Club Arnage

11.4.10
Paul Ricard

interesting...

Can't tell you how happy it makes me to see racing returning to Ricard, I've never understood for a second why the FIA hasn't returned the French GP to Ricard, when it was always a fabulous circuit (especially the full, long GP layout) with state of the art facilities.  But then again alot of the things the FIA does don't make any sense.  Ricard has been one of my favorites, with its fast corners and the long Mistral straight.  Good news!
Fax

I guess its biggest problem is its approach roads which are cr*p but I agree - fab circuit.  I've twice now been lucky enough to do the LMS quali weekends with an all-access press pass - one of the best experiences of my motor racing life. 

If I'm on my feet, I'll be there.  Thursday's op' and its aftermath will be the decider, but as I have free accommodation locally (bil) then the chances are relatively good for me.

Good luck on Thursday Deb, I know you have to be ready for this nightmare to be over with.  You'll be at Ricard and I'll be jealous as hell.  Take some pics for those of us who can't make it.
Fax

I see that tickets are 30 euros for the weekend,and include Sunday of the test weekend in March. Not a bad deal, all in all.

Apparently one of the problems that Ricard has is that the FIA ( and the poison dwarf ), don't like the scarcity of posh hotels and restaurants in the area.

I'm thinkin about going there, just have to check on the budget and how to get there ... drive by car (approx 1000 km) or take the train and rent something over there.

A friend of mine seems to have nearly wangled himself a job driving a team truck.  I'm just negotiating wheelchair space....

Its interesting that you mention the access to the circuit being a big problem, I have a friend who had been to the Bol d'Or when it was held there and he remarked that the traffic queues at Ricard were pretty comparable to Sliverstone in the old days.  People visibly grew older sitting stationary for hours. However, with a bit of funding access roads can always be improved.  And Jesus! Anyone who's sat in the Saturday morning traffic jam getting into Sebring knows what being stuck in queues on shitty access roads is all about.  And if the dwarf wants hotels and clubs for his posers, build them yourself Bernie! He's got plenty of money.  I always thought he was a part owner of the Paul Ricard circuit after the Ricard family sold it.
Anyway, its always been a brilliant circuit and the fact that race meetings are returning to it is good news for all us who thought the great old racing circuits were doomed to the Tilke plague.
Fax

Decided over the weekend to head onto Le Castellet.
Fly in on Friday (Marseille), leave on Monday ... any suggestions for a good hotel in the neighbourhood ?

I am so very jealous!  Quite a nice entry, even for practice weekend:

http://www.lemans-series.com/fr/s52_circuits/s52p06_engages.php?circuit=1

It will be quite interesting to see how the two "old boys" Fisi and Alesi get on.

Like you Deb, terribly jealous of anyone going.  Speaking of which, if anyone attending the 8 hrs at Ricard has an interest in doing a t-shirt and program swap from Sebring, I'll be up for it.  It would be nice to have a t-shirt from Ricard to wear this summer at Mid-Ohio.
Fax

Don't know if they'll have t-shirts at Paul Ricard, program won't be a problem.

Flight Brussels - Marseille : ok
Rental car : ok

Hotel : still searching ... 

5 weeks to go ... can 't wait  ;D

Just saw on the website that on Friday the track won't be open for the public  ??? ...  French bastards !
Guess we'll have to head on to Saint Tropez on Friday afternoon ... Sun, sea, terrace, wine and hopefully a nice view, it could be worse  ;D

I'm ready !

(http://i959.photobucket.com/albums/ae77/Raceshot/Vanalles/Rugzak.jpg)

 ;D

see you there dottore do you want to meet for a beer ?

Only just saw your post lofty, wifi in the hotel is a real pain in the ass. Would love to meet up for a beer, I'll send you my number in pm

Back home ... Great track, nice race, nice weather on Saturday, too cold weather on Sunday ...
Will post more pictures during the week, first some work to do (sadly enough).


(http://i959.photobucket.com/albums/ae77/Raceshot/Wrong.jpg)

hi when you sent reply i was just pitching up.next time.im putting pictures on computer now only got back 3 hours ago.

Another one

(http://i959.photobucket.com/albums/ae77/Raceshot/20100411_VER9630.jpg)


@ Lofty : Next time, we'll meet up for a few beers  !!

Superb pics as per, Dottore.  How was access around the track for the paying public?  I've only ever been there with a press pass which I probably won't get again. 

Thanx !

Acces 'round the track wasn't bad.  We could walk from the start/finish straight (tribune across the pitlane) up to the double righthander at the end of the backstraight.  Nice views of the sweeping bends before start/finish with a grandstand and bar, and then you could walk back to the end of the back straight.  Lots of possibility to shoot over the fences, just a shame I couldn't shoot through it, as there's a second lower fence in front of the big one (600 mm was't enough).   I was very impressed by the track, everything very clean and still like new, great setting for a racetrack.  Walked through a part of the paddock, but didn't find any more spots to take some nice pictures.  It could have been better if they opened a bit more public-area's (end of the start/finish straight with the corners behind it, maybe somekind of viewing area at the backstraight), but it was quite ok for me.  Only the boutique was a disappointment; located at the entry of the track, and allmost nothing in stock ... and if they had something it was in children-size (small or large if you were lucky).   Good parking facilities inside the track, easy to get in with pre-paid tickets ... lots of tracks can learn from it.  Compared with Spa over here, we're living in the Stone age.

If they organise this race again next year, chances are high I'll be there again.  


Edit ... another picture (no sharpening, just cropped it and added some contrast) ;D

(http://i959.photobucket.com/albums/ae77/Raceshot/Vanalles/_VER8221.jpg)

Glad to hear you had a good time, and that Ricard is still in good shape.  I always thought it was a terrific GP venue, state of the art when built in 1970, and remains so.  It's always been mind-boggling to me that the French GP was moved from there, but then again, we are talking about the FIA.  The combination of hight speed sweepers and the long Mistral straight made for a bloody challenging circuit, to drive, and set a car up for.  The Verriere esses, Signes and Beausset were always corners that separated the men from the boys.
Fax