Discussion
It’s taken me a week just to get to grasp the “new” F1 scene; I am still a little cloudy on a number of areas, as I suppose are most people.
To add to this I was just looking at the Le Mans (Sebring) site and it has stirred my curiosity.
A 12 hour race in North America? A 24 hour race in France? Really fast cars…
And I know very little about it…
Is it exciting and worth watching/keeping up to date with?
Some input would be appreciated, as the site itself isn’t the easiest to follow
To add to this I was just looking at the Le Mans (Sebring) site and it has stirred my curiosity.
A 12 hour race in North America? A 24 hour race in France? Really fast cars…
And I know very little about it…
Is it exciting and worth watching/keeping up to date with?
Some input would be appreciated, as the site itself isn’t the easiest to follow
Well the annual trip to Le Mans is as much about the atmosphere and a good piss up as the racing, I've know some people go and see very little actual trackside racing.
Never actually seen live F1 racing, you can have a weekend in France at Le Man for less than watching the British GP, and the drive down there is like the cannonball run.
Never actually seen live F1 racing, you can have a weekend in France at Le Man for less than watching the British GP, and the drive down there is like the cannonball run.
think of sebring as half of le mans, but interestingly it contributes at least the same amount of wear and tear on the cars 'cos its so rough...
i've never been to sebring, but from what i've heard its even madder than le mans!!! stay clear of Green Park unless you want beer and partying etc...
though unfortuantly its in america and you don't get quite the same atmosphere with all the nice cars etc...
the man who devised the sebring 12 hour race based it on le mans, and i think the fans are doing the same too...
to prove this, in 1971 (i think it was) the sebring race was cancelled due to a fuel crisis but over 2000 fans still turned up just to get drunk like they do every year!!!
i've never been to sebring, but from what i've heard its even madder than le mans!!! stay clear of Green Park unless you want beer and partying etc...
though unfortuantly its in america and you don't get quite the same atmosphere with all the nice cars etc...
the man who devised the sebring 12 hour race based it on le mans, and i think the fans are doing the same too...
to prove this, in 1971 (i think it was) the sebring race was cancelled due to a fuel crisis but over 2000 fans still turned up just to get drunk like they do every year!!!
I've been to the British Grand Prix and Le Mans. This year will be my 9th Le Mans visit & the Atmosphere is fantastic! The french people line the motorway bridges all the way back up to Calais and wave at you. Amazing! Just about every one who gets on the ferry is headed to Le Mans and the fun starts there. The drive down is wonderfull and i don't think i came across one pothole all the way. The French make fantastic roads. Everyone waves at each other and beeps if you have a U.K plate. The campsite atmosphere is awesome. Fireworks and Beer Pyramids are a must tradition. Who has the tallest flagpole. I can recomend the Drivers Parade in the old town & When the track is open to the public for a few hours you get to see some beastly motors. Cant wait till June! Chimaera S3TAY.
plusofcourse there is F1 snobbery ..
wasnt it Mic.Scumacher that refused to race at Le-mans because he didnt think it was safe enough ?
ansy:
Having seen F1 and followed the European LM 12/24hr Races.. there is far more excitment in the endurance races .. F1 is all money and stratergy... LM is more Balls to the Wind and lets lang on till sunrise.
F1 Might be the place for people to make themselves , but LM is where peole descover they are men!. LM seems to be the next evolution after your too old for F1
wasnt it Mic.Scumacher that refused to race at Le-mans because he didnt think it was safe enough ?
ansy: Having seen F1 and followed the European LM 12/24hr Races.. there is far more excitment in the endurance races .. F1 is all money and stratergy... LM is more Balls to the Wind and lets lang on till sunrise.
F1 Might be the place for people to make themselves , but LM is where peole descover they are men!. LM seems to be the next evolution after your too old for F1
ive done a few gp's ( although not british)
daytona 24
and
Le Mans
LM is the daddy of them all... if you only ever do one event in your life lm is the one nuf said
G
edited to say
Schumi has raced a merc at Le Mans... it was Mansell that was persuaded by chapman that Lm was to risky
>> Edited by Graham on Wednesday 19th March 00:03
daytona 24
and
Le Mans
LM is the daddy of them all... if you only ever do one event in your life lm is the one nuf said
G
edited to say
Schumi has raced a merc at Le Mans... it was Mansell that was persuaded by chapman that Lm was to risky
>> Edited by Graham on Wednesday 19th March 00:03
F1 is hollywood razzmatazz, LeMans (and endurance racing generally) is Tarantino.
Nothing but nothing compares with LeM. Despite the fact that the racing is usually extraordinary (& will be even better without 'works' Audi's this year) the whole drive down, general atmosphere etc is electric. There is of course still an element of glamour (inside the pits is a privilege, shaking Johnny Herberts (very small) hands etc. - but its more discrete and you don't feel like a leper in the main areas)
But nowhere else on earth can you schmooze your way past the Gendarmes with or without an appropriate pass, to take your life in your hands and stand by some armco whilst a 200mph Bentley hutles towards you (thankyou MrG)
Do it once and you will always want to be there mid-June
Nothing but nothing compares with LeM. Despite the fact that the racing is usually extraordinary (& will be even better without 'works' Audi's this year) the whole drive down, general atmosphere etc is electric. There is of course still an element of glamour (inside the pits is a privilege, shaking Johnny Herberts (very small) hands etc. - but its more discrete and you don't feel like a leper in the main areas)
But nowhere else on earth can you schmooze your way past the Gendarmes with or without an appropriate pass, to take your life in your hands and stand by some armco whilst a 200mph Bentley hutles towards you (thankyou MrG)
Do it once and you will always want to be there mid-June
I've been to F1 at Estoril and Monaco and 6 times to LeMans. LeMans beats F1 hands down.
1) The drive down
2) Beer
3) Drivers Parade - try handing a beer to a F1 driver. You'll need arms 50 yards long!
4) Full Commentary in English
5) Beer
6) Girls
7) The cars - not just the ones on the track
8) The racing, tactics and nail biting last for 24 hours (not just the 1st lap).
8) The drive back
9) Its a British Event held in France.
have I missed anything?
1) The drive down
2) Beer
3) Drivers Parade - try handing a beer to a F1 driver. You'll need arms 50 yards long!
4) Full Commentary in English
5) Beer
6) Girls
7) The cars - not just the ones on the track
8) The racing, tactics and nail biting last for 24 hours (not just the 1st lap).
8) The drive back
9) Its a British Event held in France.
have I missed anything?
barter said: I've been to F1 at Estoril and Monaco and 6 times to LeMans. LeMans beats F1 hands down.
1) The drive down
2) Beer
3) Drivers Parade - try handing a beer to a F1 driver. You'll need arms 50 yards long!
4) Full Commentary in English
5) Beer
6) Girls
7) The cars - not just the ones on the track
8) The racing, tactics and nail biting last for 24 hours (not just the 1st lap).
8) The drive back
9) Its a British Event held in France.
have I missed anything?
Yep - you missed that:
10) You can get 10' from the cars on the track when they're racing
11) You can get into the pits before the race.
12) You can get into the pits straight after it finishes and get showered in champagne.
Any more?
bob the planner said: 13) Beer
14) Shopping in France for wine / cheese on the way back
15) Cheaper petrol
16) Not sleeping
17) Great party in the camp sites on Sunday night
There must be a few more ...
Yup......
The supporting race !
Le Mans Legends will be racing this year ..
Fewawi 250 GTO's, 512's
GT40's
908 & 917's
Well, just about every top sportscar from '59 to '71
I went to the Classic Le Mans last year, and the sight of GT40's & 917's romping round is something else !
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