24 Heures du Mans (sur la livingroom)

[pauwilson]

Roy, IIRC they said they bumped into to him and he was on post 1. It was just after an LMP2 crashed out there so maybe they were around the pit area getting an update on what happened. Then again I may be getting completley mixed up with someone else also load of british names got mentioned.

Heard them sounding quite disgusted about what happened to Steve, will be very interesting to hear what happened. If it is good enough for one day, good enough for them all providing his own safety was not at risk.

Some of the Scottish boys got mention when Kirkaldy stopped at the jock post, of all places to come off!!. And for once it was not us that were wearing the silly hats, I assume it was the Clarke boys and co - welcome to the dark side.

Slightly off topic but did anyone see footage of the 1st Audi crash? I got a message from a Croft marshal spectating who was right beside it saying it puched through the barrier, but all the replays I saw just showed the stranded car??.

[gwar]

Didnt hear those bits on motors tv, just channel hopping allday loads of motorsport on today.
As for steve being taken off post, i,m not very happy about that and will see him next week to get the low down, but i know he,s a very big follower of le-mans and goes every year and was very much looking forward to it.
Chin up steve, you have got a lot of backing over hear....just dont understand why thay let you in..sign on, do all the practice, warmups ect.... just to kick you in the teeth.
just upsets me and a lot of other people......why
After everything thats happened why cant he still have an active role in a hobby that we all love,

[Stack]

Originally Posted by pauwilson

Slightly off topic but did anyone see footage of the 1st Audi crash? I got a message from a Croft marshal spectating who was right beside it saying it puched through the barrier, but all the replays I saw just showed the stranded car??.

There was a quick shot of the barrier damage. The Audi did not go through it but made a big mess of it! Funniest bit of the weekend was seeing the repair wagon, complete with compressor in tow, leading the pace car and the field through the Ford chicane on its way to Tetre Rouge.

[Alan Green]

Just back (a couple of hours ago, but hey), knackered and tired to say the least - coach trips ain't fun. Glad I paid extra for the grandstand ticket, fair play to l'oranges dans le circuit, it was fairly persisting it down at times (but Sunday dawn was glorious, a proper Le Mans daybreak).

Motor Racing International had Tim Harvey as the expert summariser for the weekend, and he was on good form with some good insights and stories, and interviews with many of the drivers. Nishy was about to come across to the marquee at 8am on Sunday, until Dindo stuck the car in the barriers at 7.58, gutted. Bad luck too on Scuderia Ecosse, but seeing it parked at Poste 70 meant it'd be in safe hands!

Listen to the sound fx clip of the start on the radio le mans site if you haven't already. Fantastic.

Now to do it properly again next year...

Al.

[BSA Susie]

Originally Posted by Stack

I'm sure there will be more on this when he returns from LeMans but the Motors Tv guys have received a message from Steve Tarrant saying that after flagging all practice sessions they have refused to let him to flag the race!

edit... snap Sheila (heard you get a mention plugging the orange earlier)

I heard Sheila's mention too! Great!

What's happened to Steve then? Must be some right jobs-worth!
I hope he is ok and keeps his chin up.

[Hepatic]

Originally Posted by pauwilson

Slightly off topic but did anyone see footage of the 1st Audi crash? I got a message from a Croft marshal spectating who was right beside it saying it puched through the barrier, but all the replays I saw just showed the stranded car??.

It wasn't caught by the cameras, but the armco was well bent which is why it took so long to sort. Dindo's off looked like it woke a few people up - the wheel went straight for the marshals! Gutted for them, but was ace to see Pug made the 24hrs with one car and Pescarolo on the podium

[Steve Tarrant]

Originally Posted by roys1

It will be interesting to hear Steve's story....

Hello everyone,

I've just got back home now, and am amazed at the messages that have appeared!

The background is that back in 2002, Bernard Nirrengarten, chef de poste at Le Mans, contacted me and part of this message was an invite to be on his post. So in 2003 I was there on post as a spectator / guest, and we discussed the possibility of my marshalling there one day.

Well, in 2004, I was accepted as a marshal for "observation" duties, and this went quite well. I couldn't make it back for 2005 as I was in hospital undergoing operations on my remaining leg. But I was fitter afterwards and it was discussed with Bernard and race director Daniel Poissenot about me doing secondary flagging duties, FROM BEHIND THE BARRIERS AT ALL TIMES, and that's what I did in 2006, to everyone's satisfaction. I still have the emails reflecting this in my records.

This year I returned on exactly the same basis, and even had the ACO send me availability forms at the start of the year rather than my writing to the ACO as in previous years, so I am obviously now in their system with all the extra details filed for viewing.

I flagged the Legends qualifying session and the 2nd daylight LM practice, in the absolute monsoon conditions that existed. Indeed, it was so bad that the cars and drivers ran off to the garages for 20 minutes for shelter, whilst we marshals on duty got soaked for the priviledge.

For the race itself, I was due to do the first 3 hours from the start and well over 2 hours of these had been completed when 3 visitors appeared on post. My initial impression was that they were senior FFSA marshalling officials going around and thanking everyone - indeed one of them even came over, shook my hand and said "Bonjour" before going off with our chef de poste. But some 10 minutes later Bernard came back to see me, telling me that I had been seen on the camera (both TV and circuit CCTV were covering our post) and that someone didn't like my being there "exposed" to danger, and demanded I be moved to a position of safety. Basically that meant being moved back 20 feet away from the barrier up the side road our post is located in, so I was no good as a flag marshal, not be able to see any action now.

As you can imagine, by being forced to do this, I was left feeling hurt, bitter and utterly humiliated by these events.

When our shift finished, there was a meeting between myself, Bernard, and the other British marshals within my team, and it was agreed that regrettably there was nothing that could be done during the running of the race to resolve this issue as Daniel Poissenot was in the process of running the race as race director.

So I was left with no choice but to comply, and I remained professional as we British marshals are, by doing the midnight-2AM and 6AM-9AM shifts from the back of the post. But whereas the view from the barrier extended the half mile to the right back to Arnage corner, with my being placed where I was out of camera view I could see the grand total of 20 yards, and with cars blasting past at 160mph past us, they were taking less than a second to come into and out of view. Not very satisfactory, and as I was in no mood to "celebrate" the end of the race, I had no option but to stay on the campsite near to our post.

I am aware that I also have the support of the foreign marshals on my post who also felt the treatment was disgusting.

The situation now is that Bernard, as part of his debriefing from the event with Daniel, is going to attempt to find out at what level this decision was made, and whether by FFSA or by ACO officials. And whether they took action that Daniel knew nothing about. Bernard has stated to me that he wants to arrange a meeting between himself, Daniel and myself at Le Mans to thrash this through properly.

Bernard has made it clear that:-
a) I am still wanted as a member of poste 106 for all future events,
b) He wishes for me to be a flag marshal on the basis agreed by Daniel in 2006, and
c) He also feels insulted that his judgement of me and my performance has been questioned. Bernard is a well experienced European marshal and official, travelling all over Europe and has 19 years of Le Mans experience.

So there we have it. It is now a case of waiting and seeing what information comes to light before making further decisions for my future participation in the event. But none of that can ever compensate me for what I lost at Le Mans 2007.

What I would ask that that no character assasination takes place until all the facts from within Le Man's race control are learnt, and what action occurs afterwards.

Thank you


Steve

[Hepatic]

Gutted. Truly gutted. I hope that however and whoever made that decision is found out to be nothing more than a misunderstanding of the situation, and they make up for it 10 fold next year

I posted your website on the motorsTV forum not long after they read your text message out, you have a heck of a lot of admirers on there too. I'm sure it'll come good in the end, just a shame it had to ruin your '07 Le Mans experience...

[Bodysnatcher]

Originally Posted by pauwilson

Heard them sounding quite disgusted about what happened to Steve, will be very interesting to hear what happened. If it is good enough for one day, good enough for them all providing his own safety was not at risk.


Slightly off topic but did anyone see footage of the 1st Audi crash? I got a message from a Croft marshal spectating who was right beside it saying it puched through the barrier, but all the replays I saw just showed the stranded car??.

hello all, also back at a PC again.

Regarding Steve's problem, as the man himself says lets not start any wars with French officialdom until it's all been discussed at a higher level. But it upset all of us and certainly had an effect on team morale. (BTW glad to see you got home OK Steve.)

As for Rockenfeller's crash, some Brits/Irish were in attendance soon after it happened, I think they were on "standby" at the time. The car did go through 2 of the 3 layers of armco AFAIK, but I'll leave it to Jen/Hollywood to tell more when they get home (probably tonight)

[Stoowert]

I got back Sunday night/Monday morning, but due to catching up on sleep and 5 fillings at the dentist on Monday at lunchtime, I only just found out about Steve's treatment.

I must say, in a way, I'm not surprised, saddened, but not surprised. It seems that we marshals are being subject to more & more petty officialdom, not just in France, but all over the place. For example, this year we were given our car passes to be told that we couldn't park anywhere near the village once the race starts. We were told by our Chief that we could park on the kart track, some 2 miles from the village. Big deal! Not only that, but half way through qualifying last year we were informed by a gent in a blazer, that when not on duty on post, we had to stand 50 metres from the track, along with all our named guests.

This year the security was tighter than ever and traffic direction was carried out by a private firm, rather than the police, who we found to be polite friendly and flexible. Our only exit from post 70 during the race is via the backroads which ends up passing under the track at the start of the Porsche Curves. They had opened 2 new campsites there, but had not upgraded the roads. The result was that we had to wait for up to 20 mins in traffic every time we wanted to get in or out. In the past the police had given us priority on production of our Commisaire Passes. Needless to say, it fell on deaf ears this time.

Plus, despite constant requests, we only have one Port-a-loo for our entire post. This was emptied once, on Friday. It is also situated on our campsite, some 300 metres from the post. Far from ideal for our lady marshals.

I really feel like writing to the ACO to let then know my feelings but I feel I may be ****ing in the w1nd!

I still had a great time though. Yes it was the Clarks who went to the Mc Ferrari! They were on my team and we had about 6 mins of our shift left when it stopped. What the driver must have thought, seeing four identical faces peering in the the car, below Loch Ness Monster hats, I dread to think!

[Stack]

I was considering marshalling it next year but Stooert's post and what I have gleamed from radio lemans I dont think I'll bother....spectating seems a far better idea.

[Richard Sneader]

Hi All,
Now home and rested just found out about steve,s predicament. Apologies to hear this sort of treatment. Hopefully the ACO will respond and sort this out preperly and you are back on post in 08.
Well post 96 had a quiet year this year. Wednesday started off by nearly all the brits having to move to post 89 to cover. the chef there was rather confused when 7 of us turned up giving him nearly 5 marshals per point. On the loo issue we had around 30 marshals and co's for 2 loos. Just an hour into my sunday morning shift Mr Cappelo in his nice number 2 Audi decided he did not like our tyre barrier any more. Car was a mess and so was the barrier. The matting had collapsed and the tyres left out of position and exposed in a hitting area. No repairs done with still 6 hours or so to go. Interesting me trying to explain to the driver that driving the car back with 3 wheels and only 1 really touching the floor now might not happen.
Passed you on Sunday Al when you were busy loading up the Corvette and Spyker.
Looking forward to 96 in 08.
Rich S.

[White flag man]

Originally Posted by Alan Green

Just back (a couple of hours ago, but hey), knackered and tired to say the least - coach trips ain't fun. Glad I paid extra for the grandstand ticket, fair play to l'oranges dans le circuit, it was fairly persisting it down at times (but Sunday dawn was glorious, a proper Le Mans daybreak).

Motor Racing International had Tim Harvey as the expert summariser for the weekend, and he was on good form with some good insights and stories, and interviews with many of the drivers. Nishy was about to come across to the marquee at 8am on Sunday, until Dindo stuck the car in the barriers at 7.58, gutted. Bad luck too on Scuderia Ecosse, but seeing it parked at Poste 70 meant it'd be in safe hands!

Listen to the sound fx clip of the start on the radio le mans site if you haven't already. Fantastic.

Now to do it properly again next year...

Al.

Alan,
which trip were you on? I was on the coach trip that had 2 nights in Paris.
My first time at Le Mans and I loved every minute of it. Was in the pits grandstand at the start, fantastic. Made the trip round to Arnage at dusk, sat at Tetre Rouge at 3.30am and watched the sun come up under the dunlop bridge. Managed to stay awake until about 9.00am when I crashed, for about an hour, in the MRI marquee. Took about 120 photos, some good, some s..t! Felt sorry for all the marshals in the rain at the end, but it added a bit of excitement for us speckies.
Many thanks to MRI for a wonderful job and to Radio Le Mans for their great team as well, the phone in at the end was very funny!

[Shelagh]

Bill & I have just arrived home having stayed overnight in a hotel (or should that be in a shower in a hotel) last night.

Thanks to everyone on Poste 70 (aka the BIG BROTHER FOREST) for welcoming us back after 5 years absence. We must have been welcome because they weren't half taking the **** out of us all week!

Earlier comments have been made about our one thunderbox - thanks to everyone for using the sprays, seat wipes etc .... because it was (just about) usable on Monday morning - and considering what it was like the previous Tuesday ............

Apologies for not having worked out which Scottish Clarke was which. At least I could tell Alan Dean apart!!!!

And Merci Beaucoup to Jean-Louis, the mad Frenchman who volunteered as Chef on our post. I think he enjoyed himself!!!!

The whole week flew by, despite the rain and the red flags - just a bit of an anticlimax at the end with the safety car. Hope those of you watching "dans la living room" attached a few full watering cans from the light fittings to get the full effect!

And sorry to hear about Steve. We saw his car parked up at the village on Friday but didn't see the man himself. Fingers crossed for next year.

PS: HAS ANYONE ACTUALLY RECORDED ANY OF THE MOTORS TV COVERAGE? WE SET THE SKY RECORDER AND THE VIDEO/HARD DRIVE RECORDER, BUT THE BAD WEATHER IN THE UK RESULTED IN A POWER CUT WHICH SWITCHED OFF THE SATELLITE. AAAAAGGGGGHHHHH.

[Stack]

Originally Posted by Shelagh

PS: HAS ANYONE ACTUALLY RECORDED ANY OF THE MOTORS TV COVERAGE? WE SET THE SKY RECORDER AND THE VIDEO/HARD DRIVE RECORDER, BUT THE BAD WEATHER IN THE UK RESULTED IN A POWER CUT WHICH SWITCHED OFF THE SATELLITE. AAAAAGGGGGHHHHH.

Highlights tonight on MotorsTV 21.00 until 01.30

[johngee]

Originally Posted by White flag man

Many thanks to MRI for a wonderful job and to Radio Le Mans for their great team as well, the phone in at the end was very funny!

Agree about the phone in - loved the caller who asked why the presentations were all done in French - stunned silence and then "Well, it could have something to do with it being in France"
Very sad to hear of Steve's treatment - on the face of it, it seems very unfair but as everyone has said, let's wait until we know all the facts before passing judgement on the ACO.
Richard - sorry we didn't make it to 96 but, as you know, the security was a bit 'tight'.
However, we did manage to get to 70 and thanks to all the old 'faces' for making us feel so welcome as visitors.
Don't like what they've done to the 'village' - sort of 'Lakeside at Le Mans' !

[mc1arke]

Originally Posted by Stoowert

What the driver must have thought, seeing four identical faces peering in the the car, below Loch Ness Monster hats, I dread to think!

We're not identical, and we were the jester hats during that stint

Was a great week - with the only dissapointments being the weather, and the Scuderia Ecosse Ferrari not being able to restart after visiting us.

Shame to hear about Steve, especially after speaking to him at sign on about how excited/happy he was to be able to get involved in the race again.

[mini1400]

Originally Posted by Shelagh

PS: HAS ANYONE ACTUALLY RECORDED ANY OF THE MOTORS TV COVERAGE? WE SET THE SKY RECORDER AND THE VIDEO/HARD DRIVE RECORDER, BUT THE BAD WEATHER IN THE UK RESULTED IN A POWER CUT WHICH SWITCHED OFF THE SATELLITE. AAAAAGGGGGHHHHH.

Have the first 12 hours & the last 6 hrs... DVD recorder only records a max of 12hrs in one go - didn't realise until I got up on Sunday morning...
Will edit out the adverts - so should all fit on a couple of DVD then

[gc1arke]

Enjoyed the race immensely though it was a shame about the weather. We were on post for the final stint and even my heavy duty 'waterproofs' couldn't keep the rain out!
After about 16 hours the race seemed to be going well with McNish leading LMP1 and Scuderia Ecosse first in GT2 but then it went pear-shaped. Both cars had mechanical failures and it was so disappointing to have the Ferrari 430 pull off with us. There was nothing Tim Mullen could do to get the car back to the pits.
Between the five of us we took over 1000 photos and one hours worth of video. Some of the nighttime shots are spectacular and we managed to get to some great viewing points over the weekend. However, I must echo what Stoowert said about the spectator and traffic marshalling etc. Our marshal passes seemed to be worth very little and some security/ACO guys were downright rude!
Despite this, I'll definitely be back next year (weather permitting)

[F.O.F.]

Originally Posted by White flag man

sat at Tetre Rouge at 3.30am and watched the sun come up under the dunlop bridge. Managed to stay awake until about 9.00am when I crashed,

thats pretty much exactly what i did.strange eh?i was the not so sober looking fella on a little garden chair shivvering uncontrolably at tetre rouge

[MartinSmith]

Originally Posted by johngee

However, we did manage to get to 70 and thanks to all the old 'faces' for making us feel so welcome as visitors.
Don't like what they've done to the 'village' - sort of 'Lakeside at Le Mans' !

Yes, thank you all very much.... John there is nothing wrong with Lakeside!

[johngee]

Originally Posted by ClaireSmith

Yes, thank you all very much.... John there is nothing wrong with Lakeside!

There is! I don't think they have a 24 heures du Arena Essex

[White flag man]

Originally Posted by F.O.F.

thats pretty much exactly what i did.strange eh?i was the not so sober looking fella on a little garden chair shivvering uncontrolably at tetre rouge

F.O.F
Were you on the inside or outside? I was on the outside and there didn't seem to be anyone else around, and I had my thermals on

[Shelagh]

Originally Posted by mini1400

Have the first 12 hours & the last 6 hrs... DVD recorder only records a max of 12hrs in one go - didn't realise until I got up on Sunday morning...
Will edit out the adverts - so should all fit on a couple of DVD then

We've watched some of the highlights (but slept through more - tired....) - but if you can send us a copy of your recording, that would be great.

I'll hope for a PM.

And apologies to Woolley for having to edit my previous post - I thought I'd done enough asterisks but obviously not. I'll try to remember....

[dno]

Originally Posted by Stack

I was considering marshalling it next year but Stooert's post and what I have gleamed from radio lemans I dont think I'll bother....spectating seems a far better idea.

I'd definitely recommend marshaling at it - the facilities aren't great (although hopefully will be a bit better next year with the promised addition of a second portaloo on Poste 70) but are probably better than the cramped mudbaths that many spectators had to camp in.

Not to mention that on 70 you are as close to the action as you'll ever be on a circuit, with the cars speeding past at 200+ mph. Plus, you still get plenty of time off duty to see the action from other points and take photos.

Thanks to all at 70 for putting up with us and our silly hats. To add to the McFerrari story, Tim Mullen was driving when it pulled off with us and he had seen us all at scrutineering on Tuesday - he had even taken pictures of us in our 'see-you-jimmy' hats in front of the car!

So he can't have been too shocked to see our daft headgear. He appeared absolutely gutted though (I kinda felt the same myself )