Spa still likes a good time, but the City of Water has extended its reputation to Francorchamps. A pretty little village in the Ardennes that has even snagged a big piece of the pie. From Moscow to Sydney, across every continent, Francorchamps purrs like the most gorgeous engine on the track.

The weekend of the 3rd and 4th July, we will dive into the history of the beautiful machines of bygone days, when you knew that if castor oil was in the air, it was going to be a good one. The grandes dames from the four corners of Europe will return for their traditional \"party\" at the Spa Summer Classic.

The invitation will feature the Spa Long Distance Cup, four-hour festivities reserved for Touring, GT, GTS and GTP cars from 1947 to 1971.

We\'ll also be able to follow the Spa 100 Miles Trophy with Touring, GT, GTS and GTP cars up to 1981 and two-seaters up to 1976; another series for sports cars from the same era—MG, Austin Healy, Morgan, Jaguar—and the music won\'t let up as we continue into the Spa Ardennes Challenge; the Classic K; Historische Tourenwagen; the Classic Sports Car Club Swinging Sixties; the Sport Proto Cup; the Monoposto Racing Club and finally the Bravo.

After such a parade, we\'ll be happy to slake our thirst at the spectacular new Pit Brasserie. For more information on these divas of the track, go to www.roadbook.be and click on the Spa Summer Classic link.

As for the rest of the week, on Monday, 5th July, the members of Dutch BMW M Club will be here and on Tuesday, 6th July, members of Limburg\'s Skylimit Club.

On the 7th, heads up to the motor sports population: we will be watching the dress rehearsal of the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps in the form of a test day. And Thursday the 8th, we\'re treating ourselves to a little two-wheeler day before another summer classic: the 25 Hours Fun Cup.  

Like the Finn, that version of the Spa Euro Race has moved on to a well deserved retirement.

Modernity, my dear sir. The event has since evolved and opened its paddocks to other racing cars.

This weekend, we will even be treated to a few Belgian premieres.

The F3 races, called the European F3 Open, remain a sure bet in single seaters, promising some brawny races from the young Turks in the field who only have eyes for the podium.

Francorchamps is the venue they dream of to flaunt their stuff.

The same goes for the drivers in the GT Open, though with lower ambitions at stake. But the line-up is exceptional, with Aston Martins, Fords, Audi R8 LMSs, Porsches and Ferraris.

In the same genre, we will take a certain pleasure in joining up, for the first time this season, with our neighbours from the polders at the Dutch Super Car Challenge. Batavian battles in Walloon territory—now that\'s something to watch.

In the time it takes to change paddocks, we\'ll turn to a new formula dubbed Auto GP, which is actually an evolution of the A1 GP Lola-Zytek. Rubber\'s going to burn in the Raidillon.

Also in the new releases aisle, we\'ll discover a brand new Italian formula that goes by the name Formula Abarth and is involved with the Ferrari Academy of the prestigious F1 team.

Decidedly innovative, the Royal Motor Union of Spa will also give the Dunlop Special Open Trophy, a Belgian series, the chance to premiere in Ardennes with a crew that includes roadsters, Mazda MX5s and other small concept cars.

As soon as these folks have packed up kit and cars in their lorries, Francorchamps will turn to English time with two days (Monday and Tuesday) reserved for the members of the Gold Track Club. Wednesday and Thursday, Porsche will be on site with its driver training team for the happy owners of these German beauties.