People taking photos on autoroute

[Nordic]

Did anyone else seem large groups of people taking photos of cars as they leave toll booths?

Never seen it before, what are they doing, where they police, seemed a bit odd!

[aricus654]

Nick,

Were they locals taking pictures of exotic cars?  We regularly see locals coming to see the (mad Brits and their) cars as we wait to board the ferry.

Aricus

[Nobby Diesel]

There's a chap over on Pistonheads, sl55kleeman is his username.
He puts an open invitation on the Le Mans forum, asking if people want there car photographed at they as through the Boulogne tolls. He then posts the shots on Pistonheads. Maybe it was him?

[mgmark]

Routinely see them at the toll booths (particularly Boulogne) and on the bridges generally, pretty much all the way to Rouen and a little beyond, some taking them with a view to selling on, others just because they want to for their own enjoyment

[Landy_Jon]

They appreciate a quick wave too (they always have back - especially the children).

[mulc99]

Many years ago before the AutoRoute was built, the French used to turn out in there hundreds to watch the British return home. Really pleasant experiences.

[mgmark]

Many years ago before the AutoRoute was built, the French used to turn out in there hundreds to watch the British return home. Really pleasant experiences.

Indeed, before 2005 (when the stretch from Le Mans to around Elbeuf to the SW of Rouen was opened) it was a lovely drive and a fantastic sight along the old N138, with whole families out for the afternoon waving by the roadside and in the villages as we all headed home from the race. 

It was a nice nod to history too, as the N138 was the route taken by the factory cars (e.g. Jaguar, Aston Martin etc) being driven to/from Le Mans in the 50s before race transporters came into vogue.

MG Mark   

[Kev_mk3]

There's a chap over on Pistonheads, sl55kleeman is his username.
He puts an open invitation on the Le Mans forum, asking if people want there car photographed at they as through the Boulogne tolls. He then posts the shots on Pistonheads. Maybe it was him?

hr said he would be out and has a Facebook page, Thursday he was there all dsy