CHINON CLASSIC
20th to 24th JUNE 2024
OVERVIEW
We will once again stay at the Plantagenet Hotel, take part in the Saturday tour of the area and then take in the Chinon Classic demonstrations on the Sunday.
It is a great and relaxed event, with a fantastic atmosphere and in the most beautiful surroundings of the town of Chinon. A must do event for any classic car fan.
ITINERARY
DAY ONE - THURSDAY 20th JUNE - PORTSMOUTH TO CAEN
The tour begins at Portsmouth ferry dock at the Brittany Ferries check-in desk. We are booked onto the 22:45hrs overnight sailing from Portsmouth bound for the port of Caen. Your comfortable on- board accommodation is reserved for you.
DAY 2 - FRIDAY 21st JUNE - CAEN TO CHINON
On arrival into France, we head off from Caen onto quiet French back roads to a breakfast stop in a delightful hotel by the river in Putanges. The scenic D-roads continue from here, or you can hop on to the motorway, as we carry on down to just south of Le Mans. We then pick up the D304 down to La Chartre-sur-le-Loir, the road used by several of the Le Mans racing teams back in the day and is still a must-do drive for motoring enthusiasts visiting the area.
We will have lunch at the famous Hotel de France, where the GT40 and Aston Martin teams were based over the 24-hour race weekend in the 60’s and which continues to welcome celebrities, such as Derek Bell and Jackie Ickx, from the motor racing world throughout the year. From here we have a beautiful, gentle two-hour drive through the vineyards and orchards to the town of Chinon, where we will be based for the next three nights.
The hotel we have chosen is full of gallic charm but all about the location as it overlooks the main square, where all the action takes place on the Saturday and Sunday, and where your cars will be safely parked for the weekend. This evening’s dinner will be in a local restaurant in the town.
DAY 3 - SATURDAY 22nd JUNE - CHINON RALLY DAY
Today we join the official Chinon Classic ‘rally’ (run by the same organisers as the Angouleme GP) which takes in the some of the most picturesque roads around the Loire valley with a ‘coffee’ stop along the way; this being France there will be wine and gourmet snacks on offer…and soft drinks too. Though the final details are yet to be announced for next year, there is bound to be, as previous years, a stunning lunch location before we meander back to Chinon.
It takes the form of a tulip rally but there are no timings or prizes for first home and you should follow the instructions in good humour as you enjoy the scenery and many roads not usually driven by tourists. This evening there is a gala dinner in the underground cellars of the magnificent Royal Fortress, a really different and special location for an evening’s entertainment with live music.
DAY 4 - SUNDAY 23rd JUNE - RACE DAY
Today the roads around the town are closed off for the demonstration circuits. You are in prime position to spectate and take your car out to show the crowds. Again, it’s definitely not a race and you are encouraged to simply enjoy the attention from the spectators lining the circuit – and don’t forget to wave!
There is plenty to see and do in the town during the day with a large car paddock directly opposite the hotel, exhibitors and stands under the trees alongside the river, not to mention the cobbled streets of the town to stroll around or discover a local restaurant for lunch. This evening we have a very informal dinner at the hotel.
DAY 5 - MONDAY 24th JUNE - CHINON TO CAEN
After breakfast, you make your way back up to Caen (170 miles mainly along motorways allowing you plenty of time and opportunity for comfort breaks) for the 16:30 hrs. sailing back to Portsmouth.
This year, your Tour Managers will escort you to the ferry port at Caen but will not return on the ferry with you as the Le Mans Classic is on later this week. If you wish to stay on in France and attend the Le Mans Classic, joining the fabulous CGT event there, we would be pleased to arrange this for you.
HOTELS
WHAT IS INCLUDED
– Breakfast on the first morning in France followed by lunch at the Hotel de France
– Three nights’ accommodation in the centre of Chinon on a bed and breakfast basis
– Entry to the Saturday Rally, including lunch
– Dinner on Friday and Sunday evening, with wine
– Gala dinner on Saturday night, with wine
– Tickets to the Sunday parade demonstrations
– Services of an experienced tour manager
TOUR PRICES
£1,600.00
per person based on two sharing accommodation
£2,000.00
per person based on single occupancy accommodation
MORE INFORMATION
Call us on
01926 675675
Or click the button below
BOOK AND RESERVE YOUR PLACE
Booking your place on this event couldn’t be easier. The first step would be to click the “Enquire” button and complete the form, which gives us some basic details about yourself and your party.
We will then get in touch with you to confirm availability on the tour, we will send you a booking form to complete together with our deposit payment options so you can reserve your place on the tour.
As soon as the deposit has been processed we will send you a booking confirmation detailing what is included in your tour together with any extras you may have requested, your travel documents and the balance payment information.
You can secure a place on our tour with a deposit of just £1000 per person. This can be paid by Stripe Online Payment, BACS transfer or by card over the phone if you prefer.
Prefer to have a chat over the phone? Give us a call on 01926 675 675
MINIMUM NUMBERS
We have a minimum number of participants required for all of our events enabling them to be viable for us to run - this is usually 10 riders unless stated otherwise. In the event that we don't reach the minimum numbers, the tour may be cancelled at which point your booking deposit will be refunded to you, or if preferred, allocated to another event of your choice.
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