Discussion
being the reprobate who was Bob's mucker on all of his trips we have seen many changes,my first year was 1979,and i think i have missed maybe 3 0r 4 races in between,but if i missed the race i would do the practice weekend instead......
just couldnt keep way,...the worst and i do mean THE WORST change they ever made in the years we have been going was those bloody chicanes in the mulsanne,and the alteration to the mulsanne corner well to me its never been the same since then,yeah i know things have to move with the times, the paddock and pits were in need of change,a good addition,the bogs, well anything was an improvement to what was there!!!!believe me,they are 100% better than they were!
So the Same as Bob i am not going this year,need a year off to get my enthusiasm back,too many years seem to have rain,and i am getting too old to camp under those conditions,Classic Le Mans is, i have to admit, becoming the event that i enjoy more nowadays,..... so i am starting to think i will do Classic one year and the race the next as a compromise.
i have been saying for years now i am not going ,and always end up changing my mind,
but this year i think i will get a few beers in, get a baguette some Pate and Fromage and tune in to Radio Le Mans turn the sound off on the tele and watch all 24 hours from the comfort of my sofa,,in fact thinking about it you will probably see more,but i know very well i will be pining to be there,especially as the flag drops and the hair stands up on the back of my neck as it always does,i rub my hands together,and get set for 24 hrs of REAL racing
just couldnt keep way,...the worst and i do mean THE WORST change they ever made in the years we have been going was those bloody chicanes in the mulsanne,and the alteration to the mulsanne corner well to me its never been the same since then,yeah i know things have to move with the times, the paddock and pits were in need of change,a good addition,the bogs, well anything was an improvement to what was there!!!!believe me,they are 100% better than they were!
So the Same as Bob i am not going this year,need a year off to get my enthusiasm back,too many years seem to have rain,and i am getting too old to camp under those conditions,Classic Le Mans is, i have to admit, becoming the event that i enjoy more nowadays,..... so i am starting to think i will do Classic one year and the race the next as a compromise.
i have been saying for years now i am not going ,and always end up changing my mind,
but this year i think i will get a few beers in, get a baguette some Pate and Fromage and tune in to Radio Le Mans turn the sound off on the tele and watch all 24 hours from the comfort of my sofa,,in fact thinking about it you will probably see more,but i know very well i will be pining to be there,especially as the flag drops and the hair stands up on the back of my neck as it always does,i rub my hands together,and get set for 24 hrs of REAL racing
For me, Le Mans has now become the only guaranteed time of year when all the boys get back together. With family responsibilities it's so hard to get a time when everyone is free. Except for the 3rd weekend in June of course. And this year when some bloke (not a Le Man'er) decided to arrange his wedding the same weekend so two lads are ushers. As long as I can drive, I'll be going to Le Mans 24hr, regardless.
simonhole said:
being the reprobate who was Bob's mucker on all of his trips we have seen many changes,my first year was 1979,and i think i have missed maybe 3 0r 4 races in between,but if i missed the race i would do the practice weekend instead......
just couldnt keep way,...the worst and i do mean THE WORST change they ever made in the years we have been going was those bloody chicanes in the mulsanne,and the alteration to the mulsanne corner well to me its never been the same since then,yeah i know things have to move with the times, the paddock and pits were in need of change,a good addition,the bogs, well anything was an improvement to what was there!!!!believe me,they are 100% better than they were!
So the Same as Bob i am not going this year,need a year off to get my enthusiasm back,too many years seem to have rain,and i am getting too old to camp under those conditions,Classic Le Mans is, i have to admit, becoming the event that i enjoy more nowadays,..... so i am starting to think i will do Classic one year and the race the next as a compromise.
i have been saying for years now i am not going ,and always end up changing my mind,
but this year i think i will get a few beers in, get a baguette some Pate and Fromage and tune in to Radio Le Mans turn the sound off on the tele and watch all 24 hours from the comfort of my sofa,,in fact thinking about it you will probably see more,but i know very well i will be pining to be there,especially as the flag drops and the hair stands up on the back of my neck as it always does,i rub my hands together,and get set for 24 hrs of REAL racing
I would like to add that we have known each other for over 50 years ! our other venture into racing and 24 hours was endurance slot racing back in the days when Ross Brawn was a slot racer - even then the one to beat !just couldnt keep way,...the worst and i do mean THE WORST change they ever made in the years we have been going was those bloody chicanes in the mulsanne,and the alteration to the mulsanne corner well to me its never been the same since then,yeah i know things have to move with the times, the paddock and pits were in need of change,a good addition,the bogs, well anything was an improvement to what was there!!!!believe me,they are 100% better than they were!
So the Same as Bob i am not going this year,need a year off to get my enthusiasm back,too many years seem to have rain,and i am getting too old to camp under those conditions,Classic Le Mans is, i have to admit, becoming the event that i enjoy more nowadays,..... so i am starting to think i will do Classic one year and the race the next as a compromise.
i have been saying for years now i am not going ,and always end up changing my mind,
but this year i think i will get a few beers in, get a baguette some Pate and Fromage and tune in to Radio Le Mans turn the sound off on the tele and watch all 24 hours from the comfort of my sofa,,in fact thinking about it you will probably see more,but i know very well i will be pining to be there,especially as the flag drops and the hair stands up on the back of my neck as it always does,i rub my hands together,and get set for 24 hrs of REAL racing
So we are making plans now for 2018 - has to be the Classic at least (????the race as well ?? @Simon)
Meanwhile this year looking forward to some hillclimbs at least.
Bob
We went last year and have opted to go bi annually since 2014..... then watch it on the Eurosport in the mid years..... with the other events in the UK for cycling and prepping for the Tour De France in July.... it restricts us for the annual pilgrimage..... Back next year in 2018 and it will soon be with us....
I know there "have been great times in the past" and all, but things change and the whole thing is what you make it. For me, the ridiculousness of some of the camping setups, the chance to meet up with great friends that I only see a couple of times a year, the racing and the history all combine to make the entire thing an intoxicating experience.
Yes: there are too many "fences" or "blocked off areas"; the ACO is a pain; bits are expensive; Audi ran rampant and annexed the "media centre"; and (the biggest crime of all IMHO) Porsche was allowed to annexe Maison Blanche.
However, I challenge you not to stand in the grandstands for free on Thursday night and get goosebumps from night qualifying, to fail to find something that appeals on Friday with the current seven (very) different competing things I count going on, to fail to feel the magic as the cavalcade passes on the warm up lap or to tear up as the fairly silent crowd that's just finished respectfully listening to the other national anthems belts out "God Save the Queen". Surely even after all those years and visits, there's still something you've not ticked off the list?
If the ACO has to commercialise to survive, make it so. In the meantime, it would be nice if John could have his rightful place back in the media centre and Porsche allowed MB to be filled with campers again rather than a notional number of pitches.
Yes: there are too many "fences" or "blocked off areas"; the ACO is a pain; bits are expensive; Audi ran rampant and annexed the "media centre"; and (the biggest crime of all IMHO) Porsche was allowed to annexe Maison Blanche.
However, I challenge you not to stand in the grandstands for free on Thursday night and get goosebumps from night qualifying, to fail to find something that appeals on Friday with the current seven (very) different competing things I count going on, to fail to feel the magic as the cavalcade passes on the warm up lap or to tear up as the fairly silent crowd that's just finished respectfully listening to the other national anthems belts out "God Save the Queen". Surely even after all those years and visits, there's still something you've not ticked off the list?
If the ACO has to commercialise to survive, make it so. In the meantime, it would be nice if John could have his rightful place back in the media centre and Porsche allowed MB to be filled with campers again rather than a notional number of pitches.
JT3K said:
I know there "have been great times in the past" and all, but things change and the whole thing is what you make it. For me, the ridiculousness of some of the camping setups, the chance to meet up with great friends that I only see a couple of times a year, the racing and the history all combine to make the entire thing an intoxicating experience.
Yes: there are too many "fences" or "blocked off areas"; the ACO is a pain; bits are expensive; Audi ran rampant and annexed the "media centre"; and (the biggest crime of all IMHO) Porsche was allowed to annexe Maison Blanche.
However, I challenge you not to stand in the grandstands for free on Thursday night and get goosebumps from night qualifying, to fail to find something that appeals on Friday with the current seven (very) different competing things I count going on, to fail to feel the magic as the cavalcade passes on the warm up lap or to tear up as the fairly silent crowd that's just finished respectfully listening to the other national anthems belts out "God Save the Queen". Surely even after all those years and visits, there's still something you've not ticked off the list?
If the ACO has to commercialise to survive, make it so. In the meantime, it would be nice if John could have his rightful place back in the media centre and Porsche allowed MB to be filled with campers again rather than a notional number of pitches.
I don't think there is anything left to "tick off the list" our tick list is as long as the race !! I cannot disagree with you regarding the goosebumps at various times but I have to say that in the last few years they have been diminishing (or been replaced by goosebumps caused by the cold and rain)Yes: there are too many "fences" or "blocked off areas"; the ACO is a pain; bits are expensive; Audi ran rampant and annexed the "media centre"; and (the biggest crime of all IMHO) Porsche was allowed to annexe Maison Blanche.
However, I challenge you not to stand in the grandstands for free on Thursday night and get goosebumps from night qualifying, to fail to find something that appeals on Friday with the current seven (very) different competing things I count going on, to fail to feel the magic as the cavalcade passes on the warm up lap or to tear up as the fairly silent crowd that's just finished respectfully listening to the other national anthems belts out "God Save the Queen". Surely even after all those years and visits, there's still something you've not ticked off the list?
If the ACO has to commercialise to survive, make it so. In the meantime, it would be nice if John could have his rightful place back in the media centre and Porsche allowed MB to be filled with campers again rather than a notional number of pitches.
I have to say that we are now eager already for next years race and classic and "will be back" (in the words of Arnie) refreshed and ready to go again, however at 65 I don't think I have as many left in me as I have done in the past !!
Bob
struttob said:
OMG, this is getting emotional now - as the 24 hours gets ever closer the more difficult it gets realising that we will NOT be there this time around !!
Roll on 2018...........(its quite a wait though)
Bob
I feel for you Bob. I'm going this year for the first time for quite a few years. I've yet to experience much that beats the start of the Le Mans 24 race for emotion. The last time I was at Le Mans was at the classic in 2012. I saw a Gulf liveried Porsche 917 power oversteer out of the final chicane and blat up towards the Dunlop bridge. That got pretty close.Roll on 2018...........(its quite a wait though)
Bob
p.s. The weather forecast looks great. It's never too late to book.
struttob said:
Bloody Hell, this is difficult, watching the practice on Eurosport and the weather is effing perfect, I would feel much better if it even looked like it might rain, but no - its sun all the way.
Roll on 2018 !!
I'm in the same boat, the last few days have been painful knowing I won't be there. Roll on 2018 !!
I usually go with a mate who couldn't make it this time, when I saw the weather forecast I even contemplated a last minute trip on my own! I'll definitely be booking early for 2018
struttob said:
Bloody Hell, this is difficult, watching the practice on Eurosport and the weather is effing perfect, I would feel much better if it even looked like it might rain, but no - its sun all the way.
Roll on 2018 !!
It was a cracking race but damn hot. I've got blisters on my feet and a bit of chronic sunburn, but I'd do it all again tomorrow. I just need to try and find a full race replay to watch now that I'm home.Roll on 2018 !!
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