Advice on Le Mans Classic Parade laps please
Discussion
Hi all, in the throws of booking up for LM Classic.
Taking a few classics down, 2 of which are a Healey 100/4 in near concourse condition and Capri Mk1 3.0 73' in good condition.
Question is how anal are they with letting cars on that are not garage queens?
The Healey will no doubt be fine but the Capri is not original and certainly not concourse but looks ok (see below) Are we wasting our time trying to get a parade lap in the Capri?
Also where is the best place to get the parade lap package from?
Wasn't too sure how to get the image embedded so link below.
Thanks!
http://flic.kr/p/ietxJD
Taking a few classics down, 2 of which are a Healey 100/4 in near concourse condition and Capri Mk1 3.0 73' in good condition.
Question is how anal are they with letting cars on that are not garage queens?
The Healey will no doubt be fine but the Capri is not original and certainly not concourse but looks ok (see below) Are we wasting our time trying to get a parade lap in the Capri?
Also where is the best place to get the parade lap package from?
Wasn't too sure how to get the image embedded so link below.
Thanks!
http://flic.kr/p/ietxJD
Cooky said:
there is only one rule....Don't overtake the pace car
Last year there wasn't a pace car on my session, cue some idiocy on lap 1 which thankfully didn't lead to any incidents. Unfortunately on one of the earlier sessions there was an incident involving a foreign (French from memory) owned Tuscan that managed to wipe out a rather beautiful AM DB4 Zagato on the main straight.Cooky said:
..oh and watch out for the left right dip just before tetre rouge...bet you lift off first time in
This is very good advice.........squeaky bum moment 
As is braking too late for the sharp left before the Dunlop Bridge and having your co-driver yell "f**king hell Ian" loud enough to be rather more clear than it really should have been 
So long as you book your laps via an owners club or other group and your cars are on the list of qualifying cars then I would thoroughly recommend it, I drove 3 laps at the 2010 Classic which I booked via my campsite / travel company which was Travel Destinations. Get a decent camera set up and you can relive it over and over and your XBox laps will never be the same again because you've done it for real!
Both the Healey and the 73 Capri were on the last Classic list so you should be fine. What surprised me in 2010 was that no one checked the car before we went on to the circuit.
And finally, on a note of caution, any Ferrari, any Lamborghini, in fact pretty much any modern "supercar" is eligible so there is a real disparity of speeds and driving standards. I spent most of my time on circuit worrying about what was approaching from behind me rather than enjoying what was ahead of me.
Both the Healey and the 73 Capri were on the last Classic list so you should be fine. What surprised me in 2010 was that no one checked the car before we went on to the circuit.
And finally, on a note of caution, any Ferrari, any Lamborghini, in fact pretty much any modern "supercar" is eligible so there is a real disparity of speeds and driving standards. I spent most of my time on circuit worrying about what was approaching from behind me rather than enjoying what was ahead of me.
[quote=Cooky]
...and a right drift through arnage at 160 ish...quote]
I just love the hyperbole here! a 90 degree right hand bend with a small gravel trap at 160? Even the LMP1 cars are at 60mph!
ETA: and don't be that disappointed if you don't in the end get on the track either. Quite a few weren't in the end allowed on in 2012 and were refunded. But there will always be a budding Senna at the wheel of whatever (in 2012 an Aston I seem to recall) whose ability is vastly outclassed by his ego. Mulsanne is dangerous and very tight (called "The Hairpin" by the old-time drivers) as is Arnage plus of course the modified Dunlops. Just enjoy the ride but don't be an arse. Oh and don't be caught out by the braking signs before the bends. They are for the LMP cars, not a 50 yr old classic!
...and a right drift through arnage at 160 ish...quote]
I just love the hyperbole here! a 90 degree right hand bend with a small gravel trap at 160? Even the LMP1 cars are at 60mph!
ETA: and don't be that disappointed if you don't in the end get on the track either. Quite a few weren't in the end allowed on in 2012 and were refunded. But there will always be a budding Senna at the wheel of whatever (in 2012 an Aston I seem to recall) whose ability is vastly outclassed by his ego. Mulsanne is dangerous and very tight (called "The Hairpin" by the old-time drivers) as is Arnage plus of course the modified Dunlops. Just enjoy the ride but don't be an arse. Oh and don't be caught out by the braking signs before the bends. They are for the LMP cars, not a 50 yr old classic!
Edited by lowdrag on Wednesday 11th December 16:58
lowdrag]ooky said:
...and a right drift through arnage at 160 ish...quote]
I just love the hyperbole here! a 90 degree right hand bend with a small gravel trap at 160? Even the LMP1 cars are at 60mph!
that's the end of the corner, the fun is to be had at the end of mulsane as you enter arnage where the camber changes, have you driven LM?I just love the hyperbole here! a 90 degree right hand bend with a small gravel trap at 160? Even the LMP1 cars are at 60mph!
Cooky said:
lowdrag]ooky said:
...and a right drift through arnage at 160 ish...quote]
I just love the hyperbole here! a 90 degree right hand bend with a small gravel trap at 160? Even the LMP1 cars are at 60mph!
that's the end of the corner, the fun is to be had at the end of mulsane as you enter arnage where the camber changes, have you driven LM?I just love the hyperbole here! a 90 degree right hand bend with a small gravel trap at 160? Even the LMP1 cars are at 60mph!
Bobo W said:
Indianapolis corner
yes, sorry I should have said the 'kink' on approach to Indianapolis corner before Arnage not through it. First time was 2006 on the Saturday morning before racing. Without doubt it was the most incredible experience one can experience in a sports car.Cooky said:
that's the end of the corner, the fun is to be had at the end of mulsane as you enter arnage where the camber changes, have you driven LM?
Oh dear oh dear!! I am beginning to wonder if you have only done the circuit on Playstation. I LIVE at Le Mans, I have driven the circuit a considerable number of times in my D-type and C-type (including being "clocked" at 162 mph in the D-type by the circuit radar), have driven it many a time when closed before the race, and your comment shows you up.Strike one:- Mulsanne bend is at the end of the HUNAUDIERES straight, often misrepresented by the English as the MULSANNE straight. It is the bend, not the straight, which is at the town of MULSANNE.
Strike two:- there is then a long run, with two kinks, before one arrives at the INDIANAPOLIS complex, which is a right-hander followed by the most majestic left-hander quite steeply banked.
Strike three: Then there is Arnage, a 90 degree right-hander before you head off towards the Porsche curves:-
Oh, and if you ask yourself where the photos come from, I am accredited press and journalist. You know, one of those people who wear the funny bibs and carry enormously long lenses.
NB The LMP1 cars touch around 340kmph (210mph) between Mulsanne and Indianapolis, the fastest part of the circuit, slowing on the banked section to about 100mph before heading to Arnage. They are touching 240kmph at the right-hander where you apparently are travelling at 275kph in, if your profile is correct, a DB7. I applaud you, and wonder why you are not being taken up by one of the teams.
Edited by lowdrag on Wednesday 11th December 19:34
I think I am well enough known on this site to have the grace to ignore your comment. In fact, your crap number plate says it all. Even if you reply, I shall not, since at my age I've driven enough cars and circuits to not need to bother. It is not possible to defend the indefensible.
Grey Ghost said:
Cooky said:
there is only one rule....Don't overtake the pace car
Last year there wasn't a pace car on my session, cue some idiocy on lap 1 which thankfully didn't lead to any incidents. Unfortunately on one of the earlier sessions there was an incident involving a foreign (French from memory) owned Tuscan that managed to wipe out a rather beautiful AM DB4 Zagato on the main straight.Cooky said:
..oh and watch out for the left right dip just before tetre rouge...bet you lift off first time in
This is very good advice.........squeaky bum moment As is braking too late for the sharp left before the Dunlop Bridge and having your co-driver yell "f**king hell Ian" loud enough to be rather more clear than it really should have been 
I still have the video on my phone I think
There were a variety of cars on the 2012 parade laps (one of last secessions
http://www.flickr.com/photos/garyharman/sets/72157...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/garyharman/sets/72157...
Without doubt there were some right tits attempting to drive during the parade laps!
One that came to mind was the bloke who pulled up in his blue Porsche boxter along side the pit wall on the main straight and sat there waiting for his mate to catch up! A complete Cock in my book and his actions could have caused a serious accident
The weather was not great for the Parade laps and care was needed under braking and avoiding slippery painted lines.
Its easy to get swept away with the pace with a few cars, I found my braking interesting, on one lap, a safe gap had opened up and as I was going down the hill towards Mulsanne corner, I looked down at the speedo to see I was Braking at 160mph! Our 3 parade laps were lasting around 10 min a Lap, bloody slow when you consider how fast the race cars do a lap!
Remember guys this is not a Race, these are Parade laps and there are many cars out there of different ability's, Respect is needed for all cars and drivers, some will not be confident in their cars, others will wish to slowly drive round, so if you do come up quickly behind someone, don't expect them to move out the way just for you!
Another thing that happened to a friend of mine was her windscreen got broken by a Go Pro camera which flew off a car in front of Her
If your going to mount these cameras on your cars (as I do) make sure you have a second tether on the camera so should the rubber suction cup come loose, you wont loose your camera or cause damage to another car!
One that came to mind was the bloke who pulled up in his blue Porsche boxter along side the pit wall on the main straight and sat there waiting for his mate to catch up! A complete Cock in my book and his actions could have caused a serious accident
The weather was not great for the Parade laps and care was needed under braking and avoiding slippery painted lines.Its easy to get swept away with the pace with a few cars, I found my braking interesting, on one lap, a safe gap had opened up and as I was going down the hill towards Mulsanne corner, I looked down at the speedo to see I was Braking at 160mph!
Our 3 parade laps were lasting around 10 min a Lap, bloody slow when you consider how fast the race cars do a lap! Remember guys this is not a Race, these are Parade laps and there are many cars out there of different ability's, Respect is needed for all cars and drivers, some will not be confident in their cars, others will wish to slowly drive round, so if you do come up quickly behind someone, don't expect them to move out the way just for you!
Another thing that happened to a friend of mine was her windscreen got broken by a Go Pro camera which flew off a car in front of Her
If your going to mount these cameras on your cars (as I do) make sure you have a second tether on the camera so should the rubber suction cup come loose, you wont loose your camera or cause damage to another car! Edited by fatboy18 on Thursday 12th December 08:33
Well this has turned into a colourful thread...
Back to the original post, would anyone know if there is an exhaustive list of clubs that have laps available.
Is it possible to do the laps only? I have been told elsewhere that you MUST exhibit your car for a minimum of 1 day IF you do the parade...
Any links to further reading would be muh appreciated..
Back to the original post, would anyone know if there is an exhaustive list of clubs that have laps available.
Is it possible to do the laps only? I have been told elsewhere that you MUST exhibit your car for a minimum of 1 day IF you do the parade...
Any links to further reading would be muh appreciated..
http://www.lemansclassic.com/userfiles/pdfs/2014/i...
Option of parade laps for individual cars in application form, Club cars should be easier.
Option of parade laps for individual cars in application form, Club cars should be easier.
fatboy18 said:
Now did anyone get any photos of my car 'on track'? The red stickered up Viper
I was in the morning sessions with the TVR guys
Thanks.
Just checked my vids and can't see you so guess I couldn't catch you I was in the morning sessions with the TVR guys
Thanks.
Just after Dunlop Bridge
The TiT in the blue Porsche was just in front of me and already being a TiT. As well as the front straight incident he also nearly stopped on the Mulsanne on one lap and certainly stopped just before the second chicane on another lap causing a few incidents for the quicker cars who knew their braking points but had the ability to get round him.
Edited by Grey Ghost on Thursday 12th December 14:33
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