Club Arnage

Seeing that Lennart hs posted from Denmark as server administrator has made me realise that I know sweet FA about the history of our favourite web site.
Perhaps one of you long standing members will enlighten me.
Who, where, How long ago etc.
Maybe others would like to know, maybe some couldn't give a toss, but I am interested.

Well there are plenty around who have been CA users for far longer than me. I would estimate that I started reading CA over 4, and maybe 5 years ago, when it was the "old style" site. This is my eighth LM. The 1st two years I went with people who had been a few times before. They stopped going so I started my own group, which has been varibable in size and make-up ever since.

So seeing as I no longer had no-one to guide me, I hunted round the web and found the old CA. There was nothing for me to contribute, but I learnt a helluva lot. And it made me realise just how little the guys from the first two years knew...

Once I started to contribute and "make friends" (I think Powermite might have the dubious distinction of being the first CAer I ever met) it has just snowballed, opening up a load of new friendships, information and opportunities for me.

AFAIK the old CA was not moderated. When we moved to the new format Dave Davies (who owns the site) asked for a moderator, I "applied" and "got the job".  There would be threads from the early days comparing the new site unfavourably to the old, for ease of use etc, but now we've all got to grips with the functionality and features it feels more homely to us all.

I have only met Dave a couple of times to talk to, and only at LM, where he is usually busy. Someone will correct me if I am wrong here. He is a professional photographer with an interest in motorsport, and has been involved with the ACO in an official capacity (web site design?) for a couple of years, as well as having staff who get official press accreditation at the main event. Although the site is not funded by the ACO, Dave's relationship is one of the over-riding reasons why some moderation is required, and there are some rules about "unmentionables". (IMO many unmoderated forums soon decline into an inhospitable place anyway).

The new site was, I believe, planned and written by Chris Considine (US based), whose name you may also see occassionally (and who was at LM in ?03?), and whose father had a degree of fame in the motor racing world. I believe it is hosted by Lenaerts in Denmark, hence the "snow on the line" which stops us getting to it occassionally.

Whilst in Sebring we heard that Dave has developed problems with his sight. I really don't know any more details than this, but maybe this thread would be a good opportunity to wish Dave well, and thank him for providing us with this site and especially the forum.

That's an interesting question - I've been posting on this site since 1995 I believe, - maybe earlier. Back in the days when the wallpaper was the start/finish clock and the threads just appeared in one long string - a little difficult to read - but it had a certain rustic charm and a bit of a sense of family.
Nothing like as polished and erudite as it is now, in terms of contributions, but a few of todays regulars were displaying their literary prowess even back then. Is there any way of accessing all the old stuff?    

Matt, the link I have for the old forum now just comes up as unavailable.
http://club-arnage.web-solutions.dk/forum/ (http://club-arnage.web-solutions.dk/forum/)

I recall it was still 'up' at the end of last year - maybe the server has a bit if snow in it!

This was the 'old' CA logo.

(http://www.compulink.co.uk/~davies/calogo.gif)

This link also takes you to the present CA site (I assume Dave owns this IP address) http://www.le-mans.co.uk/ (http://www.le-mans.co.uk/)

Thanks Smokie.

I add my best wishes and thanks to Dave too.

Nostalgia ain't what it used to be...  ;D

Here's a link to Dave Davies' photo site http://www.davedaviesphoto.com/ (http://www.davedaviesphoto.com/)

.........and this is what the old site home page looked like

Ohh.......i must have been hanging out here longer than i thought - i remember the old site!!!!   Thats how it looked the first time i bought tickets from this dodgy lot!

i used to use a pseudonym so no-one knew i was a girlie tho in the early days ...  :-[

but now i am outta the closet there is no holding back  :D

Anyway - its blimming brilliant !

F

Hey Smokie....that's my line.  

http://www.clubarnage.com/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=1567

But as you are nearly a wrinkley, I'll OK it!

DB

DelBoy, you must hold the CA member attendance record, is it number 40 this year?

Not quite - it is the 40th anniversary this year of the first time I went.  Missed the 70's due to wife, mortgage and kids - got rid of the wife, paid off the motgage and the kids are now all grown & flown.  

missed a couple in the early 90's (92-94 I think) - was there for the 'New Pits & Grandstand' party (91?) although got too p*ssed to remember much about it.  I remember a lot of flashing lights, but that may have been down to the alcohol!!

Also remember back in th 60's, you got anywhere within 50 miles of LM and you could buy any ticket you wanted from little booths set up at the side of the road. and even up to '91, we used to just turn up at the camp site (we used Houx then before it was revamped) and pay the man at the gate.  Christ, it was so much easier then, but I suppose there wasn't the same volume of people there as there is these days.

I hope I will still be able to make it for the next 20 years at least!.  Travel will be easier for me when I move over the Channel later this year.

DB

This is a good thread Bob, cheers. Now I have seen the old site page, I realise I have been lurking quietly for longer than I thought too! I hope Dave is OK, bad enough for anyone to have eye problems but for a man in his profession much more horrible. I echo Smokie in wishing him well and thanking all concerned for the best all-round Le Mans site I have found. No insult intended to the other two sites I often refer to (Yes Mr Toad, one of them is yours)

Bill

Well said smokie. All the best Dave, and thanks for providing us with Club Arnage.

When i first got an internet connection, the first thing i searched for was Le Mans. The first 2 sites, Maison Blanche and Club Arnage.
It's like an extended family!

Can't remember when I first put up a post on the old site.  Seems a long time ago.

Does anyone remember the Sunday night chats we got up to.  Basically it involved a regular group of CA'ers who went into someone elses chat room and spent a peasureable hour or two chatting away and indulging in the odd glass or two at the same time.

We did ask this forum at one point if they could supply a chat room but that seems to have died a death.

Jem

I believe The Twaats chatroom is still alive. Perhaps it's something that could be reborn as we get closer to the race. I'm sure Simon and John won't mind!

Ah yes, the good old days.  :(  Looking back, it's hard to imagine just how bloody awful it was to use the old site, what with it's single un-ending page of posts.

Now THAT'S a car  :o

.... or is it a plane...?  

You'll see something similar at the Beaulieu National Motor Museum in the weird cars temporary exhibit. It's the Helicar of M.Leyat if I remember...

... and that's a French creation !!!  :o

Ahhh yes cider or cidre as the refined prefer to say.  

(http://server2.uploadit.org/files/ferrarispider-168891298dWnlqw_ph.jpg)

Who is this ferria Spider, he goes missing for over six months then appears and wants us to believe that it is realy him.  He signs on in a different user name then signs on as the original,Treats this place like a hotel. ( Azarse)

I think he is a fake.

Go back to New Zealand Spider.
 :) :)

It's definately really him. We met up when Gilles came over to the UK.

A long story about where he's been, which I'm sure he'll share over a drink at Le Mans!!

Off topic already ::) Hope Dave's problem is only temporary and that he gets well soon. I first joined CA back in 1999 when i was looking for help in how to get to Le Mans. First met Lord Steve and tre Hombre along with Jem at the Poo bar. Powermite a liitle laterand he recruited me into the WANC's which made me an Early Recruit Yeah i know a WANCER :o
Canada Phil