Club Arnage

Hi Everyone.

Thought it might be an idea to start a thread that includes all those sensible items that we always forget because we've been too busy sorting out the fun stuff.

I'll kick things off with a reminder to get travel / medical insurance. And a reminder for all those with E111's that they need to get new ones as they've changed!

Apologies for the sensible thing, it wont happen again  ;) ;D

I think you're on the wrong forum mate. I tried to start a sensible thread once but I've learnt my lesson now  :D

One sensible thing though, if you're planning to take your mobile phone with you make sure it's activated for international roaming. Might be obvious but if you've recently changed contract it probably isn't set up.

Oh and take a colour photocopy of your driving licence (both parts) so the local constablary don't take your original if you happen to be caught doing 31 in a 30 zone.

I'll add:

1. Proper European insurance cover (so called Green Card). Most UK policies say they provide European cover FOC, however this is only basic 3rd party minimum legal requirement so check your small print carefully.

2. European breakdown insurance. If you're an ACO member of course you will already have this, but it's a bit minimal (and if you have a classic prone to the odd problem) you only get one recovery!

Pretzel

I phoned my insurers to ask how I get a green card and they told me that my insurance certificate will suffice. Do you know this to be true or do you actually have to have a green card?

Sensible thread..........



A copy of all your driving docs, insurance, D/L and V5

Passport

Tickets

Spare car key giev to another member of the  crew or secured to the underside of your vehicle ( like the towbar securing bracket )

Anyone want to buy an MG ???  ;D

Sensible thread Chris  ;)

Robbo, and you a copper an all, you should be ashamed giving out duff advice like that.  ;) Anyone fancy a crash and burn TWOCing extravaganza, say 4pm saturday?

1  I always fasten the spare key to the underside of another crew member
2  what is a crash and burn TWOCing extravaganza?

My understanding is - and it's been 6/7 years since i worked in insurance....that under a standard UK policy you automatically have the minimum cover required in the EU country that you are visiting, that is usually third party only or similar.  You no longer need a green card document in your hand as your certificate confirms you have this cover and this is sufficient for the local plod who if just concerned that you are driving legally.  

If you want your policy to continue at its UK level (ie TPF&T or Comp) then the insurer needs to extend the policy cover and this is still referred to as Green Card cover (even though you don't need the bit of paper). Most insurers charge you a bit extra for this.  

Certainly this is my experience and this is what my insurers (privilege) tell me, however I posted this a little while ago and someone said that their insurer automatically gave them their full policy cover without them needing to notify them.  Whilst not wishing to doubt whoever it was, this is not my experience and I'd be surprised at that approach as most insurers still view brits driving on the wrong side of the road as an additional risk and charge accordingly for it (hence the reduction in the number of ins co's giving free cover as they used to do a few years ago.  

The short answer is phone your insurers and make sure that they are answering the question of whether your cover continues in full whilst you are in France rather than do you need an additional piece of paper to keep the local plod happy!  

Edited to say:- I'm not sure I've seen sensible and Le Mans trip in the same sentence without a negative in there as well!  

yeah but who'd nick a  rover anyway  ???

My insurers do not issue a green card either, stating that the certificate is enough. Cuts down the admin I suppose.

Just check the detail in the policy to ensure the level of cover you have in the UK is extended to Europe.

Suntan cream and waterproofs to cover both angles. I always pack my stunt kite when I go away on holiday. It guarentees warm days with not a breath of wind. Never used it yet.

Now is the time to check that the mice have not got to your tents / sleeping bags  :o Says me talking from past experience  :(

Time to make sure that Tiff Needell's pen didn't puncture the inflateble armchair last year then, too.

(well I think it is sensible)

And make sure the folding armchairs are still up to the mammoth task they will be set next month too.


So

Armchair
folding "s too
campbed (no don't!)
tent fabric
folding barbecue plus a griddle plate for brekkie bacon'n'eggs
paper plates
metal cutlery (Plastic melts at the barbie.)
gearbox with a full selection (unlike last year)
cups (well we might get visitors who don't drink out of the bottle)

so what else have i missed?

ooh arr sleeping bags (to wrap round head to reduce the audio shockwaves from the fireworks)

good idea this thread

 ;D


bill

Lorry TWOCing is Taking Without Owners Consent it is the name of the criminal offence aimed at Joyriders a few years back. As they had no intention of keeping the vehicle so were not stealing it merely borrowing it.

Anyone please correct me if I am wrong.

Is that sensible enough for you robspot ??  ;D

When going camping I always pack duck tape, insulation tape, string/cord and the swiss army knife. You can fix/bodge a lot of  things with this selection.

The sign of a motorcyclist!!!!

Top of the list those when going on a track day to get you home after oh and the gaffer tape over the numberplate while on circuit just in case it really goes tits up. ;)

I dont leave nmy spare key anywhere like that. i was being sensible for a plce thats well secured, out of eye sight, and wouldnt fly off with a bit too much wind velocity.

My keys stay wrapped around my neck all weekend. We have done the lost key thing before !! ( women )

Beer, please please don't forget the beer.

Oh and tent pegs, try securing a six man tent without any, because the dumb ass who provided the tent forgot them, I have, it was quite a challenge!

Mug for morning tea and glass for morning VODKA!! ;D

Mini FM radio for Radio Le Mans

Mini binoculars for oggling pit lane totty

Camera

It Has to be Calvados with the tea for me Planman, however this is usually followed by a pack of Rennies :-[

Can you still buy absinthe in France or do you have to import it from some dodgy east european gangsters

Rob

My nephew bought me some for Xmas from somewhere in the Uk, if you want some I can find out where from

Ah, heart burn with Calvados, mmmm common problem if you drink it with tea  :P not my bag.  However Calvados neat........ the drink of the Gods!!  Rennies are good, along with imodium plus!!  Dude in our team needs them every year  ;D ;D

I've always been a gaviscon man. Rennies don't work for me but gaviscon always does the trick. Must remember to get an industrial size bottle.

Fair play - I best pack both   ;)

As in the old saying

"Absinthe makes the heart grow fonder....."      ;) ;) ;)

 

No worries, they sell absinthe in Tesco. I don't know what the world's coming to.

Robbo, one more thing to check on the list.  Oil for the generator.   Remember last year????

its not real absinthe tho is it??? i was thinking of trying to distill some proper absinthe that might make us all go blind

Since it's supposed to be a serious thread.

TWOC =  Taken Without Owners Consent.

In other words Stolen.

trust you!!!! ::)

Dont forget the Warning triangle, spare bulbs, and first aid kit that you need for the car - dont want to give the plod more excusess to have a go if you get pulled. Also I seem to remember and advice slip from the RAC saying it invalidates your insurance with out.
Anybody who belongs to CostCo, they are doing an RAC emegency kit with bulbs, triangle, High vis vest, torch, pliers, wheel brace, + loads of other stuff in a canvas bag for about £8 - bargin!

Still got 1/2 litre from Mr Cutler left over from last years fiasco

thanks for the reminder

Gilles or KPY may correct me, but I believe the sale of absinthe in France is still illegal :( :(

Credit/Debit cards with the new chip & pin number to enable purchase of supplies!

As well as the standard head ache and heartburn cures pack some Imodium so that the weekend itinerary does not centre around being within spitting distance of a bog.

MG Mark

Chip & Pin

Am I the only one to hate this advance? I've got too many passwords etc already without needing to have them forced on me.  I'm hanging onto my cards without the pin for as long as I can, its a good excuse to get the number of cards that I have down to a manageble amount!

So the onlly card I'll be taking won't have a pin.

I actually don't mind chip and pin just change all your pin numbers to the same problem solved

Ah that's a point. Tesco often block my credit card when it's first used abroad, unless I pre-warn them about the trip.

One time, I was in the fag shop at Adinkerke and the card was rejected. So I gave them another card and while the transaction was underway, Tesco phoned me to see if I was really abroad. All happened inm less than a minute - impressive!!

I suppose I should be thankful for the security aspect but it's a PITA if you forget to tell them.

Further to the earlier posts re vehicle insurance, check that ALL members who will be driving in France are insured.  I've just checked the small print and although I am insured (third party) to drive other vehicles (provided they are not rented etc), THIS ONLY APPLIES IN THE UK!!!  It would appear that for many years, some of my party have been driving un-insured, as we have relied on the "I am insured to drive any vehicle" rule.  

Looks like it's necessary to get either 'any driver' or 'named driver' insurance for the duration.

DB

In the modern advance in technology i think our chip and pin is not compatible with the french system!!!

Take plenty of clean underpants.

Wet Wipes

F

Worked OK last year.

DB

Translation book of excuses for when you get caught speeding! ;D

I find you can turn 'em inside out and back to front and get four days out of them.

Travel Light is my motto!

Dont try these new seamless ones. Bloody itchy... unlesss ?????

Chip & pin should work with VISA, but bank debits cards may be iffy.

CAMERA BATTERIES

Spare corkscrew, and bottle opener, in case someone gives you a cold Heineken.  I've got the scars from trying to twist.

2 stoke oil

Porta Potti fluid, better than the smell of Napalm in the morning

Chipped cards are now the norm now here in France, However friends from the UK who come to visit often complain that their credit card with both systems are often declined from the cashpoints and supermarkets!!!  So much for Visa Etc.

3 weeks ago in France, our chip & pin worked in the supermarket and the manned kiosk of the attached petrol station, but NOT in the unmanned credit card payment machines at the same petrol station.

Yes, I've found that the pumps that only take cards do not like UK cards.

As these things can be left on all night it means the Brits get no petrol through Rouen and most of the way down the N138 after 9pm - I had to take the motorway to Caen as there is a service area not far from Rouen.  Plus the big filling station as you drive into Oiustreham only takes French Plastic (I may have been Sunday) - fill up at Caen.

This must be against at least 3 EEC directives

This must be essential ;D

http://www.paladone.com/ProductImages/1267.JPG

I'm sure you're right! However it only seems to be the UK that has to adhere to them!!

Could you imagine the outcry from the do-gooders if we had any form of product or service that was only available to the British!  :-X