Club Arnage

Got the official whatever from the wife this morning.And unless something happens between now and then.Amazing 1,MiCarr,and atcGreg[Anymonkey Willdeu will be there.


HOW COOL IS THAT !!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D


A very big thanks goes to Pieter from DFH !

thats excellent news!! i hope to see you there at some point

Very good my man! 8)

I shall take the extra tent as well then ;D

I have been waiting to say this for a long!!!!!!!

I'm a virgin, I'm a virgin, I'm a virgin to Le Mans 8) 8) 8)

Please go easy on me guys and gals!!! ;)

Special thanks to Pieter and DFH and I am sure many others to come. 8)

Randy unless I've missed something important you seem to have Talked It Up good! It was only last week you were moaning that you couldn't go and I actually started to feel sorry for you. Well done on a good wind-up mate!

Greg n' Mike, you gentlemen will have a very pleasant time at LM I'm sure.

I'm not sure where Pieter comes into all this, but something seems to have gone on behind the scenes, so hats off to Pieter for a job very well done.

PS Just to remind you all to get down to your Doctor or Medical Centre to get booked in for your Bird Flu injections.

That's fantastic guys! Great to hear Greg is also coming!

Mike,

I hope you're bringing Vodka.... ;)

Dx

Supurb let me know if you need any help!

That's very good news. I don't know what went on behind the scenes (I'm not sure if I even want to know it) but hats off to all involved.  ;D

For those who don't know the craziest Americans alive:

(http://image52.webshots.com/52/3/87/58/2500387580087208347cxjIVt_ph.jpg)

Well done, guys.  Have you got your CA T-shirts on order??

Del

Our host and tour guide!!

Doris,

O.K. if you bring the lime and sugar.... ;)



I was lucky enough to be presented one at Sebring!  8)

Hey thats excelent guys- I'm sure you will add a new dimension to lM - looking forward to meeting you. What are your travel plans?

Hey Woohooooooooooo as they say at SEBRING.

Look forward to giving you a big HUG Randy, (for those who do not know it is something they do over there)

Is the Gorilla suit coming?

WoooooooooooooooHoooooooooooooooo


>Marini...

Good news. TEAM IMPALA on Tour ;D
Canada Phil

You are Ed Zachary right.

I had not spotted that yet.  This is going to great !

I am sure I will need to find places all over to pass out !

This really is good news is it not. ;D ;D ;D ;D

This will be cool! The GOOORRRIIILLLLAAAAA meets the GIMP.
Too funny.

Hi Randy,
 Do we need to arrange an autograph tabel ???  Oh they don't have that kind of access at Le Mans.  ;D
Canada Phil
Canada Phil

Guys thats awesume news. Let me know if you need another tent as I now have two new ones, and only need one myself so can lend you one if needed.

You have got to bring some Team Impala cards with you and do a signing session. It would be way cool if we could get you into the parade in the town centre some how. Perhaps Johnny O could get you in the staging area  and you could walk the parade route signing and handing out cards.

Excellent news guys, as you already know, we're all more than happy to help out.

I thought it was supposed to be lemons.  Will bring both so we can do taste comparisons.  All in the name of research of course...... ;D

10:04am Doris?  Shouldn't you be at the beer festival by now?

Hmm - hadnt noticed before that the CA clock is wrong!!

Is this where you sign-up to get a passport? ;) ;) ;)

So what are yiour travel plans? Virgin have some flights from Orlando to London Gatwick for $1015 including taxes!!  I can then get you over the water to Le Mans. You'd possibly get a chance to do a day in London before going as well.

Randy, I'll give you a call this morning!!

Tooooooooooo Funny!!!!  ;D

I've got another one!! Amazing Randy meets 5% Becks  ;) :-X

That is good news!!! Let us know if you would need another tent, I am sure between the 35 of us going this year, we can come up with a bunch of em.

Food and beer will be there of course for the duration of your stay. On behalf of Drinking for Holland I bid you a very warm welcome!

See what happend when you try do something nice.
One little slip up and you are branded a NA DRINKER. Oh the pain of it all.   LOL

Don't worry, I'll have plenty of differnet bottles for you to try when you come over! I've started collecting them already.

Have you ever tried Grimbergen?? :)

Randy you might want to stay away from the Grimbergen. Grim by name and Grim by nature.
Canada Phil

No way, that is one of the finer beers Belgium has to offer. Go for the Triple I say ;D

Mark, also bring some Hoegaarden Grand Cru or Verboden Vrucht (Forbidden Fruit). Those are great to!!

Maybe we can get a selection when we are at Spa in two weeks??  ;D

...real good news, be glad to help in anyway needed. Just picked up a case of HB Maibock  7.2% for your Golden Triangle Welcoming party.

Excellent news mate. Now you'll get to see that us Sebring moaners are really good guys after all !!!

Party On, this year is going to be MASSIVE  ;D

Yeah - and normally its so low key!!  ::)

Never a doubt in my mind.
Busting Balls is a two way street,or it just no fun.LOL

Rob I really cant wait to you.  I think there alot of fun headed our way!!! ;D ;D ;D

Now thats an idea. ;D

Will be happy to bring some specials over, we're driving through Belgium anyway on our way to Le Mans. ;) I'll ask our German friends (yes we do have some) to bring Kölsch and Weizenbier.

Thank you CA in advance, for your 8) open hospitality. I am truly humbled.

Greg

Good idea, we can buy a couple bottles of La Chouffe!!! That's the one with the little dwarf on the bottle.

It is the same dwarf that will be pounding away with a sledgehammer inside your skull the next morning ;D

Oooh, I have some memories of a holidayweek approx 5 km away from the La Chouffe brewery some years ago.... Damn dwarves!

And i thought good old boring Duval was a heavy bevvy! Nice tipple!!
Sounds like a beir fest is on by the way the Named beers are coming over.
Connoiseurs ??  Not just a group of dwarf hammered heads after all, good to read it....... ;D

For me it is easy acces to great belgium beer, besides the regular stuff you can get at any supermarket. I live approximatly 5 minutes from the border with Belgium. Cuts down on the travelling time, more time for drinking. ;D

....and cheap tobacco (or is it as cheap in Holland?).

Del

Probalby equal, 4 euro for a pack of 20! Not cheap, when I started smoking it was about 1.5 euro / pack of 20. Good thing I gave it up, only smoke on special occasions, Le Mans is one such occasion ;D

Same as me, Knetter.  But at my age, every day is a special occasion.  :) :) :)

Del

Excellent news, guys!

Especially since doubling the number of Americans present will reduce the abuse by 50%.   ;D

6 weeks!

:w00t:

reduce it or raise it

you pays yer money you takes yer chance  ;)

you guys are so welcome  ;D

and I would advise some Brugse Tripel, Pauwel's Kwak and Jan van Gent beers  8)

I'm a bore as for beer, I'm only interested in quantity :-\

Excuse me bartender, I am not from these parts, do you carry imported beers?

(But of course sir what would you like?)        "BUD LIGHT LONG NECK PLEASE!" 

    ::)
   Just can't take him anywhere.

In related news, Pierre Celis is back in the beer business, overseeing operations at the Real Ale Co. in Austin, Texas.   :)

That's fantastic news  ;D   As others have said, we've got lots of excess camping equipment so can bring some extra along to sort you guys out. 

I've taken the responsibility over the camping gear, like air/field beds, pillows and sleeping bags. If anyone can spare some gear for our American friends, please let me know.

If you crazy americans find yourselves wandering through the nether regions and get lost in Bleu, then there is always a warm beer and an even warmer tent at your disposal.

Obviously that goes for any CAers out there.

Well done on a good sale well made as well, i need to do the same every year now i'm married and with small child.

New that, I actually had some of the white beer they make there, it really tastes good. Better than Hoegaarden white I might say.

Knetter, fancy trying my local brewery on wheat beer? I can bring a couple over, Aptly named "white"
Rebellion brewery, Marlow uk.

Why not! I always enjoy a nicely brewed white beer. What can I bring along in return?

I'm with him! Just tell us what you want in return!

I'll probably get shot down for this, but.............

..one of the bars in town has just started serving Kronenbourg Blanc on draft and I have to say I've discovered quite a taste for it!!

But then last night I was enjoying pints of Leffe in a bar just of Leicester Square, and very pleasant it was too!  :)

Just so long as you avoid the beer that tastes of smokey bacon you should be ok!  :-\

Kronenbourg Blanc is REALLY NICE but REALLY REALLY expensive in some places.

I have been shocked when charged £4.20!!!! a pint that is!

it seems to be cropping up in more and more pubs


i wasnt overly impressed, it was ok. not too expensive either - £2.29 and a free kronenburg blanc glass ;)

Hmm, beer for breakfast! :P

 ::)

Mark, have you tried the Lowlander on Drury Lane?  I was there yesterday enjoying some of the beers on offer.  Loads of different Belgian and Dutch beers.  Needless to say I was bit squiffy by the time I headed for the train home.  ::)

I'll bring some nice Kasteelbier (Biere du Chateau) to Le Mans, be warned, even Leffe is a light compared to that. ;D

I tried Kronenbourg Blanc and I had to change it for something else. It is unpleasant and has a strange lemony sort of taste.

Let's also bring some Grolsch Kanon!!!

Or Hertog Jan Grand Prestige (10%):

(http://www.interbrewhoreca.nl/inc/images/HJgp.gif)

I can bring a bottle of Absinthe (as long as Andy doesn't complain on the grounds that it contains lots of alcohol which is poisonous  ::) )

It's lovely with, umm, ........., water?

If not, you might want to try Martini-air. They always welcome silverbacks. ;D

A wholly owned sudsidiary of Six Pack Transportation, Ltd. no less!

Add one more to the list of Crazy Americans coming across the pond!

THE Governer of Turn 10 himself,has decided to take this fantastic voyage also. 8) How coooolll is that ?

Even more great news. Jupiter John is coming too !  Now you have just got to drag Lee and Jerri ! ;)

Absolutely great news! We'll be honoured to have him over at DfH!

How about Mr Sutherland...Suthvid... might be tax deductable if you produce a video!?...

Good to hear you are coming as well Guv.

>Martini...

Supurb this year is looking great already!!!!

Weyhey!!!  Great news!!!   :D :D :D

Come on Lee Self!!  You know it makes sense!!!!   ;)

Not tried that one beofre! Maybe we'll give it a go for the next London meet up??

Hey Fran, here's your chance!!!  What about Ronnie Salami? :o  Got room? ;) ;D

YeeHar, bring that calender! ;D

Well, I was a little disappointed when i saw the list of those coming across from the US (no offence intended to those lovely fellas making the trip)..... but of course there is always a lil slot for Ronnie on Bleu Sud - the site for the more discerning campers!  ;)

Sadly Mr April has expired now.... tho he is still hanging on my office wall!!! either Steve Brown needs to get me a new Mr May lined up, or i just have to put a sticky label over the April dates ....

Fran

I am gonna have to get someone to explain about the Turn 10 thing and signatures n stuff.... I refuse to ask the questions on the forum tho, cos I will no doubt get ripped into for not already knowing the answers!!!!

 ???

Looks like a trip to the Home Depot is in order, for about 3 rolls of duct tape!

Be careful Mike, you'll get Fran all excited!!  ;) ;D

      "TWO BEERS PLEASE"

It doesnt take much... and now the memories of Ronnie have been rekindled....  :P

Can you see him?  In his glory. ;)

All good so far. Come on Lee and Jerri.
Canada Phil

...does that mean you will be keeping your hands out of our beer cooler this year Fran ::)

are you sure that isn't just Irish Coffee? ::)

It does appear mighty thick.

It's beer alright, but I have to admit it looks like Irish Coffee.

I prefer the Irish Coffee though! :P (http://www.veronica.nl/modules/f1forum/images/smiles/drunken_smilie.gif)

(as long as I know up ahead that I can go to bed pretty soon afterwards) ;)

And here's Pieter after a few too many of them . Did I mention it was taken at Sebring ! :)

Did I ever mention I have three arms? ;D

And two heads ! LOL ;D

Pieter...what did you have to do to get all those beads?  LOL

Jupiter John

(http://forum.drinkingforholland.com/images/smiles/icon_moon.gif)

To all the great people I've met from Club Arnage and Drinking for Holland...I would like to thank all of you for offering all your help to make LeMans one hell of a trip for us "Crazy" Americans from Turn 10 and Team Impala.  As atcgreg said...we are truly humbled.  Guys...I can't wait.  This will be my 2nd LeMans...atcgreg and I crossed the pond in 2000 for the race...but we were kinda lost in all that LeMans is.  It will be Great to be guided thru LeMans by the "Best of the Best".  What a party it's going to be.  See you all soon...

JUPITER JOHN
GOVERNOR - Turn 10

(GO SHANE GO)
GO TEAM IMPALA GO

I think this year is shaping up to be a good one - and a big part of it is going to be you guys from across the pond - will you all be with DFH? when will you get in?
Tally Ho.

They will be flying into Amsterdam on Sunday. I'll show them a good time there and next morning we're going to Le Mans, so from Monday we'll be there!

I was in Amsterdam last Monday. Avoid the street of chicks with dicks..  :o :o you know it makes sense... 

I have been following this topic with great interest since Randy starting talking it up weeks ago.  I have spoken with him, and just now got off the phone with Jupiter, and well, I'm looking into it. My first reaction was what a great story it would be, so I'm working on developing that idea, and in the meantime I'm looking into flights and travel options.

First, let me me say this: LeMans has been a place of legend since I was a kid.  Its like chamelot without the dragons.  If I can pull this off, and get to hang not only with my Turn 10 buddies, but you fine Club Arnage Folks it would be awesome.  An honor and a privledge.

Next, the first of many questions:

Flight options, UK versus somehwere else, how do I get there and connect up, etc.  I may not be able to leave as early as the 10th and make it to Amsterdam, so I'm looking for help in figuring this out.  Sunday and Monday I will check with the airlines and see what's cheep and available (no wise cracks you guys!). I have some miles with American that may help. So... fly into UK and bum a ride?  Fly into Paris and bum a ride? Fly into somehwere else and bum a ride? See what I mean?

But in the meantime:

What kind of shooting conditions will I encounter?  I've heard that its tough to see the track due to protective barriers and fencing.  I've also heard rumors of a CA Scaffold.  Is it True? Tell me more! If you can get a decent shot with a still camera without a huge lens, that will work for me, and if you have any stills shot in previous years from available locations that would be helpful  Be sure to note what length lens you were using.

What is it like traveling in the EU with camera gear?  I have two main options, shoot with my "A" package (similar to a video news guy) or a smaller package that looks like a mix between a home camera on steriods and a still package, plus some kind of tripod (bigger camera equals bigger tripod) In the little bit of international traveling I've done with gear I've gotten a carne (kinda pricey though...), sort of a bond issued in the US saying that all this gear is mine and I promise to bring it back with me instead of selling it to you folks at an outragious profit.  The smaller package might pass for amateur/hobbiest, and clear customs more easily.  In general, what's it like when you cross an EU border? "May I see your papers?"

What kind of paddock access is there? The ALMS has spoiled me in this regard, but to tell the story I'm envisioning I need to see the cars.  Is this possible?

What is the general schedule of events?  When do you guys set up camp, is it in a park, can you see the track from camp (like at Sebring)?  What happens race week? How often are the cars on the track, support races, etc. At this point I can use as much information as you can provide me.  I just stick it all in my little brain for further use in putting the story together, so tell me any and all things.

OK thats it for now.  You can respond to this either on the forum or directly to me at john@svpweb.com

Thanks,

John

In theory there are no borders in Europe, so once you clear customs at whichever EU airport your are free to roam. However crossing between England and france on a US passport will mean clearing customs again. It may also be the same between Holland and France.

A bigger problem for you may be the ACO. They are very protective of there media rights, if you look too pro then some jobsworth may spoil your day.
Some pros are members of CA and may be able to help and give advice on getting press access.

All the cars are kept in there pit garages during the week, apart from a trip to town to be checked and when on track. So the options to wander around the cars are limited and you will need to be invited by the team into there garages. Most are happy to do this but its a hassle and space can be tight.

There are alot of fences around the entire track now, without a media pass you will be the wrong side of it.

I'll stick with stuff I know...

First, there is a thread here http://www.clubarnage.com/forum/index.php?topic=274.0 which has useful maps and info. When you cross most EU borders there are no customs in sight - you just slow a little on the motorway and your phone eventually tells you that it has switched to another provider... Travel from the UK is a little different, you will encounter passport control and maybe get stopped by customs and asked a few questions.

Canada Phil has previously discussed flight options and whether flying into France is better or not. I'm not sure what the conclusion was, but it may simpy depend on 1) prices and 2) ability to blag a lift from UK to LM and back. I would have space but am leaving the UK on Sunday 11th and leaving at or before the end of the race so I'm not a good option.

The official campsites are close to the track, some you have to walk for 5 minutes to get to see the cars and some you can see them right from your tent.Paddock access is OK before the Saturday and teh pit lane is open during Friday, no special apsses required. There is not much in the way of support races - I think someone said there is a classic race before the big event this year. Therefore the only time there are cars are on track is for the practice sessions on Wed and Thursday evenings, and for the main event (don't forget that part of the track is public road).

There's a thread here http://www.clubarnage.com/forum/index.php?topic=3961.105 about travelling from the US. But most importantly there is a thread here http://www.clubarnage.com/forum/index.php?topic=4740.0 which somewhere contains a draft of the Club Arnage Guide to Le Mans for  Dummies, as well as a host of other useful links (and within it there is a post from Redstu on getting to LM by public transport)

Hey John! Good to see you have plans to come over as well. For those who don't know him: he shot a memorable Sebring video last year featuring Turn 10 and lots of CA members which I enjoyed very much.

Since I'm sort of a Le Mans rookie myself (went there last year, arriving Saturday morning and not being a member of DfH yet), I couldn't provide you with all the answers, but I'm sure others can fill you in. The possibility of a Le Mans video like you did in Sebring gets me excited already!

You might want to check out our DfH camp, where the Turn 10 guys are staying. We will have a big scaffold and camp site on Maison Blanche and probably the closest thing to the Turn 10 atmosphere you'll find there.

If you can make it to Amsterdam on Wednesday, I might be able to hook you up with a ride to Le Mans Thursday morning, so let me know what's your schedule.

Crossing a EU border shouldn't cause any trouble, especially when flying into Amsterdam, where they don't bother about anything. Especially when compared to US customs.

@ others: please fill in the blanks!

Smokie,
Will certainly heed your advice. I hope you're not speaking from experience! :o

John Sutherland is a great guy.I will personally vouch for his credability.Anyone who can lend a hand,it would be greatly appreciated.

John in the several years of me dreaming of going to Lemans I have done quite a bit of research involving travel.The easiest way without renting a car
is to fly into Paris,take the train from the airport straight to Lemans.and then a short cab ride to the circuit.

For anyone not fimiliar with John's handy work here is a sample.

http://www.svpweb.com/turn10.html

How cccoooollll is that.


John there have been tons of offers from CA /DFH members for tents etc.If you get there I am sure we can find somewhere for you to crash.

Golf anyone!!!!!!!!!!    O.K. Americans, I want no debauchery while we're in euroupe ;) ;D ;D

Micarr,try this spelling.Europe.   LOL :D :D

MiCarr call me on my cell.

Not after a day of debauchery!!!!!!!!!!!! ;D

Hi everybody,

Thanks for the info, I'm currently wading through the "CA Guide" which is proving very useful. Randy, are you guys still flying on that funny dutch airline out of Orlando? When are you flying home, and I ssume its from Amsterdam?

 Also, it looks like I'm going to be in the Ft. Myers area the week of 5/22. I may try and get some "pre-LeMans" interviews at that time. It would set the stage for the trip. How long of a drive is it to Tampa/St. Pete?

This is still not a done deal, gotta figure out the $ thing, and see if it threatens my marital status at all... (race weekend is fathers day and my birthday, and it might bum my family out that I choose to celebrate by leavin' the friggin' country!...)  

I did some research on the American Airlines site and it looks like I'm gonna have to call them to figure out the frequent Flyer thing.

If anybody has some shots of the DFH or Club Arnage camp sites I'd love to see them, as well as any car shots taken from areas mentioned in the guide.

I noticed in the race week schedule several "pit walks".  Whazat?

Oh, and you gotta explain the PooBar!

Randy- what are the chances of hooking up with Johnny O. and Jan M. during this visit?  It would make for good video (my producer voice rattling away...)

Is Canada Phil attending?

Thanks,
John

Hello John, Glad to her you are thinking of coming.
We will be flying out of Amsterdam on Mon. 6/19

Just a note to let everyone know. I talked with Vettefan (Anna) and Brian who is on the Corvette
team. He was a little concened about us trying to set up a Team Impala signing near them.
Alot of the top dogs for Pratt Miller are making the trip over, and I would'nt want to do anything that might
jeopardize our relationship with the team!! Of course thay does'nt mean Team Impala can't be in the parade
on Friday or anything else that normaly happens. Just thought I should put it out there.

Hi John,

If you want to see pictures of the DFH campsite, just look up the website. www.drinkingforholland.nl There is a link to some galleries and also there is a written report on last years event. The website wil go offline after this years Le Mans, but will be replaced by a different one, which is already online at www.drinkingforholland.com, but it is far from completed.

We will have a scaffold this year at 8 meters high, we can see if we can get you up there, since it is not intended to be a viewing area this year, but more of a landmark at MB. There will be a stage for our live band, the flying baquettes on top of a dyke separating the track from the campsite, the view from that stage should also be good for video.

Pitwalks mean: acces for the public to see the teams at work in the garages. the ones early on in the week are nice and quiett, friday is really busy, specially since Sebastian Loeb is driving for Pescarolo again, he is very popular with the french.

As said before, sleeping gear can be arranged for you by many people.

Hi Knetter,

Thanks for the links.  I've also been stumbling around the CA site and found lots of info. I'm releived to hear that one can get into the pits, and I've seen some shots on... well somewhere in my wanderings today, that show the kind of access I was hoping for.  It also looks like (with a proper lens) that looking back up towards the Dunlop bridge offers some nice shooting opportunties, and Arnage looks promising too.  Thanks for all the help.
John

Suthvid, Wednesday and Thursday night qualifying is good for Pics and vid from above the pits in the grandstands as they are open to the public.
A big part of the LM weekend atmosphere is Mad Friday - no track activity on Friday (apart from the pit wallabout). In the morning the place to be is cruising the road sections of the track which are open (as they are normaly at any other time) however the machinery is awsome, just cruising and parking up along the Arnage, Indianapollise, and the Mulsane straight to Tetre Rouge roads. Its also worth getting out to St Saturnin (to the north of LM town) to the Great British Welcome. Its where many classic cars gather on Friday and Saturday mornings. Its a Local Community Centre with a big carpark, they then have a parade convoy to the drivers parade in the town on Friday afternoon the years featured marque is Aston Martin see http://www.greatbritishwelcome.co.uk/.  We found the actual drivers parade very drawn out and a bit of waste of time.
The in the evening the action is all around but in particular Arnage village centre, the road out side Blue and MB and the Houx Annex roundabout, The fun fair is good, the MB and blue camp sites try to out do each others Fireworks.

Drinking and fireworks do not mix,you might spill your drink and douse the fuse.  lol

Hi John,

The Yanks are coming! Glad to hear the US contingent is getting bigger, you gents will have a wonderful time and no mistake. If you have got loads of gear to bring I suggest you speak to John Evans III about the practicalities of getting from one Paris station to the other; he said it was hard going even for a Texan! Bumming a lift from the UK will be very easy and might save money too. Plus you get to see another country.

In terms of the Poo Bar, it's best described as a holographic animation of the Hogarth print entitled Gin Lane (see below).

(http://www.library.northwestern.edu/spec/hogarth/images/1.69.jpg)

-"In Hogarth's London, gin was cheap, and alcoholism was rampant. The pawnbroker, distiller, and funeral home are the only sturdy structures in this crumbling, desperate landscape. In 1751, the year in which these politically engaged and rather propagandistic prints were circulated, a Gin Act was passed in Parliament that finally exerted control over the distribution of gin".

We even have a smiley that does that:

(http://forum.drinkingforholland.com/images/smiles/icon_woohoo.gif)

 ;D

MiCarr where are you learning all of this computer crap?You are beginning to scare me. :o :o :o

By the way guys, don't forget to bring your bathing suits. We're going to have a pool.  ;D

...4 outstanding citizens, nice fotos Mike.

Must give credit to Pieter for his great shots!! I just borrowed them.
 
Thanks Pieter, Hope you don't mind

Of course I don't mind! But I can only take half the credit, only the top picture is mine.

OOPS! :-[   Sorry, thank's to Steve Brown for the second

The pleasures all mine Mike  ;)

Hi guys

I'm glad to see that the American contingent is looking good!!   We've got some gear that we're bringing for you and I've got a couple of spare tents as well if they're needed so I think we'll have enough to get you all sorted.

For atmosphere look at Keith's photo's here:
http://www.gtphotosport.com/welcome_page.htm and follow the Le Mans links (you'll find Sebring 2005 as well).   

Also for the Hawiian Tropic girls look here http://www.gtphotosport.com/hwtgirls/index.html

It's not long now  ;D

I spoke with American Airlines, and I can use my miles to get to Paris on Monday the 12th, arriving at 7:35 AM.  I know I could get a train to Le Mans, but is anybody going through Paris about that time?  Or, can somebody collect me at the Le Mans train station Monday afternoon.  Remember, I am an American that does not speak the language! (french that is, I'm pretty good with english!) My ultimate goal is to meet up with the Team Impala group ASAP as I'm hoping to document this adventure for future release.

thanks and open to suggestions.

John

Hey Suthvid thats great news, although it may have been easier to fly to the UK to hitch a lift.
No problem with not speaking french, just speak very loudly, very slowly and use a french accent when appropriate - always works for me  :D

John that is great news.We need to start making arrangments ASAP.

Other handy techniques are the gallic shrug of the shoulders, pouting your lips and mumbling "pfff" as often as possible.   :D

F

We may be able to collect you from the Le Mans Train station, It may have to be myself on the bus as the camper will be on site and the car is not due down untill late afternoon.

If you have no other offers I will leave you contact details and arrange to meet you there.

That's a shame. We're leaving Rotterdam at 4 AM that morning, and around and about that time I should be passing CDG. But the truck I'm driving only hold two seats, and both are taken.
Sorry mate :-\

If all else fails, you can rent a Smart car (think big golf cart  ;) ) for a week for about $150.   It's big enough for you and your bags and would let you run around and see some sights should you choose to do so.

sixti.com

...if no one is available to pick you up, what about taking a taxi  from the train station ???

He doesn't speak french!!

Transportation is covered by me, so no worries.   ;)

We'll be there on the Monday and will have three cars and a number of drivers so let me know if you need some extra help. 

Just show yer ticket or a map of the circuit to the driver, I am sure that even without speaking french he might catch on!  ::)

Or speak louder.  ;D

But then he will take you via Alencon!! Knowing you are a tourist!

What a suggestion!!! Where is your faith in humanity Rick!!

Didn't you already have 5 people in your car Pieter? Still a long drive from Charles de Gaulles to Le mans with 6 peops in one car!!!

Those shots must have come from the FBI's Wanted website.

John,

Great to hear we'll be partying together again very soon. If you get a chance give me a call on the landline- I've got some pointer regarding Paris DeGaulle that I think you should be aware of.


31 Days and a wake-up!

Pieter,
What time will we be leaving your place on Monday Morning?   

Julian will be driving as well, so we have enough seats available. We'll be going early in the morning (about 6 AM).

LOL    ;D ;D

He doesn't speak french!!

...come on now Rick, the taxi driver probably also speaks no French. Whatever happened to good old hand language or as Fran suggests just show the driver a map.

You know we could give you guys a real treat and show you how we Americans drive the A  :o and you could sit back and relax ???

??? What's that?

automatic gearbox?

Not to worry about the language thing.  Three years ago our family did a home exchange in France,  My daughter Hayley speaks french fluently, and she discovered that I am fluent in "franglais". Which is where I speak english with a very cheesy french accent, loudly, throw the few french words I do know in at awkwardly and sometimes inaapropriate times. "Qu'est-ce que c'est? Ahh.... Oui!"  and provide just one more reason for the world to hate americans!

Thank you all for your offers of help.  I'm going to try and sort this all out this week and next.

John

we should pick him up with our shoppng cart I guess? ;D

That should work cause that has got to be one BIG shopping cart. ;D

all stuff you bring from the US can go with the truck if needed Randy, then you guys don't have to cramm everything in the estate...

I'll discuss this with Pieter next weekend, but as Greg invited me to Amsterdam on the sunday of your arrival, then you can also admire the shopping cart. ;D

Don't want to give away the surprise yet, but it will be something different

I was planning on inviting a couple of guys, but it seems Greg is one step ahead of me!

That is great looking forward to meeting you and seeing what Amsterdam has to offer.

I thought the truck was leaving for the track on Saturday.If not that would probably be a good idea. 8)

He might only be a Silverback but he is quick on his feet.

am I invited?  ???

Yes you are, you can drive me back to Den haag after partying a little in Amsterdam. ;D

Count me out. Wish to be with H for the Sunday, and get up VERY early on Monday. We've got a week of partying ahead, I'll catch up with you guys in no time ;D

We know you will Paddy, we know you will....

May I suggest 24 euro's and a train :D