The Le Mans 2009 story thread.......

[Harsh]

Well guys, how was it? there is a thread in the feedback zone to give us your thoughts but the stories need to be told.

and i'm not accepting WGOTSOT (what goes on tour stays on tour)

[Graebob]

I'm still recovering! Drove directly back to Middlesbrough last night with a brief stop in Milton Keynes to drop off Ollies generator (still boxed) and have some food.

I'm uploading the pics I took to Flickr now Bachi so you can have a lookie :)

[jumplead]

WGOTSOT you know that man...

[TigerTwo]

I think I am mentally still recovering...although to be fair, that might take a while.

Highlights for me:

1. Seeing the look on the face of the kid with the really bad dreads when he realised the Atom was being driven by a 'bird'.

2. The sound of the Corvettes

3. The half hour moratoriums on a particular subject for which Robin was entirely responsible (and which may not be appropriate for a family forum)

4. Ben's BBQing skills

5. The sound of the Corvettes

6. Standing near the Dunlop bridge with thousands of people around you, the Stranglers playing Golden Brown, all surrounded by the sound of the cars flying past. Couldn't have been much more perfect.

7. The sound of the Corvettes

8. Beer, BBQ, beer, bbq, beer, bbq and beer...and bbq

9. The sound of the Corvettes (did I mention that before? I think I want one)

and the absolute highlight of all....

10. Virtually lying on the track itself, watching the cars flying down the Mulsanne straight at 2.00 in the morning after trekking commando style through the woods. Ian's video on Facebook can give you a clue of just how unbelievable that was.

[Bigburd]

Edited from my PH Posting...

This was my first Le Mans so trying to find a campsite was always going to be a bit of a challenge, however PN recommended TL. Overall experience I'd give a 7.5/10

* Track Location 9/10
* Multi Weather 8/10 (reckon this site would be ok in all but a monsoon)
* Site facilities 8/10 (no onsite catering, but reasonable value bar and good showers/WCs)
* Pitches per Site 5/10 (felt a bit claustrophobic I gave a 5 as it is not as bad as Glastonbury)
* Security 7/10 (excellent during race though)

Without the 5/10 and a bit of improved security TL would have probably got a 8.5 or 9.0 out of 10 (Camping will never get 10/10 from me), if I was asked if it was value for money, I think that due to the exchange rate and the ACO, Le Mans is never going to be the true value for money experience that from reading up on the past events on here. But it is still better value than a F1 GP.

Will I be back next year? The jury's out, as it stands possibly not (as it has ticked the been to Le Mans 24hr Box) although I may consider the Le Mans Classic and if so I would consider TL again. But never say never, I am sure there is more to explore at Le Mans and see if we can improve on things next year...

Highlights include:
Our Radio Sales Neighbours
The Friday meet in Mulsanne
Mulsanne Night Tour under Captain Mace
Riding shotgun down the Mulsanne Straight with Ollie saying "I'll wait until the bus gets out the way before flooring it"

Lowlights:
I hate Camping!!
Too much bread'n'meat

Other than that, everything has already been said in previous postings...Roll on the Alpine Tour! Back to the Luxury Hotels instead of Camping!!!!

[jumplead]

Nancy you forgot one thing.

The sound of the Corvettes laced with the sounds of the Astons :O

[Graebob]

...value for money...

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs111.snc1/5109_94472808111_507883111_1835661_5866164_n.jpg

:cheers2:

[TheStoat]

Yeah I like to think that my car would sound like the Corvettes if I ran with just the headers poking out the sides :D Simply awesome exhaust note!

[chevy-stu]

Well... where to begin..

An excellent 5 days of tiredness, driving, camping, meat, fire, toast, sun, meat, cold shower, racing, noise, fire, nettles, bushes, cars, racing, cold shower, sun, racing, silliness, meat, toast, and driving....

some pics 'ere..

beginning of the drive down
http://inlinethumb33.webshots.com/44384/2043947060069136111S600x600Q85.jpg

camp nirvana
http://inlinethumb19.webshots.com/19922/2404026960069136111S600x600Q85.jpg

mulsanne straight on friday
http://inlinethumb24.webshots.com/45015/2095921040069136111S600x600Q85.jpg

Jumplead, Bigburd and Hat in the pits friday
http://inlinethumb14.webshots.com/43917/2213633460069136111S600x600Q85.jpg

Cactussed and Hethelred having that quiet beer
http://inlinethumb64.webshots.com/43647/2642437770069136111S600x600Q85.jpg

The secret 'Mission Mulsanne' team (+ me)
http://inlinethumb13.webshots.com/2892/2961648200069136111S600x600Q85.jpg

Sunrise over TetreRouge
http://inlinethumb23.webshots.com/41878/2425364650069136111S600x600Q85.jpg

On the track minutes after the race ended
http://inlinethumb31.webshots.com/42910/2257983470069136111S600x600Q85.jpg

Those geordie's will nick anything, especially TVR roofs.. !
http://inlinethumb08.webshots.com/42055/2164066660069136111S600x600Q85.jpg

Queue at Boulogne
http://inlinethumb18.webshots.com/43345/2970979270069136111S600x600Q85.jpg

Piece of carbon fibre found at Tetre Rouge..
http://inlinethumb46.webshots.com/45421/2146503860069136111S600x600Q85.jpg


The Mulsanne Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbsBb2Zhots

Thanks to all that went for the sensible driving, enthusiasm and lovely company...

Next Year... ?


I THINK SO.. !!!!!!!!

[Graebob]

Great pics Stu :D

[Cactussed]

My thoughts on the weekend:

1. When caught short, do not unzip then walk willy-first into a nettle patch.
2. Man cannot live on beer and sausages and bread alone. But he can try.
3. Showering is optional. As is shaving.
4. A ten that takes 2 seconds to erect is a good investment.
5. A 2-second tent take a lot longer to figure out how to pack away.
6. We need more ice
7. Girls do burp. Loudly. Yay!
8. Day-old drumsticks are perfectly acceptable as breakfast. Or lunch and dinner.
9. In the land of the breathless, the man with the air-bed pump is king.
10. There was a race?

;)

[CaveMan]

Wooo my first post!

Cracking Trip, great fun and good people. Definatly going to drive myself next year and come along with you guys. The mulsanne raid was epic and the bottle of beer after tasted like pure heaven!

[Redex R]

From the other side at camp Chanteloup - memories of 09

1/Breaking through the workers blockade at Cherbourg - what do the French think pedestrian crossings are for ? any exits a goodun !
2/The weather , apart from Monday - fantastic
3/Just how many Brits come over for this , its amazing , oh and those Dutch guys are sure crazy yah?
4/I didn't realise how much I had missed those engine sounds bouncing off the circuit , still think the Lambo sounded the best tho !
5/The drivers parade and old LM town , that was a good night , never thought I would ever try frogs legs , what was I thinking.
6/I didn't realise how much the French disliked the Germans , did you hear all the boos for Audi?
7/The Aston Martin motorhome "doorpersons" most impressive. (see photo)
8/Being asked to turn the music UP on the last night - Matt Monro , old skool definitely must be cool these days.
9/Still loving my Aston Martin 007 Lanyard , still looks great hung on my car dash.

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e213/1966Rob/June09LeMans002.jpg

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e213/1966Rob/June09LeMans022.jpg

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e213/1966Rob/June09LeMans030.jpg

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e213/1966Rob/June09LeMans037.jpg

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e213/1966Rob/June09LeMans051.jpg

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e213/1966Rob/June09LeMans059.jpg

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e213/1966Rob/June09LeMans086.jpg

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e213/1966Rob/June09LeMans089.jpg

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e213/1966Rob/June09LeMans130-1.jpg

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e213/1966Rob/June09LeMans040.jpg

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e213/1966Rob/June09LeMans009.jpg

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e213/1966Rob/June09LeMans113.jpg

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e213/1966Rob/June09LeMans102.jpg

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e213/1966Rob/June09LeMans118-1.jpg

[Graebob]

The trip in pics

Early doors. Just after this picture was taken, Caveman suggested a pint. It wasn't even 7:15am :D
http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs111.snc1/5109_94479078111_507883111_1835912_6151949_n.jpg

Jumplead, Cactussed and Caveman in Sees after everybody else had gone.
http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs091.snc1/5109_94472568111_507883111_1835615_389043_n.jpg

Corvette Quali on Friday night
http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs091.snc1/5109_94472623111_507883111_1835626_4674293_n.jpg

Vorsprung Durch Technik
http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs111.snc1/5109_94472663111_507883111_1835634_7924959_n.jpg

Packed out pits on Saturday
http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs091.snc1/5109_94472678111_507883111_1835637_1787063_n.jpg

Cheesy Cactussed
http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs091.snc1/5109_94472743111_507883111_1835649_5707292_n.jpg

Winners of "Maddest Hat" contest
http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs111.snc1/5109_94472783111_507883111_1835656_1623749_n.jpg

Jumplead and BigBurd living life properly
http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs111.snc1/5109_94472848111_507883111_1835668_7720977_n.jpg

Le Mans Legends pre race on Saturday
http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs091.snc1/5109_94473043111_507883111_1835704_1634882_n.jpg

Jumplead on the track after the race on Sunday
http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs111.snc1/5109_94479098111_507883111_1835916_2635199_n.jpg


Thoughts;

1/ Thank christ I stayed on a proper campsite this year
2/ Even though I'm on a proper campsite, I still haven't prepared properly
3/ PN are a generally awesome bunch of people to tour with
4/ Corvettes are awesome, Lambo GT's not so much
5/ MEAT WITH BREAD
6/ Pain au Chocolate is amazing if BBQ'd for a couple of seconds on each side
7/ The Aston Martins should have won purely to make all modern sportscars sound as good as they do

[Brahman]

Got to say that. That was epic. Great weekend with like-minded and cool people. Highlight for me was the 2am commando hike to the Mulsanne, to be that close to a 240mph LM car was an unforgettable experience.

We probably drank too much beer, probably had too much meat n bread, probably had not enough sleep, but all was well worth it. Thanks to all those who made it a top weekend. :)

[Harsh]

When Nancy told me you'd all gone commando
i had visions of the washing facilities making underwear unwearable.

i'm rather glad that wasn't the case!