04-2015 An English Marcadier... British sports cars are renowned, but Londoner Tony Gomis has opted for a Marcadier.
Tony, who is a Francophile, regularly participated at the Ste Hippolyte-Montecheroux hillclimb in the Doubs region in his R8Gordini, his Alpine or his Dangel barquette. Each year he saw, and admired, the CanAm barquette of Marc Gargioni, from nearby Belfort. In 2000 he approached Marc to express his interest, to be told that 'I've just sent a For Sale ad to Echappement magazine'.
A deal was done there and then! Tony has been using the car, which is fitted with a powerful 1600cc Renault engine and, unusually, a Hewland gearbox, in hillclimbs both in England ( notably the prestigious 'La Vie en Bleu' meeting at Prescott) and in France, taking part each August in the Etretat-Benouville climb in Normandy.
As is typical, this car has had several owners and evolutions, including a 'Lola type' real aeleron and changes to its front end. Tony's only regret: not being able to use it more often!