Circuit des Ramparts

[macar]

Anyone been?
Any good?

[Elderly]

Yes - I went last year (it PI$$ED down with rain ).

I'm in a hurry now but will post my opinion/experience at a later time.

[Felters]

Hope it's good 'cos I'm going for the first time.

There are lots of threads on PH. try this

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

BTW it's spelt Remparts - not being unduly pedantic but if you're going to search for it...

[Elderly]

Based on MY experience last year: Putting the wet weather aside, we did have fun but ONLY as part of
a holiday in the area; I would NOT make a special journey just for the event.

The organization seemed very poor, nobody in a position of authority seemed to know what was going on, or why it
wasn't - and where and when; and it was NOT a language problem as my wife is fluent in French.

Many of the special 70eme anniversaire static exhibits remained under covers all day; shame because there were some wonderful cars under those wraps.

Vantage points for the racing were not great - there was lots of high (catch?) fencing spoiling sight lines in front of the grandstands
and changing vantage points meant finding your way away from the circuit, into the town, then finding another entrance, showing wristbands
and trying to find another unspoiled view of the racing, but however high up you went above the track there was still high fencing in front of you.

We had what we were told were 'access to all areas' wristbands but when we got to the (small) paddock, we discovered that there
were other coloured bands that would have allowed us access to ........ ALL areas .

There was a fantastic selection of interesting cars parked in the basement of the hotel where we had lunch but they were not
officially on display (I stumbled on them looking for a toilet!!!).

The Bugatti race was rather magical, seeing those French cars fron the 20s & 30s racing around an earlier period French setting.

We would have liked to have spent some time sitting sipping wine/coffee and watching the cars pass by on Le Rallye International de Charente but we couldn't find out (maybe our problem?) much information about the timing and the route.

So - I think that it's something that should be experienced ...... but it's NO Goodwood Revival.

[Joe T]

It is different from the Revival, I live 30 miles from Goodwood, last 3 years I have gone to Angouleme. No fancy dress, plenty of access to the cars. English commentary also.
To me Angouleme seems more about the cars rather than the nostalgia of the period like the Revival, Goodwood is an epic event but I just like cars.

[johnvthe2nd]

We went last year and are booked again this year. I concur with the comments about access .. but the whole town becomes a car museum - sitting outside a café with a beer has never been more pleasurable!
Shame about the rain last year .. apparently it was because they had a new mayor who hadn't yet got the hang of arranging things properly!

The rally route was posted up a couple of days before by someone on here .. we ended up in the middle of it for a bit, but felt a bit of a fraud in a modern(ish!) sportscar, so we'll try to find a bar en-route this time.

Anyway, well worth going, IMO ...