In June 1966 the prototype Jensen Interceptor was collected from the Vignale factory in Turin by Kevin Beattie and Mike Jones and driven non-stop (apart from getting petrol and the air ferry) from Turin to West Bromwich, a journey that took almost 24 hours.
In June 2016 it will be 50 years since that event which was the prelude to the launch of the most iconic of Jensens, the Interceptor and its sibling, the FF. To celebrate that event the JOC is organising a return visit to Turin and then to re-run that original journey using the same route taken in 1966 and using only the roads that existed then. While in Turin we plan a Jensen display at the National Motor Museum in Turin which is about a 5 minute walk from our hotel. A visit to the original Vignale factory for a photo opportunity has been arranged and where we will also be able to view the current owner’s own car and motorbike collection. There will also be an opportunity to visit the Italian Job movie locations and drive the Lamborghini Miura opening scene route (singing “On Days Like These” is optional and we won’t be able to provide any music).
Itinerary
We are expecting members from several different countries to join us on this trip and as a result we have tried to be flexible so that there is a travel option available that will suit most requirements. We are offering four different options where someone can join the trip. For UK based travellers we are not arranging any channel crossings to allow people to travel on routes and at times that suit themselves. Travellers from continental European countries may be coming from different directions so we are allowing people to join at any stage of the trip up to and including joining in Turin itself. We are arranging two stops on the outward journey, the first in Reims and the second in Lausanne so you can join the trip at either of these stops. Wherever possible we have arranged quality Novotel or similar hotels with good restaurants and breakfasts included. A special option will allow participants to join us only for the stay in Turin if you don’t want to join the drive back to Le Touquet.
Option A – Outward journey via Reims & Lausanne plus return to Le Touquet
Thursday 2nd June 2016
Eurotunnel from Folkestone to arrive in France. Drive to Reims for overnight hotel. Approx. 175 miles (280km), 2½ hrs driving. Autoroute tolls approx. €22.
Tourism opportunity: visit former Grand Prix circuit for photoshoot in front of pits.
Friday 3rd June 2016
Drive from Reims to Lausanne. Stay 1 night in Lausanne. Approx. 300 miles (480km), 6½ hrs driving. Autoroute tolls approx. €20 + €33 Swiss road tax.
Tourism opportunity: visit to Flavigny-sur-Ozerain, medieval hilltop town and setting of the movie Chocolat which starred Johnny Depp and Juliette Binoche. This town of just 340 inhabitants is situated 60km west of Dijon and is about half way on our journey between Reims and Lausanne. Classified as one of the 100 loveliest villages in France it will make the perfect stop off for a leisurely lunch break!
Saturday 4th June 2016
Drive from Lausanne to Turin. Approx. 160 miles (255km), 3½ hrs driving. Tolls approx. €41. Arrive to Turin around lunchtime. Free afternoon. Stay at Lingotto Hotel 3 nights.
Tourism opportunity: visit to Chateau Chillon (www.chillon.ch/en/castle) on the eastern shore of Lake Geneva. We will be arranging a guided tour of the castle on Saturday morning.
Option B – Outward journey via Lausanne only plus return to Le Touquet
Friday 3rd June 2016
Eurotunnel from Folkestone to arrive in France. Drive direct to Lausanne for overnight hotel. Approx. 470 miles (760km) 8½ hrs driving. Tolls approx. €43 + €33 Swiss road tax.
Saturday 4th June 2016
Same as Itinerary option A.
Option C – Join directly in Turin plus return to Le Touquet
Saturday 4th June 2016
Travellers make their own travel arrangements to get to Turin and arrive in Turin at the Hotel Lingotto on Saturday 4th June. Stay for 3 nights.
Option D – Stay in Turin only – no participation in drive to Le Touquet
Saturday 4th June 2016
Travellers make their own travel arrangements to and from Turin. Arrive in Turin on Saturday 4th June. Stay at Lingotto Hotel for 3 nights. Depart Turin on Tuesday 7th June. No arrangements made for the journey from Turin to Le Touquet.
STOP PRESS…. option E added by member request.
Option E – Join in Lausanne and stay in Turin only
Friday 3rd June 2016
Travellers make their own way to Lausanne. Stay 1 night in Lausanne.
Saturday 4th June 2016
Same as Itinerary option A.
Saturday 4th to Friday 10th June 2016
Saturday 4th June 2016
Celebratory meal in Italian National Motor Museum Turin for all participants.
Sunday 5th June 2016
Jensen car display in foyer of Italian National Motor Museum.
Monday 6th June 2016
Free day. Option to visit Italian Job movie locations and drive the Lamborghini Miura opening scene route to Col-du-St Bernard north of Aosta.
Tuesday 7th June 2016
Depart Turin after breakfast. Visit site of Vignale factory at Grugliasco for photo opportunity. Drive from Turin to Grenoble. Lunch at Col du Mont-Cenis (elevation 2,083m or 6,830ft). Approx. 160 miles (250km), 5 hrs driving.
Wednesday 8th June 2016
Grenoble to Chaumont. Approx. 255 miles (410km), 7 hrs driving.
Thursday 9th June 2016
Chaumont to Abbeville. Approx. 250 miles (400km), 6 hrs driving. Dinner to celebrate the end of the continental part of the journey. Due to the French MG Car Club weekend (400+ cars) in Le Touquet we are unable to get accommodation so we are stopping just short at Abbeville instead.
Tourism opportunity: visit and tour of Champagne House in Reims. We will be arranging a guided tour of one of the major Champagne House cellars in the city of Reims to coincide with our passing through the city. More details to follow.
Friday 10th June 2016
Drive to Le Touquet for photo opportunity. Approx 40 miles (65km), 1 hr driving from Abbeville, then drive (45 minutes) to Eurotunnel from France. Drive to Jensen Owners Club 2016 International Weekend at Beaumont Estate Windsor, Berkshire, England. Approx. 100 miles (160km) in the UK, 2hrs driving.
Any queries about the trip may be emailed to Turin2016@joc.org.uk.
Please note bookings for this trip have now closed
Shaun Winfield and Chris Reed
Co-organisers Turin 2016 Trip
An early Vignale built Interceptor – for more details about these cars see Ulric Woodhams’s site here
Vignale’s new factory at Grugliasco when first opened
The site now
Alfredo Vignale hands the very first Interceptor over to Kevin Beattie (photo taken by Mike Jones)
BEA 693C is carefully driven onto the air ferry at Le Touquet (photo taken by Mike Jones)
Photo of BEA 693C from Michael Cooper’s Jensen Days
A Photographic History Of Jensen Motors 1966 – 1976
courtesy of Ulric Woodhams
This book by FF guru Ulric Woodhams has lots of high quality images and is available from the club here
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Location
Turin
Turin
Italy -
Date/Time
Date(s) - 02/06/2016 - 10/06/2016
All Day -
Categories
National