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Hire our Classic cars and tour France we provide Gite, B&B, DB&B Accomodation and the use of our classic fleet including E Type Jaguar - S Type Jaguar - Austin Healey 3000 - Merc 350SL - Works rep Mini cooper - Works rep MGB Roadster or you can join in one of our schedueled tours throughout the Louire region or take part in many special events

New for 2010 - Track days, private tuition with our works prepared Mini Cooper and MGB Roadster

New for 2009 - 2 bedroomed rural gite situated in the Louire near Richelieu ideal for touring with our classic fleet, try a different car every day.

Tours - Sterling Days Classic

March-October

Hire one of our classic cars for the dayJoin one of our unique private tours for up to 8 people in our fleet of classic cars throughout the picturesque Vienne and Loire regions of France. Luxury accommodation, stunning scenery, gourmet cuisine and champagne receptions await you for these all-inclusive tours.

2 night mid-week tours or 3 night weekend tours available.

Day 1

Following transfers from arrival points, introductions, and orientation excursions, guests arrive back at their luxury Château Hotel for a private champagne reception followed by a gourmet 4 course dinner with carefully selected wines from the region.

Day 2 (and Day 3 for weekends)

After a leisurely breakfast, driving teams set off for a full-day of touring. Roadbooks with tulip-style instructions are provided for each driving team, along with a luxury hamper for refreshments throughout the day. For groups of 4 or more people, a competitive edge is incorporated with the Sterling Challenge which includes checkpoints in the morning and afternoon with points awarded (or deducted!) for driving and navigating skills!

The winning team are awarded the Sterling Challenge trophy at the Presentation Dinner on the final night. Cars can be rotated throughout the tours so all guests can enjoy the thrill each car has to offer.

Final Day

Leaving the Château guests motor through the Vienne to the Historic Town of Les Ormes for refreshments and transfers to their departure points.

Tours - Sterling Days Golf

March-October

Combine good food, classic cars and a stunning parkland golf course at a rennaissance château for an unique experience, for up to 8 people combining classic car tours in this beautiful region with some of the best golf courses in the country.

2 night mid-week tours or 3 night weekend tours available

Sterling Days Golf - Day 1

Following transfers from arrival points, introductions, and orientation excursions, guests arrive back at the luxury 4* Château du Sept Tours for a private champagne reception followed by a gourmet 4 course dinner including carefully selected wines and liqueurs.

Day 2 (and Day 3 for weekends)

After a leisurely breakfast, driving teams set off for a morning tour of the Touraine region. Roadbooks with tulip-style instructions are provided for each driving team, along with a luxury hamper for morning refreshments. As with the Classic Tour, the Sterling Challenge can be incorporated for groups of 4 or more.

A 3 course lunch is served in the clubhouse followed by an afternoon on the Château du Sept Tours Par 72 golf course. For guests who have travelled light, equipment is available to hire from the pro-shop and golf buggies are available for those who don't fancy walking the entire 6.2km course! All Sterling Days guests have unlimited use of the golf course and swimming pool.

For non Golf players alternative excursions are available. including health Spa, horse riding, hot air balloon rides and helicopter rides, please call for latest excursions and prices.

Final Day

Following a short morning tour or a round of golf, guests are transferred to their departure points.

Tours - Sterling Days Gourmet

July - August (and by special arrangement)

A unique opportunity to combine classic cars with gourmet cuisine these limited tours for up to 8 people provide stunning scenery of the Creuse, Vienne and Loire regions followed by an exclusive cooking demonstration from an award-winning international chef in relaxed surroundings.

3 night mid-week tours available.

Day 1

Following transfers from arrival points, introductions, and orientation excursions, guests arrive back at their luxury Château Hotel for a private champagne reception followed by a gourmet 4 course dinner with carefully selected wines from the region.

Day 2

After a leisurely breakfast, driving teams set off in their chosen classic car, whether you are driving the E-type or the Austin Healey or soaking up the miles in the SL, you are sure of a fun day of navigating the local countryside. Roadbooks with tulip-style instructions are provided for each driving team, along with a luxury hamper for refreshments during the day.

Day 3

Guests depart the hotel in the morning to head south along the picturesque Creuse river for a 2 hour drive, where they arriving at the Calabash - an exclusive cooking demonstration from the internationally-renowned award winning chefs Alison and Sidney Bond. This dynamic duo have cooked for several heads of state including the Queen, Mick Jagger, Richard Attenborough, Madonna, and many more A list names too many to list here. Needless to say they have between them many major accolades and set benchmarks for kitchen creativity and culinary skills.

The delicious 4 courses are then served to the guests with carefuly chosen wines, and recipes are provided for all guests to try at home!

Leaving the Calabash sees our guests meandering through the sleepy hamlets of the vienne on the closing leg of their tour. A stop for a walk around a Trogladite village, builds an appetite for their return to the Château for dinner.

Final Day

Following a short morning tour, guests arrive at the historic town of Les Ormes for refreshments and tranferrs to departure points.

Tours- Sterling Days Châteaux & Vineyard

March- October

Experience the best of the Loire Valley châteaux and vineyards. Tour the reqion in a beautiful classic car and enjoy a private wine tasting at your Château Hotel in the evening.

2 night mid-week tours or 3 night weekend tours available.

Following transfers from arrival points, introductions, and orientation excursions, guests arrive back at the luxury 4* château hotel for a private champagne reception followed by a gourmet 4 course dinner including carefully selected wines and liqueurs.

Day 2 (and Day 3 for weekends)

With an early departure after breakfast, driving teams set off for a morning tour of the Touraine region. Roadbooks with tulip-style instructions are provided for each driving team, along with a luxury hamper for refreshments throughout the day. The afternoon tour takes guests to one of the stunning Loire Valley Châteaux. Part of the route will pass many wine producing areas where there will be tasting oportunities.

Returning to the hotel, guests are served a 4 course dinner followed by coffee and liqueurs. As with the Classic Tour, the Sterling Challenge can add a competitive edge and can be included for groups.

Final Day

An early start see our guests enjoying the return leg of their tour to the historic Châteaux town of Les Ormes, where after refreshments they are transferrd to their departure points.

Golf Tours - Our golf tours are run in the same manner as the classic car tours but with emphasis on the golf rather than the driving.

Following the morning rally, guests arrive at the Golf Club resort for lunch, followed by an
afternoon on the golf course. Golf clubs will be transferred to the course as part of our
complimentary luggage service. <Golf Tour detail>

The Sterling Challenge Trophy will also combine golf scores along with
driving results from the tours.

In addition to our current offering, we are planning a new classic car and golf tour in the
Louire and Vienne taking in 2 golf resorts. Guests will experience 4 classic cars
along with good food and excellent wine of course. If you are interested and
would like to know more or have a special request.
Please email us or sign up for the newsletter.

Events

Exclusive rally and race weekends for 3 nights include participation in larger internationally organised rallies in one of our classic cars. Subscribe to our newsletter and be informed of our latest events and special offers.

Events - Grand Prix-de Tours

This weekend event is designed to commemorate the Grand Prix de Tours, a road race dating back to 1923. Starting on Friday, the event kicks off with the Concours d'élégance and is followed on Saturday by the Rallye Touristique through the Touraine region. Luxury accommodation is provided in a Touraine château.

Its is widely accepted that England is the heart of motor racing, but some of the greatest races were conceived in France with famous runs from Paris to Reims and of course the Grand Prix de Tours. This weekend event is designed to commemorate this road race dating back to 1923. Although there is no longer any racing, there is plenty of competitive spirit.

Friday Concourse d'élégance

Following transfers from arrival points, introductions, and orientation excursions. Guests attend a private champagne reception. The Concourse d'élégance takes place in the city centre at 7pm, exhibiting some of the finest pre and post-war vehicles, participants dressed in costume of the same era as their vehicles capturing a moment in time, and hopefully, the judges eye.

Our guests can enjoy the motoring ambiance, wandering around the cars and chatting to their owners, returning to their Hotel for evening dinner and preparation for the Rallye Touristique starting early the next morning.

Saturday The Rallye de Touristique

After breakfast at the hotel our guests will drive their chosen classic out of the town and into the country to meet up with the main body of rally entrants. Coffee and croissant are served and drivers mingle with spectators awaiting the "off". At the appropriate time (about 9am) cars are drawn forward to an exit point and leave at minute or so intervals, with local dignitaries and press posing for photos.

Crowds are drawn from all over the region for this event. The route follows scenic roads through the Touraine region for 150km, past châteaux and vineyards on the banks of the Loire and Cher rivers with visits at a wine-producing châteaux. This popular rally is peppered with spectators who sometimes camp along route to wave, take pictures and point in the right direction... quite handy if your map reading is not up to par, or have lost your place!.

A superb lunch is served in a local château, and following the afternoon rally section, competitors enjoy the evening gala dinner held at another château.

Many competitors dress up for the event to add to the authenticity of the driving era, but this is optional! For ladies' only teams, there is an opportunity to win the Ladies Trophy.

Sunday The Concours d'état

After breakfast guests drive their selected classic cars and make their way to the city centre, where presentation parking is arranged.

The Concours d'état is held to exhibit the most prestigious vintage cars, especially chosen for their restoration quality or best original condition and historical interest. From a podium stand comments are made on their presentation and general points of interest.

By the afternoon the city centre fills with the sounds of engines, reliving the era of 1920's when the Grand Prix de Tours was a road race. With the smell of Castrol R in the air our guests will wait for the call to start their Parade Lap.

Cars from all over Europe gather to parade in front of 15.000 people around the closed city circuit with running commentary during the parade laps of the many clubs and associations who display their cars.

Sterling Days guests have a luxury hamper provided for refreshments throughout the day and with café bars lining the route guests can take in the spectacle at their own pace.

A short walk to the medieval center of Tours, past the remnants of a colossal Cathedral make a welcome break for those who would prefer a quieter moment.

When all has calmed and spectators have withdrawn, our guests may retire to their hotel for refreshment. An evening dinner in a city centre restaurant rounds off the day.

Monday

An early start see our guests enjoying the return leg of their tour to the historic Châteaux town of Les Ormes, where after refreshments they are transferred to their departure points.

Events - Le Mans Classic

Drive a one of our classic cars around the Le mans circuit

A fantastic VIP weekend for the 4th Le Mans Classic celebrating the most famous endurance race in the world with the rare opportunity to see over 6000 cars. Take a leisurely tour in one of our classic cars up to Le Mans and spend the weekend watching the thrilling races from the privilege grandstand with entry into the paddocks and access to the VIP club.

Following transfers from arrival points, introductions, and orientation with their chosen cars guests make their way following the tulip style road maps provided, for the 85 mile trip to the Le Mans circuit for the start of the 24 hours Le Mans Classic. Guests arrive early evening for the practice laps of the 13.6km track where they will be met by their hostess. VIP hospitality awaits on Saturday throughout the 24 hours with transport to/from your accommodation at a private house 30 minutes from the circuit.

Saturday / Sunday
2 Day VIP package

Starting on Saturday morning - Guests will enter the collectors private enclosure in their chosen classic car where they will be greeted by their Le Mans hostess for breakfast in the VIP Club. Guests will have access to the private grandstand, paddocks, along with lunch, permanent open bar and dinner at the circuit on Saturday night.

Sterling Days Guests will also have the once in a life time experience of actually driving the Le Mans circuit, imagine that...just clip the apex....ahh the Mulsane Straight... just check the mirror...is that Steve McQueen?...no it's me... epic!.... a complete petrol head dream.

Parades start at 8am on Saturday. Round 1 of the races commence at 4pm on Saturday with the 1923-1939 vehicles and continue throughout the night with Round 3 of the races finishing at 4pm on Sunday followed by the prize-giving at 4.30pm. (quite frankly, bit of a let down after a lap in the E-type)

Monday

Departing after breakfast, guests follow the tulip style road book for the 85 mile return trip to the historic town of Les Ormes in the Vienne for refreshments and transfers to departure points.

Events - Angoulême Circuit des Remparts

This 4-day event involves a range of classic car experiences to include a rally, demonstrations of classic cars and a thrilling day of racing, following the footsteps of the great Fangio on the original circuit in the heart of the city of Angoulême. VIP tickets to the pits and lunch with the racing drivers included.

Friday

Following transfers from arrival points, introductions and orientation with their cars, guests motor down to Angoulême for dinner, followed by the nostalgic Concours d'élégance. This late evening event takes place in the Jardin Vert where approximately 30 vehicles are exhibited and judged on authenticity and presentation - even down to the exhibitors' costumes.

In the Town Hall Gardens at the foot of the former Valois château, the Concours d'état is held to exhibit the most prestigious 20 cars, especially chosen for their restoration quality or best original condition.

Saturday

An early start from the Hotel sees our quests arriving for breakfast at the start point of the Rallye Touristique joined by approximately 150 cars from all over Europe. This is one of the best events of the calendar, creating quite a spectacle in the region with villagers cheering the cars as they go through - and providing the odd navigational tip! .

Each vehicle is called forward to be presented from a podium with commentary and introductions to the crowds, The tour takes you, via road book supplied, through the Cognac and Charente countryside, along routes chosen for their historical and architectural heritage. A leisurely gourmet 4 course lunch is provided at either La Rochefoucauld castle or at the Cognac air base with mid-morning and afternoon checkpoints also providing opportunities to taste and purchase local produce. Arriving back in Angoulême, drivers return to the town centre for an exclusive tour of the track for Sundays' races in one of the race cars, followed by the Drivers' Buffet at 9.30pm.

Sunday

The Circuit des Remparts is the highlight of this weekend. Often referred to as the French Monaco with its challenging 1939 GP circuit limited passing, and quick straight leading into the first of 3 very tight uphill hairpins, the standard by which all hairpins are measured, some of the vintage racing drivers slide their cars round as their steering locks are too big for the corners. (Who said drifting is a modern discipline?!)

Throughout the day there are different events with competitors from all over the world in cars from GP Bugattis to modern Touring cars. The vintage events are of course the favourite for us marvel at the drivers in Blower Bentleys, Alvis's, MG's, Frazer Nash, Legonda, Delehay negotiate this circuit at speeds sometimes in excess of the modern race cars. The action can be viewed from various locations around the track and you will have access to a VIP Grandstand.

The morning is spent watching the qualifying sessions with VIP entry into the pits to view all the participating cars. A 4 course lunch is served with the drivers of the racing teams near the cathedral and the afternoon is spent watching the spectacular races on this historic town circuit.

Sterling Days guests will spend the evening with the Rowland Racing Team at a local restaurant, where guests will listen to the well-rehearsed excuses from the drivers.

Monday

An early start sees our guest in their chosen classic cars en-route, stopping off for lunch and refreshment to the historic town of Les Ormes for transfers to departure points.