AAaaaaaand Fran takes it -
This time, next year (minus 2 weeks of course), at the Poo Bar? Or other watering place of your choice.
 

The reference in question:
... http://youtube.com/watch?v=j_dI0hajPIs
And here's a parody of it done by Stewie on "Family Guy", which ironically has gotten several times the number of viewings on YouTube as the Shatner video:
... http://youtube.com/watch?v=oVDMEHsa9CA

I actually remember seeing that performance on TV, when I was a kid.  My memory on specifics is a bit faded now, but I think his performance was for the start of (or perhaps during) a sci fi convention of some sort* - an event rarely televised, before or since.  There was all kinds of talk about it in the news & on tv before hand; hey everyone shatner's going to be on tv again, he's going to be performing or something...  Anyway it was sort of cute, in a if-you-can-tolerate-Shatner's-acting-anything-else-goes sort of way. 

* correction (God Bless the Internet):  It was a sci fi awards show.

well that's it for now,
another busy weekend at work (SIGH), stay tuned for a post with my LM pics, someday soon I hope -

-RM
p.s.  nice pyramid in your avatar, Jerry-

thanks Termie!  Nice photo. 

My thanks again to Paul for the ride, if you are reading this!

NOTICE:
Based on the general consensus of the folks with whom I attended this year's event, I am now "the CA member formerly known as Mike-from-California".  Henceforth I will be using the screen name "Rocket Man", due to my association with my employer, The Very Large Aerospace Company (..whatever you do, don't mention the Metric system). 

And I'll buy the first round of drinks at next year's event, for the first person who gets the William Shatner reference - without using the internet to find out.  (Star Trek has nothing to do with it)

Trip photos/etc coming soon -
mike RM

hi all,
I am finally back in Calif again.  Well actually I've been back for a few days but my job has quickly beaten the post-vacation "ahh" out of me, and this is the 1st chance I've had to return to the CA forum. (That and I'm still pretty dysfunctional, stuck somewhere between London time and Calif. time.) 

Yes I had a fantastic time, as always.  Although my liver may feel the opposite - probably going to take a while for it to recover...   

It was great meeting you all, at the DFH gathering(s) and on the friday Club-A drive from St. Saturnin.  (Thanks for arranging & leading that, Termie!)  And yes the ride in the Ferrari was quite a treat. 

I've got 300+ photos from the week to sort through (most of them crap I think - time for a new camera), plus a dozen or more short video clips.  Look for another post/thread from me within the next week or so, it may take me a while to collect the best few items worth posting. Also I want to write about the "interesting" start of my return trip to the States.

that's it for now -
mike
(p.s. Pat check your home-email)

hi Del,
thanks very much for arranging the new shirts order!

Please put me down for (1) XL shirt. 
(Also, if by any chance you have any 'Med' bumper stickers left, I'll take one of those also..)

I'll need to pay by PayPal since I'm in the States, as soon as you PM me your info. I'll post payment -

cheers,
mike

-D'oh!
oh well, thanks for letting me know (and my calendar's marked). 
I fully understand about collecting firm orders, by a fixed date, to go order stuff like that. 

cheers -
mike

hi -
sorry if I am arriving a bit late to discussion, I wanted to know if it's still possible to place an order for one of the CA shirts. 

And, if so, are there options for buying one from here in the States?  (I noted a UK address for payment in 1st post of this thread.)

thanks -
mike
 

I don't remember the graffiti - unless you mean outside the tunnel..?  I thought it was dark in there, even during the day time. 

and yeah, something about the shape & construction of the old tunnel really said "this thing is OLD!".

-mike

thanks for the info. Termie -

just curious, how far do you live from the circuit?  I'm guessing not far since you're posting first-hand reports on the happenings there pretty regularly.  Must be nice! 

Another question, regarding the revamping of TR:  Could you tell if they got rid of the pedestrian "tunnel" crossing, about 2/3 of the way towards TR from the Esses ?  (I"m guessing yes, looking at the extent of the construction works.)  That seemed like a very old relic, possibly one of the earliest/oldest remaining features of the circuit, and if so I'd be sad to see it go.  But, progress means change I guess, and they certainly never stop trying to improve the circuit. 

And regarding improvements, IMHO that corner was probably overdue for improvements in runoff space, even though very few cars ever go off there.

I just hope when the TR work is finished that there's still decent opportunities to watch the action there from as close up as we could in years past. 

cheers,
mike

here's Derek Bell doing (and narrating) a lap of pre-chicane'd Le Mans, circa 1983.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frefi8L8R2k

The run down the Mulsanne straight is a thing of beauty, too bad we'll never see it done like that again.

From "In Car 956", one of my all time favorite motor sport videos.

-mike
 

thanks termie!
those are some great links in that thread.

*wow* I can't believe how extensively they're tearing into Tetre Rouge.

OT:  Here's a link to a YouTube video I just came across, Derek Bell doing a lap of pre-chicane'd Le Mans.  (From the video "In Car 956" one of my favorites)  The run down Mulsanne is a thing of beauty, too bad we'll never see it done like that again:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frefi8L8R2k

Edit:  I've added the above link to the "youTube finds" thread in General Discussion, where it probably most appropriately belongs:
http://www.clubarnage.com/forum/index.php?topic=6199.0

cheers,
mike

thanks Lawnmower Man,

unfortunately my lawn mower is electric (being an environmentalist tree-hugging californian, and all), and I don't think the power cord will quite reach Le Mans.   Plus there'd be the matter of fitting it into my airline carry-on luggage...

does the Carrefour sell them?


-mike

greetings, all,
After attending the annual Le Mans drinking festival with some sort of car race included, for 6* years straight ('99 through '04), I had to miss it the past two years.  But I am quite glad to say that I'll be returning again this year. 

In years past I did the road trip to Le Mans with some folks from outside of London and we camped in Tetre Rouge.  Not sure where exactly I’m going to end up this year but I can't wait to return!

- mike from Calif.
p.s.  If anyone can point me to posts/threads on changes to the circuit in the last year or two I'd appreciate it.  I've been away from any Le Mans related sites/forums and news (such as CA) for over a year so I've got some catching up to do.   Cheers!

* Edit:  I originally said 5 years - either I can't count, or all the beer I consumed on those outings has given me drain bamage...

hi Piglet, thanks for the suggestion, I will do that.

I've been away for some time (from LM and Club Arnage), never posted much before - and basically none since the site redo in 2003?/2004? - will try to participate a bit more this time around.

cheers,
mike

hi,
long time lurker (well, long time ABSENT lurker..), checking in -

I agree, the SNCF web site is crap.  May I suggest, as a possible alternative, the Rail Europe web site:
http://www.raileurope.com/us/rail/fares_schedules/index.htm
Note, the above link is for US-based travel bookings.  If you're booking from another country see "other country" links below the top right of that page. 

At the very least, you can use that site to narrow down your route, connections, and departure/arrival times, which might then speed up booking via the SNCF site.

Also, something I used a long time ago, is the book Thomas Cook European (Rail) Timetables.  It's not worth buying just for one trip, but if you can get your hands on a copy at a bookstore or library it might be worth looking through.  In it you will find complete schedules for pretty much every rail connection throughout Europe & the UK.  It requires a bit of "manual" searching through some maps and tables, but once you sort out how it works it's very useful (hint: start with the "cities" index near the front).  I like it in that you can look at multiple connections, times, etc. quickly and often on the same page without having to do repeated schedule inquiries via the web sites. 

anyway I hope this helps!
- mike
p.s.  FYI I too am looking for some assistance with camping at the circuit, etc., via a thread I just posted (didn’t want to hijack this one): 
http://www.clubarnage.com/forum/index.php?topic=6743.0
 

I'm in the South Bay - sunnvyale/santa clara area.

Greetings!

-mike