Who had fun then?
Discussion
First time going to Le Mans... we just 'happened' to be 100 miles south of Le Mans so suggested to the other half we should go. So worth it.... joined a camp site with 10 of his mates who had everything with them minus the kitchen sink (although they had a washing up bucket), TV with sky so we could watch the race whilst beering, inflatable sofa, fridge etc etc.
Loved it and can't wait to plan next year. I'm thinking an inflatable spa may be needed.
I know the whole "what goes on on tour, stays on tour" rule, but any hilarious stories to share? Of than a few of the boys invading a German techno party and one of them nearly pulling a girl [note the use of the word nearly], nothing really outragous happened with us.
Louise
Loved it and can't wait to plan next year. I'm thinking an inflatable spa may be needed.
I know the whole "what goes on on tour, stays on tour" rule, but any hilarious stories to share? Of than a few of the boys invading a German techno party and one of them nearly pulling a girl [note the use of the word nearly], nothing really outragous happened with us.
Louise
Absolutely gutted to have missed it.
Definitely, definitely going to get there again next year.
However Le Mans must be the only stealth motor racing event on the planet. Audi, Michelin and Hackett took out ads in the Telegraph yesterday but actual coverage of the event was one, yes one whole sentence.
The only coverage today was some dramatic pictures of McNish's off, how can an event like Le Mans remain so steadfastly under the radar?
Definitely, definitely going to get there again next year.
However Le Mans must be the only stealth motor racing event on the planet. Audi, Michelin and Hackett took out ads in the Telegraph yesterday but actual coverage of the event was one, yes one whole sentence.
The only coverage today was some dramatic pictures of McNish's off, how can an event like Le Mans remain so steadfastly under the radar?
Brilliant Le Mans race!! Drove down from home near Paris on Friday, and introduced my petrol-head, 13 yr old son to what it's all about. I don't think he believed me when I told him how many amazing cars he was going to see, but he reached the point where "normal" Astons, Ferraris, Porkers and Lotii were banal - it took Lambos, Shelbys, a GT2RS and a Carrera GT to get him going.
I thought the burn out scene was more reasonable than years past, and super big thanks to the Maserati driver at Arnage who stuck my son in his car and took a photo for him. As for the Carrera GT owner in your funny ear warming hat, if you read this thanks matey. I'm sure that your car with him in it is on his FB profile by now!
Glad/amazed that we got away without fatalities among competitors or spectators after those huge accidents - as for Peugeot and the ACO, STOP CHEATING!!
I thought the burn out scene was more reasonable than years past, and super big thanks to the Maserati driver at Arnage who stuck my son in his car and took a photo for him. As for the Carrera GT owner in your funny ear warming hat, if you read this thanks matey. I'm sure that your car with him in it is on his FB profile by now!
Glad/amazed that we got away without fatalities among competitors or spectators after those huge accidents - as for Peugeot and the ACO, STOP CHEATING!!
Another great weekend and thanks to the Weather God for keeping the rain away 
The entire trip was full of good times as usual, perhaps for me the most memorable for me at 2am Sunday morning when I wondered back to my site and bumped into Allan McNish who was on his way back home for the evening. I'd managed to have had a good chat with him Friday at the parade when he was waiting in the queue sat in his car with the other two drivers, and then to talk to him again after that crash was a testimony to the design of modern cars - I really thought he was in big trouble when I saw that happen
Nice guy and glad he's OK.
As usual, met loads of like minded petrolheads from all over the world and had another great Le Mans.
Roll on 2012 - can't wait to do it all again
The entire trip was full of good times as usual, perhaps for me the most memorable for me at 2am Sunday morning when I wondered back to my site and bumped into Allan McNish who was on his way back home for the evening. I'd managed to have had a good chat with him Friday at the parade when he was waiting in the queue sat in his car with the other two drivers, and then to talk to him again after that crash was a testimony to the design of modern cars - I really thought he was in big trouble when I saw that happen
Nice guy and glad he's OK.As usual, met loads of like minded petrolheads from all over the world and had another great Le Mans.
Roll on 2012 - can't wait to do it all again
Wednesday night - finish work - pack and wash car - hit for Stansted (collecting the shotgun). Get home at midnight and to bed for our 4am start.
Reach the eurotunnel passing (and being passed by) all sorts of exotica on the way down. Hit the Eurotunnel terminal for a coffee and, believe it or not, a copy of the Irish times - it was Thursday so needed the property section
The drive down was great - no delays, few police, and an early run (hit france at 8am).
This year we were staying with "Team Langoustine" (fantasic location, great guys. Was not sure I was at Le Mans as shower were hot and toilets clean . The guys have a campsite just at Tetre Rouge sanwiched between the track and the new football stadiam.
Base camp erected (the trees in the background are on the Mulsanne straight:
Thursday was spent chilling and watching the historics and testing. Being so close to the track we could just pop out to the banking with a beer in hand.
Friday:
Two missions here - Pistonheads meet and drivers parade. Drivers parade is now a must for me (I had missed it on the previous 3 trips). Great atmosphere, fabulous food and wine.
Lunch in Mulsanne was also a highlight.
Saturday - race day. Watch the Mazda from the nineties driven by Martin Blundell. OH MY Ffin GOD - some noise.
So, time to hit the grandstand in time for:
RACE = WHAT A RACE.
Sitting in Tribune 4 (just before Dunlop). 55 minutes in McNish and one of the other Audis pass the stand and under the bridge, almost in formation - Will commented that it would make a great picture - glance up to the screen - holy whatever. At the time we were worried about McNish but more so for the guys showered with debris. When he started to loose it the French cheered - the silence - everyone suddenly realised this was a big one. Huge relief when McNish walked away.
Popped over the the ACO club area which had a viewing area looking out on the track to watch the repairs.
After the restart heading back for some food. Went back up to the grandstand just after 10pm to catch the end of Razorlight (not bad) - we then ended up sitting watching the screen with Rocky stacked his Audi. Now that looked really, really bad. Debris everywhere.
After the restart got used to the sound of Corvettes at full chat - lovely. GT40 the big surprise - sounded lovely.
Well done to Corvette.
Now for the big mistake. In the most exciting Le Mans in years - I have booked a channel tunnel for 6 so had to leave before the end. NEVER AGAIN.
Hit the A28 for home around noon. Lots of speed traps and a fair few Le Mans cars on the road.
So, planning already for next year. May only do the classic as (IMHO) it is the better event.
Causulties? BBQ'd the tent. Hangovers.
Positives - ACO are getting their act together with some of the viewing areas and the members space is much impoved.
Radio Le Mans as good as ever.
Octane has to start planning some convoys from Rosslare. Roll on the next event. Each year I get more and more sorted in the planning which makes enjoying the event all the easier. SHATTERED NOW.
So, any cars on the wanted list. Looks like a Cobra (replica) will be next.
Reach the eurotunnel passing (and being passed by) all sorts of exotica on the way down. Hit the Eurotunnel terminal for a coffee and, believe it or not, a copy of the Irish times - it was Thursday so needed the property section
The drive down was great - no delays, few police, and an early run (hit france at 8am).
This year we were staying with "Team Langoustine" (fantasic location, great guys. Was not sure I was at Le Mans as shower were hot and toilets clean
. The guys have a campsite just at Tetre Rouge sanwiched between the track and the new football stadiam.Base camp erected (the trees in the background are on the Mulsanne straight:
Thursday was spent chilling and watching the historics and testing. Being so close to the track we could just pop out to the banking with a beer in hand.
Friday:
Two missions here - Pistonheads meet and drivers parade. Drivers parade is now a must for me (I had missed it on the previous 3 trips). Great atmosphere, fabulous food and wine.
Lunch in Mulsanne was also a highlight.
Saturday - race day. Watch the Mazda from the nineties driven by Martin Blundell. OH MY Ffin GOD - some noise.
So, time to hit the grandstand in time for:
RACE = WHAT A RACE.
Sitting in Tribune 4 (just before Dunlop). 55 minutes in McNish and one of the other Audis pass the stand and under the bridge, almost in formation - Will commented that it would make a great picture - glance up to the screen - holy whatever. At the time we were worried about McNish but more so for the guys showered with debris. When he started to loose it the French cheered - the silence - everyone suddenly realised this was a big one. Huge relief when McNish walked away.
Popped over the the ACO club area which had a viewing area looking out on the track to watch the repairs.
After the restart heading back for some food. Went back up to the grandstand just after 10pm to catch the end of Razorlight (not bad) - we then ended up sitting watching the screen with Rocky stacked his Audi. Now that looked really, really bad. Debris everywhere.
After the restart got used to the sound of Corvettes at full chat - lovely. GT40 the big surprise - sounded lovely.
Well done to Corvette.
Now for the big mistake. In the most exciting Le Mans in years - I have booked a channel tunnel for 6 so had to leave before the end. NEVER AGAIN.
Hit the A28 for home around noon. Lots of speed traps and a fair few Le Mans cars on the road.
So, planning already for next year. May only do the classic as (IMHO) it is the better event.
Causulties? BBQ'd the tent. Hangovers.
Positives - ACO are getting their act together with some of the viewing areas and the members space is much impoved.
Radio Le Mans as good as ever.
Octane has to start planning some convoys from Rosslare. Roll on the next event. Each year I get more and more sorted in the planning which makes enjoying the event all the easier. SHATTERED NOW.
So, any cars on the wanted list. Looks like a Cobra (replica) will be next.
another great year...
my only gripe was the bunch of sour faced gendarmes in the van who had the audacity to force me off the road when i was riding my bicycle down towards bsj after the race finished...
sure... i was very drunk, was pedalling two up and was riding on the wrong side of the road, but that still wasn't an excuse to send me squarely into a tree (okay, perhaps it was). the gf' was less than impressed at the state of my face when i got home yesterday.
roll on next year!...
my only gripe was the bunch of sour faced gendarmes in the van who had the audacity to force me off the road when i was riding my bicycle down towards bsj after the race finished...
sure... i was very drunk, was pedalling two up and was riding on the wrong side of the road, but that still wasn't an excuse to send me squarely into a tree (okay, perhaps it was). the gf' was less than impressed at the state of my face when i got home yesterday.
roll on next year!...
Was a great weekend. First time I've done it in a tent and although absolutely freezing on the Saturday night I would never go back to a motor home or a hotel again.
Parts I enjoyed the most:
Karting endurance tournament on the Friday morning. The pit stops were the most hilarious thing I've encountered. I was nearly thrown out of the kart whilst doing a driver change.
Driving the corvette on the parade lap before the race started. It was the first time I'd ever driven it plus the only other rwd car I've driven was my MX5 with 220bhp less. Doing 120mph down the Mulsanne was pretty exhilarating and being passed by a Z06 like I was in reverse even more so.
A good atmosphere with a great race.
Forgot to add the Pistonhead meet. Going to France and having a pie and a pint of Pride was brilliant.
Parts I enjoyed the most:
Karting endurance tournament on the Friday morning. The pit stops were the most hilarious thing I've encountered. I was nearly thrown out of the kart whilst doing a driver change.
Driving the corvette on the parade lap before the race started. It was the first time I'd ever driven it plus the only other rwd car I've driven was my MX5 with 220bhp less. Doing 120mph down the Mulsanne was pretty exhilarating and being passed by a Z06 like I was in reverse even more so.
A good atmosphere with a great race.
Forgot to add the Pistonhead meet. Going to France and having a pie and a pint of Pride was brilliant.
Edited by minipower on Tuesday 14th June 15:23
ali_kat said:
Have to disagree TL was absolutey awful; really would not recommend them to anyone next year, the beer tent was full of drunkards!!
keep the secret or we won't get in!!
What else do you epect to find in a BEER tent?keep the secret or we won't get in!!
High light of the weekend has to be how to park an Audi properly
by Mr A McNish and not even get a ticket!
Chr1sch said:
Absolutely fantastic time this year, and the 'i hug trees' Testarossa on the way back made my weekend - WHAT a noise - if the owner is on here, we have loads of great and sensible/legal videos of you nr the tunnel!
ahem 
Noise?... What Noise?
If you are on Face Book Chris please feel free to upload as I have no idea how to! You can find me here
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=702039498
Glad that the pure sound of an old school 12-cylinder Ferrari lump brought a smile
Regards,
al
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