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 Going on a trip to France (currently 1,765 views) |
| Graham Bichard |
| Posted on: June 6th, 2022, 13:28:28 |
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Maximum Member2
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I've been wanting to do this for as long as I can remember.
Oil & filter changed ready for the trip:
Photo of the car packed (so I can try and remember how it all fits when I pack everything back away again):
Final wash & polish and stickers applied:
We're off to Le Mans!
We were meant to go two years ago in line with a big birthday - that didn't happen obviously.
Any hints and tips from those who've been before as to where to watch from, what to do/not to be missed etc? |
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| Graham Bichard |
| Posted on: June 18th, 2022, 14:47:30 |
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Maximum Member2
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On route at the Eurotunnel:
Set up on the Bleu Nord campsite, we were within the 1st Tickets fenced compound:
Our neighbours who only arrived on the Saturday morning of the race:
In fact there was some very nice cars on the campsite:
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Last modified July 23rd, 2022, 15:43:58 by Graham Bichard |
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| Graham Bichard |
| Posted on: June 18th, 2022, 14:54:40 |
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The weather was very hot (26C on Sat/Sun). There was about 10 minutes of rain on the Wednesday evening, during the qualifying. We were (luckily) sat in the covered grandstand by the Dunlop bridge at the time. It was interesting to see the cars being caught out in the chicane as the rain swept in.
There were a number of interesting stands in the Village including a mock up of the Peugeot hypercar that will be at Le Mans next year:
No rear wing as such, downforce generated by the underbody:
There was also a hydrogen car running in one of the support races, with another car on display:
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Last modified July 23rd, 2022, 15:44:58 by Graham Bichard |
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Reply: 2 - 12 |
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| Graham Bichard |
| Posted on: June 18th, 2022, 15:35:05 |
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Friday was a quiet day on track, so we took the opportunity to see the museum and walk the track.
The museum has a display of each and every car thats raced at Le Mans:
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| Graham Bichard |
| Posted on: June 18th, 2022, 15:42:32 |
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We took the tram into Le Mans itself on the Thursday afternoon. I took a photo of the cathedral, as seen in the Steve McQueen film: This square is where the drivers parade starts/finishes:
On the Friday afternoon the track was opened up to the public to walk/run/cycle. We decided to do this rather than go to the drivers parade.
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Reply: 4 - 12 |
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| Graham Bichard |
| Posted on: June 18th, 2022, 15:49:08 |
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Standing at the entry to Porsche curves, looking towards Arnage:
Indianapolis:
The curbs at the Ford chicane - these are made of metal, the cars just clatter the yellow ones, the only ones they didn't run over (the prototypes seemed to use less curb than the GTE's) were the red ones. These are about 6 inches in height:
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Reply: 5 - 12 |
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| Graham Bichard |
| Posted on: June 18th, 2022, 15:54:45 |
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Start of Mulsanne looking back to Tetre Rouge:
Mulsanne straight:
1955 memorial on the pit straight:
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Reply: 6 - 12 |
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| Graham Bichard |
| Posted on: June 18th, 2022, 16:06:05 |
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We watched the start of the race from the inside of the Dunlop bridge area, having sat for 3 1/2 hours to ensure our space. From the first couple of laps it was clear one of the Toyota's would probably win.
After watching for an hour or so we walked around, went to have something to eat then returned for dusk.
We moved to the inside of the circuit, towards the start of the Mulsanne - we had been here during warm up when a big crash had occured, and by chance were stood here in the dark when the Glickenhaus crashed:
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Last modified June 18th, 2022, 16:37:46 by Graham Bichard |
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Reply: 7 - 12 |
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| Graham Bichard |
| Posted on: June 18th, 2022, 16:15:08 |
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A little after midnight we got our heads down, getting up again at 4am to see the dawn in at the exit of the Porsche curves:
After getting our heads down again, we returned to the same place for the finish of the race, deciding not to join the melee at the start/finish, and managed to get right up against the fencing for a bit.
Once the race was over we wandered up.
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Last modified July 23rd, 2022, 15:47:23 by Graham Bichard |
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| Graham Bichard |
| Posted on: June 18th, 2022, 16:19:29 |
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As well as the winners under the podium the other cars were gathered at the Ford chicane.
I'm pleased to say the Aston's came 1st & 3rd in the GTE-AM class.
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Reply: 9 - 12 |
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| Graham Bichard |
| Posted on: June 18th, 2022, 16:25:02 |
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Reply: 10 - 12 |
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| Graham Bichard |
| Posted on: June 18th, 2022, 16:33:22 |
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Most people seemed to pack up Sunday morning - we had chosen to stay Sunday night and travel back Monday meaning the site was much emptier.
We had to do a lap of the circuit before we left of course:
The Mulsanne straight isn't really so straight (the kink I imagine would be a BIG corner at near 200mph) and there's a surprising amount of elevation change across the circuit.
Indianapolis:
Porsche curves entry:
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Reply: 11 - 12 |
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| Graham Bichard |
| Posted on: June 18th, 2022, 16:36:53 |
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Maximum Member2
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We saw far more Brit cars going back than we had on the way down on the previous Wednesday, most it seems heading to the tunnel too.
We got home by 10pm having covered some 1300 miles, and enjoyed a great long weekend.
The truth is, there's far too much to see/do in one visit (and a perfect excuse to go back). I think I'd like to do the Classic next so need to start saving now - be good to have the Marcos in the road to do it in, wouldn't it! |
Last modified July 23rd, 2022, 15:49:52 by Graham Bichard |
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Reply: 12 - 12 |
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Mini Marcos Forum > General Boards > Chit - Chat > Going on a trip to France
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