Title: How Did CA Start?
Post by: Kev_mk3 on September 30, 2022, 01:43:23 pm
Bit of a strange one I know but how did Club Arnage start?
Title: Re: How Did CA Start?
Post by: Barry on September 30, 2022, 05:08:28 pm
Bit of a strange one I know but how did Club Arnage start?
Dave Davis would know, I think he started it.
Title: Re: How Did CA Start?
Post by: smokie on November 05, 2022, 10:10:23 am
Bit late to this, been away, soz. I used to use a text based forum in the late 90s I'd say, where we used to meet up and "chat" on a Sunday night. I first went to LM in 97 with mates, also in 98, but the chatroom was invaluable when planning my forst "on my own" trip in 99, for practical help and for making a few friends.
I think I was a bit late to that too, but there are still some names around who were there. Dave ran that too, and I guess it was called Club Arnage or similar then. Anyway the website developed from that, and now of course the Faceboook group.
I think I was a bit late to that too, but there are still some names around who were there. Dave ran that too, and I guess it was called Club Arnage or similar then. Anyway the website developed from that, and now of course the Faceboook group.
Title: Re: How Did CA Start?
Post by: Rhino on November 07, 2022, 11:16:32 pm
One of the first sites I found when I first went online, searched for Le Mans and this and Maison Blanche came up. Didn't someone post the original forum for a limited time a while ago?
Title: Re: How Did CA Start?
Post by: Aysedasi on November 15, 2022, 02:49:44 pm
Bit late to this, been away, soz. I used to use a text based forum in the late 90s I'd say, where we used to meet up and "chat" on a Sunday night. I first went to LM in 97 with mates, also in 98, but the chatroom was invaluable when planning my forst "on my own" trip in 99, for practical help and for making a few friends.
I think I was a bit late to that too, but there are still some names around who were there. Dave ran that too, and I guess it was called Club Arnage or similar then. Anyway the website developed from that, and now of course the Faceboook group.
I think I was a bit late to that too, but there are still some names around who were there. Dave ran that too, and I guess it was called Club Arnage or similar then. Anyway the website developed from that, and now of course the Faceboook group.
I certainly remember the text based forum.....
Title: Re: How Did CA Start?
Post by: Aysedasi on November 29, 2022, 10:54:09 pm
I must admit that, until recently, I hadn't been here for years. I've been visiting to glean info on ticketing. But it's really quiet here.....?
Title: Re: How Did CA Start?
Post by: smokie on November 30, 2022, 12:21:35 am
There is a FB group too
Title: Re: How Did CA Start?
Post by: Aysedasi on November 30, 2022, 09:40:27 am
Title: Re: How Did CA Start?
Post by: Barry on December 01, 2022, 10:17:17 am
There is a FB group too
Which is a waste of space, just filled with photo after photo.
Little chat, little banter, nothing really of interest.
:'( :( :'( :( :'(
Title: Re: How Did CA Start?
Post by: Kev_mk3 on December 02, 2022, 01:08:52 pm
You still can't beat the personal feel of a forum IMO
Title: Re: How Did CA Start?
Post by: Lorry on December 03, 2022, 06:22:29 pm
You still can't beat the personal feel of a forum IMO
I agree.FB, being phone based, and so many seem to have a phone glued to their hand nowadays, means that once a thread starts there can be considerable dialogue within 20 minutes, and usually its gone off topic, so its too late to be involved IMHO
Title: Re: How Did CA Start?
Post by: Lord Steve on May 01, 2023, 11:58:07 am
I remember Rick Wilson's site "Maison Blanche" back in the day.
I can't find it anymore but Rick is here http://www.maisonblanche.co.uk/rickwilsondesign/discs.html
I can't find it anymore but Rick is here http://www.maisonblanche.co.uk/rickwilsondesign/discs.html
Title: Re: How Did CA Start?
Post by: lofty on May 01, 2023, 03:56:33 pm
I met Rick at Paul Ricard at the 8hour race.He told me about the beginnings of C A. The first time he went to Le Mans he cycled as he wasn’t old enough to drive. A very interesting bloke to share a few beers with. I took a picture of him camera in hand on the pit building and would like to send it does anyone know where to?
Title: Re: How Did CA Start?
Post by: lofty on May 02, 2023, 10:30:35 am
Andy can still remember we talked about the early days one Friday night a long time ago.
Title: Re: How Did CA Start?
Post by: Grand_Fromage on May 04, 2023, 03:27:38 pm
Here is the origin story of Club Arnage as best I remember...
It was in 1995 while we were on the way home from the 24 hours, riding in the back of a Transit van with my mate Melvyn. We were laughing about the couple we had run into in the city of Le Mans, just outside the cathedral. They were looking for the circuit. It was their first time and they literally had no idea which direction to go. Melv, being a technical guy, suggested we should put something on this new fangled Internet thingy so that Brits going to La Sarthe for the first time would have a resource to help them.
A month or two later I tentatively set up a small web page listing advice from my own experiences and some information from the ACO. At that time the name of the website was "lemans.co.uk". At that time there was no other website dedicated to Le Mans. It was even before the ACO had a website. It was instantly popular, so much so that the ACO even took notice, but not in a good way! They were supportive of what I was doing, but were very unhappy that I was using "LeMans" in the URL, so unhappy in fact that a letter from ACO lawyers arrived at my door. I called the head of the ACO communications department who was very charming but insistent that we call ourselves something else. Within 24 hours, "lemans.co.uk" was dead and "club-arnage.com" was born. I took the opportunity of the site change to create a simple online Visitors' Book where people could leave messages. This proved VERY popular and the book grew to the point where I had to upgrade it to a threaded message board. A few years later the message board was replaced by the Forum, set up by Lennart AKA 'Djet'.
The rest, as they say, is history...
It was in 1995 while we were on the way home from the 24 hours, riding in the back of a Transit van with my mate Melvyn. We were laughing about the couple we had run into in the city of Le Mans, just outside the cathedral. They were looking for the circuit. It was their first time and they literally had no idea which direction to go. Melv, being a technical guy, suggested we should put something on this new fangled Internet thingy so that Brits going to La Sarthe for the first time would have a resource to help them.
A month or two later I tentatively set up a small web page listing advice from my own experiences and some information from the ACO. At that time the name of the website was "lemans.co.uk". At that time there was no other website dedicated to Le Mans. It was even before the ACO had a website. It was instantly popular, so much so that the ACO even took notice, but not in a good way! They were supportive of what I was doing, but were very unhappy that I was using "LeMans" in the URL, so unhappy in fact that a letter from ACO lawyers arrived at my door. I called the head of the ACO communications department who was very charming but insistent that we call ourselves something else. Within 24 hours, "lemans.co.uk" was dead and "club-arnage.com" was born. I took the opportunity of the site change to create a simple online Visitors' Book where people could leave messages. This proved VERY popular and the book grew to the point where I had to upgrade it to a threaded message board. A few years later the message board was replaced by the Forum, set up by Lennart AKA 'Djet'.
The rest, as they say, is history...
Title: Re: How Did CA Start?
Post by: Kev_mk3 on May 04, 2023, 04:37:35 pm
Here is the origin story of Club Arnage as best I remember...
It was in 1995 while we were on the way home from the 24 hours, riding in the back of a Transit van with my mate Melvyn. We were laughing about the couple we had run into in the city of Le Mans, just outside the cathedral. They were looking for the circuit. It was their first time and they literally had no idea which direction to go. Melv, being a technical guy, suggested we should put something on this new fangled Internet thingy so that Brits going to La Sarthe for the first time would have a resource to help them.
A month or two later I tentatively set up a small web page listing advice from my own experiences and some information from the ACO. At that time the name of the website was "lemans.co.uk". At that time there was no other website dedicated to Le Mans. It was even before the ACO had a website. It was instantly popular, so much so that the ACO even took notice, but not in a good way! They were supportive of what I was doing, but were very unhappy that I was using "LeMans" in the URL, so unhappy in fact that a letter from ACO lawyers arrived at my door. I called the head of the ACO communications department who was very charming but insistent that we call ourselves something else. Within 24 hours, "lemans.co.uk" was dead and "club-arnage.com" was born. I took the opportunity of the site change to create a simple online Visitors' Book where people could leave messages. This proved VERY popular and the book grew to the point where I had to upgrade it to a threaded message board. A few years later the message board was replaced by the Forum, set up by Lennart AKA 'Djet'.
The rest, as they say, is history...
It was in 1995 while we were on the way home from the 24 hours, riding in the back of a Transit van with my mate Melvyn. We were laughing about the couple we had run into in the city of Le Mans, just outside the cathedral. They were looking for the circuit. It was their first time and they literally had no idea which direction to go. Melv, being a technical guy, suggested we should put something on this new fangled Internet thingy so that Brits going to La Sarthe for the first time would have a resource to help them.
A month or two later I tentatively set up a small web page listing advice from my own experiences and some information from the ACO. At that time the name of the website was "lemans.co.uk". At that time there was no other website dedicated to Le Mans. It was even before the ACO had a website. It was instantly popular, so much so that the ACO even took notice, but not in a good way! They were supportive of what I was doing, but were very unhappy that I was using "LeMans" in the URL, so unhappy in fact that a letter from ACO lawyers arrived at my door. I called the head of the ACO communications department who was very charming but insistent that we call ourselves something else. Within 24 hours, "lemans.co.uk" was dead and "club-arnage.com" was born. I took the opportunity of the site change to create a simple online Visitors' Book where people could leave messages. This proved VERY popular and the book grew to the point where I had to upgrade it to a threaded message board. A few years later the message board was replaced by the Forum, set up by Lennart AKA 'Djet'.
The rest, as they say, is history...
I'm so glad you did its a wonderful reference
Title: Re: How Did CA Start?
Post by: lofty on May 04, 2023, 05:14:34 pm
A very generous thing to do .Many thanks.
