24hrs x 2CVs
Forget Le Mans - this is the real test of man and machine
France may be home to Le Mans, but the UK had its own legendary endurance race - the Gate-A-Mation Citroen 2CV 24 Hours.
Held on June 19-20, the infamous 2CV contest brings together over thirty-five specially prepared racers for over 1,000 miles worth of wheel-to-wheel, humour filled action around Snetterton in Norfolk.
Thanks to its fast straights and sweeping corners, the host circuit is a regular testing haunt for the big budget Le Mans teams. Bentley, Audi and Colin McRae’s Ferrari have all been regular visitors, but will now make way for the 2CV boys and girls.
"Snetterton has been home to the 2CV 24 Hours for the last two years now ," says event organiser Martin Harrold. "We know how easy it is for people to raise a wry smile when you mention taking a 2CV on a race track but we’re all very serious, and the racing shows it ."
"We may only have 41bhp under our right foot, but we can certainly make that tiny 602cc engine go some ," sang Harrold.
Reaching top speeds of 90mph, compared to the 240mph recorded at Le Mans, the 2CVs more restrained performance actually adds to the spectacle.
"Where else in the world of motorsport do you see three cars racing into, going through, and coming out of a corner together? " quipped Harrold. "People may scoff at the power, laugh at the most aerodynamically handicapped car on the planet, but you’ll never find racing as close and fun as this ."
Last season’s winner, BAPS Racing took the chequered flag from the Shark Attack Team by just eight seconds – testimony to how close the action really is.
The race starts at 4pm on June 19. Gates open at 7-30am on Saturday, with access to the public throughout the night. Tickets cost £10 per adult, children get in for free.
Weekend of 1,2,3 October 2004
2CV's batteling it on the F1 track
www.spa-francorchamps.be/en/index2.html
Graham said:
ANyone fancy a PH team for next year ?
Umm....Interesting. I may be interested, but will need more information first. I guess I would also need the small matter of a racing licence.
I once watched a 2CV race at Oulton and it was a Hoot, 3 around a corner at a time. It may be slow but it certainly is entertaining.
Steve
I'd be up for it - just need a race licence though..... I did the Mondello Park 24-hour 2CV race (predecessor of the Snetterton event) with another PHer in 1995 in a car we bought and raced for two seasons. We were sponsored by Autocar and got a two page spread as a result. It was an absolute scream, great racing in two hour stints bwteeen 3 of us with rows of bright lights behind you at night!
We came 15th out of 30 cars, beating a team of guys who had come fifth at Le Mans 2 weeks earlier!
If anyone is up for this, count me in!
My mum used to have one and I drove it from South Wales to Hull once, which took nearly 6 hours (including stops).
They are very noisy cars and when me and my mate stopped at the services we were shouting at each other because we were partially deaf
That said I have driven very few cars that are half as much fun. If you can manage 24 hours in one then respect!!!
cptsideways said:
Try lawn mower racing - no seriously they have a 24 hour race on a grass track in Sussex and some do 50 odd mph!
yeah i seen that before another good idea. so are we gonna try and organise a team or what? surely pistonheads could sponsor or partly sponsor it, gotta be cheaper than a Tuscan. Could have the same logo that is used on the PH flag on the roof or bonnet. Im fairly confident I could get a bit of other sponsorship too. it would all be worth it just for the laugh we would have. Who cares if we win or not as long as we finnish. would be nice to win though. I never driven snetterton before but with only 41bhp wont these things be flat out for most if not all of the lap other than the two chicane bits i dunno what they called. or do you think you would need to slow down for the 2nd and 3rd corner too?
Yeah I just checked autotrader all the expensive ones are newly refurbished we dont need one of them, so definately no more than £1,500 for the beast itself.
www.citroen-2cv.org.uk/forsale.htm few more there here is a thought, does it have to have the original engine or just one of equal size? im thinking bike engine
hendry said:
I did the Mondello Park 24-hour 2CV race (predecessor of the Snetterton event) with another PHer in 1995 in a car we bought and raced for two seasons. We were sponsored by Autocar and got a two page spread as a result. It was an absolute scream, great racing in two hour stints bwteeen 3 of us with rows of bright lights behind you at night!
We came 15th out of 30 cars, beating a team of guys who had come fifth at Le Mans 2 weeks earlier!
If anyone is up for this, count me in!
Of course you need a great team manager/mechanic/ pit board abuse shouter
The car we took (I was part of team Primoto with Mr Henrdy) was raced the year before so we got it fully prepped, spares etc, even a dolly to tow it about with and it was not more than a couple of grand.
Don't buy a car and convert it, get one that someone has already sorted.
And make sure your drivers don't drop their contacts in the middle of the night!
D
hendry said:
I did the Mondello Park 24-hour 2CV race (predecessor of the Snetterton event) with another PHer in 1995 in a car we bought and raced for two seasons.
If anyone is up for this, count me in!
Hendry, consider yourself in!!!
If there is to be a PH team (or two?) any idea what sort of cash we are looking at for the beast itself, spares, tyres and entrance fees etc.?
Im still interested.
Steve
>> Edited by sook on Thursday 17th June 08:40
Gassing Station | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff