Lower number of British fans at 2017 24h of Le Mans?
Discussion
Echo much of this especially the travelling.
Appreciate it's not the most favoured route but Poole/Cherbourg boat out on Thursday morning was almost deserted compared to other trips we've done. Packed for the trip back on Monday however.
Arriving at LM on Thursday afternoon normally means a little back lane road rally to get to the TL entrance near the Stella Bar but this year we were straight in off the main route and down past the bar with no fuss.
Cross country to the beach for lunch before the boat back means we hardly see any returning cars but the view when we get there is worth it.
A great trip this year, must be the sunshine!
Appreciate it's not the most favoured route but Poole/Cherbourg boat out on Thursday morning was almost deserted compared to other trips we've done. Packed for the trip back on Monday however.
Arriving at LM on Thursday afternoon normally means a little back lane road rally to get to the TL entrance near the Stella Bar but this year we were straight in off the main route and down past the bar with no fuss.
Cross country to the beach for lunch before the boat back means we hardly see any returning cars but the view when we get there is worth it.
A great trip this year, must be the sunshine!
We havent done caen - le mans before but were struck by how empty the roads were and had no massive toll queues like you get on the rouen route. We were expecting the usual hour queue to get down off the motorway and past the back of the grandstands but just sailed straight through in 5 mins.
Maybe the lack of a webber/hulkenberg type popular guest driver was another factor to add to the brexit/threat levels?
Maybe the lack of a webber/hulkenberg type popular guest driver was another factor to add to the brexit/threat levels?
It was more noticeable on the wednesday and thursday, our campsite is normally full by then but was half empty, most people arrived on thursday evening ready for friday. We all said there were considerably less people than last year (last year was too busy mind you). We put it down to the same things mentioned above, weak pound, 10 euro pints, crappy ACO that didn't have milk for coffees (you couldn't make it up), terrorist threat must've drove a few people away, It was one of my fav le mans for a while tho, the racing was amazing, it was wonderful to have a bit of sun, especially after last years washout.
This year was the first time in 20 years that I didn't attend. The reason was personal - and I'll likely be back next year - but I have to confess the collapsing pound, general euro-weariness and the fact that the ACO and various suppliers made no attempt to even mitigate the costs made it far easier to bear than I thought.
I guess we get to see how important the UK contingent is to the ACO?
I guess we get to see how important the UK contingent is to the ACO?
chrisr111r said:
We havent done caen - le mans before but were struck by how empty the roads were and had no massive toll queues like you get on the rouen route. We were expecting the usual hour queue to get down off the motorway and past the back of the grandstands but just sailed straight through in 5 mins.
Maybe the lack of a webber/hulkenberg type popular guest driver was another factor to add to the brexit/threat levels?
No massive queues on the Rouen route either on the way down (Thursday morning) or back (straight after race).Maybe the lack of a webber/hulkenberg type popular guest driver was another factor to add to the brexit/threat levels?
icepop said:
Have to agree with the low numbers, everywhere was quiet compared to previous years.
Hi LOWDRAG, was that your ali bodied Jag in the Mulsanne car park, on Saturday evening ?
Hmm, my XKSS was at Mulsanne bend in the afternoon, then did the parade, then went to the pizza place near the church and then went home. I was sitting watching Eurosport with friends who work at Jaguar and I wasn't interested in driving it at all due to recovering from a back operation and the heat. A beer and good conversation seemed better.Hi LOWDRAG, was that your ali bodied Jag in the Mulsanne car park, on Saturday evening ?
lowdrag said:
icepop said:
Have to agree with the low numbers, everywhere was quiet compared to previous years.
Hi LOWDRAG, was that your ali bodied Jag in the Mulsanne car park, on Saturday evening ?
Hmm, my XKSS was at Mulsanne bend in the afternoon, then did the parade, then went to the pizza place near the church and then went home. I was sitting watching Eurosport with friends who work at Jaguar and I wasn't interested in driving it at all due to recovering from a back operation and the heat. A beer and good conversation seemed better.Hi LOWDRAG, was that your ali bodied Jag in the Mulsanne car park, on Saturday evening ?
lowdrag said:
Hmm, my XKSS was at Mulsanne bend in the afternoon, then did the parade, then went to the pizza place near the church and then went home. I was sitting watching Eurosport with friends who work at Jaguar and I wasn't interested in driving it at all due to recovering from a back operation and the heat. A beer and good conversation seemed better.
Completely off topic now, but if you're ever in the UK visitng Jaguar Classic, drop me a line and I'll buy you a beer. I live about 3 miles from there and it would be lovely to see one of your cars.Well, I was at Gaydon earlier in the year with the car! It was so funny, being in the museum and examining the first E-type 77RW, opening the boot to show some people the difference between that car and later ones, and then one of the staff zooming up and telling me I had no right to open the boot.
So I asked him what the differences were, and he hadn't a clue. I pointed out the central drain hole and not one each side, the single boot struts and not double, the rubber seal on the lid and not the chassis, and he hadn't got a clue what I was talking about. But he left me alone after that when I looked at a car;)
When we left, I saw a sign for the "Malt and Shovel(?) pub and went there. Lovely to see one beam of the bar reserved for the retirees of Jaguar, with their name and date of retirement chalked up.
PS Ask Tony O'Keefe, he was staying at mine with others from the Jag!
So I asked him what the differences were, and he hadn't a clue. I pointed out the central drain hole and not one each side, the single boot struts and not double, the rubber seal on the lid and not the chassis, and he hadn't got a clue what I was talking about. But he left me alone after that when I looked at a car;)
When we left, I saw a sign for the "Malt and Shovel(?) pub and went there. Lovely to see one beam of the bar reserved for the retirees of Jaguar, with their name and date of retirement chalked up.
PS Ask Tony O'Keefe, he was staying at mine with others from the Jag!
Edited by lowdrag on Friday 30th June 13:32
lowdrag said:
PS Ask Tony O'Keefe, he was staying at mine with others from the Jag!
Brother of Jim I'm guessing - we run a taekwondo club together, he also rang me up to gloat about what a marvellous time he was having staying at the house with the pool and meeting the Aston Martin team. So I told him our campsite had a pool and that we met the Toyota team...but he realised I just made it up. Completely off topic, but here we go
IMG_1415 by Tony Brown, on Flickr
IMG_1422 by Tony Brown, on Flickr
IMG_1388 by Tony Brown, on Flickr
I hope they all enjoyed themselves. I did.
IMG_1415 by Tony Brown, on FlickrIMG_1422 by Tony Brown, on FlickrIMG_1388 by Tony Brown, on FlickrI hope they all enjoyed themselves. I did.
Edited by lowdrag on Sunday 2nd July 06:54
lowdrag said:
Hmm, my XKSS was at Mulsanne bend in the afternoon, then did the parade, then went to the pizza place near the church and then went home. I was sitting watching Eurosport with friends who work at Jaguar and I wasn't interested in driving it at all due to recovering from a back operation and the heat. A beer and good conversation seemed better.
I saw you parked up at the Super U. Absolutely stunning car!lowdrag said:
Completely off topic, but here we go
I hope they all enjoyed themselves. I did.
I think you'll find your pics will not be visible, i cant see them and ive found out why - unfortunately photobucket just changed the rules - they now want 399 USD for 3rd party hosting!!!
I hope they all enjoyed themselves. I did.
I know the lads had a brilliant time, i expect I'll hear all about it next monday (i was away last week)
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