Category: Service & Repair

InterClassics Brussels 2025 was an absolute hit…

Posted in Automobilia, Car Events, Car Shows, Classic cars, Manufacturer's Classic Centers, Museums, Service & Repair, UncategorizedTagged , Leave a comment

In the vast “palaces” of the iconic Brussels Expo, the 10th edition of this event proved quite popular, with no less than 29.472 enthusiasts admiring the four-wheeled classics. Special theme of the show was the celebration of the looks, fury and sound of the V12 engine, which is of course at home in many supercars. The good news is that these wonderful engines are here to stay, as our Brussels EU politicians are going to allow combustion engines to live on after 2035…

The festival of supercars: a Koeningsegg was admired by many…

The show also focused on the 75th anniversary of Formula 1. Many supercars were therefore to be seen on the show, and this inspired the organiser MECC Maastricht to provide a special “Supercar Foyer” at the InterClassics Maastricht, which is to be held from 15 to 18 January in Maastricht.

International character

Organiser Erik Panis also mentions the international character of the show, and indeed, it is becoming one of the hallmarks of the Brussels event. It has now grown to the biggest indoor classic car event in the Benelux. Also, if you look at the number of cars which changed hands on the show, one notes that the classic car sector is still growing…

BEHVA promotes youth education…

One of the important partners of MECC is the Belgian Historic Vehicle Association (BEHVA). They worked actively to support students and teachers in car maintenance, repair, and service. Indeed, without the (specialized) professional mechanical and service know-how in repair and workshops and classic car care centres, the classic car industry and sector simply cannot survive and have a good future.

Many beauties were to be found on the show, and our beloved Royal Historical Vehicle Club Belgium, which had put up a beautiful stand at the InterClassics show, won a special prize with a well-preserved Lincoln Continental Mark II built in 1957. The club also celebrated its 50 years of existence…

The body, interior, and chassis of this Continental are totally original; of course, the mechanics underwent a thorough overhaul to make it roadworthy and reliable. For Emmanuel de Menten, (here far left in the photo), the proud owner of this Lincoln with classic “European” and Latin/Italianate styling language, hence the name “Continental”,  owning this car is the fulfillment of a child’s dream…

On the photo below you see the counselor and member of the executive committee of Autoworld Brussels, Leo Van Hoorick, handing over the Special Price of the BEHVA Jury to RHVCB President Michel Van Eesbeeck.    

Celebrating 50 years of VW Polo…

Your servant vividly remembers driving the Audi 50 as a test car, and soon after I sat behind the wheel of the first Polo, a more dressed down version of the Audi sister model, launched in 1975. The original Polo 1 was sold in not less than 1,1 million units, and was built, including a facelift, until 1981. Of course, the history of the Polo merits a special article by itself and we will come back on this.


 

We limit ourselves here to the remarkable Polo models on the VW stand of the show, the Polo Harlekin and the Polo R WRC.

The story of the “Harlekin” is a special one. When the third generation of the Polo was introduced in 1994, Volkswagen also launched its modular production system. This allowed some parts to be exchanged with other models and brands within the group.

To highlight this approach, a small group of production engineers decided to fit ten Polos with body parts of different colours, and the Wolfsburg marketing department liked the idea and decided to make a limited production run for the German market. In total, from 1995 to 1997, 3.806 units were built, with 103 extra right hand drive Polos for the UK market.

The Polo R WRC is an icon of the World Rally Championship! Over four seasons, this car ensured that Volkswagen Motorsport and its beloved duo Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia won four world titles for manufacturers, and the same number for drivers and co-drivers. Of the 52 rallies in which the Polo R WRC participated, the car won 43 (or 82.7%) and at least one of its drivers finished on the podium 50 times.

The Polo R WRC, which is showcased at the Belgian VW Club stand during InterClassics, is the car that Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia used in 2013. The 1.6-litre turbo engine produces around 315 hp, a power that is transmitted to all four wheels via a sequential gearbox. Good for a sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in less than four seconds!

You can write the next InterClassics Brussels in your agenda: it is scheduled from 20 to 22 november next year!

Hans Knol ten Bensel  

Lifeblood for your British classic car: we visited Anglo Parts…  

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This year we will turn again more regularly also to classic cars, as their importance starts to grow over the years, and your servant has always had a very keen interest in them. Indeed, I am the proud owner, since now about 47 years(!) of a 3.4 Jaguar Mk II S-Type. Over the years, a BMW Z3 roadster with a fixed hard top in the matching ice blue metallic joined my stable as my favored “Youngtimer”. You read about it regularly in these columns under the category “our cars”.

As a board member of the Royal Historical Vehicle Club Belgium, I will on my site report also regularly about the activities of this club, which will also be present at the “British Car Day”, organized by Anglo Parts at their premises on April 26. We will tell you more about this event in a following post.

But now let’s tell you more about what I saw and heard on my recent visit to Anglo Parts. It is one of Europe’s largest online British classic car parts suppliers, and is operating in not less than 11 countries. Indeed, it regularly ships parts to the Netherlands, Italy, France, Sweden, Spain, Luxembourg, Finland, Poland, Czech Republic and Hungary. It is situated at Zandvoortstraat 53 B-2800 Mechelen, and its webshop can be reached via www.angloparts.com.

They have about 60,000 parts in stock, specializing in parts for MG, Jaguar, Triumph, Austin Healey, Land Rover, Mini and Morris Minor, actually for over 56 types of British classic cars. They are approved specialists of British Motor Heritage for MG, Mini, Triumph and Morris Minor spare parts and accessories.

Anglo Parts operates as a webshop, and therefore has a user friendly website using the original (factory) drawings as a reference to locate the parts you need. You can easily find the right parts via their index.

But you can of course visit the company in Mechelen, where it has its vast (2500 m2) parts warehouse and where you can collect the parts you want, and visit its shop with a host of car care products and accessories for your classic. We show you here some photos of their shop and the warehouse.

The Anglo Parts team consists of highly qualified professionals, who will assist you with expert advice in your search for the right part for your car. Many of the staff own a (British) classic themselves, so their experience really counts.

Anglo Parts also offers you products which can upgrade your classic, improve smooth running and increase its reliability. Like the fully electronic Classic Sport Ignition. All CSI systems are installed into a special housing which can’t be distinguished from original, your classic will keep its authentic look…

Anglo Parts will also offer you advice in their blog letter on their website to avoid problems when running your classic. Like for instance avoiding using Euro95 petrol, as it will be replaced by the ‘cleaner’ variant E10. This is petrol with 10% ethanol, made from beetroot for example. Whilst this is good for the environment, it might be a hazard for your classic car.

Anglo parts will also service and repair your dashboard instruments and wiper motors, amongst others…

Ethanol is highly flammable, but it can dissolve in the fuel tank, attract moist and be the cause of rust or blockages. Or, especially in classic cars, combust too soon and cause damage to your engine. The Dutch classic car federation Fehac even recommends never to use this fuel.

Soon your servant will be present at the “British Car Day” on April 26…

Hans Knol ten Bensel

Photographers’ notes:

We used again here our Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000, proving its excellent versatility with its 25-400 mm Leica zoom lens. For the indoor photos, we used a film speed ISO between 1250 to 3200, which still produces no image noise whatsoever, and allowed us to stop down the aperture to F 7,1 for maximum depth of field.

We spoke with Barbara De Mol, Marketing Director Lancia and Alfa Romeo…

Posted in Car manufacturers strategy, Car presentations, Design, Interviews, Lifestyle, men women and cars, New Models, Service & Repair, women and carsTagged , , , , , , Leave a comment

HKTB: Let me first congratulate you with your new responsibility, and thank you for granting this interview. You have already built up quite a career in the automotive world…

BDM: Indeed!  I made my first steps at Renault, then joined the Group D’Ieteren, where I worked in the Marketing department at Porsche, and then took a new challenge by joining Electric by D’Ieteren, putting their product in the market. Then, as I was launching a new product in a premium (electric) automotive market, it was a logical step for me when an iconic brand like Lancia was (re)launching itself in our market, to take up also this challenge and this is how I landed here as a marketing director for Lancia and Alfa.

HKTB: Lancia is a unique premium brand with a noble Italian elegance and spirit, embedded in a rich history…

When I heard that 9 dealers will represent the Lancia brand in our country, with 1 in Luxemburg, it intrigues me to know how they will receive and approach the client and give him this premium impression and “feel” the moment he enters the showroom. What kind of support do you provide to these dealers?

BDM: Indeed, our support goes further than just marketing, and contains other aspects. For instance, the appearance and “look” of the showroom itself. We prescribe a premium level here. But there is also the sales person, i.e. the person who makes the first contact with the client. So we have established a training programme, where learning how to establish a good “face to face” contact is very important. We also have to address any doubts the client may have about the quality of our Italian cars, and therefore we offer an extended guarantee for the entire duration of the contract on our products.

HKTB: Do you work together with Italy to develop this training program for the sales staff?

BDM: Indeed, we have a very good collaboration. They communicate about their best practices, and of course we also have in Belgium our own training team. We have also developed a specific sales course, not only focusing on the technical aspects of the car, but also pointing out which elements constitute a premium brand.

HKTB: And the philosophy of the brand…

BDM: Of course. This has also a special appeal for them. The Italian elegance, the rally successes, there are many aspects. The history of Lancia is also very important.

HKTB: Can you tell us a bit more about the geographical distribution of the dealerships, for instance, there is no dealer in Knokke…

BDM: Indeed, there might come one in 2025… The first idea is of course to spread the dealerships  across Belgium, and the person who lives in Knokke or rather has his second residence there, lives usually also in one of the main Belgian cities.

HKTB: You have a dealership in Courtrai…

BDM: Indeed! The (first) locations have been chosen in function of the potential sales volumes. We need motivated dealers who want to invest in the brand, and therefore we need to offer them an opportunity to grow…

HKTB: What about the dealerships who previously sold the Lancia Ypsilon, now some years ago?

BDM: These dealers will still exist for after sales service. Presently there are only two dealers in this situation. They can service the new Ypsilon, even when they don’t have the car in their showroom.

HKTB: The car has many technical similarities with other cars in the the Stellantis group, not to mention the Peugeot 208 and Opel Corsa …

BDM: Indeed, but when it comes to selling and servicing the Ypsilon, the approach is to maintain its strictly Italian character, which is reflected in the dealer strategy…and which is to be applauded!

HKTB: Do you have a cooperation with the Netherlands?

BDM: We are different, but we work together, as the Ypsilon is launched simultaneously in both countries.

HKTB: Within the Stellantis group, DS is also a brand which addresses a premium client base. Is there a “cross fertilization” concerning client approach, an exchange of best practices in this field?

BDM: Not really. Indeed, we have three premium brands in the group, Alfa, DS, Lancia. We can share some training programmes on how to sell a premium brand, but then for Lancia and Alfa the passion for the automobile, its elegance and its design are rather more important. It is more “Italian”.

HKTB: Can you tell a bit more about the plans and potential for the fleet market for this Ypsilon?

BDM: We know that in Belgium the premium is very much fleet oriented, but as the Ypsilon is a city car, we reckon that about 50 % will be sold in the fleet market and indeed 50 % will find its way to private clients, who will opt rather more for the hybrid version.

HKTB: There will also be a follow up in the Lancia model range with the Gamma…

BDM: Indeed, and next year also there will be the more engaging HF version of the Ypsilon.

HKTB: Are the dealers exclusively Lancia?

BDM: No, they are also Alfa. They are so-called multibrand, but they will have a specific showroom, dedicated to the brand. The showrooms of the different brands have also to be clearly separated, and indeed the sales people are also specific. There is a dedicated sales person for the brand, who has an intimate knowledge of the brand.

HKTB: Are you going to engage with Lancia in cultural and other events? Will you for example sponsor in the future events like the Concours Reine Elisabeth?

BDM: Not in 2024, we now concentrate on the launch of the brand; but the retailers will probably organize or sponsor (local) events. There will be however specific events for the fleet clientele.

HKTB: I am (also) an artist myself and have a keen interest in artistic events, and I could see Lancia sponsoring events in the cultural sector…

BDM: This is a very good suggestion! Maybe in 2025. But you can always contact me, I am always open to new ideas and suggestions! The first event is now the opening of our retailers. The 22nd of May, the Luxembourg retailer will open its doors…

HKTB: Thank you very much for this interview!

Hans Knol ten Bensel  

Our cars: The Lexus CT 200h is still going strong, and our beloved Volvo fondly remembered…

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In our age of energy transition, things indeed have to change. So with the (urban) emission regulations coming along, we had to give up 5 years ago a truly excellent car, our Volvo 850 Estate, with its marvelous 2,5 litre five cylinder petrol engine.

We had to part with our beautiful “as new” Volvo 5 years ago, due to urban emission regulations, for the price of 250 Euros…yes, EU citizens DO pay a MASSIVE PRICE for the energy transition…

Before parting with it, we took it on a last long trip,from the Volvo factory in Ghent to the Volvo plant in Swedish Torslanda, where the sedan version of the 850 rolled of the assembly lines. Just look at the links of these articles on our site: 

https://autoprova.be/2017/04/11/our-cars-soon-we-will-drive-our-volvo-850-estate-from-volvo-ghent-to-torslanda/
And:
https://autoprova.be/2017/05/20/we-start-the-travel-with-our-1995-volvo-850-from-ghent-to-torslanda/
Last but not least:
https://autoprova.be/2017/06/01/our-850-volvo-visits-the-swedish-torslanda-factory-and-is-driven-on-the-assembly-line/

Before parting with our Volvo, we drove it to the Swedish Torslanda Volvo plant, where it was driven on the assembly line… note the difference in license plate. The original was stolen…

Where it was given its final control tag as a totally perfect Volvo!

We have to blame here our EU AND also our local politicians which make very one sided decisions away and above social considerations and consequences. The beautiful Volvo had to go, as it was now politically declared an urban outcast.  

And despite its excellent ’as new’ condition, it fetched… 250 Euros, and that was it.

So go now, dear citizen! Go and enlarge your ecological footprint and buy a NEW BEV car! While the European electric grid still has to be adapted to the pan-EV reality, let alone the infrastructure, we have to plunge for this, with the EU and certainly global electricity production still being far from “clean”. Of course, we are still creating the extreme dependencies of raw materials and global markets as we did before…

Still going strong, and now not an “urban outcast”

But soon enough, we understood already five years ago, that the answer lies not (yet) there. Today finally even economy expert journalists admit that they did not see all the benefits of the hybrid solution which Toyota offered with the Prius now decades ago. The present market evolution now lets them see the light.  

We were already convinced then, and therefore we shopped for a used Lexus CT 200h, and found a well cared for dark blue example. See https://autoprova.be/2019/01/25/we-collect-our-lexus-ct-200h/.

Right away we were very pleased by its comfort, mechanical refinement and stunning economy. See the reports about  trips with our Lexus like https://autoprova.be/2019/04/05/our-lexus-ct-200h-continues-to-surprise-us/.

Further reports are found using the tag: https://autoprova.be/tag/lexus-ct-200h/

Just look at the excellent averages we achieve presently with our Lexus. Even in urban traffic, the consumption does not rise over 5 litres…

Now it is already five years with us, and it still hasn’t missed a beat. It passed the latest technical inspection with flying colors, and had last month its major service. It continues, as the photo shows, to consume well below 5 litres/100 km…

In urban “stop and go” and slow traffic, the Lexus runs very often on EV power…

On the last photo you see the remote “mouse” control for the functions on the central screen display, which we still find ideal…


Hans Knol ten  Bensel 

Audi Belgium offers now personalized home deliveries…

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Premium brands are nowadays sparing no efforts to establish customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Audi Belgium follows suit, and is taking a new step by launching personalized home deliveries. This service is offered in collaboration with Mobvious and is valid for both private customers and self-employed persons, for a fixed price of €300 incl. VAT.

“Customer experience is high on the agenda at Audi Belgium,” emphasizes Emanuele Bolacchi, Managing Director Audi Belgium. “Thanks to this new delivery choice, our customers no longer have to travel to receive their new Audi. We offer the opportunity to optimally fit the delivery of their new Audi into work-related life balance, which is becoming more important for more and more customers.”

Bolacchi is joined in this by Dieter Hannes, District Manager Audi and also the driving force behind this project;

“As a brand, we want to leave a lasting impression. To achieve this, we look beyond the sale of the car and create a unique and unforgettable experience that matches the luxury and quality that Audi guarantees.”

Thanks to this new partnership with Mobvious, Audi Belgium is able to offer a high-quality, personalized delivery service. Customers can now enjoy the comfort of receiving their new Audi at a place and time that is most convenient for them. Whether at home, at work or another location in Belgium. This aims to fully tailor to the unique needs of each customer.

Mobvious, which is part of D’Ieteren’s mobility ecosystem, is the first driver platform that takes care of the entire car delivery process. To achieve this, it relies on a team of intensively trained drivers, who always guarantee professional home delivery with a customer-oriented approach.

Kamal M’Rabet, CEO of Mobvious, commented:

“At Mobvious, our focus is always on the optimal customer experience. The distribution model is also evolving in the automotive sector, driven by the purchasing behavior of consumers who increasingly shop online and need home service. Mobvious is part of this transition and helps automotive professionals such as Audi Belgium.

On the one hand, we do this with advanced technology for digitalizing the entire delivery process, and on the other hand, there are our professional drivers who can provide customers with all the necessary explanations.”

Audi Home Delivery service is currently available on Audi Q4 e-tron, Audi Q8 e-tron, Audi e-tron GT, Audi Q5, Audi Q7, Audi Q8, Audi A6, Audi A7 and Audi A8 models.

After this first phase, in which 50 Audis are expected to be delivered to your home, this service will be expanded to the rest of the Audi range. 

Hans Knol ten Bensel

A quick and expert repair on our Lexus…

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As the date of the yearly technical inspection was approaching, our faithful Lexus CT200h needed some attention, as the heat shield above the rear exhaust muffler had detached itself, and was making some noises as it touched the muffler every time we hit a road irregularity.

As this happened shortly before the yearly inspection was due, quick action was necessary. We already were impressed by the excellent repair work Hedin Automotive Carrosserie (we would translate in bodywork) had done on our Mercedes B Class, which was hit by another car at the rear, so we decided to call in for a (hopefully) quick repair at their premises.

And so they did! In seconds, they had lifted the car up at the rear, to find out that due to corrosion, the shield had disappeared completely around the bolt where it was attached.

A new larger attachment plate was inserted between bolt and heat shield, and the whole assembly was now again tightly fixed between nut and bolt. So the disturbing rattling noises in our otherwise silent Lexus have now completely disappeared.

Needless to say that we greatly appreciated this excellent service. As they are keen experts in everything about car bodywork, we asked their advice on how to polish your car like a professional. Soon more!

Hans Knol ten Bensel

Alfa Romeo presents heritage program…

Posted in Automobilia, Car Events, Car manufacturers strategy, Classic and Vintage Cars, Manufacturer's Classic Centers, Museums, Pre-War Classics, Service & Repair, UncategorizedLeave a comment
The Alfa Romeo SZ

At the 39th edition of “Auto e Moto d’Epoca”, one of the most important events in Europe for vintage car and motorcycle enthusiasts, Alfa Romeo presents the “Alfa Romeo Classiche” heritage program, a range of services with the precise aim of protecting and promoting the history of the iconic Italian brand.

For the first time in Stellantis, the brand’s top management is personally involved in all the activities that make up the whole range of its dedicated services. In fact, the certification committee is chaired by Alfa Romeo’s CEO and the Head of Heritage department, with the support of the Alfa Romeo Museum. This support is crucial, as this museum houses the production registers and all the technical documentation used by the committee to analyze the information on the examined cars.

Abarth is also incuded in the overall Stellantis Heritage program…

Jean Philippe Imparato – Alfa Romeo CEO: “we are enhancing our historic heritage”

When presenting the program, the CEO stated: “Alfa Romeo is going through a key phase in its history. The historical period we are going through is a genuine evolution. The brand’s future includes very ambitious goals aimed at redefining the concept of sportiness in the 21st century, while remaining faithful to its DNA. While planning for the future, our heritage is always our main source of inspiration. For us, the Alfa Romeo Classiche heritage program aims to enhance our historic automotive heritage by certifying the authenticity of vintage Alfa Romeos and giving new life to marvelous examples that still captivate and excite car enthusiasts around the world.”

The program…

Parts for the Lancia Delta Integrale are also provided…

 The Alfa Romeo Classiche heritage program consists of the Certificate of Origin – which has been offered for Alfa Romeo cars since 2016 – together with the Certificate of Authenticity and the Restoration. The Top management of the brand personally chairs and intervenes in the committee that evaluates historic cars and issues the certifications with the support of the Heritage team and the experts in Alfa Romeo history.

Issuing a Certificate of Origin…

Alfa Romeo offers the opportunity to discover the history of each car through its chassis number. The service provides for an accurate document review at the Brand’s production registers and the issue of a certificate certifying the car’s year of production and original configuration: model specifications, engine serial number, original exterior and interior details.

… and a Certificate of Authenticity.

Historic gems are kept and restored by the heritage department…

After analyzing in detail the historic car taken under consideration and verifying its production data and technical specifications at the company archives, Alfa Romeo, with the support of the Heritage department, certifies the authenticity of the classic car. To obtain this certification each car goes through a rigorous inspection and evaluation process which is carried out by the specialized team, verifying the authenticity of the car and its components and the functioning of the main mechanical parts. The vehicle can be examined at the Officine Classiche in Mirafiori or directly at the customer’s home, if he prefers, or at the Stellantis & You sales and service dealership in Rome and Palermo.

A fully fledged Restoration service.

Furthermore, the same team that takes care of the’ historical collection is available to private clients, with services ranging from simple maintenance to complete restoration: from diagnosis to exterior restoration, repair of individual mechanical and aesthetic components, and final testing.

A dedicated area on the official Alfa Romeo website…

The brand will introduce an area dedicated on its website to the new “Alfa Romeo Classiche” heritage program that allows lucky owners of historic cars to make use of programs dedicated to Certificates of Authenticity and Restoration. It will therefore be possible to receive all the information and support necessary to start a dedicated and personalized program directly from the brand’s website.

To put you in the mood, just look at the accompanying photos…where you don’t see only Alfa’s, but also Lancia and Abarth, which are also taken under the wings of the Stellantis Heritage depoartment…

Hans Knol ten Bensel  

I witnessed the E3 Saxo Bank Classic race, invited by the AG2R Citroën Team…a fascinating experience of the cycling world!

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The AG2R CITROËN TEAM has not less than 12 mechanics, painstakingly preparing three bikes per team member for the race, in a specially equipped bus, of which the team has not less than four, also for the team racers, the food, the cooking, massage, etc.

I know a lot about automobiles, their history, present and future, and I am passionate about it. But when the dynamic Citroën/Stellantis PR department, notably Press & Communications Officer Wim Willems,  invited me to join the AG2R Citroën Team for the E3 Saxo Bank Classic, run on Friday, March 25, I grabbed of course this occasion with both hands. The cycle sport has reached a level of mechanical sophistication which equals that of Formula 1 Racing, and then we have said nothing about the medical/physical aspects of the cycle competition, the training, the food/diet balance, etc.

One of the four impressive buses of the team, parked in front of the Van der Valk hotel in Gent…

It proved to be a truly wonderful and interesting experience, and you will read our story here, where I learned a lot, and I am delighted to share it with you.

Hans Knol ten Bensel

I drove the evening before the race to the Van der Valk Hotel in Ghent, where I was received by my host Julien Duval. He has been himself a road racing cyclist since 2008, and has been with the AG2R La Mondiale team since 2017. He stopped racing at the end of last year, and now guides with expertise the guests Citroën has invited to see their team racing.

He led me first to the different buses, housing the bikes, the team cycling champions, the food, the kitchen and everything a team needs. Very impressive…

The bikes are being prepared…

I first climbed with him in the bus where the cycles are stored and prepared. The team has not less than three bikes per team rider for the race, and there are no less than 12 mechanics in total, who meticulously prepare the cycles before each race and training, taking them fully apart to the last nut and bolt, inspecting, adjusting and reassembling them. I read the letters “BMC” on the frames. “It stands for Bike Manufacturing Company, and it is based in Switzerland”, Julien explained. Indeed, Founded in 1994, BMC has from the outset focused on creating speed. From its headquarters in Switzerland, BMC has spent decades building the cycle sport, pushing technologies to their limits. This clearly shows…

The starting number is carefully attached the evening before the race…

BMC has won races of all varieties, defined new categories, as well as maintained its reputation as a technological and engineering powerhouse. BMC wrote its way into history by supplying bikes for the world’s top athletes, winning races such as the Tour de France, the Time Trial and Road World Championships, as well as the Olympic Road Race. In 2021 the brand suppors the AG2R CITROËN TEAM. What I saw in the bus was the flagship “Teammachine SLR”, but BMC has also at the disposal of the team its “Aero Timemachine Road” and the time trial specific “Timemachine” models.

The workhorse for the E3 Saxo Bank Classic race…the Teammachine SLR.

I show you here a photo of the “Teammachine SLR.” It has indeed won every major title that a bike can win including Monuments, World Championships, Olympic Games and the Tour de France. Gone for instance are the classic brake cables, disk brakes are now the norm, and everything is now commanded hydraulically. The brake & shift levers are built by Campagnolo, as are the cassette, the chain, the pulley wheel. Also the front and rear brakes are “Super Record Discs” stemming from the Italian manufacturer.

The super important dérailleur is the “Super Record EPS 12 speed” also built by Campagnolo. The wheels are Campagnolo “Bora” wheels. The tires are coming from Pirelli, and are P Zero / Cinturato’s.

Pirelly tires and Campagnolo wheels…

The frame, the fork, the seatpost, handlebar and stem are built by BMC.

By optimizing tube shapes, core centre stiffness, revising the carbon layout and utilizing a brand-new one-piece bar and stem cockpit, BMC has updated the bike for 2021 and beyond.

The all-important physical condition and food…

Did you know that the AG2R CITROËN team has not less than four doctors at its disposal, on top of that two physiotherapists, and next to that a psychologist & mental coach and a psycho practitioner? Then we have said nothing about the nutrition: there is a nutritionist and a micro-nutritionist and there are no less than five cooks!

Foor and last but not least enegry gels and drinks are most important during the race…

Indeed, nutrition and drinking is most important. Did you know for instance that competition cycling makes one lose about 1 liter of sweat per hour and one burns about 75-90 grams of carbohydrates per hour? So the competitors have to drink at least 600 ml of a kind of Isotonic Sports Drink per hour, divided into 4x 125 ml (every 15 min). In this way, one has the right support for fluids, as well as a replenishment of carbohydrate reserves.

After two to three hours, it is necessary to take in some solid food, and so energy bars come in the picture. Of course, in the race, most often one has no time to do this, so the competitors take so-called “energy gels”, which is a highly concentrated carbohydrates syrup. Drink gels are mostly preferred, as they are mixed with the right amount of water, so it is ready to drink.

Julien Duval holding here the energy drinks, together with the aluminum bag of energy gel, for the team cyclists during the race…at the “point de ravitaillement”

So our host Julien led us through the bus with the food and the energy drinks, and also took care of us during the race the next day, where he drove us to the important vantage points, to take along these energy drinks for the necessary ravitaillement of the team racers…

After the finish, a so-called recovery drink is also necessary, and indeed one should thoroughly re-hydrate. After two hours a good meal is also de rigueur…

Besides riding in the race itself, training is also most important. The team has no less than six sport assistants and two osteopaths.

The AG2R CITROËN TEAM… and the race.

As said, on the race day we were driven by Julien himself to the start of the E3 Saxo bank Classic race at Harelbeke, then to several vantage points on the course.

The race was won by Wout van Aert, with his team mate Christophe Laporte arriving at the finish hand in hand alongside him, but graciously allowing Wout van Aert to win the race.  

The (E3 Harelbeke) is by the way an annual cycling race with start and finish in Harelbeke. The 130 miles long race is actually a preparation race for the Tour of Flanders. The route is shorter, but many of the mythical climbs of the Tour of Flanders are also found in the E3 Saxo Bank Classic.

The crucial moment: Wout van Aert and team mate Christophe Laporte cross the finish line…

The conditions with the famous Belgian cobblestones and steep climbs are very similar. The route takes us through East Flanders including 12 hills. Since 2012 the route includes the mythical “Muur van Geraardsbergen.” Spectacular indeed!

Last but not least, let’s turn to the AG2R CITROËN TEAM. Everything started in 1992, when Vincent Lavenu made his dream of creating a professional cycling team a reality. In 1997, AG2R Prévoyance joined in this great project as a co-partner alongside Casino before becoming its main sponsor in 2000. From 2008 to 2020, the cycling team wore the colors of AG2R LA MONDIALE. Since January 2021, they have been writing new pages in the team’s history, now under the name “AG2R CITROËN TEAM”. Indeed, then Citroën became a partner, and according to Vincent Cobée – General manager of CITROËN, “the first year of partnership was a year of learning which allowed us to discover the incredible universe of cycling.”

It was also incredible for us, and we learned a lot!

The love for the cycle sport is overwhelming in Flanders. The race was about men on their bikes, but this female cycle amateur who watched the E3 Saxo Bank Classic at the finish line was for me the woman of the race!

We let you look at the photos here, and just discover a unique world with us!

Hans Knol ten Bensel

Our Lexus had its yearly service…and we show some clever details!  

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Still going strong… and eminently reliable!

Our Lexus CT 200h had as we told you already its yearly service on the 22nd of December, and indeed, there are no mechanical problems to be reported. The Lexus proves eminently reliable indeed…

The oil filter and oil was changed, 0,5 liter of brake fluid was added, and the air refiner element for the ventilation was replaced. All this was done, parts, fluids and work, for a total amount of 262,80 Euro, including VAT. So we are all set for another year!

We already mentioned the clever mouse knob or lever to command the info/navigation screen, and another smart solution is found in the instrument layout.

When you choose the “eco” mode, one normally has on the left side of the instrument cluster the gauge which tells you whether you charge the battery when decelerating or braking, whether you drive economically or use much power. This dial is transformed into a rev counter when you choose the “sport” mode. See photo here below.

Well, the Lexus engineers have seen to it that also when you drive in “normal” or “eco” mode, which I do most of the time, you can also use the rev counter. You just go through the instrument settings with button on the steering wheel, and presto, there the rev counter dial setting appears when you restart your Lexus again.

This rev counter transforms again in the power/eco/charge indicator as soon as you engage the cruise control. Disengaging the cruise control will let appear the rev counter again. You have to disengage the cruise control with the cruise control button. If the cruise control is automatically disengaged by touching the brake pedal, the power/eco/charge layout of the dial will remain on. Indeed, only after pushing the cruise control lever at the steering column to formally and manually disengage the cruise control, the rev counter will (re)appear. Sooo clever!

In “eco” mode, we achieved 4,8 l/100 km, and not only the last trip, also the average over the whole year!

Looking at the rev counter we also understood how this Atkinson cycle engine chalks up its astonishing consumption figures. Driving with anticipation and some restraint in the “eco” mode, the revs will hardly move above 1500 rpm, choosing the highest ratios offered by the CVT transmission.

The batteries of our Lexus, first registered in January 2012 and which we bought used now already 3 years ago, still hold admirably well… so all this puts a broad smile on our face!

(Much) More Lexus and Toyota news soon!

Hans Knol ten Bensel

Our Lexus passed the technical inspection with flying colours…

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Our faithful Lexus CT 200h continues to please us. Over the past year, it clocked an average consumption of 4,8 litres/100 km, and besides fuel, it really did not need anything else. Well to wheel, it scores still very well, and given its longevity and reliability, its footprint is also quite small, adding to this that it doesn’t carry a massive array of batteries…

We had it serviced in June 2020, with amounted to basically an oil and filter change, and it will be scheduled for a new service next Wednesday December 22 at Beerens in Aartselaar. Nothing further to report, except that it rides ever so smoothly.

Our Lexus has some very clever items we started to like over the years, like for instance the command and manipulation of the infotainment system and screen via a “mouse” on the centre console.

Ever tried to enter a lengthy address on the touchscreen with your finger when “on the move”, with your car bouncing like a toy car on a cobblestoned or uneven road? Right, that’s what we mean…

The clever “mouse” command provents our screen to become soiled with finger marks…but we still keep it dust free!

Add to this the fact that your touchscreen gets so muddled up with finger marks, not exactly what you want in Corona times… So in the Lexus you rest your arm gently on the centre console, where it lies beautifully steady, and then slide the arrow with the mouse knob over the letters or symbols on the screen, and presto…

Our Lexus “sleeps” out in the open all year round, it doesn’t have a garage. Despite this, paintwork is still beautiful, also the beige interior holds very well, as the photos show.  

The car deserves a proper polish and wax treatment, and we will get around that next year… promised!

We put it though the technical control recently and, as the photo shows, there was indeed nothing wrong with our Lexus. So we have another year – until 31st of December 2022.

Hans Knol ten Bensel