Club Arnage

I suppose it's time to start the Home Guard Thread for all the folks staying at home this year. A place to pop in whilst watching on TV or listening in on RLM. It has it's benefits, the beer is colder and the toilets are ( or should be ) cleaner, but staying at home does lack the atmosphere we all love so much. So this is the place to try and make the most of it.

First off a few bits and pieces to try and make your home viewing more enjoyable. Most of this is in the excellent CA Guide so if you have not downloaded it yet, do so...and don't forget to pop a few quid/euro in the hat to support this years worthy charities. Click on the banner above to find the guide.


Eurosport Schedule

Free Practice LIVE – 5pm-7pm – British Eurosport / Eurosport HD
Qualifying LIVE – 9pm-11pm – British Eurosport / Eurosport HD
Le Mans 24 Minutes – 9.40pm-10.05pm – British Eurosport
 
Thursday 14th June
Qualifying LIVE – 7.30pm-8pm – British Eurosport / Eurosport HD
Le Mans 24 Minutes – 8.30pm-9pm – British Eurosport
Qualifying LIVE – 9pm-11pm – British Eurosport / Eurosport HD
 
Friday 15th June
Le Mans 24 Minutes – 9.15pm-9.45pm - British Eurosport
 
Saturday 16th June
Warm-up LIVE - 8am-9am – British Eurosport / Eurosport HD
Le Mans Legends LIVE – 9am-10am - British Eurosport / Eurosport HD
 
Race LIVE - Start: 2pm BST
1.45pm-7pm – British Eurosport / Eurosport HD
7pm-7.30pm – British Eurosport 2
7.30pm-9.30pm – British Eurosport / Eurosport HD
9.30pm-10pm – British Eurosport 2 / Eurosport HD
10pm-2am (Sun) - British Eurosport / Eurosport HD
 
Le Mans 24 Minutes – Race Updates
1.15pm-1.45pm – British Eurosport / Eurosport HD
9.30pm-10pm – British Eurosport 2 / Eurosport HD
 
Sunday 17th June
Race LIVE - Finish: 2pm BST
2am-8.30am – British Eurosport / Eurosport HD
8.30am-9am – British Eurosport 2
9am-2.15pm – British Eurosport / Eurosport HD

Radio Le Mans Website- still the best place for coverage of the race
http://radiolemans.0157.org/nplayer.php (http://radiolemans.0157.org/nplayer.php)

iPhone and Andriod users click on this link to get RLM Streaming on your mobile device
http://direct.sharp-stream.com/radioshow.mp3 (http://direct.sharp-stream.com/radioshow.mp3)

DSC. hour by hour reporting as it happens. Most content is now free but some remains subscription only.
www.dailysportscar.com (http://www.dailysportscar.com)

For those without Sky you might want to try finding live streaming here.
www.justintv.com (http://www.justintv.com)

Audi TV will also be streaming live.
http://tv.audi.com/ (http://tv.audi.com/)

For our US friends there is live streaming at SpeedTv
www.speed.com (http://www.speedtv.com)

Also pretty essential is Andy Blackmore's Spotters Guide
http://www.spotterguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/2012_LM_V1_M.pdf (http://www.spotterguides.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/2012_LM_V1_M.pdf)

Live timing for the race can be found here
www.lemans.org/ (http://www.lemans.org/)

Autosport Blog from LM (thanks Jules)
http://plus.autosport.com/free/feature/4525/le-mans-blog-day-one/ (http://plus.autosport.com/free/feature/4525/le-mans-blog-day-one/)

Feel free to add any more that you think might come in handy.

So try and keep upbeat. It looks like its going to be another cracking race this year. Make the most of it and enjoy the race.

Si

Alas that information is useful to me............roll on the Classic though!

Ditto. Not long now. ;D

I finish work at 5 and will be home about 530 so i can catch the last hour and a half tonight  ;D

seen quite a few vehicles on various motorways in the south east, head for Dover or the tunnel. I'm so close to the chunnel at the moment I could hop on board >:(, sadly work is a calling me and that's what is important at the moment, will be popping in over the weekend to say hello ;D

Well I got the Reblochon last night to make a huge tartiflette with, we still have tinned snails from 2006 (sell-by date 2010 - they'll be fine) and I'll be getting some frog's legs tonight from the local Chinese cash & carry.  Currently searching for merguez and any purveyors of freshly slaughtered horse  ???

I will be "home-guarding" Florida for the duration.   :P

RLM starts live today, ready to go.
This art dept moves mentally to France today, for the duration.

Also on satellite (243 I think)

also two streams from corvette avaialbe through Speed.com

vroom-vroom....   ;D

-Lee

Thanks for the heads up on the Speed TV link Lee. Now added it to the first post.

Count me in this year. TV schedule printed out and next to the telly. Tesco tomorrow for beer supplies, like Muzorewa have a Tartiflette planned, Reblochon currently killing everything else in the fridge. Wife understands that the TV is MINE this weekend. Come on Oliver Gavin!

SPEED has 22 hours of coverage on my HD TV...party begins at 8:30 Saturday.

So Radio Lemans is flash and doesnt work with Apple devices - ACE!  ::) trying to find a radio app as we speak to listen to it now

Completely and utterly distraught at missing another year now that the cars are just hours away from hitting the track  :'( >:( :(

A text has just been sent to the Liverpool boys who are there now to book my tent space for next year.

yes ive done that to and im putting all my spare money in a jar ready to pay for it

It's working fine on my IPhone.

Go to RLM and click on 'listen live' in the left hand side bar and it should work.

Try typing this straight into your browser thing Kev

http://direct.sharp-stream.com/radioshow.mp3 (http://direct.sharp-stream.com/radioshow.mp3)

I'll be here also (again)

Hoping this will get me through the 'virtual' weekend, least we shouldn't miss anything

Well Eurosport uk cocked up the first 30 mins with some cycling. FFS! Then someone called 'Nock' totally cocked up his first interview. Hope this isn't a sign of what's to come!

Autosport have a Blog going at the moment:

http://plus.autosport.com/free/feature/4525/le-mans-blog-day-one/

I'm a bit like a a kid in a sweet shop at the mo, flicking between RLM and ES commentary, spotters guide etc.etc   :)

missed that but works fantastic  ;D

Still at work and will be for some time. Listening to RLM though and hope to make it home for qualifying.

Bad start for Toyota. One engine down already. Now fitting their race engine. RLM reporters said the engine was totalled- bits sticking out the side of the block. Doesn't bode well.

Joining the home crew ... ambulance just delivered me off at my couch.

Checking in.

Today has been awful. Whilst I'm still here because I'm about to experience one of lifes miracles - I appear to be unable to get my mind away from a field in France.  I'll be fine by the time the race starts and/or the baby comes, but it's the excitement and anticipation of going that is the most special to me, so the last 24/48 hours have been killer!  

Don't tell my wife though - like everything else to do with Le-Mans, she, and everyone else, has no idea why I feel the way I do about the whole event!

I feel your pain Brad. Let's just hope the baby isn't born in race week or that's you stuffed for the next decade at least.

Bit of a damp squib last night. I don't know if Toyota were sand bagging or that engine failure spooked them  ut they failed to match the pace that they showed in the test. With the possibility of rain out there tonight I thought they would have put in a banker lap to at least have a shout at pole.

Also a bad night for Pesca. It looks like the 03 has a damaged floor and they don't have a spare. If anyone can fix it it's Henri's boys, but that car is really suffering from a lack of running time.

Feel sorry for the Delta Wing lads. The onboard extinguisher went of on the Mulsanne. I once had someone press the extinguisher button on a rally car we had in at work. It took three days to clean it all up. That stuff makes a big mess.

Fingers crossed for dry weather tonight. Oh and more cameras on Eurosport please!

Si

Well, I caught the last 30 mins of eurosport last night once I had rolled in from the office. looking like a excellent battle in LMP2.

Brad, one of my lot has had to delay his trip out until this morning, as it was his second daughters birthday yesterday. He was told "so you are going to go and enjoy yourself and miss your daughters birthday" he is forever cursed........looks like he will be pitching up on Friday next year ::) and missing for the following 2 years. ::) ::) ::)


Jules

The camera thing is a test problem.  They won't leave the unmanned kit out in the country for people to nick/destroy on mad Friday so past form suggests that you won't get any better camera positions until race day.  Sorry chaps.  Just goes to emphasise the fact that you need to get your *rses down here next year.

B*mmer re the Delta Wing.  Digits crossed.  All in all it's been great and has proved it was worth the effort.  So far.  Makes the AMR1 seem an even bigger joke by comparison than it looked to be when it "ran". 

Fingers crossed Brad, hope all goes well.
Steve

Well not forever.  By the time I was 5 my Dad was taking me racing with him.  You just have to bring them up properly!

Good luck, Brad.  Hope events timetable themselves in a suitable fashion.

5???  :o  I was thinking....2? :)

Will bring an extra dimension to the weekend   :)

Are we having a sweep-stake for the birth time / date?

shopping for the Beers and associated snacks tomorrow, hopefully raining all w/e so i can lounge about.
on the plus side with not going to the 24, countdown for departure towards the Classic is getting less & less, less than 90 hrs :)

I think the solution to all this baby deal around the second week in June can be cured by not having a go at the missus in September.  Just sayin'

On a more serious note, I hope the Delta does well this weekend.

Thought that i should have a trial run last night whilst watching qualifying. Do not feel very well this morning. :-[

Thought I'd do the same watching Eurosport. Woke up still drunk and dribbling on the sofa at 2am. Pathetic trial run - must do better.

Also had a good trial run last night. Radio Le Mans through IPhone plugged into speakers, Eurosport on TV with sound down, two lap tops, one with timing screen (although ACO timing wasn't working), second lap top flicking between Andy Blackmores Spotters Guide and Dailysportscar. Consumed several Allendale APA's and rattled off a few Gran Marnier chocolate Crepes. Found a website where you can buy Rillette mail order but alas it won't be here on time. Might make my own.

Planning on an early night tonight (so mch for mad Friday) and a long lay in in the morning.

What site is the live timming on LB?
Does the ACO usually run okay on the web during the race?

I've not looked for these before, usually it's strictly RLM & Eurosport.

Oh dear  ::)

Ive my pc hooked up to my TV to get eurosport on the go, Ipad with Spotters Guide & Radio Lemans on the surround sound in my room............. Shame the fridge is downstairs so Sink full of ice in the bathroom next to my room & beer = sorted  ;D

ACO site has this    http://live.lemans-tv.com/en/

Usually works ok during race, so far though this year's look like different format

I'd love to be able to get the timing screens that they have at the circuit. All the sector times and notes from race control.

I'm such a fecking anorak. ::)

Well this is what happens you see

After a number of 'virtual' Le Mans weekends I am anorakised big style

There is only 1 cure, get our buts to a field in France to reset perspective  ;D

That would do it. :)

JCB has walked out on Pescarolo!!

I was at a Spanish cookery class last night quaffing white sangria, cinema tonight, Chris Cornell gig tomorrow night and a yomp across the peak district tomorrow daytime .... I dont think I have got the hang of this moping at home malarky!

Will have to try and catch up on Sunday.

:)

Do we know why?

Not sure yet. Just said he didn't want to drive the car after the shunt on Wednesday.

He seems to be a little lost at sea these days. Still a quick driver but has been very accident prone over the last 18 months. Dropped by Rebelion after that big shunt at Spa last year. Hasn't looked happy since. It's a real shame as I've always liked him in interviews etc.

Back to the accident.... He said it suddenly snapped left under braking on the mulsanne. There has been no explination as to what happened, but as soon as the car got back to the garage they quickly removed the left front suspension and then stopped working on the car. Maybe he has seen something he doesn't like?

That bloody car is cursed I'm sure.

On the ACO website it says it is because of an injury he done to his ribs and it makes him breathe more shallow.... I know it hurts , broke mine last month playing Cricket.

You cricketers and racing drivers - all the same!

They should fly Randy Pobst in from Georgia, USA.  He can drive anything.

Sadly you don't know the rest of the story.  However in hindsight, yes, keeping it in my pants in September would have been an idea.....  If only life was that simple.

NZ home guard checking in.

Sadly no mergeuz or cidre brut available down here that would help make it feel like I was in a field in France.  Weather seems to be about the same though - and it's winter here. ;D

Red Bull on hand to ensure I'm still awake for the start.

Dx

Essex checking in..


Beer shopping today and plan to take over the sofa for the weekend - no more football to watch for a while :-) On the flip side it looks like I will be in good company online.

Daughter number one will be 2 1/2 next year - I'll start her at the 1000k Silverstone or maybe the masters to see how she gets on....

Morning all, just caught up on the warm up on eurosport. could be interesting come 3pm if the rain continues

Morning all

Guernsey home guard checking in, watched the warm up and then the first lap of Group C then we had a powercut - bloody marvellous. But, quite obviously, it is back on now Gp C restarting...

>Martini...LB

Good morning from South Warwickshire, shame the Gp C cars curtailed by the shunts

Looking forward to main event, hope its going to be a dry start

Just popped out and bought a lovely baguette from the local bakery yum. Off to watch the group C recording. Any one else liking the Race director commentary on eurosport?

Morning peeps from sunny Crayford, Kent.
The lads are out collecting the last of the vitals (peanuts/cherrys & long bread).
Beers all cold and ready + loadsa ice.
BBQ is all fueled up, the meat eating contest will begin when the beer drinking contest is underway.

Any car racing on this weekend?

Should be an interesting addition this year I think, might be an issue with surprising the commentary team and over speaking, as much as I enjoy the ES coverage, don't think co-ordination is a strong pont  :)

Eurosport did apologies for talking over the commentary of the race director, they are given no advanced warning that the race director will be doing his coms so it does feel scrappy. Sound off and RLM fixes that :)

Yeh, not their fault of course

I tend to end up with ES and RLM both on  :-\

Anybody found any webcams at the circuit?

OK - I give in..... rain has cancelled the walk, so I am glued to RLM and have just finished some rillettes on toast!

Cant find any pictures yet tho.

:)

Live TV via the ACO website.

Nice to see the 16 is still in the race, full wets going on as it sits in the pit box.

Enjoy the race folks.

Well I watched the start, but have to go out now... will be back!

F

I'm off for a small sleep.

Back later for the run through the night.

Dx

Glued to Eurosport and RLM, great coverage. Thoughts so far: Oliver Gavin in the Vette 74 keeping the Aston honest, Toyotas running well and I've got a stonking Tartiflette in the over for later. Never mind Spanish cooking lessons Fran - my house smells of melting Reblochon! Get in there!!!

Watching Eurosport with RLM also ... to be honest : it sucks ! 
(sorry guys, but getting really frustrated at the moment; lying in a couch, not being able to move decently and having to watch it on tv)

Watching the in-car from http://www.lemans.org/en/.

I see the Delta is in the pits for the third time, and as a result is 7 laps down already.

Defo a game being played by Toyota... Looking forward to the dark hours.. :)

Wow, massive accident for Davidson. Toyota take the lead but lose a car in the same lap. Certainly been an exciting race so far.

I think Pierguiseppe applied the  'slower car stick to racing line'  rule a bit too rigidly there :-\

Anyone watching Eurosport think the guy they showed with the elvis hat on looked like pig pen???

If said guy was actually watching the race I doubt very much it was LPP.  He's probably face down in the gravel just outside the Guinness Bar by now.   ;D

Dx

Naked.

(it seems to be the theme of the photos I've seen)

Also - I'm pretty sure Rex is dressed as a cleaning lady today....

So is he naked or dressed as a cleaning lady. ???

Dx

He started off, dressed as a cleaning lady (or as his Aunty Dennis as he likes to call it). 

I suspect by now, he is not dressed as a cleaning lady.  Indeed I suspect he is unlikely to be dressed at all by now!

Probably dancing naked around Erta's flag pole.  Again....

Dx

yes

Tis all a bit quiet in ere?

Bit late but thought I'd best check in!!

Beer on hand lap tops with timing and RLM and Eurosport!!

I do need to go back though!!!

Still here. Just pondering over another beer or another crepe.

Looks like that's it for Toyota. Not a bad first effort.

Davidson has Tweeted from hospital that he has a broken back!!

All the best and a speedy recovery to him.

I'm here still the mrs house has utter sh*t Internet so struggling to keep up to date :( watch ADs crash and that was the last I saw. See the knobs out also

Well I failed miserably on the all night front, catching up now

Looks like it was quiet round here though........

I watched/listened on and off through the late night (combined with falling asleep on the sofa to provide the authentic backache), had my fresh coffee and merguez bagette breakfast and now catching up on some blogs, etc.

Love the pollarded trees by Tetre Rouge - very french!

Some heart breaking clips of Motoyama trying to get the Deltawing moving enough to get back to the pits.... finally having to abandon hope and being driven off in tears on the back of a scooter.  Such a shame.

Going to have to go out in a little while, but might be back for the finish.

F

Been listening/watching as much as I can. Tried to get in the mood with quite a lot of decent french red late last night and pan au choc this a.m. Looks like its been "eventful". Hello to everyone.

Watched a bit on Eurosport but with a full house taking over the only TV seems a bit harsh.

Retired to the bedroom with Radio LeMans and did most of the night shift.

Fathers Day today so I have kicked everyone out of the house for a couple of hours and am back in front of TV with RadioLM - Rachel knows that was the best Fathers day pressie going  ;D ;D ;D ;D

Just an hour to go. Desperate to get some sleep.

You did well to go through

Am I listening to the wrong Radio Le Mans?  Its just a rather dry discussion on fuel flow... .they are usually quite tired and emotional and rather funny by this point in the race!

 ???

Enjoyed the race. Plenty to mull over. Deltawing went well, Toyota impressed. Every car has a story in this race.

Always hate the end. It's a long journey that starts again tommorrow I know, but I always feel a certain sadness that it's all over again for another year.

Man I love this race. I'm tired and feeling it.

Huge thanks to everyone, from the guys on here, to the teams, marshals, organisers etc over in Le Sarthe. Big thanks to Radio Le Mans. Always a highlight spending the early hours with Chuck and Jim. Just brilliant.

Off for a cup of Cocoa to sup at the finish, then off to bed.

Night all

I think they used up all the emotion quota at the start Fran. Hindy broke down during the Roll of Honour just before the start this year. Very touching.

Agree with all of that, thank-you for your company also

Hindy brought a lump to my throat also

You are sure to sleep well   :)

Always a heartbreaker at Le Mans- IMSA limping around with a puncture!

How cruel.

Yeah - I heard that bit.

I just relised I hadnt turned the sound off on one of the other windows I had open!!!

:)

Survived 'till 3 am this morning and joined again at 7 am. 

Kudo's to Toyota for such an impressive debut.  The giant cock did impress me, but as said on radio LM : the accident with Toyota can't only be blamed on Nakajima.  My guess is he didn't see the Datsun anymore in his mirrors, so thought he passed him.   LMP2 was a great race to follow, shame Strakka got out of competition even before the race began.  The fight between Aston & Corvette at the start of the race, the problems Corvette had during the race and the rise of the #51 Ferrari made GTE Pro great to follow, as was the AM category filled with drama up until the end.   

Guess you could say the 80th was a rather good one  ;D

Countdown starts now !  Silverstone will definitely be too early, the Petit a close call if rehab is going better than expected, but Sebring is 100 % sure on the list.

very emotional vid -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJylUpzQ-iQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Was sad... there is an even longer version somewhere with his increasingly desperate attempts!

F

V sad - ...why the UK registered scooter at the end?

Sunderland's contribution to the Deltawing project?

:)

Well, as a long time Audi owner what a good result... shame about the Toyota's though, they were looking really good and putting up a bit of a fight.

Why does Dindo have to give up at 48? I am a little bit older and I am still allowed to go!

The crazy thing is I have probably watched more of this race (and learnt more) than the last four/five races I have been to put together.

Agree Fran about the commentary.

GOOD NEWS EVERYONE - The Classic is next month... now that is something to look forward, well, as long as it is not as hot as the last one, that was tooooooo freakin hot. BUT we do not want a wet one either.

>Martini...LB

certainly a few things to talk about, Toyota pretty impressive for a rushed first appearance with 2 cars let alone the one.

re Ant Davidsons incident, all the views i heard were the Ferrari should have seen him, backed out of it, wouldn't have cost him too much, yadda yadda, but if the onus is on the faster car to pass safely, if AD didn't see indicators or a move left then surely it wouldn't have cost him too much to roll out as well & leave a margin?
i'd have thought it's easier for the car coming from behind to judge the speed differential?

as for the Deltawing, i'll just say that the Toyota had passed him & should have known he wasn't about to come to a standstill?

i realise both cases are not black & white but all classes of cars are needed to make the race what it is.

and with that i'll say au revoir and pack the car ready for travelling to the Classic tomorrow morning passing all the lucky returnees on the M20 probably

As much as it could be called a racing incident, the telling point for me was the point of contact as the Ferrari turned in, which was toward the rear of the Toyota
I guess these kind of incidents are inevitable with the different classes and speed differentials etc, but agree this is part of what Le Mans is all about and of course, another example of the leaps in safety that have been made

Highcroft Racing had European help from Ray Malock.
Yep, he was very upset about Dan Weldon and also the loss of a young British rall co-driver:

http://www.ircseries.com/news/detail/id/492

RIP Gareth

Lots of interesting topics to ponder over the next few days.

Looking at the Toyota crash again a few times it threw up an interesting observation on car construction.

I estimate that the Toyota was doing around 160mph when contact was made. The 456 probably around 140mph. The Toyota lost some momentum when it went airborne, the 456 lost some speed with its four locked tyres, but both hit the wall at roughly the same time which suggests that at impact they were both travelling at roughly the same velocity.

The Toyota hit at around 45 degrees, the 456 full on the side. Therefore the mass of the Toyota was concentrated on a smaller area.

Now take a look at the barriers after the crash. Both hit at the same speed but the damage to the barriers was much worse where the 456 hit.

That is a graphic illustration on just how damn heavy those GT cars are. The Toyotas carbon structure also dissipated the impact better, whereas the 456 hit hard and bounced off, flipping over as it went.

My conclusion is that the lighter car made from glorified plastic was the safer place to be in an accident.

Audi, love them or hate them, always use Le Mans as a proving ground for technologies that they pass onto the road cars. This year, as well as demonstrating Hybrid technology, they have taken their 'Ultra' technology one step further. If the result becomes lighter road cars then this can only be a step forward. Probably a greater step forward than the Hybrid concept.

Cars have become very bloated and heavy over the last two decades. A lighter car is not only more efficient but looks to be safer in an accident too. If the cars we get to drive become safer as a direct result of these new technologies then Le Mans it can be said, is a revelent as it always been in improving road cars. Be it lights, disc brakes, seat belts, turbochargers, fast and efficient diesel engines, this year has shown that even after 80 glorious races, Le Mans is still forfilling it's original objective as laid down in 1923- to show innovation and worth of the manufacturers product.

The fact it still remains a bloody great sporting event to boot is quite remarkable.

Here's to the next 80 years.

I'll drink to all of that Si.
Roll on 2013. Anyone have the dates yet???

I am guessing maybe 15/16 June?

Right, better start checking the gear and making lists.

Don't you have staff to do that for you?!

F

You need to come to Sebring in March!  We would love to host a CA in the Americas party.  We are right on the track in turn 4...great vantage point of the course and close to the pits.  Come on over!

Steve - he's right you know - Sebring is AWESOME!

Rex and I look odds on to repeat this years trip in March (even if Rex did nearly die of alcohol posioning!) but even if we don't, let us know if you go - we'll let you know some of the mistakes we made, which will save you making them.  Lesson 1:  don't drink anything that comes in a jam jar unless you want to use your health insurance to get home :)

Brad - you've just given me some additional incentive to get another job instead of sitting on my arse adding posts to Club Arnage. Sebring and Le Mans in the same year. Lady Steve will never get over it. Talking of ladies:

Brad - what news on the baby front?

Fran - my staff always have Le Mans weekend off. Staff in the House of Lords however are mainly interns and (a) they're not reliable enough to make my lists (b) look where an intern got President Clinton!! Can't be too careful with your lists.

Gatordad - thanks for the invitation. I've been to your state a few times but never to Sebring. A few of my fellow Club Arnagers are seasoned Sebring veterans however and I feel a 2013 trip coming on!

Lads - Airline, accommodation, transport etc. Need advice!

Steve

I've been desperate to get to Sebring for years. I'm planning on waiting a few more years until the kids are older to make a family trip of it. They can go to Disney and I can go to Turn 10.

Still a question mark over its inclusion in the 2013 WEC calendar though.

It's easy.

Fly to Orlando on Wednesday.  Dump the kids at one of the Disney hotels (if you have to bring them).

Thursday, rent a car and head down US27 to Sebring in time for some beer, then the Thursday pit/garage trip, some beer, and then a big walkabout through the course.

Then beer.

Then we pork down some bar-be-que in time for night practice.  Our site is right next to one of the hardest braking zones of the track so we watch the light show from the rotors while we drink some beer.  Finish off the evening around the fire having a beer or two.  By now some of us have moved to Kentucky Bourbon.

Friday morning, lots of practice, support races, beer, cruising the paddocks and giving away our beads to only deserving young ladies...

Then some beer with lunch.  Big race in the afternoon.

Saturday morning?  What can I say.  Race starts at 10am...then it's every man for himself.  Race ends at 10pm, sip some bourbon and crash.

Out of the track the next morning for the 2 hour drive to Orlando for the kids.  Hop on the plane Monday and back in Merry Old England Tuesday.  How's that for a plan?  Let me know who's coming and we'll have a CA in the Americas party.

That's pretty much the plan we used this year Gatordad, except we got away without the wives and kids (this year, not sure about future years though). We had an advance party to pick up an RV, get in the que for the bridge over to Green Park and the awesome Hospitality of the Turn 10 Crew.
We then headed back up to MCO for the Sunday night flight back.
Your absolutely right Sebring is a must do, a different experience to Le Mans, we had the greatest of times, open access to the Pits, Team Impala and the race view being so close and uninterrupted by catch fencing incredible.

Sounds like a great plan Gatordad. Being a Yorkshireman I am slightly worried about beer standards (we have the greatest ales in the world up here-we have over 2000 years of brewing experience!).

Spoke at length with the wife last night and we have set 2014 as the date. Planning a two week vacation, probably a week around Orlando for the kids in a hotel and then a week in an RV. As a kid I was a huge Miami Vice fan and want a few days in South Beach. I'll be rolling up the sleeves on my Armani sport jacket and will leave the socks at home. Anyone know where I can hire a black Daytona Spider for a few days? ;D

Now where did I put those old Raybans?

How chuffin' tempting is that invitation? I will have a chat with the delightful Lady Steve tonight (she's a total footie fan so come on England!) after plying her with a couple of pangalactic gargleblasters. My "kids" don't live at home anymore so they can organise their own holidays but Lady Steve will, no doubt, require some sort of payback. Hmmmm, thought and careful planning required methinks.

well the Leman 2013 fund has started as I got a nice cheque for some old car bits today so thats gone straight to next years trip  ;D

There is also talk of 2 friends who have never been coming so should be a good trip

You won't notice the beer standards.  It was 90+ degrees every day we were out there this year - Lite beer might sound like the wimps choice - but trust me - you won't want all that much more, at least until the sun goes down.  So....

Beer:   We used Total Wine and More - Just off I-drive.  They supplied us with Magners, but we coulf have had almost anything.  They also supplied Guiness Draught in bottles, and many many cans of beer - I think one of which was called YingLing (you'll have to check that) - this was quite a dark brew - quite tasty.

If you want Spirits....well....do you know what - i'm not going to tell you about that - go to Total Wine and more, and see for yourself.  Oh and budget a couple of hours to do so....it's fair to say there's some decisions to be made in there :)

Accomodation:  I'd recommend an RV - ours cost us about £120 per person, and was worth every penny IMO.  Either speak to Gatordad and join his crew, or go with the Turn 10 guys - either way I can't imagine hospitality gets any better.

Recommend staying at La Quinta on the first night, and meeting up with Matt Harper and some of the other locals from Orlando - as well as the other arriving Brits of course.  This place happens to be RIGHT NEXT to the Fish on Fire and I think it cost us about $50 for the night - and it's actually very nice.  You only need to the Fish on Fire of an evening to see why the Brits who head over, go there every year.  Great food, friendly service, and great prices (and quite hot barmaids too).  La Quinta will also pick you up from the airport in their free shuttle service....VERY handy!

Flights:  From the UK, Virgin and BA are your only real options.  My flight this year was £415.  We flew out on Monday, and flew back at about 7pm Sunday - pretty much the ideal trip, however I could be tempted to go a couple of days early next year, just to take in some other activities (want to go shooting stuff!)

Transport:  There's quite a few people who go to Sebring on this forum.  You're likely to at least find SOMEONE who is going down - pitch in with their rental car, and all the problems disappear.  Otherwise, Rentals aren't that expensive....Unless you really WANT that big yellow Corvette!

All in all, I can't recommend Sebring enough.....it was an absolutely BRILLIANT trip.  It has a special feeling about it...it's a different feeling to Le-Mans, but in many ways, very similar.  I never went to Le-Mans in the 80's, but from what I hear, and the photos I see - Sebring is a bit like that....less safety fencing, absolutely the best views ever, and a truly race mad crowd.  

For other advice, I'd recommend signing up to www.sebringfans.com .  If you want any other info - just holler!  I still love talking about my trip 3 months later.  

Oh and Steve....No baby yet.  Therefore, I now declare myself SAFE for 2013 Le-Mans :)

good news then!

Thanks for the advice Brad. 2014 is a long way off. I might have to do a recce in 2013. Just to make sure it's good you know. 8)

We started at South Beach this year, then headed on to Key West and to Sebring.  After Sebring up to Daytona Beach for the final day of the bike week.   Great trip, and I'll do it again next year for sure, although I'd stay a bit longer in Miami then to check out downtown Miami and the Everglades.    Might do Sebring in an RV next year, but not sure about that yet.

You guys do know that you can visit more than one site, don't you?  As for beer, we import great beers from all over the world.  I'm sure that there are super local brews that we can't get but oh well.  It has been hot the last few years but I have seen it where it is really cold (for Florida anyway) and/or really wet.  Our site is on pavement so we can weather the storm without getting knee-deep in mud.

If you go to Miami, you must go to Joe's Stone Crab on Miami Beach.  It has been around for 99 years and the stone crab are as sweet as candy and wonderful to eat. 

We live in Vero Beach.  Look it up on Google Maps.  It is a little slice of heaven and located half way between Daytona Beach and Sebring.  You would be welcome to cruise by for a quick visit if you're traveling around the state anyway and we'll take you fishing. 

As for parking, we have reserved spots on the track between turn 3 and 4 on the outside of the track.  Look it up on the Sebring map.  There is usually room to park an RV around us (if we know you're coming) as well as in Green Park without the restrictions of having to stay there until the race ends.  At least you can walk over to our site.  Keep in touch and you can always PM me to my email address.

As for flying, Orlando is the busiest vacation airport in the world, Miami is about the same drive from a different direction, and West Palm Beach is smaller but closer still.  It just depends on what you want to do after the race and if you have kids with you.  As for an adult trip, consider flying into and out of Miami.  It is an adult city and a great place to see and be seen and work on your melanoma...did I mention the weather is perfect in March?

Keep in touch race fans!

Went there this year, wasn't impressed.   Made us wait for more than 2 hours to get a table, and I wasn't impressed neither by the food, neither by the service.  Felt like another tourist trap to me.    Next day went to Red, the Steakhouse ... much much better (and happily returned there).

Good stuff Brad re baby and thanks for all the Sebring info.
Steve

I'm fairly sure we didn't spend that long making decisions on spirits.  IIRC the conversation went somerthing like this...

Brad:  "Doris, do you want to go halves with me in a 2 litre bottle of Jagermeister?"

Me: "How much?"

Brad: "$20"

Me:  opened wallet and handed over money

 ;D ;D ;D

Brad is right though.  As a bottle shop it has everything you could possibly want, and if you're prone to wandering about looking at what is on offer then you'll definitely need more then 10 minutes.  It's got a great selection of everything.

Dx