The Motor Routes of France

HINTS ON TOURING IN FRANCE

Reading edition

BY JOHN L. KIRK, B.A.

I. THE QUESTION OF EXPENSE

The main route described in this book was taken from Havre to Mentone by the author and four other persons, one of whom drove and acted as mechanic. From Mentone to Havre four only were carried.

A rough summary of the expenses is given below:

£s.d.

Hotel and incidental expenses, including sight-seeing and tipsFr. 1782.80

Motor expensesFr. 446.15

TotalFr. 2228.95 = 48100

Add to this the amounts shown in the motor

‘In Addition’ list 1313 0

Grand total for all, except wear and tear of tyres and machinery, for the twenty-eight days taken to cover the route 62 3 0

Details of the Above

Expenses connected with the 15-20 H.-P. Car, running 2,347 Miles in 28 Days

Petrol (590 litres)Fr. 259.35

Oil (44 litres)53.40

Harbour dues at Havre (landing and embarking)15.00

Number-plates for French numbers5.00

Spanish customs and formalities23.80

French formalities16.20

Repair to luggage-carrier4.50

Tyres (carriage of spare tyres and repairs)22.80

Garage, cleaning, etc.43.10

Italian stamp duty3.00

TotalFr. 446.15

In Addition

Sea transit—£s.d.

Southampton to Havre300

Havre to Southampton300

Insurance for one month4150

French driving licence (Fr. 20)[[L]0160

Subscription to Touring Club de France, including two guide-books080

Name-plates040

Maps and road-books1100

Wear and tear and depreciation in tyres, etc. x y z

£13130

+ xyz

Fr. 446.15 = 17 170

£31100

+ xyz

II. TOURING SEASON

October to end of April.

III. MOTOR CLUB

To facilitate matters, it is advisable to join the Royal Automobile Club (Secretary, J. W. Orde, 119, Piccadilly, W.); or the Motor Union of Great Britain and Ireland (Secretary, Rees Reffreys, 1, Albemarle Street, W.); or the Automobile Association (8, New Coventry Street), and the Touring Club de France, 65, Avenue de la Grande-Armée, Paris.

These bodies supply information as to Customs formalities, routes, and all such matters, and issue a paper called a Triptyque, which enables one to pay the Customs deposit through them, and thus obviate the necessity of depositing the money with the Customs abroad. These clubs also issue valuable handbooks, giving the names of hotels and repairers, also a list of Channel routes and their services, fares, and cost of car transport.

IV. CLOTHING

It is advisable to always carry loose-fitting wind-and weather-proof overcoats. A woollen overcoat, with the above over it, is warmer and far less fatiguing than the heavy leather-lined motor coats often in use. Provide boxes and bags that are water-and dust-proof, or have covers that are.

Given a certain knowledge of the principles of a modern reliable motor-car, it is possible to undertake a Continental tour unaccompanied by a driver or mechanic. By so doing, the man of moderate means can take a holiday abroad en automobile cheaper than he can at home, once he has got his car across the Channel.

Nevertheless, the owner should try to come to a definite understanding, before leaving home, with the makers of the car regarding the prompt despatch of any spare parts that may be necessary through accidents or breakdowns on the road.

Having decided to embark on such a trip, it is essential for the owner of the car to personally see that all tools, etc., are carefully packed and locked in their respective compartments, and that the machine has a thorough overhaul, at which the prospective man at the wheel is present.

The compiler of these notes assumes, of course, that the intending tourist has had some experience of touring at home before plunging into the unknown.

V. CARRY ON THE CAR

1. The usual kit of tools.

2. A hack-saw and blow-lamp.

3. A good supply of inner tubes and a spare cover.

4. A coarse funnel to strain the oil (the oil obtained in France often contains rubbish and the petrol water).

5. A petrol-funnel and a wash-leather bag to prevent water getting into the petrol tank; a densometer to take the specific gravity of petrol.

6. Overalls for dirty work, plenty of dusters, and some soap.

7. A sponge and wash-leather; also a coil of stout window-cord.

8. Tins of grease; spare tin of petrol and oil.

9. An electric inspection-lamp to fit to accumulators.

10. A tyre-pressure tester.

The following Books should also be carried

1. Royal Automobile Club, Motor Union, foreign handbook; also Touring Club de France’s Annuaire Général.

2. ‘Faults, and How to Find Them,’ by J. S. V. Bickford, B.A. 2s. 6d. Iliffe and Sons, Limited, 20, Tudor Street, E.C.

3. A catalogue of the particular car taken abroad, containing sectional drawings of the car’s parts.

4. ‘The Autocar Automobile Dictionary,’ by Sigmund Krausz. 3s. 6d. Iliffe and Sons, Limited, 20, Tudor Street, E.C.

5. A set of Taride maps, on cloth, covering the route.

6. ‘The Motor Routes of France,’ by Gordon Home. 5s. A. and C. Black, 4, Soho Square, W.

7. Burroughs Wellcome and Co.’s ‘Tabloid Brand’ Motor-Car First-Aid Case.

VI. GENERAL REGULATIONS FOR FRANCE

1. A circulation permit (Permit de Circulation) and registered number must be obtained for car.

2. The driver must obtain a driving certificate (Certificat de Capacité), when two photographs of his head and shoulders, about 1½ inches by 1¾ inches, must be produced.

3. Name-plates must be placed on the dash-board facing the driver, about the size of a visiting-card, and have inscribed on them—

(a) Full name and address of owner of car.

(b) Name, horse-power, and engine-number of car.

4. Lighting Regulations.—Three lamps must be carried. The front one, on left (off) side, to show a green light; the tail-light to be on left side, and to efficiently illuminate the number-plate. These lamps must be lit not later than fifteen minutes after sunset.

5. Rule of Road.—Keep to right, overtake on left.

6. A bell or horn must be used, but the use of sirens is forbidden.

7. There is a uniform speed-limit of 30 kilometres (about 18 miles) per hour, but this is rarely, if ever, enforced, except in and about the towns. Special speed-limits are often in force in towns and villages, notices to this effect being displayed.

8. Octroi duties for petrol have to be paid on entering Paris and some of the larger towns. The officials, except in the case of Paris, require you to pay only on the spare petrol—i.e., that not in the petrol-tank proper.

With regard to the daily mileage covered, as shown in the log, the writer thinks that to properly enjoy the tour, and to do justice to what there is to see en route, one should take at least twice the twenty-eight days, especially if the party consists of more than two or three. Otherwise, for a man driving and looking after his own car, no matter how reliable, the trip might become too arduous for enjoyment, the opportunities for sight-seeing, as this book demonstrates, being enormous.

If possible, all night-driving should be avoided. In the dark one cannot see the broken glass and rubbish in the villages, nor is it easy to find the right road.

Even with a certain amount of night-driving the tour described in this book was accomplished with a very small outlay in tyres, which were Dunlops. Five new covers and an old one on the Stepney wheel and eight air-tubes were found to be ample, owing to the excellent manner in which they stood the strain of rough surfaces and sometimes fast driving.

FRENCH ROAD WARNING NOTICES

RalentirDrive slowly.

RalentissezReduce speed.

Passage à niveauLevel-crossing.

Cassis or caniveau Shallow drain across road.

Cylindre de vapeurSteam-roller.

Attention!Warning.

ITALIAN ROAD WARNING NOTICES

RallentareDrive slowly.

ArrestoStop.

CunettaOpen drain.

Passaggio a livello Level-crossing.