PART 2, Getting there.

The three new lads to the group, best mates since school, all decide to have a skin full as they're feeling a little dejected at the distances we have to cover and its dawned on them that its not the fun and playtime they clearly expected... this goes ok until one decides to burst into our room for a surprise wrestling session. All goes well until Jimmy falls off the bed and lands on him a little hard, bearing in mind these two lads are fairly well built. The joys of alchohol rear their ugly heads and the "loser" decides to get moody and childish. A long and protracted discussion later and all seems ok, so we retire for the night knowing its an early start(ish) if we're to make our next stop. Most of us are up and packed, ready to go for 8am. Wondering where the two mates are we eventually spot them sitting in the cafe having breakfast, not packed, and still wearing civvies. It seems the mood hasn't abated and Colin has decided to throw the towel in, or should that be throw is teddy out the pram? He clearly isn't happy about a few things so in a bid to keep things civil we agree to continue without the three lads. Its a shame as we had a great gang up to that point and I know they'd have loved the rest of the trip if they'd persevered for another day or so. Ah well.

Myself, Jimmy, Simon and Costa set off from Le Mans on our own, having decided that now three bikes lighter we could make some decent progress and head south as fast as possible to find the warmer climes and clearer skies. Making good progress like this means we can afford luxuries like stopping in quaint villages for a cafe and a break..

[CafePitStop]

this is what this trip was all about for me, taking in the real France, meeting the locals and giving them a laugh as I attempt my best French linguistics. We're a little nonplussed about the other lads leaving us like that, especially after making it to France already, so the day passes relatively quietly, we just make progress south to Orleans for an overnight stop. Friday dawns bright and chilly, and we set off on the slog to Nevers in good spirits, its a fair distance so we hit the Peage for a while to get to Magny Cours in plenty of time, we know its going to be busy and figured it best to get setup early before the Friday workers can get down there.

[Carrefour Fillup]

After a long stop at a Carrefour to stock up on basics (me and Simon picked up a cheap bike cover too, which came in very handy as it turned out) we crawl over to the circuit, the bike to car ratio increasing hugely as we get near. The excitement is tangible as we enter the site, and almost immediately I am greeted by two guys doing huge burnouts and rev limiter sound track accompaniment. Good stuff! The "camp site" is already rammed and we end up at the back field right near the top, at first I'm a bit dissapointed not to be in the thick of the chaos but it quickly becomes clear that we're safer up there and stand a far better chance of getting something close to sleep at least.... or at least that was the hope. The site was basic, a field to put it bluntly, with a couple of wash areas to cover all of us (never going to work) but I figured cleanliness wasn't on the schedule for this portion of the trip anyway... First things first, tent up, luggage stuffed inside, get the wine cartons open and go exploring. The track itself is relatively new, with good vantage points all round and some great series of corners, the practice session begins and already its clear these lads mean business, they are flying round!

[Gang_BolDor]

[Bol_camping]

[Magny Cours]

Drank some more wine back at the tents in readiness for the evenings events, the race isn't starting till tomorrow afternoon so everyone clearly wants a good rave up to get in the mood. It starts with a few bikes cruising about bouncing the engines of the limiters for minutes at a time, then the wheelies start (on dirt roads, between tents remember!) then the "vehicles" start cruising about, more engine limiter stuff, roofs cut off Pugs, spray painted, open pipes, gangs of inebriated yoofs hanging off it while it makes as much noise as possible. Noise seems to be the main aim of the evenings, noise and fire. Oh, and smoke, lots of smoke... its the closest thing I've ever been to a riot.

[Stunts]

[NoiseSmokeFire]

[R5_noise]

We even had the Gendarme chopper circling all night, nightstar lit up, watching for trouble, I felt like an extra in Terminators opening scenes. Despite all this mayehm, noise, fire, smoke, chaos, we never saw any trouble all weekend. We eventually attempt to get some rest at some ungodly hour, but the engines, banging, fireworks, bikes racing past etc doesn't abate until about 5am, then at 6am the early risers start the process off again. You'd think I'd get p*ssed off with all this but strangely I was getting into the mentality of it all, and loved every minute of it. Its a proper old school p*ssup and health and safety can go to hell.

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