Club Arnage

Le Mans 2007 is history now and that applies also to this years CA Guide. We had app. 3000 downloads, slightly more than last year, and one can only guess how many copies were printed. Our call for donations collected £380.08 from 71 people - thanks to everyone.

It's time to think about 2008, we had already some feedback. Some people asked for a earlier publishing date. I'd prefer that too, but I think this is not an option. Entry list, support race information, bus schedules, scrutineering schedule, pit allocation and much more becomes available just 2-3 weeks prior to the race. And we have to wait for pictures from the test day for our entry list, so 2-3 days after the test day will be the earliest we can publish.

Another point mentioned was the sheer volumne of the guide (123 pages), e.g. not everyone needs directions for the journey by car or campsite information or other information. Well, that will be easy to solve: next years edition will have a page break after each chapter - so you can print out only the chapters you actually need.

I've set up a new project page at the usual URL: www.clubarnage.com/caguide and I'm confident that we will have as many contributors as we had for the last edition. The next edition will be less work anyway, it's mostly updates we have to do :D

Cheers

Werner

Werner,

Within the 'history' sections.  How about one about the beer walls etc.

I've got a few goodies (pics).

Jerry

Sounds good ;D

I can do a piece about staying at home  :(

Easy for me to say this not really sure if it's practical.

Some stuff doesn't change much each year.  So how about a "Static Information"  part and then a "Race Week Suplement".

T.

I already thought about this, Tom, it would make life much easier. But from the 2006 to the 2007 edition hardly any chapter was static. Sometimes there were only little changes, but even those were important and I expect the same for 2008.
- The campsite chapter had to be changed because of the zoning - it needs to be changed for next year when they have probably numbered pitches, new prices, HA doesn't exist any more ...
- The class reglement and the race regulations both had changes, most likely the same next year
- race week schedule, entry list, support race, pit allocation, scrutineering schedule, bus timetables, who when where ... all of this needs to be changed every year

The only real static part is probably the introduction chapter - le Mans for dummies ;D

Sorry thats not what I ment really.  I meant parts like how to order tickets, campsite information, how to get there, Supermarkets and so on could have an earlier dead line and be published say in time for say PQ.  then the Entry list and other late breaking info could be published as a supplement.

I personaly don't see that you/we really need it earlier.

t.

Probably not much that I can add to the content but I'd be happy to spare some time to proof-read etc. if it would help ?

I've had the same kind of thoughts as L/M.  Especially re "how to get tickets" and the merits of the various campsites etc - things which people are already discussing for the '08 race!  The Fundraising Committee is looking at some "Welcome" pages for the site - to replace the old stuff that used to be here and recently got dumped because it was always out of date.  Maybe some links to the pages which are less seasonally sensitive, could be established from there? - not to the whole guide, just the stuff which might be useful year round, otherwise it would impact on guide downloads, which nobody wants.

That's actually quite a neat idea Termie - would work as "sneak previews" to the guide and encourage people to download the whole thing.

Werner - I can proof read again when the time comes if reqd...

So only 2.4% of people downloading made a donation?  :(

That's a shockingly low percentage. I think we'd do well to consider what can be done about that and how we can increase the "participation".

Sell it  on ebay (that word again, sorry), with a 'buy it now' of £2.50 or whatever is decided to be an appropriate amount.

Then it can be attached to an email which is sent to the buyer.

The other option is to put a Paypal button on the download page. These can be pre-programmed with a cost etc. and once 'through the checkout' it takes youu to the download page proper ... Of course there will be some people who 'share' the direct URL etc., there always are but I'd guess quite a few would be willing to contribute if 'persuaded' to ?

Another way of looking at it is £0.15 per download.    The guide has to be worth £1 of anyones money.  But if you force people to pay some won't pay on principal some won't pay since they don't have paypal and it's too much bother to set it up just for the guide.    It would be relativly easy for me to set up a method where by making a donation would trigger an email to the person giving them a user id and password to them to download the guide .   If someone really doesn't want to pay then we could email it overnight or make free downloads only available a none peak times.

t.

Werner, can you shoot me a link for the paypal donation?  I'd like to berate the people in ten tenths a bit about it.

Download links from here - http://www.clubarnage.com/forum/index.php?topic=7280.0 (http://www.clubarnage.com/forum/index.php?topic=7280.0)

Try http://www.lemanszone.de/caguide/ (http://www.lemanszone.de/caguide/) for the Charity Paypal info as the http://www.clubarnage.com/caguide/ (http://www.clubarnage.com/caguide/) link is now the project page for the 2008 guide.

Werner, I can now expand and improve the 'Boulogne to Le Mans - A pretty route for sports cars' page as I've taken some more detailed route info (along with some en-route photos) - I'll get back to you.

Thanks, Steve.

I will happily help out where ever needed. ( I am not as much of an a hole as posts may have led to believe!) PP

I took a photo of the ACO sign about Navettes to Mulsanne & Arnage that is legible - am happy to send it to anyone who wants to check whether it warrants a place.

Also took a photo of the soul-less pre-pitched site @ Tertre Rouge: isn't a great photo but methinks is good enough to help people decide if that want an exorbitantly priced "free" tent.

Hi there,

thanks, that would be great. Could you mail both photos to president@lemanszone.de

Cheers

Werner

you have mail

Thanks a lot

Hello Everyone,

I'm back !!!

Not at Le Mans unfortunately, but on CA website... and as usual I can help you with this guide... You all made a good job !!!

Hello Gilles,

welcome back. Where do you live at the moment?

I live in Dijon, in the middle of wine yards !!!  :o

and near of Dijon-Prenois Racetrack  ;)

Werner, as one who lives at Le Mans, basically just ask if you need anything; info, photos, whatever. I am after all only 10 mins drive from the circuit. At your disposal sir.

Wow, that's great, Tony. And thanks a lot again for your help for the last edition

Have a nice weekend

Oops - also forgot to 'log' the church service on Sunday morning, on the outside of the track about by the Dunlop bridge. Didn't attend myself so not sure about languages/denominations (and cant remember the time) - there may be something elsewhere in the A.C.O. notes?

Frighfully sorry to butt in, but should the CA 2008 guide have a section regarding this year's Classic LM?

Sorry to drop in like that, but we do plan to have a fans and media party on Wednesday July 9 in Le Mans before the Classic. We expect about 200 people. Let me know how many from Club Arnage would like to attend, so I can plan the extra pints and cookies that we'll need.

Picture of our 2006 pre-race party are here: http://www.olympia-charger.com/2006/06/oly_express_pre.html

Hmmmm...........looks a bit refined for CA tastes.  Beer and wine in GLASSES!!!!!!   :o :o :o

Del

We have beer in glass or don't bottles count  ;D

No

And I will wait eagerly for your response in another 7 weeks   ;D ;D

Del

's Ok, I've got a calendar for next year - hopefully it'll help me keep up  ;D

This might be useful, either as a printed page or as a weblink in the guide - the timetables and maps of buses and the tramway for Le Mans

http://www.setram.fr/content.cfm?id=11 (http://www.setram.fr/content.cfm?id=11)
http://www.setram.fr/docs/grand%20plan%20v28%20web.pdf (http://www.setram.fr/docs/grand%20plan%20v28%20web.pdf)

MG Mark

Thanks for this, Mark

Werner, for some unknown reason I can't find your email address. I have one new bar for the guide which is at Mulsanne which was bankrupt last year but is really buzzing under new ownership. He has a lot of ideas for Le Mans too. The Boule d'Or (main Tours road) has been bankrupt for some time but reopens next month. I'll get the feel of it and write to you but please send me an email so I can reply!

Hi Tony,

for the guide project you can use president(at)lemanszone.de , this will work. About the bars and restaurants chapter I have sent you an e-mail a couple of weeks ago, did you receive it?

Cheers

Werner

I am currently contemplating Grandstand tickets, and despite having been for numerous years, and despite having sat in a selection of Grandstands for qualifying and thought I should memorise which are the ones to book for the race I have failed miserably!

So idiots like me might be grateful for more details on the gandstands and what you can see from them.  i.e good viiew of screen, oblique view of screen, good view of top end of pitlane etc.

Good idea. myself I never had any grandstand tickets so anyone who could give some details is welcome!

Thanks for that photo.  I am looking at the grandstand to the right of the ACO one as you look at the track.  TRying to decide if you can see the big screen from it or not.  This year I believe the big screen was on the big extension, and from your photo I guess it must be visible from the stand next door too!

Werner

Sent you a few words on T19, T20 and T34 - and another couple of pics here.

From T20:
(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a266/delboy9/0014.jpg)

And from T19:
(http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a266/delboy9/2006_0618LM0056.jpg)

Del

I think I'm in both of those, a black spot in T21

Is that you in that cloud of B&H smoke?? :P

Thanks to all who send already some infos about the tribunes

Hi all,

once again your help is needed. This year's support race will be Group C. I hope that motorracinglegends.com will supply us with a preview for the guide - as they did last year -, however, for illustration I would like 1 or 2 pics from the previous Group C support race. Does anyone have any decent pics from the Group C support race at Le Mans 2004?- especially pics from the grid would be great.

Cheers

Werner

Hi all,

another request: Has anyone camped on the new Hunnaudieres campsite (the one with the pre-pitched tents) and can give a comment or supply some pics for the guide?

Here is a pic of the site. Don't know if the dog is on guard or just passing! Also, this was taken on Wednesday morning, not sure if a few more tents went up.

thanks a lot, Dobbo

All that is needed there are a couple of searchlight towers and a cooler block :o It already has a sentry box on the gate.

There's a loose connection  ---- The Great Escape -- Steve McQueen -- Le Mans.

Didn't camp there, but sent you this pic on 28 July. (http://91.186.0.9/~dukla/Hunaudieres.jpg) Just realised comparing to the shot by Dobbo that the €154 deal is for a black tent, and the blue ones are presumably for the AM Corporate guests?

At first glance I thought there was a small herd of very white sheep in the background... moutons blanche, as it were... ::)

The "guard " dog on the picture looks like an New Foundlander.

Got one at home in B & W ( 57 kilo's ).

Wont harm annyone. Looks big but the firts burglar who's arrives with a dog cookie will get a welcome like its is boss.

@all - thanks for the latest contributions.

a question to all: It's time to start thinking about which charities should benefit from this year's call for donations in the guide. From my point of view last years cancer/kidney research and the motorsport safety fund was a good mixture and we may leave it the same for 2008.

Your comments, suggestions please

I wish all a good start of the week

Werner

Bearing in mind recent events in Holland, prehaps a leukaemia charity would be appropriate instead of kidney research this year

Bearing in mind recent events in Holland, prehaps a leukaemia charity would be appropriate instead of kidney research this year
[/quote]

I would like to second that.

I would like to second that.
[/quote]Yup.  I think this might well be a case of "Who doesn't agree?"

I already contacted a dutch leukemia foundation, also for the auction we have planned for the friday night. It would be a very nice gesture towards LT and his lady to include this in the charity fund raiser for this year.

I agree, please let me know the details for the "call for donations"-page in the next guide.

Cheers

Werner

Our guide seems to have a lot of fans :)

I was contacted by Sander from planetlemans.com, who does also some PR work for the Spyker team. Some people at Spyker liked our guide last year very much and they asked for permission to download and distribute copies of the 2008 guide to their guests. I agreed (it's a free downlaod anyway), offered help by generating a branded copy with the Spyker Logo on the cover for them and this is what Sander replied:

Last year we had a number of guests that thoroughly enjoyed the CA LM guide so at one of the LM preparation meetings one of my Spyker colleagues asked if it would be possible, in exchange for a donation, to use the document for our guests. If possible we would like to make high quality prints and supply them to our guests before the race (preferably by post a week before the race) and, as you suggest, to include some Spyker branding and info (e.g. pit box visit rules, guest list etc) in the document. Do you think it would be possible to receive the master document, add the Spyker pages/branding, send it back to you for a final check and then ask our printing partner to make copies for our guests?

I think they would like to contribute to the charity in two ways; first is a direct donation and second the DfH/CA auction. Last year we had a meeting with 30-40 people on Friday to hand over the goods where we supplied coffee and cake and both the team manager and director as well as all our drivers were present. It would be nice, like last year, if we can have a small CA delegation present as well.

Sounds good and just one more example that the guide is really worth all the work we put in. I'll sort out things with Sander and let you know the rest of the story

Cheers

Werner

Hi all,

last year I forgot the Technoparc campsite in the guide :(. Anyone has pics and / or a few comments on this campsite? I tried the search-function of the forum but there's not much about it in here

Cheers

Werner

Werner, that's fantastic and is a good reflection on your efforts in pulling the guide together. Also noted a comment in another thread about someone else using it for their customers (the agency chappie who was trying to promote our calendars).

It can only be good for us...

Thanks a lot, Peter :)

Help for teh campsite chapter needed:

Did someone stay at the Arnage campsite and could give a comment about it?
I also need pictures of this site

Cheers

Werner

Thanks Peter

Maybe my father can help. He runs a french open source design site and offers you to create the graphic theme of your guide.
His question : on what do you work to make your pdf ? Open office ? MS Office ? Else ?

If you want to see what it can be (as graphic theme) let's have a look here :
http://www.kloobik.org/e-documents/

Unless he's prepared to donate his services for nothing (as all those involved in the guide's production do), then I think it's probably a "no sale". 

Edit : Pardonnes-moi, Bastien, je viens de lire que tu n'as que dix ans.  Comme tu ecris bien l'Anglais (beaucoup mieux que mon Francais, c'est sur!)  Tous que j'ai dit, c'est que notre guide est toujours gratuite, et sa production c'est fait volantairement.

Yes, he can give time and design for nothing.
That's the main rule of his site :)

What do you mean by "no sale" ?  ::)

Je suis desolee, Bastien, je n'ai pas bien compris!  Nous avons quelquefois, les gens qui viennent ici seulement pour vendre ses services, et nous avons devenus un peu mefiants!  "No sale" c'est - "pas vendu."

Ok so my father doesn't have anything to sale.
He just offers to help you for free to create the graphic scheme for the guide.

Ca c'est tres gentil.  C'est Werner et Ferrari Spyder, qui font sa production - moi je l'ecrit un peu, mais c'est tout.  Je crois qu'ils repondrent prochanement.

Bienvenu a toi et ton pere.

Je viens de réaliser que tu es français et que tu vis en sarthe :)

Pas precisement - une anglaise sarthoise!

Delighted :)

Moi aussi.  Mais, je crois que nous bavarderions dans une autre place, autrement, les "mods" il viendrent pour nous dire que ce "thread" (en dit ca comment en Francais?), c'est pour le "Guide" seulement!  Je retournerai a "Just to Say Hi" (apres que j'avais mange!) prochanement...

Project page updated today, have a look at www.clubarnage.com/caguide

Thanks, Werner.  Chuck all the proof-reading this way, and Mr T & I will do oblige.

Yes, the trams will run on the Friday - they run 365 days a year.  From Antares to Republique (which is probably the nearest stop, but of course to some extent this depends upon the '08 route.)

edit : Forgot to say that of course I'll do the pics again at PQ scrut.  With luck I'll get a few of the cars at Ricard next weekend too.

Hi Deb,

yeah, pics from the test day in Ricard would be nice - may be for the entry list if some cars are already in their livery, but also for illustration of other parts of the guide.

Cheers

have a nice sunday

Werner

Hi,

I'm heading off to Barcelona for the LMS race in early April. If you want any photo's from that event then let me know.

Rob

Hi Rob,

yes, that would be great. Keep an eye (or the lens;-) on the cars which will also enter at Le Mans - And especially on my home town team, the Kruse-schiller Lola Mazda No. 44 - Unfortunately I will not be there to cheer for them

Cheers

Werner

Sorry Debs , but I hope the proof reading is better than the above ;D ;D

and NO I do not want the job...

>Martini...

That is not a problem, I will be there supporting my home town team - Embassy Racing with there new WF01's.

Don't worry - I leave the nitty gritty bits to the o/h who is really good at it! ;D

Planetlemans will be at Paul Ricard at full strength. So we could probably help out again as well.

wow, wonderful!!!!

See you there then! ;D

Hi Werner
Here is a link to the group that organise the Group C support race, I have a name of the webmaster.

I will contact him if you like or i can give you his name to see if he would like to right a piece. Pretty sure he would as they are very keen to promote themselves.

I also took some photos of the cars at the recent test day (including the 1988 works 962! lovely car), if you want to use them no problem.



http://www.groupcracing.com/

Hi Rupert,

yeah, that would be great. as you have his name I think it's best you contact him. Would be great if they could write something for the guide.

Cheers

Werner

John Curtis of the CBW has just phoned, and says he will do a piece again too, if you wish.

Perfect :D :D :D

Werner, how long did you want the DfH story to be again?

Do you want a guide doing on how best to follow the race from the UK? - After last year I can point you towards many sources of info. without having to sesort to a sky subscription.

2 pages to a maximum of 3 pages + pics would be ideal

 ??? ??? Sorry, I don't get it

-- and sorry for this late reply, I'm in India at the moment

Werner,

Given the numbers that can't/don't/aren't allowed to go, putting such a section in might not be a bad idea if it encourages more people to download it and make a donation?

MG Mark

Fully agree, Mark, I just didn't understand Nick when I first read it - very hot here in Delhi ;-)

Cheers

Werner

Werner, new version now on it's way through cyberspace to you.

If you want any photos from the LMS in Barcelona for any reason then let me know.

have not gone though all of it but looks like a good read, cant wait for its completion being a newbie!!!!!

Is well worth the read.

And as one who can't make the pilgramage this year, I like the idea of how to follow online/tv etc.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

just a reminder for those of you who have promised to deliver a story for the 2008 Ca Guide: I know who you are and will come after you ;D ;D ;D

Please: The definite deadline is 30th May midnight, but anything earlier would be HIGHLY appreciated.

Cheers

Werner

 :o :o :o

Gentlemen, you got 7 days left...

To whoever it may concern ....

The link on the Beausejour campsite is 'broken', giving a '404 - not found' error. (It's because the link has 'arnage' in it instead of 'beausejour', if you type it by hand correctly, you get to the page OK)

Nice to see someone took note of my 'RANT' last year about the poor planing and maintenance of the site - bits of my post were used in the comments section! - Lets hope the ACO also took note and improve things for this year!

Keep up the good work folks, the guide is invaluable to newbies and us old hands (12 years!) alike.

It seems I have been volunteered in my absence by a (former!) friend to contribute to 2009 Guide review of BSJ - ACO, you had better get your act together this year or ........   >:(

TC

Gentlemen,

I still miss some contributions: D-Day (Delivery-Day) - 2!

Cheers

Werener

Hi,

What are you missing - something that anybody else maybe can contribute with???

I'll get my section in by the deadline. I'll make it top priority at work tomorrow  ;D

People have been tasked, Journalist style, with publication deadlines. and like a good boy, I sent mine to werner today. But if you've summat to offer then submit it, all contributions gratefully recieved. Could be used next year if not. Thanks for the offer!

Werner, is the Project Page up to date?

No, it's not. The guide is much further advanced than the project page shows - simply didn't have time to update the project page.

Now I have updated the project page at www.clubarnage.com/caguide .
So you can  get a preview - if you find something wrong, please post

Still a lot of work ahead, but I already see the finish line...

Great work Werner.

Today is D-Day (Delivery-Day) ;D

No. Don't deliver today. It's what they'll be expecting.  :o

 Well done all!  Let us know when it's done and we'll hit the download section and post on the other like minded fora  ;D

And? Surely it's the 3rd today?

<taps watch impatiently>

Where is it Werner? Where is it?

Its gonna be a long day...

Thanks

I can hardly wait.
Usual donations invited?

great news  :laugh:

Do we need another server to host it on?? I might be able to help.

The new server should cope without any problems at all.

t.

And otherwise Werner still has an account to the DfH-server. ;)

F5 F5 F5

Hi all,

as I already wrote on the project page: The guide will be ready today late evening - and it will be exactly that - late evening - or very late evening to be precise. I expect it to be ready for download around midnight, sorry, but sometimes things take a little longer than estimated. It'll be ready in 3-4 hours -promise!

Cheers

Werner

For Christ's sake, the suspence is killing me! Get on with it!!!

My gut tells me it's coming in a few minutes (actually, the growing size of the caguide2008.pdf.filepart is telling me  :D)

Quit refreshing, it's killing the upload speed  ;)

Woohoo, it's there!

Drum roll!

Phew..., done! Finis operis - laus deo - good night!

The guide is now complete and available to download.

Please add your comments in this thread http://www.clubarnage.com/forum/index.php?topic=8727.0 (http://www.clubarnage.com/forum/index.php?topic=8727.0)