Mad, or stupid?
Mad, or stupid?
Author
Discussion

Ollie Tebbutt

Original Poster:

160 posts

237 months

Friday 27th October 2006
quotequote all


Edited by Ollie. on Sunday 3rd December 19:45

richb

55,306 posts

307 months

Friday 27th October 2006
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Why would you consider that to be mad? If you can afford to buy the BMW and have the tents why not?

stone

1,538 posts

270 months

Friday 27th October 2006
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nuts

funkyol

1,816 posts

242 months

Friday 27th October 2006
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Ollie Tebbutt said:
Me and my mate have had this idea for about a year that when we are 17 (about 14 months time) we go out and buy something like an old Beemer 5 Series, and with a tent or trailer tent, drive down to Le Mans, and stay for a few nights on a local sight or something. We can do short term insurance, so prices aren't astronomical. So, are we mad, or totally insane?


Your insurance would cost you more than the car. Bear in mind that for lemans, you need to budget for food, fuel (in an old five series probably a couple of hundred quid), ferry, camping pass, race entry tickets etc. It all adds up. But the idea isn't mad at all. Go for it. If you can afford it - enjoy it!

ds240

5,418 posts

241 months

Friday 27th October 2006
quotequote all
Hi, I maybe mistaken but I believe the minimum age a uk licence holder can drive in France is 18.

Otherwise the idea sounds quite normal as far as a le mans weekend goes. It is well worth the trip though, just check on the age thing.

------------------------------
www.lemans24.piczo.com

Alex@POD

6,454 posts

238 months

Friday 27th October 2006
quotequote all
I know the minimum age required to obtain a french driving license is 18. I would imagine it applies to UK license holders too but I can't be sure.

However, if you can afford it it will be a very good trip, but I can't help thinking a 525 might be a little OTT as a new driver's car, just for a week end... First time I went, I had an AX, and I slept in the back of it during the race...

Ollie Tebbutt

Original Poster:

160 posts

237 months

Friday 27th October 2006
quotequote all
The only reason I thought of the Beemer coz one my cousins has just brought a red 1992 518i for next to nothing(£200), however flicking through past Autocar mags, the 518 is, well, rough and underpowered. So probably a no on that BM front.

jamiebae

6,245 posts

234 months

Friday 27th October 2006
quotequote all
ds240 said:
Hi, I maybe mistaken but I believe the minimum age a uk licence holder can drive in France is 18.

Otherwise the idea sounds quite normal as far as a le mans weekend goes. It is well worth the trip though, just check on the age thing.

------------------------------
www.lemans24.piczo.com


Yup, you can't drive in France until you're 18 I'm afraid, even if you have a full UK licence at 17.

DavidEVO

65 posts

240 months

Sunday 29th October 2006
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Ollie,

What can I say, great minds think alike, I thought the exact same thing, except we were planning on using “my” SJ413, or, if we could get the cash together, maybe a knackered XJS, alas the logistics proved kinda unfeasible, not to mention scuppered by the whole 18 rule, never mind eh… one day.

David

PS. Hi to the rest of you by the way, I’ve been around hear for a bit (I think under different names), and know a few of the Lotus mob, if only by association.


Edited by DavidEVO on Sunday 29th October 00:36

Ollie Tebbutt

Original Poster:

160 posts

237 months

Sunday 29th October 2006
quotequote all
LOL!!! Good 'ole Sjs, love em. Got an '89 SWB 2.6 Shogun instead, but fancied a change, well, for Le Mans anyway. I have a new fancy now anyway, you may laugh, but, a Ford Capri cloud9 I love 'em, and IMHO, they're seriously cool

DavidEVO

65 posts

240 months

Sunday 29th October 2006
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'Specially if you slot a Barker-esque V8 into them eh...

David

cronk-flakes

3,480 posts

276 months

Sunday 5th November 2006
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Just to get back on topic

It sounds like a great idea (if the being 18 is somewhat of a disability).
I've always thought about doing it myself but the last couple of years have been going with my dad and his friends (mentally, i think im the oldest one there ).

Always good to sit back and be chauffered. But if your gonna do it by yourself, you'd have to be 100% sure of what your plans are if somehing goes wrong (not that it will im sure. Most of the time, its best just to drink ). Maybe try and hook up with someone in your area thats going and is on here. Theres probably quite a few that are willing to take someone who pays there way. That way, you could be prepared for the madness.

drinkdrinkdrink

J



Edited by cronk-flakes on Sunday 5th November 00:26

hoddo

3,800 posts

238 months

Sunday 5th November 2006
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Ollie Tebbutt said:
Ford Capri


Nothing wrong with that at all. The only thing you will have to consider is any potential 'unexpecteds'

This is why if its your first time it may be more advantageous to go down in something happy in a French environment (Pug, Renault, Citroen etc) and then IF the worse does happen it should be no problem sorting it out.


//j17

4,918 posts

246 months

Monday 6th November 2006
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Chickens!

Convoyed down from the cost with a couple of Scottish guys we got chatting to on the ferry... and the MG Midget they had bought on eBay, sight unseen a week before.

Made it from Glasgow to Le Mans and back though (just).

willdew

2,138 posts

287 months

Monday 13th November 2006
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Think I was 19 when I first went. Can't recommend it strongly enough. We were in a diesel sierra estate that pumped out clouds of black smoke all the way there and back.

Make sure you see the strippers.

1960Zody

156 posts

234 months

Tuesday 14th November 2006
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willdew said:
.

Make sure you see the strippers.


There haven't been any for the past four years or so...

willdew

2,138 posts

287 months

Wednesday 15th November 2006
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1960Zody said:
willdew said:


Make sure you see the strippers.


There haven't been any for the past four years or so...


I know they vanished about 2000 but I thought they'd been back a couple of times in the intervening years? Don't think I saw the wall of death thing where they ride the bikes around the inside of that big barrel either in the last year or two.