On the road with Man on Road May 6th 2014

 On the road with Man on Road

  • An except from my May 2014 travel blog “My travels as a Gypsy Rover from Sydney to London” as I followed the Sydney to London Classic Marathon – The Big One.

Lunch on Maining Street

Sitting at the Zest Bar on the approach to La Rascasse, having a rest from my second lap on foot of the Monaco Grand Prix track I notice just how many cars have done multiple laps of this construction site, as it is being prepared for the Monaco Grand Prix Historique in a few days.


Is this an upmarket version of that famed Australian country town activity known as "Maining" I ask myself. For those unaware “Maining” is the Ozzie outback town evening activity of drivin’ up and down the main street being seen.

Matt deVaus and myself had witnessed an example in Broken Hill just a few days back whilst walking back to our lodgings from dinner at “The Demo” (Broken Hill Barrier Social Democratic Club). There they were in their VL Commodores' and HiLux Ute's - complete with “I've been to the Deni Ute Muster”stickers doing laps of Argent Street complete with girlfriend in her bright lumberjack shirt.


So move forward, a little way, to small village on the French Rivera known as Monte Carlo and the activity is really the same. Cruising main street(s) in your best equipment; motor vehicle and attire, being seen!


The VL Commodore and Hilux have been replaced by Ferrari, Bentley (not cool unless it is an convertible), Lambo, Fiat 500 Abarth, Porsche GT whatever, Smart Smarts, step thrus, three wheeler segways, original Fiat 500 (cool), more Ferraris - white, red, yellow and black, pretty ladies in original Minis, big Mercedes AMG's – even some Taxi's are AMG Mercs! All intermingling with tray trucks, utes – old & new, tourist buses, police scooters, forklifts, pallets, stillages of grandstands, LED screens, generators, power boxes, mobile cranes along with the sounds of grinders and hammers.



You name it, they are here, right in the middle of a moving construction site.



The centre of the maining is Casino Square, one gigantic traffic jam at lunch time this Monday. I thought some film star or Grand Prix driver resident must have stopped by; but no just locals and tourists of all kinds taking selfies in front of maining/parked cars getting ready for another lap.




Then if you missed yourself in your selfie, you can always get your reflection in the huge, obelisk like, dish mirror in the centre of the Casino fountain so you can get a Ferrari, the Casino steps, yourself and the blonde girlfriend in the same facebook, Instagram etc pic!


So back to the Zest Bar at La Rascasse and I happily consume my 0.5l of 1664 fine French lager with my Cannafour Plus (purchased in Menton, France) ham & cheese Bagette watching the world go by. 



 












Simon, Your International Roving Man on Road, reporting from …...
 
Novatel Hotel Cap3000, not so nice, Nice France, 9/05/2014




Location: 8FM9JMVG+CQ

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Image
RIP Ed Mulligan His part in a 45 year old Southern Cross Rally Mystery With the so sad and untimely passing of the Master Jester of rallying in Australia and guru of the nickname, Bad Ed, the Hooligan Mulligan his Jester apprentice, Bruce - The Goose - Garland has informed Man on Road (not a Ed nickname!) that the Ed past onto him the answer to a 45 year old legendary rally mystery that was only to be spread upon his passing. But what happened to the wheel? Various members of the Blue Ford Team have accused some of the southern Nissan crew thieves of nicking it. Well, we did have form there with several Escort Minilite mags "disappearing" whilst a stricken Escort was being fetted by the likes of John - the boatbuilder - Gray. But NOT this one your honour. How was the Flat Bottom Minillte mag created. It was on Day 4 of the 1980 Southern Cross Rally and another great Australia motorsport storyteller, Max Stahl takes up the story …. “The final day started with a run t...
Read more
Image
Bob Bird was never a Victorian Rally Champion,  but he was always a champion bloke. Bob Bird with Warwick Smith 1973 Monash Midyear Rally I would have first meet Bob Bird in 1972 when I tagged along with my brother Chris taking photos of Victorian Rally Championship rallies. Bob, navigated by Warwick Smith was punting a quick, abet a little rough around the edges Mk 1 Cortina, sponsored by Tanti Auto Services from Mornington. 1972 VADC 2 Day Trial - Chris Brown pic 1972 Experts Rally - Chris Brown pic Bob and Warwick cleaned up the Victorian Clubman Championship that year, with a 1 st – Blue Ribbon Rally, 2 nd - Classic Rally, 2 nd   - George Derrick Trial in the three rounds they were allowed to enter due to scoring too many points in the VRC that year.  In the George Derrick they also finished 2 nd  O/R in the VRC event. Second in the Clubman Series that year in another quick Mk1 Cortina was the crew of George Fury & Monty Suffern - they went on to do a b...
Read more

Geoffrey Ian Portman

Image
  Geoffrey Ian Portman This morning I looked  up at my – random -  photo board to see  the great Geoffery Ian Portman smiling at me. What, I hear you say! Well, I was actually looking at the memorial booklet from Geoff’s funeral with the date under the pic “ -  20 th  April 2021”. That makes it four long years ago this week. What a person, what a rally driver, what a collector of  lifelong friends was Geoff. What a struggle it was in the end. What a service - fitting the bloke - did those friends from three work elements of his life deliver that day. And his families' tributes as well of course. What an honour and a pleasure it was to be there for that service and the – long – afterparty at the Yarra Valley Racecourse grandstand with its stunning views of the Yarra Valley which was Geoff’s home for so many years - on and off - over his and Lisas life together. Memories which of course we all have.  Mine that flash up just now include. ...
Read more