Road trip 2011 - Thenay 50th Anniversary

[John Doe]

If all goes well I will be coming with guys from Serbia and Slovenia. Before we head to Thenay we will be stoping in Slovenia for one or two days. We will be visiting Revoz museum (former IMV where the R4 was produced during the Yugoslavian period) and will take part in a carnival in the Zuzemberk.

Since my car is not ready for this epic voyage my girlfriend and I will be coming with a friend from Serbia in his R4. Look for this car

 

[malcolm]

The Gordini is now set up for continental touring with a period GB plate kindly donated by Monsieur van Rouge. Also I present number 1 in a series of photos of old R4 bits. And the rally plate is attached courtesy of a bit of ABS plastic bolted to an old overrider.

Does your hotel have any free spaces left renoir cigar? Wasn't sure from your post which hotel you were in - Might be better to be in a town then we can have beer. I've heard that beer is more important to Australians than swimming pools.

 

[pepper]

I do like the GB plate, very fetching mine will be my normal magnetic one out of my KIA, I've turned my bulbs round In the holders for continental driving and have affixed my rally plates. Zip ties were my best friend there

 

[iMacThere4iAm]

I'm still not sure where to put my plaque - the big GTL indicators are too close to the number plate to fit it there. I'm considering the roof bars instead.

 

[Bobble]

Hi, still going but not sure if i'll be going in the R4 don't think it's going to be ready, if not will be coming in my reserve an ( R5 ) spending more time on Berserk Gorilla's then anticipated but hey ho.

 

[pepper]

I've put my plaque under the indicator and have bent the board slightly so it sits under the light!

I tried the roof bar idea, but a. I couldn't see how to stop them bending easily, and B. I could see my fuel economy struggling! (most important with the price of the euro against the pound at the moment)!

 

[Cornish4]

I'm still not sure where to put my plaque - the big GTL indicators are too close to the number plate to fit it there. I'm considering the roof bars instead.

Hello Tom, yes roof-bars work well, but I got a bit carried away and fitted spot-lights and spare-wheel. Looks ok though, well I think it does.No doubt someone will say look at that plonker, renault4mad comes to mind. And I hope I'm not stopping at every other petrol station on the way Pepper.:smile:

 

[Lobster]

I shall be dragging the GTL out of my unit tomorrow. This weeks it needs a bit of use to give it a sort of shakedown to make sure nothing falls off, need to see about fitting a power socket and get the wheels balanced and give it a quick once over. I'm tempted to fit spotlights as well!

Other than that we are (hopefully / possibly) ready for the off!

 

[Cornish4]

It all sounds a bit 11th hour to me David.:smile: Looking forward to meeting up with you again. See ya there.

 

[722stu]

Looking forward to meeting everyone at Thenay!

This is Stuart with a powder blue 67 R4 and I'll be traveling with my wife Juliette and our seven month daughter Lucy. In case anyone else is making the journey around the same time this is the plan...

Travelling on the Brittany Ferries over-nighter from Portsmouth to Caen on Wednesday 13th July. A meander on Les Routes Nationales to Alencon, Le Mans, Tours and on to our stay with friends Guy and Sarah who run Loire Valley Classics (www.loirevalleyclassics.com) about 30 minutes away from Thenay. Guy can also help out with support if you get stuck.

We hope to drive over to Thenay on Saturday and Sunday for the festivities before heading back to Caen slowly on Monday 18th for the overnight ferry back to Portsmouth.

A couple of questions if anyone has any suggestions:

Any ideas where I can get a 6v plug-in fan to keep little Lucy cool? I did the drive as far as Le Mans last year for the classic in the R4 and I was melting in 35 degree sunshine.

I'd love a rally plaque! How can I get one if there are any left?

Stu

 

[malcolm]

Send me a private message with your address and I'll send a plaque over.

 

[renault4mad]

Hello Tom, yes roof-bars work well, but I got a bit carried away and fitted spot-lights and spare-wheel. Looks ok though, well I think it does.No doubt someone will say look at that plonker, renault4mad comes to mind. And I hope I'm not stopping at every other petrol station on the way Pepper.:smile:

Hi Brian, hope you get stabilisers for Marigold as with all that weight up top its going to go over on its side at roundabouts:eek:

 

[jjad]

Thinking along the breaking down lines I thought I really ought to get some breakdown cover sorted out! I tried everywhere to no avail and then I thought of Adrian Flux and they gave me full Euro cover and UK cover for the year for £59!

This isn't a selling advert for Fluxes BTW, I just thought that if anyone else was having problems and wanted to get some cover, then I found a solution.

Thanks Pepper, I also couldn't find anyone who would provide us with breakdown cover for our GTL, but hats off to Adrian Flux.

I just hope that I don't have to use it!

Thanks, Jonathan

 

[Cornish4]

Hi Brian, hope you get stabilisers for Marigold as with all that weight up top its going to go over on its side at roundabouts:eek:

Hi Andrew, just been out on road-test, she corners as good as ever. Got a few looks from other drivers though, can't understand why:smile:

 

[Lobster]

It all sounds a bit 11th hour to me David.:smile:

It is a bit.

Got it out today though, sorted the overheating - fan not coming in caused by a broken wire, stuck the fergat wheels and new Pirellis on and had a bit of a drive round to make sure theres no obvious faults.

Jobs to do list is now like this -

- o/s/r wheel locks when braking - hopefully stripping and cleaning will sort that though

- fit power socket

- spotlamps?

- clean it!

Trouble is, I'm really busy through the week and this coming weekend I'm working at Camperjam so time is a very limited resource at the moment!

 

[Cornish4]

Not to worry, I'm sure you will make it, one way or other.:smile: If you just sort the brakes, then at least you are then roadworthy. Anything else will be a bonus. Good luck.

 

[iMacThere4iAm]

I've got some uneven wear on my front tyres and my mechanic quoted me £50 to fix the alignment before Thenay. I'm not really sure if it's worth it. She drives just fine, but if it's wearing my tyres out or wasting fuel, I might change my mind.
I haven't checked the Haynes Manual yet, buy do you guys have any advice on doing it myself?

Hi Andrew, just been out on road-test, she corners as good as ever. Got a few looks from other drivers though, can't understand why:smile:

Those looks are just jealousy, Marigold is looking fantastic!

 

[Cornish4]

Thanks Tom. Marigold is looking forward to meeting up with her brothers and sisters at the big one, and their owners of course.:smile: You can check the tracking your-self, but garages have the professional gear to check it. A general rule of thumb for front wheel drive cars is slight toe out. £50 to check and reset the tracking sounds a bit steep to me.

 

[reidalpine]

Quite good turn-up from the Uk I see,there's supposed to be 2 other R4's going to Thenay from Norway,don't know if members here,so I guess we'll have to beat them up a bit c",)Where's the Swede-list? I hear there are some going down from Suede aswell.. Sadly Angel tells me he won't make it afterall.Damn shame!
-Looking forward to meet all of you down there. Have a fun&safe journey/-R.

 

[Cornish4]

Sorry to hear that angel can't make it, but looking forward to meeting up with our friends from up north, down south, and all points between. You have a safe n fun journey too R.