Day 1:

At midday we dropped of my daughter at the bus departure point, for her holiday. We drove on to the first hotel at Evreux. Because her departure point was on the way, we decided to let Jan Paul take her luggage by train to the bus and I took my daughter in the seven. Jan Paul then took her place end we started the journey to Evreux 680 Km, where we arrived at seven, a suitable time we thought. The others had arrived about an hour earlier.

Old acquaintances renewed and new faces put to familiar names. Sad to hear that Peter Wehrmann's had clutch problems, although this would be fixed the next morning.

Road book, polo shirts, caps where distributed, not to forget the Swiss penknife suitably engraved we got from Peter Wehrmann. We now where suitably dressed and what we were doing in France.

Day 2:

Journey to Nevers, which would be the staging point for Magny Cours.

Another very hot day, with stops for fuel, water and more fuel and water, JB7 Rarebird only takes 3 gals. These stops where more or less scheduled, until we came around a corner and found the lead cars had come to a stop, with an oil trail leading to the Rarebird... turns out the hose going to the Accusump had come adrift, with the accusump's and most of the sump's contents on the road, Jonathan was afraid he had damaged the engine. The Ratrace van was still with Peter Wehrmann's car. So JB7, with advise from all of us... got the hose back on, and oil donated someone (David Hooper??) got the hose back and make sure it stayed on. (there was no ridge to keep it from sliding off again). After a few test runs up and down the road there did not seem to be any damage to the engine :). So of we went again. But after a mile or so there where puffs of smoke coming from under the car and my screen was getting covered with oil:( pulled over again, and it turned out that the hose itself had a tear in it, shortened it and tried again. But shortly after had the same problem again. We no waited for the van to catch up and with the proper tools a proper repair could be made. Finally made it to Nevers. last to come in, this was to become our trade mark, always arriving late(st). parked the se7ens on the railway station car park, took a much needed shower. Then on to diner and a few beers on a terrace across the street, until the lights went out in the bar and the all the chairs and tables where being stakes for the night. We took this as it was intended, a "subtle" hint and called it a day.

Day 3:

Of to Magny Cours. We had the use of the Club Circuit, (apparently we where the first to use it, the buildings where not ready yet) very nice track with LOTS of runoff space, which a few people (including myself) used. The lay out was challenging (at least for someone as inexperienced as myself) with a long sweeping lefthander 180 plus degrees followed by a tight twisting bit. (I have the layout on video so eventually there will be a picture on the FTP site). As we where preparing to go on the track, Vinnie arrived, "dragging his boss along". Got on to the track to do what we came for and while I trying a lower gear, 2nd for the last twisty bit I spun of, and stalled the engine. As I sat there about start the engine again a marshal came running towards me flapping and waving his hands/arms in very excited French way, I turned to look over my right shoulder in case there was someone else coming my way, no, no danger there... meanwhile the marshal had turned around and was running back to his post, then a colleague came our way which a fire extinguisher, now it dawned that there was something else going on. Looked down over my left shoulder, as that seemed to be where he was pointing, and sure enough there was a *small* flame coming out of the exhaust. Quickly and shortly clapped my hand over the exhaust and out it was. Good no white powder on the car. But still the marshal was running and pointing, it was far too hot to run for fun! So I got out quickly now to see what else was wrong. Yup, more fire, another small flame burning on the inside of the rear wing. This *fire* could be blown out like a candle. End of panic! However if the fibreglass of the wing had started burning this story might have had a different ending. And I expect there will be different versions of this story coming as I later heard comments about Bar-B-Q's and the flames I saw couldn't be seen by the others as the exhaust was hidden by the car from the pits. Had to be towed back into the pits as the engine was so flooded it didn't start for about an hour. The biggest damper of course was the saga of Mick and Gloria's engine, where the big end bearings where destroyed by oil starvation. They decided to have the 7 transported back home and continue by hire car. This Opel Corsa was soon "upgraded" and adapted to Euro2001 by strategic application of Euro2001 and other "list" stickers. It was great to hear of the efforts of the List to source parts and have them shipped over, even though it had been decided to send the car home.

It was then time for lunch and a group headed of into Magny Cours where we flooded into the only(?) Restaurant the tiny village on Magny Cours has, and convinced the landlady to serve launch even though she had no supplies anymore as the place was closing for holidays. In spite of this we had a good lunch, during which we heard the news about Mick's car. Afterwards more track time, video cameras where mounted or hand held by passengers. Daren seemed to have a lot of fun as his car was rarely travelling in the direction it was pointing but I don't think he ever really ran out of tarmac! Vinnie drove Phil around in his Megabusa, and after a few laps Phil got out (thought he would be safer outside the car the inside) and let Vinnie have it himself for a couple of laps. Jan Paul got a ride from Jonathan and was very impressed, (traitor:)). There are probably many more stories and they will surface when the others post their impressions. After the now mandatory fuel stop had a good drive to the next hotel, without scaring too many locals. With just one unplanned stop, JB7 made a dash into a parking place along the road. He'd heard a squeaking noise and thought a wheel bearing had run dry. So after taking it apart and finding is full of grease we continued uneventfully to the hotel in Beaune. We started getting very impressed by the enthusiastic reception we received by al(most) all French people. Young and old, male or female waved us on and flashed their lights at us. People wanted to have their pictures taken standing next to the se7ens, children put in the drivers seat (weather they liked it or not) more pictures taken, questions asked about the cars (we think, as our French didn't get past the ordering food stage).

Day 4:

Another hot but now also humid day. Had an uneventful trip to Pontarlier where the Franca Sbarro museum is located. A huge modern building which is part museum and the rest would have been his studio? Cannot really call it a factory as I don't know of any cars that have had a production run of more that one. (I'm sure the list will correct me here if I'm wrong). We arrived a bit early and waited for the others. The museum is a collection very *weird* cars. Most are just unusual designs ranging from interesting to downright ugly (I don't think taste comes into this..) but also technical exercises like: a two motorbikes siamesed together and enclosed in one body. The unusual bit was that the wheels angled over in corners, just like a motorcycle while the body remained flat. It would have appealed to most of us because it came with *two* starter buttons and rev. counters etc. there was also an car with a straight 12 cylinder engine mounted transversely in middle of what once was a Peugeot 205. (I'm not sure there was actually an engine under the 12 intakes and 12 sparkplug wires though) the most interesting thing technically was the centerless wheel. The purpose is to be able to get the largest brake disk in a given wheel diameter. When I get around to putting the full story on my website I will put some pictures of this wheel there as well.

After finishing the museum tour it turned out that the parking place had turned into what looked somewhat like a rally service area. With a great number of K starters being either replaced or repaired. I think this was also when V7's ECU was first looked at as it had given Nigel problems since the track. During the next few days all sensor where changed/borrowed from other cars to see which was the culprit. In the end, after exchanging the entire ECU with a borrowed one it ran fine which meant that the MAP sensor was broken. A new Emerald ECU will be brought out by Vinnie to the last track day (today) so Nigel can take part. Apparently it was very difficult to drive, as he accelerator basically worked as an on off switch. After all the servicing, which took quite while, it was a quick run into Besangon. Where late in the evening a thunder storm heralded the change in weather.

Day 5:

After Bern it was still raining so hard that had to drive very slowly, which left us no time to go to The Swiss Caterham importer, Freddy Kumshick, who races historic formula cars and has a modern Bugatti + several lotuses also Peter Wehrmann's 340R was there which I have never seen in the flesh. We had an appointment for a wine tasting in Seewen where we had to be on time. Coming into Seewen we took wrong turn, so after a while turned into a side road to turn around. V7 tried a doughnut which led him in the adjacent field and he continued from there. This was a grass field so wet we couldn't see where he had been. So while Phil was doing as three point turn the rest of us Jonathan Matt and myself did the turn on the grass, when I came back on the road there was this Audi coupe standing in the way, so I had to use more grass to get around him. We continued back into town and when we had to turn again (we did this quote often...) there was an Audi coupe again, coincidence? Later Phil told us that it was the same one as he had followed us from the field, but we didn't see him again after the second turn when he apparently had given up. Finally arrived at the wine tasting place where Peter Wehrmann was giving interviews to the (local) press. (Peter, it would be nice to have the press clippings scanned and put on the FTP site if possible??) at the wine tasting we were parked next to warehouse number 7. Parking was in the local ice hockey stadium, where everybody took everything out of the cars and laid them out to dry. Went for a drink and dinner. End of a long very wet day. My lotus is not very waterproof even with the hood up but the people without screens must have been very miserable indeed.

Day 6:

Still raining so while everything is more or less dry we put on the hood and set of for the driving training, no petrol first... Peter knew a *big* station which we invaded. The only time where all of us, except V7 which still didn't run properly, and Andy Ish were together. At the driving school we were split into 2 groups and after a briefing one group when and tried to slalom, starting on tarmac and ending on a slippery surface. Trying to *avoid* the cones (which where very soft and did not do any damage to the cars if you did hit them, or get them in your wheel arch). The other group did braking tests, locking and then unlocking the wheels and avoid and obstacle, (cones) after "coffee" and croissants, the exercises where changed to trying to steer the car with the throttle on a tight radius with fixed lock steering. This turned out to be much more difficult than we all thought. The other group tried locked brakes with one side on wet tarmac and the other side on the slippery part of the track. I'm not sure if they learned anything but it sure was *fun*!!! At this time my alternator light came on and decides to watch while the exhaust cooled down enough to fix the loose wire it turned out to be.

After all this fun (watch for the video's especially those of the Van!) time for some serious work: Alpine passes! Just after we had started the driving training it stopped raining and now the sun was coming out. First lunch then the 'Sustern" pass this is serious se7ening! Then we/I wanted to do the "Grimsel" pass as I remembered the beautiful view of the Rhone Glacier from when I had gone over it many years ago. So we would go up there and depending on the timing decide what to do afterwards. It was not to be, the clouds came in and before we where at the top visibility was almost zero. So we turned around and went on to Les Diablerets where a very luxurious hotel was arranged. Where we had closed parking and huge rooms. Very nice, the only organised dinner was very good too!

Day 7:

After relaxed start, there was to be a group photo in front of the hotel. We, JB7, Matt, Phil, Dave Hooper and ourselves decided the planned route was to tame for us. Matt had never been into Italy before, and there where some very good passes nearby which needed to be Se7ened! The Grand St Bernard and the Petit St Bernard, this would take us into Italy and then France. As we had no Italian money we decided to have lunch in Switzerland before we crossed the border. So just before the actual pass we saw a place to stop, we where leading as Jan Paul was designated map reader for this day. Pulled of and waved to the others who where a few cars behind but Matt and Dave didn't see and motored on up the mountain. Waited a while and gave the tourist a photo opportunity and did some "general pr stuff" for se7ens in general and the list in particular. When the others didn't turn op (couldn't reach Matt by Phone, and reception to Dave was terrible, but told him to stay) we had just started up the road when Matt came down, and explained that Dave had already crossed the border. Wrong, that meant the tunnel. And > while tunnels are very nice for the sound effects, ask JB7. we wanted to do the pass. In the end Matt walked across the border and told David to turn around and come back. This done we found a place to have lunch, went up the pass, tried not to aggravate to many tourists, ( the French and Italian didn't mind but the other foreigners especially the Dutch didn't like us very much....) crossed the border and started down the other side, only to find we had lost David again. No Phone reception at all. So after a while I went up alone to find him, half expecting him to be held up at the border. But he was busily removing his rear anti roll bar which had broken, before the remaining bit did any damage. By the time I got there he had finished most of it. So I walked to a point where I could see the others and try to catch their attention. But the where not looking, and 20 mins later we where all there. Helping Matt to stow his stuff. Meanwhile a couple of Italians with a Ferrari 248 GTS approached us impressed with Mats' spannering and asked us to help them, as it wouldn't start. It was definitively not a K series as the starter worked. So we left them and when on down realizing it would be a long days as it was already 4pm. Run down to Aosta in Italy needed petrol (of course) took a long time as the guy running the petrol station needed to see engines etc. up the Piccolo St Bernard as it's called in Italy with loads of hairpins (they are very helpfully numbered in Italy) some so tight, Jonathan was running out of lock on some so he had to over steer out of them, bet he wasn't enjoying that ;-) crossed into France via Bourg St Maurice, up the D217 where I had a "moment" misjudged the road, was distracted I can't remember, Jan Paul shouting it's a hairpin (which I didn't hear) saw the road didn't do a gentle right turn but a full 180 degree, panicked, slammed on the brakes and ended with the left front wheel hanging over a 50m almost vertical drop. Jan Paul jumped out of the car (everybody else too) and as soon as saw I wasn't going anywhere started taking photos.... Al I wanted is: all 4 wheels back on terra firma!! After taking their time with the photos they pulled be back. No damage except to my ego! After a few moments we when on to Albertville and from there on north to Geneva. Having dinner on the way and not finding a petrol station in France which accepted any of our cards or cash so after dividing JB7 reserve among the needy we just mad Switzerland where we found tens of petrol stations taking all cards and cash and being manned. In the end we arrived at a quarter to one where Gavin and Daren had stayed up to give us our keys. End of a long day with beautiful roads and views and one I will never forget!

Day 8:

Of to Rob Grigsby's uncle, Peter Sykes, who lives in Nantey and has had the village organize a French lunch for us. After a short while Matt dives into a parking space, his rear end feels loose, at that moment that Ratrace van passes us and is flagged down. It turns out the a-frame bushes have gone. Gavin and Paul change them in 10 mins. And of we are again. Only to find Jonathan stopping a few miles later, not being able to change gears. Cable broken, he has only 3rd left we call the van and "limp" of to meet them, after a short while we wonder why on earth he needs the other 5 gears... when we meet up with the van and find the cable is really broken and not just loose as Jonathan thought before. He calls the people who did the conversion and they promise to DHL a new one for arrival the next day. Continue to Nantey and arrive just in time to start lunch, having missed the tour around the house. After wonderful meal hosted by the major. We set of to Rob's uncle's house for a viewing of the videos shot a Magny Cours and some of the Alpine passes. The late comers get their tour after all by a very proud owner of a beautiful house, which is a converted watermill, the water is still running through the house with a glass floor through which you can see the stream. Then of to Becangon with Peter's son following us in his Lotus 7 SII with a Pinto engine and huge Pirelli P7's, he has a moment while trying to keep up with us and returns home a bit shaken. while travelling to Becangon there is a major downpour with aquaplaning at 20 Mph just as afraid of someone hitting us in the rear as of continuing, and we al get very wet again.

Day 9:

Jan Paul and my last day with the rest. But first there is the Rarebird's shift cable to change while waiting for DHL the old one is taken out. Meanwhile the new one arrives and is put in. the it is found that the exit shaft flange of the reverse box has about 5 mm play. A spare was brought along for Phil's Megabusa and is installed. Looks like the nut holding the flange on the shaft was never tightened properly. JB7 is extremely happy with the new box as it is much quieter than the old one ever was. Of to St Dizier. A spirited drive where I cannot keep up on some of the bumpier bits, I now know the true meaning of bump steer. Have to over shoot a petrol station when everybody dives in while I'm still overtaking... Had a nice meal and when we got back to the hotel some people had already gone to their rooms so unfortunately we could say goodbye to everybody!

Day 10:

Homeward bound. Up at 04:45 leave at 05:30 hopefully didn't wake to many people. Realize we should have stopped for petrol yesterday as night time France is a nightmare to get fuel. But we are lucky at the last minute we find a truck stop that is manned. Of to Holland via Nancy and them the Motorway all the way home. In Maastricht where there are a few traffic lights find out the clutch has gone soft and doesn't release (hydraulic) stop to check, and can see an air bubble in the hose. No leakage bleed screw is tight. No time to bleed and continue without clutch and double declutch. only the starting is a bit difficult. Arrive in Zwolle with 15 mins to spare. Jan Paul takes the train home and I pick up my daughter from her bus, then 15 km's we are home.

A brilliant holiday!! To be repeated (without the *very exciting* parts) but for me not in the USA as I have school going children.

A special thanks to the people who organized the trip!!

And not to forget White van man Gavin, Rob for the first week and from Ratrace, Paul the second week for always being there when someone needed help!!!! Or a laugh