17 replies to this topic

[RobbieH]

A "few" pics from a recent holiday in the French Alps. I beg your indulgence to start with but it gets better

The chalet


The view (after an evening thunderstorm)


Two modes of transport (yes, the bike is in bottom gear, the road to the chalet was a good climb in its own
right, let alone at the end of a days riding)



Found this at a lunch stop. Definitely NOT standard from the noise or the two side exit exhausts


A sight to gladden any two wheeled lovers heart


And after about 20minutes climbing this is the sight. The furthest patch of light green in the centre distance is where we climbed up from.


And the view from the top (the road has just re-opened to cars)


And yes, that is Mont Blanc in the distance

[RobbieH]

However, wandering around the village I see posters for the 63rd Ralleye Mont Blanc and it just happens to
start on the Friday before we leave. So, as the poor ol' legs need a rest a quick change of plan is in
order.

So get up, have breakfast  and walk down the drive to see this parked up


Wandering into the village get passed by these




Watch a few go by on their way to the next stage

[RobbieH]

Walked about 300m out the back of the chalet to Les Combe and spent a few hours watching various cars.















Heard a car come howling down the road, followed by a scream of tyres and a dull thud. Looked round to see
this (whoops)



Everyone runs to look. The driver and nav crawl out in bit a daze, then the driver realises that's the rally over and throws his helmet on the ground in disgust. In the meantime cars are still pounding past.
Sense then prevails and everyone pitches in to warn following cars of the obstruction.

[RobbieH]

The crowd then does it's usual thing, rolls the car upright and out of the way.



This was the driver, all 6'+ of him (more like at least 6' 6", I felt small stood next to him). How he crammed himself into a Pug 106 I'll never know. Conversely the nav was only about 5' 6" and looked tiny next to his driver. I think this was wishful thinking on his part checking the fluids, most of it was running down the road.


Still the cars kept coming





Including a Citroen AX (thought thye'd gone out with the ark)


Things then went quiet for a bit until a load of officials cars streamed through, including a Tesla. Now
bear in mind this is a rally, in an alpine forest where the cars can be head snarling, growling and popped
from miles away. This thing went past in silence. Wierd.

[RobbieH]

And then came the historic bit, cars from previous years

Opel Manta


Porker



Renault 5 Turbo



More Porkers





Bimmer



Another Porker


Two even older Porkers (?)





Opel Kadette Ralleye


Golf Mk1



Another Renault 5 Turbo

[RobbieH]

Then the top cars started coming through again (having done two roads transfers and another special stage in between)




Turns out the Mini Countryman S won the rally overall driven by Pierre Campana

[RobbieH]

And just round the corner was the actual stage finish


And just as I got back to the chalet these three Suz Swifts pull up for a group natter. The first one (iirc) had had a puncture earlier in the stage but they must have just carried on. The state of the tyre was something to behold. I've got the valve which had dropped out when they changed the wheel, as a souvenier.




What a brilliant day and what a way to end a holiday. Hope you enjoy the pics .

Edited by RobbieH, 06 September 2011 - 20:01 .

[stedman]

Not far from Morzine or Les Gets Looks like you had fun-shame you were riding the wrong type of bike eh Robbie!

[V70D5]

Thanks for sharing Robbie.

[Barnsley-Bill]

Brilliant pics Robbie, thanks for sharing them

[irf]

Superb Robbie!

BTW afaik those old blue porkers are alpine a610s. I think.

[bonelorry]

Excellent pics mate, Looks a stunning place......As irf said they are Alpines the blue ones

[RobbieH]

stedman, on 06 September 2011 - 20:45 , said:

Not far from Morzine or Les Gets Looks like you had fun-shame you were riding the wrong type of bike eh Robbie!

Aye, Samoens. Very nice part of the world.

Been mountain biking there as well a few times in the past, including the World Cup run at Les Gets (Mont Chery). Is there some other form of bike required

irf, on 07 September 2011 - 02:31 , said:

Superb Robbie!

BTW afaik those old blue porkers are alpine a610s. I think.

bonelorry, on 07 September 2011 - 08:19 , said:

Excellent pics mate, Looks a stunning place......As irf said they are Alpines the blue ones

Aha,
I get one over irf for a change

Alpine A110 actually
http://en.wikipedia....pine_(car_maker)

[irf]

Wasn't bad for 3.30am you tart.

[Rockin]

Great pics robbie

[PEAKUNDER]

Awesome - if there was a 'green with envy' smiley I'd be clicking on it!  Cheers, J.

[Niles]

blue car = alpine A310. the A610 me thinks is the latest Alpine turbo. or AKA the Renault Alpine GTA

[Godspeed]

good pics