Shocking behavior at Main entrance to circuit
Discussion
Saturday afternoon about 1700 ish as I was leaving the bike park and waiting for a Gendarme to give me way Left, i was attacked. When I say attached literally.
While paying attention to the Gendarme and the crowd around me, I got yelled at by a chap caped in the English flag to do a burnout, declined and did not react. When that happened, he threw his bottle of beer at me hitting the lower side of my helmet and upper neck. Thanks for the mess whom ever did this as I had to clean it up. All told, my protective clothing did well and bottle did not shatter.
After throwing his bottle he shouted a bit more and his friend came to get him away encouraged by the fact hat the Gendarme took some special interest in him. I was asked if I was OK and off the "boys" scamper while the Gendarme decide to chase or not. They did follow the boys, not sure if they got caught.
I hope that the boy in question got caught and taken to task.
While paying attention to the Gendarme and the crowd around me, I got yelled at by a chap caped in the English flag to do a burnout, declined and did not react. When that happened, he threw his bottle of beer at me hitting the lower side of my helmet and upper neck. Thanks for the mess whom ever did this as I had to clean it up. All told, my protective clothing did well and bottle did not shatter.
After throwing his bottle he shouted a bit more and his friend came to get him away encouraged by the fact hat the Gendarme took some special interest in him. I was asked if I was OK and off the "boys" scamper while the Gendarme decide to chase or not. They did follow the boys, not sure if they got caught.
I hope that the boy in question got caught and taken to task.
Thanks for the wishes.
Le mans is one of those things that has to be done at least once to experience the roar and thrill of what I feel is a proper race where all things such as endurance, speed, skill and technical knowhow is truly tested.
Would I go again, yes I would but I would do the same as this year and that is go on Friday evening on the overnight from Portsmouth booking a cabin for proper rest then arrive rested ready for the support races and the show before the 24 hours. Then leave in the evening after the race back to Portsmouth.
Shame that there are elements who wish to ruin it for some and I would like to believe that this was an isolated incident of some poor soul who could not handle himself. I say this based on the fact that it was day light and straight in plain view of the authorities and other race attendees.
On the bike, the parking is free and you can get close to the gates and you do not sit in traffic for too long. The police are generally more accepting to bikes as I have found out when looking for good places to watch the race. The ACO (race organizers) also have a nice little arrangement with members lounge and locker room where you can leave valuables (tank bag and spare change of clothes) for the race. For the lockers you do not have to be a member, 3 EUR's for he whole weekend.
Overall worth a visit and some planning does help along the way. As it figures, it is in my view one of the most reasonably priced race events on the racing calendar.
Le mans is one of those things that has to be done at least once to experience the roar and thrill of what I feel is a proper race where all things such as endurance, speed, skill and technical knowhow is truly tested.
Would I go again, yes I would but I would do the same as this year and that is go on Friday evening on the overnight from Portsmouth booking a cabin for proper rest then arrive rested ready for the support races and the show before the 24 hours. Then leave in the evening after the race back to Portsmouth.
Shame that there are elements who wish to ruin it for some and I would like to believe that this was an isolated incident of some poor soul who could not handle himself. I say this based on the fact that it was day light and straight in plain view of the authorities and other race attendees.
On the bike, the parking is free and you can get close to the gates and you do not sit in traffic for too long. The police are generally more accepting to bikes as I have found out when looking for good places to watch the race. The ACO (race organizers) also have a nice little arrangement with members lounge and locker room where you can leave valuables (tank bag and spare change of clothes) for the race. For the lockers you do not have to be a member, 3 EUR's for he whole weekend.
Overall worth a visit and some planning does help along the way. As it figures, it is in my view one of the most reasonably priced race events on the racing calendar.
Glad you're okay, but sadly not surprised. And I hate to say it, but it seemed to be the Brits mostly. We didn't manage to leave the circuit 'till gone 10pm, by which point it seems to have quietened down a little, but there was still plenty of dickeadedness going on. Later on I saw the crowd nearly overturn a police car...
Fortunately - being in an open car too - we gained a new best friend coming out of the circuit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYriIiyN6Io
(You can't see in the video, but that water cannon was very much in use)
Coincidentally, we weren't the only ones. Someone sprayed beer over Ulrich Bez's car interior as he was leaving.
We had to head back in later on to pick up another car, which lead to a second pass. A few French guys stopped us and it turned out all they wanted was to take photos of the car, whereas a distinctly English voice could be heard yelling "Get in the car! Take a s
t in it!" 
Fortunately - being in an open car too - we gained a new best friend coming out of the circuit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYriIiyN6Io
(You can't see in the video, but that water cannon was very much in use)
Coincidentally, we weren't the only ones. Someone sprayed beer over Ulrich Bez's car interior as he was leaving.
We had to head back in later on to pick up another car, which lead to a second pass. A few French guys stopped us and it turned out all they wanted was to take photos of the car, whereas a distinctly English voice could be heard yelling "Get in the car! Take a s
t in it!" Edited by Chris71 on Monday 14th June 19:36
Looking around the place on Sunday morning so many people seemed so out of it, how they could stand I will never know.
On the steps towards the end of the race there was this French lad and his friend. The time was about 2 o'clock when the French lad just could not hold it any more. Thankfully he realized and was sick out of the view of people at risk.
Is it me or the authorities seem to be powerless in some of these situations such as mentioned here the near rolling of a Police car. Come a point the safety of people tends to be lost. In my case I was glad to have my helmet and back protector. The feeling of the impact was not much but imagine a hit on the head with a bottle in the right place.
On the steps towards the end of the race there was this French lad and his friend. The time was about 2 o'clock when the French lad just could not hold it any more. Thankfully he realized and was sick out of the view of people at risk.
Is it me or the authorities seem to be powerless in some of these situations such as mentioned here the near rolling of a Police car. Come a point the safety of people tends to be lost. In my case I was glad to have my helmet and back protector. The feeling of the impact was not much but imagine a hit on the head with a bottle in the right place.
Jag-D said:
fking shocking!
Le Mans has been one of those events that I've wanted to do for years, but with the level of stupidity and yobbery, I dont think I'll bother
Glad you suffered no harm though dude
Don't let this sort of thing put you off going - just arrive a few days before so you've done all your shopping Thursday/first thing Friday morning and get the car back on the camp site before lunch. Head out in the afternoon on foot and get the tram in to town for the (civilised) drivers parade.king shocking!Le Mans has been one of those events that I've wanted to do for years, but with the level of stupidity and yobbery, I dont think I'll bother
Glad you suffered no harm though dude
You can avoid all the loutish behaviour, it's just a shame you have to.
As above really, it can be avoided with a bit of tactical nous and planning.
please bear in mind that it attracts a quarter of a million people so there are always going to be a degree of ar$eholes in that number
everyone should go at least once...it simply is the best race in the world
please bear in mind that it attracts a quarter of a million people so there are always going to be a degree of ar$eholes in that number
everyone should go at least once...it simply is the best race in the world
I was concerned about going on my own with reading stuff that goes on each year, but I arrived at my campsite Thursday afternoon and parked and didn't move my car until I left early Monday morning; you can walk everywhere around the circuit (or there is that bus) yes I did get a bit wet on Friday afternoon through an open window on my way with some people to the Drivers Parade, but the atmosphere is not to be missed - I had the best time - wish I'd
had the guts to go years ago, and am
already going to book time off work so I can go next year! On the whole everyone is great.
had the guts to go years ago, and am
already going to book time off work so I can go next year! On the whole everyone is great.
I agree, the helmet I took was going to be replaced very shortly and it is one of three. So this has meet its end and the straps being cut and binned. My nice/newer helmets were left at home. Certainly when I left for Le mans, I made sure that if it got scratched or damaged that it was not a great loss.
On Saturday I think of going to George White to look at helmets so this little boy just brought forward the event of helmet replacement.
On Saturday I think of going to George White to look at helmets so this little boy just brought forward the event of helmet replacement.
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