Filed under: Motorsports, First Drive
The Rallye de Paris, an event for the true automotive enthusiast
Do not consider the Rallye de Paris simply another Gumball-type event. While the celebrity-laden Gumball 3000 was entangled in lawlessness, and eventually tragedy, the Rallye de Paris is designed for the devoted car lover and track junkie.
Starting in Paris, participants make a round-trip trek through France visiting the tracks at Magny-Cours (the French F1 track) and Val-de-Vienne before heading back to the capital again. It's a whirlwind tour, over in just two days. Automotive participants include the expected Ferrari 430, Audi R8, and Lamborghini Murcielago, but also in attendance are such enthusiast classics as the Ferrari F40, Porsche 911 RS 2.7L, and the Jaguar XK120.
The 2008 Rallye de Paris took place last week with more than 200 cars in participation. Mark your calendars for next year's event and brush up on your French before you check out the additional pics and video on this site. Thanks for the tip, Pierre!
Gallery: 2008 Rallye de Paris
[Source: Caradisiac, photos by Caradisiac]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
HotRodzNKustoms 6:50PM (4/02/2008)
That is what has left the American (and I don't mean Detroit built cars) car scene. It used to be that people who bought Ferraris (and Porsches) for the love of the car and that it was the ultimate driving tool. You would wave to your fellow Ferrari (and Porsche) owner as you passed buy them much like hot rodders and motorcyclist do today. People used to use cars that are today worth a million dollars or more as daily drivers or their only car. My dad once took his 275 GTB4 on a road trip to Canada from southern California and he broke a throttle cable he replaced it with fishing line. Never did replace that fishing line. Now people just buy them to pose and have serious looks on their faces thinking they are so rich and bad ass. As they pass by anyone they just look like pricks now staring straight forward revving their engine trying to get the girls to swoon over their money and prestige
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chuck goolsbee 7:36PM (4/02/2008)
I don't know if that is entirely true Mr. Kustoms.
I own a vintage sports car and drive it as much as I possibly can. I do several old car rallies a year, and at least one week-long road trip. My insurance specifically forbids using it as a daily driver, but I do my best to get it out on the road as often as the weather permits.
The other folks I see doing the same thing are not all "pos(ing with) serious looks on their faces thinking they are so rich and bad ass"... in fact very few of them are this sort of a-hole. They are fellow car enthusiasts, period.
--chuck
http://chuck.goolsbee.org
HotRodzNKustoms 7:54PM (4/02/2008)
It's not so much with the vintage guys though it's more new exotic buyers. I own several vintage cars myself including but not limited to Fords, Porsches, and vintage racers. But when I go from place to place and I see these middle age and rarely young guys such as myself driving around with a "I'm so badass" look on their faces and driving like their hair is on fire. I don't know it's just not what it I hear stories of.
why not the LS2LS7? 1:11AM (4/03/2008)
I'm shocked you can see your keyboard through those rose-colored glasses.
Michael Harley 7:24PM (4/03/2008)
Join one of the various regional/national enthusiast clubs and you will find the "genuine" owners who drive, race, and even wrench on their own vehicles (a lost art). I wrench on my 930 and race a 986 with the Porsche Owners Club on weekends.
HotRodzNKustoms 7:25PM (4/03/2008)
It's tough man but when I jump in my vintage Porsche it's the hot rodders and bikers that wave not new exotic owners.
SPG 7:56PM (4/02/2008)
Wow, now that looks like an event to attend.
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Justin 7:57PM (4/02/2008)
Not necessarily a euro-car dude, but that R8 is lookin pretty good at that angle, or really from any angle for that matter.
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RLQ 1:14AM (4/03/2008)
Looks awesome.
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ltclloyd 2:34AM (4/03/2008)
There is a version of this in the states... it's called one lap of America. 1 week like 16 events and a lot more driving... while I wish they would let the cars have more track time at each venue It's a wonderful experience.
http://www.onelapofamerica.com
and those people still exist, go to any marque club track day, you hear all the freaks talking about what knifter pin gave them an extra ounce of torque. and usually a smattering of subarus, mitsus, and Nissans to fill in the gaps.
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Prhime 8:49AM (4/03/2008)
is that a bumper sticker on the R8 (possibly rs8)?
"if you can read this....wait till the light turns green."
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gt350 3:50AM (4/04/2008)
I think it has become more about what u drive instead of the fun and the difference of what u drive. If i want to go fast my local track has enough open track days to keep my driving safe, and my mistakes for a debrief without a jail cell.
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Thanh T. 7:12AM (4/04/2008)
The Rallye de Paris looks like a great event...
Is the event open to all automotive enthusiast or members only car clubs in Paris/Europe? If anyone has more information please post. Thank you.
I would like to take my future mistress-fiancee...heehe-just kidding, smile.
My favorite photo shot of the 2008 Rallye de Paris; is the photo shot of all the participating vehicles driving through the country side...with the morning Spring breeze in the air and trees turning leaves lined up on both side of the country road.
I think the "Tour de France" folks are faster on the road bikes...cervelo, trek, mercedes...oh my, they can get up to 40mph, heehe. : )
Beautiful images.
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