We love a good adventure, and this year we returned to the Hillclimb Master at St Goueno in Brittany for their Course de Cote.

This is a 3.2 km hillclimb along a twisty French D road. Although there is no ‘hill’ the same rules apply, your best time of three attempts from a standing start is what’s counted.

The road is quite narrow, just about wide enough for two cars to pass as a two-way road. The road gets closed for the weekend, winding around blind bends, dips, bumps, cambers and nips in and out of the trees, making it more difficult as you go from dark to bright sunshine. 

There is one speed gun at the midway which for us was about 100 mph, you then bump, and dip into a blind left, its challenging enough in an old 911. You’re fighting your right foot, which has its own survival instinct, but over the weekend those really serious (and fast) French competitors do more. Maybe their foot has no fear? They bring professional drivers and big camions, a bit like F1. Their top guy, broke the top speed record, crossing the speed trap at 176 mph…how he also managed the blind left right immediately after must have been muscle memory…or I can’t imagine that he could actually see where he was going. Bravo…all on a little French backroad. 

We had fun…Richard took his 76 911 3.2 Group 4 Almeras liveried Porsche, I (Adrian) took my blue 81 911 SC 3.0 which I normally use for tarmac rally, Steve brought his similar 911 SC 3.0 rally car (the red one), while Rob arrived with the beautiful Rothmans liveried 981 Club Sport. Also, part of our ‘team’ was Kieth Seume in his superb 914, the car is quick, light, and always attracts attention. 

The 981…now this is a weapon, it’s a Porsche built by the Factory only for motorsport (like their Cup cars), but Rob wants to use it for the 2200 mile La Carrera Panamericana road race in Mexico, which has meant we have spent many hours making changes to make it road legal. It’s a properly quick, and capable, Porsche in his hands.

Young Keith ….in the 914, impetuous, ambitious, and a showman, did the best job at entertaining 1000’s of beer drinking, sausage munching, spectators at the hairpin. Coming in fast, a lovely drift, then parking it in the bank on the exit. We will repair it. 

Rob, in the 981, head down and determined made his best run at 1 minute 41.1 taking the class win, Richard rolled in second with a 1 minute 46.9 and I was two tenths behind. Steve did a great job getting down to circa 1 min 50. The last run, which is normally the fastest was a little compromised by a damp surface here and there. As a comparison that added about 3 seconds to my time. 

For us, it’s not just an event but an adventure, I left for France early and had done 1500 km by the time I arrived at St Goueno. Followed by the swap some wheels, removing my bags, and putting the numbers on…race ready. Steve and Rob also drove across in their 981 and 911.

All our Porsche were reliable, thanks to the efforts and experience of the team back at base. Personally, I never have a doubt that my 45-year-old 911 will get me where I go and back. 

Using your Porsche to make memories is where real value lies in my mind. If you are considering any type of adventure, we are here to encourage and help with the relevant preparation. 

Porsche, built for the pleasure of the drive. 

P.S. Thank you to the 650 volunteers that make St Goueno Hillclimb Masters a smooth-running event.

P.P.S. The Williams Crawford Sportsman’s Trophy was won by no other than local legend…Steve Furzeland in his WRC Subaru Impreza.