LM24 I'm bored with Le Mans

Heebeegeetee · 22 Nov 2002, 01:05 (Ref:434385)

Is it me, but I really don’t think I can face Le Mans again, not for a few years, anyway. The biggest disappointment for me this year was to have seen what they have done with Indianapolis corner. That corner was simply the greatest place to watch powerful race cars. Now we find they’ve erected a fence straight through the middle of the spectator banking. It’s absolutely terrible. Ranks with the dropping of the Safari rally from the WRC calendar. Tragic, it is.

If they would have put a big screen at Indianapolis I could have watched the whole race from there. After all, there is plenty of food and drink there, toilets, car park/camping, with the same facilities (!) as all the other campsites. Now it’s gone.

Coupled with the loss of viewing at the restaurant on the straight, it’s just too much. The famous drop down to the esses has been emancipated. The crowds seem to get bigger each year, although not that many of them seem to be actually watching the race at any point. But this makes watching from the Dunlop chicane unpleasant, unless you go there at 4am.

The grids are hopeless, with seemingly just one professional team dominating, pursued by amateurish ‘Le Mans specialists’. Next year the dominating team will be called Bentleys, so there will be thousands of ****ed up, bare-chested tattooed Brits chanting “Engerland! Engerland! Engerland!”, completely ignoring the fact that the cars are German, and the company is German owned.

The ferry prices have gone through the roof, so it’s no longer the good value weekend it once was. Interestingly, the French part of the deal, ie ticket, hotel, food & drink prices, have barely changed.

Nope, I think I’m going to miss it, for the first time in eighteen years. I have a friend racing in the classic support race – but then again, I can’t face those ferry prices just for that.

I might give the Nurburgring 24 hours a go.

cybersdorf · 22 Nov 2002, 09:30 (Ref:434474)

Sorry to hear you are becoming disenchanted with sportscar racing's Main Event; things change, sometimes for the worse. It doesn't mean they won't change back to better ways, though, so stay tuned!

Even Le Mans has had to go with the flow in recent years, and some of the modifications to the track have been made in order to make it more "mainstream", and bring it up to date in some instances as well. It shows you one thing, though - it evolves, therefore it is alive. The only way to keep it alive is to allow and accept change.

As for the competition, the depth certainly wasn't there in the last 3 editions. But I wouldn't call this a crisis - we have seen worse over the years (although I must admit from a pure racing standpoint LM 2002 was supremely boring).

But, as one sometimes tends to forget, this sport isn't just about Le Mans. This type of racing needs all the support it can get so please keep supporting it.

Fab · 22 Nov 2002, 11:01 (Ref:434524)

Quote:

Originally posted by Heebeegeetee
I really don’t think I can face Le Mans again, not for a few years, anyway.

I think I can face it very easely I'm afraid...

What I can't face is the fact that I have so much to wait...

Nevertheless, I'm agree with you comments, but nevermind, I still want to be there !

SFonseca · 22 Nov 2002, 11:14 (Ref:434533)

Le Mans is passion.... No Comments!

SALEEN S7R · 22 Nov 2002, 12:08 (Ref:434579)

I agree with his comments to a degree the last 3 years has been lacking in competition if u compare it with 1999. Still I dont go there to watch the oiks in the LMP cars lol I go for the real racing in the GTS class and GT.

Le Mans is the best race on the plant - get over it.

**Aysedasi** · 22 Nov 2002, 12:57 (Ref:434610)

I'm inevitably with Fab and SFonseca, but I can sympathise with your view. I have also deplored the worsening of the position of the ordinary spectator, especially those who wield a camera, for whom getting a half decent shot of a car without fencing in the way is becoming virtually impossible. I've also been quite critical (as most will be aware by now) of the Audi domination, and I hold out no great hopes of a marvellous race come next June, but that is ever the case. If we get a good battle every 4-5 years, that's probably as much as we can hope for.

But, as SFonseca says, it's the passion that surrounds Le Mans that is the magnet for so many, definitely including me. I couldn't bear to miss it. Being in France, all that lovely food and drink, and a motor race (of whatever calibre) to watch whilst taking in a unique atmosphere - no, missing Le Mans is not on my 2003 calendar.

I also have to say that I couldn't bear the thought of watching the whole race in just one place - no matter how much I like (or used to like) Indianapolis (and yes, the view has been ruined, I'm afraid).

Nordic · 22 Nov 2002, 13:26 (Ref:434633)

I agree with all the comments above, I was looking thru some old pictures form the early 80s the other day, and while the view nowadays can sometimes be impaired by fencing, this was also the case then. As for the track changes, I happened to watch Motors TV Classic program last night, included was footage of the early Alpines (low drag 4 cly moving up to V8s that never quite matched Ford or Ferrari) racing there in the early 60s, the place was a death trap and had to evolve, hopefully we will get used to the changes over time.

I am not looking forward to all the loons that Bentley & TVR's involvement will draw to the race next year, I can still remember the Jag years, I am just hopeful that the lack of camping spaces will keep them away!

paul-collins · 22 Nov 2002, 13:53 (Ref:434667)

Quote:

Originally posted by Heebeegeetee
The biggest disappointment for me this year was to have seen what they have done with Indianapolis corner. That corner was simply the greatest place to watch powerful race cars. Now we find they’ve erected a fence straight through the middle of the spectator banking. It’s absolutely terrible.

Mind you, had the Ascari's suspension broken any later on the approach, you'd have been happy to have been held back by the fencing.

Never having been there during a race, I can't say anything about its character. Heck, I'm still reeling from the revelation that the cops (sorry, gendarmes) keep you away from the Mulsanne.

Anyway, at least you've been. I'm still trying to get the funding allocated for 2004, for my first visit.

**Aysedasi** · 22 Nov 2002, 18:10 (Ref:434812)

Quote:

Originally posted by paul-collins

Never having been there during a race, I can't say anything about its character. Heck, I'm still reeling from the revelation that the cops (sorry, gendarmes) keep you away from the Mulsanne.

Most of it.

There remain ways and means.

And no, I'm not going to elaborate......

rdjones · 22 Nov 2002, 19:48 (Ref:434885)

Well all I have to say to that subject - is roll on next June...........

cybersdorf · 22 Nov 2002, 19:59 (Ref:434895)

Never has there been a finer group of people than the French law enforcement community, that's all I am going to say.

rdjones · 22 Nov 2002, 20:07 (Ref:434904)

and there is only 200 days to wait now...............

Liz · 22 Nov 2002, 20:37 (Ref:434932)

Well, nothing is the way it used to be, including us.

Me, I just edit the Audis out of the my picture. I am a BIG fan of the Spyker Squadron and first in line for one of those jackets if they ever sell them to humble peasants ... and I really enjoyed the battle in GT between Racers Group and Freisinger Motorsport! I like the atmosphere, I like the free stuff, and I like the people I meet there. And I absolutely adore standing around the paddock and watching them work on the cars.

And most of all I like the fact that I can get 10 days at Le Mans for what it would cost me to go to Montreal for 3 days and watch TGF and Rubens execute a pre-scripted finish and there aren't any GT or GTS cars to distract me!

SALEEN S7R · 22 Nov 2002, 20:49 (Ref:434940)

I agree totally. Now, anyone going to Spa 24hrs???

rdjones · 22 Nov 2002, 20:54 (Ref:434948)

Quote:

Originally posted by SALEEN S7R
I agree totally. Now, anyone going to Spa 24hrs???

No, I can only afford one overseas trip a year and that is Le Mans, no question asked..................

froglet · 23 Nov 2002, 12:21 (Ref:435234)

To abuse the Dr. Johnson quote "When a man is tired of Le Mans, he is tired of life".

theracegypsy · 23 Nov 2002, 12:53 (Ref:435258)

Quote:

Originally posted by Aysedasi
Most of it.

There remain ways and means.

And no, I'm not going to elaborate......

So don't elaborate, just come and join us for a drink at poste 61

rdjones · 23 Nov 2002, 12:56 (Ref:435260)

Quote:

Originally posted by froglet
To abuse the Dr. Johnson quote "When a man is tired of Le Mans, he is tired of life".

I would agree with that - u just have to look at this forum, I think person who posts is passionate about Le Mans...............

SL · 25 Nov 2002, 22:02 (Ref:436715)

Agreed here as well, the last few years have been a little bit dull, although the rain did make for an exciting few first hours. But look at it another way, the race is a true distance race, the gaps can appear large, however multiply it by the race distance and it is not so bad. Plus there is always the chance of a slow back marker, engine problems or bad weather.

Next year could prove to be a good race, often in the past the lack of 'big' names makes for good racing, the private Audi's should be on par with the Bentley's, plus the MG's and the Courage cars which can spring a surprise.

For the crowds, I don't think that Bentley will get the same element as the Jags did, remember at the time they were racing the Merc's and there was quite a few German flags as well. The Audi's do not seem to get the same following, similar to Bentley. However June will tell.

Ferry tickets and sunshine now all booked

Simon

theracegypsy · 26 Nov 2002, 00:16 (Ref:436814)

Just got home from Korea, and there it is, my invite to marshal LeMans 2003. Sending it back completed tomorrow to make sure I get in.

**Aysedasi** · 26 Nov 2002, 08:20 (Ref:436928)

Quote:

Originally posted by theracegypsy
Just got home from Korea, and there it is, my invite to marshal LeMans 2003. Sending it back completed tomorrow to make sure I get in.

Well done that man - is your invite now virtually automatic then?

cybersdorf · 26 Nov 2002, 09:06 (Ref:436954)

Quote:

Originally posted by Aysedasi
Well done that man - is your invite now virtually automatic then?

If Bob can't make it there's no race

Liz · 30 Nov 2002, 04:20 (Ref:439877)

Hurrah, Bob will be there! I hope we can meet up somewhere during the week!

rdjones · 1 Dec 2002, 17:09 (Ref:440636)

Quote:

Originally posted by Liz
Hurrah, Bob will be there! I hope we can meet up somewhere during the week!

I hope just not to meeting Bob, I hope to meeting everyone - so who is up for it..............

theracegypsy · 1 Dec 2002, 20:59 (Ref:440723)

well, amongst the marshals I am assuming Paul Hickman will be with me on Poste61, and Stewwert on 70. No dobt TuroWW & Bodysnatcher will attend, but they will have to speak for themselves.

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