French Festival Of Slowth 2020

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This year, the Festival of Slowth (FOS) took place on September 11th & 12th in the beautiful Burgundy region.

The Festival of Slowth was launched by the passionate British team in the noughties. In 2016, it was proposed that the annual FOS would be alternatively hosted in the UK and in France, the Vintage Revival Montlhery (VRM) team managing the French event.

Initially planned on the 6th and 7th of June, the FOS was postponed due to the COVID pandemic. As it was critical to welcome the numerous international participants, and particularly our friends from the UK, new dates were considered to accommodate everyone. However, as French health restrictions increased and the British implemented a quarantine for all travellers, the VRM seriously considered cancelling the event. But in the end, it was agreed that the show must go on. And even if, to our great sadness the British participants couldn’t join us, the 8th FOS was scheduled for mid-September.

This year, participants of the 3rd French Festival of Slowth gathered on Friday afternoon at the charming and picturesque Hôtel du Port of Decize, located on the peaceful banks of the Loire river.

Despite the circumstances, no less than 27 cars were present with teams from Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, and France. Several unique car makers were represented: 3 Bédélia, an AC Sociable who represented our missing British friends, Rosengart, Monotrace-Morgan, an Electric Auto-Red Bug and an Auto-Red Bug Flyer, Benjamin, La Buire, Renault, Anthony la Punaise, Auto-Plume, Morgan, Monet-Goyon MV Anzani, Cyclauto-Anzani, Elfe-Anzani, La Nef, Hanomag, EHP, Amilcars and other cyclecars.

After unloading the vehicles, and checking on our cherished “tracassin”, an affectionate nickname/play on the word for a troublesome vehicle, we parked our brilliant armada (remember we are in the Port of Decize) in a beautiful and secured timber-framed hall.

On Saturday, departure for the bucolic trip of 20 km on country roads was planned at 8:30 am, which soon became 9:30 am and finally 10 am… oh yes we are at Slowth! The goal is not to set a time record but to start and eventually to arrive … somewhere, with a big grin of satisfaction.

After a few kilometres, a quick stop for goat cheese, “grillotte” (mettre le vrai nom) and Chablis served in the shade of a beautiful 14th-century church, we followed two Bédélias in “snail” disguise without their shells, to the superb Château de Romenay, in Diennes-Aubigny, where Joël & Catherine Boutrolle welcomed us for a wonderful lunch break.

The first test of the day was the Bédégnoire (or should we say Bédétub) Challenge, an opportunity to tame the DB 001 prototype powered by the challenging VAP 4 engine, a unique vehicle born from the tortuous mind of Vincent Chamont, and most faithful to the FOS spirit. Jérôme Stevens got behind the wheel and after a few tests successfully lapped the vehicle to thunderous applause. As a well-earned prize, he spent half his lunch break raking the beautifully groomed gravel yard where the powerful Bédégnoire single drive wheel had dug deep trenches...

After a delicious lunch in the barns of the chateau, blessed by an abundance of Champagne and Chablis to celebrate the arrival of the last participants for which the 23 km had proved a challenge for some. it was time to start the famous Slowth Race, a two-lap circuit in the beautiful chateau gardens. The task was to achieve the same time on both laps. The timing was performed by an official 24H Le Mans team, with participants in the mood as for a renowned event, except that we were not at le Mans and it did not last 24 hours...

Results were very close, and after deliberation, Luc in his Bedelia and Kjeld in his Red Bug Flyer; both won with the remarkable performance of only 2 seconds between each lap.

After a wonderful afternoon, it was time to return to the Port of Decize where everyone had a great dinner, sharing passionate discussions and fond memories of a glorious day.

Our Danish friend Kjeld Jenssen, whom we must congratulate as most enduring participant for driving  46 kilometres at the wheel of his motorized Red-Bug Flyer, delivered a very warm and deserved thank you speech for the Slowth organizing team. Ending his speech with a deafening shot of his regatta canon was memorable.

It should be noted that on the return trip, Kjeld experienced a punctured wheel on the Flyer. Determined to end the day in style, Kjeld got the support of a rally assistance biker and later of a participant’s Amilcar to be towed home. During his speech, Kjeld commented on the beautiful lines of the Amilcar when compared to the support bike. We wonder if it was a subtle reference to the presence of the Amilcar owner’s wife in the car … such a youthful Kjeld!

The prize-giving ceremony took place after dinner with two winners: Jérôme Stevens with his 1914 AC Sociable, who rode in style with Vincent Chamon, both saluting the onlookers with their burgundy medical officer caps matching the AC color; and Luc Slijpen for his first participation in the FOS with his Bédélia BD 2 driven for the first time during the event.

On Sunday Morning, Kjeld swapped vehicle, unloading a beautiful electric Auto Red Bug. For the second day, a Le Mans start was planned; so after a thunderous shot of Kjeld canon, everyone walked to their car (it’s the Slowth after all), started the engine and departed for a beautiful drive along the peaceful Aron canal.

Our destination was a private secret place where we discovered the most amazing treasures, no pictures allowed but an opportunity for a lifetime of memories.

After lunch, it was already time for thank you speeches and departures after an unforgettable weekend.

In retrospect, it was a remarkable weekend despite the numerous COVID obstacles. Yet we very much missed our British friends and others who could not join us this time. So, we look forward to welcoming you next time and taking you through the beautiful routes we discovered this year.

Let’s finish with our most grateful thank you to:

- PreWarCar.com, our faithful partner, whose support make the FOS possible; we could not organize this beautiful event without them!

- IGOL, a great sponsor, who blessed us with the marque 70th-anniversary gifts.

-The Port of Decize for their warm hospitality.

- The VRM organization staff and the bikers assistance team.

- The cheerful lunch staff and La Rainette who prepared our lunch meals.

-Joël et Catherine Boutrolle, owners of Château de Romenay.

-Kees and Willeke for their warm hospitality and unforgettable Sunday visit.

-And finally, you, who make the FOS such a unique event.

We look forward to seeing you at the next French FOS, with your most uncommon “tracassins” en route to discovering a new Chateau.

Without forgetting "YOU".

See you in two years in the footsteps of a new Château with our unusual vehicles "FOS and UNS ..."

Words and pictures by Vincent Chamont & Vintage Revival Montlhéry team.

See also Festival of Slowth 2020 – in pictures we published earlier.

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