Club Arnage

A little premature but having suffered for weeks watchin you guys having all the fun, with three weeks until departure, I want to get in the mood ;D
 So whos going, where and how and what in?
 Team Barrel o monkeys sail Poole to C'burg on the vomit comet on thurs 11th at 7.45am. Maison B for late lunch. Return Sunday 11.45 Caen to Pompy. Travelling in style, 72 Alfa Bertone Coupe, 89 BMW M3 E30 and Lotus Elan plus2 amongst some modern stuff.
 CA meet anyone?

We're at the British GP the weekend before then going straight from Silverstone out to France on Monday 7th - P&O this time as Sea France seem to be incapable of running ferries anywhere near to time!   

We're planning to arrive on MB around Wednesday lunchtime - not sure where we're going to head for - does anyone know if the MB really is zoned? 

The Moggie and my shopping trolley will be in evidence.  We'll be on MB but I'm not sure if the sites actually open before Thursday night though?

Last year the usual 21.00 meeting time clashed with some pretty tasty stuff on track which meant that a 'poo bar meet was a bit of a no-no as each group of cars is only on for a relatively short time and being in the village meant missing it.  We gathered on MB's banking but even that wasn't too great as visibility wasn't good and anyway it's changed so much now.

The new Welcome area is absolutely stonking and free for members if you buy a drink/coffee etc.  One of the best views on the circuit now, imo, but I don't know if we have enough members to get us all in?  What about in front of the bar on the trackside by the village? (turn left immediately after the tunnel) - I think it's called the Brasserie du Courbe or something similar.

Always keen with anything to do with Brassiers Termie! Sounds like a good plan.

MB opened on Wednesday for the last Classic, I'll check the website and drop the ACO an email to check. 

I doubt it will have changed then but you're probably right - best to check!


Personally I think the Courbe place is one of the best as it ticks all the boxes - it has three counters - one for booze, one for hot food, and one for cold (although they're not always all open, they should be on Saturday night) and the trackside stepping is open to all and not related to the bar - although there are usually loads of tables and chairs out there.  Catch fencing in the way of course, but better than being far from the track at the 'poo bar (which was a bit restricted this year and required a bit of subterfuge to smuggle in our own booze!)

Out on the Friday morning on SeaChance,  taking my trusty Aston V8,  she's been to all of the Classics so far,  and it's her 30th birthday this year, bless her.  But she's gonna need a good old wash and polish before then after getting back from LM yesterday!

Hi
Does anyone know the link for the poster download?

Arrive wed evening around midnight leave sunday after the race....

Anyone seen my hat??

>Martini...

Missed last weekend so really looking forward to the Classic

Travelling wed overnight ferry poole - cherbourg and then back with Dr Sconefinger sun overnight caen to pompey.  and staying karting Nord.  See you there

Dave

See you at the planning meet on Sunday night Dave. What time will you be there?

We'll be on Maison Blanche in a Morgan +4, Corrado, Elan and an A4.

Thu night ferry Portsmouth-Caen, arriving on site Fri morn about 10.30.

Really, really looking forward to the Classic. First time my wife has agreed to come to Le Mans  :)
Perhaps I'll love to regret it but hey ho!

Morning Tunnel crossing and then aim to arrive thursday evening, staying on Karting Nord.

Porsche 911 and BMW or Toyota verso.

Packing up Sunday for a hot bath and a cold Beer in a hotel somewhere north of Rouen.

The entry list is looking seriously tasty..

http://www.lemansclassic.com/2008/fr/pdf/LMC_2008-entry_list.pdf

There are also some interesting drivers' names there, aren't there?  Mass, Bellm, Dumas, Narac, Ortelli, Sarazin, Arnoux, Nakano, Ayari, Pesca and.....

Schumacher x 2 ???

Termie you were right, the ACO have confirmed that MB is only open from Thursday afternoon....whoops...we'll be staying another night elsewhere  ;D 

WTF is going on... that adds another €100 to my weekend as I will HAVE to stay in a hotel in Rennes and go out for a meal and a litre of wine...

>Martini...

PS anyone seen my hat?

There honestly is loads of room to camp and park in my garden if anybody is really stuck for Thursday night (I'll tell the o/h later....)

.....but a bit tight if you've got a large caravan   ;D ;D

Seriously Debs, thanks once again, and the damage was soon repaired between the rain showers.

Del

Still having doubts about going to the classic.  Haven 't got any ticket yet (acces, grandstand, camping) and not sure if someone over here at home will be interested to go with me.  Maybe I'll decide a few days in advance to get over there or not.

An extra night's grace may well prove to be useful.  The peasants were revolting again today, and this could go on for ages, so the Classic weekend is not immune.
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hK7ASKT72azXT5epa0vZOaoVeQpA  (in Frog).

Hmm we sat on the road into Calais behind the fishermen in their white vans at the beginning of May - our timing was absolutely wrong as we got caught up in them, the police turned round everyone behind us but we were hemmed in!

We're coming out on the Monday anyway as we're coming straight from the British GP, the plan is to stay a couple of hours down from Calais (as we'll be late on Monday) so hopefully we should be OK, fingers crossed!

Are peasants not always revolting Termie? ;D
 What are the fuel prices like over there at the moment?

Hovering around the 1.4 mark.
http://www.prix-carburants.gouv.fr/index.php?module=dbgestion&action=fsearch

Anyone else waiting for tickets to arrive?  No sign on mine from the ACO, I know they got the order and they've taken the money but it sounds from some posts on Pistonheads like they've got a problem getting the tickets out.

If mine don't arrive I'm assuming I can go to the Rotunda and get them to re-print them?  They are all barcoded etc. so it shouldn't be a problem?

UPS have mine, should get them tomorrow now.  They appear to have trouble with rural addresses in carrot crunching land.

Tickets are now in my grubby hands.  We're in Maison Blanche, Rang H 74 to 76 and Rang I 74 to 76.
Looking at the Beermountain arse about face map, that should put us almost trackside.

Drop by for a warm one.

I am Rang I (tho I thought it was "1") not sure of the Place....in the 80s I think.   :)

Will sort ferries etc. soon and post proper details shortly.

F

I'm L 82... MB... any idea where that is?

>Martini...

Smashing- I will get to meet Fallowfield's Finest at last!

 Bring the barm cakes Fran!

 I think I've made a mess of sorting out the tickets. Due to our group being arseholes and not deciding at the same time if they were going or not, I have ended up getting tickets from several sources as they commit one by one. I currently have a Rang T or V or something in my possesion but can bet your bottom dollar that the other tickets, when they arrive are for somewhere completely different. Problem is we are taking just one large tent, one kitchen, one shower, one fridge etc etc. Thats going to be a pain in the ass. I guess I will just have to make sure I get the fridge!
 
 By the way, some of our tickets are still with l'ACO, its a long story so don't ask. ::) ::) ::) ::)

S

I must admit I prefer oven bottoms....which I suspect are another northern peculiarity!

Will be good to meet you DrS and bore each other to death with tales of The Friendship, The Old House at Home, etc.

With a bit of luck they wont be enforcing the pitch numbers too much - it was a bit hit n miss last time.

F

Don't you also have a L  83??

Not yet Martin but I guess postie will be along soon enough (a man so ill at ease with his lot that he brings rain clouds with every letter)
 Checked my other ticket, its W16. Nice and far apart no doubt. Won't arrive until Friday mid afternoon so could be tricky. 
 S

W16 area C I think.

That will put you next to a fine fellow from surrey who's mates are racing.

who else is on Karting Nord? I think a map of the plots was was posted somewhere a while back but buggered if I can find it.
Anyone know where it was so we can work out how far from the loos and showers we are?

Loos and showers- now there's a thought. Took our own to the last classic but as we were close to the one next to the Karting gaff (which were it seems exclusively used by just ourselves) they were unused. Word has it that things will be much busier this time so we may well be taking our own again. Something else to dig out of the garage and check over.
 Hopefully today is the last day of my weldathon (96 hours so far) on the Alfa. Rear quarters are on, just the boot floor to fit and its time for paint!

Cue Big H

Will do that ;D
We're on Rang X Place 4 where ever that is.... Blue TR 250, will put a CA Flag on the tent. We plan to arrive Friday late afternooen, but that depends on the performance of the car (and the drivers...) and the amount of repair stops

Cheers

Werner

I'm still waiting for tickets to show up  ??? ::)

We'll be at the BGP from this Thursday only hitting home for around 10 hours over Sunday night/early Monday morning before heading off for France. 

I've not had a UPS email so fingers crossed they will just arrice today...if UPS take them away again today I can just about re-arrange delivery but after that I'm stuffed.   I guess it'll be a trip to the Rotunda on Thursday morning to try to resolve.....

We'll be on MB somewhere (assuming we sort this!) and will hoist the CA flag along with the Flying Pig Racing Flag (do drop in and see the Flying Pig (courtesy of Marius and Petra), it's fab  ;D

I'm not sure if the Rotunda is open for the Classic (it could be - dunno).  However, it's worth noting that during PQ the ticket pick ups and queries for the public were being done at the new shop/ticket office in the Museum - which opens at 10.00 btw - so if the Rotunda isn't operating, that's the place to try, Piglet, should you have a problem.

The Rotonde according to my accreditation email is open Thursday 10th at 10.00-18.30, Friday 10.00-1830 and Saturday 9.00-16.00 but that doesn't confirm that you can collect GA and camping passes from there!

Must be mistaken then because Piglet had to get a GA ticket reissued the bar code was broken and she went to the Rotunda and the nice lady there  reprinted it for her

Yep we had to sort our missing barcode problem at the Rotunda and they had the normal general pick up, queries desk there for the 24.
 
I've got to collect media accreditation from there anyway so I'll start there and move to the museum if necessary.

Fingers crossed the tickets will turn up anyway...

We were on X and Y 89-90 if the pitches are in the same place its 2nd row inside the wall by the old track or by the "trackside" pitches that were not!

To re-iterate DURING PQ the tickets were at the new booking office (even though the Rotunda was open to the press.)  DURING THE RACE it was the Rotunda as per for all.  God knows what they'll dream up for the Classic!

DebORAH ;)

We are still waiting for a few tickets to arrive too. Keeping everything crossed they will be here on time.
 Looking forward to it, will be great to catch up with you all. Keep your eyes peeled for our flags and call in and have a few beers (large Gulf flag and a smaller Yorkshire rose on blue background)
 S

There are goingto be 6000 cars on display with the clubs around the bugatti circuit. At even five seconds per car that will take over 8 hours to view that little lot!!!!

Are you (and anybody else for that matter) up for a meet sometime during the proceedings?  As I mentioned way back when - I reckon the Courbe bar/brasserie (or at least the trackside terracing at the front of it) would be a good place so we miss nothing.  Say, 21.00 Saturday as per?

21.00 - ill very much try to be there

Dave

Go through the tunnel into the village (as though you were going to the 'poo bar) and turn immediately left - it's alongside the track - large, brand new red building with three serveries (one booze, one hot food, one cold food) with stepping track-side which normally has loads of tables and chairs on it.

DebORAH

Right - I am gradually getting organised:-

Team Fran x 1 - Toyota Corolla + trusty pushbike

Wednesday 10:45 Speedferries Dover/Boulogne
Arriving MB Thurdsay sometime in p.m. after taking scenic route Edit:  (Row 1, Place 81)
Sunday night - Rouen
Tuesday 17:10 Speedferries Boulogne/Dover after further scenic route

I think my pitch is in Row I, but will check as soon as I can find the "safe place" where I put the ticket.

F

P.S.  21:00 at the Courbe sounds like a good plan!

Don't forget to take your book, Fran   ;)

Del

Got sent this today, pity I'm not going.

Might save someone money, so have more to spend on beer/wine etc

You are welcome, Petie.

Top man Neil. 

I'm off to have a look now.

Dx

Debbie the borer???

I have not found you boring, what are they on about... has anyone got a map with a pin in it, my compass goes all curly when at Le Mans.

Treated myself to a larder for my tent so will have to remember to buy food!

>Martini...

How kind.

It is Petie's little joke....  He knows that I detest to be called Debbie and so does it all the time.  Go figure.

If somebody can find a map (I know there's one on the ACO website somewhere, but am b*ggered if I can find it), then I will stick a pin in it.

See page 122 of the Guide, Debs.

Del

Sounds like a good time and place. Do we need dinner jackets?? ;)

No but you might need some sort of Commer? Test drive to see how you get on?

Does anyone fancy a wee small job whilst at the classic ?

I have an art print featuring all of Jackie  Ickx's winning cars that so far i have had autographed in pencil by all the drivers that co drive with Jackie and signed by Jackie himself.

I am only missing Jurgen Barth and then it can be framed. I left the print with Rick Wilson as he said he would ask Jurgen to sign it for me at the Classic as he is down to drive at the Classic.

However I got an e mail from Rick today to say that he has had to cancel his trip to the classic and asked if i know anyone else that can get it done for me.

Anyone interested in finding Jurgen in the paddock for me and getting the print signed ?

Thanks
Regards
Chris

Thanks for the offer Andy but its Alfa all the way for the classic- its a year since I drove it, looking forward to the journey more than the event!
 I'm sure I'll get on fine with the Commer- my dad had a cool Metalic pearl white one at his workshop to match his Quattro in the '80s- I learnt how to do the Scandinavian Flick* on the dirt roads around the farm in it- very sideways!
 *the flick is a technique to get a car to turn in on gravel and has nothing to do with 80's porn and puberty you pervs!

I hope not because I'm not sure where mine is.

The Courbe place is shown as "Espace Restauration Pole Nord" on this map (can't figure out the pin bit ::)), on the Allee Courbe Dunlop:
(http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q103/cooperlola/mapvillage.jpg)

Still no sign of tickets and I've emailed the ACO again...

BUT they have just responded to my email of 20th June about when the campsite will be open.  They have of course responded already telling me it's open on Thursday afternoon...they now tell me it's open on Wednesday 14:00!!    I'm planning to ignore this one.....

I've also heard from other sources that the campsites will be open from Wednesday afternoon.

Really you've got to love the ACO  ;D  Steve where did you hear it?

We think we're going to be at the Municipal Campsite at Spay anyway so we'll be around to see what happens. 

We're hoping to get to the Tour de France time trial on Tuesday if we get our ar$es in gear on Monday (this depends on how much Silverstone mud has to be scraped off the trailer and whether we have to be towed off the marshals' campsite on Sunday night  ::)

What is the best way of finding out for sure when the gates will be open, it seems that the people on the end of the phone are unsure. I certainly do not want to be rucking up at midnight to find the friggin gates locked. But, I also do not want to stay in a comfy hotel have a good dinner and get pissed... or do I?

No, I think I would rather be pitching my tent at midnight, accompanied by Dr Smirnoff and a bag of crisps, mind you if it looks like rain...

Weather forecast anyone?

>Martini...

Forecast looks good thus far for Wednesday and Thursday but 10 day forecasts are hardly worth publishing are they?

I'll ring the office in the morning and see if I can get any sense out of them re opening times/days.  It would suit me to pitch the tent on Wednesday evening, but only if I felt sure there would be somebody around to make sure it isn't nicked!

Well....I have an email that says gates open Wednesday, trouble is I also have one that says Thursday  ;D

....and given that I don't have any tickets, I'm not going to be getting on MB until the Rotunda opens on Thursday I'd imagine.

who else is on Karting Nord?

[/quote]

we are - Row J 34 - 38 see you there we hope!!

So is it wed or thurs opening?

>Martini...

Just had a quick peep at some weather forcasts and its looking dicey for Friday Night and Saturday :( :(
 
Are the local reports any better Termie??

We're off in the morning....see you lot later in the week  ;D

(...still no tickets  ::) )

Bon voyage, see you on Friday afternoon.

I am checking out too - see some of you later in the week (complete with full set of wet weather gear just in case).   ;D

F

WEDNESDAY afternoon.

Weather total cr*p at present.

It isn't looking good sadly and has probably put the kibosh on me riding down on the bike as I'm travelling down with my partner. I can't really expect her to put up with getting soaked ( or can I  >:D )

Rusty

The forecast is not looking too bright for the coming week either.
 >:(

Sure you can! ;)

Oh well I don't care if it snows- the Alfa now has functioning brakes and is on song. She's going back to Le Sarthe for the first time in 33 years!
 Raise a glass to her good fortune guys, we set sail on the rising tide!
 S

Thanks Deb's

>Martini...

Good for her!

Bon Voyage!  And good luck, although I hope that you don't need it....

My boat HD Ferries from Guernsey has just been cancelled, booked outward with Condor, extra £62

Ho Hum

>Martini...

Thats a bummer man. I guess some of you will be underway today so bon voyage and have a safe and fun filled journey. With a little luck I'll see you all there on Friday

Tent pitched, sun switched on.  Truly stonking view of the circuit from the tent door.  Perfik. :)

Whatever you do, don't touch that switch!

Gotta work today but car is all ready to go, on Seafrance at crack of Sparrows fart tomorrow morning.

Off again this morning - looks like the pattern for the whole weekend - off and then on again, I mean.

The switch was off when we arrived pissing rain and cold. Beer and wine helping situation.

Sorry, is there something going on this weekend...?  ??? ;)

Signing off, ETA is  tomorrow late afternoon on MB

Cheers

Werner

Well so far so good, reporting live from Stonehenge on route to Poole. 378 miles under our belts and apart from a loose wire that stopped us on the M1 the old Alfa is running like a dream. To borrow Andy's phrase - she's a f**k*n beauty! 
 Time for a beer and a few hours kip.
 See you all tomorrow.