Advice wanted for marshalling at Le Mans

[Paul Newns]

A group of us are going to Le Mans for the first time. A lot of ten tenthers are regulars so any tips would be welcome.

[Stephen Green]

Paul,

There is a thread running in the sportscar forum so it might be wise to pop in there and see who is going etc?

[Bodysnatcher]

Steve, I see no clash in having this thread here if it's marshalling specific advice required for Le Mans, good advice can be hard to uncover it the sportscar Le Mans thread due to it's length.

So, Paul - is it marshalling specific?

I sent my form back yesterday after ticking the appropriate boxes, ruling out the bits that do not apply and attaching various photocopies - the guys and girls that fill those forms in will understand.

[bluebeard]

glad you started this one Paul, and yes it is marshal specific as its my first visit there and marshalling too! all advice marshal-wise would be much appreciated

[Steve Tarrant]

First place to look should be the Le Mans section on www.marshalspost.com. Some very useful info and maps for you to download. Any idea what post(s) you're on?

I will be at post 106 again with Bodysnatcher, but know some of the Brits will be on posts 61 and 70.

Steve

[Bodysnatcher]

damn you Steve Tarrant I was so busy formatting this that you got in ahead of me . Be great to see you & Jackie again.

Names in bold are some of the forum members who do the 24 hour thing

lets see -
Signing on - I've only ever arrived on Wednesday lunchtime and sign on will be at the place shown on the map that came with your paperwork. Not too hard to find, but beware the one way system.

Perhaps best if you turn up at your post first and get one of the team to help you out.
I would presume you'll be heading for the Brit post (post 70) at the end on the Mulsanne (Tony Bush's place) - but then again you may not.
Stoowert's one of the team leaders (think assistant Obs) down there - maybe he'll get back to you with more post specific info.
Could be you'll be in with us and the Germans/Austrians on 106 (possible if you went through Chris Stoddart of the BMMC)
Or....somewhere else
racegypsy or paul.hickman go their own way but could help on general stuff I'm sure.

Finding your poste best look at the map kept by our friends at marshalpost.com
post numbers in the little oblong boxes. Post 70 = 7.0km from start, post 106 = 10.6km from start

Some articles by thebear help to fill in background
again look to marshalspost.com

whadda you guys really need to know?
just take your usual weekend gear...
but
like take a torch
take spare probans (whites are a bit too cool at 3am - or they may not have your size in stock - thinking of Dave Hammond or Peter Scillitoe here)
spare gloves
ear defenders

there are many more of us @ 10/10ths that go to LM - so there should be plenty of replies
previous threads
and another

[Bodysnatcher]

Ah, yes and some photos courtesy of turbo-ww

[Stoowert]

A-Ha! Another innocent lures to the land of the unwashed garlic! If it's yer first time, I would suggest trying to get on post 70 as it's 100% English speaking - apart from the Septics. So it wont be too daunting. Post 70 was more exciting when we still had the hump, but it's a good base, campsite 50m from the post and a clear run into arnage for supplies. Bring a personal radio, as you'll be told more via radio Le Mans than by the "Bushe Telegragh" A camping stove is essential, if only for that 5.00 am cuppa!

[Bodysnatcher]

hey! Stoowert, most of post cent six / hundert sechs speak Engerlish (of a sort) even my good self can make a passable attempt at the language of my forefathers oppressors!

Now go away or I shall be forced to insult you again you seely man.

An' hey, we can get to the supermarket in Arnage easily whilst the track's active. Try that from 70 without GPS / maps/ bribes/ off road tyres!!

A good hidef map of the area is a real handy must have - for the first few years I made do with a printout of this one from club arnage's site.

[racerkeke]

If all goes well, I'll be with Racegypsy at poste 61. It's my first time too, but I'm relying on the Gypsy to get me there and back without too many problems. Apparently the chef de poste does not speak English, so I am dredging up all the school French and racetrack Quebecois I can remember.

The only thing I've found difficult so far is the $35 it cost me to mail the dang application back in time for it to arrive at the ACO by May 10.

keke

[Pike]

I`m off but as its my first time also I can`t offer any advice!!!

[greenbean]

as already stated check out marshals post for info and pics .i have some up showing post 70 .it should be a good race i just came back from the pre oqal on the 25th april.main thinks to take are tent, sleeping bag, cooker ,folding chair for when u are not on post. hope to see you there i will be with the usual crew on post 70

[KayBee]

Paul and Harry why not contact Lewis because he's a Le Mans regular.

[thebear]

Originally posted by Bodysnatcher
A good hidef map of the area is a real handy must have - for the first few years I made do with a printout of this one from club arnage's site.

Also you can go to http://www.marshalspost.com/, select Circuits and scroll down to France>24hrs to get the 2002 version of the post map.

unfortunately I will not be joining you in '04.

[alan-g]

I shall be there, Poste 00, startline/signalling wall/pitlane entrance, again, so I must have done nothing too wrong.

[Steve Tarrant]

And for those that don't know (see Bodysnatcher's message above) I will be going on post 106 on my own this year, as Jackie and I are getting divorced.

Realise this isn't constructive towards advice for Le Mans, but this saves any embarrassment later.

Steve

[danccooke]

how do you go about marshalling the LM obviously too late this year but next.....

[Steve Tarrant]

To save typing it all again, click on links on Bodysnatcher's message above, which has all the details.

Steve

[Ian Briggs]

Paul, I belive you are taking a certain stocky, bemustashed Welshman with you. Will read about the resultant carnage with interest!

[KayBee]

Originally posted by Ian Briggs
Paul, I belive you are taking a certain stocky, bemustashed Welshman with you. Will read about the resultant carnage with interest!

He told me he was English. :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

[Mark Mitchell]

I think he lives on the "Border"

[Paul Newns]

Hi guys

Thanks for all of the tips. Keep them coming.

I don't know what post we are all on but we've asked for Arnage.

Yes, Glyn is English (just) but from celtic stock. I'm sure he'll cause carnage as usual, especially as he has me and Mike Kelly for company, three trouble causers of repute.

Off post, how much French do we need? I have some schoolboy French in the dark recesses of my mind and I'm frantically listening to a teach yourself French tape but at my age things don't sink in the way they used to.

Do we get any further instructions closer to the date and do they need an urgent reply?

How about overalls? I think the organisers supply white ones but when do we get them and do they have a good range of sizes?

[Steve Tarrant]

Paul, if you get Arnage (post 100) keep in touch as my post (106) is the next on the track, and we can then meet up during the week (I'll be there from the Monday for the entire week).

Schoolboy French will get you through okay, as sign language is pretty universal. But it'll surprise you just how much comes back from the recesses - when you want something, you'll get the message over (especially when beers are involved!).

I presume you've completed your form that asked for the copy of your MSA licence and picture (that needs to be in France by Monday 10th!!!!). That paperwork also had the timetable of signing-on, practice and race times. If you lose that, log onto the official Le Mans website (www.LeMans.org) where details, timetables, etc can get got.

The overalls are given out at sign-on and there are plenty of the popular sizes. But for the more extreme body shapes (VERY LARGE and very small) it usually a case of hoping you beat the rush! I've now taken to buying a white set here from AWS and take them over with me.

If you want any other info, feel free to PM me to exchange info, phone no's etc.

Steve

[Ty Nicholson]

Paul -If you do get Post 100 Arnage you'll be amongst friends as both Iain (Knockhill IO on Startline) and I are on there. International post with German, French-Canadian, American and of course French marshals. Send me pm for more details. Ty