MGB to Le Mans
Discussion
It's our first trip to Le Mans this year & we plan to take my 71 MGB GT.
Our friends were going with have been before so we're sorted for ferries/routes/campsites etc.
I just wondered what sort of spares/tools people took down with them.
So far I've got....
Spare tyre/Jack
Jump leads
Can of tyre weld
Bulbs
Plugs/Points/Condenser
Oil
Oh yeah- & European breakdown cover!
Any other suggestion would be great. Cheers
Our friends were going with have been before so we're sorted for ferries/routes/campsites etc.
I just wondered what sort of spares/tools people took down with them.
So far I've got....
Spare tyre/Jack
Jump leads
Can of tyre weld
Bulbs
Plugs/Points/Condenser
Oil
Oh yeah- & European breakdown cover!
Any other suggestion would be great. Cheers
Parabola,
As you are a LM virgin I really hope you have a great time!
You have not indicated when you're travelling or through which French port. One thing to consider is that if you are travelling overnight there are extremely few, if any, petrol stations open at night in France, and those that are are usually not manned, meaning the pumps work by credit card only. This applies to French motorway service areas too. The problem is that it's usually the case that UK credit cards do not work French petrol pumps. So, if you are travelling overnight you need to consider taking a Jerry can of petrol. If travelling via Calais and the Eurotunnel, you can fill up at the petrol station maybe 1/2 a mile after leaving the train at Calais. The next petrol staion that I know is usually open all night and manned is beside the aerodrome at Le Mans! That's around 300 miles I recall. Many times when doing the trip overnight I've seen Brits queueing at petrol stations waiting for them to open. Be warned!
Perhaps other PHers will respond with more up to date information about petrol supplies, if there is any, for those travelling overnight
R.
As you are a LM virgin I really hope you have a great time!
You have not indicated when you're travelling or through which French port. One thing to consider is that if you are travelling overnight there are extremely few, if any, petrol stations open at night in France, and those that are are usually not manned, meaning the pumps work by credit card only. This applies to French motorway service areas too. The problem is that it's usually the case that UK credit cards do not work French petrol pumps. So, if you are travelling overnight you need to consider taking a Jerry can of petrol. If travelling via Calais and the Eurotunnel, you can fill up at the petrol station maybe 1/2 a mile after leaving the train at Calais. The next petrol staion that I know is usually open all night and manned is beside the aerodrome at Le Mans! That's around 300 miles I recall. Many times when doing the trip overnight I've seen Brits queueing at petrol stations waiting for them to open. Be warned!
Perhaps other PHers will respond with more up to date information about petrol supplies, if there is any, for those travelling overnight
R.
My MGA has taken me there and back reliably every year since 1993. Aside from doing a propoer service before you go, European Breakdown cover for when you simply cannot fix something there (not had to use it yet...) to give myself a good chance and working on the principle that if you don't take it, it will break, as well as the tools/spares that you list (exewpt for tyre weld and jump leads which I don't take), I normally take:
Basic tools in a tool roll - spanners, a couple of screwdrivers, pliers, wire cutters/strippers/crimpers, junior hacksaw, small file, rear axle drain/fill plug spanner, couple of adjustable spanners, mole grips, stanley knife
3/8" small sockets (don't need to take a whole set, just the bits you're most likely to need)
Spare wire and a few connectors, fuses, insulating tape and gaffer tape
Throttle Cable
Top and Bottom coolant hoses, and a bit of spare hose for the heater
Ty-wraps and jubilee clips
Spare thermostat
Cork and paper gasket material (for thermostat and carbs/filters)
Selection of a few spare nuts and bolts
Brake fluid and hose to go over the bleed nipples
Lump hammer (does for driving in tent pegs as well)
Small cold chisel and a drift for axle hub nuts/washers
Small tin of grease
Sounds a lot, but it doesn't take up much room and I get that, plus clothes, camping kit etc for two of us in the A, and you've got loads in a BGT by comparison!
Never carried a jerry can or had a problem finding fuel. I always fill up at whichever port before leaving UK - the furthest away from Le Mans is Calais at about 260 miles, which is easily achievable on a full tank whatever the time of day or night. I tend to stop twice on the way down anyway for a break, check the levels, and i generally pick somewhere with fuel and fill up. At some point on the Friday or Saturday of race weekend, I fill up the car somewhere around Le Mans to be ready for the return run on the Sunday. On the return run, I've always found fuel when stopping for a rest at Rouen or along the autoroute, even at the Shell station near Boulogne at 10 or 11 at night.
If you do fall foul of some mechanical or electrical malady around the circuit but don't have the bits, get a broadcast for help put out on Autosport's Radio Le Mans by visitng their cabin at the circuit, which generally seems to work for people who need it! One year, such an appeal for an MGC kingpin resulted in a French MGCC member phoning in, taking the chap to his house in Tours, bringing a kingpin back and helped fit it. Another year, someone was after a TR4 halfshaft and a fellow enthusiast had actually had brought a spare one with him!
Enjoy the experience....
MG Mark
Basic tools in a tool roll - spanners, a couple of screwdrivers, pliers, wire cutters/strippers/crimpers, junior hacksaw, small file, rear axle drain/fill plug spanner, couple of adjustable spanners, mole grips, stanley knife
3/8" small sockets (don't need to take a whole set, just the bits you're most likely to need)
Spare wire and a few connectors, fuses, insulating tape and gaffer tape
Throttle Cable
Top and Bottom coolant hoses, and a bit of spare hose for the heater
Ty-wraps and jubilee clips
Spare thermostat
Cork and paper gasket material (for thermostat and carbs/filters)
Selection of a few spare nuts and bolts
Brake fluid and hose to go over the bleed nipples
Lump hammer (does for driving in tent pegs as well)
Small cold chisel and a drift for axle hub nuts/washers
Small tin of grease
Sounds a lot, but it doesn't take up much room and I get that, plus clothes, camping kit etc for two of us in the A, and you've got loads in a BGT by comparison!
Never carried a jerry can or had a problem finding fuel. I always fill up at whichever port before leaving UK - the furthest away from Le Mans is Calais at about 260 miles, which is easily achievable on a full tank whatever the time of day or night. I tend to stop twice on the way down anyway for a break, check the levels, and i generally pick somewhere with fuel and fill up. At some point on the Friday or Saturday of race weekend, I fill up the car somewhere around Le Mans to be ready for the return run on the Sunday. On the return run, I've always found fuel when stopping for a rest at Rouen or along the autoroute, even at the Shell station near Boulogne at 10 or 11 at night.
If you do fall foul of some mechanical or electrical malady around the circuit but don't have the bits, get a broadcast for help put out on Autosport's Radio Le Mans by visitng their cabin at the circuit, which generally seems to work for people who need it! One year, such an appeal for an MGC kingpin resulted in a French MGCC member phoning in, taking the chap to his house in Tours, bringing a kingpin back and helped fit it. Another year, someone was after a TR4 halfshaft and a fellow enthusiast had actually had brought a spare one with him!
Enjoy the experience....
MG Mark
What you have down there is on the right track - though I'd say dump the spare wheel and jack and just take the tyre weld. This frees up an amazing amount of packing space in my '73 Spitfire and, along with "J'ai mal au pneumatique." should get you moving and to the local tyre place.
I'd also take a fan belt, couple of fuses, rad. top/bottom hoses and the longest of you other water hoses ('70s cars tend to use the same size hose so you can just cut this one down to size if something goes). Oh and a small container of pre-mixed coolant to keep things topped up.
I only ever take 1 spark plug, 1 coil-dizzy lead and the longest dizzy-plug lead - again the longest will fit in place of the shortest if necessary.
Finally a warning triange and first aid kit - but only because they are required by French law.
Other than that don't bother packing anything you wouldn't pack if you were going to drive from London to Birmingham! Le Mans is a similar distance from the coast (130 miles from Le Havre) so why pack spares like they are doing the Dakar rally?
I'd also take a fan belt, couple of fuses, rad. top/bottom hoses and the longest of you other water hoses ('70s cars tend to use the same size hose so you can just cut this one down to size if something goes). Oh and a small container of pre-mixed coolant to keep things topped up.
I only ever take 1 spark plug, 1 coil-dizzy lead and the longest dizzy-plug lead - again the longest will fit in place of the shortest if necessary.
Finally a warning triange and first aid kit - but only because they are required by French law.
Other than that don't bother packing anything you wouldn't pack if you were going to drive from London to Birmingham! Le Mans is a similar distance from the coast (130 miles from Le Havre) so why pack spares like they are doing the Dakar rally?
What "The Leaper" says above is mostly right but the main supermarket chains have now changed their pumps and for the most part they accept english cards now. It isn't guaranteed but Carrefour and Super U at Arnage and Ecommoy do and all the motorway services too. Again, it depends which route you are taking but if Calais then take the A16/A28, fill up at Rouen on the motorway and then you only have 120 miles left to do. If Caen or St. Malo or Le Havre a tankful will get you here with ease. Have a great time!
Class- cheers for the advice everyone.
Got a couple of different brand credit cards so should hopefully be ok with fuel. Think we're going Dover- Calais.
Mark- I'm working tru collecting the stuff on that list- it all looks like sensible stuff to have handy back in the UK too! Glad your MGA's made the run each year.
My friends are taking the piss saying my car'll never make it but I travel from Manchester to Leeds & back in it a couple of times a week so most niggles have already been sorted! I'm looking forward to my car getting all the attention while everyone ignores their modern cars!
Good point about the triangle etc, cheers //j17.
I'll let you know how we get on- I'm well excited already!
Got a couple of different brand credit cards so should hopefully be ok with fuel. Think we're going Dover- Calais.
Mark- I'm working tru collecting the stuff on that list- it all looks like sensible stuff to have handy back in the UK too! Glad your MGA's made the run each year.
My friends are taking the piss saying my car'll never make it but I travel from Manchester to Leeds & back in it a couple of times a week so most niggles have already been sorted! I'm looking forward to my car getting all the attention while everyone ignores their modern cars!
Good point about the triangle etc, cheers //j17.
I'll let you know how we get on- I'm well excited already!
The Leaper said:
You have not indicated when you're travelling or through which French port. One thing to consider is that if you are travelling overnight there are extremely few, if any, petrol stations open at night in France, and those that are are usually not manned, meaning the pumps work by credit card only. This applies to French motorway service areas too. The problem is that it's usually the case that UK credit cards do not work French petrol pumps.
To be honest, i've never really had that problem. The petrol stations i've been to (most between Calais and Arnage) have readily accepted UK cards and the process is usually very swift.
Don't worry about your mates taking the p*ss - you while outshine them in both style and reliability. If something does go wrong, on the sunday in particular when the whole of France is shut, you have a much, much better chance than them of fixing it....
One I forgot is that I normally stick a spare distributor cap in for good measure.
The spare wheel is normally mounted with the outer face up in the boot (like the B I think). I reverse that for Le Mans to maximise the packing space and make it easier to get at the stuff filling that space without having to remove the wheel.
Don't forget your GB sticker at the back!
MG Mark
One I forgot is that I normally stick a spare distributor cap in for good measure.
The spare wheel is normally mounted with the outer face up in the boot (like the B I think). I reverse that for Le Mans to maximise the packing space and make it easier to get at the stuff filling that space without having to remove the wheel.
Don't forget your GB sticker at the back!
MG Mark
MG Mark said:
Don't forget your GB sticker at the back!
...if you don't have one on your number plates, oh and don't get a magnetic one and they don't always make it there and back (there is one on the D304 between St Saturnin and Domfront-en-Champagne if anyone cares to stop and look for it - I couldn't and I saw where it lost it's grip on the boot and made a break for freedom ^_^).I did a count a few years back of cars on the ferry. About 10% had the deflectors on their headlamps (ever tried to do it on a D or E type?) and about 25% had GB plates. I've never carried them in 25 years, nor do I bother with headlamp deflectors. However, if you are worried about a breakdown then a warning triangle would be a wise purchase.
The good old MGB can do over 300 miles ona tank, so you'll be ok for fuel but do fill up before leaving blighty.
Other than that, you'll be fine. Been to Le Mans a few times in my old BGT.
You do realise the classsic Le Mans is on again next year? I might suggest its a better event. Watch practice at Tetre Rouge, in 4 hours you'll see everything from cars built in the 1920's, right up to the big bangers of the 60's and 70's. They're still bloody quick.
Other than that, you'll be fine. Been to Le Mans a few times in my old BGT.
You do realise the classsic Le Mans is on again next year? I might suggest its a better event. Watch practice at Tetre Rouge, in 4 hours you'll see everything from cars built in the 1920's, right up to the big bangers of the 60's and 70's. They're still bloody quick.
TTwiggy said:
If it's anything like my old '68 GT, then a spare fuel pump? 
If the Lucas pump has a problem, and assuming it is one of the old ones with points and not the new fangled electronic ones, then all you need is either a spanner to hit it with or failing that a brick to rub the points on and replace. I've rarely seen a Lucas fuel pump completely fail unless it was one of the early immersed E type ones when the bakelite impeller stripped or the ball bearing got swallowed by the spring. Interestingly, the latest ones are also bipolar - they'll work either positive or negative earth. Technology huh.Hi-vis jackets are only recommended for France (required for Spain).
http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/touring_tips/...
http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/touring_tips/...
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