Le Mans Classic

[gary396]

Originally Posted by retrognome

Blimey Gary, you must have worn your camera out.

I did get a bit carried away Peter! Thought I would process them asap whilst indoors due to rain (again). Just doing a few of Plateau 6 at the moment and then that will do it for me.

[gary396]

Last few batches from me to follow, this time Plateau 6 (1972-79):

[gary396]

Next batch from Plateau 6:

[gary396]

Another batch from Plateau 6, one more to follow:

[gary396]

Final batch from Plateau 6 below. Might post a few 'odds and sods' later, as and when I get chance.

Gary

[morninggents]

Originally Posted by Al Weyman

All joking aside, does that 41 car honestly look safe to you? The driver looks somehow too big for the car and with the piddly roll cage looks very vulnerable, rather him than me!

It looked odd to me too, Al, when I saw it. It looks as though he's sat too far forward in loose seat belts. Compare to the driver of car 28 in post 244.

[JaapSinke]

Originally Posted by retrognome

Three images but will try to post more later

Fabulous Quester/Petererson BMW CSL of Walker/Benjamin/Kovacevic.
Talbot Lago driven by Christian Traber through Arnage
Vincent Gaye has a very narrow escape in his Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta.

I was in the Blue Healey in this picture. Don't know if it was a narrow escape for Mr. Gaye. He was not even braking

More pictures of the Blue Healey?
PLease email to: jaap.sinke@gmail.com

Cheers.

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by Al Weyman

All joking aside, does that 41 car honestly look safe to you? The driver looks somehow too big for the car and with the piddly roll cage looks very vulnerable, rather him than me!

Interesting that 908 looks smaller scale than the other 2! (28 & 64) Obviously hasn't spent too much time getting car to fit. Answer would be to give it to me- I'd have my legs shortened if needed to drive that.....

Great pics Gary! Well done Mate. Is the CSL in last batch tenther Alex Elliot's car? (entered as 9). And did the Howmet run?

[gary396]

Thanks Mike. Yes that was Alex Elliott's CSL. 25th on scratch but an excellent 3rd place on the index of performance. Great result.

The Howmet finished 57th on scratch (53rd on index) I think - only did about 10 laps compared to the winner's 29.

[Duddha]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKXRaTrtsSM&feature=plcp

An inboard footage I made of Leo Voyazides in his GT40 during qualifying.

More on http://www.duddha.tumblr.com

[FastDB2s]

Originally Posted by johngee

It was really good to see you and Terry. I think you're right about the parade lap behaviour. How long before somebody gets hurt?
Lack of respect for yellow flags is a product of there being so few marshals there to report it.....and there isn't the same camera coverage as the main 24 hour race.
However, there's nowhere like Le Mans, is there?

We watched an incident in Plateau 2 on Saturday night, about 10.15 or so, from La Sarthe grandstand near the Ford Chicane.
The marshalls were slow to react & deal with a Lancia with a failed engine or ? , the Manitou driver texting his mate then not being able to get between the BMW safety car & the wall, the waved yellows & no one (not even Brits) obeying them.
Something simple could have been turned into something major.

[MartinSmith]

Fantastic pictures Gary.....thanks for sharing with us....very good indeed

[johngee]

Originally Posted by FastDB2s

We watched an incident in Plateau 2 on Saturday night, about 10.15 or so, from La Sarthe grandstand near the Ford Chicane.
The marshalls were slow to react & deal with a Lancia with a failed engine or ? , the Manitou driver texting his mate then not being able to get between the BMW safety car & the wall, the waved yellows & no one (not even Brits) obeying them.
Something simple could have been turned into something major.

Don't get me wrong - I'm not an apologist for the ACO. My point was really that, coming so soon after the 24 hours, the marshal numbers and motivation are not what we might hope for and expect. I'll say no more!!!

[retrognome]

Originally Posted by johngee

Don't get me wrong - I'm not an apologist for the ACO. My point was really that, coming so soon after the 24 hours, the marshal numbers and motivation are not what we might hope for and expect. I'll say no more!!!

Shades of Spa Six Hour perhaps.

[johngee]

Originally Posted by retrognome

Shades of Spa Six Hour perhaps.

You may say that - I couldn't possibly comment.

[White flag man]

Some of my photos, most from post 61.
I can assure Mr Smith, that there was no lack of motivation from us, although numbers of marshals were down, from the 24hrs, by 66%.

[johngee]

Originally Posted by White flag man

I can assure there was no lack of motivation from us, although numbers were down, from the 24hrs, by 66%.

I certainly don't think all of the marshals could be described as demotivated (and I remember how thrilled I was when I was accepted, as I'm sure you all were). I did detect a certain level of battle fatigue amongst some of the local officials probably after the preceeding 24 hour race only three weeks before and, as you rightly say, by restricted numbers. No offence intended.

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by White flag man

Some of my photos, most from post 61.

I'm a sucker for a good paint sheme, and up to seeing your pics my favourite car was the BMW M1 'Art' car in Gary's earler post. But all changed now you have posted a photo of the 917 (#23)! I can't remember what they called that scheme, but it is a cracker.....

[Mike Bell]

Looked it up and it is just ''psychedelic''. Very apt.

[gt917]

Mike,

this is Vincent Gayes 917K, chassis 21, which has just been totally stripped and rebuilt. It is too overdone compared to the original build but i suppose it does make it really usable for such a vunerable car. The psychedelic paint scheme is as original and was used in the 1970 season on Martini backed cars, including the second placed LeMans long tail, chassis 23. That long tail had several paint schemes, was delivered in white, then purple and white, and finally repainted overnight with dozens of spray cans to everyones suprise, including me, as i was there, on race day. The look was to be found in other colours on 917s also.
Vincents car has had a very chequered career and many colour schemes, including a yellow and red psychedelic one. It is not the original chassis, but is in fact 012, having gone back to the factory to be rebuilt following David Pipers and Gijs Van Lenneps double offs at the 1970 LeMans race.

Sadly all three 917s failed this year.

GT.

[Mike Bell]

Thanks Graham for that. I did a bit of research and as seems to be the case with a lot of old race cars chassis ??? became chassis XXX and then had 3 different colour schemes etc etc!

Was the yellow and red colour the Sandeman livery?

More I look at Sports Racers of late 60s and early 70s the more I love the little 908s, the 910s and ultimate 917s. The fact that they had so many superb colour schemes as well is just a bonus! Will have to make LMC next time as seems to be the place to find them......

[Colin McKay]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

I'm a sucker for a good paint sheme

Mike, for your delectation, we stored the Nasamax DM139 Reynard/Judd for the owner for a number of years. It was the first car to compete at LM using biofuel in 2003. Recently been taken away for restoration with a view to getting it back out there. Not quite 'historic' yet, but given the current obsession with alternative fuels nevertheless a significant bit of LM history.

[gt917]

Mike,

the problem with the 917 was its lightweight construction, and so for todays racing it really has to be a very expensive and extensive restoration before anyone dare compete with anger. The chassis were all of special tubular alloy and three were of magnesium. They had an expected working life of 40 hours and were a nightmare to repair, especially from the cockpit forward, because all the bodywork was bonded to the frame for rigidity. It also makes things awkward for front suspension, steering rack, anti roll bar, etc, changing, setting up etc.

The engine is another thing. Like land, God does not make anymore, and they are horrendously expensive to buy or repair. I,ve been offered two in the past, one at £250,000, the other at £300,000 with a gearbox !!! Very strong and reliable until over revved, and then look at paying off the national debt!!

Everything on the whole car that can be made of magnesium or titanium is, thus adding to the delicasy and cost of running 917s. So major events are the only time you are likely to see them perform in anger and three of them were at this years classic LeMans.

The Sandeman colour scheme in 1970 was yellow and red but not psychodelic in design.

GT.

[Mike Bell]

Thanks, Colin. There have been soooo many fantastic colour schemes over the years, and Le Mans seemed to challenge those responsible to come up with something special!

Graham, all that you say about the 917 is why it is so fascinating to me. Magnesium tubular chassis, for instance. No concern over safety in event of a fire.....

BTW, general question to all- is the 'cut off date' for LMC set in stone like Goodwood or possibly going to be moved at some point?

[gt917]

[QUOTE=Mike Bell;3106073]

Graham, all that you say about the 917 is why it is so fascinating to me. Magnesium tubular chassis, for instance. No concern over safety in event of a fire.


Mike ,

they did not tell the drivers.

GT.