesterdays program, join in. Mercier has 15 million bottles of Champagne stored in their enormous cellars carved out of the limestone. Visits are organized using an electric tram; the visit ends with a glass of Champagne from a special “Cuvée”. Even at 11.00 AM it tastes wonderfully.
While the French Mustangs, with the new arrivals, take another tour to the circuit, the Dutch group starts the long run home over some more beautiful country roads. Lunch is at … McDonalds! Everyone returns home safe: in 550 to 600 miles we have experienced not the slightest mechanical problem with any of the cars. A weekend to remember for a very long time….
To get another impression, here’s a link to a video (30MB, .wmv). There are hundreds of photo’s, so let me know if you want to see more.
http://home.tiscali.nl/noordinkmustang/Movies/Reims.wmv
Marc
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yes we did !!! And in two weeks, around 40 mustangs will explore Flanders, nothing historic there, but great fun assured !! Wait for pics of 8th Flanders Mustang Event.....
Geoffrey, mustangdriver
Geoffrey, mustangdriver
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