The Le Mans weather thread
Discussion
While we seem to be returning to normal over here, news like this from the BBC do give cause for concern:
"Post-lockdown party infects 180 in India
By Pravin Mudholkar, for BBC Marathi, from Nagpur
Some 180 people have been infected with the virus after a gathering celebrating the end of lockdown measures in the central Indian city of Nagpur.
Municipal Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe told BBC Marathi that the person who had organised the party infected 180 people, including 16 from a single family. He says 700 others who had come in contact with those infected have now been quarantined."
The issue is how quickly it can spread from just one person. It doesn't bode well.
S Africa is now in winter, and its spiralling out of control there. Anyone who knows anyone connected to preparations for a 2nd lockdown could open your eyes in this country. Feeling positively depressed again.
"Post-lockdown party infects 180 in India
By Pravin Mudholkar, for BBC Marathi, from Nagpur
Some 180 people have been infected with the virus after a gathering celebrating the end of lockdown measures in the central Indian city of Nagpur.
Municipal Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe told BBC Marathi that the person who had organised the party infected 180 people, including 16 from a single family. He says 700 others who had come in contact with those infected have now been quarantined."
The issue is how quickly it can spread from just one person. It doesn't bode well.
S Africa is now in winter, and its spiralling out of control there. Anyone who knows anyone connected to preparations for a 2nd lockdown could open your eyes in this country. Feeling positively depressed again.
Well, since it is the neighbour's birthday, I've made them a chocolate cake and had to go to Mulsanne for some candles. At the same time I took some photos of Mulsanne. I am standing on the wall on the inside of the bend, golf club side.
The first photo shows looking straight across to the wire fencing for spectators in the Mulsanne compound
The second photo shows looking left. You can see the big roundabout an all the new tarmac
Photo three shows the arrival from the Mulsanne straight. In the foreground the new tarmac, then the rumble strips, and then old line outside the rumble strips . One assumes the rumble strips will disappear.
Photo four shows the roundabout, the new tarmac on the inside, the old route, and new tarmac behind
Photo five shows leaving Mulsanne where the weighbridge is for testing lorries.
For me, it isn't certain exactly what is actually going to be the new racing line, but time will tell. Today is Thursday, the rain is fairly heavy and constant, and the temperature is 16C. There are two sides to this; one, it would be fun to see just how the cars slip and slide after the drought, and rwo, bloody miserable to spectate.
The first photo shows looking straight across to the wire fencing for spectators in the Mulsanne compound
The second photo shows looking left. You can see the big roundabout an all the new tarmac
Photo three shows the arrival from the Mulsanne straight. In the foreground the new tarmac, then the rumble strips, and then old line outside the rumble strips . One assumes the rumble strips will disappear.
Photo four shows the roundabout, the new tarmac on the inside, the old route, and new tarmac behind
Photo five shows leaving Mulsanne where the weighbridge is for testing lorries.
For me, it isn't certain exactly what is actually going to be the new racing line, but time will tell. Today is Thursday, the rain is fairly heavy and constant, and the temperature is 16C. There are two sides to this; one, it would be fun to see just how the cars slip and slide after the drought, and rwo, bloody miserable to spectate.
Edited by lowdrag on Thursday 11th June 15:34
wsn03 said:
If its closed to the public then im guessing Arbor will be closed too, in which case I'd stay home and watch on tv
If hotels are allowed to open, it’s private, so maybe a loophole for viewing, if rather a limited option. Though may be able to also get down to the 2nd chicane. IS the plan to change the racing line and remove the rumble strips, or is the idea if someone has an "Oops!" moment infront of you coming in to Mulsanne corner, you can cut inside, over the rumble strips, and on to tarmac rather than grass so your brakes and steering still work? Mean while the car having an "Oops!" can just abort the corner and hold it straight, plowing through the green/white cones and in to the new expanse of tarmac, where they can regain control, turn around, and have a view back up the Mulsanne to see when they can safely rejoin. And if someone has their "Oops!" mid corner they run wide, through gravel and have a new slip lane to rejoin, so further towards Arnage than the target point for the car behind and at a greater speed.
If they ARE changing the line, if anything it would look like they are making Mulsanne tighter, which is more likely to spit cars in the kitty litter than less!
Meh! We will find out in a couple of months
And just to take the conversation further way from the weather - does anyone know of a site that maps different configuration of the Circuit de la Sarthe? Can find outlines of different configurations but never work out things like where the old "Le Mans town" hairpin was/is?
If they ARE changing the line, if anything it would look like they are making Mulsanne tighter, which is more likely to spit cars in the kitty litter than less!
Meh! We will find out in a couple of months
And just to take the conversation further way from the weather - does anyone know of a site that maps different configuration of the Circuit de la Sarthe? Can find outlines of different configurations but never work out things like where the old "Le Mans town" hairpin was/is?
Edited by //j17 on Thursday 11th June 15:50
//j17 said:
IS the plan to change the racing line and remove the rumble strips, or is the idea if someone has an "Oops!" moment infront of you coming in to Mulsanne corner, you can cut inside, over the rumble strips, and on to tarmac rather than grass so your brakes and steering still work? Mean while the car having an "Oops!" can just abort the corner and hold it straight, plowing through the green/white cones and in to the new expanse of tarmac, where they can regain control, turn around, and have a view back up the Mulsanne to see when they can safely rejoin. And if someone has their "Oops!" mid corner they run wide, through gravel and have a new slip lane to rejoin, so further towards Arnage than the target point for the car behind and at a greater speed.
If they ARE changing the line, if anything it would look like they are making Mulsanne tighter, which is more likely to spit cars in the kitty litter than less!
Meh! We will find out in a couple of months
And just to take the conversation further way from the weather - does anyone know of a site that maps different configuration of the Circuit de la Sarthe? Can find outlines of different configurations but never work out things like where the old "Le Mans town" hairpin was/is?
If they ARE changing the line, if anything it would look like they are making Mulsanne tighter, which is more likely to spit cars in the kitty litter than less!
Meh! We will find out in a couple of months
And just to take the conversation further way from the weather - does anyone know of a site that maps different configuration of the Circuit de la Sarthe? Can find outlines of different configurations but never work out things like where the old "Le Mans town" hairpin was/is?
Edited by //j17 on Thursday 11th June 15:50
If the race does go ahead in September, presumably the ACO would need to pay a load of €€ out to the authorities for the road closures, and the marshalling etc would all cost money that won't be recouped by ticket receipts or the various vendors who will pay a good chunk to the organisers to be there...
I can't see how it would make financial sense to run it, unless the ACO decides they need to run something for continuity's sake.
lowdrag's optimism because of a drop in local cases is just the kind of reason why they might say they don't want 200,000 people travelling from outside, all showing up and spending the weekend with zero social distancing (would the grandstands be open?). And the 24h motorbike race that's behind closed doors and on the Bugatti circuit is only 3 weeks before the dates of the 24h du Mans.
I'm betting that after the hoo-haa of the virtual Le Mans this w/e, they'll announce that it's not happening in September.
I can't see how it would make financial sense to run it, unless the ACO decides they need to run something for continuity's sake.
lowdrag's optimism because of a drop in local cases is just the kind of reason why they might say they don't want 200,000 people travelling from outside, all showing up and spending the weekend with zero social distancing (would the grandstands be open?). And the 24h motorbike race that's behind closed doors and on the Bugatti circuit is only 3 weeks before the dates of the 24h du Mans.
I'm betting that after the hoo-haa of the virtual Le Mans this w/e, they'll announce that it's not happening in September.
ewand said:
If the race does go ahead in September, presumably the ACO would need to pay a load of €€ out to the authorities for the road closures, and the marshalling etc would all cost money that won't be recouped by ticket receipts or the various vendors who will pay a good chunk to the organisers to be there...
I can't see how it would make financial sense to run it, unless the ACO decides they need to run something for continuity's sake.
lowdrag's optimism because of a drop in local cases is just the kind of reason why they might say they don't want 200,000 people travelling from outside, all showing up and spending the weekend with zero social distancing (would the grandstands be open?). And the 24h motorbike race that's behind closed doors and on the Bugatti circuit is only 3 weeks before the dates of the 24h du Mans.
I'm betting that after the hoo-haa of the virtual Le Mans this w/e, they'll announce that it's not happening in September.
According to lowdrag that figure would be about 50,000 based on 1969 I think he said. That makes sense, the end of the summer holidays etc, hours of darkness, cold etc etc does lessen the appeal for all bar those who have a condition and need to go even if its in the middle of winter (like me now).I can't see how it would make financial sense to run it, unless the ACO decides they need to run something for continuity's sake.
lowdrag's optimism because of a drop in local cases is just the kind of reason why they might say they don't want 200,000 people travelling from outside, all showing up and spending the weekend with zero social distancing (would the grandstands be open?). And the 24h motorbike race that's behind closed doors and on the Bugatti circuit is only 3 weeks before the dates of the 24h du Mans.
I'm betting that after the hoo-haa of the virtual Le Mans this w/e, they'll announce that it's not happening in September.
However your point still remains. 1 party in india disrupted some 700 people, infecting 180 - how on earth will they justify taking such a risk? I still don't understand how 180 at an Indian party could have caught it from one person - my Indian colleagues confirmed they don't hug and kiss for greetings as it is.
Voyager75 said:
//j17 said:
IS the plan to change the racing line and remove the rumble strips, or is the idea if someone has an "Oops!" moment infront of you coming in to Mulsanne corner, you can cut inside, over the rumble strips, and on to tarmac rather than grass so your brakes and steering still work? Mean while the car having an "Oops!" can just abort the corner and hold it straight, plowing through the green/white cones and in to the new expanse of tarmac, where they can regain control, turn around, and have a view back up the Mulsanne to see when they can safely rejoin. And if someone has their "Oops!" mid corner they run wide, through gravel and have a new slip lane to rejoin, so further towards Arnage than the target point for the car behind and at a greater speed.
If they ARE changing the line, if anything it would look like they are making Mulsanne tighter, which is more likely to spit cars in the kitty litter than less!
Meh! We will find out in a couple of months
And just to take the conversation further way from the weather - does anyone know of a site that maps different configuration of the Circuit de la Sarthe? Can find outlines of different configurations but never work out things like where the old "Le Mans town" hairpin was/is?
If they ARE changing the line, if anything it would look like they are making Mulsanne tighter, which is more likely to spit cars in the kitty litter than less!
Meh! We will find out in a couple of months
And just to take the conversation further way from the weather - does anyone know of a site that maps different configuration of the Circuit de la Sarthe? Can find outlines of different configurations but never work out things like where the old "Le Mans town" hairpin was/is?
Edited by //j17 on Thursday 11th June 15:50
I imagine that the infections probably occurred from pre party exposures, due to the lifting of lockdown rules, as you say for it all to have happened from one specific point is a bit dubious. This is the way way we are going to roll though, without a vaccine, unless cases reduce to one or two and people are still passing it on, why would anyone attend a mass gathering, whether it's this autumn or next June, or the next. In the UK we are looking at the deaths fluctuating from below a 100 to 250/300, depending on when they are reported, of course any death is tragic, but it's the number of infections that matter and they seem to constant at 2K, or more if you look at the ONS figures of up to 8K. Until that figure reduces to zero we need to remain under some sort of reduced mobility laws, and that could take years, 'cos this seems to be one sneaky son of a virus, not too deadly, but viralent enough to allow itself to stay alive in the population, for a long while. I'm listening to the science to form my tactics, rather than the politicians angle, putting economic recovery/placating the populus, up against expected further mortality, arising from calcuated exposure models.
Voyager75 said:
Cheers!All these years I've been wanting to add "Drive as close to the original circuit route as possible" to my list of Le Mans traditions and turns out I'd been doing a chunk of it just driving from Bleu to Centre Sud!
Will add a fuller version in Sept/2021 to the standard list of trying to get a lap of the public road section, and slowing down and giving a nod of respect to Simonsen's tree.
//j17 said:
And just to take the conversation further way from the weather - does anyone know of a site that maps different configuration of the Circuit de la Sarthe? Can find outlines of different configurations but never work out things like where the old "Le Mans town" hairpin was/is?
I’d love to see the old configurations overlaid on google maps. Please Edited by //j17 on Thursday 11th June 15:50
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