Benimar Owners Club Magazine
NEWSLETTER
News for Benimar Owners Issue No. 4 Feb 2002
In this issue: - EDITORS COLUMN MEMBERS' LETTERS JUNIOR CORNER
EXTRACT of the DIARY of a BENIMAR JUNIOR RALLY REPORT CHAIRMAN'S
CHAT PASSION IN FRANCE MEMBERSHIP
FIAT CAMPAIGN 4393
Vehicles Affected.
Ducato Maxi (Model 232) from start to chassis no. 06156939
Parts Required
Owners Handbook supplement PN46002165 x 1. Door pillar label PN1336869080 x 1
Technical Details
The cold tyre pressures of the rear tyres for Ducato MAXI vehicles are updated as follows:
MAXI with tyres 205/75 R16C (110/108) Q:
4.5 BAR for vehicles with a rear axle load up to 2000kg
4.75 BAR for vehicles with a rear axle load above 2000kg
Please insert the supplement in the owner's handbook and affix the new door pillar label.
We are indebted to Rod at RDH for advance warning of the above FIAT notice.
I reckon that all Benimars on the MAXI chassis run over 2000kg when fully laden, particularly those which have been up rated to 3850kg gross and/or have a bike or scooter rack in use.
ps: 4.5 BAR = 65.2psi
4.75 BAR = 68.8psi
(See also comment on page 14)
All members should now have received a copy of the Club Handbook. I hope that you find it useful. If there are any errors or additions please let me know. The idea is to issue it annually, probably after each AGM.
Talking of AGMs don't forget that our first one will be held during the Peterborough Show Rally (details on page 9).
Just a reminder that, as with the rest of our members, the Committee tend to disappear in their Benimars for weeks on end, so do not worry if you don't get a response for some time. You can always try another Committee member, as we usually know when the others are off on their travels.
Many thanks to all of you who have contributed to this issue. Please keep your articles coming in. I rely on you to fill the pages.
Please submit anything connected with Benimars, or Motor caravanning in general.
What about sharing your experiences of your last trip, or recommending a site or dealer, have you anything to advertise, perhaps a recipe, joke or puzzle, photographs, drawings, problems and solutions. Changes to your motorhome - the list is endless so why not get writing now?
PS The next issue is due out mid May, so input to me by 1st of May please.
Hot Stuff
Regarding the high-powered lights in the locker over the driving position. I forgot and left the lights on for about 20 minutes and our winter sleeping bags were stored in this area, one being against one of the lights. A hole 9 inches in diameter was burned right through the sleeping bag. Had we gone out, who knows? We may have lost the lot! I wrote to RDH and they sent us a pair of the front outside white lights, which have a smaller bulb in. I have fitted these and they don't even get warm.
Alan Verity
AA - Anthus amendments
Thanks for the second club mag - not bad considering that we only joined in September. I think you have done a great job in such a short time congratulations.
I thought I would let you know what additions we have made to our Aereo Anthus SL-L since acquiring it in August. Apart from the factory fitted options - pullout bike rack, swivel seats awning etc. I have fitted a 1700 watt inverter - what a boon, a clip-on clip-off steering wheel acquired from Van Bitz Scotland, Battery Master fitted at RDH, and passenger door pocket.
I moved the TV from its original site, which we found, left us with stiff necks, to the cupboard above the cab. The cupboard alongside houses the video and DVD and hopefully, if Santa does not fly past too quickly, a sat dish and receiver, fingers crossed. We can now view the TV in comfort from either the front or rear lounge. The original TV cupboard is now our library. Needless to say we love our van and look forward to our eventual retirement and much use. Our latest addition is a few words on the rear, courtesy of our local sign people - it says "Blue sky's ahead" ceu azul a vista.
Good luck and keep up the grand work.
Harry & Dinah Wakerley
Amendments from across Europe
Thanks for sending me issue 2 of the Newsletter. Congratulations on an excellent newsletter, I have found it very interesting and am looking forward to joining the club. (Dave has since joined)
I am 40 and have caravanned and camped all around the UK and Europe since being a toddler. (I now do my toddling after French sparkling wine at £1 a bottle). I decided at Christmas 2000 to take a break in my career as a professional engineer working for Severn Trent Water and see some of the world. I don't see why you have to be 18 to have a gap year.
I bought T 753 BNN, an ex-rental Europe 6000 ST from RDH in Feb 2001 after looking at every other manufacturer and a dozen or so dealers around the UK. The Benimar offered me the best payload allowance, which is essential for all the windsurfing gear I cart around. I took advantage of the excellent "Try before you buy" offer and took it to North Wales for a weekend. I have been more than pleased with it, it has changed my life! The van had been on long term rental to Central TV who used it for outside broadcasts. I may therefore have had some celebrity bums on my seats!
I have now been traveling since Easter and have so far covered 21, 000 miles and 12 countries. I have changed currencies 15 times (as I have done some countries twice) and eagerly await the Euro in Jan 2002. I was glad that I bought a Left Hand Drive model as I must have gone through 100's of toll booths and have always been on the right (left) side. The speedo in kph is useful. Although only one person in a 6 berth, I found the extra space a real boon. I keep the over cab bed made-up, use the dining area for dining and the rear lounge for lounging, something I am getting very good at. I publish a newsletter in my spare time to locate and reunite Amendes around the world and found the extra space essential for spreading out papers, computer, printer, family trees, maps, etc.
I started by whipping straight down to southern Spain via Peniscola in April; then did Portugal in May; southern France and Switzerland in June; Italy, Austria and Germany in July; Holland, Denmark and Norway in August; Sweden and Estonia in September. Longest leg was from Kappelskar, Sweden to Malmo, 850 km in 12 hours.
I have averaged 25mpg with the 2.8 Tdi diesel and topped 30 going downhill with the wind at 120kph! I have had 2 services, 2 tyres and a new tail pipe on the exhaust - a polished stainless steel one for £20 cash from a West Bromwich specialist, not the £240 Fiat alternative. The only breakdown was the air inlet pipe to the intercooler working loose, which I fortunately spotted straight away and tightened up. I've been stuck in mud twice and on a steep gravel track once but have always found good-humoured help close at hand.
I have only once attempted to book a campsite (as I knew I was meeting friends in the South of France in late August) and easily found sites with space by using the Caravan Club European Touring Guide and the excellent German "Europa" guide.
7 days of free camping on the beach at Tarifa at the southernmost tip of Spain was ended by a break-in whilst visiting Gibraltar (oops!, that makes 13 countries). I caught the thief in the van and he ran off dropping all the most valuable stuff but still managed to get away with £700 worth of goodies (Safeguard coughed up £250 in the end). I subsequently stuck to official sites and had no more security problems.
I have passed several other Benimars and waved enthusiastically, in Rome an identical van pitched up next to me and I very nearly tried to get in it! I have not yet seen one on the UK roads. It's strange how the European motorhome drivers don't wave acknowledgement to each other and also that the lorry drivers don't flash their lights when you overtake them. (That's not my experience - Ed)
Things of interest I would like to air are:-
· Where do you get your Benimar serviced? I have had enormous trouble finding a UK Fiat dealer who can cope with the height and had all my servicing done abroad.
· Has anyone found a good way of securing the foam-cored table tops to the bases? I have now got NO.8 wood screws in but these are already working loose.
· Does anyone else have problems with the driving position? I am 5'11 and, without an adjustable drivers seat, have to look out through the very top of the screen. I have put 28" wipers on in place of the standard 22" standard ones, then cut off the ends so that they sweep right to the top of the screen. Is there a way to fit a height adjustable seat whilst still retaining the battery under the seat? If so I shall have to go and look in some scrap yards as a new seat from Fiat would probably cost an arm and a leg.
· I have taken my cat with me on the latest trip, a try-out couple of days in North Wales. He seems to enjoy being with me rather than languishing at home with the only company being the neighbours who feed him once a day. I have seen lots of other outfits with cats aboard and wonder if there are any traveling cat owners amongst our fellow BOC members and if they have any tips to pass on.
I am currently typing up my notes on my tour to date and also planning the next leg to Ireland, then possibly Greece and the southern Mediterranean after Christmas. If you would be interested to have a copy of the 50+ page notes, advice on foreign touring or a Word copy on disc I would be more than happy to oblige.
Keep up the good work Dave Amende T 752 BNN
(Note - Dave's registration no. seems to have lost a digit since the start of the article - is this a new Fiat problem? - Ed)
Tyre Warning #
Further to the article on the above in issue 3.
In 5ept 01 I had the same experience. This was as I was driving my T reg 5T6000, which had done less than 18,000 miles at the time. The incident happened on the M5 near Taunton,- M the time I was doing about 65-70 mph and like you had no prior warning. The first I knew of it was on hearing an almighty "BANG" followed immediately by the offside back end dropping and the whole vehicle starting to swerve back and forth across the other lanes. As luck would have it at the time of the blowout the motorway was fairly empty and I managed to pull over onto the hard shoulder without too much trouble. I dread to think what might have happened if it had been during a busy time.
On checking back down the motorway I saw pieces of tyre tread spread all over the three lanes. I called the police and asked them to get the debris cleared asap, and then checked the van for damage. On inspection I found that there appeared to be a split across what was left of the tyre from wall to wall. (It almost looked as if the circle of the tyre had been joined at this point and then split apart). Most of the tread had peeled of the tyre exposing the steel mesh underneath. This in turn had also split open resulting in it becoming a flail which ripped away the complete inner ply wood wheel arch as well as a fair amount of polystyrene insulation.
I took the van into a tyre depot the next day and had all the tyres checked by the manager. The first thing that he found was that ALL the tyres had hairline cracks on their side-walls making each one a potential death trap. He then checked "Firestones· date of manufacture (Which is stamped on the side-wall of all tyres) and found that they were made in 1997 which meant that they had been sitting around for 2 years prior to being fitted to the van. It was his opinion that this two year delay caused the rubber in the tyre to split. He said that tyres are designed to expand and contract during normal daily use and it is this that keeps them supple. To ensure that they stay supple they should always be used within a year of manufacture, thus helping to prevent the possibility of the rubber perishing due to hardening through lack of use, which is what he believed had almost certainly happened in my case. He also said that the spare tyre should be rotated with one on the van at least once a year, again to stop it hardening.
I have read a similar story in a recent issue of MMM although I forget whether it was on Firestone or another manufacturer's tyres. I trust that you will put something of my experience into the next issue as a further warning to other BOCies as I, and I'm sure you would not want anyone to go through another "Big Bang" experience.
Pete Connor
Spell Czech
Eye halve a spelling chequer, It came with my pea sea,
It plainly marques four my revue, Miss steaks eye kin knot sea.
Eye strike a quay and type a word, And wait four hit to say,
Weather eye am wrong or write,
It shows me strait a weigh.
As soon as a mist ache is maid, It nose bee fore two long.
And I can putt the error rite,
Its rare lea ever wrong.
Eye have run this poem threw hit, I am shore your pleased two no, Its letter perfect all the weigh,
My chequer tolled me sew.
c/o a friend who is over wintering in Denia
I haven't had any input from our younger members so I am going to set you a puzzle.
There was this man and his wife driving along in their Benimar Motorhome, looking for a campsite. They came to a T-junction, but there were no signs to tell them which way to the site. There was a house, however, in which lived two brothers. One always told the truth the other always told lies.
The man knocked on the door and one of the brothers appeared. You can only ask him one question to find out which is the correct road to take. What is the question? Answers to Ron Smith and the first correct answer received will receive a small (i.e. cheap) prize. Don't ask your parents because they won't be able to work it out.
MORE J4 RECOLLECTIONS
After our eventful journey to the South of France described in the last Newsletter, we spent just 3 days in the sun. This was because we had to return home for other commitments. The site however, was perfect for us as it was right on the beach and each plot had ifs own shower and toilet. Vic thought that the fibreglass ablutions unit would make a perfect place to lock up our valuables when we were down on the beach until he saw the site repairman thump a locked unit and spring the door open with ease!
Sadly, the time came for us to return home via the Autoroute de Soleil and, after 4 or 5 hours, we passed a windsurfing board and associated bits and pieces on the hard shoulder. Shortly afterwards we passed a car load of French teenagers reversing rapidly back up the hard shoulder and I can distinctly remember feeling quite smug that we hadn't had anything fall off our camper lately.
Vic decided that a coffee break was in order so we pulled off at the next rest stop and made a lovely cup of coffee. Vic was wandering around puffing on his pipe and, as is his wont, kicking the tyres. He couldn't help but notice wire unravelling from one of the front tyres. There but for the grace of God. The wheel was duly changed and the journey continued with no spare.
Towards the evening we noticed a red light on the dash that signified that the alternator was not charging properly and as we obviously could not drive at night we decided to pull in beside a TGV line and wait for a garage to open in the morning. In the middle of the night Lisa woke me as nature was calling. I got up and quietly and carefully slid open the door so that we could both get out. The noise convinced Vic that we were all about to be murdered in our beds so he leapt out of bed shouting and yelling at the would-be assailant. He soon realised that we were not under attack and returned to bed.
The garage was opened next morning by a "real" mechanic who was prepared to make do and mend our alternator with any available part in his workshop. All was going well until he found only 1 diode instead of the two required. "Merde" was even understood by Vic who's French is non-existent! At this point a very smartly dressed man wandered in and introduced himself as a wine buyer for Sainsburys. He was of great assistance in translating the rest of the mechanics comments about the inadvisability of traveling long distances in very old vehicles.
The rest of the journey back was completely uneventful but perhaps memorable for just that reason and the camper was sold later the following year and a folding caravan was our next purchase.
Pip Rowe & Vic.
EXTRACT of the DIARY of a BENIMAR JUNIOR
When I was being created in Benicarlo, Spain, little did I know of the future that lay ahead for me ....
March 1999
I arrived at RDH in Nottingham to discover that I would be owned by a travel-happy couple in their 40's. Not just a summertime existence for me. I was to be their home whilst they set out to explore the world!
8 May 1999
The big day arrived. My owners had sold their home, furniture and most of their personal possessions; I realised that I truly was to be "home". We set off from Harwich to the Hook of Holland for the start of our 5 months exploring Europe.
11 June 1999
A date to remember in the fishing village of Cadaques, Spain. Someone took a crowbar to my door and then forced the bottom half away sufficiently to get inside. I spent the night in a police compound for protection and was driven with parts of me taped in place, 500 km to Benicarlo for a new door.
11 July 1999
Another memorable day. Whilst my owners were but a few yards away at a picnic stop on the south coast of France, someone broke my side window to get into me, my owners don't leave anything inside though! Did not hang around to do police reports this time, headed straight for Italy to get a new window from FIAT.
Cobbled roads! Lots of them giving me a rough time in the eastern regions of Germany and in the Czech Republic. Met a Benimar with Spanish owners in Dresden.
12 August 1999
Up early to leave Gyula, Hungary and head over the border to Romania. Told to expect a 24 hr delay but we sailed through in 20 minutes. Got a little card to have stamped at all the places I would be staying in Romania. Campsites a bit challenging here. Very different from Western Europe. Met a lot of Dutch motor homes touring around. Had a dodgy experience in Bucharest when two "Militia" men in black stopped me to do a check on passports and currency. My owners were very cautious and stayed inside me.
I had to ride through a tray of disinfectant to cross from Romania to Bulgaria and at the border to Greece a curious and friendly official took a peak inside me. He was impressed and wanted to know how much I had cost.
26 September 1999
A fun ferry journey from Patra, Greece to Ancona, Italy. We motor homes were connected to electricity via overhead hook-ups and our owners stayed in us overnight.
October 1999
Back to RDH for a few months whilst my owners travelled to India, the Far East, Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii without me.
March 2000
Re-united briefly with my owners who have decided to spend 6 months in Hawaii. I am going to be hired out for the summer.
9 October 2000
Hurray! Parked at Southampton, ready to go on a ship sailing to Charleston, South Carolina. Thirteen days at sea and an American adventure about to start ...
November 2000
I like it here. The Americans think I am cute and people want to buy me. Lots of new experiences like seeing alligators and armadillos, meeting lots of full-time motorhome and trailers seeking the southern sun for the winter.
January 2001
Alligators and egrets in the bayou of the Deep South. My owners treated me to fitted carpeting in Texas. All the other motorhome are much bigger than me and we all get our own supply of water, electricity and sewage disposal points at most of the campgrounds.
7 January 2001
Tried to get an oil change in Picos, Texas, but no one had a metric key large enough to open me up!
I have discovered why I need a fitted carpet; we had our first fluttering of snow in the New Mexico desert. Next day my owners headed straight for a ski resort and 15 inches of fresh snow. I kept them warm and snug at night but my water froze until the daytime sun melted it each day.
February 2001
Met the giant Saguaro cactus plants in Tucson, Arizona, survived a wild sandstorm and explored old mining towns on our route west to California. Watched the huge elephant seals on the Californian coast and rested under the gigantic redwoods in Big Sur National Park.
Feeling good. Had two new tyres fitted in San Francisco before turning around to head East.
March 2001
A bit of nostalgia. Came across the original London Bridge, which is now the focal point in Havasu City in the Arizona desert.
Had a shock at the Grand Canyon. After a sunny day enjoying the scenery, I woke up to 8 inches of snow. Felt it best to stay put until it cleared.
Found a European car expert in Albuquerque, a German guy who fixed me up with a new Bosch fuel filter. More snow - more skiing. Glad of the new tyres.
May 2001
Rode in the footsteps of the original settlers in the eastern states and sweltered in the heart of Washington DC. Headed for the cooler mountains of Virginia, caves of Ohio and Amish country in Indiana. My first experience of sharing the roads with horse-drawn carriages.
June 2001
People said I would be searched on entering Canada but, once again, I sailed through smoothly and the French guard at the border to Quebec was friendly and helpful. Well worth the trip up here to see Niagara Falls from the Canadian side.
July 2001
Parked at the National Seashore for a bit of a rest whilst my owners spent time at Sleeping Bear Dunes, Lake Michigan with friends they had made in Alabama. There are about 1 million full-time Rovers and lots of them head north for a cooler summer.
Drove for many long and empty miles across South Dakota and Wyoming. Had an unforgettable experience at the badlands in South Dakota. A heavy rainstorm brought down hailstones the size of golf balls and J was out in the middle of it. I am left with a roof full of tiny dents from the hail.
August 2001
I stood in storage once again. In the humid heat of the Texas summer whilst my owners took off for 6 weeks in Hawaii to look after a house and a cat! Good to be among old friends though. I was here last January.
11 October 2001
The end of a fantastic tour around America and Canada. Thirty-eight states and 25,000 miles. Handed over for loading onto a huge Wallenius ship and a journey back across the Atlantic.
Junior
Note: Junior belongs to Mike Sinclair and Rosie Smith, who joined us at Shepton Mallet. I had a quick word with Junior and he gave me this update: -
January 2002
My owners took me to a muddy field to meet lots of other Benimars - I think it was one of the best days yet. I hope they meet them again sometime. - Ed.
Shepton Mallet
This was the first rally of 2002.
Judy and I arrived at the Bath and West Showground on a murky Thursday morning to find the area allocated to us was not marked out and resembled a farmyard. After much searching we eventually found the organisers and managed to move to a slightly better spot.
No sooner had we parked the motorhome than Terry and Sheila Sweet arrived. They had booked an electric hook-up, but it wouldn't reach us so they parked with some friends nearby. George and Mary Pennington took their place.
Friday was cold and sunny and we soon had a few more outfits and some new faces. Celia came down in the car, just for the day, so I had a sort of Committee Meeting (quorum of 2).
George and Rosena Cornish arrived and bought lots of stickers and transfers, and Jim and Di Bennett walked across to see us (they have visited Shepton many times and chose to stay in the general area on tarmac, knowing how muddy the club camping areas can be).
Keith and Gloria House were next to arrive in their brand new Europe 5000, very keen and asking lots of questions. Dave Amende (and cat) then joined us and later on Mike Sinclair and Rosie Smith pulled up just as we were setting off for the big night out (they are not members yet as they are full timing but I did manage to squeeze an article for the magazine out of them - see elsewhere).
The evenings entertainment was very crowded with standing room only by the time we got there - the Comedian/Magician was very good though.
Saturday saw the arrival of Pip and Merlin - so I had another Committee Meeting (with Pip not the parrot!). Jim and Sheree Morgan arrived in the remains of their Europe (oops!) and spent most of the weekend deciding on a new Benimar (talk about the throw-away society). A quiz sheet was given out to all and the winners of the star prize were Terry and Sheila.
Sunday saw us wending our various ways with lots of "See you at Cirencester or Peterborough" A very enjoyable weekend, lots of new faces, the weather was kind to us although the organisation left a little to be desired.
Ron Smith
SHEPTON SNIPPETS
While I was in Terry and Sheila's Benimar presenting them with their prize, Sheila had a phone call from her daughter to say she had won the lottery. Either we won't see them again or they will be in a gold plated ‘Top’ towing a Ferrari
We had yet another erection. Pip had brought one of the club gazebos so we had a successful trial up-and-down.
On the Thursday we caught Rod and Simon busy washing down the display motorhome that had got filthy on their way down from Beeston.
Rod was moaning that the 2 Pauls from BCS hadn't arrived after phoning to say they were only 5 miles away. They did eventually appear in a sparkling motorhome, having stopped at Tesco in Shepton to jet-wash it. Good thinking eh!
Tvre Pressures
The FIAT campaign notice printed on page 1 is to be accompanied by a Customer letter by Fiat AutoUK Ltd. to all known users.
The draft letter states:
Dear customer,
On a batch of Fiat Ducato MAXI vehicles the rear tyre pressures shown in the owner's handbook and on the door pillar label are not entirely correct Those shown are lower than the required values if the vehicle is used with the maximum permitted load on the rear axle.
To avoid the possibility of incorrect tyre pressures which could affect vehicle safety we enclose an amendment page for the owner’s handbook and a revised label for the door pillar. You will note that these pressures are when the tyres are cold. If you have any queries, please contact a Fiat dealer, locations of which may be obtained from Freephone 0800 717000.
It will be interesting to see how many of us receive the above notice from Fiat UK.
Fiat Madrid have sent such a notice to at least one Benimar owner.
I wonder if there is a connection with the 2 exploding rear tyres that I experienced recently and the one that Pete Connor (see Readers letters) had? I shall be writing to Fiat UK and will let you know the results
Bike Carriers
You may have read a few articles in the Motor caravan press that the carrying of cycles and scooters on the back of vehicles is now illegal in Spain. While this may be true for cars, Benimar have assured RDH that the type approved extending scooter rack and the Omnistore cycle rack fitted by the factory are both legal in Spain (and in the rest of Europe including Portugal). RDH are going to inform the Motor caravan Press. Don't forget - You heard it here first.
Members Names
Looking through the list of members names recently I see that we have 2 Marshalls (that should come in handy), the Darbyshires come from Preston, while the Cornish family hail from Kent and Lincolns from Leeds all very confusing.
We have 3 lots of Jones, and 2 lots of Gordon, Wilson, Watson and Hill, but we are the only Smith - most unusual.
Free Euro Converter
A Euro is worth about 62p which is 5/8 of a pound.
A kilometer is 5/8 of a mile Coincidence or not?
Anyway, you can use your vehicle speedometer as a calculator: -
50 mph = 80 kph
£50 = 80 Euros
Driving on the Left
Have you ever wondered why we drive on the left while the rest of Europe and most on the world drive on the right?
According to historians, it dates back to the middle ages and the feudal societies of the time. As most people were right-handed and they carried their weapons while traveling.
So when passing a stranger it was safer to walk on the left with your weapon between you and any potential attacker. France changed this because Napoleon Bonaparte was left handed and ordered his armies to march on the right. Why this accounts for the remainder of Europe and most of the rest of the world. I fail to see.
Certainly when I cross the channel I find driving on the right more natural, whether I am in a RHD or LHD vehicle. Perhaps it is something to do with the roads being so much easier to drive on (better maintained and far less traffic). My view is that driving on the right is more natural and like most other things, Britain has to be different and has got it wrong. What do you think?
Spot the Benimar
There should be a photograph of our Benimar in the March issue of MMM - see if you can spot it.
Irish Logic
I recently requested a ferry brochure from Irish Ferries for their UK-Ireland routes and also asked if a 7metre long and 3metre high motorhome was a problem.
I have just received their reply no mention of the length and height problem. The brochure covers Ireland to France, and the only information on UK to Ireland is a special offer which ends in February! Looks like we will be traveling with P&O or Stenna.
Benimar Dealers Abroad
Since the Handbook was printed Rod has given me a list of Benimar dealers in the rest of Europe (Germany (6), Spain (14), Portugal (1), Switzerland (1), Belgium (1) and Holland (1). If anyone would like the full list send a SAE to me.
Club Bonus
I recently collected my van from RDH after it had undergone a gas safety check. Not only did I get the club discount but a huge box full of books!
Thanks Steve. They will be there at the Easter Rally and Peterborough.
Plus Four
The Royal Mail has deemed it necessary to change our post code.
DE3 5FN becomes DE3 9FN.
BCS Motohomes
I met the two Pauls (Glicksman and Johnson) at the Shepton Show - they were helping Rod man the stand. I realised that they have been ignored so far in the Newsletter, so I hope this puts that right.
They have been in the Motor Trade some years and have now branched out into hiring and selling Benimars.
They are the London and South East Distributors, and you can find them at:-
Park View Garage Kings Road, Herne Bay Kent, CT6 5BU
Tel: 01227374544
Anyone for Badminton? .
Your secretary and chairman have booked to go on a Caravan Club Rally at Badminton, coinciding with the Horse Trials. (Don't worry we are taking our spouses with us). If you are in the Caravan Club and would care to join us, it is on May 2nd - 6th. It is organised by the Wiltshire Centre. Contact Ray Kirk on 01793 529948.
Tyre Warning #1 (cont)
I have just received a reply from Firestone saying that they were unable to make a technical assessment of my exploding tyres, but offering a small "goodwill" payment.
On our last trip to Spain we meandered across France staying on Vineyards and farms courtesy of France Passion. If you haven't come across them yet then I'll explain:-
For an annual fee of 170FF (it will be in euros now I suppose) you get a map and guidebook which lists many vineyards owners and farmers who invite you to stay one night with them, as their guest. There is no fee but you may feel like buying some of their produce. The scheme is open only to Motorcaravanners and you have to be self contained, as (with a few exceptions) they offer no facilities other than a safe and quiet place to stay.
Our first stop was at a vineyard near Sancerre and they were in the middle of the vendage. Nevertheless we were offered bread. cheese and ham to accompany some of their very nice white wine. So nice that we bought 6 bottles, and in the evening strolled down to a local Auberge that they recommended. (That first stay cost us the best part of £60!).
Other stops were a cheese farm in the Auverne, another vineyard near to Perpignan on the way down. On our return it was a Pate de Foire Gras farm (winners of a Silver Medal in Paris). a farm and a farm auberge where we had a super meal with the family.
From our limited experience we can thoroughly recommend France Passion. Their year runs from Easter to Easter so now is a good time to think of joining.
If you wish to know more their address is: -
France Passion.
BP. 57 – 84202
Carpentras cedex.
email info@france-passion.com
Ron & Judy Smith
PS The price is now 25.92 eurosl
Pet Passports
All the information and paperwork required to take your pets to Europe can be obtained from your vet. However, they do not usually have copies of the Document that has to be completed by the French vet before you return to the UK. This can be obtained from:-
www.petplanet.co.uk/petplanet/news/french/form
It can be printed out and it is free! Celia Rustom.
DHOTY AWARD
I learnt recently that one of our members had been presented with a DHOTY award. He could not get the water heater to work on gas, after much trying he booked his van in at RDH and made the long trek across country from Wrexham. On arriving at RDH he was asked what the problem was, Steve then walked round the van and said "Try it now" - it worked! He was then handed the plastic cover that goes over the flue.
DHOTY ? Dick Head of the Year apparently. I promised not to disclose who it was. He stayed the previous night at a small site and recommends it as it is very handy when visiting RDH. The site is in the Caravan Club book under Nottingham - Manor Farm Thrumpton Tel: 01159830341. Open all year, some hard standing and £4 a night.
A very small number of you have not renewed your membership. If you are one of these, this is the last Newsletter that you will receive, unless you do so soon.
I will be issuing membership cards while Celia is taking a well earned rest in the warm sunshine, so send me a cheque if you have just forgotten to renew. If not I am sorry that you are not continuing with us; perhaps you would let me know what we are not doing to satisfy your needs.
Ron Smith