SPA LMES

[GCerbera]

Anyone going over from the UK?

After such a great weekend at Silverstone, I'm thinking of making the trip.
(work permitting)

[The DJ 27]

Me and my Dad are going (subject to getting a crossing booked!) Had the hotel booked for months. Was rather special at Silverstone on Saturday wasn't it?

[TomOSmith]

I should be there. Anybody know why the race appears to be Sunday rather than Saturday as per three previous events?

[mutley]

DJ, have you tried speedferries? its a cheap seacat crossing Dover to Boulogne.

www.speedferries.co.uk/

[RichUK]

We're on holiday, otherwise we'd be going for sure!

[The DJ 27]

Race starts at 1:00pm on Sunday, over 144 laps or 6 hours. Thought the Monza round was on a Sunday as well?

[mutley]

Correct, there are 2 Saturday racesa and 2 Sunday races

[The DJ 27]

Entry list is up on DSC. Forty-nine cars! Highlights include the Pescarolo-Judd in LMP1, Labre have entered a Panoz GTP (aka the old GT1 car ), and the new Luccini LMP2 car. Should be an awesome race, 24 of the 49 entrants are prototypes

[alcad]

I’m off to Belgium next weekend to see the LMES race.

This is my first ever visit to spa And I was just wondering if anyone on here had been there before and had any tips on the best places to watch the racing from. I gather it’s a very large circuit surrounded by hills & forest but can you walk all the way round and what are the facilities there like?

Any information would be much appreciated.

[alec dudfield]

alcad said:

I’m off to Belgium next weekend to see the LMES race. This is my first ever visit to spa And I was just wondering if anyone on here had been there before and had any tips on the best places to watch the racing from. I gather it’s a very large circuit surrounded by hills & forest but can you walk all the way round and what are the facilities there like? Any information would be much appreciated.

Spa Francorchamps Circuit is a fantastic place to watch sportscars, and I think the most evocative I have been to. I like the Bus Stop and Stavelot but its all good.
The circuit is very long to walk round and can be confusing, but if you are energetic and well prepared it is quite possible. From the paddock one can drive around a huge amount, not sure how this works with a general admission pass.

The facilities at the circuit are basic. There is a cluster of food and drink kiosks in the centre of the paddock and sometimes places at Les Combes and the Bus Stop. I think there may be stuff at Rivage.

You will need to prepare as if for a hike, do take food, drink and weatherproofs, even if it looks fine. The weather can change in a short space of time.

Theres a good boulangerie in Francorchamps and the owner makes great take out sandwiches.
The Relais de Pommard is run by a guy called Jack who is really hospitable and does good bier and bar food.

Oh and of critical import: make sure you have change in your pocket. The WC has a compulsory tariff...which has caught at least one member of my team out before now.

I hope you enjoy your trip.

Alec

[happy snapper]

I’ll be there form Thursday midday ish or that’s the plan! Have a small job to get done on the car Wednesday so after that I’ll be off.

Spa and the surrounding villages will be very busy this weekend most of the villages are holding ceremonies to commemorate and remember the 60th anniversary of the WW2 atrocities.

[mutley]

alec dudfield said:

Oh and of critical import: make sure you have change in your pocket. The WC has a compulsory tariff...which has caught at least one member of my team out before now. I hope you enjoy your trip. Alec

Didn't get me at the 24hrs, just walk in and out and ignore them, I do.

But if you are out the "back" of the track near Pouhon, just go into the trees like everyone else.

Alcad, walk the track "backwards" so the cars are always comig towards you. So you'll go Bus Stop, Blancimont, etc to Les Combes, Kemel, Eau Rouge (you'll walk down Eau Rouge a killer on the way up)

Enjoy, and have frites and mayo in the bar area behind race ciontrol in the paddock, and enjoy a few beers (get cans)

[alcad]

Cheers for the info & advice chaps,

I’m looking forward to the trip immensely now, It’s another race track ticked off my must do list having already been to Le Mans, Monaco, Bathurst & most of the UK circuits.

Unfortunately I will have to refrain from any bier while im at the track as I have to drive back to Brussels after the race, But rest assured I will sample a few later in the evening …… At least it will save me some money on WC visits while im there.

Thanks,

Alcad.

[Pistonfest]

Results of today's free practise :
1. Audi UK - Kaffer 2 07 233
2. Creation Zytek 2 07 782
3. Audi Japan 2 08 006
4. Jota Zytek 2 08 626
5. Lister 2 09 293
6. Pescarolo Judd 2 10 740
7. Audi UK Davies 2 11 615
8. Rollcenter Dall 2 14 104
9. Team Nasamax 2 14 193
10. RML Lola 2 14 459

[GCerbera]

RSR place the ex Synergy TVR's 4 & 6th in GT after first free practice.

[t1grm]

mutley said:

Alcad, walk the track "backwards" so the cars are always comig towards you. So you'll go Bus Stop, Blancimont, etc to Les Combes, Kemel, Eau Rouge (you'll walk down Eau Rouge a killer on the way up)

Ditto that. My usual route is go in the entrance behind the start line stands with Eau Rouge on your left, go through the tunnel to the paddock, have a wander round the paddock and though the other tunnel by the F1 pits which comes out on the outside of the circuit by the bus stop. That’s a good place to watch the opening laps. Then as mutley says walk the circuit backwards down towards Blanchimont and so on.

Be warned it’s not paved in some areas (although it is possible to stick to the main drag and stay on concrete) so be prepared to get muddy feet if it rains. If it’s dry take the trouble to clamber down the embankment as far as the perimeter wire on the fast straight between Blanchimont and the Bus Stop. The footpath runs along the top of the embankment and a lot of people don’t bother to go down it because it’s very steep to get down and there are trees in the way. Of course they forget once you’re down the embankment the tress aren’t in the way anymore and you get a great view of the cars sweeping out of Blanchimont at super fast speeds and then blasting down the straight and slamming on the anchors for the Bus Stop.

If you can get into the paddock on race day go up to the gate at the inside of La Source. You can get some great close up photos of the cars exiting La Source if you stick your camera lens through the bars of the gate. Likewise if in the paddock; at the bottom of the hill there’s a gate near the pit exit where you can get good photos.

I haven’t been this excited since Le Mans

Will be there for race day so if you see a Black 968CS with a PH smiley on it say hello. And if anyone’s in Brussels on the Friday / Saturday night and wants a drink drop me a mail.

Edit: Oh I forgot to add. Assuming you all have cars with you drive the old circuit when you get a chance. See here:

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=123539&f=23&h=0




>> Edited by t1grm on Friday 10th September 14:25

[GCerbera]

The lead RSR TVR claimed 4th in GT for the start tomorrow, missing out on 2nd
by 0.31 and only 0.443 off GT Pole.

The 2nd RSR TVR claimed 11th while Racesports Salisbury are 16th.

Good luck for the race guys!

[Pistonfest]

Streaming Video, live results, etc etc here: [url]www.race-rally.be/2004/1000km2004/multimedia/streaming/livedyn/VideoLive.asp[/url] .
Enjoy.

[ccharlie6]

damn the #41 TVR with the flying kane and hughes got absolutely mullered by the audi, big time frontal damage on the TVR after the audi was tipped into a spin by a ferrari and then cannoned into the tiv whilst it was in the bus stop meaning it had no place to run, damn shame as the driver reckon they had the pace to win the class, backed up by the fact that their best lap so far was only a few tenths off the leading porsche

[racefan_uk]

Rollcentre Dallara had a BIG off at the top of Eau Rouge too. Patrick Pearce at the wheel. Shame as they might have been heading for a podium result too.