Some serious food for thought
Discussion
I enjoyed something of an impromptu visit to Le Mans on the tail end of my autumn break last week and thought some of my fellow Le Mansisti might enjoy a few thoughts from a bit of fact find
As an extra special treat to Lady Vario we spent a night in the Arbor Hotel on Mulsanne (many thanks to Guy H for pointing me in the right direction) which despite my initial enthusiasm it is fair to say trades on its location and not a lot else. Rob spent the night on the hotel floor through no fault of his own due to a bed which Amnesty would class as ‘Cruel and unusual punishment’, I digress
I did though venture into the Shanghai de 24 hours on Mulsanne which given the fact we were the only people in there was surreal in the extreme given my last visit was at nearly midnight during the race. I did however have a good chin wag with the owner which threw up some facts which both me and fellow Le Mans group member ‘Clapham 993’ had detected. After many years of doing the annual pilgrimage the race it’s dying on its feet.
Takings this year in many restaurants and bars were roughly 50% down compared to only a couple of years ago let alone how things were in the late 80’s and early 90’s. It seems that the local view is the lack of genuine manufacturer interest beyond VAG and more to the point any real opposition from privateers or otherwise has turned things into nothing more than a procession. Granted the likes of TVR add a bit of interest it amounts to nothing much more than a side show with the broader interest having waned to a worrying level. Hopes of Aston Martin making a challenge may help slightly but really this needs to be in LMP1 and not in GTS. Otherwise there seems to be a hope that Nissan might be coming back in LMP1 in a couple of years. But the consensus was ‘Le Jaguars’ are what is needed.
The French know it, we know it and surely to god Ford/Jaguar know it and the opportunity is theirs for the taking. The huge interest the TWR effort created in the 80’s can easily be repeated, how sweet would it be to think the heinous Ecclestone won’t get a farthing of it?
On a different note the N138 is being added to by way of a new dual carriage between Alencon and Rouen although not ready by next year. Given the journey back on Friday this can’nt come quick enough.
The French BIB were up to their usual tricks trying their luck with me in the village of Sees just north of Alencon with the normal
“You were doing 90 in a 50”
I was though armed with a secret weapon in the passenger seat, a Canadian who is unsurprisingly fluent in French got rid of the berk damn quick as he seemed to realise he wasn’t about to steal from another ’Ros Bif’
The defence was
“Where is your proof, no were not giving you cash, this isn’t our car and I want to speak to your superior officer’
He f
d off sharpish!
So there you go, you can get rid of them but you’ll need a Canadian passport first which is probably cheaper than a fine anyway.
Finally, a most enjoyable Hoon on the Mulsanne late on Thursday night whilst is was absolutely deserted
>>> Edited by vario-rob on Monday 25th October 21:15
As an extra special treat to Lady Vario we spent a night in the Arbor Hotel on Mulsanne (many thanks to Guy H for pointing me in the right direction) which despite my initial enthusiasm it is fair to say trades on its location and not a lot else. Rob spent the night on the hotel floor through no fault of his own due to a bed which Amnesty would class as ‘Cruel and unusual punishment’, I digress
I did though venture into the Shanghai de 24 hours on Mulsanne which given the fact we were the only people in there was surreal in the extreme given my last visit was at nearly midnight during the race. I did however have a good chin wag with the owner which threw up some facts which both me and fellow Le Mans group member ‘Clapham 993’ had detected. After many years of doing the annual pilgrimage the race it’s dying on its feet.
Takings this year in many restaurants and bars were roughly 50% down compared to only a couple of years ago let alone how things were in the late 80’s and early 90’s. It seems that the local view is the lack of genuine manufacturer interest beyond VAG and more to the point any real opposition from privateers or otherwise has turned things into nothing more than a procession. Granted the likes of TVR add a bit of interest it amounts to nothing much more than a side show with the broader interest having waned to a worrying level. Hopes of Aston Martin making a challenge may help slightly but really this needs to be in LMP1 and not in GTS. Otherwise there seems to be a hope that Nissan might be coming back in LMP1 in a couple of years. But the consensus was ‘Le Jaguars’ are what is needed.
The French know it, we know it and surely to god Ford/Jaguar know it and the opportunity is theirs for the taking. The huge interest the TWR effort created in the 80’s can easily be repeated, how sweet would it be to think the heinous Ecclestone won’t get a farthing of it?
On a different note the N138 is being added to by way of a new dual carriage between Alencon and Rouen although not ready by next year. Given the journey back on Friday this can’nt come quick enough.
The French BIB were up to their usual tricks trying their luck with me in the village of Sees just north of Alencon with the normal
“You were doing 90 in a 50”
I was though armed with a secret weapon in the passenger seat, a Canadian who is unsurprisingly fluent in French got rid of the berk damn quick as he seemed to realise he wasn’t about to steal from another ’Ros Bif’
The defence was
“Where is your proof, no were not giving you cash, this isn’t our car and I want to speak to your superior officer’
He f
d off sharpish! So there you go, you can get rid of them but you’ll need a Canadian passport first which is probably cheaper than a fine anyway.
Finally, a most enjoyable Hoon on the Mulsanne late on Thursday night whilst is was absolutely deserted
>>> Edited by vario-rob on Monday 25th October 21:15
Up until a couple of years ago, loads of people used to camp in the field behind the restaurant. Don't know why that stopped but that must have something to do with the drop in takings along with the almost draconian measures they have gone to, to stop people watching from there. Great shame because that was one of the most awesome places to go and watch, especially at night.
yes i fully agree, the race needs some big marques back again.
jaguar, here kitty kitty...
porsche, are you out there?
merc, BMW and the Jap bunch.
i still think Le Mans makes F1 look like a sunday outing in terms of reliability and driver fatigue. but due to a small man's influence the attention and money is now on F1.
my uncle used to tell me that in the days of jaguar and lotus (50s and 60s) they used to have hourly updates in the UK on the race.
the race will pick up when a few more challenge the VAG group and F1 is no longer viewed as the ultimate in motor sport.
the race really needs to be promoted, certainly in the UK by the motoring press and the media, as the ultimate:
F1 speeds, better atmosphere and at a fraction of the cost to go to an F1. it is much better value, less £/day or £/HP.
i have confidence that although in a low period, the race will pick up. i am sure that with no British grand prix this coming year.....le mans will be very busy!
i was in the area during early august and it is quite a different region when there is no race.
jaguar, here kitty kitty...
porsche, are you out there?
merc, BMW and the Jap bunch.
i still think Le Mans makes F1 look like a sunday outing in terms of reliability and driver fatigue. but due to a small man's influence the attention and money is now on F1.
my uncle used to tell me that in the days of jaguar and lotus (50s and 60s) they used to have hourly updates in the UK on the race.
the race will pick up when a few more challenge the VAG group and F1 is no longer viewed as the ultimate in motor sport.
the race really needs to be promoted, certainly in the UK by the motoring press and the media, as the ultimate:
F1 speeds, better atmosphere and at a fraction of the cost to go to an F1. it is much better value, less £/day or £/HP.
i have confidence that although in a low period, the race will pick up. i am sure that with no British grand prix this coming year.....le mans will be very busy!
i was in the area during early august and it is quite a different region when there is no race.
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