Club Arnage

Over Easter I'm going to visit my parents who live in France, leaving in a fortnight from today, so that's the 25th of March.

Because of my Drinking for Holland-plans I'm gonna make a four hour detour to visit Maison Blanche and get the general idea and see for myself.
I've seen topics like the recent 'Ford Chicane'-topic, and I guess you guys wonder -aswell as I do- for example how the buildingwork at Beasejour worked out, or other works which have been acomplished in the mean time.

Any wishes where I should go and have a look for you?
I'll have my camera at hand, and am ofcourse prepared to take pics of what you'd like to see.


According to the ACO-site that weekend there will be a "Rallye Moto de la Sarthe", but I guess that won't get in the way of my visit.

Could you have a quick look in Houx Annexe for me and see if our old barbecue is still there?

I dropped a packet of fags - sorry - Cigs on KN, just next to where my car was parked, near the fence, I would appriciate tham back cos I'd only smoked a couple.
Cheers -- hic -- Ian

Humm, I think I may have been doing a little more drinking for England than I thought last night! sorry if I reduced a genuine recci offer :-\

Trayboy left his wanking sock in Karting Nord and would really appreciate it back as it has been with him for many years. He's not been able to have a w**k since.

Easy to spot, looks like a crusty dried up slug and is infested with maggots. He's offering a reward too if you'll bring it home for him

Rusty

Oh dear, I can see an explosion on Technoparc is imminent this year!!  :o

I can see you guys really appreciate my offer.
No piccies for you!(http://smile.smilies.nl/443.gif)






;)

Hi P_NL,

It's still early so at least I'm not drunk yet...but there was talk last year that HA was having building work, and at one point we weren't sure if it was still going to be a camp site for '05... A quick drive-by to see if anything's changed might be nice!

Thanking you in advance for your most worderful gesture...  ;D

My reply was just as serious as the ones from the other guys ;)

Never been to HA, but I guess I'll just take pics of anything new on those premises.

HI Paddy

Can you please check the distance between the road and bank on the lft hand side as you drive in. Need to kow the depth available to plan our site (assuming we'll get space there on Monday morning!!

Initial assessment is that we'll need a space approx 25m x 75m  :o

Take a picture of MB as it stands (so I can nick JP's pitch when we arrive on Sunday!!) and those fences on the Ford Chicane.

For someone who wants collecting from Orlando Airport on Wednesday I'd think twice about that!!!  >:(    ;)

Three words to say to you Rick


Pitbull and Rotty   :o :o

Paddy, you surely weren't expecting "Serious" were you?

Kind offer, just make sure they have left the racetrack will you, the last photo I saw showed some evil looking tunnelling across the tarmac.

Oh yes if the tarmac is still missing by the tunnels nip round and remind them there will be racing there in just over three months and to get their fingers out!


Bill

 :D

Hi Paddy
As you can see I am fairly new on here, though first went to Le mans in 1988. I am camping at Beausejour this year with 5 others, would very much appreciate a picture of the site.

Cheers

Whitey

That's an easy one, Whitey>>

(http://server3.uploadit.org/files/PaddyLM-beausejour2.jpg)

I will take a picture of the works between BSJ and the track though for those interested.



And Perdu, yes, got a small PhD-feeling from it (should have known better) ;)

Paddy, pictures of MB would be good, it'll be our first time on there this year (thanks to Robbo for the ticket) - we'll be there early and need some pointers on where to set up Chateau Piglet.   ;D

Cheers!

Just scrolling back a bit - I am a bit worried about the mention of a crustry dried up slug infested with maggots..........can we just clarify that its trayboy's wanking sock you are describing............ not his actually err..........."appendage"??

 :-\

Howdy Folks! ;D

Finally got to it, even though it was quite a drive. Drove 811 kms today, that's what you get when your parents live near the wrong circuit (Magny Cours, less than an hours' drive).
But ofcourse I was looking for this one>>

(http://server3.uploadit.org/files/lemans-LMsign.jpg)


Getting to the circuit is still a kind of special, like the way it should be I suppose.

First I bumped into RoadWorks between Mulsanne and Arnage, but it only looked like a new road surface being put down, so nothing serious>>

(http://server2.uploadit.org/files/lemans-mulsanne.jpg)

Trying to look for left-behind-BBQ's, wanking soks and packets of fags I only seem to bump into strange piles of wasted wood on most camping sites. They all looked like previous pallets to me, waiting for some Bonfire or something. They appeared on Houx Annexe>>

(http://server3.uploadit.org/files/lemans-HouxAnnexe.jpg)

and on Houx>>

(http://server3.uploadit.org/files/lemans-Houx.jpg)

and on Karting Nord>>

(http://server3.uploadit.org/files/lemans-KartingNord.jpg)

and on Parking Bleu>>

(http://server2.uploadit.org/files/lemans-parkingBleu.jpg)


Then I got to Beausejour, nothing special over there>>

(http://server2.uploadit.org/files/lemans-beausejour.jpg)

except for last year's bump between BSJ & PorscheCurve, the bump has been converted to local people's gardening land. Absolutely no way of repeating last years' trick, it's all surrounded by fencing aswell>>

(http://server3.uploadit.org/files/lemans-beausejour1.jpg)

Then it was on to the Gate. No way of getting near the new fencing of the Ford Chicane. All was fenced off by barbed wire, no good to try and climb :(

(http://server2.uploadit.org/files/lemans-gate1.jpg)

(http://server2.uploadit.org/files/lemans-gate2.jpg)

(http://server2.uploadit.org/files/lemans-gate3.jpg)

(http://server2.uploadit.org/files/lemans-gate4.jpg)

Most of these pictures have been taken from the roofrack of my van, so you know the height of the camera.

Then ofcourse it was onto Maison Blanche, but the gate was shut. So no van onto the campingsite, no small scaffolding on top of the van to see what the effect of 4 metres would be...

But I got track side though! 8)

(http://server2.uploadit.org/files/lemans-MB1.jpg)

(http://server3.uploadit.org/files/lemans-MB2.jpg)

(http://server3.uploadit.org/files/lemans-MB4.jpg)

I hope this was the picture jpchenet was looking for>>

(http://server2.uploadit.org/files/lemans-jpchenet.jpg)

and I thought this would be a nice spot for Drinking for Holland>>

(http://server3.uploadit.org/files/lemans-dfhplace1.jpg)

(http://server2.uploadit.org/files/lemans-dfhplace2.jpg)

I have more pictures, but cannot download them all now. Can send you by mail if needed though. Remaining pictures left are all from Maison Blanche, all other sites showed no activities as for works whatsoever.

Hope this is of any use to those interested...
Cheers, Patrick

Patrick - First of all, well done - a great service to all the team planners at CA !

It looks like they have shaved a few metres off the bank end where you are thinking of going (our old spot!! ;) :D).There used to be a bit of armco there at the base of the bank by the support track that joins the circuit, so it is a bit more open than I remember. Your second to last photo has corrupted a bit so it's hard to see...I don't follow where this was taken - is it further down the campsite (away from the grandstand)?

If they have cut some bank off, I assume it's for a reason - maybe they are going to build something there? Difficult to assess and the angles look a bit odd without any campers there!

I saw those photo's and thought I'd forgotton more than the clocks going forwards!

Great photos Paddy, you've actually managed to take a picture of our pitch on Houx last year.

The only confusing thing is the grass on Houx, its normally a dust bowl.

If you have any more I'd like to see them.

Jem

I've just had another look - I think I'm a bit confused - this spot must be down past the golden triangle (bog block triangle) - more where the LM Transport et al lot go? Smokie - do you know where I mean - is it where I normally pitch or somewhere else down the other end? ??? ;D :-\ Thanks

Hmm, that explains why we always seem to have to pitch our tent on an old bloody bonfire site  ??? Damn ash makes a real mess.

I'd say you were right first time about the last two pics - they are very close to where you were last year. The bank does look like it's had a shave! I don't think there are any gates onto the circuit further down where LMT goes...

Hmmmm....the thing is that I've never seen that "doughnut" shaped MB track bit in the grass before - iy just looks like a different exit...compared to this

Just a thought - is this further up toward the grandstand - have they caut a bit out the treeline up towards "The Country Club"/JPC et al? Yours still confused.... ::)

Paddy's doesn't have the temporary fencing...so in your pic the doughnut is between the two bits of fencing.

I could be wrong though...

Just got home here in Holland, bit later than expected :(

Tomorrow afternoon I will be at Lan Lammers' place for a small visit with the guys, so expect the rest of the pics somewhere Wednesday. I'll also scan my drawing of how I found MB.
Better catch some sleep first :-\

Good point Smokie but if you look at the shot before (looking the other way?) there is a tree line next to a bank and the track, and no road visible between the Pope Mobile and your triangle....so it looks to me like somewhere else....quite where I'm not sure... ???

I think it's the Flagstaff, Arizona RV campground ?

http://www.koakampgrounds.com/where/az/03102/index.htm (http://www.koakampgrounds.com/where/az/03102/index.htm)

Sorry guys, but later this week I will organise the pics and post them like mentioned earlier.

had to go elsewhere and stare at this for a while 8)

(http://server2.uploadit.org/files/PaddyLM-RfH4.jpg)

Yes, it is last year's car which will race this year (again), but now in an orange colour. Looks better I think!

Does that mean we are not going to have those black and white checks racing round and round anymore?

Shame, I kinda liked those. Thought it was a neat advertising idea.

Can you not see the numbered black and white advertising spots!!!!

Yeah, but it's not quite the same is it?

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v420/bullocks/DomeLM.jpg)

Hi Paddy,
              Looks very Dutch now.
Canada Phil

here's the same car from a different angle, with a couple of guys from Drinking for Holland and a mechanic from Racing for Holland ;D

(http://server2.uploadit.org/files/PaddyLM-RfH2.jpg)