Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

Brian M · Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2009 8:59 pm Post subject: European Classic Caravan Rally

I have taken my Safari to the annual European Classic Caravan Rally in previous years.

I have missed the last two years, firstly due to pressure of work and last year I was having an operation on the same weekend.

This year's event is in Oteppe in Belgium.

I hope that some members of my safari Group will join me, and I am in contact with the Royale Owners Club and the Cheltenham Owners Club, the former have five members interested but the latter have yet to advise me of their interest.

These are the details as published by the Belgian Club, and if you fancy coming post your interest here.

http://www.bocc.be/ECCR/eccr-oteppe-E.php

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ECCR - 20 May - 24 may 2009

Where:
Kasteel en Domain L'Hirondelle
B 4210 Oteppe
Belgium

http://www.lhirondelle.be

Arrival 20/05/09 from 12h
Departure Sunday 24/5/09 before 20h

Pitches:
Each approx 100 sq m with water, water outlet and connection to 6amp electricity. Luxury camping site with Supermarket, Swimming pool, restaurant, fishing pond, lawn bowls, etc

Prices: For four nights including "Grand Dinner"

80 euro - 1 pitch 1 adult
95 euro - 1 pitch 2 adults
15 euro each extra adult
7.5 euro each extra child over 4
15 euro for each extra night after Sunday
1 euro shower token

No extra charges for: dogs, hot water, standing for car, awning
Grand Dinner 3 course meal, drinks extra. Vegetarian menu on request

Programme
Thursday 21/5/09 Free day for meet and greet or local sight seeing
Friday 22/5/09 13.00h reception in the inner court of the castle with entertainment
Saturday 23/5/09 13.00h - 16.00h open door and rummage sale. Look inside everyone's caravan and sale of caravan parts.
19.00h - Grand Dinner
Sunday 24/05/09 - Farewell and presentations

Register before 25th April 2009

For information and registration please contact:
Bart Muylle Tel.: +32 50 21 67 58 - E-mail: Buitenland BOCC

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In previous years I have registered by email and paid on arrival at the site, but I don't know if this still applies as they may require a deposit.

My plan is to go over on a ferry in the early hours of Wednesday 20th park up a few miles into France for a few hours sleep before going to Oteppe. I will return on a late ferry on Sunday 24th.

The cheapest I have found is £58.02 - Dover to Dunkirk on Norfolk Line booking via the Caravan Club (you have to be a member). Direct booking is £104.00. ( out - 20/5 04.00h back 24/5 23.58h)

Oteppe is only 155 miles from Dunkirk (180 miles from Calais) so 4-5 hours travelling time.

It would be great to arrange the biggest ever UK classic caravan convoy along some of the route.
_________________
Brian
1970 Volvo Amazon and 1978 Safari 15-4 Caravan
Classic Safari Forum: www.classicsafaris.co.uk

gillberry · Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 702 Location: Norwich

Unfortunately that clashes with our 1st outing with our new outfit as we are booked for a local rally .

Brian M · Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 8:02 pm Post subject:

I spent yesterday cleaning the Safari and replacing the tow hitch damper with one from my stock of spares.

I am ready to set off tomorrow evening and will meet up with Emmerson and several of his Royale Owners Club members for a convoy to the ECCR campsite.

A couple of European members of my Safari Group are coming from Holland and Sweden so the contingent of British caravans will reach a respectable number.

Pics as soon as I get back.
_________________
Brian
1970 Volvo Amazon and 1978 Safari 15-4 Caravan
Classic Safari Forum: www.classicsafaris.co.uk

jennybugs · Joined: 13 May 2009 Posts: 47 Location: London UK

I hope you have a superb time! I only wish I'd found this forum when you first advertised this trip Confused

_________________
1972 1300A VW Beetle
1971 Bailey Maru caravan
1971 Fiat 500L

Brian M · Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 8:06 am Post subject:

Jennybugs

I'll put your name down for next year!
_________________
Brian
1970 Volvo Amazon and 1978 Safari 15-4 Caravan
Classic Safari Forum: www.classicsafaris.co.uk

Brian M · Posted: Sun May 24, 2009 11:56 pm Post subject:

Just got back 30 mins ago - 620 miles covered, Volvo and Safari performed faultlessly.

Met with Emmerson and his Royale Owners, and with two Dutch Safari owners.

So the Royales won the turnout this year 4 - 3. That won't happen again!

Pictures tomorrow
_________________
Brian
1970 Volvo Amazon and 1978 Safari 15-4 Caravan
Classic Safari Forum: www.classicsafaris.co.uk

Brian M · Posted: Tue May 26, 2009 10:58 am Post subject:

As promised some more details and pictures of this event.

I travelled overnight on Norfolk Lines Dover-Dunkirk service which through the Caravan Club was only £74 return.

I met up with Emmerson and three other Royale owners at Eeklo in West Belgium at the camp site they had been staying at as part of their longer tour.

We convoyed about 140 miles to the event in Oteppe mostly on the motorway.

But the lead outfit was using sat Nav for the last part of the run and it took us down some quite small roads. (The reflection on the bonnet was accidental but I think it is rather good!)

We were lucky to get pitches near to each other.

I was then joined by a Dutch member of my Safari group

He also tows with an Amazon.

Five years ago I met the Dutch owners of this Safari 12-2 and it was great to meet them again.

Other English caravans included a Cheltenham towed by this Vauxhall Wyvern

A Carlight towed from Sweden

Another Cheltenham from France

In total there were 180 classic caravans at the event, the largest ever gathering.

I have posted all my pictures in my webshots album:

http://rides.webshots.com/album/572383316mLXJTy

Next years meeting is only 50 miles from Calais at Berck sur Mer so I hope that a lot more English classic caravans will make it over there.
_________________
Brian
1970 Volvo Amazon and 1978 Safari 15-4 Caravan
Classic Safari Forum: www.classicsafaris.co.uk

gillberry · Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 702 Location: Norwich

Keep us posted on next years event .

Keith D · Posted: Tue May 26, 2009 12:46 pm Post subject:

Some terrific caravans there Brian. I bet you all had a ball!

Keith

Brian M · Posted: Tue May 26, 2009 1:36 pm Post subject:

Gillberry - attendance at the French event will be compulsory for all Classic Caravan owners who tow with Amazons. I want to make the biggest ever convoy of Amazon Caravanners!

Keith - [Oz accent/on] Too right mate! [Oz accent/off]

What the pictures cannot convey is the atmosphere of the event. The classics had an entire corner of the camp site to ourselves, and all modern tow cars had to be parked in an adjacent area. Most of my pictures where you can see modern towcars, were taken on the last morning as people were packing up after they had taken their awnings down so you could actually see the caravans.

This meant that if you used your imagination we had really turned the clock back to the 50's - 60's - 70's. No televisions, computers, microwaves and all the other modern junk that new caravanners seem to carry nowadays.

With everyone sharing a common interest it seemed to me that everyone wanted to talk with everyone else. A walk to the shower block about 50 metres away always took me at least an hour. Evenings were spent in conversation deep into the night.

On the Saturday night there was a dinner/dance, that was also enjoyed by all. So we did have a ball.
_________________
Brian
1970 Volvo Amazon and 1978 Safari 15-4 Caravan
Classic Safari Forum: www.classicsafaris.co.uk

gillberry · Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 702 Location: Norwich

Sounds like great fun and just the sort of thing we are into .

As a side note how well does your amazon tow ? Having had 10% uprated rear springs fitted either the caravan loading needs rethinking or some ther suspension mods . Also noticed the difference in pulling power from our modern 2.0 diesel to our 2.0 petrol amazon .

Brian M · Posted: Tue May 26, 2009 10:02 pm Post subject:

jennybugs · Joined: 13 May 2009 Posts: 47 Location: London UK

Just caught up with your thread Brian! I am definately interested in coming along next year! It looks like it was a beautiful trip! Very Happy

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1972 1300A VW Beetle
1971 Bailey Maru caravan
1971 Fiat 500L

emmerson · Joined: 30 Sep 2008 Posts: 1268 Location: South East Wales

Evening all. We've just got back from our extended(?) ECCR, and can confirm everything that Brian M has reported. It really was an amazing time. Brian, I'm really thrilled with the pics. Anne hasn't downloaded hers yet, but if I can ever work out how to do it, I'll post them on here. Jennybugs and Gillberry, book the weekend around May 13th next year! This was my first ECCR, but apparently the event has got better year on year, so next year should be great.
Thanks to Brian for telling me about the rally, but the biggest vote of thanks must go to the Belgium Oldtimers Caravan Club for their organisation. Here's to next year!
PS. Brian, Anne sends her love!

doug · Joined: 12 Aug 2008 Posts: 128 Location: s. w. scotland

Brian, did I spot the Amazon in Fort William in May?