For "the 24 hours" a cheerful crowd gathered at the edge of the circuit, looking for strategic points, such as this long straight line conducive to passing, or this formidable turn!
And then the cars are on the starting grid... the chequered flag is raised... a great silence falls while waiting to see the vehicles start... suddenly, the flag falls: they are gone!
They're gone... for 24 hours! Yes, exactly like the legendary Le Mans race, this race lasts 24 hours but... but, in Saint-Etienne de Chigny, it is not the engines that risk breaking, but rather the calves that can succumb to the fatal cramp!
Indeed, it is indeed a 24-hour car race, but cars are pedal cars!
Unusual cars...!
And what cars ! Each manufacturer has given free rein to his unbridled imagination. Here is Spiderman's car, Casimir's car, here is a small fruit stand, here is a child's stroller, here is Maya the bee, a butterfly, a horse...
Under the mid-August sun, it's the effort on the circuit, and it's a celebration all around! And if in the evening, a little freshness comforts the drivers, around the circuit the lanterns light up, and the music slips between the groups....
Whether you are from the region, or just passing through, this is a particularly unusual event not to be missed!
A National Federation!
I must tell you the truth: these 24 hours of Saint-Etienne de Chigny also take place in the summer in a few other villages, but be careful, it is very serious: there is a very official federation, the Fédération de la Voiture à Pédalier (FeVP), which gives the places and dates, and which reports the results just as official !
Mairie Saint-Étienne-de-Chigny
2 route de la Chappe
37230 ST ETIENNE DE CHIGNY
Tél : 02.47.55.52.15
Office de tourisme Saint-Étienne-de-Chigny
78/82, rue Bernard Palissy-CS 54201
37042 Tours
Tél : 02 47 70 37 37
Fédération d’Indre et Loire de la Voiture à Pédalier (FILVP37)
Tél. : 02.47.96.53.75
filvp37@orange.fr
Fédération de la Voiture à Pédalier (FeVP)
www.fevp.fr
vapl72@yahoo.fr
Click on the image
Click on the image
