How is Maison Blanche looking? Will I need a wellies?
Discussion
The good news is that it seems all the work has finished because I haven't seen a lorry there for a while and the metal gates are all locked up. They've rebuilt completely the little Maison Blanche race circuit and put up the big concrete plank wall so I can't see inside any more. However all the new tarmac roads were finished a while back, even down to white lines. Last time I could see inside as I went by the earth was down and it looked as if they were seeding. I just hope it stops raining for June because yesterday we had a monsoon for over an hour and heavy showers all weekend. The bike boys are really enjoying their camping this weekend I'm sure! They aren't using MB though - closed to let things settle and mature.
Biblical? You should have seen yesterday! It was more a monsoon than rain here, far harder than last year's Le Mans. I passsed by the circuit this afternoon and the state of the camping area should be seen to be believed. On the news there are now over 30 licences withdrawn and tomorrow I'll tell you the total when I've read it in the paper.
The general expression here is that it is the "council house crowd" that comes to the 24 hour bike race and the "gentlemen" to the bike GP. I wouldn't risk going up to the circuit and I had someone here for the weekend from England who was wearing a Rolex Daytona. I took it off him before he went up to the circuit otherwise I am fairly sure he could have been severly injured and lost the watch. I don't go - ever. However, since the first time I went to le Mans in 1969 the behaviour of the crowd for the 24 hour car race has deteriorated sharply. I found it disgusting that last year on the friday people were p****ng into water pistols and spraying the contents inside of cars, even over families and children. It seems that a lot of people are giving the race a miss this year and coming to the Classic instead. The chav element is seemingly taking over and manners deteriorating, but then I am getting old and see it perhaps deifferently.
Lat year we went to the Houx Roundabout on Friday night. I was appaulled at the behaviour.
At Le-Mans aren't we all there for the cars - seems not. Bottles being smashed onto the road for the passing cars to drive over. Booting car doors, trying to get into passing cars. Pooring beer etc into convertables - It just wasn't fun.
Hopefully will be better this year!
At Le-Mans aren't we all there for the cars - seems not. Bottles being smashed onto the road for the passing cars to drive over. Booting car doors, trying to get into passing cars. Pooring beer etc into convertables - It just wasn't fun.
Hopefully will be better this year!
Stevem5 said:
Lat year we went to the Houx Roundabout on Friday night. I was appaulled at the behaviour.
At Le-Mans aren't we all there for the cars - seems not. Bottles being smashed onto the road for the passing cars to drive over. Booting car doors, trying to get into passing cars. Pooring beer etc into convertables - It just wasn't fun.
Hopefully will be better this year!
Indeed, This is something I will be giving a miss this year!At Le-Mans aren't we all there for the cars - seems not. Bottles being smashed onto the road for the passing cars to drive over. Booting car doors, trying to get into passing cars. Pooring beer etc into convertables - It just wasn't fun.
Hopefully will be better this year!
lowdrag said:
The general expression here is that it is the "council house crowd" that comes to the 24 hour bike race and the "gentlemen" to the bike GP. I wouldn't risk going up to the circuit and I had someone here for the weekend from England who was wearing a Rolex Daytona. I took it off him before he went up to the circuit otherwise I am fairly sure he could have been severly injured and lost the watch. I don't go - ever. However, since the first time I went to le Mans in 1969 the behaviour of the crowd for the 24 hour car race has deteriorated sharply. I found it disgusting that last year on the friday people were p****ng into water pistols and spraying the contents inside of cars, even over families and children. It seems that a lot of people are giving the race a miss this year and coming to the Classic instead. The chav element is seemingly taking over and manners deteriorating, but then I am getting old and see it perhaps deifferently.
Gotta say after last years 24hr car race I decided not to go again .. and I've been about 10 or more times.Some of the crowd now seem to be chav / football fans..
and not the well meaning sports car fans.
Or perhaps I'm just getting old.
I recon your just getting old... I've been every year since 1993 and remember bad behaviour every year... just steer clear of the few that ruin it for the majority. Loads of approachable motorsport fans last year, just the same as the many years before.
The only negative thing I would say, I think the new 'village' seems to be a bad step, the atmosphere up there has been destroyed - but that will grow on me i'm sure. A lot of die hard fans didn't like the new pits, but since that's all I've ever known I don't think they're a bad thing.
I'm doing the Classic (aswell) this year for the first time, will be interesting to see how different it is!
Dave
The only negative thing I would say, I think the new 'village' seems to be a bad step, the atmosphere up there has been destroyed - but that will grow on me i'm sure. A lot of die hard fans didn't like the new pits, but since that's all I've ever known I don't think they're a bad thing.
I'm doing the Classic (aswell) this year for the first time, will be interesting to see how different it is!
Dave
Edited by MaestroDave on Tuesday 22 April 14:36
MaestroDave,
I agree all you say.
As regards Le Classic, this year will be my third. I think you'll like it, particularly getting into the paddock, assuming you have the right passes, and the very relaxed atmosphere and slower pace. There's also the sound of several Ford GT40s that cannot be bettered!
I have to say that Le Classic seems to be getting more and more fans and I hope that they all are enthusiasts so that the misbehaviour element seen at the 24 hours doesn't happen.
R.
I agree all you say.
As regards Le Classic, this year will be my third. I think you'll like it, particularly getting into the paddock, assuming you have the right passes, and the very relaxed atmosphere and slower pace. There's also the sound of several Ford GT40s that cannot be bettered!
I have to say that Le Classic seems to be getting more and more fans and I hope that they all are enthusiasts so that the misbehaviour element seen at the 24 hours doesn't happen.
R.
MaestroDave said:
....remember bad behaviour every year... just steer clear of the few that ruin it for the majority. Loads of approachable motorsport fans last year, just the same as the many years before.
The only negative thing I would say, I think the new 'village' seems to be a bad step, the atmosphere up there has been destroyed - but that will grow on me i'm sure. A lot of die hard fans didn't like the new pits, but since that's all I've ever known I don't think they're a bad thing.
Totally agree with Dave!The only negative thing I would say, I think the new 'village' seems to be a bad step, the atmosphere up there has been destroyed - but that will grow on me i'm sure. A lot of die hard fans didn't like the new pits, but since that's all I've ever known I don't think they're a bad thing.
I've been going on and off for 14 years now and also noticed the change in the people/atmosphere & the circuit developments. The last time I went was in 2006 with a mate who hadn't been before. It was his first time so he didn't know any different and he had a great time. Partly (but not only!) as a result of his enthusiasm I had an excellent time aswell. We're going back this year with 2 more "virgins" so can't wait for more of the same
With 250,000+ people at the race spread over several miles of campsites around the circuit it's easy to avoid the known spots where things can get a bit out of hand because of a minority of people and still find loads of sensible like minded folks to mix with
Longers
MaestroDave said:
I'm doing the Classic (aswell) this year for the first time, will be interesting to see how different it is!
1) More beards.2) 10 billion near-identical Porsches.
3) 5 billion men wearing Porsche Owners Club shirt/jacket/tie/trousers/shoes/socks/watch/hat/glasses/underware (I'm assuming the last one - no, I didn't dare check).
4) Too many polishers.
Edited by //j17 on Tuesday 22 April 16:40
//j17 said:
MaestroDave said:
I'm doing the Classic (aswell) this year for the first time, will be interesting to see how different it is!
1) More beards.2) 10 billion near-identical Porsches.
3) 5 billion men wearing Porsche Owners Club shirt/jacket/tie/trousers/shoes/socks/watch/hat/glasses/underware (I'm assuming the last one - no, I didn't dare check).
4) Too many polishers.
Edited by //j17 on Tuesday 22 April 16:40
Agree with others here the main race has lost its appeal for me too, so again as in 2004 / 6 we are heading back to the classic, OH and forget the Porches there's 70 odd COBRAS going this year, most invading MB for the weekend, and no we are not all a bunch of polishers........
Love the photo Lowdrag, is the offspring illegitimate ?????
Love the photo Lowdrag, is the offspring illegitimate ?????
lowdrag said:
The general expression here is that it is the "council house crowd" that comes to the 24 hour bike race and the "gentlemen" to the bike GP. I wouldn't risk going up to the circuit and I had someone here for the weekend from England who was wearing a Rolex Daytona. I took it off him before he went up to the circuit otherwise I am fairly sure he could have been severly injured and lost the watch. I don't go - ever. However, since the first time I went to le Mans in 1969 the behaviour of the crowd for the 24 hour car race has deteriorated sharply. I found it disgusting that last year on the friday people were p****ng into water pistols and spraying the contents inside of cars, even over families and children. It seems that a lot of people are giving the race a miss this year and coming to the Classic instead. The chav element is seemingly taking over and manners deteriorating, but then I am getting old and see it perhaps deifferently.
, totally agree. Only doing the Classic this year.Gassing Station | Le Mans | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff