Le Mans 2005

Hi

Does anyone have a spare seat for the trip down please - you may want some company?

Its my first year and I have accomodation sorted, just need to get there !

I will of course help out with travel costs, and in case your'e wondering who the hell I am, I'm a member of the FOC, look after much of the Clubs advertising including the website and Ferrari News, run the company Sportscar Guides (www.sportscarguides.com) behind the buyers guides the Club back and also run www.morethanpolish.com ( so may be able to bring some fancy wax !!).

Hoping to go out Thursday but this all happened late and no chance of getting there under my own steam - plus I wanted the buzz of being in a crowd so will fit in with plans/start points !

I don't have bad feet and have full control of my faculties !

Please e-mail me direct: mark at wibbs dot com

Many thanks indeed

 

Looks like airtrack are close to allocating camping places, I've asked them to link the following bookings together :

1) myself
2) my mates
3) Dave S 348
4) Mark355
5) Dave IOM
6) Chris Stim.

Anybody else that I might of missed off ?

Please get back to me ASAP.

Cheers

Rick

 

Have you had confirmation from Airtrack yet?? Ive yet to receive mine. They did send me a reminder a couple of weeks ago about paying the final amount which I did but then got another letter saying I still hadnt paid but when I rang they said they had a computer problem and took payment details again which Ive checked and they have debited my account.

Just wondered whether other ppl have received anything from Airtrack re confirmation etc.

 

Yep - the same happened to me. They called today to confirm names and I asked them to if they could put us all together.

Have you decided who you're taking yet ?

Rick

 

I dont know if it is taken, but there is a Ferrari owner offering a seat on Club Arnage - http://www.clubarnage.com/yabbse/index.php?board=4;action=display;threadid=3498

 

There is someone on www.pistonheads.com offered a seat in a TVR. His log in name is Bob The Planner and he posts a lot in the Yorkshire Forum. Might be worth a try!

 

I take it you are not intending to get out of first gear.

 

Thnaks for leads on lifts - hope I'm not being too picky but both are leaving Tuesday which means too much time away from the office.

Do you folks have a location where I could find you (assuming I get there !)

 

lol - new to this game, how long do you reckon ?

Rick

 

Based on motorway speeds of 70mph and main road speeds of 40 mph, autoroute suggests 4hrs, 42 mins for Calais to Le Mans.

On a more realistic 85mph and 60 mph the time reduces to 3hrs 36mins

Based on last year's impersonations of a bunch of Gumballers (i.e. 95mph and 70mph respectively) you get to 3hrs 4 mins.

In essence, over four hours (not including mealtimes) is a poor show and you should buy yourself a Micra, the extra performance a Ferrari has is wasted on you.

 

I would prefer to take the long way round, and arrive at bed time, sober.
This would therefore increase my average daily "spend" to £11 for the purchase of alcoholic beverage.
Should this prove the sensible option, the fuel economy (given the slower speeds) may increase my "spend" to £12 per day.
kind regards, d

 

With the sad news of the passing of one of our American chatters, this seems like a good time to remind people going to Le Mans to take it easy and be carefull (me included).

Le Mans is a great event and the temptation to drive like hell can be difficult to ignore.

Many of us have wifes and children and if they are any thing like mine they are probably already sick of hearing about Le Mans. On thing is for sure, they will all want us back safe and sound.

Lets have a great time, and enjoy the event this year and in years to come.

 

Well said Stewart, I couldnt agree more.

 

Having seen some of the Brit prangs going down last year (it rained really hard for half an hour and caused chaos amongst VX200 and Lotus's)) it is indeed a timely reminder. Stay safe!

 

Stewart,

Your note of restraint is a timely reminder to those of us with heavy right feet, and what the Inland Revenue like to refer to as 'dependants', that Mssr Le Plod has been busy using most of last year's budget buying radar guns. Sadly, for those of us who actually know you, this sentiment is somewhat overwhelmed by a recollection of your typical driving style and how many clutches per year you normally get through. I wonder in fact, whether fitting your car with a sturdy metal foot-rest underneath the accelerator pedal, may lessen the strain suffered by your car of taking the punishment from your size fourteen right foot!

See you soon.

J.

 

How dare you make such unfounded comments. You will be hearing from my legal team. LOL

 

As the greatest motoring event in the world is now less than two weeks away, i thought the following advice may be of some assistance to the 'first timers'

1/ look out for plod motorbikes on the motorways
2/ slow down on the approach and exit of towns/villages. The French plod love these locations.
3/ your are at most risk of encountering plod the closer you get to Alencon and Le Mans.
4/ whilst at Le Mans look out for police with what look like binoculars, they are radar/speed detectors.
5/ If you are going to drive round whilst there watch your drink levels as the french plod take no prisoners on this issue.
6/ Look out for plod on the approach to motorway tolls.
7/ Be very carefull on the approach to roundabouts, these are a favorite location for French plod.
8/ although you will see less speed cameras over thier than you will see in the Uk thet are Thier. They prefer mobile detectors.
9/ In car radar/speed detectors are not allowed in France. Not only will they destroy them they can also impound your car.

Have Fun, enjoy and return home safe.

 

wow after reading that i am glad i am not going

 

you need to read the first line - 'the greatest motoring event in the world'

If you havent been you wont understand

 

that's two of us !

 

As we are less than two weeks from the greatest motoring event in the world, the London Le Mans crew are meeting on Tues 7th at the London Ferrari club monthly get together (address below), to discuss arrangements and meeting points.

If any other people here who are going to Le Mans would like to come along, you would be most welcome.

Kensingtonrooms Hotel 131-137
Cromwell Road London SW7 4DU. It's at the junction with Courtfield Gardens
a short walk from Gloucester Road station or a little further from Earls
Court

 

You have almost beaten me to it, I ws going to ask if a meet up point has been arranged, I remember somebody suggested the Irish bar on the Friday !
Lets get some ideas and get something planned.

 

Just picked this up from Club Arnage - you may find it useful:

'just done the trip to PQ this weekend (Calais to Le Mans via Rouen 3½ hours ) and spotted three fixed speed cameras...

these cameras are all facing you when heading south bound from Calais to Le Mans, there is a warning sign about each of these speed cameras but only a 100m or less before hand which does not give you much time to slow down

the first camera is located in the central reservation on the N38 which is the dual carraigeway after the motorway section from Abbeville approx 50m north of the Rouen tunnel before you get into Rouen

the second camera is located on the N138 from Rouen to Le Mans on the right hand verge as you come down the hill into Gace just north of the town

the third camera is located again on the right hand verge but on the ring road (N138R) heading around Le Mans before you get to the Champion supermarket'

 

Mal, thanks for those tips mate - superb

Guys,

i wont be able to join you on the run down from Yorks to London on the Wednesday night before we go. I have to be in a meeting in London on Monday morning and will therefore be heading straight back to London from Stanford Hall on Sunday.

I havent heard anything from Airtrack about tickets etc, they said that might go to Rick as the booking was in his name, anyone got tickets yet, know whats going on etc ???

Shame i cant convy down with you, but these things happen, see you all in Le Mans if i dont meet you on Sunday !

Chris

 

thanks for the above, useful info, mal.

the guys from "airtrack" are driving down this w/end to prepare .... it may be wise to contact them thereafter, re any additional "hazards"

upon a differring subject .... gina will be carrying a reasonably comprehensive set of tools. On the assumption she will make it there (gettin' on a bit now), these will be available to all f chat colleagues if required.
cheers, d

ps ... do i have all of your postal addresses for T shirts ?