mario laguna
The friendly club of fans of vintage vehicles called Les Bielles Meusiennes It is one of many that exist in the north of France, but it has the peculiarity of organizing each year (for 29 years) one of the most massive concentrations of popular cars in its specialty.
Thousands of fans, mostly French as is logical, but also Belgians, French, Dutch (and in a more isolated way British, along with some Italian), respond to the annual call of Lake Madine, located in what we could call a region of deep France between the important cities of Nancy, the historic capital of Lorraine, and Metz, in the Moselle prefecture.
Away from the major motorway axes that are the A31 (north-south) and the A4 (east-west), nestled in the center of the Regional Natural Park of Lorena, Lake Madine has been protected from major tourist invasions and it knows a moderate development of regional character, which has allowed it to conserve its landscape, urban and social particularities. The predominantly rural society lives at the rhythm of tractors and livestock farms.
When speaking of Madine, the name of another lake comes to mind; It is Lake Como, in Cernobbio (Italy), where the well-known Villa d'Este contest of elegance takes place.
Before proceeding further, we will note that Como and Madine are at the antipodes of each other in automotive terms, it is precisely this circumstance that gives Madine its special appeal. Imagine a painting by El Greco, who liked to play with the heavenly and the earthly. In this painting, Villa d'Este would be paradise, the upper part, representing the spiritual and sublime, while Madine would be the earthly reality that occupies the lower half of the painting, the one that is closest to us, everyday and authentic.
In the world of exhibitions and concentrations of classic, antique, historical, old, old-fashioned cars or whatever we want to call them, Madine lake represents those who have their feet on the ground, they stain their hands with grease to make the engine work, they use their vehicles without believing that they are works of art and if the bodywork has a scratch or the paint does not have ten layers of perfectly polished lacquer every ten minutes, this is something that does not it takes away their sleep.
On the brink of the thirtieth edition
Rétro Meus' Auto is the name of a concentration of classic cars or cars that have simply accumulated more than thirty years on their ribs or, as the organizer would say, on their connecting rods, but that refuse to leave the roads to be deposited in museums or in safes and become objects of speculation.
The twenty-ninth edition of Rétro Meus' Auto was held with its usual popular success on the shores of Lake Madine on June 14 and 15, 2014, registering the arrival of the most varied types of cars, where all the most popular brands were represented, in particular and especially the French ones. Madine is an open book on the history of French motorsport and its affordable, mass-produced brands such as the well-known Renault, Citroën and Peugeot, the three musketeers of French industry; but also of others that knew times of greater splendor and have fallen into oblivion, such as Simca, Panhard or Salmson.
The large grassy areas that leave free access to the bravest bathers at the water's edge are invaded by a throng of cars that always arrive driven by road and not mounted and towed on platforms, as is often the case in other larger events. prestige. The participants arrive the day before and camp under simple tents in front of which there is always a fire for a barbecue, varied provisions and good quantities of wine and beer, only during the time that the cars remain at rest, so as not to offend the highway code.
The only thing that the participants ask of Providence is that it does not rain and spend the weekend with dry clothes, which rarely happens. But even under the heaviest downpours, scheduled activities take place, like Sunday's parade with live music for the awards ceremony. Fortunately, June 2014 is enjoying splendid weather in the north and northeast of France and the sun rewarded the faithful participants with its presence.
A large flea market for spare parts and collectibles runs parallel to the car shows, being one of the few places in Europe where it is still possible to haggle and adjust prices down with vendors, always ready to talk. with clients and exchange opinions in a disinterested way. The prices are reasonable and the pieces are sold for what they are, scrap pieces, used and to be used to keep the cars running, not as museum pieces at the crazy prices that are practiced in other fairs.
It is true that exhibitors save the price of renting the stalls, which are free, while in closed pavilions the rental price must be charged on the merchandise. Be that as it may, if someone is restoring a French brand car, they may find the parts they need in Madine, cheaper than anywhere else.
For the public, access is free, you do not have to go through the ticket office to buy the ticket. Only 4 euros are required for parking a car ... for two days. It is difficult to do better. If four people arrive in a car and visit the place for two days, the price of access is 0,50 euros per person. I acknowledge that those rates have not been seen for many years.
French brands
As for this edition, to proceed in a certain order, we will make our tour of brands. As it will not be possible to talk about all of them, we will highlight the most popular ones and add some rare models, which can be admired infrequently.
Thus, the history of the Citroën brand could be traced under the trees of Madine. 2CVs were everywhere, including its luxury version in the form of the Ami 6.
A 15-cylinder Traction Avant 6 arrived in Madine after having participated in the epic Ruta 40 marathon in Argentina in 2010, known as Gaucho Bicentenario, making the Antofagasta - Mendoza - Ushuaia route. The solidity of the model leaves no doubt and surprises, as it is a car whose manufacture began in the early thirties.
1- The Ami 6, a luxury Citroën 2CV, who would have thought
2- The version 15 of the Citroën Traction, capable of long and hard journeys
Not far from the Gaucho, a model from 1935 could be admired. Early copies of the Traction Avant can be recognized at first glance by the faired spare wheel on the boot, while on later models the spare wheel is no longer apparent and the trunk is square.
The DS also represented a landmark of modernity, and the 19, 20, 21 or 23 continue to provide perfect service to its users. Many DS could be seen camping around the lake, not to mention the sporty SM versions with a Maserati 6-cylinder engine, a more complex model than its veteran 4-cylinder predecessor derived directly from the Traction Avant block. The SM has other mechanical complexities that give the restorers a lot of work, such as the power steering in a variable mode depending on the speed at which it is circulated.
PEUGEOT
The oldest of those present sporting the lion's crest was a faithfully restored 202 1939 cabriolet, with its aerodynamic appearance accentuated by the headlights camouflaged within the ventilation grille.
An elegant 404 cabriolet bodied by Pininfarina demonstrated the versatility of the model, capable of towing a trailer without major complexities, while 205 GTi enthusiasts took the opportunity to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the French model that wanted to compete with the Volkswagen Golf GTi. pioneer of the specialty. The 1,6 versions as well as the later 1,9 evolution were well represented.
RENAULT
It is quite possible that Renault is the brand most loved by the French in terms of sales and diffusion. The predominance of cars of the hexagon brand (formerly rhombus) was evident. It is true that Renault fans can choose from a very complete range that goes from Gordini sports cars to utility vehicles and trucks of all kinds.
We will highlight a set of Fregates from 1958, including Transfluide versions with three-speed semi-automatic transmission. The Fregate was a prestigious model with which Renault tried to take over the luxury car market after the war, but failed. From the Fregate there were from base models to others more luxuriously equipped, such as the aforementioned Transfluide and the Amiral.
The Fregate could be an older brother of the famous 4/4, better known in France as 4CV. A perfectly restored 1955 specimen outlined all the available options, including a small trailer for transporting camping tables and chairs.
The Dauphine that was to follow maintains a family resemblance, looking like a smaller updated Fregate but with the rear engine inherited from the 4/4.
Examples of the R-8 were in perfect condition, the same in their common versions as in the rally ones, with the performance improvements of the engines prepared by Gordini. The R-16 offered greater capacity and comfort of use and the commercial and militarized versions are in vogue, as demonstrated by the groups of military vehicles. One of its own for missions in the desert stood out, called 4 × 4 Tactique R2087, with a 4-cylinder gasoline engine of 64 HP at 3.300 rpm and autonomy of 400 km.
On good ground, the maximum speed of the vehicle was 86 km / h, being able to carry a payload of 800 Kg; very honorable performance for cars made in 1953. The civilian version was very popular and was known as the Goelette.
1- Military vehicles on the rise with the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the Normandy landings
2- The Renault Fuego wanted to compete with the more modest Porsche, such as the 924
To finish with Renault we will mention the Fuego, which wanted to compete with the basic Porsche sports cars with an Audi engine, such as the 924. The Fuego it had in its favor a very well achieved aerodynamics with a Cx less than 0,30.
One particular case that deserves to be highlighted is the modified R-5 for the United States market. In view of the car's success in Europe, Renault decided to export it to the United States, but had to make some adaptations to meet American safety standards that required stronger vertical headlights and bumpers.
The result was the R-5 Le Car, with round headlights, modified grille and, as mentioned, different bumpers from Europe.
SIMCA
Although the tendency is to write it in lower case (as it happens with Seat or Fiat), in reality SIMCA should be written in capital letters, since they are the initials of a somewhat complex name such as Société Industrielle de Mécanique et Carrosserie Automobile. Until the collapse of the factory due to loss of competitiveness, Simca put interesting models on the market, without forgetting that they were also manufactured in Spain when Barreiros obtained the license to do so.
Some Simca Aronde could be admired in Madine, as well as a model with sporty pretensions such as the 1200S whose bodywork was made by Bertone.
FOURNIER MARCADIER
Despite not being very well known, Lyon-based small series builder Fournier Marcadier, made sports with the best technique using tubular frames or monohulls dressed with polyester bodies in which large series mechanics were implanted, easy to improve, generally of Renault origin, with the advantage of being able to use already adapted engines such as the Gordini or the Alpine.
In the photo in view of the readers, a Fournier Marcadier type Barzoi 1 from 1975, with a 1.800 cc rear engine. It is surprising for its prototype airs, although one hundred copies were manufactured.
1- The Matra Jet 5 tried to capitalize on the success of the Alpine, it does not lack followers
2- GS 1200S in its three-quarter rear view
Brands that tried to keep up with Alpine in competition and with the same philosophy of building affordable, lightweight vehicles include Matra and the lesser-known CG. On the ground, at least visually, a 5 Matra Jet 1966 and a CG 1200S with Simca mechanics could be compared. The CG brand responds to the initials of the partners Chappe and Gessalin.
Foreigners and some other Spanish representative
German, British and, above all, American brands also abounded in a motley and spontaneous mix in which the usual criteria are not followed. The essential thing in Madine is to share the hobby without submitting to rigid rules.
In this way, a Triumph Herald cabriolet can share ground without becoming complex with a 1955 Cadillac, a Ford Custom or a 1962 Ford Thunderbird.
A 6 Jaguar XJ1974 with 151.000 km was put up for sale for a reasonable amount of 3.500 euros.
With an approximate distance of 1.600 km between Madrid and Metz, It is understandable that the Spanish do not visit Lake Madine, neither as exhibitors nor as visitors, however if someone were on vacation in northern France during the month of June, a visit to the region would be very appropriate.
The Spanish representation was summarized in a Renault 7 registered in Germany, whose somewhat optimistic owner has equipped it with the Alpine rims. The car still keeps in perfect condition the sticker of the Cerezo dealership, with address at Aviación, 10 (gas station), Madrid-24.
Other objects of Spanish origin were different Seat badges, an enamelled Bultaco plate and a reproduction of the famous toy Bugatti made by Payá de Ibi.
VALUATION FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF ...
| Interest in popular French brands: | 10/10 |
| Spare parts popular French brands: | 10/10 |
| Other brands: | 5/10 |
| Other merchandise, books, toys, accessory models: | 6/10 |
| Popular environment: | 8/10 |
Disadvantages: Distance, long trip from Spain
