Jump to content


Photo

Monaco followed by Pau


  • Please log in to reply
16 replies to this topic

#1 Sharman

Sharman
  • Member

  • 5,284 posts
  • Joined: September 05

Posted 04 March 2014 - 10:15

Two Historiques this year on consecutive week ends, anybody intending to do both?



Advertisement

#2 john ruston

john ruston
  • Member

  • 1,019 posts
  • Joined: May 03

Posted 04 March 2014 - 11:47

Wrong forum.

Don't think you will find to many racers on here.It's a Historic Racing Today type thread.

The bi annual clash is crazy but the clash of dates between the various race organisers is usual and does nothing for Historic Racing.

#3 Sharman

Sharman
  • Member

  • 5,284 posts
  • Joined: September 05

Posted 04 March 2014 - 13:38

Well its never been the wrong forum before, just check before you post



#4 Kpy

Kpy
  • Member

  • 1,259 posts
  • Joined: February 01

Posted 04 March 2014 - 17:33

Just a variation of points of view.

"do both" does rather imply participation.

I suspect Sharman is seeking fellow spectators and just might be unaware of John's identity as an entrant.

Vice versa might apply, but Sharman remains anonymous.



#5 Sharman

Sharman
  • Member

  • 5,284 posts
  • Joined: September 05

Posted 04 March 2014 - 22:12

I seem to remember a proverb about pots and kettles KPY, my name is Sharman. My reason for raising the subject was that I live between the two venues and was proposing to offer hospitality to anyone acceptably polite who might feel disposed to accept my invitation



#6 Kpy

Kpy
  • Member

  • 1,259 posts
  • Joined: February 01

Posted 04 March 2014 - 23:48

I seem to remember a proverb about pots and kettles KPY, my name is Sharman. 

 

My name is Christopher Laws, as appears at the foot of all my posts.

Are you perhaps Christopher or Geoff Sharman?



#7 Odseybod

Odseybod
  • Member

  • 1,800 posts
  • Joined: January 08

Posted 06 March 2014 - 19:23

Hopefully dodging the flak barrage ...

 

With luck I intend to 'do' Pau as a working journo/photographer, but plans are still a bit fluid.  Does it look as though the change of organiser will bring many changes?



#8 Giraffe

Giraffe
  • Member

  • 7,316 posts
  • Joined: January 08

Posted 07 March 2014 - 09:28

I have been told that from a spectator's point of view, Pau is somewhat challenging as there is a lot of climbing and descending involved, it is somewhat crowded and parts of the circuit are inaccessible without accreditation. Is this the case?



#9 Sharman

Sharman
  • Member

  • 5,284 posts
  • Joined: September 05

Posted 07 March 2014 - 10:04

I have never found it a problem Tony, they have demolished the start line grandstand but I have not been since this happened. I'll probably go this year although my 2 "C" type friends will not be there as there is not a suitable race. Main race is for pre 66 which brings in a lot of quick "E's" and Cobras etc



#10 Odseybod

Odseybod
  • Member

  • 1,800 posts
  • Joined: January 08

Posted 07 March 2014 - 12:07

Thanks, Sharman, useful to know.  As I say, my plans are very hazy at the moment but I'd certainly like to go if I can get myself organised.  I visited Pau last year while on hols in Bayonne and thought it was great (especially after I found a very good motoring and aviation bookshop there!).  Probably even better with some suitable vehicles stretching their legs though as Tony/Giraffe says, it's full of vertical challenges (although there is a free funicular running up to the town from the station, which might help). 



#11 Paul Parker

Paul Parker
  • Member

  • 2,198 posts
  • Joined: October 02

Posted 07 March 2014 - 13:22

Thanks, Sharman, useful to know.  As I say, my plans are very hazy at the moment but I'd certainly like to go if I can get myself organised.  I visited Pau last year while on hols in Bayonne and thought it was great (especially after I found a very good motoring and aviation bookshop there!).  Probably even better with some suitable vehicles stretching their legs though as Tony/Giraffe says, it's full of vertical challenges (although there is a free funicular running up to the town from the station, which might help). 

 

Watch out if it rains, the last time I was there, admittedly 2003, it reminded me of a storm I encountered crossing the Bay of Biscay in a cargo ship circa 1965.

 

If you want to take reasonable pics you do need a track pass and yes parts of the circuit are a steepish climb, but nothing too demanding, in my opinion.

 

Apart from the Virage de la Gare that is adjacent to the mini-funicular the best part of the circuit is up at the top after the hairpin and past the casino onwards to the memorial of Marshall Foch (from memory) after which it starts winding back down hill around assorted sharp corners and exits onto what I always thought of as the pits straight.

 

There is a good circuit map on Wikipedia which shows the layout and you can take photos above the Virage de la Gare if you have a suitably long focus lens. For your information the elevation extends to the Boulevard des Pyranees which has a view of distant mountains and is good for nosh whilst you might even find a merry go round nearby and plenty of other small restaurants.

 

I hope you have a good weekend and the weather is kind.



#12 Sharman

Sharman
  • Member

  • 5,284 posts
  • Joined: September 05

Posted 07 March 2014 - 13:23

On race weekends the only place the funicular goes is to the stand above the hairpin after the start. The rest of the time it is shank's pony up and down but really once down there is little need to go up again if, like me, you find enjoyment in the paddocks and the watching place I prefer is the snaky esses after the start.



#13 Odseybod

Odseybod
  • Member

  • 1,800 posts
  • Joined: January 08

Posted 07 March 2014 - 13:54

Thanks both for the info - definitely sounding as though I should get myself organised soon.

 

There's a good little bistro/restaurant in the town proper called Le Berry which I'd aim to visit again - as a Dornford Yates fan, I made a b-b-bee-line for it (in-joke for any other DY enthusiasts here, so sure to fall flat). But in mitigation, Pau was his sort of place too.

 

.  



#14 Sharman

Sharman
  • Member

  • 5,284 posts
  • Joined: September 05

Posted 07 March 2014 - 14:53

It has changed a lot since the 30s, when we were there a few years back at, I think, the Ibis, we were having breakfast when a couple of hippies (there are a lot, or their successors, in the town) mooned against the window. Quite put me off my pain au raisin. Not quite in the DY mode.



#15 Tim Murray

Tim Murray
  • Moderator

  • 24,591 posts
  • Joined: May 02

Posted 07 March 2014 - 15:18

There's a good little bistro/restaurant in the town proper called Le Berry which I'd aim to visit again - as a Dornford Yates fan, I made a b-b-bee-line for it (in-joke for any other DY enthusiasts here, so sure to fall flat). But in mitigation, Pau was his sort of place too.

Don't you b-b-believe it Tony - I've been a fan for more than fifty years now, and I know another TNFer who shares our enthusiasm. Yates (Cecil William Mercer) of course lived in Pau for many years. I've often wondered, based on his obvious love of fast cars (especially Delages) and motoring, whether he might not have attended the odd local motor race. Maybe he witnessed Birkin's drive at Pau in 1930. His biography refers to his friendship with S. F. Edge, and suggests that some of Edge might have rubbed off onto one of Yates' characters, Jonah Mansel.



#16 Odseybod

Odseybod
  • Member

  • 1,800 posts
  • Joined: January 08

Posted 07 March 2014 - 16:43

Good to know I'm not quite alone in my lunacy, Tim!  "Jonah & Co'" is of course the Pau-based book, including the journey down there from Blighty in two cars (quite possible to trace the route), also the frantic dash to Bourdeaux (I think) in what I'd always assumed was a Delage (he tended to name Bugattis as such, as he did the Royce).  The Patisserie in Pau where Berry was uncomfortable is still there, by the way - whether the buns in the window belong to hippies, I dunno.

 

Apologies, terrible thread drift.



#17 DN5

DN5
  • Member

  • 463 posts
  • Joined: August 04

Posted 14 April 2014 - 19:49

Well, the first of the races is about a month away and I am looking forward to a trip to the South of France.

 

Judging by the race programme, the walk round the paddock will be Friday night after the first practices.

 

Geoff