The Road to Le Mans 2021

Nayf

Member
Messages
2,734
So it would be nice to have some new forum faces and we have spaces as 6 or so regulars are doing the classics this year.

If you love your Maserati and have been thinking about it you really should give this one a go.

The recipe is always the same, 6 days of petrolhead heaven in a stunning setting.

This year we will be going Pompey/Cherbourg, one night in Bernay then head to the gites, chill and get involved in all the activities.

So, don’t put it off, get your name down.
If I had A) a Maserati and B) money, I’d love to.

Anyone need to give their Shamal/Ghibli II /GranSport a run?
 

Doctor Houx

Member
Messages
791
I’ll happily make tea etc to be in a pit team!
Foc.
Did this twice in the 1990’s for the DAMS team run by the team principal of the old Toleman F1 Team, Alex Hawkridge, who was running this outfit for a few seasons. I was one of the corporate lawyers for Toleman way back in my career, so met him then and we stayed in touch.

He had ex Jag winner Andy Wallace on the driving rosta, so it was an unforgettable but exhausting experience. You have just dozed off at 2am after running on adrenaline for the last 20 hours, when suddenly a horn goes off in the pit and next thing you know you are changing a wheel half asleep and if you cock it up you could ruin everybody’s efforts. No pressure.

As usual, I’ve got an entry for my Aston DB4GT at the classic, so come and cheer me on this year, and pop down to La Chartre, the old AM team hotel in the 50’s, where I’m based for a beer or 2 before the race. We have a big dinner there on Fri night with lots of personalities and special cars in attendance so worth a look!
 

Oneball

Member
Messages
11,071
Did this twice in the 1990’s for the DAMS team run by the team principal of the old Toleman F1 Team, Alex Hawkridge, who was running this outfit for a few seasons. I was one of the corporate lawyers for Toleman way back in my career, so met him then and we stayed in touch.

He had ex Jag winner Andy Wallace on the driving rosta, so it was an unforgettable but exhausting experience. You have just dozed off at 2am after running on adrenaline for the last 20 hours, when suddenly a horn goes off in the pit and next thing you know you are changing a wheel half asleep and if you cock it up you could ruin everybody’s efforts. No pressure.

As usual, I’ve got an entry for my Aston DB4GT at the classic, so come and cheer me on this year, and pop down to La Chartre, the old AM team hotel in the 50’s, where I’m based for a beer or 2 before the race. We have a big dinner there on Fri night with lots of personalities and special cars in attendance so worth a look!

How much is the entry? Is it as expensive as the other Peter Auto events?
 

Doctor Houx

Member
Messages
791
Like Lord Hesketh once said, you can make a small fortune out of motor racing, provided you start with a large one!

When you add up the entry, transport. Accommodation etc, it’s very expensive and that’s assuming you don’t do anything serious to the car. Not much worse than Goidwood revival or Spa classic though. You only live once, and I have to spend my clients fees on something other than my wife!! Most fun I’ve ever had over the years, and you get to meet some very special people from the world of endurance racing. Le Mans is the one they all come back for!
 

midlifecrisis

Member
Messages
16,102
I once did the Bol D'Or as pit crew for Steve Burns' Moto Max team in 95 (He was the creator of the Beast, a heavily modified GSXR1100 and held the world record for the fastest wheelie).
I was in charge of logistics. (fetch tyres and petrol, Martin cos you can speak French!) , I also did the stop board (woo!)
We raced a YZF750SP and were up against the might of Yamaha France with their huge resources as well as other the French importer factory teams. Moto Max was a bunch of Mancunians with talent for spannering and many 'volunteers', formerly called Performance Endurance. I slept in the tent next to the bike.
Our riders were Steve Plater, who's now a commentator on TV, Dave Goodley and Dave Redgate (all 3 were fast).
We finished 11th overall and in the Superbike class but second Yamaha and I think top British team after Phase One retired too, which considering budgets etc Steve Burns was very happy with.
After the race, the team simply packed up and headed back to Calais. I couldn't believe it, we'd been awake since Saturday morning and now it's Sunday evening. So I jumped on my GSX550 and drove till it was dark, found a spot and slept somewhere by the roadside in the south of France near Sisteron. Woke up at 6am and drove the next 16 hours up to Gutersloh in Germany. I was at work the following day.
Who said racing was glamorous.
 

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,593
We now have places for three more cars, be quick...

Les Blot (FULL):
  1. Matt
  2. Dem
  3. David
  4. Mark O’Hare
  5. Crud
  6. Benny
  7. Frank
  8. Cofty
  9. Crofty +1
  10. Krishna
  11. Krishna +1
Guys:
  1. Aran
  2. Barry Talbot
  3. Geoff Capes
  4. Rick
  5. Rick +1
  6. Ebenezer
  7. MarkMas
  8. Available
  9. Available
  10. Available
Waynes:
  1. The MLC
  2. Newton
  3. Matt Gordon
  4. Will McDevitt
  5. Athol Haas
  6. Graeme
  7. Available
  8. Available
  9. Available
  10. Available
La Laitiere (FULL):
  1. Stevo
  2. Terry
  3. Brian
  4. Zep
  5. Ashley
 

Nayf

Member
Messages
2,734
I hope the wee TVs are small Scottish televisions ;)

I’m still mulling the general idea of Le Mans over. Not being able to drink/restricted diet means sustaining myself/enthusiasm for that amount of time might be challenging. And I’d be a massive drag...
 

midlifecrisis

Member
Messages
16,102
I hope the wee TVs are small Scottish televisions ;)

I’m still mulling the general idea of Le Mans over. Not being able to drink/restricted diet means sustaining myself/enthusiasm for that amount of time might be challenging. And I’d be a massive drag...
You're driving then, we'll buy you a coke every half hour... ;)
 

GeoffCapes

Member
Messages
14,000
Right, im in for this.
Don't have a passenger to take, so have a spare seat if anyone needs. Not sure what to do with the list, but up for this.

Check you have adequate life insurance before making such statements.

Also recommended is getting your doctor to check your liver function.

#justsaying