The Le Mans Grapevine chat & our Taycan return journey
Discussion
Thanks for all the help, assistance and humour on the WhatsApp chat yesterday - with the saga of our return journey shepherding the Sinclair C5 (Taycan) back from Le Mans.
It turned what would have been an absolute pain of a journey into an unfolding saga, that progressed throughout most of the afternoon, with all of you involved.
Icing on the cake was the point the keys to the McLaren were accidently locked in the bonnet during a frustrated bonnet slamming moment.
Ben has now made it back to the UK in time for work today, and despite it being his first time - has not been put off (but will be doing it next time in his T5 Campervan instead).
James & Chris (The 3.8l twin turbo EV support crew)
It turned what would have been an absolute pain of a journey into an unfolding saga, that progressed throughout most of the afternoon, with all of you involved.
Icing on the cake was the point the keys to the McLaren were accidently locked in the bonnet during a frustrated bonnet slamming moment.
Ben has now made it back to the UK in time for work today, and despite it being his first time - has not been put off (but will be doing it next time in his T5 Campervan instead).
James & Chris (The 3.8l twin turbo EV support crew)
- 09:23 - JamesW: At least the weather isn't too hot for a topless drive home !:
- 09:37 - Tel...825: Our v max is only 75mph bit if we quadruple stint and piss in the car we may win
- 09:42 - JamesW: Our speed is even less, or Ben's sinclair c5 will end up stranded at the side of the road with 2 miles range like it did on the way here. Remember the future is electric
- 10:49 - JamesW: After a 30 minute diversion round a French council estate, we have finally found a source of AA batteries for the sinclair C5.
- 10:59 - Tel...345: Maybe next year you could put on the group the Duracell / Exide / Eveready route
- 11:13 - JamesW: Not actually charging yet, as we need the tesla app and are having installation issue. How anyone that isn't in IT copes is a miracle
- 11:24 - JamesW: Apparently, this charger station isn't compatible with sinclair c5 cars. No new batteries yet.
- 11:31 - Tel...075: I'm genuinely gripped by this saga
- 11:32 - JamesW: We are heading to look for another charger.
- 11:32 - Tel...075: Sat by the phone awaiting updates
- 11:33 - Tel...359: And they say electronic cars are the future…
- 11:36 - JamesW: I'm enjoying this so much , I've delegated driving to my copilot so I can keep you updated
- 11:36 - Tel...819: I’m the guy in the Tesla, keep me posted
- 11:38 - JamesW: No sign of the charger, and the mclaren has got lost
- 11:38 - Tel...819: If it helps. These are the chargers I use.
- 11:44 - JamesW: Now lost on French council Estate with black guys on mopeds driving round us
- 11:44 - JamesW: On plus side, McLaren back in tow
- 11:55 - Tel...731: I can’t see a future with electrics vehicles for a long time, I don’t think I’d ever want one
- 11:57 - JamesW: Nice cathedral, no sign of chRger
- 11:59 - Tel...547: How much range does everyone have left? Can’t help, but following the thread …
- 12:03 - Tel...798: Hope you get a charger soo soon
- 12:03 - Tel...731: I’d just be stressing all the time over re-charging, then having to wait while it recharges.
- 12:05 - Tel...075: How much range is left in the Porsche?
- 12:08 - Tel...819: Any joy with the charger ?
- 12:09 - Tel...798: Fingers crossed mate
- 12:16 - JamesW: They say you shouldn't leave a man behind. . . However after a wonderful tour of rouen, the sinclair has fallen behind. Now attempting to find the mclaren
- 12:18 - JamesW: The C5 has found a stock of batteries at a BMW dealer
- 12:20 - JamesW: Can anyone calculate the carbon footprint of a sinclair c5 with two 3.8 litre twin turbo support vehicles
- 12:21 - Tel...743: A s
t ton? - 12:23 - Tel...798: Less carbon footprint than my wife when she's farting
- 12:24 - JamesW: Our range ofter leaving le mans on a full tank is still 380km
- 12:41 - JamesW: Alas the meat in our supercar sandwich is missing
- 13:00 - JamesW: Unfortunately the BMW man said non, so the c5 had to move to an audi dealer who said oui
- 13:45 - JamesW: Sinclair C5 update. The boys are on the move again, but will need to charge again in order to reach calais. All being well the chargers at the somme services are working.
- 14:06 - JamesW: Good news, chargers at somme services are working. Shame we're now over an hour ahead
- 14:11 - Tel...345: If and when you find a charger how much does it cost for the lecky. Asking for a friend
- 14:12 - JamesW: Not enough to compensate for the inconvenience! He said on ionity he's paying 17 quid for 170 miles range
- 14:13 - JamesW: We have left a disabled space for the sinclair c5
- 14:22 - Tel...345: So no cost difference than running the oil burner and I’d have to stop at least 3 times to get back up north. you probably spend more on coffee than fuel every time you stop
- 14:24 - Tel...851: Going in the bad parking thread
- 14:25 - JamesW: Arghhhhhhh no. Mclaren keys locked in bonnet. You couldn't make this up
- 14:28 - Tel...743: At this rate you all may as well stay there and just wait for next year
- 14:30 - Tel...469: This is more exciting that the actual Le Mans race!
- 14:31 - Tel...851: Surely it's not electronic release only?!
- 14:32 - Tel...929: If the bones release isn’t in the door; it should be behind the wheel arch liner. 2x Tork screws to release the liner.
- 14:33 - Tel...929: Bonnet not bones
- 14:33 - Tel...366: Is that prince Charles in the back?
- 14:33 - JamesW: We are in the wheel arch lining
- 14:34 - Tel...929: Around 2 o’clock, have a good feel. It should be there. What model is it?
- 14:34 - JamesW:
- 14:34 - JamesW: 675lt
- 14:35 - JamesW: It is open
- 14:35 - JamesW:
- 14:35 - Tel...929: Right place; need slim arm to get in. Get hand right in.
- 14:36 - JamesW:
- 14:36 - JamesW: Rubber trim going back on
- 15:57 - JamesW: Sinclair C5 update. Due to a sat navigation error, they took a wrong turn and ended up with 3 miles range on the middle of nowhere. They have limped into a Peugeot garage and are on a slow charger to give them 30 miles range to get to somme services and a super charger. On the plus side 2 cars have arrived at calais 15 minutes late for the 5:20 ferry check in. If only we'd avoided the key incident
- 15:58 - Tel...819: Bloody petrol cars. We’re on the train now
- 15:59 - Tel...366: Bring a generator next year
- 15:59 - JamesW: Was it you who took all the electricity??
- 16:21 - JamesW: So - hopefully the sinclair will get enough charge before the Peugeot dealer closes at 6pm
- 16:23 - Tel...075: Sending thoughts and prayers
- 16:24 - Tel...819: Good luck
- 16:51 - Tel...345: Taking an electric car to Le Man is very similar to Bertha Benz nipping to her mother’s in 1888.
- 17:06 - JamesW: Place your bets please. Will the sinclair c5 make the 7:20 ferry and catch us up
- 17:09 - Tel...743: I'm going to say yeah. Might be like the end of Fast & furious 2 but...
- 17:12 - Tel...061: Tell him to apply this setting
- 17:14 - JamesW: He's at the stage where we suggested disconnecting 3 of the 4 leds In each headlight
- 17:15 - Tel...482: Hey Admins, please don't lock the group for yet a while. We need closure on this unfolding story!
- 17:18 - JamesW: And now the mclarens new windscreen has cracked
- 17:19 - Tel...886: That’s it - this is now officially more entertaining than the race.
- 17:20 - Tel...798: Snap! Don’t touch it and if you can, stop somewhere and get the windscreen filler stuff. My X5 did then same but the filler stuff kept the crack at the same size all the way there and back
- 17:21 - Tel...798: https://www.halfords.com/motoring/paints-and-body-...
la-333664255372%7Ccrid:550463621677%7Cnw:u%7Crnd:9157658571600344566%7Cdvc:m%7Cadp:%7Cmt:%7Cloc:1006614&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjLiK2uqq-AIVFe3tCh3jhAjiEAQYASABEgKdV_D_BwE - 17:21 - JamesW: Think it was caused by stress. Not necessarily to the car, more to the driver
- 17:21 - Tel...798: Understandable!
- 17:21 - Tel...061: I’m guessing he didn’t use range mode then I met him at the Somme services on the way down which was his first charging spot. Tell him he’s let the side down
- 17:22 - JamesW: You will be the green taycan turbo then
- 17:36 - Tel...061: Yep
- 17:36 - Tel...061:
- 17:36 - Tel...061: Fuel light bingo successfully won now I’ve reached the folkestone ionity services. I left LM with 85% charge having left on a normal 2kW plug last night, and only stopped at Rouen ionity for 20 mins to boost back up to 85%
- 17:40 - JamesW: They have made it to somme services, are fully charged and 47 miles from calais
- 17:41 - JamesW: No sign of a ferry arriving yet. . The tension is killing me
- 17:43 - Tel...743: Tensions killing us all
- 17:43 - Tel...743: We are all invested in this
- 17:44 - JamesW: Not us much as me, Stephen and Chris. It's a day of our lives we're never getting back
- 17:45 - Tel...743: Be a forever Le Mans story though... silver linings
- 17:45 - JamesW: A ferry is appearing on the horizon. Still no Ben
- 17:50 - Tel...539: Zut alors!
- 18:00 - Tel...061: £21 in electricity.
- 18:00 - Tel...061: My total fuel cost was under £100, how about you guys
- 18:01 - Tel...819: £0
- 18:01 - JamesW: Do we count fuel used during our ev support and rescue stints?
- 18:01 - JamesW: If so, also £0
- 18:01 - Tel...320: Does that include the coffee and steak bakes whilst waiting for it to charge?
- 18:02 - Tel...798: £336 for Sheffield to LM and back
- 18:03 - Tel...061: alas, that fuel costs is more than the car fuel cost.
- 18:03 - Tel...798: Ah yes the hidden cost of EV.
- 18:03 - JamesW: The ferry is now unloading. No sign of the sinclair c5 yet
- 18:08 - JamesW: Starting loading . . No sign
- 18:20 - JamesW: We are on. Watch this space
- 18:29 - JamesW: Ferry still loading. They are at entrance to port
- 18:30 - Tel...798: JamesW - this is better than Eastenders cliffhangers!
- 18:35 - JamesW: Sausage roll eaten, no c5 passengers yet. Nor started moving though
- 18:43 - JamesW: Alas, an empty car park, a moving boat and no sinclair c5
- 18:45 - JamesW: So. A two and a half hour wait for the next one. Do they park up and turn the stereo on and keep climate control running . . . Or not risk it and turn it all off
- 18:49 - Tel...138: Does anyone know what car crashed coming out of tete rouge going onto mulsanne straight ?
- 18:52 - Tel...798: Back in 2013? Aston Martin - Allan Simonsen
- 18:54 - Tel...138: Just for clarity I meant what car crashed going into the mulsanne this year as I have a chunk of carbon and it would be good to know
- 18:55 - Tel...798: Ah sorry
- 18:56 - JamesW: We left a chunk of carbon on a speed bump in the rouen ghetto if that helps
- 19:12 - Ben Gordon-Smith: Sinclair C5 update! We’re finally at Calais, now waiting for the 22:00 ferry. An amazing Le Man wkend, but moral of the story from my personal charging erm ‘adventure’ is ‘don’t drive an EV to Le Man, ‘yet’!! Will prob take it en to year though
- 18:12 - Tel...819: What time did you set off??
- 19:13 - JamesW: 8:15
- 19:14 - Tel...322: Takes me back about 15 years vicariously witnessing your journey of 50 miles or so between garages to limp home but in my case I was driving my TVR.
- 19:15 - Tel...819: Ooooshhhh f**k your life!! Where are you going back to?
- 19:16 - JamesW: Luckily Rochester
- 19:25 - JamesW: People, our journey home in your company has been an absolute pleasure. We will be returning next year, and Ben will be bringing his T5 campervan instead. However. . . Les will be bringing his new Taycan with him - and he wrote his last one off 4 months ago, so next year could be even more fun
JamesW said:
*09:23 - JamesW: At least the weather isn't too hot for a topless drive home !:
A VERY entertaining read - 09:37 - Tel...825: Our v max is only 75mph bit if we quadruple stint and piss in the car we may win
- 09:42 - JamesW: Our speed is even less, or Ben's sinclair c5 will end up stranded at the side of the road with 2 miles range like it did on the way here. Remember the future is electric
- 10:49 - JamesW: After a 30 minute diversion round a French council estate, we have finally found a source of AA batteries for the sinclair C5.
- 10:59 - Tel...345: Maybe next year you could put on the group the Duracell / Exide / Eveready route
- 11:13 - JamesW: Not actually charging yet, as we need the tesla app and are having installation issue. How anyone that isn't in IT copes is a miracle
- 11:24 - JamesW: Apparently, this charger station isn't compatible with sinclair c5 cars. No new batteries yet.
- 11:31 - Tel...075: I'm genuinely gripped by this saga
- 11:32 - JamesW: We are heading to look for another charger.
- 11:32 - Tel...075: Sat by the phone awaiting updates
- 11:33 - Tel...359: And they say electronic cars are the future…
- 11:36 - JamesW: I'm enjoying this so much , I've delegated driving to my copilot so I can keep you updated
- 11:36 - Tel...819: I’m the guy in the Tesla, keep me posted
- 11:38 - JamesW: No sign of the charger, and the mclaren has got lost
- 11:38 - Tel...819: If it helps. These are the chargers I use.
- 11:44 - JamesW: Now lost on French council Estate with black guys on mopeds driving round us
- 11:44 - JamesW: On plus side, McLaren back in tow
- 11:55 - Tel...731: I can’t see a future with electrics vehicles for a long time, I don’t think I’d ever want one
- 11:57 - JamesW: Nice cathedral, no sign of chRger
- 11:59 - Tel...547: How much range does everyone have left? Can’t help, but following the thread …
- 12:03 - Tel...798: Hope you get a charger soo soon
- 12:03 - Tel...731: I’d just be stressing all the time over re-charging, then having to wait while it recharges.
- 12:05 - Tel...075: How much range is left in the Porsche?
- 12:08 - Tel...819: Any joy with the charger ?
- 12:09 - Tel...798: Fingers crossed mate
- 12:16 - JamesW: They say you shouldn't leave a man behind. . . However after a wonderful tour of rouen, the sinclair has fallen behind. Now attempting to find the mclaren
- 12:18 - JamesW: The C5 has found a stock of batteries at a BMW dealer
- 12:20 - JamesW: Can anyone calculate the carbon footprint of a sinclair c5 with two 3.8 litre twin turbo support vehicles
- 12:21 - Tel...743: A st ton?
- 12:23 - Tel...798: Less carbon footprint than my wife when she's farting
- 12:24 - JamesW: Our range ofter leaving le mans on a full tank is still 380km
- 12:41 - JamesW: Alas the meat in our supercar sandwich is missing
- 13:00 - JamesW: Unfortunately the BMW man said non, so the c5 had to move to an audi dealer who said oui
- 13:45 - JamesW: Sinclair C5 update. The boys are on the move again, but will need to charge again in order to reach calais. All being well the chargers at the somme services are working.
- 14:06 - JamesW: Good news, chargers at somme services are working. Shame we're now over an hour ahead
- 14:11 - Tel...345: If and when you find a charger how much does it cost for the lecky. Asking for a friend
- 14:12 - JamesW: Not enough to compensate for the inconvenience! He said on ionity he's paying 17 quid for 170 miles range
- 14:13 - JamesW: We have left a disabled space for the sinclair c5
- 14:22 - Tel...345: So no cost difference than running the oil burner and I’d have to stop at least 3 times to get back up north. you probably spend more on coffee than fuel every time you stop
- 14:24 - Tel...851: Going in the bad parking thread
- 14:25 - JamesW: Arghhhhhhh no. Mclaren keys locked in bonnet. You couldn't make this up
- 14:28 - Tel...743: At this rate you all may as well stay there and just wait for next year
- 14:30 - Tel...469: This is more exciting that the actual Le Mans race!
- 14:31 - Tel...851: Surely it's not electronic release only?!
- 14:32 - Tel...929: If the bones release isn’t in the door; it should be behind the wheel arch liner. 2x Tork screws to release the liner.
- 14:33 - Tel...929: Bonnet not bones
- 14:33 - Tel...366: Is that prince Charles in the back?
- 14:33 - JamesW: We are in the wheel arch lining
- 14:34 - Tel...929: Around 2 o’clock, have a good feel. It should be there. What model is it?
- 14:34 - JamesW:
- 14:34 - JamesW: 675lt
- 14:35 - JamesW: It is open
- 14:35 - JamesW:
- 14:35 - Tel...929: Right place; need slim arm to get in. Get hand right in.
- 14:36 - JamesW:
- 14:36 - JamesW: Rubber trim going back on
- 15:57 - JamesW: Sinclair C5 update. Due to a sat navigation error, they took a wrong turn and ended up with 3 miles range on the middle of nowhere. They have limped into a Peugeot garage and are on a slow charger to give them 30 miles range to get to somme services and a super charger. On the plus side 2 cars have arrived at calais 15 minutes late for the 5:20 ferry check in. If only we'd avoided the key incident
- 15:58 - Tel...819: Bloody petrol cars. We’re on the train now
- 15:59 - Tel...366: Bring a generator next year
- 15:59 - JamesW: Was it you who took all the electricity??
- 16:21 - JamesW: So - hopefully the sinclair will get enough charge before the Peugeot dealer closes at 6pm
- 16:23 - Tel...075: Sending thoughts and prayers
- 16:24 - Tel...819: Good luck
- 16:51 - Tel...345: Taking an electric car to Le Man is very similar to Bertha Benz nipping to her mother’s in 1888.
- 17:06 - JamesW: Place your bets please. Will the sinclair c5 make the 7:20 ferry and catch us up
- 17:09 - Tel...743: I'm going to say yeah. Might be like the end of Fast & furious 2 but...
- 17:12 - Tel...061: Tell him to apply this setting
- 17:14 - JamesW: He's at the stage where we suggested disconnecting 3 of the 4 leds In each headlight
- 17:15 - Tel...482: Hey Admins, please don't lock the group for yet a while. We need closure on this unfolding story!
- 17:18 - JamesW: And now the mclarens new windscreen has cracked
- 17:19 - Tel...886: That’s it - this is now officially more entertaining than the race.
- 17:20 - Tel...798: Snap! Don’t touch it and if you can, stop somewhere and get the windscreen filler stuff. My X5 did then same but the filler stuff kept the crack at the same size all the way there and back
- 17:21 - Tel...798: https://www.halfords.com/motoring/paints-and-body-...la-333664255372%7Ccrid:550463621677%7Cnw:u%7Crnd:9157658571600344566%7Cdvc:m%7Cadp:%7Cmt:%7Cloc:1006614&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjLiK2uqq-AIVFe3tCh3jhAjiEAQYASABEgKdV_D_BwE
- 17:21 - JamesW: Think it was caused by stress. Not necessarily to the car, more to the driver
- 17:21 - Tel...798: Understandable!
- 17:21 - Tel...061: I’m guessing he didn’t use range mode then I met him at the Somme services on the way down which was his first charging spot. Tell him he’s let the side down
- 17:22 - JamesW: You will be the green taycan turbo then
- 17:36 - Tel...061: Yep
- 17:36 - Tel...061:
- 17:36 - Tel...061: Fuel light bingo successfully won now I’ve reached the folkestone ionity services. I left LM with 85% charge having left on a normal 2kW plug last night, and only stopped at Rouen ionity for 20 mins to boost back up to 85%
- 17:40 - JamesW: They have made it to somme services, are fully charged and 47 miles from calais
- 17:41 - JamesW: No sign of a ferry arriving yet. . The tension is killing me
- 17:43 - Tel...743: Tensions killing us all
- 17:43 - Tel...743: We are all invested in this
- 17:44 - JamesW: Not us much as me, Stephen and Chris. It's a day of our lives we're never getting back
- 17:45 - Tel...743: Be a forever Le Mans story though... silver linings
- 17:45 - JamesW: A ferry is appearing on the horizon. Still no Ben
- 17:50 - Tel...539: Zut alors!
- 18:00 - Tel...061: £21 in electricity.
- 18:00 - Tel...061: My total fuel cost was under £100, how about you guys
- 18:01 - Tel...819: £0
- 18:01 - JamesW: Do we count fuel used during our ev support and rescue stints?
- 18:01 - JamesW: If so, also £0
- 18:01 - Tel...320: Does that include the coffee and steak bakes whilst waiting for it to charge?
- 18:02 - Tel...798: £336 for Sheffield to LM and back
- 18:03 - Tel...061: alas, that fuel costs is more than the car fuel cost.
- 18:03 - Tel...798: Ah yes the hidden cost of EV.
- 18:03 - JamesW: The ferry is now unloading. No sign of the sinclair c5 yet
- 18:08 - JamesW: Starting loading . . No sign
- 18:20 - JamesW: We are on. Watch this space
- 18:29 - JamesW: Ferry still loading. They are at entrance to port
- 18:30 - Tel...798: JamesW - this is better than Eastenders cliffhangers!
- 18:35 - JamesW: Sausage roll eaten, no c5 passengers yet. Nor started moving though
- 18:43 - JamesW: Alas, an empty car park, a moving boat and no sinclair c5
- 18:45 - JamesW: So. A two and a half hour wait for the next one. Do they park up and turn the stereo on and keep climate control running . . . Or not risk it and turn it all off
- 18:49 - Tel...138: Does anyone know what car crashed coming out of tete rouge going onto mulsanne straight ?
- 18:52 - Tel...798: Back in 2013? Aston Martin - Allan Simonsen
- 18:54 - Tel...138: Just for clarity I meant what car crashed going into the mulsanne this year as I have a chunk of carbon and it would be good to know
- 18:55 - Tel...798: Ah sorry
- 18:56 - JamesW: We left a chunk of carbon on a speed bump in the rouen ghetto if that helps
- 19:12 - Ben Gordon-Smith: Sinclair C5 update! We’re finally at Calais, now waiting for the 22:00 ferry. An amazing Le Man wkend, but moral of the story from my personal charging erm ‘adventure’ is ‘don’t drive an EV to Le Man, ‘yet’!! Will prob take it en to year though
- 18:12 - Tel...819: What time did you set off??
- 19:13 - JamesW: 8:15
- 19:14 - Tel...322: Takes me back about 15 years vicariously witnessing your journey of 50 miles or so between garages to limp home but in my case I was driving my TVR.
- 19:15 - Tel...819: Ooooshhhh f**k your life!! Where are you going back to?
- 19:16 - JamesW: Luckily Rochester
- 19:25 - JamesW: People, our journey home in your company has been an absolute pleasure. We will be returning next year, and Ben will be bringing his T5 campervan instead. However. . . Les will be bringing his new Taycan with him - and he wrote his last one off 4 months ago, so next year could be even more fun
Thanks for posting 
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