Like P. G. Wodehouse, who was a resident after World War II, I very much like Le Touquet Paris Plage, the chic and slightly quirky French seaside resort south of Boulogne. Unlike their British counterparts the Le Touquet authorities do everything imaginable to try and keep the resort active throughout the year. Their Christmas lights and decorations are exceptionally good; fireworks on the seafront greet the New Year, and every week there are cultural and sporting events to keep residents and visitors occupied.This weekend, the last in January, is both one of the coldest and one of the busiest of the entire year. Over 300,000 visitors are expected for the 6th "Enduro" motorcycle event. The concept for this huge gathering that uses the beach and extensive sand dunes as a race circuit was the brainchild of Thierry Sabine who in 1975 worked in Le Touquet's town hall. Sabine later co-founded the International Paris-Dakar Rally before being killed in a tragic helicopter accident in 1986.
For Enduropale 2011 over one hundred competitors will race for the "jeunesse" category (13-17 year-olds); seven hundred quadbikes have a separate contest; and one thousand motorbikes from all over Europe (the maximum allowed) vie for the "Enduro" championship. The main track is over seventeen kilometres long and stretches from Le Touquet to the neighbouring town of Merlimont. It is literally bulldozed out of the sand and incorporates jumps and steep hill-climbs alongside long straight sections.
Additionally there are major corporate exhibitors and product demonstrations, including major displays by Pirelli and Ducati; there is a funfair and giant TV screens in the centre of town show the action from the track. The bars, shops, hotels and restaurants expect huge business.
Sad that Walton-on-the Naze hasn't quite got the vision!
