From Caen to Le Mans

From Caen to Le Mans

Author
Discussion

RL17

1,231 posts

92 months

Thursday 4th August 2022
quotequote all
lowdrag said:
The 100th anniversary of the ACO comes but once. Given the choice, I would take the 24 Hours next year without a shadow of a doubt.
Totally agree - some good memories from 4 Classics (mainly driving home in 2014 and a few other away from the track stuff). Can remember cars from Classic (but barely a driver or a race or an overtake - maybe 2 GT40's on trailers after a fast greasy night race) and the cars streaking away from Mulsanne corner or GT40s with glowing brakes at night). driving to Hotel de France after this year and seeing lots of the race Bentleys was great - expect it will be similar to previous events and no unexpected twists or dramas

Main race - last 4 proper attendance races - loads of cars, drivers, incidents, victories, mechanical failures. Kobayashi's lap record, 919 comeback against Jackie Chan racing, paratroopers dropping with flag, Aston v Corvette last few laps, Toyota hybrid overtakes out of corners, Toyota magicing up Alonso victories, Conway driving through Indianapolis at night every lap bang on same time, dawn at Dunlop, AM pit visit at 3.30am plus trip to Dunlop, 11m trip to europop pub after France had won at football and then french kicking off, going on bigwheel at 4am. Even the support races are good. Night practice and qualifying on Thursdays. Beers during races and endurance aspect of races and just endurance watching........radio le mans commentary, waking up in a 45 deg tent after 1 hours sleep at 9am, driving into St Saturnin or down to Hotel de France before the race, plus its a full Wed to Monday event or even longer, Mulsanne car show, drivers parade in town - great atmosphere and buzz of thousands of packed terraces hours before the start, thousnads of overtakes each race, split second countdown to the rolling start bang on 4pm, constant noise for over 24 hours then quiet and more party on Sunday evening...............seeing history being made (not visiting a museum with moving exhibits)

and most of all - not waiting ages for a drawn out toy car parade as Little Big Mans struggles up the slope when the 24! hours (struggle to see 15 hours of action on track) of the Classic should be starting smile