First there was to be seven. Now it’s five to Spa Francorchamps

[Wapping]

It’s coming close to our annual jaunt to Spa Francorchamps for the 6-hour race for ‘classic’ sports cars.

This in one of the most relaxed and friendly race meetings on the calendar; a sort of Gedinne for motorcycles, but with cars. The massed rolling start with eighty or more cars, is something to behold, just on its own:

Unfortunately, two of the usual ‘good tourists’ have been forced to cry off for very understandable domestic reasons. God willing, we’ll all be back together again in 2027.

The plan is for three cars, an MG C, an MX5 and a Healey to rendezvous at the Chunnel, early afternoon on Wednesday. Then it’s a hop (either directly or indirect) to St Omer, to stay at the Ibis Budget hotel and an evening in the town, eating in either of these two restaurants:

ibis budget Saint Omer Centre

2-minute walk from St. Omer Cathedral, ibis budget Saint-Omer Centre offers a comfortable stay with gourmet breakfast at a low price.

all.accor.com

https://www.aubistronome.com/

Les 3 Caves / restaurant / Saint-Omer

Welcome to the offical website of Les 3 Caves in Saint-Omer - restaurant, book online - Les 3 Caves (De Drie Kalders) is a typical Flemis......

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Thursday, it’s a run down to Cambrai on the motorway, with coffee stop shortly thereafter. Then cross country to Chimay, for lunch at the Cassino restaurant, followed by another cross country run (with a further coffee break) to Trois Ponts in Belgium. At Trois Ponts, we will be staying at our regular spot: Domain Long Pre, which is about 20 minutes drive from the circuit.

Home

The Domaine Long Pré is situated in the heart of Belgian Ardenne, next to Touristic Attractions

www.domainelongpre.be

Thursday night, DIY dinner at Domain Long Pre.

Friday, up to the circuit to watch practice. With the two older cars (and the MX5 between them) we should be able to get all three vehicles into the ‘Classic cars’ car park opposite the new pits. Dinner in Stavelot, where we possibly want to try a new restaurant,

Saturday / Sunday up at the circuit. Dinner on the hoof during the racing on Saturday and back to Stavelot on Sunday night.

Monday, cross country back to Cambrai, via lunch in Givet and an overnight stop back at St Omer, again at the Ibis Budget.

Tuesday, a mid-morning Chunnel, back to home.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

If only I had a sports car

 

[Wapping]

If only I had a sports car

There’ll be lots of regular cars there too, JB. One of the missing two from this year’s jaunt, goes in a Tesla. Nobody is judgemental, just as they shouldn’t be about the choice, make and model of two wheeled transport.

The reality is that most modern’ish cars, will outperform the ‘classic’ cars, without really even trying. They are often a lot more comfortable, too.

 

[Ectopic]

Five in three cars? Does that mean there's a spare seat?

 

[Wapping]

On paper, yes. In reality, possibly no.

I am taking the electric BBQ kit / mains lead etc for the troops. My vehicle’s boot is near enough full with the spare wheel.

I need to go up to the vehicle on Tuesday, to see if I can slot the BBQ etc somehow into the boot.

If I can, then a seat becomes free. If I can’t then it will have to go on the passenger seat or, more likely, in the footwell.

It would be good to have a passenger to subsidise the 22 mpg! But, at the moment, I just don’t know. Until, then I remain a beast of burden for my friends’ comforts.

 

[KMD]

Can I ask what are the dates for this please? And the tunnel crossing times if you have them booked.

 

[Wapping]

Can I ask what are the dates for this please? And the tunnel crossing times if you have them booked.

We are booked on:

Outwards: 23 September at 14:16

Return: 29 September at 10:16

My vehicle is booked onto the ‘wide bodied’ carriage. Not because it is wide, but for fear that the loading chimps, try to send me up to the upper deck. This will inevitably mean me clumping the exhaust as the vehicle crests the top of the ramp and again on the descent. This I am keen to avoid.

The event itself runs from the Friday (practice etc) with racing on Saturday (the six hour race starting in the late afternoon, to run into the dark) and Sunday, with support races.

Home - Spa Six Hours

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[Wapping]

I’ll hopefully bump into KMD (who joined us at Gedinne) at the event, not least as I have a discounted entry ticket to sell on at cost.

 

[Wapping]

Electric BBQ and mains leads, not withstanding. My first task is to fashion two corks (I think it might work) to wedge into a very small gap, where the roof does not quite engage at the top of windscreen pillars.

The gap allows a very slow drip, drip, drip of water to come in. The drip, drip, drip lands on the driver’s right leg. It’s not life threatening but the novelty might wear a bit thin after four hours in solid Belgian rain.

I have also thought of spraying a smidge of expanded foam in, just to close it up.

It’s a ridiculously small gap, invisible from the outside and maybe inevitable because of the way the roof latches.

Still it’s better than than my friend’s Elan, whose soft top roof had more holes than a bikermate’s best socks.

 

[KMD]

Wouldn’t be a classic if it didn’t have the odd bit of ‘character’ here or there……

 

[KMD]

a very small gap, where the roof does not quite engage at the top of windscreen.

Have you considered something like this Richard ?

Stormguard EPDM Weatherstrip P Profile Black 15m | Toolstation

This weatherstrip from Stormguard is ideal for sealing around doors and windows to keep out draughts and conserve heat, energy and money. It also forms an effective barrier against rain and dust. The weatherstrip is made from ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber, which offers excellent...

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[Wapping]

Thank you, Keith.

I need to take a good look al it and work out what’s best. I think it’s at an awkward spot, where the top of the door meets the top of the windscreen. The roof then comes over the top, leaving what amounts to a small gap, a bit like a small ‘tunnel’.

 

[Wapping]

A question to AI, tells me that Keith’s or my cork idea, might well hold the answer:


The "Classic Road-Trip" Quick Fixes

If your seals look great and everything is adjusted as close to factory spec as possible, the reality of a 1960s British convertible is that heavy or driving rain can still find a way in. Experienced BJ8 owners use these quick workarounds:

• The Clear Silicone Grease Trick: Before setting off on a rainy trip, apply a heavy dab of clear, non-curing silicone grease (dielectric grease or plumber's silicone) right into the top inner corner where the window frame meets the rubber. This creates a hydrostatic barrier that repels water without gluing anything shut.
• The Closed-Cell Foam Insert: Cut a small, wedge-shaped piece of black closed-cell foam block and wedge it into the top corner pocket of the canvas roof framework. This acts as a physical dam to divert water down the outside of the door rather than letting it spill over the top inside edge.

 

[Wapping]

I’ll hopefully bump into KMD (who joined us at Gedinne) at the event, not least as I have a discounted entry ticket to sell on at cost.

Keith (KMD) has kindly bought one of our two spare tickets. We’ll do our best to meet up during the jaunt.

 

[Hairnet600]

If your seals look great

 

[Hairnet600]

im very upset as i was thinking why not as ill be in bruges but on the first and second of october

flight is easy enough to change but extend the car rent is €€€€€€€€€€€

 

[Wapping]

Never mind, there’s always next year, God willing.

 

[Wapping]

By chance I have found some ‘closed cell foam insert’ (or I guess it is) from the packing of something or another.

I think I might be able to cut a chunk of it, to act as a bung.

I already have a litre of oil (always handy) though, touch wood, there are no obvious oil leaks. Similarly, a litre of radiator fluid, though (touch wood, again) there is no obvious overheating problem and it’s not high summer. The drive back in the dark will be interesting, as the lights are…. Um…. On (I think).

The cracked fuel feed pipe has been replaced. The steering wheel is now straight. The throttle now engages properly, The windscreen scrapers function, as does the ‘push to squirt’ washer. It has a decent alternator, so the lights (ho-ho) do illuminate and the last owner replaced and updated the fuel pump…. Wednesday’s open road awaits.