People who haven't heard of Le Mans

[leozwalf]

Being a petrolhead I've always known about the great 24hr race. Never had I realised that so many people were completely and utterly ignorant of it.

Over the last couple of weeks the buildup for me has been getting more and more exciting, highest point of which was stickering up the car last night. Needless to say I've been talking about it to people at work and there have been loads (almost the majority) who had either never heard of it or asked something ridiculous like "are you racing your car then?"

When I tell them we're driving all that way they look at me funny and wonder why I don't get a plane.

When I tell them the drive down is one of the most exciting bits, they look at me funny too.

INFIDELS!!!!

[xjsjohn]

leozwalf said:

Being a petrolhead I've always known about the great 24hr race. Never had I realised that so many people were completely and utterly ignorant of it.

Over the last couple of weeks the buildup for me has been getting more and more exciting, highest point of which was stickering up the car last night. Needless to say I've been talking about it to people at work and there have been loads (almost the majority) who had either never heard of it or asked something ridiculous like "are you racing your car then?"

When I tell them we're driving all that way they look at me funny and wonder why I don't get a plane.

When I tell them the drive down is one of the most exciting bits, they look at me funny too.

INFIDELS!!!!

yup ... most of the people in my office are the same ... what beggers belief is that my dear employer is one of the biggest sponsors of the race and even has posters about it all over the office with pictures of that racing tractor

they are all like "ohh is that what it is?!?!"

[leozwalf]

That's just plain silly.

Some guy I told yesterday who is supposedly a car nut had very little idea what it was about and asked if I was going to drive MY car for 24 hours. Yea... course.

[xjsjohn]

just people with thier heads in the sand ....

So many people think F1 is the only motorsport.

(dont get me wrong, even now, i still enjoy my F1) but there is so much more. My first trip to Le Mans but have known all about the race since i was knee high to a turbo charger.

(admittedly i could not tell you the difference between the premiership and the FA cup so i probably shouldnt talk!!!)

[richardthestag]

Colleage asks when race starts;

4pm Saturday

Colleage asks when does it finish then

Gasp!! 4pm Sunday

Colleage after a decent pause, so that's 24 hours then



wife: why do you go Wednesday night if the race doesn't start till Saturday?

etc

[leozwalf]

I'm with you on the football thing but at least we've actually heard about it and know what happens (a 90 min game of football. Wow.)

Not with you on the F1 thing though, Touring cars and Rallying are where the excitement is at

[sleep envy]

richardthestag said:

Colleage asks when race starts;

4pm Saturday

Colleage asks when does it finish then

Gasp!! 4pm Sunday

Colleage after a decent pause, so that's 24 hours then



wife: why do you go Wednesday night if the race doesn't start till Saturday?

etc

not this year - 5pm start so as not to clash with the footballism WC

[ferrari355gtb]

"I'm going to Monte Carlo next year - is that the same ?" WTF !!

[richardthestag]

sleep envy said:

richardthestag said:

Colleage asks when race starts;

4pm Saturday

Colleage asks when does it finish then

Gasp!! 4pm Sunday

Colleage after a decent pause, so that's 24 hours then



wife: why do you go Wednesday night if the race doesn't start till Saturday?

etc

not this year - 5pm start so as not to clash with the footballism WC

Yep that is why we are staying Sunday Night so we can catch the end without tearing across Frnace (at legal speeds of course)to catch ferries..

Any other PH's staying Sunday Night in Beausejour. Fancy burning a few thieves?

[xjsjohn]

leozwalf said:

Touring cars and Rallying are where the excitement is at

agree with you there, just saying that for most (non petrol/piston-head) people the only motorsport that they have a vague recognition of is F1 ... probably worded that badly before ... damn my illiterate fingers on this keyboard!!!

[leozwalf]

Ah right I getcha

Know what you mean about the fingers on keyboard problems... it's due to the IMMENSE excitement!!!!

[Dakkon]

Well I am currently on a project in Sweden working with a bunch of Americans and not one of them has heard of Le Mans, ah well....

[xjsjohn]

leozwalf said:

Ah right I getcha

Know what you mean about the fingers on keyboard problems... it's due to the IMMENSE excitement!!!!

[DHA]

[quote=richardthestagYep that is why we are staying Sunday Night so we can catch the end without tearing across Frnace (at legal speeds of course)to catch ferries..

Any other PH's staying Sunday Night in Beausejour. Fancy burning a few thieves?[/quote]

Yep staying the Sunday night too.

Been asked the following at work today:

"Why have you got stickers on your car?"

"Are you driving in the race"

"How long does it last?"

[markCSC]

I was asked "why are you camping then? Wouldn't a hotel be better?"
Philistines!!

[funkyol]

Hahahaha, I've had exactly the same sort of responses:

"Are you driving in the race then?"

"Where's Le Mans?"

"You're really driving 300 miles to camp and watch a car race?!!!!!?"

Quite funny really!

[bogie]

I was in the US last week on business, out with some colleagues who are into sailing - had a 50 yr old rich american playboy ask me if it was like the Indy 500, why its not on TV, it cant be that good a race and finally to top it all off he said "Im sure it would be a bigger sucess if they changed the venue to the US" !!!! ...FFS ! ....needless to say the conversation dried up after that

[20vt_mk2dub]

Let the idiots stay in the dark..

we dont want them ruining it for us, now do we.

[funkyol]

bogie said:

I was in the US last week on business, out with some colleagues who are into sailing - had a 50 yr old rich american playboy ask me if it was like the Indy 500, why its not on TV, it cant be that good a race and finally to top it all off he said "Im sure it would be a bigger sucess if they changed the venue to the US" !!!! ...FFS ! ....needless to say the conversation dried up after that

I bet if you asked him what language he spoke, he'd reply "Americaaaaan of course". The scary statistic is that only 1 in 3 yanks actually own a passport!

[iaint]

I'm travelling down in convoy with one of the guys I work with so it helps dilute the ret of the ignorance here!