Club Arnage

Fresh off the back of the "Who's at Spa LMES?" thread .. how about the Spa 24 Hours at the end of July?

A two-strong MB possee will be there ... anyone else???

 ;D

Very possibly I might be there, particularly as this has been pointed out as a serious gap in my motorsport credentials!!  ::)- kinda depends what else i got going on during the summer tho.

F

Me too, me too, me too...  ;D

I'll be there  :D

Yep I'll be there, along with Piglet out mid week lots of stuff to do drivers parade into Spa from the circuit they drive the race cars into town.

You really shouldn't miss the parade. I've done that once with my car parked in the town center of Spa. I even then managed to press my self in between and followed the race cars to the circuit (10 minute drive). It's very nice (sound and sight) to see the cars rushing through the city of Spa. Strongly recomended !!!  :D

Yup the parade is worth going out there early for.....in 2004 we stopped along the road and took pics, last year we had a nice lunch in the restaurant above the circuit and took pics from there....

http://www.gtphotosport.com/spa24_05/kpk_9052.html

99 % certainty, it is only a 30 minute drive for me anyway!

You are so lucky to be that close to a major racing venue.  We suffer in the States here with everything being so far away.

Depends on where you live. I used to live in Burlington Vermont, pretty damm close to a couple of racing venues. F1 in Montreal amongst others!

Not to bad in Cincy, we've got IMS and Mid-Ohio just a couple of hours away.  Also Eldora & Winchester bullrings and National Trails Dragway close by.
Fax

The bar in the background is good too!!!

Nice pics, Piglet!

Can't take the credit I'm afraid, they're Keithk's - I'm more of a point and shoot kinda girl myself!!  (I usually get shots of an empty track by the time the shutter delay has kicked in  ;D)

Yes but John it probably costs us the same in Fuel!

Hi all, can anyone tell me what the camping situation is at this event?

Cost and location that kind of thing!

Many thanks

Sooty

Mrs & Mr Termie will be there.  A chance to see a Saleen WIN - eh Fran? ;D

I am still dithering about this one... got the race ticket, but still trying to sort everything else...

Termie - do you have to buy separate camping ticket or is it included in the race ticket?  Also what day does the camping open?

F

Sooty, we stayed at the municipal campsite called Eau Rouge last year, it's just off the old circuit and near to the Karting entrance to the circuit.  I can't remember the cost but it wasn't expensive.  We've just booked to go there again.  http://www.eaurouge.nl/index_en.htm

We don't need electric hook up and were on what I guess is an overflow field next to the childrens playground and along the side of the river.  It was beautiful, we camped from early in the week when it was pretty quiet, just us, a Belgium family, a dutch father and son and some Danes (and a very young couple who amused us for some time trying to put their backpacking tent up until Mr Belgique took pity on them and helped!)   We had a fab time - they have fresh bread and croissant delivered in the morning and there was a bar.  It was really friendly.  

We left on the Friday night to go to a hotel and it was starting to fill up with Brits and the character of it changed.  We're camping for the race weekend this time.

We had a media parking pass so drove to the circuit but the Danes had bikes and it wasn't too far to cycle and this avoiding the parking charge and any traffic.  

I think you can camp on the circuit,  but I think the camping areas are pretty rough and ready with no or little facilities.  

The camping's a bit "hit & miss, get where you can" but is cheap (about 20 euros, I think) and cheerful.  Also, some of the sites (like the one on the bluff above the entrance) are quite spectacular.  While we sat outside our tent last year in the dark, could spot the cars in about 5 different places on the circuit. Fab! 

Thanks for your help Piglet. I think we may go for it.

When you say "starting to fill up with Brits and the character of it changed" I hope you don't mean the knuckle dragging muppets that showed up at LM! I was hoping to spend a weekend amongst race fans!

I'm looking forward to it, even if... sorry when it rains!

I dunno about knuckle draggers we didn't stay around long enough to find out!!

We'd got into a bit of a euro camping groove, we'd been on a site in Epernay for a few days and then the campsite at Spa and had got used to nice quiet campsites and then the Brits turned up in a group with their fairy lights and four wheel drives. 

In reality it's probably no different to the way we're perceived when we turn up at Le Mans but we'd got used to the campsite being nice and quiet and going to sleep with the noise of the river not the noise of someone's music! 

Oh BTW - my car got eaten by a rat or a rodent of some sort - they are quite partial to the recycled rubber that Saab make their hoses out of! 

The bar is Le Relais de Pommard in Francorchamps. Have spent many happy hours in there over the years! One year too many as we managed to get the owner ( Jack ) a bit too merry much to the disgust of his wife who was giving us looks to kill the next day. It was GP week, the busiest week of his year so didn't go down too well!
The camp site Piglet mentioned is well worth it, come out of Stavelot on the old circuit towards the medical centre and it's on the right. We used it last year and camped next to the river, an idillic location

Must have been something else then a rat, bigger with a fury tail, when they run it looks like a litte wave passing by, we call them marters, and they eat car rubber and electrical wires

We stayed at the same campsite as mentioned above last year (http://www.eaurouge.nl/) - arriving in the pouring rain on the Friday.  Camping was very cheap and the facilities weren't bad. The atmosphere was friendly with a great little bar/terrace out front to enjoy the Belgian beer.  We left our tents for the entire race (staying at the circuit the whole night) and returned on the Sunday afternoon and all our equipment had remained undisturbed - nothing nicked.  A big advantage of staying at this site is that you have showers and toilets - most of the others are just camping in a field with the odd portaloo dotted about.

You can walk to the circuit from the site (or cycle).  We bought a parking pass for the lot near Eau Rouge (can be purchased at the welcome centre on the left as you approach the village of Francorchamps). One of the best things about Spa is that you can walk round the entire circuit, giving plenty of 'catch-fence-free' photo opportunities - just make sure that you take waterproofs and an umbrella as it is virtually guaranteed to rain!!

Can't make it myself this year as the missus is due to pop sprog no2 around this time (bad planning on my part me thinks) but to any of you who have not been and are thinking of going - just do it - you will definitely enjoy a great race weekend at what is one of the best tracks in the world.

Nice, remind me to look out for them next time!!  The Saab dealer in Liege who fixed it found it quite amusing and said that they fit their new cars with electrical senders that emit a high frequency which puts them off!   I haven't managed to find one in the UK to go on the car so fingers crossed for this time!!    I'm always careful about putting away old food and bins so not to attract the wildlife - this time I might just put it all out for them in the hope they leave the car alone!! 

M3desmo - what was the campsite like over the weekend last year - were you on the main site or on the camping field with the play area in it? 

Piglet

The atmosphere in the campsite was great over the weekend. Didn't come into contact with many other Brits but the Danes, Dutch, Belgians and Germans etc were all good for a laugh at the bar/terrace on the Friday night (despite the pouring rain). We were at the circuit all Saturday night but would imagine it was much the same as Friday. We were camped in the section near the kids playground and had no problems.  I think this area is used only as an overflow to cope with the higher demand but if you end up there, I would recommend trying to get a pitch on the left side of the site as there is nice plush grass there, whereas the pitches under the trees on the right are gravel and closer to the access lane which can get a bit muddy when it rains which it will at some point in the weekend!!

Just wish I was able to go this year again, but the imminent arrival of sprog no2 has put paid to this. The missus was not impressed by my suggestion that she could call a cab to get to the hospital if he/she decided to arrive when I was at the race!

Will definitely be back for another installment next year though.

Cheers Desmo, we were in the overflow bit the week ahead of the race and it was lovely, we were next to the Belgium family with the river to the back of us - it was great - they were really nice, he had an english grandmother and spoke pretty good english as did the Danes who were next to the access gate.  Probably the same people you met! 

Just DTM, the Classic and a couple of other meetings to go and we'll be there again! ;D   It's certainly bad planning on your part......

Yeah really bad planning on my part.  If the sprog arrives early I may be able to sneak out for a last minute racing fix as all the female members of the family will be round ours clucking like mother hens! (So plenty of help on hand for the missus)

The problem with the critters is that they don't really go for the food, but for the warmth of the car engine! So make sure you keep an eye out when the car is cooling down, after it has cooled down the critters are less likely to show up and make a mess of your wiring!

You can buy these ultrasone devices everywere around here, if you want, I could pick on up for you and you can have it installed in the UK

Cheers Roy that would be fantastic - I've looked in the UK and can only find the kind of thing you put in your shed which isn't really suitable for under the bonnet of the Saab  ;D

Are you going to the Classic?  Spa 24? 

Let me know where you're going to be and if you can get hold of a device for me I'll exchange it for beer tokens and mickey mouse money! 

for those of you really interested in loads of interviews / nothing better to do...

http://pitstoptv.belbone.be/video/video_asx.php?1high%2FPTV2006test24spa.wmv

;D

All I hope is the weather will be good for a big part of the race weekend. I'll be arriving on wednesday evening in Spa and will be heading back home on Sunday night. So..let's hope for some rain on Sunday or no rain at all :)

(But since it's Spa it'll probably rain)

Looks like I've secured a pass for Spa.  Can someone help with a few queries please.

Can you just turn up at the campsites and buy a ticket on the gate ? or do I need to pre book. 

Can you buy race tickets on the gate ?

How long from Calais to get there ?

Thanks

Jem

Hiya

I cant answer any of your other questions, but i have a general entrance weekend  ticket for sale - face value 25 euros and I will post for free to a good home!  (its actually a bracelet thingy)  I have it here in my hand!

I cant go to Spa now,  but there are several others here who are going and who can give you the other info you need.

Let me know if you are interested.   :)

Fran

Yes. Yes. 2 1/2 hours (in the wet in a 30 yr old Mog).

Thanks Fran for the offer, but as there may be two or three of us, yet to be determined, I guess it would be safer if we all bought the same tickets.

Temie - was that 2.5 hours top up or top down ?

Jem

Mine or the car's?
A bit of both actually - this is the Ardennes we're talking about! ;D

Not sure what could be safer than one I got direct from the circuit, but no probs!  :)

All the armbands are the same (only difference is some let you into the paddock ) and stands are non-bookable, just included in the price.  So, Jem,you could relieve the poor girl of her armband.  On the other hand, if you don't she might change her mind and turn up.  (Saleen, Saleen, Saleen...)

LOL i am still trying to convince myself that its worth spending £200 to come over for the 2 days so i dont waste 25 euros!!  Dont let go of your hat just yet!   ;D

I've noted on other posts that Fran has a thing going for the Saleen, imagine how I'd feel having accepted her offer for a ticket but knowing she was grieving to be there.

Nope, leave the armband where it is, just in case Fran decides to spend the £200, what the hell, you can't take it with you !

Jem

In all seriouslness Fran, its a kind offer but if I cant muster the toops I probably wont go, so I should'nt take up your offer

Sorry to be a pest.

Have they got those ridiculously high mesh barriers at Spa that they have at LM, they really bugger up the photos.

Jem

At various points round the circuit, they have kindly cut out gaps in the fencing so your photo's don't get ruined.

It's not such an issue anyway because the place is so steep.  Plenty of vantage points where you can see well over and past the safety fencing.  Pouillion is a blast!

Are we going to meet for the odd cold one?

Sat 21:00 at the paddock bar opposite the race tower !!!  ;)

For those who don't know, it's where the red box is.

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y220/hgb/2005-paddock-Incentive.jpg)

I wont!   >:(

Sorry to hear this. What's the trouble, Fran ?

We should be around at that time so will wander along.   I've lost track of who is going? 

Piglet
Keith K
Mr & Mrs Termietermite 
Hgb
Fran

any more?

See you there. :)

Piglet, if you delete the question mark behind my name in your last post then I delete it in my post on top of his page.  ;D

Done ;D

I'm going.

Great team work !  ;D

Pieter, do you know if Roy will turn up ? What about the rest of DfH ? We need orange smoke bombs. They were great fun at LM and the Ring. So, let us push this further.

I think I will turn up! Maybe I can catch a ride with Pieter? Not sure if I will have paddock acces, the 30 euro extra is a lot of money for not that much entertainment.

Nothing dramatic, problems getting weekdays off work and too expensive/complica'ed to just do Saturday/Sunday.... Not to worry tho - i have now found something else to occupy myself that weekend  ;)

Duracel... ;D

>Martin...

 ;D - cheeky!

Me, I'll be about

Ahh yes, I'd heard - keep meaning to email you though!   We're off on Tuesday, staying at L'Eau Rouge campsite.

[tuts]Better call me over the weekend then, hadn't you! :)

Can't we're off camping - the bloody neighbours are building again this weekend (my only weekend home since May) so rather than sit here and get arsey about it we're pissing off to Glastonbury in as long as it takes us to pack the car and the (new!!  ;D) trailer (called Franc ;D) ;D

So Sven has a follower called Franc... Hmmmmm  :-\

Enjoy Glastonbury (without the festival)

We're terribly European you know  ;D  Sven and Franc got on very well  ;D  We had a fantastic time and drank lots of beer  ;D  Apparently there was also a concert next door - I of course put my earplugs in and slept through it  ;D  Next trip Spa!!

Well we're off to Spa in the morning, time to set up on the campsite and be ready for the parade of cars into Spa on Wednesday  ;D

Have a good week and weekend the rest of you - we'll see some of you in the bar no doubt on Saturday night ;D

I had a brilliant weekend with Piglet, Keith, Jason, Dave and a couple of others. Great weather, lots of beer, great camping, great people and lots of beautiful cars! This event deserves full CA and DfH treatment. ;)

Took some pics of course: http://community.webshots.com/myphotos?action=viewAllPhotos&albumID=552690667&security=gCMEUf

That was another good weekend. Good to have met everybody, saturday night was great.

Eric van der Poele will be driven around in a TVR Tuscan of a friend in the parade lap at the GP Masters in Silverstone, cool.  ;D

Hey hgb, good seeing you again! Sorry I was a bit like a zombie yesterday morning due to Saturday night. But it was worth it in the end. I've almost recovered completely.

I don't have much time at the moment so just post one of my pics. This one's a gem. And her boy friend complained that we shouldn't take any pictures of her.  ;D

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y220/hgb/sIMG_8978.jpg)

So who won?
The official website doesn't even have the results on it, what a shambles...

1st Maserati MC12
2nd Aston Martin DBR9 (1m41s)
3rd Factory Corvette (9 laps)

http://www.mstworld.com/live/livetimingGT.html

Thanks for the info Rick - but

Factory?

Which factory?

Sorry not factory, too used to seeing yellow ones at the FIA GT events.

In pictures...

The winning Vitaphone Maserati with Van der Poele, Bartels and Bertolini at the wheel.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y220/hgb/sIMG_9224.jpg)

The second placed AM DBR9 piloted by Lemeret, Deletraz, Piccini and Fässler.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y220/hgb/sIMG_9617.jpg)

And the third placed Corvette C6R with Longin, Kumpen, Hezemans and Mollekens.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y220/hgb/sIMG_8525.jpg)

Really sorry to have missed everybody.  I had a house full of visitors and forgot to take a last look at the site to see which bar it was.  Mr Termie and I wandered round all the other bars in confidence that it wouldn't be in the paddock as you had to pay more! :(  See you all next year!

Well we're back, it was a great trip.  It was good to meet up with Pieter again on the campsite and hgb and Yvonne at the circuit.  The campsite was a reunion from last year with the Belgians, dutch and the danes there again.   We also had a couple of belgian lads next to us and if you're reading this guys get in touch, we missed you leaving!    We also had Roger and his son Edmund though - I've forgotten your CA log in though Roger!  Hope you got back OK. 

It's a fanatastic event and hopefully after the short fellow has finished ripping the circuit apart it will still be worth going to.

I do wonder if it's worthy of a CA guide - it's quite a tricky place to find your way around and is different from Le Mans in that you can easily drive to different parts of the circuit.   Can I submit this to the editorial team? 

I'm not sure if Jason and Dave are back yet - Dave had some terminal car trouble on the way back through France  :(

Pieter - how was your Sunday night  ;D

Well, I was pretty tired Sunday morning, but a couple of beers helped me back in the saddle. ;D

Sunday night, I even had enough energy to do my pics!

Just a few beers then!!!!

Pictures for everyone....

http://www.gtphotosport.com/spa24_06/index.html

Some great pics there, Keith!  :D
BTW, hgb: some pretty good shots you've posted. Keep 'em coming.

Been thinking the same, or a guide to the LMS circuits.

Finally got back OK, dropped Dave off after giving his car a decent burial in France. However I have spent the whole of today pretty much asleep, I think something I ate on the ferry disagreed with me.


Good to meet those I did

Know I am fairly new to the board, but I have often though how useful a "Rough Guide" to the major racing circuits of Europe would be. 

I went to Monza last year to watch the LMES and we made the mistake of thinking we could walk from the railway station to the circuit - and then we just had to walk round the circuit when we got there too.   :P

My blisters had blisters the next day.

But we did find a bus the next day - and it appeared to be free - well the driver wouldn't take any money.

What happened to Dave's car?

I picked him up in Sees during June on his way to the 24 hour. I assume then that the car went to a Vovlo dealership in Alencon where the repair cost of the car outweight the point of repair.

I seem to remember that the car had blown the cylinder head gasket.

http://www.mdh-photography.co.uk/Gallery/2006/spa%5F24%5Fhours%5Fteaser/album/ - some of my photos.

In short, It died.

Longer - water was getting into the head and it was p*ssing out water from the exhaust. So it now rusts in piece near Dunkerque

Rick, different Dave this time but if your name is Dave and you're travelling through France this summer you might want to check your car before you go!! 

I think just if you are a CA member, Myself, Dave Davies, JPC and probably a few more all broke down on the way there this year!

Finally posted some pics herehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/97986095@N00/

It may be best to start a separate thread for this year's Spa 24 hrs, but is this right - there's no bookable grandstad seating - so presumably the stands are occupied first come first served?

Also where will the tickets be available from, on http://www.spa-francorchamps.be/en05/home/index.php they're only selling F1 tickets (which is after the 24 hrs) and on http://www.proximus24hours.com/index_flash.asp it's all still the 2006 race.

Perhaps I'm too early, but I want to get organised!

Grateful for any guidance  ;)

Yes, that's right (unless it changes for this year), but I think they charged 10 euros - payable at the circuit - for an "all grandstands" pass this year.  It's only critical at the start and finish and even then there's bags of room.  As F1 is back this year, the extra grandstands will probably be back up this year too. 

That depends on when the race is held, F1 is late in the season, but usually they have some extra stands during the 24, at least one on top of eau rouge, tickets are a tenner, payable at the grandstand entrance. Get a ticket with paddock acces, this will cut your walking time to some parts of the circuit into half.