For a weekend, the Place des Épars in Chartres (Eure-et-Loir) is transformed into a magnificent showroom of prestigious cars. “A hundred old ones will be to be admired with pre-war cars, a Bugatti, Facel Vega,” says Xavier Martino, head of the Chartres Balades commission within the Rotary Chartres Deux Vallées.
Citroën traction, DS, 2CV, Renault Dauphine and 4CV will make a certain number of passers-by nostalgic. Military vehicles, Rolls-Royce, or Lotus Caterham will complete the field. Cars to admire and try! “People take a ticket for the car of their choice and the owner takes them for a ride in Chartres. » Last year, 400 baptisms were carried out. Prices vary depending on the vehicle between 10 euros and 40 euros, for the most prestigious. The funds will be raised for the benefit of disabled children: 15,000 euros are generated on average by this event. The money helps finance a therapeutic stay in June, in Sables-d'Olonne (Vendée).
A general public festival which attracts an average of 10,000 visitors. “The car speaks to everyone. It ranges from the retiree who gets back into the Dauphine, the family car he owned when he was young, to the young enthusiast who dreams of the red Ferrari. It’s very popular,” notes this collector who owns around ten cars himself.
Thrills on the ring road
But to find the Ferraris, Lamborghinis, or Porsches, you will have to go this year to the outskirts of the city, to the Chartrexpo parking lot, far from the beating heart of the city center. “Collectors of prestigious cars were more and more reluctant to come to the Place des Épars, there are too many people, and these enthusiasts fear for the bodywork of their car. In addition, during city baptisms, certain engines tended to heat up,” explains the enthusiast.
On the asphalt of Chartrexpo, the public will be able to discover “an Aston Martin club, Ferrari F40s or F50s and competition cars”. A larger site which offers a much larger field this year. “On the Place des Épars, we could gather around a hundred cars, there we will exceed 150 vehicles. It will enrich the field,” notes the organizer. The baptisms will take place on the Chartres ring road, with stronger sensations on these sections of roads limited to 90km/h.
Practical:
Les Balades de Chartres, Saturday April 20 and Sunday April 21 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Place des Épars and in the Chartrexpo car park.