2015 24 Hours of Le Mans

+1

Bill, Townsend and Jeff worked their asses off.....very happy for them...

 

I agree, and that is what I did with our car. But then again, to call Dalla Lana an AM is really not fair!! In the AM class, there are in actual fact very few real Ams. It penalises those of us who really are but makes our results all the more special!! Also note that apart from the Corvette, who was handed victory when 51 had gearbox trouble, most of the Ams finished in front of the Pros.... Food for thought....

It is still the Greatest motor race in the world. A privilege to have participated in it, to have finished it and well. An amazing experience for an old guy like me!!!

 

Don't necessarily blame the driver. There is the possibility of a mechanical failure that may have caused that.

 

First, congrats on your race. Can someone explain to me what differentiates an Am (Amateur) from a Pro (Professional) in Le Mans? Or, point me to a URL. Based on sports I am more familiar with, I'm guessing it depends who gets paid to drive and who doesn't? Rather than some indication of experience. Thanks...T

 

I do not see how they can classify Paul Dalla Lana as an amateur. He has been racing and winning in multiple pro series in the US for years

 

Isn't someone classified as an amateur if they don't make their living via racing?

 

It sure looked like one in the replay I saw. Fox only showed one replay and it was from a good distance away though.

 

per the FIA's driver rating system....no.

Earl Bamber, a factory Porsche driver who won OA in the 919, was classified as a silver ("amateur") driver through the end of last year

 

If there are prizes for winning, does an amateur forego them? Are these folks amateur in the same sense that major college athletes in the U.S. are? They may get compensated via scholarships, free room and board, etc. but are not paid a salary for their service?
T

 

most true amateurs are paying six to seven figures for the privilege of being there.

 

This is a very true statement. Clearly 'AM' is a broad classification. He won the Continental Tire Sports Car Championship in 2011, while also racing in Grand Am with Turner Motorsports the same year.

He is a quick driver, with lots and lots of laps on his resume.

I'm still curious to know what happened. I guess we have to wait for him to tell us.

 

Not for a moment am I apportioning blame. Pro or Amateur, mistake or mechanical, to lose a healthy lead at Le Mans in the last hour is gutting and I really felt for the guy when it happens. That said leading at Le Mans in the last hour you want every bit of luck you can get and certainly the seasoned pro is the guy to have behind the wheel at this time.

As for Paul Dalla Lana being considered a Pro the reality is that he is first and foremost a Toronto property developer who took up motor racing in his later 40's. He has invested heavily in his racing, does a lot of it, and is pretty good at it to. That said he pays to race (nothing wrong with that) and does not derive his income from it so he is well considered an amateur.

 

I'm wondering if the steering wheel came off the splines.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nTwBp7dsAk[/ame]

 

Stuck throttle?

 

I agree with your statement that I think more manufacturers should come to Le Mans. I have no idea why Honda decided to show up in F1 first of all. Le Mans should have been their place.

Regarding Nissan, they also released a statement saying that they will surprise everyone this year. Not good PR, IMO.

 

possible, but it seems that once the car hit the curbs on driver's left it went perfectly straight...if the throttle stuck he could have turned, if a suspension piece broke he'd still have some steering ability...but straight in like that could have been steering rack, and the easiest/most likely solution is the steering wheel came loose.

 

It'll never happen, but I'd nearly kill to see the development of a "super car" class. Something where track prepped LaF's, 918s, P1's, etc. could Duke it out. A really "stock" class save for safety gear, tires, and brakes. Make the homologation limit 50 cars or something.



Mark

 

you mean like FIA GT1?

 

Yes, FIA GT1 of the 90's. Very much yes. All the yes.



Mark

 

there really is a great case to be made for that, especially since all the hypercars are hybrids too (P1, LaFa, 918, etc)

 

Thank you.

To answer your question, an AM car is made up of a Gold, silver and Bronze driver. In theory, any driver who has won a major Championship as a Bronze becomes a Silver. However, there are exceptions. For e.g. If you are over 50 you are always a Bronze. There is also a fair amount of subjectivity to the Silver category.

A silver is also a Pro in many cases and drivers look to get themselves downgraded in order to be eligible to make up a AM team...etc!!!

Not simple, but has nothing to do with getting paid or not even though it is almost always the Gentleman who foots the bill. That is the way motor racing works!! Take away the Gentlemen and there would be few cars on the grid. It is also why the AM class is so competitive,

 

Thanks Barton, I had just messaged Gary Watkins of Autosport asking him for the data before I saw your post. Usually the highest top speeds are just before the first Mulsanne chicane and that is where they measure them though they go almost as fast from Mulsanne to Indianapolis, then the pre and post 2nd chicane sections on the Mulsanne follow along with the bit between Arnage and the Porsche curves.

Makes you wonder how engines could survive in the old pre 1972 days before not only the Mulsanne chicanes but also before the Porsche curves (inaugurated in 1972); the Maison blanche section was soo fast...and then there were the days before the Ford chicane just ahead of the pits...!

MS

 

Fascinating. Thank you for taking the time to answer...T

 

well, they did