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Some of you will know I went across to France last weekend to sample the French Hillclimb scene. For me this is probably one of the best events I've ever done! I'd found some information on this web site and submitted my entry online http://www.hillclimbfrance.co.uk/ It was very easy to enter, I just needed to upgrade my license to an MSA "National A speed" beforehand which I did at the start of the year. I also had to fit an in-date harness to my drivers seat. For anyone wanting to do St Goueno next year it is well worth thinking about collecting signatures on your "National B" licence at events in the UK this year to be able to upgrade it to a "National A" for next year. There was nothing to pay until I arrived and the entry fee was a meagre 150 Euros. Compare this to most UK events and a weekend entry fee will usually cost in the region of £250 to £300. The other criteria that must be met for all cars younger than 1977 is the driver must wear a HANS device and HANS compatible helmet. I believe the cheaper helmets can be purchased for around £200 and HANS for around £350. All the other gear you need is identical to the UK events (race overalls, gloves, balaclava & race boots etc). You may also consider hiring or borrowing HANS and helmet to reduce costs. The ferry I was advised to go for was the Portsmouth - St Malo crossing. This ferry runs overnight and leaves Portsmouth at 8pm. When you arrive the following day there is just a 1 hour drive from Portsmouth to St Goueno. You could drive the long way down using the channel tunnel or short ferry crossing to Calais but I reckoned there was very little difference in the oveall cost when you consider the extras for fuel and tolls. The long ferry also gives you a chance to relax. My recommendation would be to travel out on Wednesday or Thursday evenings and travel back on Monday. There is a very helpful French lady Anne Lessard who, as part of the organising team, will arrange all accommodation for competitors to the event. It is very cheap considering what you get. We stayed in a Gite, a nice old converted farmhouse about 15 minutes drive from the venue in a picturesque little village. The 3 nights cost us a mere 58 Euros each. st goueno 007 by windy911, on Flickr You can also bring your motorhome to the venue and spend the weekend in the paddock - many of the competitors did just that for convenience. st goueno 010 by windy911, on Flickr Friday commenced with signing on at 3pm followed by scrutineering. The Masters competitors (our group) all had our cars checked over by British scrutineers. Once stickered and numbered up there was a chance to drive the hill. This was a good opportunity to familarise yourself with the long drive down the valley to the start, the long drive up the hillclimb, then the drive back to the paddock. This was the location for the Pre Grille where they assign a number to your car and you then line up on a grid before driving down to the start line: st goueno 017 by windy911, on Flickr Some distances: The total circuit is about 7.9 km or five of your English / Irish miles. Paddock to Start line 3.52 km / 2.2 miles. Start line to finish line 3.067 / 1.9 miles. Finish line to paddock 1.28 km / 0.8 miles.

Typical Aberdonian!

Thursday night Matt with a tent and a few beers

I'd like to take this opportunity to remind you that standard forum procedure is to get at least three pages worth of opinions and then ignore them all and buy something totally different, i.e. ask for opinions on an appropriate car to do 20k per year and then purchase a fire engine.

Blimey James......it'll be pipe and slippers next.... Sure you could find an unregistered Rover if you looked hard enough

Have a look at the speed series which might interest you Trackday at Blyton and the 2 day speed series event is good to attend

Here you go: Cheshire / N. Staffs Area Meet Where: Whipping Stocks Inn, Stocks Lane, Over Peover, Knutsford, Cheshire. WA16 9EX When: First Thursday of the month at 8 PM Area Organiser: Dave Eastwood Phone: 07769 908575 Email: cheshire@wscc.co.uk https://www.facebook.com/WSCCCheshire

Not sure if this helps

400bhp from a 2.0 zetec isn't really trying. My BIL used to build zetecs of 460bhp before he decided to go the duratec route for big HP.

The mounting tabs for the hood frame are to the front.

Personally I think it's one of those risks worth taking. The track day guys will always buy them off you in a few years time, when the get outlawed. Don;t forget the timing issue, because the list is only make and model, tyre manufacturers may have some stock left so will want to leave on MSA list for another year or so after they are supposed to go out of production. Just to be able to clear them. Stupid really as has already been said, everyone will all be on slicks soon from Avon and double the money

bl**** Eu tree huggers.