Last Monday we went off to Nogaro, a medium-sized town about 30 kilometers away, because we had heard and read about an historic Grand Prix that was due to take place there at the end of the week. Apparently Nogaro used to host real Grand Prix races, although it hasn’t done so for quite some years. The track has been well maintained though, and has even been modernized over the years, so in recognition of the fifty years of it’s existence, this historic race was planned. As we are both keen motor racing fans, we thought it could turn out to be quite a fun day, but wanted to check first on where to go, where to buy tickets and where to sit. We found our way to the track quite easily as the signboards were already up, indicating parking for drivers and public. The ‘stands’ are just concrete terraces, so we made a note to bring cushions and an umbrella against the sun. While we were walking around, Neels saw a woman walking purposefully towards the control tower so he intercepted her to ask a few questions about the best places to sit etc. We were delighted to find that she spoke very good English and even more delighted when she invited us to accompany her into the control room. What a surprise! I’m not sure what we had expected, but it wasn’t the very modern set-up we found. This person that we had met quite by chance, turned out to be the race controller and was in charge of a bank of ten TV monitors and all the video cameras around the track. She showed us how, by using a joystick, she could access any of the cameras, move them around, and zoom in and out. Using this method, she showed us where the good places were to sit, and also what our view would be. We must have spent a good half-hour chatting to her and watching her at work. Then we went off to the Circuit Boutique and bought tickets for the following Sunday.
The following day we had invited Nicky to lunch, but a knock on the front door turned out to be Ady with an apron full of tomatoes and peaches for us. We persuaded her to come in for a coffee and while we waited for the kettle to boil, we showed her the photographs we had taken so far. She was quite complimentary about the scenic ones but obviously enjoyed seeing herself on the screen. For a change, she did not rush off but eventually left just in time to go and ring the church bells at twelve o’clock, which was just about the time our lunch guest arrived.
On Wednesday we just pottered about but received an email from our landlords asking Neels to do a few tasks around the house, for which he needed other tools, so the next day we went to borrow suitable bits and pieces from some friends in Aignan. One of the tasks was to install a power socket in the wall at the end of the passage, for which he would need a plug box so we made a big detour to get to the nearest hardware shop. In the old days, these were always made of metal with little push-out circles to allow for wires and conduit, but nowadays they are, unsurprisingly, made of plastic. When we arrived at the till, Neels searched his wallet for some small change, but, finding none, tendered a E20 not to pay for the box which cost E1.10. The cashier sighed and asked if he hadn’t got coins, which we hadn’t, and at that moment the previous customer, who was still packing his purchases into a bag, dug into his pocket and pulled out two 50c pieces and a 10c, said ‘C’est bon?’ and walked off. I think ‘gobsmacked’ would be the right word for what we felt!
The next few days were spent doing our various chores, although I spent most of the time doing my new piece of embroidery, which I am having misgivings about. It is an awful lot of satin stitch, which I am not fond of doing, but I will complete it and probably give the cushion to the Hospice shop!
On Sunday we were up bright and early and were already in our seats by 8.30 am. Racing started soon after and we were treated to a large variety of types and classes of cars. Highlight of the day for me, wasn’t even a scheduled race, but was supposed to be a parade during the lunch break, which was, of course, two hours long. A long line of immaculately presented ‘deux chevaux’ ( Citroen two horse power mini cars ) streamed out of the pit area onto the track and started driving around quite sedately until the one in the front decided to make it into a race. The next minute they were hurtling along looking positively dangerous as they leaned precariously into the corners sometimes lifting a back wheel completely off the ground. By modern standards, they are quite high off the ground; not very wide; and have these ridiculous ‘Marie biscuit’ wheels, all of which tend to make them look even more terrifying. Watching them, we were constantly amazed that they didn’t fall over!
We had a wonderful day, full of excitement and only left after 5.30 in the afternoon feeling we had really had our money’s worth
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