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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Midgeting on the continent!

Hi all,

I am planning a quick 2000 miles and 6 countries in 6 days in my midget, just wanted to know about hedlamps, obviously you can purchase the universal kits to block the flick up on the left of the beam for driving on the wrong side of the road ;) Are these compatible with the halogen units?

Also if anyone has any experiences or advice which will be useful it would be greatly received, things like recommended spares, or must have items for a trip like this etc.

This is going to happen in the 2nd week of June if anyone is interested in seeing how it goes, I am going to try and document it as best I can and put it up on the net somewhere.

Cheers,
Dave
D Prince

Go to France every year in an MG and have done for the past 20 years. Not gonna suggest spares as you will never have what you need. (I needed exhaust pipe, Brake pads, oil cooler etc. now who carries those? All other parts are available from their motor shops!

I bet you get a whole load of recommendations though :)

Never bothered with headlight benders as my headlights never had the power to blind!! just remember to take a triangle, hi vis jacket, set of bulbs, fire extingusiher and a first aid kit!!

You will enjoy it, by the way when you need help pop into to a local garage and most jobs will be sorted for a bottle of red!!
Robert (Bob) Midget Turbo

Must have item ? Moss catalogue...for pointing at the bit you need ;-) (worked for me!)
Dean Smith ('73 RWA)

Travel a lot through Europe in a Frogeye. Usually make my own deflectors with Gaffa tape. O.K. with Halogens.
Alan Anstead

I always lost or had my beam deflectors nicked within 24 hours of arriving in France so now I use black insulating tape to cover the dipped part of the lens.
As Rob said make sure you have hi vis vests, warning triangles etc etc.
Which route are you taking?
Tim
Tim Dalton

major credit card, cell phone, flashlight (torch)...good book for waiting around

Prop
Prop

All excellent advice, Is the fire extinguisher mandatory or advisory as it's the only thing i'm missing so far (of a portable size at least!)

As for the route, well it's a busy schedule but it is a driving holiday so here goes:

Le Havre - La Rochelle - Bordeaux - Montpellier (via the Millau Viaduct) - Cannes - Col de Turini - Turin - Geneva - Basel - Strasbourg - Saarbrucken - Luxembourg - Stavelot - Calais

Just shy of 2000 miles all told!



D Prince

I keep a fire extinguisher unders the kitchen sink, each of my cars, and at the shop...there not big, but handy in a pinch... make sure its an "ABC" extingisher... I get the small ones at lowels, for under $10 ... Dont fire them off as a test or the thing will be worthless when you need it...some how a valve stays open and they go empty once they are fired off.

Prop

Prop

Take a jerry can as you may struggle to find a credit card that works at the pumps.
Brad (Sprite IV 1380)

Ofcourse, if you're a MASCeteer, take a print of the M.A.D. along. Should be enough.

And get in contact with Mr. Derancourt, who lives in la Douce France.
Alex G Matla

France:
I assume that you are using the toll roads, they are smooth and open and empty - but the other roads thru france are not exactly congested!

You should stop at the "Dune to Pilat"
http://adventures-of-jules DOT blogspot.com/2009/12/lost-for-words.html


Visit the service area on the north side of the viaduct to visit the centre (you can get to this for free if you don't want to pay the toll). Ask to see the jack.
If you don't know, the really amazing thing about the bridge is despite it's immense size, it was prepared on the sides of the valley and slid over the top of the pylons - pushed together with hydraulic jacks - one of these is dormant in the carpark but they can energise it for you - also get a good look at the other designs for bridges in the exibition
http://adventures-of-jules DOT blogspot.com/2010/02/lost-for-words-once-more.html

Most of our pictures are from the other exhibition centre in the valley (not as good)

Cannes: nothing to see here really

You might try the grand alps route for a stunning drive thru closed ski resorts, which is much less congested than stelvio

This is the drive i did to Italy after passing my first MOT after the rebuild:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/will-and-becky/sets/72157607405686380/


Take a selection of bolts, washers and nuts along with a full set of imperial spanners and the sockets. These are not available easily on the continent and some of the passes will shake free anything not properly bolted down with the right locking wasshers
Will Munns

A 5th gear.....a spare set of bum cheeks....gallons of sun block......a big flag-on-a-stick so the French lorry drivers can see you!

Good luck mate, have a good time. ot jealous at all grrrr!

Max

Max max-at-midgetmax-dot-com

earplugs and a loud radio/mp3 collection.

or

http://www.amazon.com/Shure-E2c-Sound-Isolating-Earphones/dp/B0000CE1UO

These are costly, but so worth it and designed for the abuse received on stage, so very robust
Will Munns

Dave,

Hi viz jacket, which must be in the car and not the boot, required for the passenger as well as driver. Carrying a fire extinguisher is not complusory but highly recommended.

I also used insulating tape used as beam deflectors.

MGCC produce the following booklet listing garages etc in Europe

http://www.mgcc.co.uk/images/stories/Europeantouringhandbook2010.pdf

Have a trouble free and safe trip.

Doug

Doug Plumb

Don't you also need a spare pair of glasses, if you need them?
Tarquin

Don’t mis the car museum in Stavelots Castle. The old Stavelot curve of Spa Francochamps is somewhat hidden but impressive with >45 degrees. Hotel d Orange is the place to sleep. They only serve in the weekend and are “complet” during races.

Flip
Flip Brühl 948 frog 59

Won't sunglasses do?

Blow a boring trip around Europe - Primerose and I are doing across (most!) of Canada next year! I can't wait :) (Actually, the distance is about the same as, but, I'm heading north in Alberta, rather than over the Rockies to BC!)

Over 5000km, in July (since I'm not allowed to take her before Midget50!), will be sooooooo much fun - just a case of deciding which way to go, but, I've got an appointment with a green Midget in Winnipeg to keep on route.
rachmacb

Some great suggestions, and some really informative things to look out for, thanks all! I will let you guys know how it all went in a couple of weeks :)
D Prince

Also your MOT, photographic ID & the car ownership papers.
A high viz jacket inside the car for each person expected to be outside fixing it, so your just need the one probably & a red triangle, these are available cheaply in every supermarket, so buy when your over.
Brad (Sprite IV 1380)

Hello Dave, it seems that you will need a first aid kit,fire extinguisher, warning triangle (in the car not in boot)reflective jackets (EN 471) and a set of replacements bulbs.
I found that the A.A. has a website called driving requirements by country, local rules and advice.
Here's the link: http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/overseas/countrybycountry.html
Select the country then click the "view advice" button and a pdf page will show.

Hope this helps.

Pascal
pjw Seezink

For headlights can cheaply buy two rh dip sealed beam units in france, that way you see the side of the road when you dip which you dont with the tape
G Burrow

On long trips I always carry belts, generator brushes and voltage regulator (no longer since it has finally been converted to an alternator), rotor, hoses, spare S.U fuel pump and an accelerator cable.

I have made several 8 day, 5,000 mile trips and have used all of the above once or more while traveling long distances from home.
Glenn Mallory

i budgeted to "cheaply buy" sealed beam units in france

couldn't

use tape - it takes much less space than your uk lights in the boot as well!
Will Munns

This thread was discussed between 31/05/2010 and 03/06/2010

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