Club Arnage

This press release just arrived:

Motor Racing Legends has announced the eligible years for Le Mans Legend 2007, the historic support race to the modern Le Mans 24 Hours. On the morning of Saturday 16th June 2007, a few hours before the start of the world’s greatest endurance race, a grid of 61 Le Mans cars from 1956 to 1968 will take to the famous La Sarthe circuit for a one-hour, two-driver support race.

“The period we have chosen for the 2007 Le Mans Legend race covers the great ‘Ferrari era’ at Le Mans,” says Motor Racing Legends Chairman, Duncan Wiltshire, “and leads to the emergence of the Ford GT40 and Ford’s eventual domination of the 24 Hours. To many, the Ford vs Ferrari battles of the 1960s encapsulate the very essence of Le Mans history. But by taking the eligible years back to 1956, we will also cover the two Ecurie Ecosse wins in Jaguar D-types; followed by Ferrari’s incredible string of victories from 1958 to 1965, broken only by Aston Martin’s win in 1959 with its fabulous DBR1.

“The chosen era is also the time of the Aston Martin DB4 GT and Project cars; of the Lightweight E-types, not to mention an immense variety of Porsches; plus MGA and MGB; Maserati Birdcage and AC Cobra; Triumphs and Lotuses; Austin-Healey Sprite and Morgan; and a wealth of other intriguing models from the Alfa Romeo T33 to Alpine A210 Renault, Bizzarrini, Morgan and Abarth. In short, we are highly excited at the prospect of revisiting so many historic battles at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans weekend.”

The Le Mans Legend race is run by Motor Racing Legends in partnership with the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, and is for actual cars which ran at Le Mans and genuine sister cars of the same specification. This historic support race to the Le Mans 24 Hours is run on the full 8.5-mile circuit and starts with the traditional ‘ear of corn’ formation, in which drivers run across the track to their cars. It has become a vital part of the Le Mans experience, and is tremendously popular with the 230,000 spectators who flock to the 24 Hours race weekend.

Oh heck, Sprites et al! Thats buggered nipping to Carrefour on Saturday morning for Gary Frogeye and me then!

GT40s too.

Bring it on!

 :D :D :D

Do you think they'll let me slip onto the grid?

Well that's a Sprite, a Frogeye and an MGA as a minimum for definite ready to boost the field then ;D.  And doubtless Steve's Cobra when he reads this one.   and H's Jag.  Plus, of course don't forget the immortal Commer which, with its cavernous load space, could also be used to carry refreshments for gentleman (and any lady) drivers for that occasional pick-me-up required around the circuit.

If they won't let us onto the grid, then we'll just barge through onto the slip road up at the start of the Mulsanne from the Chemin de Boeufs (I always have liked that street name - the "Way of the Beefs"...

Sounds like a recipe for a brilliant support race grid  ;D ;D ;D

MG Mark

I better take the MG badges orf and find a few Spritist ones then...

Deffo bring it on.

Got that A up to scratch now then Mark? I 'spect you'll hammer me on the Mulsanne!

What tyres shall I have? Yoko's I 'spect. Better find a nice tidy hard top too.

;D ;D ;D

Just have to sort out a couple mods to the ignition and fuel system to deliver enough fuel to sustain full throttle and fit a decent cam to it.  Then I stand a good chance of trouncing your wolf is sheep's clothing, you old bandit.... ;D

MG Mark

Mine is sheep in wolfs clothing.

Mine's a sheep in sheeps clothing !

Old bandit! Quite the nicest thing anyone has said to me for ages...

I thought about a "faster" cam for next year but she seems quite lively enough as she is.

Running on cast-off Metro bits at the moment and the Fordy gearbox.

And dont buy that humble stuff off Gary either, sheep? Humbug!


 :o

How could I be anything but polite and kind to such gentlemen, with such similar taste in fine motor cars ;D, compared to all the modern wurst eaters and rice burners.   Even if your motor is aspirating beyond its orginal design ;)   Mine does, however, have the benefit of refinements such as wind-up windows in propoer window frames and a roof that doesn't flap around like a demented tent, but a little more go would not go amiss - the head is already gas-flowed and the exhaust is a good 'un, so a fast road cam is probably the next logical thing, along with sorting out the fuel delivery and ignition circuits so that it doesn't die of starvation about 500rpm shy of the limit. 

I wouldn't think you'd want much of a wilder cam though or it will just get undriveable in normal traffic - if you are bolting on Metro bits, of course the next logical step must be the Metro turbo, which would enable you to up change to a taller diff.  Plus roller rockers to increase the rev limit.   Then you could really frighten yourself fartless at full whack down the Mulsanne ;D .  Oh and mix about 2-3% toluene in with a tank full - that'll up the octane rating a treat.   

MG Mark

MG Mark,
I hope you're not insinuating that Purdu's and my cars are anything other than the way they left the factory (1958 in mine ones case).
Oh apart from the five speed box and telescopic shocks and bigger engine and bigger brakes and cd player oh!
The door handles would have been the same (except i don't have any). ;)

This race sounds terrific to me, does anyone know what time it starts?

I've enjoyed all the A-Series nonsense too, rimflo valves won't be enough and no doubt you'll all be doing DOHC 16V conversions this time next year.  :D

Usually around 10 if memory serves (which it doesn't always!)  Rather put paid to any silly ideas that that other race will start in the morning.

Wow a happy message from Mr Zarse!!! Even at this time of year!

Andy,

        Subject to discussion with the other "old bandits", I think probably whatever time we fancy it starting......and are compos mentis enough to get our sh*t in one sock enough to be in the same place at the same time.   The Commer could of course play a starring role as the lead pace car.     

Now then, DOHC 16v conversions are going a bit too far for gents whose conveyances are, at least to outer appearances, pretty standard and have been modified within the bounds of good taste.   Even if such mods are aimed at boosting performance.   I read an article recently where an MGA had been "transformed" into an "MGA for today" by converting it to fully independent suspension all round (yes the back end too!) and the engine/ drive train from a Honda Vtec something or other - I just thought why not just buy the Honda with the stuff fitted in the first place?   And it isn't an MGA for today - that's what became (with help from the Metro) the MGF having gone through the MGB/Midget in their various forms and the RV8. 

Anyway - back to the point - there must be enough CA old farts classic car enthusiasts who pitch up in something nice to sort out a suitable meeting point at some point somewhere there?   Thoughts?

MG Mark

Of course not, as you are not with mine.  I think they're called  sympathetic period modifications ;D

MG Mark

The Commer, as mention ad nauseam, is now hibernating for the winter and would take unkindly to be stirred at this time of year. However, I'd certainly be up to meet for whatever flimsy excuse is coined.

Is it tucked up in the shed surrounded by straw and shredded ENRON accounts, like all other slow green things. Shouldn't it be called george?

Andy,
MGMark meant at La Sarthe (I think).

Oh.   :-[

But I was expecting to see him there anyway.  ???

Andy, I think he means getting all the vehicles and us together, that's why he said your commer could be the pace car ::)

You mean for a club trip around the curcuit, official or otherwise? But surely I'll be completely drunk for the whole of that week?  ???

Good point Andy.  You've found the weak spot in my cunning plan.

Wrong Gary you at least have to stay sober enough to get the beer in, on the daily Carrefour run.

(Oh yes Gary, I saw Terry today it seems that he and David are coming back for more next year, I thought we'd quite worn him out last year!)

Mark, a BMC (and friends) meet would be OK can we get the ACO to give us an hoursworth at Eight o'clock on Saturday morning I wonder?  :laugh:

Or have Her Majesty's Tosspots given you another runway set yet?

You mean this sort of thing?
http://www.motoringadventures.com/index.html

To allay any confusion, I was certainly not suggesting that the mighty Commer be disturbed from her winter hibernation - not at all, that would be tempting fate to a dangerous degree - but we do have a reasonable number of CAers with classic cars who take them to La Sarthe.   

The support race is for cars of "our era" but, as mere mortals and generally law-abiding citizens, we would not get near either the motoring adventure parade laps or the support race without serious incurring serious grief from les flics or the marshals. 

Consequently, I was suggesting that a jolly wheeze would be to fix up a time and place to meet during race week (say on the Thursday or Friday at late morning/lunchtime-ish) with our various steeds to enjoy a run out on the public section of the circuit led, at least in part, by the immortal Commer ;D.     

MG Mark   

Alas Mark,
My trusty(ish) steed and I will be en route on Friday morning, so we would only be able to join you in spirit.
I could however, place one of my old number plates on Purdu's passenger seat, so that at least part of my car would be there.

How about a trip out into the french country side to a point of interest on Friday morning and maybe reurning via St Saturnin - The Great British Welcome (and maybe Gary could meet up with us there).

I could happily go for that, plus, it would give old slug-a-bed a reason to get his little foot down on the way down.

Wossay Gary, the Great British Welcome? I've been intending to get to that for years.

 :D

I've pm'd you.

Bill,
In earlier years, myself and my merry band of cobrateers have gone into town on Friday for the drivers parade.  However, it is such a disorganised mess now, what with the town centre road works etc, that for the last 2 years, we've gone to the St Saturnin Great British Welcome instead.
It's basically a classic car show with beer, a jazz band and stuff and very pleasant it is too.  They even let our 2 hot rods in for the 2005 event.

I'd recommend it.  We'll drag you there in 2007.

That sir, is a date!

I wondered where you lot were quietly slipping off to last year and you did mention it this year whilst we "Untidy MG'ers" were in a state of relaxed unreadiness. (You MAY have noticed  ;) )

I will definitely be up for that next year.

[Assuming all the normal assumptions etc.]

Yes, meeting you all at St Saturnint on Friday night sound good to me especially as I think I'm going to buy one of those "throw it in the air and two seconds later it fully erected" tents.
So I won't have to fumble in the dark with my erection ;D

Like Steve, I've done St Saturnin on the Friday afternoon/early evening for much the same reasons for the last few years - much more civilised and it is a nice venue too - met Johnny Herbert and Stirling Moss there year before last, and there are always plenty of nice cars to ogle over.   

Sounds like the start of a plan - meet up somewhere first and then convoy on to it?   

MG Mark

What a plan! I'm furrit!

Gary, if you'd rather have a real tent bring the usual suspect and put it together on Saturday am. If ya can stand the snoring you can pop into my spare tent space for the night.

Unless some handy lady visitor should feel the need of somewhere to take a few zzzzzs... ;D

Ian (who suggested a trip round the French countryside) and I, have been pm-ing  a bit on this subject.  Is anybody interested in a CA mini-cavalcade around the Sarthe on the Friday, ending up in Saint Saturnin
http://www.classicbw.org/uk/index.php
in the late afternoon?  One suggestion is to go down to Le Chartre sur Loir (home of the hotel which used to put the Jaguar team up), - the problem here though is that it can be very busy indeed and is the wrong end of the Sarthe for Saint Saturnin so will not be a very leisurely drive - ; the other is to come up North a bit and have a mid-way stop at a very friendly bar/cafe near me run by an LM nut who would be just delighted to welcome us all - and he has loads of parking space.
Either of these options would of course mean we'd miss the drivers' parade but it seems like I'm not alone in thinking that that is not a problem to miss occasionally.
What does everybody think? Would there be any interest? Which option do you all prefer?  I can do some route planning if there'll be a worthwhile uptake.

Deb, myself and my group would be very interested.  We don't bother with the parade anymore, but we've been to the St Saturnin event for the past 2-3 years now.

A drive in the countryside sounds good too.  The city traffic is normally heavy on Friday though.

I've used my little route to get to St S a few times on the Friday - works a treat.  It's amazing how unadventurous many people are and there are still plenty of quiet roads in the Sarthe even on mad Friday.  Numbers aren't too important, if we only got a dozen or so it would be fun.

I am guessing that a Toyota Corolla isnt quite exotic enough to qualify for the parade, but wouldnt mind bumming a lift in something a bit flashier and coming along for the tour!!   8)

F

debs..

sound like fun.. count me in and we will chat at the weekend!

methinks this is the noshhouse for sat night http://www.doransbistro.co.uk/

Andy ;D

When you see what I'll be in, Fran, your Corolla will be welcome! ;D  I'm sure my mate will let you have a ride in his Mondie if not.

Dear Fran, you know my (t)rusty steed will be at your disposal if you feel the need at any time.

(now we need a smiley for a deep bow with arm swinging gallantly to the floor)

[Oh well please yerselves]

 ;)

(http://www.hbshows.com/tomjerry/images/80-41_take_a_bow0.gif)

LOL - very nice!

F

Debs,

Count me in with the MGA, whether to St S or to your friendly cafe.   Personal preference is for a route without too much traffic - the dear old A's cooling system struggles enough at La Sarthe and if caught in a traffic jam becomes a masterclass in juggling the clutch, throttle and handbrake, to avoid having to come off the throttle entirely and stalling through fuel vaporisation, which then takes 10 minutes plus to re-start.

Bill - you are such a gentleman..........

MG Mark

So far I'm favouring the route via my caff and ending up at St St.  I'm thinking maybe meet at about 14.00 and aim to get to St St about 18.00 - the drive would take a couple of hours max for 1 person, but with  the stop and a convoy - possible hitches on the way - that's my most pessimistic timing.  That would still give everybody a couple of hours at St Sat, and time to get back for DFH celebrations on MB by 21.00.  All opinions welcome!  Also, means that anybody who wants to can get into town in morning for the "hands" ceremony which Mr T is anxious to do.
Mark, it should fit your bill fine, can't see many hold-ups once you've got away from the circuit and even that is easy going in this direction on Mad Friday (ie against the flow!)

Sounds just the job Deb's, especially with the return target being DFH and the Flying Baggetts!! Shouldnt worry about the Corrolla Fran, I could quite well be in the air conditioned comfort of a 7 year old Passat tdi, we'll be the support barges for the more interesting, but possibly more fragile machines.

I will add jump leads and tow rope to my packing list in that case!

F

Can we join you on the this little jaunt Termietermite. Tom and my self in the young lads Mini, wich he is building himself..........so I think Frans offer of jump leads and tow rope could be handy ;D

Open to all, natch.  I'll do a map for everybody so nobody will get lost.  We have two modern reliable (how could I  have said that on a forum, now she'll break down on the way to Jersey!) cars in my party too, to make up for Paul's Mondie which always waits for LM to conk out!

This thread has gone way off topic. I don't want to spoil your arrangements, so I've renamed it as other members might like to join the party  :)

Off topic on this forum?  Surely not?........

The plan and route sound good -  I've always been at StS early-mid afternoon before, so I'm not sure not sure how lively it is/what's there at your planned time of arrival.  All sounds like a jolly good wheeze though, particularly the finale

MG Mark

Good idea, Christopher.  However, the expression meet-up makes my teeth grind!  We just used to meet in my day - what's with the up?  In the interests of my fillings, I've altered it again. ;D

Mark, quite often one of the drivers turns up in the evening (McNish and Herbert have done this in the past) but I'm not sure at what time. You have a good point.  I'll will communicate with the St S organiser between now and then.  All is open to fine tuning.

All is open to fine tuning.......

Indeed, and the finer the wine gets, the coarser the tuning becomes.....

MG Mark

I concurr with Mark.  The latest we have been there is about 15:00.
As far as I know, people (and the older classic cars used in the drivers parade) will be leaving soon after for the in town parade.

Our previous Friday plan has been pits in the morning to about 11:00, then drive out / lunch and to St Saturnin for the early afternoon.

I'm hoping to drive straight from the ferry to St Saturnin.
I'll have Purdu's mobile number so he can keep me abreast of your movements (ooh missus).

The theme for St Saturnin has been announced
http://www.classicbw.org/
Healeys this year.
Taking Steve's point on board about our little run out : if we plan to be at St Sat around 3.30 we need to leave about midday.  This will mean my asking Herard to provide some food during our stop.  It will also make the run a bit tight for time if you plan to do the "Hands" ceremony in the centre of town.
Thoughts please?

This years theme "Healeys" Suits Me ;D

Debs - not fussed about going into town after St Saturnin.  Presumably by leaving at midday, you mean leaving Le mans for your cafe, food there and then run back in to St S for 3.30 ish?  Works for me and all sounds like a good wheeze  ;D

MG Mark

Hmm, I wont want to be too late at St Saturnin, I'm not that bovvered about the town centre stuff this year though I will want to see that some day. Debs are you thinking we will all go to this restaurant first.
(I'm sorry, it's been a busy day and my assimilating powers have slid downhill. Just opened my next practise can of lager!)

 :P

Watch out your training schedule doesnt peak too early Bill!

F

OK Recap.  I'm thinking meet around midday.  Drive to the caf (abt 1 hour) and have some sort of lunch (the minor problem with this is that it will need a bit more commitment than just - I'll come if I feel like it - as I need to give the guy a rough guestimate of numbers if we want to eat there.)  Leave his caf around 2 o'clock and get to St Sat about 15.30. Sound OK?

Spot on for me and the A!

MG Mark

Hi TermieT if its good enough for Mark,it's likewise for me.

Cheers

Getting closer, nearly February now!!!

 :D :D :D

Bill