[LM24] OK, So What Do We Talk About Between Last Year's Le Mans and Next Year's.....?

[Kpy]

Let us know how you get on, please Andrew.
This sort of thing is always useful for someone.

[Aysedasi]

Complete success Christopher. It did take three calls to get through (don't bother trying around lunchtime, I remembered from the past that you won't get an answer!). Sorted in 5 minutes and the fellow told me that as they can print the cards in their own office now he would be sending it out personally to me on Friday......

[Kpy]

There you go

[Aysedasi]

And thank you (I'll respond to your PM too.....)

[Aysedasi]

By the way, I've just remembered something else the chap at the ACO told me, which may be of relevance to anyone else whose membership is expiring at the end of May. He said he wasn't surprised I hadn't got my renewal forms through the post, as they only just started sending them out..... So if you need to renew, you'd better phone.....

[Truckosaurus]

Regarding ACO membership, do you feel you get any benefit/value from it, or is it just for tradition's sake?

[whitemr2]

Well, let me just say, it feels good to be a member, supporting the thing I love. You get discount on entrance, shop and acces to pre-ordering. During the race you have acces to the the members area wich I find quit relaxed. We have talked about this many times here, can't find it right now. You have to decide for your own, I feel pretty good being a member.

[GT6]

Been a member now for ages, the cost is included in with the four sets of camping and GE's together with delivery, without it we would not get access to the early booking and the discounts effectively cover the costs. So effectively we all pay what we would have without ACO membership and in the years of the classic we also get extra discounts on those tickets so are in profit. who ever wants to use the other benifits can borrow the card.

[Kpy]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

By the way, I've just remembered something else the chap at the ACO told me, which may be of relevance to anyone else whose membership is expiring at the end of May. He said he wasn't surprised I hadn't got my renewal forms through the post, as they only just started sending them out..... So if you need to renew, you'd better phone.....

Yes indeed. Despite the email they sent in May for a July 31 expiry, I've had no postal reminder from them.

[Kpy]

Originally Posted by Truckosaurus

Regarding ACO membership, do you feel you get any benefit/value from it, or is it just for tradition's sake?

I agree with Simon. Plus the right to ACO grandstand seats if you're quick enough when booking starts and entry to the members' areas already mentioned, the showers and proper toilet facilities under the ACO stand and the restaurant serving decent food at reasonable prices.

[GT6]

i do not bother with grandstand seat at the main race but for the classic, seats in the ACO stand and access to the bar/food/loos/showers are essential, if you take the discounts and access you get into consideration then being a member of the ACO is well worth the outlay of 100 euro's

[Kpy]

Originally Posted by GT6

i do not bother with grandstand seat at the main race but for the classic, seats in the ACO stand and access to the bar/food/loos/showers are essential, if you take the discounts and access you get into consideration then being a member of the ACO is well worth the outlay of 100 euro's

Access to the main bar/food and the downstairs loos/showers in the Durand grandstand 17 are available to members during the 24 Hours, even without a grandstand seat

[Aysedasi]

I've been a member since 1997 and will continue to renew as long as I go. It obviously assists (normally) with the grandstand seats, then there is the Club Espace which can be a haven at busy times and the facilities in T17, but I also like the post-race pack. As Rene says, bizarrely it does feel good to be a member of the club that organises something I enjoy so much.....

[GT6]

oh i forgot the bonus of a pack when you arrive which includes poster car sticker and programme and yes the extra facilities and places to relax are very welcome

[GT6]

Was looking for the new series on the 24 hour on amazon prime after seeing an advert for it, saw the trailer and it starts on the 9th of June, but saw they had the 24 hour war (ford v ferrari) on there, so watched that, boy was it good and certainly stirred the excitement for the coming weeks. If anyone has not seen that film yet do watch it

[vincegail]

The 24 hour war docu is good, but the book it's based on, Go Like Hell by A.J. Baime is much much better. Read it, you won't regret it.

[Aysedasi]

It is a great book......

[Aysedasi]

Well, I watched the 24 Hour War last night - enjoyed it a lot. But must read the book again now. Today, I watched Steve McQueen: The Man & Le Mans. Enjoyed that very much too. Can't believe I never got round to watching it before! Again, I must re-read the book (A French Kiss with Death).

[Aysedasi]

By the way, both Stirling Moss and Mario Andretti were described as Le Mans Winners in the 24 Hours War. Of course, I assume they meant class winners.....

[GT6]

Yes i picked that up, but as far as some American journalists are concerned Corvette has won several times in recent years so yes they are talking about class wins

[isynge]

If we're talking about things to watch I've recently reacquainted myself with The Speed Merchants, which I still think is about the finest piece of film about sportscars imaginable - the footage of the first few laps at Le Mans is staggering.

[Kpy]

Neither Moss nor Andretti ever had a win at le Mans. Not a class win either, hardly surprising since they both only ever competed in the top category.
Moss finished second twice, in 1953 and 1958, his only finishes, and he and Fangio were leading when Mercedes withdrew during the race in 1955 after the terrible accident.
Andretti also managed a second in1995 and third in 1983.

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by Kpy

Neither Moss nor Andretti ever had a win at le Mans. Not a class win either, hardly surprising since they both only ever competed in the top category.
Moss finished second twice, in 1953 and 1958, his only finishes, and he and Fangio were leading when Mercedes withdrew during the race in 1955 after the terrible accident.
Andretti also managed a second in1995 and third in 1983.

Mario's 2nd in '95 was a class win, as the winning car was the GT1 McLaren and he was in the first LMP/WSC car home.

[GT6]

thanks for clearing that up victor

[claude2cv]

I watched the film about Chris Hoy preparing for and competing at Le Mans on the flight back from holiday at Easter and enjoyed it far more then I thought I would.

Sean