Discussion
As a Le Mans 24hr regular since 1980, it is with a heavy heart that I have made the decision that my next Le Mans venture will probably be the 2018 Classic.
I enjoyed both events this year, especially the Classic with the great weather that we had, slightly less so the 24 hour with the dampness and what seems to be the trending weather over the last few years. (great race though and really showed that to finish first, first you have to finish)
Maybe it is an age thing, but my memories of my early Le Mans trips seemed to involve sunshine, something of a novelty these days.
I have many fantastic memories of all the races, funfairs and stuff in general that went on, except for the toilets !! we used to go as long as possible without using them because they quite frankly seemed dangerous places to be back then, now they are a pleasure to use.
Over the years we have camped (on and off circuit), slept in cars, hotels and Chateaux, driven down in a mixture of cars, some less exotic than others. Crossed the channel on every crossing available and stayed anything from Friday to Sunday - to arriving the Tuesday before and leaving the Tuesday after.
Our early years involved doing the pit timing for Hugh Chamberlain, hanging out the timing board at Mulsanne on the old pit wall at the golf club - happy days !!
Well one day we must write all our adventures down - could make for an amusing read.
So I have 6 months to change my mind, but I don't think it will happen somehow.
Bob
I enjoyed both events this year, especially the Classic with the great weather that we had, slightly less so the 24 hour with the dampness and what seems to be the trending weather over the last few years. (great race though and really showed that to finish first, first you have to finish)
Maybe it is an age thing, but my memories of my early Le Mans trips seemed to involve sunshine, something of a novelty these days.
I have many fantastic memories of all the races, funfairs and stuff in general that went on, except for the toilets !! we used to go as long as possible without using them because they quite frankly seemed dangerous places to be back then, now they are a pleasure to use.
Over the years we have camped (on and off circuit), slept in cars, hotels and Chateaux, driven down in a mixture of cars, some less exotic than others. Crossed the channel on every crossing available and stayed anything from Friday to Sunday - to arriving the Tuesday before and leaving the Tuesday after.
Our early years involved doing the pit timing for Hugh Chamberlain, hanging out the timing board at Mulsanne on the old pit wall at the golf club - happy days !!
Well one day we must write all our adventures down - could make for an amusing read.
So I have 6 months to change my mind, but I don't think it will happen somehow.
Bob
Most years Elroy, missed a few for births, deaths, marriages, that sort of thing, if we knew that we could not make the race we would certainly do the practice weekend that in those days used to be in May.
Slightly fallen out of love with the corporate ways that the race has fallen into, long gone are the days of sneaking onto the old pit balcony in the middle of the night. Photography is a passion of mine and nowadays that is pretty much killed by the fencing and stuff.
Also looking for something slightly different, maybe 'Circuit des Remparts' in Angouleme for September 2017 could be the answer. That would scratch the motorsport itch and still give us a our French trip fix (we love France and all that comes with it)
Slightly fallen out of love with the corporate ways that the race has fallen into, long gone are the days of sneaking onto the old pit balcony in the middle of the night. Photography is a passion of mine and nowadays that is pretty much killed by the fencing and stuff.
Also looking for something slightly different, maybe 'Circuit des Remparts' in Angouleme for September 2017 could be the answer. That would scratch the motorsport itch and still give us a our French trip fix (we love France and all that comes with it)
Matt - Heat and Dust, perfectly sums up early Le Mans for me. It used to take weeks to get that bloody orangey grey dust out of all the little nooks and crannies, but hey that was part of the deal.
Daytona and Sebring are still on my bucket list, I managed to scratch my Nascar itch at Charlotte a couple of years ago (BOA 500,what a show those boys put on) and I thought Le Mans was cheap !
I still love Le Mans, but feel a year off will do me good (and my racing buddy who has been with me for all my trips)
Looked at some options, Angouleme, and recently Classic Race Aarhus (Denmark) as this is a place I visited a lot when I worked in the UK for a Danish company. Scandinavians are great by the way, really fun people, so that would be good.
Not renewed my ACO membership that has just expired, so that finally means no LM14 next year by the way.
Bob
Daytona and Sebring are still on my bucket list, I managed to scratch my Nascar itch at Charlotte a couple of years ago (BOA 500,what a show those boys put on) and I thought Le Mans was cheap !
I still love Le Mans, but feel a year off will do me good (and my racing buddy who has been with me for all my trips)
Looked at some options, Angouleme, and recently Classic Race Aarhus (Denmark) as this is a place I visited a lot when I worked in the UK for a Danish company. Scandinavians are great by the way, really fun people, so that would be good.
Not renewed my ACO membership that has just expired, so that finally means no LM14 next year by the way.
Bob
simonhole said:
being the reprobate who was Bob's mucker on all of his trips we have seen many changes,my first year was 1979,and i think i have missed maybe 3 0r 4 races in between,but if i missed the race i would do the practice weekend instead......
just couldnt keep way,...the worst and i do mean THE WORST change they ever made in the years we have been going was those bloody chicanes in the mulsanne,and the alteration to the mulsanne corner well to me its never been the same since then,yeah i know things have to move with the times, the paddock and pits were in need of change,a good addition,the bogs, well anything was an improvement to what was there!!!!believe me,they are 100% better than they were!
So the Same as Bob i am not going this year,need a year off to get my enthusiasm back,too many years seem to have rain,and i am getting too old to camp under those conditions,Classic Le Mans is, i have to admit, becoming the event that i enjoy more nowadays,..... so i am starting to think i will do Classic one year and the race the next as a compromise.
i have been saying for years now i am not going ,and always end up changing my mind,
but this year i think i will get a few beers in, get a baguette some Pate and Fromage and tune in to Radio Le Mans turn the sound off on the tele and watch all 24 hours from the comfort of my sofa,,in fact thinking about it you will probably see more,but i know very well i will be pining to be there,especially as the flag drops and the hair stands up on the back of my neck as it always does,i rub my hands together,and get set for 24 hrs of REAL racing
I would like to add that we have known each other for over 50 years ! our other venture into racing and 24 hours was endurance slot racing back in the days when Ross Brawn was a slot racer - even then the one to beat !just couldnt keep way,...the worst and i do mean THE WORST change they ever made in the years we have been going was those bloody chicanes in the mulsanne,and the alteration to the mulsanne corner well to me its never been the same since then,yeah i know things have to move with the times, the paddock and pits were in need of change,a good addition,the bogs, well anything was an improvement to what was there!!!!believe me,they are 100% better than they were!
So the Same as Bob i am not going this year,need a year off to get my enthusiasm back,too many years seem to have rain,and i am getting too old to camp under those conditions,Classic Le Mans is, i have to admit, becoming the event that i enjoy more nowadays,..... so i am starting to think i will do Classic one year and the race the next as a compromise.
i have been saying for years now i am not going ,and always end up changing my mind,
but this year i think i will get a few beers in, get a baguette some Pate and Fromage and tune in to Radio Le Mans turn the sound off on the tele and watch all 24 hours from the comfort of my sofa,,in fact thinking about it you will probably see more,but i know very well i will be pining to be there,especially as the flag drops and the hair stands up on the back of my neck as it always does,i rub my hands together,and get set for 24 hrs of REAL racing
So we are making plans now for 2018 - has to be the Classic at least (????the race as well ?? @Simon)
Meanwhile this year looking forward to some hillclimbs at least.
Bob
JT3K said:
I know there "have been great times in the past" and all, but things change and the whole thing is what you make it. For me, the ridiculousness of some of the camping setups, the chance to meet up with great friends that I only see a couple of times a year, the racing and the history all combine to make the entire thing an intoxicating experience.
Yes: there are too many "fences" or "blocked off areas"; the ACO is a pain; bits are expensive; Audi ran rampant and annexed the "media centre"; and (the biggest crime of all IMHO) Porsche was allowed to annexe Maison Blanche.
However, I challenge you not to stand in the grandstands for free on Thursday night and get goosebumps from night qualifying, to fail to find something that appeals on Friday with the current seven (very) different competing things I count going on, to fail to feel the magic as the cavalcade passes on the warm up lap or to tear up as the fairly silent crowd that's just finished respectfully listening to the other national anthems belts out "God Save the Queen". Surely even after all those years and visits, there's still something you've not ticked off the list?
If the ACO has to commercialise to survive, make it so. In the meantime, it would be nice if John could have his rightful place back in the media centre and Porsche allowed MB to be filled with campers again rather than a notional number of pitches.
I don't think there is anything left to "tick off the list" our tick list is as long as the race !! I cannot disagree with you regarding the goosebumps at various times but I have to say that in the last few years they have been diminishing (or been replaced by goosebumps caused by the cold and rain)Yes: there are too many "fences" or "blocked off areas"; the ACO is a pain; bits are expensive; Audi ran rampant and annexed the "media centre"; and (the biggest crime of all IMHO) Porsche was allowed to annexe Maison Blanche.
However, I challenge you not to stand in the grandstands for free on Thursday night and get goosebumps from night qualifying, to fail to find something that appeals on Friday with the current seven (very) different competing things I count going on, to fail to feel the magic as the cavalcade passes on the warm up lap or to tear up as the fairly silent crowd that's just finished respectfully listening to the other national anthems belts out "God Save the Queen". Surely even after all those years and visits, there's still something you've not ticked off the list?
If the ACO has to commercialise to survive, make it so. In the meantime, it would be nice if John could have his rightful place back in the media centre and Porsche allowed MB to be filled with campers again rather than a notional number of pitches.
I have to say that we are now eager already for next years race and classic and "will be back" (in the words of Arnie) refreshed and ready to go again, however at 65 I don't think I have as many left in me as I have done in the past !!
Bob
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