June 1-2
La Vie en Bleu - Prescott speed hill climb
report and pictures by Ian and Sue Andrew
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also (below) Prescott Hill Climb, Cheltenham.
Pete Sparrow
La Vie en Bleu – Encore
Prescott Bugatti Circuit, 1 & 2 June
Prescott Bugatti Circuit, 1 & 2 June
After last year’s brilliant weather, the best we could hope for this year was, ‘hope it doesn’t rain’. However, the weather gods came up trumps and the sun shone both days. Our stand was placed, yet again, in a prime lower paddock position, opposite the main stage, in full view of the Can-Can dancers!
Our theme was a French pavement café, but with a twist. Cafe Leppard (named after the event organiser) was “Ferme pour notre déjeuner” tout le temps! It must have looked quite good as, over the weekend, we were “tres desole” to turn customers away requesting coffee or lunch!!!
John Rowe’s yellow Citroen H van was there plus a selection of Velosolex, one being a 1949, English assembled model. There was also a Derny tandem used by the French in the 1950’s when they were given holidays by law and could take to the country. Mike Tebbitt from the Bugatti Owners Club offered us a Citroen Traction Avant for the stand to complete the line up.
On the Sunday, we had a magnificent 1937 Bugatti Type 57c in place, which was a big attraction. The C denotes supercharger [compressor] and has a 3.3 litres straight eight, double o/head cam engine, and probably producing 175bhp, which relates to 110mph. The body by was designed by Gangloff of Colmar, close to the Bugatti works. Although the body design was never actually produced in period, a 2d drawing existed in a 1939 Gangloff catalogue. This body was built in 1988/1990, as a 'recreation'. The original 2d drawing plus further drawings were produced to order in 1988 by the original draughtsman. One suspects that no one had the nerve, in 1939, to commission such an impractical body from the catalogue, for such a large car, it is strictly a two seater and jolly difficult to see out of …
Sunday saw the solitary Citroen 2CV racing. Driven by Martin Harrold and Jon Davis, although not quite as quick as the other competitors, had an epic battle between themselves.
The Velosolex ‘race’ was won by the flying chef from Cafe Leppard, who managed to find time from turning clients away, to probably post a hill record for a Velosolex!
A brilliant week-end of vintage and classic vehicles, with fantastic entertainment in the lower paddock, all with French flavour.
Our theme was a French pavement café, but with a twist. Cafe Leppard (named after the event organiser) was “Ferme pour notre déjeuner” tout le temps! It must have looked quite good as, over the weekend, we were “tres desole” to turn customers away requesting coffee or lunch!!!
John Rowe’s yellow Citroen H van was there plus a selection of Velosolex, one being a 1949, English assembled model. There was also a Derny tandem used by the French in the 1950’s when they were given holidays by law and could take to the country. Mike Tebbitt from the Bugatti Owners Club offered us a Citroen Traction Avant for the stand to complete the line up.
On the Sunday, we had a magnificent 1937 Bugatti Type 57c in place, which was a big attraction. The C denotes supercharger [compressor] and has a 3.3 litres straight eight, double o/head cam engine, and probably producing 175bhp, which relates to 110mph. The body by was designed by Gangloff of Colmar, close to the Bugatti works. Although the body design was never actually produced in period, a 2d drawing existed in a 1939 Gangloff catalogue. This body was built in 1988/1990, as a 'recreation'. The original 2d drawing plus further drawings were produced to order in 1988 by the original draughtsman. One suspects that no one had the nerve, in 1939, to commission such an impractical body from the catalogue, for such a large car, it is strictly a two seater and jolly difficult to see out of …
Sunday saw the solitary Citroen 2CV racing. Driven by Martin Harrold and Jon Davis, although not quite as quick as the other competitors, had an epic battle between themselves.
The Velosolex ‘race’ was won by the flying chef from Cafe Leppard, who managed to find time from turning clients away, to probably post a hill record for a Velosolex!
A brilliant week-end of vintage and classic vehicles, with fantastic entertainment in the lower paddock, all with French flavour.
report and pictures by Ian and Sue Andrew
