Blue skies over ' La Vie en Bleu'

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During last weekend and for the seventh time the Bugatti Owners Club hosted “La Vie en Bleu”, their huge celebration of French motoring culture at their famous venue the Prescott Hill Climb near Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Text & photos Mike Tebbett.

As usual a wide variety of motor cars, and perhaps an even wider variety of people enjoyed blissfully sunny warm weather and a feast of pre-war motor cars from Austin Sevens to chain-driven aero engine monsters like the 8 litre Berliet and the 9 litre Picard-Pictet. (Yes, we know A7s are not French... but hey...) A welcome sight indeed were the over thirty competing Bugattis supported by a good cross section of touring types. So action on the track in competition, and less action but still lots to see off it. Exhibition cars from pre-Great War and pre-WW11 included Citroen RWD and Tractions, Salmson, Amilcar, Delage, Vernon-Derby, Darraq, Vinot-Deguigand, Peugeot, indeed all the great marques of pre-war France. Other distractions were trade stands, sideshows including Gendarmes and stilt walkers, and a French café surrounded by Velo-Solex which bore a sign saying it was closed for lunch (!) and opposite that a stage for the can-can girls (strangely back by popular request!). The superb 1936 Renault Paris bus was a huge favourite with the crowds as it made a slow but steady ascent of the hill during lunch time laden with the can-can girls and the Gendarmerie. A splendid weekend packed with variety and action. Well done, BOC!        

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