Is Mad Friday still Mad ?
Discussion
It's regrettable so many of you have these tales of woe - I look forward to mad Friday the whole year, and it never disappoints! I take a water pistol with me and it's great crack giving a quick spray of water to those who leave a window down - it seems to be expected. Caterham drivers always take it in good humour! For 5 years I've been going to the streets of arnage by the small roundabout and it's a great atmosphere. Seen naked men cycling around and crashing slow speed into the waiting police, a shortened mini being reversed into a bakery (I think with the owners consent), countless burnouts and chatted to some of the funniest people you could meet. I know a lot of PH'ers rail against the yobs with water guns but they're truly part of the Friday fun to me. But I have seen things going too far, I think the hive-mind of a group takes over and pushes extreme behaviour - water balloons being thrown into soft tops, pints of beer being thrown etc. It's hard to control these elements - it's drunk men getting together with a 72hr stag-do atmosphere!
There's somewhere for everyone on Friday - just ask this forum and you'll get good guidance - but arnage is mad enough for me
There's somewhere for everyone on Friday - just ask this forum and you'll get good guidance - but arnage is mad enough for me
ClockworkDog said:
It's regrettable so many of you have these tales of woe - I look forward to mad Friday the whole year, and it never disappoints! I take a water pistol with me and it's great crack giving a quick spray of water to those who leave a window down - it seems to be expected. Caterham drivers always take it in good humour! For 5 years I've been going to the streets of arnage by the small roundabout and it's a great atmosphere. Seen naked men cycling around and crashing slow speed into the waiting police, a shortened mini being reversed into a bakery (I think with the owners consent), countless burnouts and chatted to some of the funniest people you could meet. I know a lot of PH'ers rail against the yobs with water guns but they're truly part of the Friday fun to me. But I have seen things going too far, I think the hive-mind of a group takes over and pushes extreme behaviour - water balloons being thrown into soft tops, pints of beer being thrown etc. It's hard to control these elements - it's drunk men getting together with a 72hr stag-do atmosphere!
There's somewhere for everyone on Friday - just ask this forum and you'll get good guidance - but Arnage is mad enough for me
Remind me to introduce you to a friend of mine with a lovely Aston Martin DB9, he had his window down going through Arnage Hi St, and got his beautiful tan leather interior soaked by some Pratt like you! He's not happy so perhaps you could sort it for him :There's somewhere for everyone on Friday - just ask this forum and you'll get good guidance - but Arnage is mad enough for me
fatboy18 said:
emind me to introduce you to a friend of mine with a lovely Aston Martin DB9, he had his window down going through Arnage Hi St, and got his beautiful tan leather interior soaked by some Pratt like you! He's not happy so perhaps you could sort it for him :
While I don't really agree with the water pistols, I am aware that keeping my window closed will stop water. Perhaps you should mention this to your friend, for next Mad Friday....surveyor said:
fatboy18 said:
emind me to introduce you to a friend of mine with a lovely Aston Martin DB9, he had his window down going through Arnage Hi St, and got his beautiful tan leather interior soaked by some Pratt like you! He's not happy so perhaps you could sort it for him :
While I don't really agree with the water pistols, I am aware that keeping my window closed will stop water. Perhaps you should mention this to your friend, for next Mad Friday....
fatboy18 said:
Would you walk into a new car showroom armed with a water pistol and start spraying it all over the interiors of cars?....Thought not, would you attend the festival of speed or Goodwood revival armed with the things? So what makes it ok for a bunch of chavs to do it in Le mans? It does not happen at the Classic. If people want to soak each other on the campsite, no problem but when the water lands inside your pride and Joy its not funny!
There's no rhyme or reason as to why it happens at Le Mans, but it does. People, not necessarily chavs, will bring them and use them, so keep windows up! It's the same story every year so why aren't people learning? I do regulate who I spray, as I really don't want to damage anyone's pride and joy, I just want to see and hear it - but if you're driving a shed, you're getting a spray! If the windows are up, my water gun's staying down. As for the beautiful tan leather, I'd suggest paper towels - they lift the water right off. It does seem to be getting worse and I concur, it's largely the Brits.
Although I'm all for a bit of burnout and launching, the way the crowds are now IN the roads rather than by the roads makes it much worse for all. Had to go through it outside MB last year in a mate's MX-5 with a dying clutch to get petrol for the genny as we'd not realised both cans were empty and his was the only one we could leave them upright by strapping to the cage. Obviously needed to be careful with the clutch because the bloody thing had to get him home.
We went very early to be certain to miss the worst but even still, they tried not to let us past without a "performance" and we both got soaked by pistol although the big balloons missed luckily. It'd be fine without the w***ers with pistols/balloons (ALL OF YOU WITHOUT EXCEPTION), as****es that block or hit cars and if the crowds stayed off the actual roads. This year, I'll be certain to stay IN the campsite all Friday.
Although I'm all for a bit of burnout and launching, the way the crowds are now IN the roads rather than by the roads makes it much worse for all. Had to go through it outside MB last year in a mate's MX-5 with a dying clutch to get petrol for the genny as we'd not realised both cans were empty and his was the only one we could leave them upright by strapping to the cage. Obviously needed to be careful with the clutch because the bloody thing had to get him home.
We went very early to be certain to miss the worst but even still, they tried not to let us past without a "performance" and we both got soaked by pistol although the big balloons missed luckily. It'd be fine without the w***ers with pistols/balloons (ALL OF YOU WITHOUT EXCEPTION), as****es that block or hit cars and if the crowds stayed off the actual roads. This year, I'll be certain to stay IN the campsite all Friday.
Edited by JT3K on Friday 2nd May 14:36
I guess it's all a case of different values, some of which become 'diluted' after a few beers. It seems fairly clearly demarcated to me though
If the 'spectators' were standing off the road, then there is no harm in a rev of the engine or a slip of the clutch.
I can't honestly see how anyone with a modicum of common sense can justify enormous burnouts and doughnuts with 'spectators' in such close proximity, even pushing/holding the car (thinking of the M3s in the videos above). It just seems all a little bit brainless...
Then it comes to the 'spectators'. Common sense says to stand back and watch the occasional launch or rev, and enjoy it.
However, the other side of the fence are the people who feel the need to stand in the road, to stop and touch/hold cars, and to spray water pistols through open windows. I just don't understand what sort of cretin thinks that this is 'normal' or 'acceptable' behaviour.
If the 5% people behaved like grown-ups, then it would make the whole situation a lot more pleasant for the remaining 95% who want nothing to do with it.
If the 'spectators' were standing off the road, then there is no harm in a rev of the engine or a slip of the clutch.
I can't honestly see how anyone with a modicum of common sense can justify enormous burnouts and doughnuts with 'spectators' in such close proximity, even pushing/holding the car (thinking of the M3s in the videos above). It just seems all a little bit brainless...
Then it comes to the 'spectators'. Common sense says to stand back and watch the occasional launch or rev, and enjoy it.
However, the other side of the fence are the people who feel the need to stand in the road, to stop and touch/hold cars, and to spray water pistols through open windows. I just don't understand what sort of cretin thinks that this is 'normal' or 'acceptable' behaviour.
If the 5% people behaved like grown-ups, then it would make the whole situation a lot more pleasant for the remaining 95% who want nothing to do with it.
we got caught up last year and to be fair it was early afternoon, we gave it a few revs etc etc but on one occasion a drunken young chap stepped out in the road, possibly pushed by his "mate", we ended up clipping him and putting a scrape down the side of the car, £120 to get rid when we got home!!(hope he was ok), wife terrifed me in my drunken stupor later that evening by convincing me a tv helicopter was in fact a police chopper and they were looking for me.!! cow. Overall the atmosphere was great and enjoyable but it was 1 ish. personally wouldnt venture out after dark. I suppose we have to accept that Le Mans caters for everyone....
Now for anyone thinking of taking part in Mad Friday activities and Dads with sons that might be thinking of spectating. A Video of caution on how a simple couple of wheel spins can end in deadly serious consequences!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Piy_h4QmpI#t=12
Stay Safe
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Piy_h4QmpI#t=12
Stay Safe
For those stating it isn't so bad or hasn't gone too far, the problem is that whilst the %age may be small, you'd not be happy if it was you affected with some of the more extreme behaviour.
Some of the waterpistols are definitely loaded with beer or p*ss and the touching/rocking/hitting of cars that won't 'perform' is clearly unacceptable. There are some seriously expensive cars taken to Le Mans and it gives everyone an amazing chance to see a wonderful array of cars in the wild, but now there is a growing section with such cars that either don't take them to LM at all, or avoid the popular routes, because behaviour has become so bad over the last few years
For instance 3 yrs ago, Aston had their ONE77 very badly damaged driving it into the circuit from people banging their fists don on the car. The group I go with has some reasonably exotic stuff - there are normally about 10 of us and the group will include my own Aston v12 roadster, a 458 spider, F40, CGT, Gallardo, a couple of other Porsches, a couple of other Astons, etc. We are as usual staying in a chateau but love driving in & out of the circuit every day.
This year we will probably avoid the area of the circuit completely on Friday which is a great shame for everyone. On the race days, we will probably choose a more discrete way to get to & from the circuit (we have infield parking) - we would prefer to soak up the atmosphere of the busiest routes and I'd assume that there would be some people who enjoy seeing the cars so what a shame that everyone loses out by the behaviour which has got worse & worse. But when you've had fireworks aimed at your car, as I have, you can understand why
Some of the waterpistols are definitely loaded with beer or p*ss and the touching/rocking/hitting of cars that won't 'perform' is clearly unacceptable. There are some seriously expensive cars taken to Le Mans and it gives everyone an amazing chance to see a wonderful array of cars in the wild, but now there is a growing section with such cars that either don't take them to LM at all, or avoid the popular routes, because behaviour has become so bad over the last few years
For instance 3 yrs ago, Aston had their ONE77 very badly damaged driving it into the circuit from people banging their fists don on the car. The group I go with has some reasonably exotic stuff - there are normally about 10 of us and the group will include my own Aston v12 roadster, a 458 spider, F40, CGT, Gallardo, a couple of other Porsches, a couple of other Astons, etc. We are as usual staying in a chateau but love driving in & out of the circuit every day.
This year we will probably avoid the area of the circuit completely on Friday which is a great shame for everyone. On the race days, we will probably choose a more discrete way to get to & from the circuit (we have infield parking) - we would prefer to soak up the atmosphere of the busiest routes and I'd assume that there would be some people who enjoy seeing the cars so what a shame that everyone loses out by the behaviour which has got worse & worse. But when you've had fireworks aimed at your car, as I have, you can understand why
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