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The Trip

by Pete Giles

After we returned I realised the Schlumpf Brothers collection had been in the public eye since 1978 because the French government had declared them bankrupt, the museum was not open due to court proceedings but they would open the doors if you called in.

Friday April 1^st 1983

My family and friends already thought I was bonkers anyway so going on this trip just confirmed it.

This was my third trip to France my brother in law and I had been to Le Mans in 1977 and I had a school holiday in 1960 to Calais (I was gutted when in rained I thought it would be sunny in a foreign country).

My companion for this trip was a lad of 16 who had been helping me in the work shop since he was 9, my other helper would have been coming as well but he was taken ill, (we went everywhere together the 3 of us to rallies, other journeys across France what would people think today?).

We left Plymouth on the midday Ferry the customs officers asked where we were going we said to the Swiss border my how they laughed saying IN THAT! Not many old cars where driven that far in those days.

The Boat trip took 7 hours we had some laughs with the other passengers some who had been to Mulhouse and thought use quite mad. We arrived in Roscoff at 6 o’clock and our first plug went down, I had replaced them before leaving we ended up putting the other 3 old ones back in, Our first time driving on the wrong side was soon sorted out and we soon arrive at Morlaix first mistake don’t go into the town use the bypass this put us a bit behind and we decide to find a camp site, not far from the town is the village of Belle Ilse the camp site was on the road to Loc Envel there is an old castle there. The site was deserted but as it was getting a bit late and not wanting to drive in the dark we set up camp, this is when we discovered the ground sheet had been left behind along with my bedding so the carpets from the car were used for the rest of the journey.

Saturday April 2^nd

It was raining when we got out in the morning so we took out the rear seats and put them in the tent and we cooked our Breakfast in the car. After the camp was put away we headed for St Brieuc where we parked and had a walk about and visited a super market for some rolls for dinner, a cup of coffee was made on the side of the road then we headed off after I had backed into the kerb and broke the exhaust, this was fixed with wire and lasted until we returned.

With the rain still coming down in Buckets and leaking through the roof we made for Le Mans. As we came near a lot of bikes came by and we realised it was the French GP weekend so it was decided to find the Track. Just as we arrived in the town the ignition light came on so the dynamo was stripped by the side of the road, as this was being done the weather improved so the tent was laid out to dry and coffee made.

The brush was replaced and the dynamo refitted and we headed for the Circuit Du Mans to see if we could get onto the Mulsane straight this was not a problem as the roads were still open, at Arnage we took some photos, then we headed for the Grandstand to see the bikes then on the road again heading for Orleans, a camp site was found and as it was still dry we decided to get the tent up, we found ourselves on a football ground with some showers but boy where they cold, still could not work out the phones keep getting a message in French, no idea what it said.

To be continued...

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