Burgundy and back...advice plse
Discussion
I've driven this trip many times (wife from there) but always on the autoroute. In June I plan to do it in my 1929 Lagonda which I inherited from my father. Would you recommend autoroute or Route Nationale and have you an tips....
I plan to do 200 miles per day (the trip is 450 one way) and chug at a steady 40 - 50 mph. The car needs some serious fettling although the engine and box seem fine. we will however need to change brake cables, make the p100's and 3 spots work, rears, horn, washers and fix seats!
If you have done similar trips in a vintage car I would love to hear of your suggestions in terms of route, Train, Ferry, stop overs....
Many thanks
I plan to do 200 miles per day (the trip is 450 one way) and chug at a steady 40 - 50 mph. The car needs some serious fettling although the engine and box seem fine. we will however need to change brake cables, make the p100's and 3 spots work, rears, horn, washers and fix seats!
If you have done similar trips in a vintage car I would love to hear of your suggestions in terms of route, Train, Ferry, stop overs....
Many thanks
I have no experience of doing this kind of trip personally, but I have prepared pre war cars for some gruelling rally work. Paris to Peking, le Jog, Monte etc.I would strongly suggest you look at the cooling system in depth first. I`m not familiar with the Lagonda system, If it has a pump or is thermo syphon.
If it is the latter, don`t make the mistake of a re cored modern film type core on a long journey The water just falls through without much cooling, resulting in raised temperature and localised overheating / boiling. L O would not register on the gauge but is likely to cause the block to crack . The honeycombe core is far more efficient for long journeys with a greater surface area than the film type core.Bear in mind the oil feed to the bottom end also.With so many large tolerances a hot engine will run a very low oil pressure and the heat will break down the oil. I remember a Mk6 Bentley being run solely on wynns engine oil addititve. It gave great oil pressure hot or cold and never did cause an issue.I know this would be an uneccessary expense but of all the additives, it would make sense to use it and keep the bottom end at the normal temperature as much as possible. It would be easy to ruin the white metal if that is the bearing application.
Flush out the cooling system and check the flow rate of your rad.Use a good quality engine oil, preferably a monograde if it is suitable but it must have a low detergent, again otherwise the film would breakdown. If you have to go to a multigrade, try a 20/60 or 70 and use the additive.
Hope this helps
If it is the latter, don`t make the mistake of a re cored modern film type core on a long journey The water just falls through without much cooling, resulting in raised temperature and localised overheating / boiling. L O would not register on the gauge but is likely to cause the block to crack . The honeycombe core is far more efficient for long journeys with a greater surface area than the film type core.Bear in mind the oil feed to the bottom end also.With so many large tolerances a hot engine will run a very low oil pressure and the heat will break down the oil. I remember a Mk6 Bentley being run solely on wynns engine oil addititve. It gave great oil pressure hot or cold and never did cause an issue.I know this would be an uneccessary expense but of all the additives, it would make sense to use it and keep the bottom end at the normal temperature as much as possible. It would be easy to ruin the white metal if that is the bearing application.
Flush out the cooling system and check the flow rate of your rad.Use a good quality engine oil, preferably a monograde if it is suitable but it must have a low detergent, again otherwise the film would breakdown. If you have to go to a multigrade, try a 20/60 or 70 and use the additive.
Hope this helps
Take a look at the route you used to take, on a good scale map and see how close the RN passes, in some places the Autoroute will replace it, in others it will run close by. The RN is a good way to get up and down through France for slower vehicles, but I would recommend switching to the Autoroutes to get through the major towns and cities, and totally avoid Paris.
It depends which crossing you are taking of course but assuming Calais it is the easy option to just get on the motorway and bore yourself to death. A quick look at the (brilliant) Michelin map book shows that it is logical to get on to the A26 to escape the coast traffic, but from St. Quentin follow Soissons, Chateau Thierry, Troyes, Chatillon to get down towards Beaune. It isn't a route I've travelled but I live in France and if you take the D roads, no matter where in France, you will find wonderful scenery, bars, hotels, restaurants etc. You indicate 450 miles in two days; well, four hours a day at the wheel, time to breathe in the fresh air and take in the scenery as you waft by, a little planning to find a hotel (I always use the Logis de France for price/quality) a lazy breakfast and there you are, the journey completed in two stressless days. You know it makes sense, especially in a Lagonda!
Newhaven Dieppe is a good route, about 4 hours and it gets you further south and west. Then use minor roads which in France are well maintained. Have a look at Google Earth, it's really works well for route planning. We did this for Le Mans. One of our number put the coordinates into his satnav which helped, but I keeping with the car I guess you'll stick with mapnav.
Having driven in France on a number of occasions, i would suggest RN, this will take longer, but will be far more scenic, with opportunities to stop off for lunch in towns and villages as opposed to the " aire de services" on the auto routes. I know it is 21st century technology colliding with early 20th, but a Satnav would'nt go amiss.
Travis Mcgee said:
Having driven in France on a number of occasions, i would suggest RN, this will take longer, but will be far more scenic, with opportunities to stop off for lunch in towns and villages as opposed to the " aire de services" on the auto routes. I know it is 21st century technology colliding with early 20th, but a Satnav would'nt go amiss.
think I will satnav as there will be plenty else to keep my eye on without having to read maps....unless I have a co pilot.
Noooooo! A26 to St Quentin to get a part of the route under your belt, D1014 to Laon, D1044 to Reims, taking in the old circuit there from Thillois to Gueux past the old grandstand and pits, stopping to drink in the atmosphere and to listen again as Hawthorn and Fangio battle side by side to the finishing line, south on the D951 to Epernay, home of champagne where you can visit Moet & Chandon or Dom Perignon and find a hotel for the night with ease.
On down the D951 through Sézanne, D373 to Anglure and Méry sur Seine and D679 to Troyes. D671 and then 971 south to Chatillon sur Seine and the same on to Dijon. These are better in most places than the Route Nationale because you won't be eating diesel fumes from the lorries and the roads are as well if not better surfaced and more suited to wafting along. From Dijon the N74 all the way to Beaune. Have a look at the map and you'll see that there are some lovely routes, twisty in places and the most beautiful countyside imaginable.
ETA Spelling now correct! I typed this one fingered while on the phone. And don't take the shuttle if you value the car. The ferry is slower but your car will arrive in one piece although a Lagonday shouldn't have clearance problems.
On down the D951 through Sézanne, D373 to Anglure and Méry sur Seine and D679 to Troyes. D671 and then 971 south to Chatillon sur Seine and the same on to Dijon. These are better in most places than the Route Nationale because you won't be eating diesel fumes from the lorries and the roads are as well if not better surfaced and more suited to wafting along. From Dijon the N74 all the way to Beaune. Have a look at the map and you'll see that there are some lovely routes, twisty in places and the most beautiful countyside imaginable.
ETA Spelling now correct! I typed this one fingered while on the phone. And don't take the shuttle if you value the car. The ferry is slower but your car will arrive in one piece although a Lagonday shouldn't have clearance problems.
Edited by lowdrag on Thursday 29th October 07:55
Mr. Magoo said:
many thanks - Some technical stuff there which I am sure my chief engineer will take on board more than I can.
Route Nationale looks the preferred option, undecided on train or boat though. Will aim to stop in Reims and just take it steady and pray for good weather.
You say "undecided on train or boat", I hope you are talking about "le shuttle", dont take anything you value on French Motor Rail, I use this quite a bit and it is ideal for a sRoute Nationale looks the preferred option, undecided on train or boat though. Will aim to stop in Reims and just take it steady and pray for good weather.
tter but not for a classic.Cecil said:
Mr. Magoo said:
many thanks - Some technical stuff there which I am sure my chief engineer will take on board more than I can.
Route Nationale looks the preferred option, undecided on train or boat though. Will aim to stop in Reims and just take it steady and pray for good weather.
You say "undecided on train or boat", I hope you are talking about "le shuttle", dont take anything you value on French Motor Rail, I use this quite a bit and it is ideal for a sRoute Nationale looks the preferred option, undecided on train or boat though. Will aim to stop in Reims and just take it steady and pray for good weather.
tter but not for a classic.Mr. Magoo said:
theironduke said:
Whats the Lagonda? so jealous....
My all time dream car is a DH LG45...
piccies?
I would do but I still havn't worked out how to paste a pic....(and i'm quite PC literate)My all time dream car is a DH LG45...
piccies?
As '29 car I guess it is a 2 or 3 litre.
Let's try the beta test, here are a couple of Lagonda's at the Stockbridge coffee stop on this years Old Bean Daffodil Run
ETA: It worked!
Edited by davepen on Thursday 29th October 12:44
davepen said:
Mr. Magoo said:
theironduke said:
Whats the Lagonda? so jealous....
My all time dream car is a DH LG45...
piccies?
I would do but I still havn't worked out how to paste a pic....(and i'm quite PC literate)My all time dream car is a DH LG45...
piccies?
As '29 car I guess it is a 2 or 3 litre.
Let's try the beta test, here are a couple of Lagonda's at the Stockbridge coffee stop on this years Old Bean Daffodil Run
ETA: It worked!
Edited by davepen on Thursday 29th October 12:44
Mines a 3 litre tourer....been in the family for 50 years, in need of TLC and about to go into its new home to go under the knife for some french touring preparation....
plenty of elbow work lined up - i'm not nutty enough to sink the family silverware into a complete resto but I can go so far as make it a pretty car and fun to drive! My old man would have liked this. Plans are for:
Recon the wings
Respray bonnet
New brake cables
re wire lights front and back
proper cooling (for long trips)
four new wheels
Carpet
A good clean
fuel pump
Service the wheel bearings
Recon the wings
Respray bonnet
New brake cables
re wire lights front and back
proper cooling (for long trips)
four new wheels
Carpet
A good clean
fuel pump
Service the wheel bearings
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