Club Arnage

I compiled the list of those not attending LM this year.

It is known that certain members due to personal circumstances cannot attend.

As posted earlier on another post, I cannot attend (unless the lottery funds it).

So, who else?

Leftie.

Me neither. Couldn't get the holiday, and funds needed to finish the house, after my little 'rest' late last year.

I'm not going. Did I mention that I am going to the States this week? For almost 4 weeks - out 11 June, back 6 July.

Here's the plan:

Chicago    Blues Festival. Also some pepole from a forum have said I can hook up with them at the festival, and they will show me where to be after the music in the park ends. Ticket for Popa Chubby @ House of Blues Fri 9:30. Gospel brunch Sunday @ House of Blues.
Nappanee, Indiana 45430   Staying in hotel in Amish community
Somerset KY   One night crash pad - nothing to see
Townsend, TN   3 nights in cabin with outdoor hot tub in Great Smokeys. Friday night is jam night at the Woods & Strings Dulcimer store (walking distance)

Nashville TN via Chattanooga   Hotel is central Nashville for a night out. Planning to visit JD distillery on route, also ride the Chattanooga choo choo
Tupelo MS Natchez Parkway   This section is driving the Natchez Parkway and onto Highway 61 (the Blues Highway). Not expecting any big nights out but I'm v keen to see Alabama and Louisiana. Avoiding New Orleans just in case I visit some other time
Birmingham, AL   
Mobile, AL (go via Hammond LA for 61)   
Baton Rouge LA via New Orleans   
Jackson, MS (go via 61, Natchez)   
North Mississippi Hill Country Blues Festival - Potts Camp, MS    This is an outdoor weekend blues festival. I intend to camp. If the weather is crap there is some camper racing at Memphis on Sat night which looks fun
   
Tunica, MS, Highway 61   Two cheap nights at a casino hotel, as a base for Mississippi exploring
Memphis, TN   Two nights in downtown Memphis, walking distance to Beale St to drink   
On route from Memphis to Davenport   One night crash pad - nothing to see
Davenport, IL   Yet another 2 day blues festival in a park - $15 a day to get in, some good names in the line up. Hotel is close to venue so I can drink! Alternative is Chicago for 4 July - Buddy Guy playing.
Rockford, IL   One night crash pad - nothing to see

Hoping to get online a bit using free connections...

Doing my house up to sell. Just doing little but difficult bits is £8k (and I'm not working at the mo) Plus only a tenner on the lottery so definately LM a nogo.

smokie,

You live a very charmed life. I would give my right arm for that opportunity. ;D

Hardly!! Got laid off early March with statutory min payout after 21 years (= next to buggerall). Currently living on Jobseekers (£64 pw) and wife's money (not great, also just had 10% cut) and of course savings. But I decided some years back to grab opportunities when they arise, and this was a trip I've wanted to do for a while. I didn't think I'd find a job for a while anyway, and I don't think I'm being proved wrong.

I have to say that so far projected costs for the trip are about 50% more than I was thinking they'd be, even though I'm doing it all on a budget where poss.

So when I get back, it's down to some serious job hunting - but I don't think there will be much till early next year.

  ;D

 ;D ;D ;D ;D

Im a non attender this year also, went out with the boy's last night, they were all in good spirits and Stu's liver training went well I think.
To all that are going have a great time and don't drink to much ::) and most of all drive fast but safe.
have a good one.
Brian

Not going this year problems with work etc but having few other no goers coming down to Bristol next Saturday afto and will be piping Radio Le Mans out in the garden with a barby going with a few beers no doubt.  To all the ones going have a good un and a beer in the Tet for us.

Bon voyage!

 :)

Thought we did this before, but no show for me either, due to new business start up (plug www.freefoods.co.uk), hoped to jump on the bike at the last minute, but due to an exhibition at olympia on Friday and Sat, finally nailed it, will be reduced to watching ITV4 on sunday.

I'm not going either but hope all arrive safe and have a blast!

oh no Chris, your not going! Can't you take your truck on a slight detore!

Will have a cold one for you down there.

currently on honeymoon in the maldives, so non attendance from me as well.  Will be watching closely on the TV, and if the old man can organise to bring my car back to berkshire at the weekend, I suspect we could also end up drinking beer and watching the racing late into the night.  I might even make him sleep in a tent in the garden :)

wtf are you doing on the internet?? surely you should be locked in the bedroom, on the beach or propping up the bar? weirdo  8)

oh and congrats btw  :) xx

I am not going either. Combination of work issues and other stuff.

Me too - I wont be there this year having been for the last five.

Got made redundant in February - managed to find another job 2 days later - but 10% less salary. 

But we decided at the end of last year that we would give it a miss for this year.  Partly because I wanted to use the holiday to celebrate my half century next month and partly because we didn't enjoy last year as much as we should have.  The event is much busier now and trying to walk around the track through the pedestrian tunnels can be a nightmare at certain times.  Plus too many stories of people getting stuff nicked or damaged - it is only a matter of time before we would be the unlucky ones.

What ever the reason, we'll have a toast on you all.

Perfect, just set up the lawn sprinker and it would be like home from home  :)

Add a speaker on each side on the tent pumping out techno, and throw an occasional firework at the tent.
Perfect

Smokie,

If you do visit the JD distilery make sure you all sign the guest book and fill in your full address whilst waiting for your tour. This opens the door to all sorts of Free JD gifts through the post in my own experience as well as a tour certificate.

Its well worth the visit and a great tour. The best bit is when they lift the lid on the charcoal mellowing vats and 140 proof vapour hits you in the face and you nearly fall down !

We'll be at home this year as well.  Again a combination of factors involving finances, jobs (or the lack of), holiday allowances (and the lack of) a house move, a puppy, looking after my Dad and some building.   Plus, I'm fed up of the hassle of getting tickets as I have a huge aversion to buying through agencies. 

We'll be having Le Mans in the garden and we'll drink a toast to all of you out there!

Thanks Guys, the next idea will be for him to lock me out of the house after feeding me sweetcorn so that he can tell everyone that I was so in the mood, I shat myself.

Never thought you were the type of guy to be up for a freebie Chris

>Martini...LB

It's starting to hit home that we are really not going.  Normally we'd be on our way down through France about now with Le Mans in our sights.  Instead I'm off to work.... ::) :(

Yeah.....really starting to hit home now.
About the time the finishing cars cross the line next week I should be flapping around somewhere just offshore from Alcatraz:
http://www.escapefromalcatraztriathlon.com/site3.aspx
Doesn't seem like such a good idea now, and I'm sure the toilet facilities will be first class, but like Smokie says I also decided to take the opportunity when it came up. Anyway, training all done now, just got to pack my kit, and it's first stop Philidelphia on Thursday.
Am hoping for a good result, but I have the feeling anything could happen...
H

Good luck to you H, I'm assuming you do know Philidelphia's a long way from Alcatraz, or has the planning got a serious defect?

Whatever, remember to pack that selection of exoctic fruit and veg down your shorts as we discussed earlier, I'd say it;s your trump card even if you will look a little "bloated" on the startline. Oh and stay away from those big walrus things that hang around menacingly in Frisco marina. Most of all, please don't get swept out to sea to drown a lonely death all the while wishing to Jesus Christ you were vomitting in the toilet at Hell's Gate at 3pm.

Bon chance.

Andy

H:

I was signed up for the same race, but then I remembered I can barely swim, haven't racked-up more than 200 miles on my bike this year, and am a fat bastard.  So I'm in France instead.

Knock hell out of your event!

Good luck H.

Same here, sad but true. Specially now I know that the small DFH truck left Rotterdam at noon, destination Club Carnage at Blue Nord

Odd thing is that I keep feeling that I should be more upset about not going that I actually am.  But then we are on holiday in 4 weeks' time so I am looking forward to that .

It feels odd today as we ought to be on our way, but we've got so much to do that I'm glad we're not having to pack up and take off now so I'm still happy with our decision not to go.   I can't wait to recreate LM in the garden from Friday night onwards  ;D

And just think of the benefit of not having to crap on the warmed toilet seat of 10,000 arses before you!

Always use the squat and drop ones at Houx - wonderful invention as long as you learn not to pee in your shoes

Me also, but assumming the weather ok, either that or decorating (under orders  :'(  )..