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7 Oct 2013, 00:32 (Ref:3313905) | #1 | |
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The Best Petit Le Mans
This one is tough. Which Petit Le Mans was/is the best? The first, the last or about 6 or 7 of them in the middle? To get things started, I will say the 2008 Petit Le Mans was the pinnacle.
Everyone was there both big and small. And then the economic bottom dropped out internationally and the PLM changed. Here's the website we did for the 2008 Petit Le Mans... http://www.lasersol.com/CyberMotor/p...2008_tues.html Which one was your favorite? |
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7 Oct 2013, 00:35 (Ref:3313906) | #2 | ||
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1999 When the BMW spun at the end giving the overall win to the new open top Panoz.
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7 Oct 2013, 00:41 (Ref:3313907) | #3 | |
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The first sportscar race I went to, 2005.
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7 Oct 2013, 00:52 (Ref:3313909) | #4 | ||
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Quote:
The last lap spin out of first place in 1999 allowed Panoz a victory on his home track at Road Atlanta in the event, the Petit Le Mans, that he had created. Here's a photo of a very happy Don Panoz hugging David Brabham upon the win... The full 1999 PLM as covered by Cyber Motorsports... http://www.lasersol.com/CyberMotor/plm_1999/index.htm One vote for 2008 and one for 1999. |
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7 Oct 2013, 00:57 (Ref:3313911) | #5 | ||
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2008, it was the race that made me a hardcore sports car fan.
2011 as well because it was the first one I attended. 2013 because it is the next one. |
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7 Oct 2013, 01:05 (Ref:3313915) | #6 | ||
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Never been there but 2008 and 2011 for grid size and quality.both were great races.
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7 Oct 2013, 01:49 (Ref:3313926) | #7 | |
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2000 for me. It was my first sports car race. I thought Bill Auberlen was going to land on top of me and I ended up with an end plate from the wing which Bill signed for me.
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7 Oct 2013, 02:58 (Ref:3313945) | #8 | |
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2008 was my first one. Hell of a time to be making my first trip to a race as a spectator(I went to Grand Am VIR earlier that year as an FSAE participant. Had to leave before qualifying because Finals were the next week.). Only other one I've been to was 2010
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7 Oct 2013, 03:33 (Ref:3313951) | #9 | ||
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hard for me to say which was the best. I've been going since the 1st PLM. Haven't missed one yet.
There are some cars I really miss though: BMW LMR v12 Caddy LMP900 PTG ///M3's Konrad S7's Tool Time Mustangs panos LMP ferrari 550 maranello pilbeam lmp 675 cars i recall seeing a callaway c-12r in the early 2000's there are more, but i'm tired |
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7 Oct 2013, 03:44 (Ref:3313953) | #10 | |
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MC-12, S7 R, the Astons, the 911 GT2 evos. I'll never forget watching the turbos glowing as they went up the esses. The Vipers and C6-Rs. Hell. GT-1 as a whole!
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7 Oct 2013, 04:19 (Ref:3313958) | #11 | ||
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2008 and 2011, both had amazing entries. Missing it this year for the first time since 2006. End of an era.
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7 Oct 2013, 05:47 (Ref:3313969) | #12 | ||
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2003 for me , as I was there . Panoz P1 , Joest , Audi GB , Audi NA , Bentley , R&S , Dallara , Saleen , Judd 3.5L V10 , MG , Ford V8 ..... good weather ..... good sounds ..... good time .
Hate fire ants !!! |
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7 Oct 2013, 06:16 (Ref:3313972) | #13 | ||
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Easy for me!
1998 - watching the first one on satellite TV and being instantly hooked as an extension to my love of LM24. 2010 - being there to flag turn 7 for the first time. 2011 - being there to flag turn 7 for the second time! 2013 - being there to flag turn 7 for the third time, and to say goodbye to ALMS. |
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The noisy one at Pit Lane entry! |
7 Oct 2013, 22:24 (Ref:3314313) | #14 | ||
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Quote:
Last edited by CyberMotor; 7 Oct 2013 at 22:25. Reason: Forgot image! |
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8 Oct 2013, 00:21 (Ref:3314352) | #15 | ||
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Quote:
A favorite photo of mine from 2011 is Capello practicing his exits from the R18 during driver exchange practice. |
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8 Oct 2013, 01:44 (Ref:3314368) | #16 | ||
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I doubt that anything will ever top 2011.
Two Jaguar GTs, the last of the Doran Ford GTs, Peugeot vs. Audi, two Dyson LMP1s, an AMR LMP1, factory AF Corse Ferraris... not much more to discuss! But I have a feeling 2014 will bring the same level of global participation, commitment, viewership, etc. |
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8 Oct 2013, 01:48 (Ref:3314370) | #17 | ||
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2010 was quite memorable to me because intersport was there at the end and on the same lap as the Highcroft car which was the highest placed alms regular. That was also the year Risi ran out of fuel on last lap to blow the championship if I'm not mistaken.
2009 was pretty fun a week for reasons which shall not be mentioned for fear of upsetting the gods. |
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8 Oct 2013, 03:39 (Ref:3314394) | #18 | ||
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Quote:
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8 Oct 2013, 04:17 (Ref:3314401) | #19 | |||
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Pug and Audi battles were epic, but it was Pug and Audi, and that was it in the P class; everyone else was just paid their entry fee. I admit, the recent years were fantastic seeing factory cars battle closely coupled with with great GT entries, but nothing beats the early 2000s with the large variety of quality P cars along with the large variety of quality entries and drivers in GT categories.
In the end, the best PLM is the one I am attending next. Quote:
Anything in the early 2000s was incredible. My first years there, I was wide eyed and the Panoz LMP1 was still around, frightening little children. Your 2003 was only missing the Caddys. :P |
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8 Oct 2013, 04:20 (Ref:3314402) | #20 | ||
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8 Oct 2013, 05:30 (Ref:3314415) | #21 | ||
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2008 unquestionably with the quality and quantity of entries in the Prototype categories.
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8 Oct 2013, 14:26 (Ref:3314621) | #22 | ||
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I have very fond memories of the 2002 Radio Le Mans PLM broadcast. John Hindhaugh was oh so excited when the Dyson MG and the Matthews R&S overtook the Audis. I hope the race footage will be re-released on the ALMS YouTube page (all 10 hours of it!).
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8 Oct 2013, 17:29 (Ref:3314713) | #23 | ||
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they have the 99 and 2000 race on there, so hopefully 2002 will be uploaded soon.
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8 Oct 2013, 19:03 (Ref:3314755) | #24 | |
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I liked the 2008 race. But not the outcome as I was rooting on Peugeot . I think the 908's from that year were the best looking lmp1 cars yet.
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8 Oct 2013, 19:42 (Ref:3314775) | #25 | ||
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Personally the 2011 908 was the last good looking lmp1 to race at petit.
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