The end of an era?
Discussion
Watching the Classic I felt a twinge of sadness. People of my advanced years grew up in the 50s and 60s, watching the derring-do of drivers mainly no longer with us. This represented grids two and three in the main, and they seemed stuffed with replicas and cars claiming provenance they don't have. It seems that the value of real cars has soared so high no one will risk racing them any more. Indeed, I had the owner of a D-type on the phone yesterday saying just the same thing. Why hand the keys to someone else and risk the car? Was there a real lightweight E there at all? Yet other grids didn't seem affected, although I could of course be wrong and some of you will know a lot better than I. Bentley drivers sawing at the wheel with a big grin for instance. Will the public still go and watch if all they watch are modern pastiches jostling for position? And will they pay the inordinate ticket prices that have soared and soared?
Besides which the Classic has got out of control with queues for entry taking hours. I left the circuit at noon on Saturday to see, as in 2014, miles of traffic queuing to get in. They must have taken hours and hours. It even took me 45 minutes to cover 5 miles at 8.15am to park up. Sadly, I shall no longer ask for my press passes and shall give it a miss in two years.
Besides which the Classic has got out of control with queues for entry taking hours. I left the circuit at noon on Saturday to see, as in 2014, miles of traffic queuing to get in. They must have taken hours and hours. It even took me 45 minutes to cover 5 miles at 8.15am to park up. Sadly, I shall no longer ask for my press passes and shall give it a miss in two years.
Edited by lowdrag on Wednesday 13th July 14:06
I'm not sure those at the Classic are overly concerned over the detailed provenance of the cars which were on the track. They do however need to present the event for what it is, a fantastic Classic Car show which also includes some parade laps.
The racing is dull to watch, the cars look slow compared to the 24 hour event, and the short races with the faux 'Le Mans' start are impossible to follow. It's great to see those old cars, but lets not pretend it's a competitive event.
The other thing that will kill it are the prices. 30 Euros for 2 cheesburgers and chips on a cardboard plate is painful but there are no alternatives due to the lack of bars / outlets around the track. I've no plans to return and will stick to the 24 hour event for my Le Mans fix.
The racing is dull to watch, the cars look slow compared to the 24 hour event, and the short races with the faux 'Le Mans' start are impossible to follow. It's great to see those old cars, but lets not pretend it's a competitive event.
The other thing that will kill it are the prices. 30 Euros for 2 cheesburgers and chips on a cardboard plate is painful but there are no alternatives due to the lack of bars / outlets around the track. I've no plans to return and will stick to the 24 hour event for my Le Mans fix.
i hear what you say, and the MSA, FIA or whatever whoever have lost control. Not that anybody really had proper control on historic racing, as it was never a 'thing' until recent years. Hell, they haven't got control of contemporary formulas!
But.... out of all this interest (and money) we do get so many more opportunities to explore our passion. Revival can be criticised but it's still an unrivalled opportunity to wander around so much fascinating metal and people in the paddock. I don't for one second believe that Adrian Newey's Lightweight has anything left from Jaguar in it, but elsewhere there's a lot of history to relish. Without Goodwood you'd be left to small gatherings in local grounds not just literally but more broadly as fewer cared-for cars would exist. I was thinking of going to the classic in '18, but you've put me off!
Not all is rosy i agree, but let's be 'half-full' about it. (i may not feel the same way when next i a 3 hour queue surrounded unappreciative souls).
But.... out of all this interest (and money) we do get so many more opportunities to explore our passion. Revival can be criticised but it's still an unrivalled opportunity to wander around so much fascinating metal and people in the paddock. I don't for one second believe that Adrian Newey's Lightweight has anything left from Jaguar in it, but elsewhere there's a lot of history to relish. Without Goodwood you'd be left to small gatherings in local grounds not just literally but more broadly as fewer cared-for cars would exist. I was thinking of going to the classic in '18, but you've put me off!
Not all is rosy i agree, but let's be 'half-full' about it. (i may not feel the same way when next i a 3 hour queue surrounded unappreciative souls).
I haven't been to the last two Classic Le Mans and don't really feel as though I've missed out. To me it was starting to get overly commercialised and aimed more for the corporate market and for those who saw it as part of the social season. In fact I used to enjoy looking at the cars in the car parks more than those "racing".
I enjoy the spring classic at Spa and am currently trying to justify going to watch the Mille Miglia
I enjoy the spring classic at Spa and am currently trying to justify going to watch the Mille Miglia
I'm definitely a glass half full person then.
Thought the racing especially Group C and Plateau's 4, 5 & 6 were good just a shame there was only one of the former.
Funny didn't have problems with accessing the circuit on Saturday as we used some back road routes in but getting off the Bugatti circuit after the racing on Sunday was a tad fraught.
As to on site catering, I thought it was OK, and pricing not that dissimilar to other events. if it's really an issue one of the good things about Le Mans is that it's so easy to jump in your car / on the tram and find all manner of different cuisine within 10 minutes of the circuit.
Thought the racing especially Group C and Plateau's 4, 5 & 6 were good just a shame there was only one of the former.
Funny didn't have problems with accessing the circuit on Saturday as we used some back road routes in but getting off the Bugatti circuit after the racing on Sunday was a tad fraught.
As to on site catering, I thought it was OK, and pricing not that dissimilar to other events. if it's really an issue one of the good things about Le Mans is that it's so easy to jump in your car / on the tram and find all manner of different cuisine within 10 minutes of the circuit.
Don't want to wander too far off topic, but have just applied for entry for this years Angouleme classic rally (the day before the racing) and the price of entry for a car with two passengers?.......................300.00 euros!!
Now I know it includes lunch, a rally plaque and poster, but I could follow the route through the Charente countryside (which many others will do) for nothing!
It seems that it is not only 'classic le mans' that has learned the commercial gains available.
Now I know it includes lunch, a rally plaque and poster, but I could follow the route through the Charente countryside (which many others will do) for nothing!
It seems that it is not only 'classic le mans' that has learned the commercial gains available.
53 euros general entry. About 30 euros stands and the same paddock entry. I watched people - including myself and friends although I had press passes walk in without being checked so a general entry pass seemed all that was needed. To bring two cars from the UK, park up the trailer and the mobile home, including petrol at 4.38 euros a litre, my friend told be 20,000 euros all in.
It was worth it IMHO. The Plateau 5 and 6 Cars which interest me we really racing. But I also appreciate and +1 your comments Lowdrag. There were only one or maybe two 917s and a single 512 , as you said, they are all hidden away.
Still, the Classic this year was great, standing at Arnage corner at night , and sharing the weekend with some good friends on the Travel Destinations site.
And to add, I'm attending the Old Timer Gp at the Ring which I think is the best of all.
Still, the Classic this year was great, standing at Arnage corner at night , and sharing the weekend with some good friends on the Travel Destinations site.
And to add, I'm attending the Old Timer Gp at the Ring which I think is the best of all.
My second LM Classic this year and I loved every minute.
For me there are so many aspects that make the 'long weekend' that is the Classic so good.
First- there is the trip down- from the car show at the EuroTunnel and everyone in classics waving at each other on the way down- looking in the rear view to see what is approaching you next. Doing the trip in a classic absolutely makes the weekend for me. I took my Mk2 Jag and we had a group of 7 of us spread between the Jag, a Mini Cooper (60's) and an MGB. Even the Jag chewing through an HT lead and leaving me stranded outside of a French village provided entertainment and a sense of camaraderie amongst the group.
Then there is the whole 5 days away with a group of likeminded guys thing. I was the only one who had been before and to say the other 6 loved it was an understatement. We stayed with Speed Chills and I cannot overstate just how good they are. Secure camping- a decent sized pitch- enough for the tents, gazebo and the cars, great food and some lovely fellow car enthusiasts not to mention a great selection of interesting cars to look at and owners to chat with. Spending evenings either in the circuit or drinking red wine under the gazebo on a warm French evening was fantastic fun.
I thought the Paddocks were great- as a Jaguar nut I was thrilled with the Jag area whether or not there were any genuine lightweights in there or not. Prices for food and drink no different to Goodwood. We grabbed a huge steak baguette and chips for about 9 euros which I thought was pretty decent. As for queues to get in- we were staying in Bleu Nord so a fifteen minute walk into the circuit. For those opting to stay further afield and having to drive in each day surely you must have known it would be busy- no different to getting down to the Revival.
As for the racing- yes it's a huge circuit and yes you don't feel as close to the action as some circuits but I thought the drivers put in a sterling effort- I certainly didn't see anyone 'parading' around in any of the plateaus I saw. Sitting down on the chicane just before the start/finish straight and watching the GT40's and Cobras dicing with each other was a real treat.
To add to all that, a few beers in Arnage village on the Friday afternoon and clapping through some lovely cars with a few very warm looking drivers was great.
So for me (as a Goodwood stalwart) the LMC is not just about the racing and not just about the circuit- it's all the elements of a European trip away with fellow enthusiasts and I think it's a pretty damn good way of spending a weekend in July every two years.
Can't wait for 2018!
For me there are so many aspects that make the 'long weekend' that is the Classic so good.
First- there is the trip down- from the car show at the EuroTunnel and everyone in classics waving at each other on the way down- looking in the rear view to see what is approaching you next. Doing the trip in a classic absolutely makes the weekend for me. I took my Mk2 Jag and we had a group of 7 of us spread between the Jag, a Mini Cooper (60's) and an MGB. Even the Jag chewing through an HT lead and leaving me stranded outside of a French village provided entertainment and a sense of camaraderie amongst the group.
Then there is the whole 5 days away with a group of likeminded guys thing. I was the only one who had been before and to say the other 6 loved it was an understatement. We stayed with Speed Chills and I cannot overstate just how good they are. Secure camping- a decent sized pitch- enough for the tents, gazebo and the cars, great food and some lovely fellow car enthusiasts not to mention a great selection of interesting cars to look at and owners to chat with. Spending evenings either in the circuit or drinking red wine under the gazebo on a warm French evening was fantastic fun.
I thought the Paddocks were great- as a Jaguar nut I was thrilled with the Jag area whether or not there were any genuine lightweights in there or not. Prices for food and drink no different to Goodwood. We grabbed a huge steak baguette and chips for about 9 euros which I thought was pretty decent. As for queues to get in- we were staying in Bleu Nord so a fifteen minute walk into the circuit. For those opting to stay further afield and having to drive in each day surely you must have known it would be busy- no different to getting down to the Revival.
As for the racing- yes it's a huge circuit and yes you don't feel as close to the action as some circuits but I thought the drivers put in a sterling effort- I certainly didn't see anyone 'parading' around in any of the plateaus I saw. Sitting down on the chicane just before the start/finish straight and watching the GT40's and Cobras dicing with each other was a real treat.
To add to all that, a few beers in Arnage village on the Friday afternoon and clapping through some lovely cars with a few very warm looking drivers was great.
So for me (as a Goodwood stalwart) the LMC is not just about the racing and not just about the circuit- it's all the elements of a European trip away with fellow enthusiasts and I think it's a pretty damn good way of spending a weekend in July every two years.
Can't wait for 2018!
Edited by AllezWasps on Sunday 17th July 17:25
I can understand the feelings of Lowdrag .
Many of the popular classic racers are no more than a couple of years old .
Many using components and materials that were never available 'back in the day'
It is amazing the amount of work that goes into these new classics ,much much mor than the work to build the originals .
The meetings have become victims of their own success, great to see the cars I love being used as they were intended ,but a long weekend attending one of the UK meetings which would involve staying camping for 5 days has become very expensive.
Many of the popular classic racers are no more than a couple of years old .
Many using components and materials that were never available 'back in the day'
It is amazing the amount of work that goes into these new classics ,much much mor than the work to build the originals .
The meetings have become victims of their own success, great to see the cars I love being used as they were intended ,but a long weekend attending one of the UK meetings which would involve staying camping for 5 days has become very expensive.
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