Club Arnage

Hi Guys

Just wondering where everyone is going in 2007, I am still undecided and I cannot make up my mind!?

Also which is better:
28/29 July FIA GT B Spa 24 hrs 
or
17/18/19 Aug LMS 1000 Km Spa.


>Martini...

Not in order:

Sebring
Le Mans 24 Hours CARS
FIA GT events
LMS Events when finances allow. Last minute decisions

Sebring
A1GP Britain
LM24H Cars

Will try some LMS races, but looking at that calendar little change it's possible. :(

look underneath ;)

Sebring, LMS Testing Paul Ricard, LM, LM Story, Spa 24

Ummm - probably:

LM 24 hrs
LMS - Silverstone or wherever it is

Quite fancy also:

A1GP England
Spa 24 hrs
Edit:  Interlagos!

and maybe some others at Oulton Park.

F

LeMans 2006,
A1GP Brands Hatch
LMS Spa

Maybe LMS Silverstone, LMS Valencia

Probably a similar set to the last two years -

Sebring
LM & pre-Q
Spa 1000k
Nurburgring 1000k

and for a change a UK one if the date fits

Edit: Suppose I need to check the diary first...

Sebring 12 Hours, USAC Sprints at Winchester (and maybe Eldora), Indy 500, Mid-Ohio Rolex Grand-Am, USGP at Indy, Mid-Ohio ALMS, AMA Superbike Weekend Mid-Ohio, SVRA Historics Mid-Ohio, Petit LeMans at Road Atlanta.
Fax

Definitely these:

Le Mans 24 hrs (cars)
Spa 24 hrs (FIA GT)
Silverstone (FIA GT)
Silverstone (LMS)

Plus some British GT meetings, probably Oulton Park, Snetterton and maybe Rockingham.
Plus WTCC at Brands Hatch
Plus a few BTCC rounds, probably both Brands Hatch rounds, Knockhill, Rockingham, Donington & Oulton Park

Sebring 12 hrs
Homestead IRL
A1GP England
LMS Monza, Valencia, Nürburgring, Spa and Silverstone
Le Mans 24 hrs
Spa 24 hrs FIA GT
Petit Le Mans

If I had to choose between the Spa 24 and the 1000 KM, I'd always go for the 24. But I don't have to, so I'm going to both. ;D

What?  Not getting to Oz for that trip to The Mountain Pieter? ???

Brit GT Oulton Park, Brands Hatch, Snetterton, Spa 1000Km and 24, Le Mans Moto 24 and car 24, A1GP, DTM, WTCC Brands Hatch, 2CV 24 Snetterton, Brit GP Silverstone and a few club mettings at Brands, Snetterton and Donington....

i see a lot of possibilities to meet en drink :D

Lots!  Haven't got near making up the calendar yet!   Too many clashes to try to deal with!

Pieter if you're making the trip to A1GP give us a shout as I'll be in Race Admin. 

As to Martini's question, personally I'd go for the Spa 24.  Don't expect either the 24 or the LMS to be "events" on the scale of LM or any of the other biggies.  The week of the 24 is good though with the parade of cars from the circuit to the town on the Wednesday.

Thanks for the info Piglet, that is the kind of stuff I want to know as I am really undecided. Didn't you post somewhere about your experiences at the Spa etc, I would like if poss info on the camping or hotels in the region if anyone has that. Are they worth the drive? Bearing in mind I am driving from St Malo.

>Martini...

Hi Martin

We camp here http://www.eaurouge.nl/ , don't be too put off by the kiddy activities!  For the week of the 24 they put race campers in an overflow field that is closer to the bar than most of the rest of the pitches.  We've stayed there twice for the 24 and had a good time.  In 2005 we got to know a whole bunch of people (Danes, Dutch, Belgians etc) who were on the site and when turned up this year most of the same bunch were there again!  Everyone was really friendly.   The site is not really within walking distance to the circuit - we have media access so it isn't a huge problem - Pieter was there this year and can probably give you some ideas about parking around the circuit. 

We tend to arrive on the Tuesday of the week of the race, the parade of cars is on the Wednesday and they really do drive the cars along the main road from the circuit to town - it is just immense to see a field of race cars coming down the road towards you!     We usually sit in the bar above the circuit and have lunch (very disappointing this year, they weren't serving mussels!), and then shoot pics of the parade coming out of the circuit (up the road from La Source) at around 1pm.  In 2004 and 2005 they parked the cars up in the square and around the Casino so that fans could walk around and look at them - I'm not sure if they did that this year as we didn't go into Spa (too hot!).

The cars drive back to the circuit around 7pm (I think) and we usually park along the main road and shoot the cars coming back from the town. 

There isn't much else that goes on but the area is lovely.  There are some great bars and restaurants in Stavelot and Malmedy, there is also a lot of second world war history in the area which we find really interesting.   Coo has a chairlift if you can deal with heights!

I think we're hoping to get out there for the week this year, it's a nice relaxing time and the area is good.   I don't know what the track will look like this year but there is something incredible about sitting in the trees in the middle of the night above the corner before the bus stop (can't remember its name) watching the cars on the track underneath you - it's just incredible, there really is no where like Spa...

Pics here:  http://www.gtphotosport.com/spa24_06/index.html
http://www.gtphotosport.com/spa24_05/index.html
http://www.gtphotosport.com/spa24_2004/index.html

(there aren't many 2004 pics outside the restaurant as they started the parade early and we were still eating lunch!!) 

LMS at Spa is good but there is nothing quite like the atmosphere of the 24 - it is much more about the cars and the circuit though rather than the partying of LM.

Let me know if there is anything else specific you want to know  ;D

Martin, this is last years thread - I haven't trawled through it but there's probably the same info on there and some more.....

http://www.clubarnage.com/forum/index.php?topic=4867.0

http://www.gtphotosport.com/spa24_2004/dsc_5872.html The rush up the hill in 2004 past my beer...... great place to get some pictures from

I totally agree with the Spa 24 recommendation.  However, whatever you do, do not camp in the site behind the hotel.  A total rip-off.  In spite of the 8 euros a night sign, we were charged 8 for the car and 16 for the tent (because it was deemed a large one!) and it would have been another 8 for electricity if we had opted for it.  Oh, and it was per day not per night so we were charged for 8 euros for the 5 hours we were there on the day we arrived and the morning of the day we left too!  They run a lovely scam of shrugging their shoulders when you arrive and waiting until you have pitched your tent before collecting your money. >:(

just the 24hr LM and moto gp, as off to the loire for my 40th and going to the red sea in sept ;)

ALMS Sebring
F1 USGP
AMA Superbikes at Road America
Kohler International Challenge at Road America (Historics)
ALMS/Champ Car doubleheader at Road America
ALMS Petit Le Mans

Le Mans 24hrs, test and race

LMS at Silverstone

FIA GT at Silverstone

BGT at Donington (probably)

And Group C / GTP and HSCC (once the calendar is published)