Driving the Circuit!

[Redwing]

I found this on the ACO website: http://www.lemansgtdriver.fr/index.php

[E36GUY]

It's the bugatti circuit and like all driving experiences I bet you don't ever get to push the cars and probably 2 laps only!

[Vette_1978]

What you want to do is buy yourself a Corvette and then get onto the official track lap/cavalcade thing they run before the 24hr race. No safety car, no "rules" as such, just a careful blat round the circuit. This is probably the highlight of LM07 for me, taking a black C4 on the left going under the Dunlop Bridge with two wheels up on the kerbs.

[//j17]

No, what you do is buy something classic, mod. the nuts off of it and pay (£100 or so I think it was) for a couple of laps 'behind the pace car'.

Didn't hear anything about 2006 but in 2004 all reports were the pace car couldn't be bothered, shot off in to the distance and left everyone to do whatever they liked.

[Skywalker]

Vette_1978 said:

What you want to do is buy yourself a Corvette and then get onto the official track lap/cavalcade thing they run before the 24hr race. No safety car, no "rules" as such, just a careful blat round the circuit. This is probably the highlight of LM07 for me, taking a black C4 on the left going under the Dunlop Bridge with two wheels up on the kerbs.

I have thought of doing something like this myself...hmm?

[turbo-ww]

Or you can become a Marshal (Commissaire) which gets you a pass for everywhere.

Usually involves a lap Wednesday and Thursday PM and a couple of laps Saturday AM.

BTW, Anyone in the parade of 'vettes a couple of years ago - Single file behind the pace car?

Bet you feeling quite happy til the guy in a 993tt passed the lot of you

[V7TTE]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p419zRMNgNM

[Vette_1978]

First time I've seen that, brings back happy memories. Fortunately I was out near the back so we didn't get much of a backlog at Mulsanne. The straight is hypnotic, you don't get an perception of speed until that first chicane appears and then it's a mad panic - well it is in a C3!!

[Cobra Andy]

You go to the classic as part of a club and for about £80 you 3 laps of the FULL circuit behind a pace car.
However if like last year, when looking in his rear view mirror, the pace car driver saw a gang of cobras behind him, all with lights ablaze, he somehow found a couple more gears ....... reports of speeds in excess of 140mph on the Mulsane were reported.

Appologies also to the Triumph owners out at the same time.
Especially to the 2 who were 'surprised' to find a cob sideways between them, overtaking heading onto the main straight, opposite lock and full power, majical to watch. Well he did have to catch the pace car for the final lap after all.

And congrats must also go to the 2 cob owners who somehow 'got lost' after their stint, and ended up back on the circuit for another 3 laps,( free of charge), just glad they had enough fuel in them !!!!

[Vette_1978]

Cobra Andy said:

You go to the classic as part of a club and for about £80 you 3 laps of the FULL circuit behind a pace car.

Isn't there a "year" cut-off though before they treat a car as a classic? I'm sure I read somewhere that it was 1975 as I remember thinking the 78 Pace Car wouldn't be allowed on track. Or am I thinking of some priviledged car parking in the Village?

[//j17]

Vette_1978 said:

Isn't there a "year" cut-off though before they treat a car as a classic? I'm sure I read somewhere that it was 1975 as I remember thinking the 78 Pace Car wouldn't be allowed on track. Or am I thinking of some priviledged car parking in the Village?

If it looks old you will probably be OK - no one was stopping the 1979 Triumphs parking in the one-mark parking or taking to the track alongside identical 1974 cars.

[Mark B]

At the first Classic LM there were Fezza 512TR going round on the track laps...

Certain marks get through... From my invite information, it would seem that Lotus, TVR, Ferrari and Porsche are certainly on the list as 'All Models' are allowed entry to Classic Multimarque Parking, hence they can also do track laps....

[Vette_1978]

//j17 said:

If it looks old you will probably be OK - no one was stopping the 1979 Triumphs parking in the one-mark parking or taking to the track alongside identical 1974 cars.

I'll be sure to give it a go but the one problem is that being a Pace Car it has 1978 on the side of it in big letters. It's still the same shape(ish) as an early C3 so might be ok.

[//j17]

Vette_1978 said:

//j17 said:

If it looks old you will probably be OK - no one was stopping the 1979 Triumphs parking in the one-mark parking or taking to the track alongside identical 1974 cars.

I'll be sure to give it a go but the one problem is that being a Pace Car it has 1978 on the side of it in big letters. It's still the same shape(ish) as an early C3 so might be ok.

At a guess if it has Pace Car on the side the French will be more interested in seeing it go around the track than stopping it!

[Cobra Andy]

There are certain restrictions as to the Heritage parking area and also for the cars actually racing but as for the parade laps I have not been advised of any age restrictions by the organisers and I have the full package sat next to me as I am organising the Cobras trip next year. We have 48 cars booked for parade laps and a couple of those arnt even finished yet so I wouldnt worry about age on the parade laps as the ACO quite enjoy the revenue these create.

[Mark B]

Cobra Andy said:

There are certain restrictions as to the Heritage parking area and also for the cars actually racing but as for the parade laps I have not been advised of any age restrictions by the organisers and I have the full package sat next to me as I am organising the Cobras trip next year. We have 48 cars booked for parade laps and a couple of those arnt even finished yet so I wouldnt worry about age on the parade laps as the ACO quite enjoy the revenue these create.

Andy, they don't need to worry about the revenue, they had 2000+ applications last year and only 1000 spaces. Having said that Fridays are in for track laps now..

The restrictions are in place as to what cars they allow in multimarque parking, without access to this you won't get track laps.... The restrictions are commented on the page with Morgan/Bus/Healeys and Firtender along the top..

[Cobra Andy]

Mark B said:

Cobra Andy said:

There are certain restrictions as to the Heritage parking area and also for the cars actually racing but as for the parade laps I have not been advised of any age restrictions by the organisers and I have the full package sat next to me as I am organising the Cobras trip next year. We have 48 cars booked for parade laps and a couple of those arnt even finished yet so I wouldnt worry about age on the parade laps as the ACO quite enjoy the revenue these create.

Andy, they don't need to worry about the revenue, they had 2000+ applications last year and only 1000 spaces. Having said that Fridays are in for track laps now..

The restrictions are in place as to what cars they allow in multimarque parking, without access to this you won't get track laps.... The restrictions are commented on the page with Morgan/Bus/Healeys and Firtender along the top..

Mark I take your point but nowhere does it state you have to be in multimark parking to qualify. Indeed many of our cars last year were not in this area but still got out to do the parade laps ? Plus they dont charge for multimark parking but yes there are some restrictions so why is it necessary to have it ? confused, have I missed something or am I just being a dim wit ??

[Matt H]

Mark B said:

At the first Classic LM there were Fezza 512TR going round on the track laps...

Certain marks get through... From my invite information, it would seem that Lotus, TVR, Ferrari and Porsche are certainly on the list as 'All Models' are allowed entry to Classic Multimarque Parking, hence they can also do track laps....

Remember chasing that 512 for a couple of seconds in my Elise before it left me for dead!

I managed to get on the track that year by blagging a ticket to get my car with the Lotus stand and then just followed the cars onto the track and drove straight past the guy checking track passes - one of my fav blags!

[Mark B]

Cobra Andy said:

Mark I take your point but nowhere does it state you have to be in multimark parking to qualify. Indeed many of our cars last year were not in this area but still got out to do the parade laps ? Plus they dont charge for multimark parking but yes there are some restrictions so why is it necessary to have it ? confused, have I missed something or am I just being a dim wit ??

I was under the impression you had to be part of a registered club which included being part of the Classic, Le Mans Heritage or Multimarque parking areas. I may well be wrong, but why would the Le Mans organisers let people who don't have access to the classic parking areas take part in the track laps...

[Cobra Andy]

I'm not sure why, but as we book our tickets as the UK Cobra Replica Club and have for the past few years 04 & 06 we are booking as a club, and are recognised by the ACO as such, maybe thats the reason.
Strange thing is the Heritage area etc is run by the Organisers the SAVH, but the parade laps are organised and run by the ACO.
Guess I will have to give them a bell and clarify things.
Although I have put all the cars down for the free heritage parking, as strictly speaking the cars were originally built before 66 !!!!!!!!! so we should be covered either way.
From memory the only issue with not being in the heritage parking is that you dont have the relevant sticker to get in via the main entrance to the infield and assembly area, and this is what caused a few questions last year, but as the cars were displaying their parade lap passes they were let in.