Ready for Le Mans, give us a wave as you overtake!
Discussion
Only 4 weeks to go and the car is out of the garage and MOT'd ready for the off.
I'll be driving down in my Bugatti Teal, which is a 2.5L straight six powered aluminium bodied copy of a Bugatti Type 35. This provides plenty of power (especially as the car doesn't weigh much), but when running on cross plies and not much suspension, things get a little to interesting over 70mph, so tend to cruise down at a steady 60mph. Taking my 12year old middle son for his first Le Mans experience - can't start too young I reckon!
Give us a wave as you drive past, especially if it's raining as we have no hood, wipers or general protection from the rain.
Hope to see some of you there.
Igg
PS.Don't know how to post pic of car here, but if you look at my profile there is(should be)a pic of 'Blue Thunder'.
I'll be driving down in my Bugatti Teal, which is a 2.5L straight six powered aluminium bodied copy of a Bugatti Type 35. This provides plenty of power (especially as the car doesn't weigh much), but when running on cross plies and not much suspension, things get a little to interesting over 70mph, so tend to cruise down at a steady 60mph. Taking my 12year old middle son for his first Le Mans experience - can't start too young I reckon!
Give us a wave as you drive past, especially if it's raining as we have no hood, wipers or general protection from the rain.
Hope to see some of you there.
Igg
PS.Don't know how to post pic of car here, but if you look at my profile there is(should be)a pic of 'Blue Thunder'.
Yeah - weather doesn't look too promising based on what we've had so far in May.
If it really p****s down then driving becomes quite a challenge with no wipers, useless screens etc. Might have to reduce speed to 40, still, at least it lessons the chance of a speeding fine!
Igg
PS. Speeding in France - don't! This year I was lucky enough to go skiing twice in France and as per previous years I drove. But, this year was the first time I've seen so many police out to catch motorists -especially near Calais. They were stopping cars at last toll booth before you got to Calais, and all the cars stopped seemed to have UK plates!
If it really p****s down then driving becomes quite a challenge with no wipers, useless screens etc. Might have to reduce speed to 40, still, at least it lessons the chance of a speeding fine!
Igg
PS. Speeding in France - don't! This year I was lucky enough to go skiing twice in France and as per previous years I drove. But, this year was the first time I've seen so many police out to catch motorists -especially near Calais. They were stopping cars at last toll booth before you got to Calais, and all the cars stopped seemed to have UK plates!
I'm taking the 'new' ex-Australian cat from Dover to Bolougne, haven't looked at the route yet.
As for the goggles, hat - Yes, got those, but no scarf yet.
For full effect I'll get one and wrap around wire frame/coat hanger. Must also remember to pack large false moustache and pipe!
Igg
As for the goggles, hat - Yes, got those, but no scarf yet.
For full effect I'll get one and wrap around wire frame/coat hanger. Must also remember to pack large false moustache and pipe!
Igg
Will do, if you see two Wally’s in a couple of dark blue 993’s going faster than they should that’s us. If you see two dark blue 993’2 being winched onto the back of a French Police truck please beep, that’ll be us a s well.
Oh the weather! Three years ago was a bit soggy and I have to confess that both I and Clapham993 were safely back in the hotel bar by 10pm having being caught in that monsoon that hit at about 7pm :hangheadinshame:. Mind you watching some Class 1 Power Boating at Indianapolis was something new for Le Mans. With this in mind this years packing will include everything from a Driz-a-Bone to sunscreen and all neatly rammed into the parcel shelf of a 993.
Igg, that’s a pretty decent looking replica. Believe it or not I saw a real Bug of similar age and looks come in the middle of Bury St Edmunds today, not what you’d normally expect to see amongst the collection of Volvo’s
Oh the weather! Three years ago was a bit soggy and I have to confess that both I and Clapham993 were safely back in the hotel bar by 10pm having being caught in that monsoon that hit at about 7pm :hangheadinshame:. Mind you watching some Class 1 Power Boating at Indianapolis was something new for Le Mans. With this in mind this years packing will include everything from a Driz-a-Bone to sunscreen and all neatly rammed into the parcel shelf of a 993.
Igg, that’s a pretty decent looking replica. Believe it or not I saw a real Bug of similar age and looks come in the middle of Bury St Edmunds today, not what you’d normally expect to see amongst the collection of Volvo’s
Igg said:
Yeah - weather doesn't look too promising based on what we've had so far in May.
Doesn't look too bad over there!
http://uk.weather.com/weather/local/FRXX0048
Vario-rob
That's a fair list of cars you've owned/own.
Must admit, I would love to run a Cerbera even if it is only for a short while - but experiences such as yours really put me off. However, glad you like the porsche, as I'm after a 996 next year some time.
Real Bugs are very rare on the roads (something to do with them being worth over £250,000 I should think). Amongst owners of real ones there appears to be a form of inverted snobbery which manifests itself in their not appearing to wash or repair leather seats etc. If it were real - it will have looked 'grubby'.
I'll keep an eye out for your 'convoy' and you may well see me taking a mechanical break on the side of the road somewhere
Igg
That's a fair list of cars you've owned/own.
Must admit, I would love to run a Cerbera even if it is only for a short while - but experiences such as yours really put me off. However, glad you like the porsche, as I'm after a 996 next year some time.
Real Bugs are very rare on the roads (something to do with them being worth over £250,000 I should think). Amongst owners of real ones there appears to be a form of inverted snobbery which manifests itself in their not appearing to wash or repair leather seats etc. If it were real - it will have looked 'grubby'.
I'll keep an eye out for your 'convoy' and you may well see me taking a mechanical break on the side of the road somewhere
Igg
Igg, the Cerbera experience was indeed so disappointing particularly as the dealer is one of the best you’ll come across only yesterday I was swooning over one of their Nobles which I have to say is a much better resolved piece of kit, watch this space :smile:
I and my Le Mans compadre had a real gut buster on the mechanicals three years ago when his Mulsanne gave up the ghost in the car park in the nice restaurant at the top of the N138 just outside Rouen. After 5 hours of graft the towl got thrown in and it ended up being dragged back to Dover before heading for the nearest available car lot. Exacerbating as it was for nothing much more than a 50p bit in the carb which sent him into a 306 hire car for the weekend. What really impressed was the amount of help on hand from fellow Le Mans-ists and at the end of the day the plod left the hard charging hire car well alone on its French plates so if thats the worst that happens…….
What’s the straight six in her? At 2.7 or 2.5 this falls short of a Jag lump, I’m only coming up with a BMW, Datsun or Toyota? Or have I caused great offence?
On the 996 front just watch those values plummet now the 997’s out, a good time to buy if you can’t put up with the antediluvian 993
I and my Le Mans compadre had a real gut buster on the mechanicals three years ago when his Mulsanne gave up the ghost in the car park in the nice restaurant at the top of the N138 just outside Rouen. After 5 hours of graft the towl got thrown in and it ended up being dragged back to Dover before heading for the nearest available car lot. Exacerbating as it was for nothing much more than a 50p bit in the carb which sent him into a 306 hire car for the weekend. What really impressed was the amount of help on hand from fellow Le Mans-ists and at the end of the day the plod left the hard charging hire car well alone on its French plates so if thats the worst that happens…….
What’s the straight six in her? At 2.7 or 2.5 this falls short of a Jag lump, I’m only coming up with a BMW, Datsun or Toyota? Or have I caused great offence?
On the 996 front just watch those values plummet now the 997’s out, a good time to buy if you can’t put up with the antediluvian 993
Straight six is out of a Triumph 2500 saloon which I paid £50 for. Took it straight out and plonked it in the Bug for it's first run down to Le Mans about 8 years ago.
However, I was running on borrowed time and after the first year of being in it's new home, the engine required a full strip down and rebuild, which was done by a classic car racing specialist. Wanted something a bit special and with a £4,000 engine under the bonnet that's just what I've got!
993 is lovely, but I like a bit more in the way of creature comforts (like air con that really works) and I've been told the 996 is the way to go, expecially as I will use the car nearly every day. Won't be looking to buy until next Spring as I'm about to take delivery of a new Mini convertible (one extreme to another).
See you all down there!
BR
Igg
However, I was running on borrowed time and after the first year of being in it's new home, the engine required a full strip down and rebuild, which was done by a classic car racing specialist. Wanted something a bit special and with a £4,000 engine under the bonnet that's just what I've got!
993 is lovely, but I like a bit more in the way of creature comforts (like air con that really works) and I've been told the 996 is the way to go, expecially as I will use the car nearly every day. Won't be looking to buy until next Spring as I'm about to take delivery of a new Mini convertible (one extreme to another).
See you all down there!
BR
Igg
mate. Nothing wrong with that Jon, I’ve Disco’d my way to Le Mans in the past. We had good fun on the A13 down to Rouen playing the Isaac Newton game on all those long steep hills doing about 61.5 on the way up them and 95 on the way down.
The real ace card was when we ventured down to Mulsanne on Saturday evening for a Chinese, where others were turned around and generally hassled by the French police we just went and stuck it on top of a nice steep verge and wandering in for our evening feed, don’t get to do that in the ‘9’
Enjoy
The real ace card was when we ventured down to Mulsanne on Saturday evening for a Chinese, where others were turned around and generally hassled by the French police we just went and stuck it on top of a nice steep verge and wandering in for our evening feed, don’t get to do that in the ‘9’
Enjoy
Sorry Igg issa gas quzzler! (on LPG though) But I don't mind slowing up for a smelly one 
.
I reckon it'll be a laugh Rob. I was just getting a bit tearful as I won't have bought a Tiv by then. The Disco's 7 seater so with me mates piled in the back it'll soon become one big drunken playbus. ( except for me of course
)
On second thoughts, the Sandbag wont be very happy if the
starts!!!!!!!
I'm just gonna wave at every UK plated motor incase it's anyone on here. I couldn't get one of the yellow shirts but got the next best thing. Purple.
Hopefully see you there.
Jon-E-Boy
>> Edited by ChelseaTractor on Thursday 20th May 01:08
. I reckon it'll be a laugh Rob. I was just getting a bit tearful as I won't have bought a Tiv by then. The Disco's 7 seater so with me mates piled in the back it'll soon become one big drunken playbus. ( except for me of course
) On second thoughts, the Sandbag wont be very happy if the
starts!!!!!!! I'm just gonna wave at every UK plated motor incase it's anyone on here. I couldn't get one of the yellow shirts but got the next best thing. Purple.
Hopefully see you there.
Jon-E-Boy
>> Edited by ChelseaTractor on Thursday 20th May 01:08
Jon-e-Boy there will be few panels on the 9 that don’t bear the PH moniker in some form. Please feel free to wave if you see the French boys in blue ‘trousering’ some of my hard earned loot when I’m parked on the hard shoulder
From recollection a Disco and Le Mans go rather like hand and glove. I’m sure you’re aware the odd Brit vehicle has been known to expire on the other side of the channel so do expect the old “don’t suppose you could…….” And “here’s my tow rope”
From recollection a Disco and Le Mans go rather like hand and glove. I’m sure you’re aware the odd Brit vehicle has been known to expire on the other side of the channel so do expect the old “don’t suppose you could…….” And “here’s my tow rope”
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