Not bothering this year :(

[fatboy18]

As the title really, I have become a bit disillusioned with the place, Never really thought I would say it!

I don't like the corporate nature of the place and no longer have much interest in the teams. I loved the noisy cars, the old Panoz, Mazda, Group C, Corvettes and Vipers, all thats left now is the Corvettes.
With Vipers now pulling out of racing for a Second time, its time for a change.

Everytime I go I think back to the old days of Houx Annex, the old Village, ACO Building, sadly all gone now, The downhill straight to the esses from Dunlop bridge gone, the fairground and the Stripper tents gone, the character of the place has changed, many of the trees which used to be on the inside of the circuit have been removed Live Bands I have no interest in

I've had some memorable times, some good some not so good at Le mans and have been going on and off since 1982 (so I have seen lots of changes).

If you have never been before then you will have a great time, but I am going to try something different next year for a change.

Have a good one

[fatboy18]

SRT Viper pulling out this year and now pulling out of racing all together was the Big reason that sparked it off, I purchased Grandstand tickets for my Son and I to watch the Vipers in the pits, only for them to pull the plug I did Le mans and the Le mans Classic this year which was a Very Wet one


Next year in May I will be driving my car on track at SPA, so have decided to have a break in that area instead of doing Le mans. Never been to Spa before

I don't know what it is about that Village area at le mans but I really don't like it anymore. I used to love the old ACO shop with its stepped floors which then lead you out to a grassy area where you could relax and watch the race by the old champagne bar. Prices (although always high) seemed better then too?

Edited by fatboy18 on Thursday 6th November 12:59

[fatboy18]

I know la sarthe circuit is a modern circuit now but I wish somehow they could keep a few more historic bits, even if it was in the form of the painted adverts you used to see by oil and Tyre companies painted on the concrete barriers that used to be down by the old esses I know its not Goodwood but its sort of lost its magic. Would be nice to enhance the history rather than keep knocking things down?

[fatboy18]

Its refreshing to know I'm not the only one thinking along these lines

[fatboy18]

LaSource said:

fatboy18 said:

Never been to Spa before

Now this where you have been going wrong.
Does that include the ring as another missed place?

Tut tut

Yes im afraid so
Have to say the amount of Videos out there seeing people ending up in the Arnco scares the life out of me!

[fatboy18]

RobbyJ said:

There used to be stripper tents!!!!! Boy did I miss a trick!

Yes there did
I can't say it was the best quality, but helped pass the evening away There used to be oddity tents too like the fattest lady or the talking head with no body! All fun stuff

[fatboy18]

Im sure I will be back at some point, but I'm just not feeling it this year

[fatboy18]

Spa, sounds good, I'm looking forward to going in May.

[fatboy18]

struttob said:

Not just the stripper tents, there used to be a fairground target range using real shotguns !! imagine what the "elf and safety" boys would make of that today !!

I have been attending since 1980, and the changes are immense, but there is still some magic left about the place - I have some fantastic memories of the "old days" and cherish them highly, but every year some new memories are made and I will continue to attend both the 24hr (hate that new logo by the way!) and the Classic (to which we take the other halves) as long as my health and fitness will allow.

See you there...............

Bob

Good Post there Bob, I took the OH to the classic this year, she was not impressed with the weather Burst into tears when the back of the car stepped out during the Drivers Parade at Indy corner (with her in the passenger seat) That then turned into pleas to get out of the car at the end of the 1st lap

Like you I also "Cherish those memories highly" but the last couple of years I just find i'm relying on those memories too much. Don't remember the shotguns, would have loved to have a go at that

I have done most of the campsites over the years, TL being the Best so far that has ticked most of the boxes.

I have always fancied the Hotel Arbour, but sadly the waiting list is immense, and is fully booked for the race weekend year on year.

[fatboy18]

Remember the days of being allowed to drive down the mulsanne straight, around mulsanne corner then park the cars on the grass at indy corner for an informal welcome meet, sadly that's gone too, spoilt by a few tits who thought they were racing drivers and binning their cars into the freshly prepaired gravel traps prior to the race. It was a pain in the backside for the ACO so they closed that section because of the actions of a few I can't blame them, but that was one of my hilights of the trip. Arnage Hi street used to be good natured too, then the beer throwing started and supersoakers. The petrol station at the end of the Hi street used to have black and white postcards showing their garage being used as a workshop for works entry race cars, sadly the gauntlet of the Hi street now is a no go area. You used to be able to drive down to Arnage corner and park for free in a field to soak up the athomsphere of seeing the race from a different corner, the police now stop many cars from making that trip and there are parking charges. Because of this we no longer bothered going to that spot.

Edited by fatboy18 on Monday 10th November 08:29

[fatboy18]

Thanks for posting "tel 1",
What has been refreshing in this thread is the level of conversation. Most of my friends have booked the Honduras campsite again for 2015. But as I said earlier, at the moment I'm just not feeling it

Thank you everyone for your thoughts

[fatboy18]

Cheers for the offer mate

[fatboy18]

Have to agree the Toilets and washing situation has improved greatly over the years, I have no issue with that part at all There is a Toilet Block very similar to what you describe on the Outside of the track near the ACO / Dunlop Grandstand.
I remember queuing back in 1982 thinking the urinals were inside the building, i was bursting, then When I was finally allowed inside all I found were footplates for a No2 and Showers and some interesting smells! (urinals were on the back wall outside of the building), that building is still there, I hope they don't knock it down, it just needs a good lick of paint and a bit of a refresh.

Lesson learnt, all part of the Le mans experience

The Champagne bar was not mobile. You entered the Green fronted ACO shop from the front and exited the shop from the rear, this took you out onto a path where there was a grassy area (not big) looking out onto the track past the pit exit road and a Building in which there was the champagne bar, it was nice to sit there for an hour or so and soak up the atmosphere

Edited by fatboy18 on Thursday 13th November 12:13

[fatboy18]

Thought you might like a look at these Pics, 1982..... Changed a bit!




Le mans 1982

Full album here
https://www.flickr.com/photos/90582394@N02/sets/72...

Edited by fatboy18 on Friday 14th November 15:48

[fatboy18]

Le mans 1994



Sadly not as many photos this time

Rest of set here

https://www.flickr.com/photos/90582394@N02/sets/72...

[fatboy18]

struttob said:

@fatboy1

BLOODY MARVELOUS - I really enjoyed looking through those shots, THANKS - I will find some '81 shots - mostly black and white in those days for me though.

What I notice most (apart from the buildings/cars/clothes) is how many trees there were back then - pretty much all gone now.

FAB, thanks again.

BOB

I had a bit of spare time this afternoon so loaded that lot up Your dead right about the trees, it was one of those things that really added to the atmosphere of the place.

I've just been on Google earth and looked at the circuit now Airtrack, M & M stadium all the carparks, Karting Nord camping gone, Houx Annex cut in half, Maison Blanc loosing over 300 pitches this year, its a stark contrast to how it used to be

I also remember other campsites, not ACO ones, there used to be camping behind Honduras, you never hear of it being advertised? Anyone know if that is still used?

[fatboy18]

I mentioned the Fat lady on the previous page

[fatboy18]

Don't book the Grandstands on the inside of the circuit track (the one above the pitts) You don't see half as much as you do if your on the Outer side of the track Leonard would be my recommendation seating mid to high.

Edited by fatboy18 on Monday 17th November 16:34

[fatboy18]

MrLizard said:

fatboy18 said:

Don't book the Grandstands on the inside of the circuit track (the one above the pits) You don't see half as much as you do if your on the Outer side of the track Leonard would be my recommendation seating mid to high.

is it a requirement at all? If i take a camping chair and am prepared to get very wet i assume thats an option?

Its not a requirement, but you did ask Grandstands are expensive, You will get a great view of the cars coming around the ford chicane, up the main straight and round the corner towards the dunlop bridge. If the weather is bad it will also give you some protection. If its your first Le mans Im sure you will have a good time.

Would be interesting to know your thoughts when you get back

[fatboy18]

Bobo W said:

Like many here I started going every year from the late 80's. It became an institution, meeting many good friends there and I even managed to convince the wife to include it as part of our honeymoon. Like most things over time it became stale so with other things occupying my time (principally kids) I stopped going to the main in 2009 although continued my attendance at the Classic with a view to try other things.

We went to the Nurburgring 24 and various other events but for me at least, the oft attributed phrase, "so much more than just a race" rang truer more than ever. Having been so many times I got into a rut of always doing it the same way so when I went back it was with a view that I would endeavour to go and try as many new things as possible to re-invigorate that passion and boy has it worked, as I can't wait for next year.

I like this Idea of try do things Differently, might work out a plan for 2016