Page 173 - Classics Issue

I had a most comfortable bedroom and excellent food and was treated like a king. The charge was reasonable and the whole place has the air of an excellent French chateau on a small scale. In the morning, I visited the works nearby and was conducted round before Jean Bugatti arrived. It was very interesting seeing round before Jean Bugatti arrived. It was very interesting seeing the assembly, the railcars, the bodywork section, experimental, etc. It was good to see a motor car factory making so many of its own components and not merely an assembly shop. Before leaving, Jean Bugatti took me for a run in a type 57 coupe. Those who have been with him know all about it and I couldn’t put on paper my impressions for those who have not. Suffce to say that he is an amazing driver (thank god we met nothing coming in the opposite direction) and the type 57 with De Ram shock absorbers is a most amazing car. I had lunch at the Hostellerie and just as I was departing at 1.15 p.m., Monsieur Le Patron, Jean and somebody from the works arrived for lunch, all in spotlessly clean white overalls and driven round in M. Bugatti’s little electric car. I set off for Dieppe to catch the midnight boat. Having driven pretty quickly, especially for the last 200 miles in the dark with only one headlamp working (I averaged 45 for the 345 miles) I missed the boat by 10 minutes... I was particularly browned off as I wanted to be at Lewes the day after for the club’s speed trials, however, although the boat didn’t sail for one and a half hours after I arrived at Dieppe, the stationmaster, who must have been suffering from a liver attack, wouldn’t listen to my pleadings. I crossed next day by the midday boat and arrived at Lewes just as proceedings had fnished. Throughout the whole three weeks trip, the car behaved magnifcently. I covered 3’060 miles altogether and, as I was alone for two thirds of the that distance in most lonely parts of the world, depended upon 100% reliability and I got it. It used about 4 gallons of oil and averaged 12 m.p.g, using Esso. The car caused a terrifc sensation everywhere, in spite of being in its native land, and a deal of amusement to other Bugatti owners. Vive La Bug... With thanks to Mr Hamish Ogston current custodian and owner of BPK 1