You're planning a trip to the Champagne region of France in late summer and wondering what to do? Consider yourself fortunate because there is, indeed, a very special classic car event on September 12th-14th, one you shouldn't miss. The Weekend of Automobile Excellence is again being held at the historic Circuit de Gueux (better known as Reims) which opened in 1926 and hosted 14 French Grand Prixs until closing in 1972. The organisers promise plenty of action including demonstration drives by former F1 stars in vintage race cars, air displays, a VIP Village and Commercial Village, and some fabulous French cooking at the nearby Domain Pommery. Among the former racing heroes will be Jean Alesi who, at last year's Weekend, showed off the Mercedes W196 'Streamliner' that 5-times World Champion Juan Manuel Fangio drove to victory in 1954. A fascinating history can be found at the Rack and Opinion site.

But here's the fun part: if you can muster a suitable vehicle you'll get a chance to participate in three demonstration sessions around the circuit. "Reims" was a real road course using public roads and once competed with Spa-Francorchamps for the honor of being the fastest in Europe, thus your drive should be both exciting and packed with nostalgia. No car? You could rent a vintage sports car from the Open Road, our friends in the UK, then take the ferry to Calais, from where it's only a 2-hour-and-a-bit ramble to Reims. Rack and Opinion describes it as "filled with fast, open roads, iconic plane tree avenues and acres and acres of softly flowing green fields filled with vines... an eerie old place, it feels positively alive with memory." Everything you need to know about the 2008 Weekend of Automobile Excellence can be found here. A knowledge of French will help with the translation, or you can get in touch with Tony Merrygold. A package tour is available from the UK.