The European Street Rod Association (ESRA) was formed in 1995 as an umbrella organisation for European countries with street rodding interests and is primarily for cars with a pre-1949 body style. The UK’s National Street Rod Association (NSRA) is a proud ESRA member, and every other year one of the member countries hosts the eagerly anticipated Euronats gathering. In July 2026 it was the turn of the France Street Rod Association (FSRA), and after months of anticipation, dozens of British NSRA members made the journey across the Channel for what promised to be an unforgettable weekend.
As the official insurance partner of the UK’s National Street Rod Association, ClassicLine Insurance is proud to support the club and its members throughout the year. Our roving reporter is also an active NSRA member, so we were delighted to tag along and bring you this report from one of Europe’s biggest gatherings of hot rods, custom cars and street rods.
Sailing off bright and early on Thursday 9th July from Newhaven, our roving reporter together with a convoy of 10 other vehicles began the 260km (160 miles) drive to Sillé Le Guillaume in the Sarthe area of the Pays de la Loire region of north western France where the show was being held, 35km north west of Le Mans. When the trip was booked back in January, no one would have predicted the heatwave temperatures that we were to experience. After disembarking from the ferry, driving in the peak afternoon sun with temperatures reaching around 38°C in a Ford Popular with little air flowing through the windows and heat radiating off the bulkhead was hard going. Our route from Dieppe took us via a diversion round Rouen. Rouen is a permanent Low Emission Zone, meaning all vehicles require a Crit’Air sticker and driving through the city without one risks a fine. However, vehicles registered before December 1996 are not eligible for a sticker at all… Our sat navs were set for Yvetot to take us round Rouen, and over the spectacular Pont de Brotonne Bridge over the River Seine. From here it was pretty much a straight run down the A28 péage road to Alencon where we left the dual carriageway and ambled through the French villages to Sillé Le Guillaume.
As it was now approaching 7.30pm, we headed straight to the campsite, leaving show registration until the following morning. The campsite, which was only a short walk from the show site and was also the base for many of the British participants who were also camping, was set in a forest next to the Sillé Plage, a 32 hectare lake with a beach surrounded by part of the Sillé state forest. We couldn’t wait to have a dip in the lake to cool off! But for now, it was setting up camp and enjoying a well-earned dinner.
Friday began bright and early, it’s hard to want to lie in a tent when it’s already 24 degrees outside! We headed to the show field to register, collect our goody bags and event T shirts and merchandise. We were greeted by so many welcoming members of the FSRA and many familiar faces of fellow rodders we have met over the years or seen at the NSRA Hot Rod Supernationals. With temperatures already in the high 30s, we managed a walk around the show field to look at the cars, and a brief mooch around the trade stands, but the heat got too much. There was only one place on everyone’s minds – the lake! The water was so refreshing! An hour or so splashing around in the water cooling down was so much fun, followed by an ice cream on the beach. Everyone returned to the show field later that evening for a welcome drink, feeling almost human again. The bar area was bustling with Euronats participants from countries which included Denmark, Belgium, Germany, and Switzerland. It was fantastic to catch up with people we have met over the years at these events and enjoy the evening’s entertainment.
If you have attended a Euronats event in Europe before, you’ll know that Saturday is generally the main show day. The event was held at a racecourse and the main area where the cars were parked had very little shade but the trade stands were in a lovely tree lined walkway and the bar and food court were shaded. Fortunately, there were water sprinklers in the walkways between the show car parking area and the trade and food courts which provided a refreshing relief. We spent the morning looking around the cars, filling out our participant voting forms and soaking up the atmosphere. It’s also one of the few opportunities to see so many European-built hot rods and custom cars that rarely make the trip to UK events, but it was hard to take photos as even our phones were warning they were overheating and needed to put themselves in limp mode to cool down!
The cruise formed on Saturday afternoon ready to leave the site. Going out in groups of five cars at a time, the destination was the picturesque Medieval village of Sainte Suzanne et Chammes. The organisers had provided a QR code to Google directions for the cruise. However, not being a live map and mobile signal and internet access in the area was very poor, we did get a little lost! But that’s all part of the fun and we eventually found our way to the village where the organisers had arranged for everyone to park in a field. We then enjoyed looking around the village and a very much needed ice cream! But the cool lake was calling again, so we drove back to the campsite, grabbed our swimming things and headed in for a quick dip.
It is traditional at a Euronats event that there is a gala dinner on the Saturday evening with the awards presentations. We all enjoyed a really delicious French meal and a fantastic evening with great company.
Sunday came around so quickly, and it was a sad feeling packing up the camp and loading the cars. After checking out from the campsite, we visited the show field for the last time to say our goodbyes. Then we got on the road, making our way back up to the north coast. The plan was to get up to the coast to be nearer to Dieppe and enjoy a leisurely afternoon on the beach. We did, however, not take into account that it was the weekend preceding Bastille Day in France, it was a heatwave, and the beaches were packed! We attempted to stop on Honfleur but that was not to be. Not a parking space in sight, and our cars are vehicles that you cannot just squeeze into any available parking space. Our convoy got separated in the chaos of the heavy traffic but thankfully we found each other a few miles out of Honfleur. Plan B was formulated and it was back on the péage around Honfleur and over the Pont de Normandie and Viaduct de grand Havre channel bridges which were not for the faint hearted – the wind was so strong at their apexes the cars were buffeted around! But we eventually found the roads we had been hoping for, picturesque quiet roads leading to Fecamp. Sadly our detour meant that we didn’t have long to enjoy the town, but it was long enough for a drink and something to eat before we drove the equally picturesque coastal road to the port of Dieppe ready to board the ferry for a midnight crossing back to Newhaven.
Despite the extreme temperatures, Euronats 2026 will be remembered for all the right reasons. Fantastic organisation from the FSRA, wonderful hospitality, beautiful roads, and great company. Considering the organisers were only given the green light to proceed a couple of days beforehand because of the wildfire risk, they deserve enormous credit for delivering such a successful event.
These trips always test the cars, covering hundreds of miles in temperatures nudging 40°C was a stern test, but they fared surprisingly well. The quality of the fuel isn’t quite what we’re used to running in our old cars, so always aim for the E85 Superéthanol when driving a classic car in France. Since being back in terra firma, the cars have had a thorough check over and are all raring to go for the NSRA Hot Rod Supernationals in August where the ClassicLine Insurance team will once again be on hand to chat all things hot rod insurance, American car insurance, custom car insurance and specialist classic car insurance. If you’re attending, be sure to stop by and say hello.
After another hugely successful Euronats, the countdown has already begun. The next European Street Rod Association Euronats takes place in the UK in 2028, and if this year’s event is anything to go by, it’s going to be one not to miss.
