I admit that I'm not a proper petrolhead. I'm a bit too blinkered, so focused on bikes that while I know cars can be cool, they're a bit in my peripheral vision, if you know what I mean.

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Fortunately, I have plenty of proper petrolhead customers and one has just got back from Angouléme for the annual street race at the Circuit des Remparts. Which even I have to admit looks cool as hell (it was, apparently) with all kinds of classic cars caned around the streets of the old town. 

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As part of the trip there I constructed this daytrip route, heading out to the leafy, twisty roads of the nearby Perigord before looping back to Angoulême after the race weekend, before heading home. The verdict? A lovely change of pace from the cross-country ride to Calais as well watching the racing.

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Next year's event takes place on September 17-19 – it could be the focus of a lovely tour (info here). And while you're down there, put this daytrip into the schedule. It's a winner as well...