Club Arnage

Wow, what a weekend! Scorching hot weather, some great cars and racing and even better company.
I'm just off to bed to catch up with some sleep but will load up some pictures and thoughts later when the ringing noise in my head has subsided.
 Great to meet CA faces, old and new. Let's see some of your photos and hear your reflections on what was another superb event.

Bye for now.
Si

Had a brilliant time more detail later.

t.

One word sums up the weekend,  SCORCHIO.

As Dr S says great cars, great event.

Good to see those CAers who could make it this year, thanks to Bobblehat and Keith for their hospitality, Jo wobbled back to the tent on Thursday (or was it Friday?), no surprise there then. ;)

And good to see Deb looking a lot brighter.

Thanks to the ACO for making the trip seem like an adventure, non-existant pitchs, lager unavailable on Saturday evening, the beer pumps couldn't cope with the heat, and the general chaos of MB on Thursday lunch time

All part of the LM experience ;D

Roll on 2012.

Now I've got to put up with the downer of no LM till next June, better start planning ;D

A fantastic few days and what a treat to have made the trip in Si's beautiful Alfa (all wishful thoughts of air-con are forgotten now I am back in the cool drizzle of Manchester!).

Fabulous classic cars whichever way you looked - some incredibly pretty and some that had really been hit with the ugly stick but all very special in their way!

So many memorable sights and encounters it hard to keep track, from seeing the big old Bently (I think) with the kettle hanging off the back Bevery Hill Billies style to meeting the old chap with his AC Bristol in the petrol station and hearing about its racing pedigree.

In the last few days I have learned more about Alfas and tyres than I can ever hope to remember (Mind you, those TRX's are darn sticky but will only last 1500 miles before you are down to the canvas eh!?  Also cant believe they didnt have a scale model of "The Brick" - I would have thought it would be a best seller even if only to use as a door jamb).

The whole event was made all the more enjoyable with great company, special thanks to Si, Andy and Mick for letting me in as a late substitution and to Martini for his campsite hospitaliy, gazebo and security services.  Good to meet Amsterdam Baz too - proof you can camp in 30+ degree heat and still look perfectly groomed day after day, just sorry his fast run home for the WorldCup final didnt turn out as he hoped.

So many laughs and funny stories and impersonations - I will never see man with a stick taking his dog for a walk in quite the same way again!

Anyway - I should be working, tho can harly keep my eyes open....

F

P.S.  No doubt more will come to mind as the day goes on.

What a great weekend! Sophie behaved her self, even the roof worked on Saturday! ;D

Great to catch up with some CAers, even if Lawnmower Man did not recognise me! Barry many thanks for the beers and wine, did the Ice Pops get home intact?

So many things to look at, will post a few snaps later.

Bobblehat

PS, we discoverd that Black Tie was not the best idea on Saturday............

I was there but spent most of the time hiding under the gazebo on the Bugatti circuit. Friday and Saturday really was just too hot. The advantage of the bugatti circuit is that the cars drive past just feet away, after they've finished the race. I wore me CA Tshirts on Saturday and Sunday but I didn't make it to any meeting points. Evenings were spent cooling down at the Gite (in Spay) eating four course dinners (as the Gite owner is a chef).
Possibly a bit too civilised for two years time but then again who knows. I could get used to it.
Did I mention that it was so hot!

Which bit of the Bugatti were you on?  We walked round a fair bit of it on Saturday afternoon before finally giving in and cutting across to the air-con bar in the Museum!

The constant drooling didnt help with trying to keep hydrated in the heat!!!

F

Randon piccies...

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Newcastle Dave giving it some beans on saturday morning

Many more to follow ;)

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Si

Any more of the V DUBS in the background?

Though my trip did prove that PPP leads to PPP.

I forgot a number of items.  Pillow, Corkscrew/Bottle opener,  BBQ tongs and a decent sized CF card for my Camera.

That didn't detract fom the fabulous time.   Hundereds of propper cars both in the Paddocks and in the Car Parks/Campsites.

The highlight for me was the start of the Plateau 6.  It was like going back 30 years to my first visit.  The  sounds were just the same.  Though there were fewer people and it wasn't pouring with rain.  Watching the flames shooting from the exhaust of the 935s. 

I can't wait for the 2012 Classic.  I'll be much better prepared next time.   :) :) :)

It was good to meet up with Bobblehat even if I didn't recognise him.

Thanks to Termie for the Cold Champers to wash down my BBQ Trout.

Si the Alfa is loverly.  (I want one!)

t

WOW WOW WOW - What a scorcher - enjoyed it loads - thanks for the pic above Si.  Pity you weren't around later in the day to get a pic with me on the line. At lunch time I got a second chance on the track by luck and good fortune thanks to a kind Frenchman passenger with a track pass and no car (His Roller was overheating) but this time with no pace car - I was released on to the track with the GTR's and Ford Focus 500 and two new ferraris  just before the morgan club went out - Needless to say was completely by self shortly after tetre rouge - I could not believe my luck  :) :) :) :) :)   
then on lap two had two morgan plus 8 for company all way round, swapping palces from time to time - noone else - More smiles  :) :) :) :) 
Did five laps in total !!!

Fantastic weekend.
Here are a few photos:
http://s763.photobucket.com/albums/xx274/CJLaws/Le%20Mans%20Classic%202010/

This was a real one - not a kit?  :o

Those things are worth about a squillion pounds, no?

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According to the list that ones a replica (not that I'm complaining cos its still nice). Its in the group at the bottom.
http://www.barchetta.cc/ALL.Ferraris/events-stories/events/2002/le-mans-classic/le-mans-classic-provisional-entry-list-updated/index.html (http://www.barchetta.cc/ALL.Ferraris/events-stories/events/2002/le-mans-classic/le-mans-classic-provisional-entry-list-updated/index.html)

I'm definitely going next time. So many beautiful cars

I've got a couple from a slightly different angle but not any closer!  Not sure how to put pics on here, so could email them to you if Si doesnt have any others - I imagine he was more focussed on the foreground!

F

Nope, i don't have any more pics. Those things are too slow for my liking ;)

This one however............

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Doesnt leave much room for the kitchenette does it!

F

Kitchenette !
You could cook anything on that engine and I can't image that drying things would be to difficult either.

True, but I dont fancy your chances of keeping the beers cold!

F

You must have been staying with Chris Gow then - who I met up with in the car park and hadn't seen for about 10 years

I didn't know his surname but if it's Chris with the Ogle and other cars then the answer is yes.

More pictures to come today, but now the dust has settled it's time for my reflections of such a great event.

The Good

As ever the company was excellent. Huge thanks to my fellow Lazy Bastards for great craic, the jokes, amusing tales and general hi-jinks.
 Martin for his hospitality, friendship and for keeping his lengendary snoring to a minimum (so much so that I laid awake worrying that I could not hear him, I almost went to check if he was OK!), it was a busy trip this year and I don't think I really got time to have a real good natter with Mart- something I always enjoy.
 Fran for being the responsible Adult, translator ('Le Big Mac,,, erm,,,, avec chips love' was a distant memory this year :-[), for the good company whilst on the road, top map skills (who said women can't read maps?), for keeping the conversation going during the long exhausting drive home in the early hours and for being a good egg all round. So glad that you joined us this year and hope being cooked alive in an old Alfa didn't put you off joining us again.
 Andy Plenty Sideways for the constant enthusiastic banter and craic, Mick for being Mick and how the hell you can sleep as 60 odd cars from plateaux six blasted past the grandstands inthe early hours I will never know. Finally Dutch Bas, hope you enjoyed your first Le Mans my friend?

 Also nice to briefly meet some new faces from CA, Bob, Lawnmower Tom and Werner all at different times over the weekend. Completely missed the CA meet for the seventh time in a row- it always seems to be during my catnapping hour. Nice to see Newcastle Dave on and off track, shame we didn't get more time to chat etc.

The cars, stunning as ever, some real racers out there amongst the Sunday drivers.

The drive down. Glorious weather, nice towns, other Le Mansers waving and smiling as we made our way south to Pompy.
Portsmouth docks, the fun started there, some great cars and people, you just don't know where to look next. Better than 99% of the classic car shows you will ever attend.

Super U breakfast and clean toilets, my first and only taste of air con all weekend. Big deal you say but oh so welcome after sitting in the car.

The Museum, my first visit since the refurb and well worth the effort. Top marks!

Little Big Mans. The cars looked great and most of the kids looked thrilled to be there. Entry form downloaded for 2012 and plans now drawn for a scale replica Lola T290 as spread all over the kitchen table.

The Bad

The weather. Just too darn hot this year. I really suffered in and out of the car. Heatsoak in the footwells melted my soles and blistered my feet which made walking around quite painful. I like the sun but 27 rather than 37 would be much more pleasant. The heat really held us back this year and there was so much I wanted to see but didn't.

Food and drink prices. Was it me or was it rather expensive this year? Lots of shortages too. Not good enough for a big event.

Has it got too big?? There is so much to see at the classic now, is 3 days enough time to get round it all? If it gets any bigger I think it needs to open on Thursday morning to allow enough time to see it all.

Camping. As ever I hate it. Even more in the heat. I say it every year- no more! Hotel for me next year for sure. See you on Maison Blanche again then ::)

So that's about it. So many other things I loved- Arnage meal at night, Indianapolis corner for practice, the general friendy atmosphere and knowledge, campsite craic with neighbours, bumping into old friends etc etc.

Finally and most importantly I would like to thank my lovely old Alfa Giulia. She drove beautifully and didn't miss a beat all weekend. She coped with the distance and heat like a trooper and made me smile from ear to ear everytime I got behind the wheel. Loads of nice comments especially from the three cockernees in Arnage on Friday evening who shouted 'Feckin lurverlee mate, best car we've seen all day!' Thanks whoever you were, you made my day. Despite extreme tiredness when I got home at 3:30am I could have got back in and carried on for a few hours I enjoyed it so much.
To any residents of Morpeth who were out at that ungodly hour who saw a grown man climb wearily from an old travel stained motor, turn, look admiringly, then tenderly kiss it's roof, I'd just like to say it was emotional and I'm not a wierdo. To steal a phrase from Mr Zarse 'She's a f**king Beauty'

Roll on next time.
 

Nice one Si, I also felt the heat held me back.  ;D

>Martini...LB

Personally, I have never seen you so animated!!

F

Beautifully expressed Dr S - almost brought a tear to my eye! 

Giulia (or is that Berti?) certainly brought a touch of class to the Team.

F

I confess that due to the heat I drank more water than beer............ but I did drink an awful lot of water. ;D

She is indeed. V jealous!

For once Mr Zarse - you are talking complete sense!

:)

F

Le Mans Classic as seen from Indianapolis and Arnage. Enjoy.

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Just a few of the many.