Le Mans 24hrs 2013

[Stu R]

Everyone should make the pilgrimage at some point, it's a very special place.

I do hate that there's no gentle come-down for the viewers , just the jarring end to the coverage as soon as the podium is done. It'd be nice to have more interviews, perhaps a BBC style debrief show or something.

Tragic loss of Allen Simonsen aside, and the seemingly endless safety cars, it was still LM and still fantastic racing.

Way too many good drives to list.

[Speed_Demon]

As for results, I, like most of you, am disappointed Aston couldn't take a win, not just for Allan, but because their cars had the pace. Silly mistakes and very little luck, but I guess that's racing. Was expecting and hoping that Toyota would just finish with both cars as that would be progress, so to see them take 2nd is great and reassures me that they could be competitive for a win in 2014.

Really would quite like to go for the week next year.

[PowerfullyBuilt]

That Kristensen moment just had my allergies playing up.

[Dphillip67]

woof said:

Turn up on the day and pay yr 48 euros - a tad cheaper than Silverstone

I am talking about campsites and grandstands that sell out quickly

[Gizmoish]

Speed_Demon said:

Really would quite like to go for the week next year.

Tuesday to Monday is 'right' IMO. Couple of days camping and getting set up, then events start on Thursday, Friday is fun, Sat/Sun mad and then go home early Monday.

[cptsideways]

A great race that I shall not forget, I've been working with Allan's brother Benny all this month & we were chatting about his brothers career & the upcoming race, I nearly did a last min trip to join Benny & friends at La Sarthe. Kind of makes it close to home.


R.I.P

[cure]

Gizmoish said:

Speed_Demon said:

Really would quite like to go for the week next year.

Tuesday to Monday is 'right' IMO. Couple of days camping and getting set up, then events start on Thursday, Friday is fun, Sat/Sun mad and then go home early Monday.

I'd quite like to go as well after following this years race. Never been there before. Seems a bit chaotic tbh.

[RichB]

cure said:

Seems a bit chaotic tbh.

What no one's mentioned is that trying to keep up with what's happening is even more difficult at the track

[Gizmoish]

RichB said:

cure said:

Seems a bit chaotic tbh.

What no one's mentioned is that trying to keep up with what's happening is even more difficult at the track

True, but with Twitter and timing screens via mobile like the Baekdal one combined with Radio LM, I reckon it'd be easier than a few years ago.

Thinking of hiring/buying a Mazda Bongo or similar... you can't "use" the autoroutes any more so might as well van it.

[Piglet]

Stu R said:

Everyone should make the pilgrimage at some point, it's a very special place.

I do hate that there's no gentle come-down for the viewers , just the jarring end to the coverage as soon as the podium is done. It'd be nice to have more interviews, perhaps a BBC style debrief show or something.

Tragic loss of Allen Simonsen aside, and the seemingly endless safety cars, it was still LM and still fantastic racing.

Way too many good drives to list.

It irritates me that the TV coverage never shows anything other than the overall podium. I really like to see all of them.

Personally, I though Eurosport's coverage was dreadful today, the long discussions about barriers, Allan being killed by a tree and all sorts of other mindless speculation was insensitive, unprofessional and completely unnecessary. It's tough enough to have to get through 24 hours after the loss of a driver without ES using it as some kind of tabloid journalism.

[JonRB]

Gizmoish said:

Thinking of hiring/buying a Mazda Bongo or similar... you can't "use" the autoroutes any more so might as well van it.

[Dphillip67]

Radio lemans seemed to be a bit of the same. Constant one up man ship

[furtive]

Oops. Someone put the German flag upside down at the podium ceremony.

[RichB]

Gizmoish said:

RichB said:

cure said:

Seems a bit chaotic tbh.

What no one's mentioned is that trying to keep up with what's happening is even more difficult at the track

True, but with Twitter and timing screens via mobile like the Baekdal one combined with Radio LM, I reckon it'd be easier than a few years ago..

Quite probably, we gave up going in 2007. I think we'd had a few wet ones and got fed up with drunken idiots plus the new concrete retail plaza has none of the charm of the old village...

[vescaegg]

RichB said:

Gizmoish said:

RichB said:

cure said:

Seems a bit chaotic tbh.

What no one's mentioned is that trying to keep up with what's happening is even more difficult at the track

True, but with Twitter and timing screens via mobile like the Baekdal one combined with Radio LM, I reckon it'd be easier than a few years ago..

Quite probably, we gave up going in 2007. I think we'd had a few wet ones and got fed up with drunken idiots plus the new concrete retail plaza has none of the charm of the old village...

I'm in two kinds about going to be honest. I really really want to and have been told its amazing but following the race must be so difficult. Doesn't it just become 24hrs of watching cars to round and round with no clue as to what is actually happening? - it was hard following it on tv this year and at what point does it cease to be a 'race' when you have no idea who is racing who? After 30 mins at silverstone last year I had no real idea what was going on and that was only 24 cars over a couple of hours!

Whilst I happily watched 18 hours this year on tv, I'm not sure being there and having no clue would keep me interested for that long especially when combined with rain and lack of sleep. This is assuming I won't be in any 'hospitality' area with tvs or use my phone for fear of shocking data bills.

[Riley Blue]

Did you watch the Legends race yesterday? Why not go to the LM Classic next year to see a lot more of that type of racing instead? I am.

[Graham]

vescaegg said:

That may be tempting. Really enjoyed the legends race yesterday.

I didnt really get the classic, it all seemed very bittys and disjoineted and was really difficult to follow what was actually going on.

And we were running a car so had access to all the timing screens and race info... Ive been in the team for several 24hr races so I dont think it was the fact i was working, but not sure Id pay to watch, although it does look like we'll be back in the paddock next year.

If you want a change from the LM24 something like the Nring 24 is very like LM was 20 odd years ago. Daytona or sebring are also worth going to see.

G

[joema]

1. Radio Le Mans provides talking
2. Data in France isn't bad any more. £2 per day on O2.
3. Watching at home provides no substitute for noise and fun.
4. Watch lmps through Porsche curves in real life
5. Just go or you will never know.

Can't wait until June next year....!

[Graham]

vescaegg said:

but following the race must be so difficult

not really, you just listen to radio LM same as you did at home. joining the aco gets you access to their welcome centre where you can get tv and hourly results.


Going with someone like 1st tickets in the PH camping also has a marque with the TV feed.


I first went in 96, and even back them you could keep up with what was going on with RLM. these days with smart phones, tablets 3g and wifi even easier...

[JonRB]

The two things that put me off going is drunken idiots and the fear of being run over whilst in my tent. I know the latter is largely irrational, but it does happen.