As part of the Paisley Monte Carlo historique start CCHMSC ran a Heritage tour to Monaco for club members to experience a little of the atmosphere of the main event without having the ordeal of the competitive sections. Our good friend and club member Mike Kirk put together a great and interesting route which attracted eight crews who turned out at Paisley to start the first section following the Run to the borders crews to Dumfries, then on to Ullswater for their first overnight stop.

On Friday 24th the crews set off down the side of Ullswater , over the Kirkstone Pass, giving the crews their first taste of 'Monte' weather with a light covering of snow on the hills and ice on the road. Heading east the cars passed Skipton to reach the A1 at Wetherby. From there it was straight to the passage control at Barnby Moor,the main rally checkpoint, though the Ecosse to Monaco tour was some 24 hours behind them.

A scenic run south through Melton Mowbray Oakham and Rutland Water to reach the channel tunnel for the crossing to France, for the overnight in Calais. Here the tour met up with Jim Wilson in the Standard 10 having successfully fulfilled his task as course car for the UK section of the Monte Carlo Historique Glasgow Start, and handed the baton to the french course car crew.

Saturday 25th headed south to Reims, going east of Paris. A visit to the old GP race circuit is a must and previous CCHMSC Trans Alpina tours have visited here several times. Overnight in Troyes.

Sunday 26th Followed the historique rally route through the time controls via the Morvan Forest, although the rallye cars had been through some 24 hours earlier, reaching the overnight in Champgnoole.

Monday 27th Continue to follow the rallye route where possible via the Jura mountains, Chambery, Grenoble, in time to see some of the cars at Valence as they challenge the mountain regularity sections around the town. . 
 

Tuesday 28th. Having left the start in Paisley (Glasgow) last Wednesday, the seven remaining crews should get their first view of the Mediterranean later today. Sadly the Porsche 911 Turbo of Joe Norman/Mike Kirk suffered a failed wheel bearing on the way to Valence and had to retire. Meanwhile the Austin Maxi of Alan Mackay/Desmond Canaway and the little Standard Ten of Jim and Nicky Wilson are still setting a healthy pace. Likewise the 70's Toyota Celica of Alan Duncan/Catherine Laszok, the MGB GT of Andrew Thomlinson/Darren McGuinness and the VW Golf of Tom and Marianne Dromgoole. Peter Baker's car, the Porsche 924, has so far performed well, consuming just one half litre of oil.

We covered another 240kms, calling in at Gap, Sisteron, Digne les Bains, and of course the Col du Turini, a famous calling point on the Historique Rallye, while following the twists and turns of Monte Carlo rally route towards the finish.  Just in time to see the historique cars off on their night section.

Wednesday 29th. Reaching our destination, time for a bit of sight seeing, and to see the cars arrive in Parc Ferme on the waterfront.

Finally the tour crews got together for their own Gala Dinner to tlak about their experiences on the way to Monte Carlo.

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Updated 4 February 2014
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