It all started one Friday night in July when we watched a feature by Steve Berry on the 2008 Beaujolais Run which was shown
on the TV programme ‘Classic Cars’. We both looked at each other and agreed it would be a fun thing to do. So, we did some
research on the ‘Run and found that it is no longer the mad race to be the first to bring back the first bottles of
Beaujolais (that all went pear-shaped the year the RAF entered some Harriers) but, in part, a navigational rally in the
middle stage. However, in order to receive an application we would have to make a donation first. Not to be put off we made
a donation and we were astounded to receive an email on the Sunday from the organisers saying:
“Thank you for your email.
You and your Caterham would be very welcome - a smashing vehicle for the 'Run, perfect for France's
spectacular D roads and
very in-keeping with the 'Mad Dogs and Englishmen' spirit of the 'Run!”
We duly completed the attached entry form and kept our fingers crossed! On the Wednesday we received the good news,
again by email:
“As we thought, just our sort of people!.... We have
always wanted a Caterham (with the right people in the driving seat to take part
in the 'Run and it seems we've found them and
such a beautiful, well-travelled Supersprint to boot! We had a feeling from your first
email, but to then note your
friendly, fun, Beaujolais-spirited correspondence in between and your website, we knew we had to have you on! So welcome
aboard - we'll send you the joining bumph under separate cover...”
Now the hard work was to start, as part of the condition of entry was that we had to personally pay the entry fee and in addition to that commit to raising a minimum of £2,250 for this year’s nominated charities; CLIC Sargent and The Richard Burns Foundation (100% of all monies raised will go to these charities). So we contacted friends, family, work colleagues, club members and corporate connections and managed to raise a grand total of £3,024. We are therefore extremely grateful to all those who very kindly supported us.
Monday 16th November
We arrive at 1900 at the BARC Clubhouse at Brooklands for the Team
Briefing and Signing On where we meet and greet fellow competitors. We receive our Team Goody Bag comprising Teamwear
(Burlington rugby and polo shirts), PowerStar Go power source, ID passes, Team Blackberry and Team Information pack. Also
there is an additional sticker replicating Henry Surtees helmet colours, which John Surtees has kindly given permission to
be used for the first time since Henry’s tragic accident.
Distance covered: 47 miles
Tuesday 17th November
Meet at Brooklands at 0700 and assemble on the banking for a photo
shoot prior to departure.
This time cars are parked far higher up the banking than for the L7C event a few weeks ago. No H&S
talk this time! Steve Walker and Paul Symonds have already arrived to see us off and take a few photos. Many competitors
marvel at the 7 and politely suggest that we may be brave or mad!
Among the other cars are: Ferrari Daytona, 360 Challenge Stradale F1, 365 GTB 4 Daytona and 550 Maranello, Jaguar D-Type,
XK8 convertible, E-type convertible and coupe, Panther Kallista, Lotus 2-11, Europa, Elise and Exige, BMW Z4, Morgan Plus 4,
Aston Martin V8 Vantage, DBS, DBS Volante, Triumph TR5, Alfa Romeo GTV, Audi A3, Land Rover Freelander, MGB, Maserati
GranTurismo, Triumph Stag and a Clenet Roadster (see a selection below):
We are one of 3 open top cars (excluding convertibles). The others are a Lotus 2-11 and a splendid Jaguar D-Type.
We manage to chat with John Surtees who’ll be waving us off at Eurotunnel.
Finally set off through Brooklands garages and past Mercedes Benz World at approx. 08.45.
Arrive at Eurotunnel around 10.00 and get ushered through the tolls without stopping.
As this year’s theme is James Bond (we are celebrating the centenary of Cubby Broccoli’s birth) we are met at the holding
area by Tania Mallet (she played Tilly Masterson in Goldfinger).
Also meet with John Surtees who kindly signs our Information Pack and suggests a photo opportunity and chat with Steve Berry
and Anthony Reid.
We then have a look at the electric Ginetta G50 that John Surtees will drive through the service tunnel. Please click here to see a
video report of this historic drive on Sky News website.
Finally we are waved off by JS and head for the train and an 11.20 crossing, once aboard a magnum of
champagne is passed down through the train and after a short delay we set off at 11.35.
Weather thus far has been excellent a sunny crisp November day, but that all changes as we exit the tunnel. It has been
raining quite heavily, but at least has now stopped as we leave the train around 12.15.
First stop is Champagne Taittinger’s caves in Reims and we must be there by 16.00. No time for 3 course lunches as the
time schedule is very tight and we are expected to eat on the move each day. Not long into the journey and the heavens open
up suddenly making progress fairly treacherous. As we’re on the autoroute we can’t stop to put on our waterproof one-piece
or even attach the half-doors. We get soaked! Although the rain does stop we don’t fully dry out and as we enter Champagne
Taittinger we receive many looks of incredulity and a round of applause. We are then given a private tour of the caves
followed by brief chat by Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger, the current custodian of the family business and naturally we are
subjected to a few glasses of champagne!
We then head to our hotel and prepare to hit the town for a few celebratory drinks and a meal. This is the only night we
have to fend for ourselves.
Day 1: 243 miles
Distance covered: 290 miles
Wednesday 18th November
We head back to Champagne Taittinger for the start of the navigational rally (we have a start time of 0750!), the object
being to solve cryptic clues, arrive at each destination and do our best impression of various James Bond characters and
photograph this on our Blackberry’s and send them to HQ to prove we have completed each task successfully. In total there
were 5 clues. Today is fancy dress day and all competitors are encouraged to be imaginative with a James Bond theme. Some
people have gone to extraordinary lengths and there are some fantastic costumes.
In addition to solving the clues we have to aim to get to Macon in the shortest possible distance and for this there
were 2 classes: GT1 Map only and GT2 Sat-Nav etc. We elect for GT2 and select the shortest route option.
We are flagged away by Anthony Reid, weather is dry
and sunny and we have wall-to-wall blue sky all day, and within 100
yards have to go through a No Right Turn! We then head off through an industrial estate and eventually find our way blocked
by No Public Access. Not a good start as Sat-Nav says it’s only 9 miles to first destination! On arrival we find that some
competitors have driven through the middle of vineyards! We then proceed with Mission 2 and stick with the shortest route
option and find ourselves in narrow village backstreets (it’s difficult trying to be inconspicuous in a x/flow), driving
through unmade roads through fields and generally driving where it looks like we shouldn’t be! Maggie May came very close
to having a ‘sense of humour failure’ when I hit a particularly muddy puddle, albeit at a fairly low speed, and a small bow
wave came over the passenger side of the 7!!!. At this point we decided to choose the quickest route option, but avoiding
the autoroutes.
Our rally took us to Verzenay, Dienville, Villaines en Duesmois, Prenois, Aloxe Corton and finally to Macon.
The stage to Prenois instructed us to photo the navigator under the circuit sign by the main gates of the circuit doing
their best Pussy Galore’s Flying Circus. At this point we were to follow the signs to the rear of the pits where we were
told that we had been given permission for 3 laps of the circuit at no charge. First lap would be following the safety car,
second, a hot lap and finally, a warm down lap. That was the extent of the briefing, no mention of helmets or H&S!!!. Well,
the safety car wasn’t exactly slow and the warm down lap most certainly wasn’t. Pleased to say that the 7 gave a good account
of itself blitzing past several of the competition. In fact one guy said “You so have the right car for this” before we left
the pits.
Most of the stages today had some excellent D roads and low flying was an extremely apt phrase for the rally. After a short
break for a wash and brush up we are coached high above the vineyards on the Cotes de Brouilly to Chateau des Ravatys for a
relaxed celebratory dinner to celebrate 150 years of Louis Jadot. Following a short talk by Baron Guillaume de Curieres de
Castelnau, a master winemaker, we taste this year’s Beaujolais
before the official launch at midnight and then enjoy a sumptuous dinner. We then take the coach to Beaujeu to join the
local vignerons for the release of the wine. There is much partying in the town square
with live bands and fireworks and
the wine flows free and more importantly freely, all you need is your own wine glass! We eventually hit the sack back at
the hotel at 0230!
Day 2: 255 miles
Distance covered: 545 miles
Thursday 19th November
Today seems a bit low key as people recover. We all head back to Reims and as
the rush hour in Reims can be a nightmare from 1600 most of us decide to blast up the autoroutes and get to Reims for lunch.
We finally leave Macon around 1030 and after nothing more than a couple of petrol stops we arrive in Reims at approximately
1400. After an extremely foggy start to our journey today (first 95 miles), the weather again is wall-to-wall blue sky.
After lunch and a short stroll around the markets we retire to catch up with some Zzzzzzs before the final night’s dinner.
We all meet in the bar at 1830 for a few drinks and then we are taken to Chateau de La Marquetterie in Pierry near Epernay,
which is Taittinger’s showcase vineyard and we will have dinner in the 18th century pressing room which had been beautifully
decorated. In addition to some excellent French fare we are treated to 5 different champagnes, each one introduced by Justin
Llewellyn (son of Desmond whom we all know as ‘Q’) who is an ambassador for Taittinger. The guest speaker tonight is Eddie
Jordan, a patron of one of this year’s nominated charities, CLIC Sargent.
The evening’s entertainment is a small band comprising Eddie and a couple of friends. I know Eddie Jordan has his own
band but there’s something quite surreal seeing Eddie sitting on a large cardboard box and using it in place of his usual
drums and even stranger is witnessing him playing the spoons!
After a cracking evening partying away we finally head back to Reims and prepare for the last day.
Day 3: 250 miles
Distance covered: 795 miles
Friday 20th November
After breakfast 12 teams head off to Circuit de Reims for a photo opportunity
and a few blasts along the main straight.
We all have a bit of fun and then the Gendarmes arrive just as the D-Type goes
flying past. Strangely enough the Gendarmes tell a few people off for not parking properly by the side of the road and then
disappear off into the distance. We all agree it’s best to quit while we’re ahead.
It’s so warm today that most people are
wandering around in T-shirts, sadly it wasn’t to last as we hit heavy rain again about 20 miles outside Calais as we head to
Tunnel sous La Manche for the 1550 crossing. There is much talk on the crossing of meeting up again next year and everybody
says their goodbyes before we all depart on our separate ways home.
We finally get home around 1630 after a fantastic time.
