A salutory tale
A salutory tale
Author
Discussion

lowdrag

Original Poster:

13,181 posts

242 months

Monday 18th June 2012
quotequote all
Sunday evening I had a call from someone on Bleu Nord. He'd got my number from someone on the camp site, and while it is a well-known story it bears repeating. He and his wife took a duvet with their tent and not sleeping bags. During the night of Saturday/Sunday the "travellers" opened the tent, took his credit cards, wallet and cash plus the car keys, which they then used to open the car and take the wife's handbag and her money and cards. They were left with nothing, and an immobilised car because the "travellers" (word changed for political correctness) locked the car and left with the keys.

His insurance covered the transport of the car to a local garage, but not repatriation, so it was transported here and is safely locked up in my garage. I prepared a hasty meal, found bed and breakfast for them and they are now on their way back to England and will come back at the end of the week to collect the car with the spare keys, so all will end well.

The moral is simple; use a sleeping bag and be sure to put everything of vslue in the bottom of it before you get in it to sleep. That way they can't rip you off like this couple.

Edited by lowdrag on Monday 18th June 11:18


Edited by lowdrag on Monday 18th June 11:19

ph1l5

5,027 posts

231 months

Monday 18th June 2012
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You will be going to heaven for sure. Great news.

Stuart

11,639 posts

280 months

Monday 18th June 2012
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Thanks for helping him out Tony, you're a good samaritan.

I wouldn't consider camping at Le Mans outside of a secured camping area nowadays, and horror stories like this reinforce my view. Having said that, we were still affected by a team of scrotes who thought it would be amusing to fire random water balloons, and ended up denting a brand new E63 with one...

lowdrag

Original Poster:

13,181 posts

242 months

Monday 18th June 2012
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I've tried getting in and starting it for fun but no joy. I've never driven a Noble.......

Stuart

11,639 posts

280 months

Monday 18th June 2012
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lowdrag said:
I've tried getting in and starting it for fun but no joy. I've never driven a Noble.......
I span one on Streatham High Road. Whilst it was in large part down to a dearth of talent on my part, they can be a bit snappy...

Irish

3,991 posts

268 months

Tuesday 19th June 2012
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Sorry to hear that. A lesson indeed.

I always have my keys on a chain and wallet with the minimum with me. Everything else locked in the car.

Had a pint of been thrown at me whilst on the Toy Train by the Danish "fans". Many requests for burnouts - do not make eye-contact and drive on. Some very silly driving by Beausejour on the Friday be guys who cannot control cars. Dangerours.

Back with Speed Chills at Blue Nord for the classic and taking my wife. I will struggle to see the point in doing the 24 again in a Classic year.

Lowdrag - highlight of my LM24 was the Great British Welcome at St. Saturin. I believe you assist with this so well done - not a fixture of my Le Mans experience. Is there an event for the Classic?

Finally, I thought the crowds were much smaller this year. I think this is indicative of a switch to the Classic.

Eugene7

741 posts

223 months

Tuesday 19th June 2012
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"Is there an event for the Classic?"

Yep, BBQ / Pie & Pint at Le Bounty...

biggrin

Hugo a Gogo

23,437 posts

262 months

Tuesday 19th June 2012
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the 'valuables in the sleeping bag' trick was well known at the old Bol D'Or and they would slit the bottom of the bag open while you slept

RobbyJ

1,824 posts

251 months

Tuesday 19th June 2012
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My airbed has a big compartment under the pillow to keep your valuables in while you're sleeping.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/150776680816?ssPageName=...

Or just stay in the pistonheads enclosure as we felt safe as houses in there.

Mattygooner

5,304 posts

233 months

Tuesday 19th June 2012
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Sounds nasty, thankfully camped with 24 hour security at Porsche curves who were excellent, and amusing also when two huge security blokes squeezed in to a smart car to patrol. It's the only way to do it now, the security were fantastic as was the rest of the setup and does mean you can enjoy it more which peace of mind. A chap in our camp did get pickpocketed on the tram, lost cash and cards.

The great British welcome was excellent again this year! The classic jags were a highlight.

JonX2C

820 posts

239 months

Tuesday 19th June 2012
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Stuart said:
Thanks for helping him out Tony, you're a good samaritan.

I wouldn't consider camping at Le Mans outside of a secured camping area nowadays, and horror stories like this reinforce my view. Having said that, we were still affected by a team of scrotes who thought it would be amusing to fire random water balloons, and ended up denting a brand new E63 with one...
Was this outside Houx?

We saw this on Mad Friday, they were getting everyone with this sling shop, was insane.

The same group also decided to throw buckets of water at people coming along on the train / car people carrier thing.

Was madness, suprised no-one came back and got their revenge on them.

I know a water ballon also landed heavily on the roof of a Porks with a massive thud.

Stuart

11,639 posts

280 months

Tuesday 19th June 2012
quotequote all
JonX2C said:
Was this outside Houx?

We saw this on Mad Friday, they were getting everyone with this sling shop, was insane.

The same group also decided to throw buckets of water at people coming along on the train / car people carrier thing.

Was madness, suprised no-one came back and got their revenge on them.

I know a water ballon also landed heavily on the roof of a Porks with a massive thud.
Bleu Nord. We know who it was, but of course by the time we'd got to them all trace of the catapult had gone.

sarthe24

27 posts

254 months

Tuesday 19th June 2012
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I am afraid the pickpockets were also out and about on Pit Lane Day with someone on our site relieved of credit cards and large amount of cash. Very poor response by staff and police on site.
Also seen it happen in a previous year at the Drivers Parade.

Switch

3,455 posts

204 months

Tuesday 19th June 2012
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Stuart said:
Bleu Nord. We know who it was, but of course by the time we'd got to them all trace of the catapult had gone.
I have a sneaking suspicion someone was launching fire crackers with the same device on Saturday...

durbster

12,042 posts

251 months

Tuesday 19th June 2012
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Can a water balloon really dent a car?

I've seen people with catapults and water balloons but never thought they could do any damage.

Stuart

11,639 posts

280 months

Tuesday 19th June 2012
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durbster said:
Can a water balloon really dent a car?

I've seen people with catapults and water balloons but never thought they could do any damage.
We were amazed too, but yes. It hit just behind the C pillar, and pushed the metal in. Cue lots of muttering about M-B build quality...

Switch

3,455 posts

204 months

Tuesday 19th June 2012
quotequote all
durbster said:
Can a water balloon really dent a car?

I've seen people with catapults and water balloons but never thought they could do any damage.
Yes. There's a nice dent in the rear quarter of one of our cars from the weekend. Thrown by hand at short range maybe not, but launched from a 3 man catapult up into the air to land somewhere far away they're carrying a fair rate of knots by the time they come down again.

Frankly the concept of potentially getting one in the face was unpleasant.

Du1point8

22,850 posts

221 months

Tuesday 19th June 2012
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durbster said:
Can a water balloon really dent a car?

I've seen people with catapults and water balloons but never thought they could do any damage.
depends on the size of the balloon and the catapult...

I have one somewhere I used to use for annual water balloon fight at a hockey tournament, only rules we had was no firing at head height and no hiding near the cars.

We could easily hit 150ft:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Main-Sauce-Production-Ball...

they reckon it will do 300ft... so imagine that up in the air and using larger balloons, there is quite some force there.

ncs

3,974 posts

311 months

Tuesday 19th June 2012
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We were at Houx, had visitors one night & one of our group had cash taken from his wallet & a mobile phone was stolen. Caught them in the act & gave chase but no chance, it appears one of the group next to us got done at the same time.

Their mothers must be very proud.

Nicknerd

redstu

2,287 posts

268 months

Tuesday 19th June 2012
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These tent thieves must be good , it always takes me about 10 minutes each morning to find my phone,wallet etc smile