Pau 14th/15th May.

[grantp]

Originally Posted by compte deGraves

Grant,

You are absolutely right. That is the pit exit.

There are a number of concerns:

1. If you unload your car in the truck area you seem to need to get a maniac in a jeep to tow you on a rope across the traffic on a busy public road in order to get to the tented display area. Only if France.

2. How do you "just pop back to the wagon" to get something you have forgotten once racing has started? Please remember the tea,milk and sugar are kept in the truck!

Has to be the pit exit with the cars parked in it. One of them is probably the safety car ....

Oh, hang on, they park on the track if I remember correctly. Mind you that was during the 'modern' weekend.

Of more concern on the refreshment front is whether there are suitable power facilities in the tented village. If not it matters little if one has forgotten the tea bags. Not sure that taking the milk across would be sensible. I presume sugar could be 'obtained' locally as required.

Best have some Thermos flasks to hand, fill with boiled water and try to smuggle them in each morning ....

I think a 'Media Pass' might be desirable unless there is a footbridge somewhere, though that is still likely to be a long trek.

Still, Monaco was a similar arrangement 'back in the day'. But at least one could use one's own van(s) for shifting kit rather than relying on the local Maquis. The V6 LWB Transit was quite good for oversteer around the MC hairpins. Hopped a bit though. As usual.

[delta]

Early night for me going to be a long couple of days ahead on route to Pau. Hopefully someone will keep you informed of the racing over the weekend.Ori voir

[Alan Morgan]

Iain's asked me to let everyone know that it's pouring with rain at Pau and they're playing "In the Summertime" by Mungo Jerry on a continuous loop in the paddock.

...now that won't be at all annoying, will it?

[gary396]

If I'm reading the results correctly it looks like Iain had a disappointing weekend. Free practice times looked quite promising but he wasn't classified in qualifying (possibly only did one lap I think) and although listed at the back of the grid for both races - both were DNS. Great shame for him if that's correct.

[Christian Devereux]

Originally Posted by gary396

If I'm reading the results correctly it looks like Iain had a disappointing weekend. Free practice times looked quite promising but he wasn't classified in qualifying (possibly only did one lap I think) and although listed at the back of the grid for both races - both were DNS. Great shame for him if that's correct.

I had the pleasure to meet Iain and Grant P at Pau, felt v sorry for Delta, he lost oil pressure on the gauge during practice, I think, so wisely switched off. Then couldn't get another pump, so had to sit it out. He's a philosophical gent, but I could see he was gutted.

Rumours abound of this being an annual event, so better luck next year Delta...

[john ruston]

Have the grids grown?

[Christian Devereux]

Originally Posted by john ruston

Have the grids grown?

It was my first time, so I have no benchmark, but all the grids seemed healthy. It's sometimes difficult to know from the paddock side though!

The paddock had a great feel, like a mini French Goodwood, all the cars easy to see, next to each other in grid groups, within the tented village. No trucks, campers or vans, these were all 'put away' on the other side of the track, out of sight. It's a bit more hassle for us, but that wasn't what it was about! Nice drivers marquee and lawn, to which guests could be taken for proper grub and a splash of regional wine. Not a bacon sarnie to be seen...

All in all, a damn fine event I thought, I'd love to race there again. (Although a bit more care with truck paddock facilities would be nice, as we weren't all staying in hotels!)

[grantp]

Originally Posted by Christian Devereux

It was my first time, so I have no benchmark, but all the grids seemed healthy. It's sometimes difficult to know from the paddock side though!

The paddock had a great feel, like a mini French Goodwood, all the cars easy to see, next to each other in grid groups, within the tented village. No trucks, campers or vans, these were all 'put away' on the other side of the track, out of sight. It's a bit more hassle for us, but that wasn't what it was about! Nice drivers marquee and lawn, to which guests could be taken for proper grub and a splash of regional wine. Not a bacon sarnie to be seen...

All in all, a damn fine event I thought, I'd love to race there again. (Although a bit more care with truck paddock facilities would be nice, as we weren't all staying in hotels!)

Good to meet you as well Christian and I thoroughly enjoyed your two excellent drives. Pics to follow as soon as I get organised - arrived home about 1/2 an hour ago.

I would echo your views from above. Generally a great event with a few odd things of the sort that only non-UK events seem to throw up. (If you get my drift.)

For those of us camping in the paddock some sort of shower facilities, other than stand pipes, would have been good for the many who did not have motor home facilities. And with trucks arriving as expected from Thursday afternoon opening the temporary toilet facilities on Thursday rather than Friday would have been handy (maybe, depending on the details of the daily service contract!) but really that took nothing away from the event. I'm guessing that both of those concerns could be addressed quite easily for the future.

I thought the grids were very good for all races and despite some natural collateral damage as the event progressed the grids for the second races held up well.

[grantp]

For those that are interested the very comprehensive results (and a residual live timing screen for those who like to see sector times displayed) can be found here.

[delta]

Right I have a few spare minutes so thought I had better write my Pau report before I forget. I did say to Grant "wonder why JR is not here”. All in all a brilliant trip with some high's and low's. Grant P is just such good company and we chatted away to pass the driving time but then also we took in the view's on route in silence apart from the noise every now and then of a camera shutter and Grant shouting RIGHT RIGHT RIGHT !!! or LEFT LEFT LEFT!!! as I was often day dreaming and not paying attention to the sat nav. Collected the sharknose and stangulini and arrived in Portsmouth well ahead of time. Slap up meal in the pub then loaded on the ferry for the over night trip. Off the boat in morning and arived at Le Compte's place near Aunguleme Wednesday afternoon .Lovelly stop over and La Comptess cooked a superb dinner. I had an early night whilst Compte and GP sank a few glasses of cognac. Up early and La Comptess and me took the dogs for a walk along the river Charente,breakfast then on to Pau. I was adamant that we would go straight to the paddock as this was my 4th trip to Pau and did not want wait in the holding area.Trouble was we went around the city three time's then i had to give up and as we turned up at the collecting car park a very nice man waived to us to follow him and we were at the track in no time. Free practice on Saturday morning and its pooring with rain but I ventured out saying im "just going to do a couple of laps then we will have a cuppa"The little Lotus 22 went well and I was passing loads of cars thinking I was going very well. That was untill the end when Callum McCloud came past as if I was stood still. On to qualifying and I had an oil presure problem on 2nd lap so stopped straight away. Worked till 11pm Saturday inspecting oil pump, oil system, tank ect but no fault found. Fired her up Sunday morning loads of oil pressure but then a small oil leak spung from front union on oil pump nipped up with spanner, nipped a bit more then I stripped the thread and basically that was the end of the racing for me that weekend. In the back of my mind I did not want to risk the engine as I had spent the past two years building it with lots of expensive parts used Never mind I was gutted as this was the only race im doing for myself this year. Compte than cheered me up insisting that we stop off again on the way back. Added bonus as he took me and GP out for dinner and after we went to the Cocker Shell Heroes memorial near Jarnac this was where they crossed the Charente and were then helped by the French resistance to escape, I have always thought this mission to destroy the German ships at Bordeax was one of the most heroic in the second world war. Back to the racing at Pau and must mention very good drives from 10/10thers Peter Horseman and Christian who came by and said hello.Back to the workshop full report from Martin about how well the cars ran at Silverstone and then loads of hassle. C'set La Vie

[SAMD]

Super report. I read it with great interest.
Many thanks Iain.

[terence]

Yes,good report Iain. Commiseration on the race though,lot of effort for little rewardhttp://tentenths.com/forum/images/icons/icon8.gif

[grantp]

Time for a few rather randomly selected pics from Pau - the whole set is still a work in progress ....

[grantp]

Next ....

[grantp]

... and more .... the last 2 are meant to illustrate how wet it was during Free Practice but don't really work as well in the lores format as I had hoped.

[grantp]

... moving on ....

[grantp]

and more ....

[grantp]

Not done yet.

[grantp]

more yet ....

[grantp]

Bored yet?

[gary396]

Originally Posted by grantp

Bored yet?

No! Great shots Grant, it looks very 'atmospheric'. Did you have a press pass to get close or are they just taken from spectator areas?

[grantp]

yet more ...

[grantp]

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[grantp]

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[grantp]

Originally Posted by gary396

No! Great shots Grant, it looks very 'atmospheric'. Did you have a press pass to get close or are they just taken from spectator areas?

Hi Gary,

Some of the early shots looking down and most of the 'overhead' pics on the long uphill straight were taken from public areas and the first batch looking across the river (where there used to be a permanent stand - see the Google satellite images) were from stands on the truck paddock area although on race days access would require an appropriate pass for the stand.

But yes I was able to obtain a press pass which mostly (but not always) helped with access to barrier side. Saturday was more flexible in that respect than Sunday. Whilst the place could still be photographed atmospherically from behind the crowd control barriers and from time to time (especially on the Saturday) I saw places that had been lightly populated by what seemed to be unaccredited visitors, getting next to the barriers certainly helped. Once or twice I contemplated hanging a camera over the barrier, '60s style, but thought better of it!

By comparison with many circuits public access to trackside is quite close but not without the temporary crowd control fencing. It's not a Mallory or Cadwell for example.

There were a couple of places that I didn't manage to suss out - the very tight hairpin being one and most of the run along the start/finish straight being the other. Lots of fences along the straight, as one might expect, so it requires a bit more investigation. I wasn't too worried - there were more than enough places to use (and kilometers to walk to get to them!) for two days of action!

It's a great place if you are fit. I must remember that for any future visits ...