240Z Around Europe (Le Mans Classic & Beyond!)..

Aceman

Well-Known Forum User
I've had a few PM's asking me to write up our trip around Europe in the 240Z. I've decided the people who've asked are just weird, but I shall oblige anyhow (always happy to post up pics of the Zed!)..

So...

We decided having bought the Z in 2011 that we wanted to use it, rather than just have it sat in the garage. So the decision was made to go to Le Mans Classic (after weighing up the 24hr, Silverstone Classic etc). The missus then pointed out she'd not had a summer holiday in years (I hate sun having inherited my father's ginger person's skin) and so persuaded me to tie it in with a run to the south of france.

As such, we set out the Weds night prior to LMC for a run to Dover. Having made it, had a night's stop over (or a 3 hour stay in a hotel as it was) prior to being at Dover for 6am. Still, the car made it to the ferry terminal, and so we knew we were at least going to make France!

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Having gone for Dover to Dunkirk, there weren't a huge number of classics with us, but the Jenson Interceptor club was there, meaning a little perving before the cars were locked away in the boat:

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Arrived happily at Dunkirk and set off for wine at a Hypermarket. Stocked up a little (what we could as space was a premium!) and set off for Le Mans. If I'm honest, the journey down was one of the best bits of the holiday. Once we passed Calais, it was like a 5 hour long classic car cruise - every second vehicle being an old classic, or modern sports car. Ferraris, Aston DB2/3/4/5/6s, Ford GT40s, Corvettes, Frog Eye Sprites, TR6s, E-Types, etc etc. The comradery was amazing - with every petrol stop being a gathering of fellow enthusiasts rushing around to help each other who broke down. There was a collection of escort Mk1s with one member blowing smoke from his cooling system - they stopped at every stop to let him cool down - I dread to think the time but people hung back and stuck with him. It was wonderful to see.

Anyhow, couple of pics:

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And so we eventually arrived at Le Mans, and after getting lost for hours, a quick call to Sean set us on the right track, beating him there in the end.

Gave the missus orders to check the car out while waiting..

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Aceman

Well-Known Forum User
Did a spot of car spotting while waiting for Sean, who at this point was still preparing himself to rape my neighbours dog (expecting us to have arrived in the Smart car...):

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Sean, and subsequently MaximG arrived shortly after, and we headed over to the campsite:

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Aceman

Well-Known Forum User
Le Mans Classic is, well, a car show, so here's some pics I got of the stand, the Datsuns, and other cars:

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Got a bit wet putting the stand up...

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Others:

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Aceman

Well-Known Forum User
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Aceman

Well-Known Forum User
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Aceman

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Some of the racing..

Bundle for the start:

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Our favourite driver - he didn't run so quick...

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Pulling away:

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And off they go:

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Aceman

Well-Known Forum User
These get a bit tedious... So here's some videos..

Pre race warm up:



Some racing. My videoing is **** though sorry..









There's many more, but again, you get the jist..
 
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Aceman

Well-Known Forum User
Eventually, Sunday came, and we were deserted:

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So after a night's sleep, packing up in the morning, we headed to phase 2 of the holiday - wine touring!
 

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Aceman

Well-Known Forum User
Before mving on there, there was a minor alternative to something we wanted to do while there - check out what we are seriously considering as a replacement for the RX7: a C3, pre 1972 Corvette:

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Just need to finally make my mind up and decide 100%...


We also created space and ditched one of the camping chairs (the seams had ripped on our expensive chairs after two people crammed onto one chair!) and the double sleeping bag (it was a mess anyhow, so won't be missed).
 

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Aceman

Well-Known Forum User
So.. Desitnation 1: Bordeaux.

The view that greated us at Chateaux number 1:

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Parked up with a fellow Le Mans Classic visitor:

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And the last time I got the wife to take an arty shot of the car by a chateux:

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This place was superb. They apologised as they'd taken a wedding booking since we booked, so had to move us out of the chateux (which upset us a little) but then moved us into their wine store conversion with private terrace, jacuuzi and swimming pool (all for us!) with free wine etc as an apology. No complaints followed.

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Anyone fancy's somewhere first class to stay in Bordeaux, with a wonderful set course meal (5 courses) for 35 euros in the evening, I highly recommend it.
 

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Aceman

Well-Known Forum User
After plenty of food and wine, plus a chance to warm up after a rather damp Le Mans, we progressed on to Chateux number 2..

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This one was actually a winemaker, so we enjoyed a few too many tipples...

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Again, wonderful place to stay and if anyone wants details of somewhere in St Emillion, let me know.

We were still shocked the car was running and got us there...

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Aceman

Well-Known Forum User
Final winetasting was Montpazier - a little Bastille. The whole town is miniscule, but a bit of a tourist hotspot. Plenty of vineyards around for further wine drinking...

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It is quite an idillic little place to visit if ever you're in France..

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Occasionally spoilt by cowboy hat wearing Z owners..

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Aceman

Well-Known Forum User
Then it was on to Phase 3.. South coast run..

We had some issues with the Datsun at this stage, with some seriously hot weather driving pushing the coolant temps right up, but some sensible driving, and tactical visits to pubs got us there safely.

Pulled in thus at Cassis:

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With French people playing Boules..

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It is a lovely little harbour:

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No Z pics, so I'll move on, as parking is a premium, so we were lumped in a public parking for the night... Poor thing.. We were so worried about it over night, but as hoped, she was right as rain and the local theives had left her well alone. Shame her number plate had fallen off (again) so more duck tape and DIY to stick it back on!
 

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Aceman

Well-Known Forum User
This is where my holiday started - the coastal road from Cassis to St Tropez. Fantastic.

The poor missus didn't manage to get many shots as I wasn't stopping for anyone. Loved it - and if I'm honest, it was better than the Alps/Stelvio mainly through the scenery. Beautiful clear seas, lovely little towns. Fantastic windy bends and hills. Spot on.

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Aceman

Well-Known Forum User
St Tropez then led to Monaco. I shalln't repeat previous pics, but I love the place. We also stayed just outside in Eze which is in the higher ground above.

Appropriate dress for Monaco:

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Infinity pool above Monaco:
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View from our balcony:
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Lovely "barn" find in Monaco (this is in a pristinely looked after private garage so must have been sat here years):

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Aceman

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Monaco then on to Lake Garda..

Forget tunnel runs in the UK... The coastal road from Monaco through to Genoa is nearly 50% through tunnels. I think there's something like 100 of them cutting through the hills. It's phenomenal.

Eventually though, we made Garda..

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and found Italian wine..

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From Garda though, we moved on to Stelvio.....
 

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Aceman

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As we approached, nerves began to rise as the car wasn't running it's smoothest..

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We were right to be worried.. Come the third bend, on came the hazards...

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Yep, we broke down on haipin 3 (actually number 41 I think as we went up and not down it)..

Yaz was gonna take loads of embarrassing pics, but ended up having to direct traffic around us, as I scrambled around the engine bay trying to work out the problem..

Eventually, a complete dizzy assembly swap later, and she roared to life (thanks pmac!!).

Few pics of the drive..

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Aceman

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Top reached..

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And the faulty component..

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Then it was a race against the cyclists down the other side to Davos..

The car again became unhappy...

This time on the next worst possible road - the Fluelapass up to Davos.. Another hairpin laden monster, and this time with a coach of visitors in tow!!

Simple one this though - blocked fuel filter. Thinking that 41 years of gunk got thrown about in the fuel tank running around all those hairpins and just clogged her up. Fuel system flush, or some sort of fuel tank clean out required!!
 

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Aceman

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Dovs lead to Luxembourg (nothing exciting in Luxembourg although we did find a quite interesting statue..)

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And yes, that is two deer having sex missionary style (and I thought british artists were weird for pickling sheep!)..

Luxembourg then to Brugge, which is just beautiful (so I won't spoil it by showing you pics - go for yourself! You can do a day trip from Dover!).

Then home.

Home meant buying lots of replacement bits for the car (decided to fit the petronix and so got coils, plugs etc, plus other service items needed) - thanks Mr.F - which are now ready for fitment the weekend. Car is now packed away and life goes on.

Anyhow, I've hundreds of pics, but obviously a lot are of me and the wife (she'd not be happy if I started putting up pics of her in a bikini!) so here's just some more gratuitous car shots..

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