More earthworks at LM

[Fax]

Just took a look at the latest aerial photos.
I don't think there's anything left to said...
R.I.P Circuit de la Sarthe
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[knetter]

Looking at that arial pic it makes me wonder if there will be a village at all this year.

Changes to the track are as expected, I'll make sure I'll bring my wire cutter to cut down the fencing for some decent pics. Note to self, buy bigger telelens!!!

[Bob U]

Le Mans is only ever as good as your first visit and surely we all look back on that as the best ever. My first time was in 1991 and I have been back every year except one. There are those that use this forum who go back way before me, (Delboy and Big H , to name a couple), who will proberbly say that by 1991 the circuit was already ruined. Restricted access to the pits, chicanes on the Mulsanne, debris fencing and viewing areas further from the action etc. I could never imagine that it could have been any better cos I had never seen it any better.

My point is, when I first went I thought Le Mans was the pinnacle of motor racing experiences and couldn't be any better. Anyone going for the first time this year and has obviesly never seen the circuit, pits and village as were, will think as I did and love it. They will most probebly go back every year and think back on the 2000s as the halcyon days.

By the look of the photos the changes are for the worst, but there is precious little that we or any other paying punter can do to to influence to relentless changes. Sure, a lot of them are safety related but the modern construction of the cars makes them tougher and therefor safer for the drivers and as far as spectator areas being moved back, if the debris fencing is as tough as they make out then I see no reason why the spectators can't be closer.

But lets face it, no matter what the ACO do to wreck the experience it will not stop us from going back every year and enjoying every minute.

[Fax]

All of this construction at the Dunlop Chicane begs the question...WHY! Did they feel the cars weren't going slow enough?
Everytime I've been there and watched (from what seems like 500 yards away) the start from the Dunlop Curve I've wanted to burst out laughing at the sight of the entire field crawling virtually to a stop, its fricking embarrassing.  This is the opening lap of the greatest motor race in the world and it starts with a traffic gridlock?...Thrill a minute stuff there
I just don't get it!  Somebody please enlighten me because I'm clearly missing something about this.  I really feel sorry for the poor bastard who goes for the first time and actually thinks that this is the coolest thing they've ever seen, because they've been completely screwed.
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[chop456]

According to their website, the reconfiguration is because the MotoGP bikes are too fast at that point on the track.  Heaven forbid a temporary chicane be constructed for that weekend, I guess.

All of this construction at the Dunlop Chicane begs the question...WHY! Did they feel the cars weren't going slow enough?
Everytime I've been there and watched (from what seems like 500 yards away) the start from the Dunlop Curve I've wanted to burst out laughing at the sight of the entire field crawling virtually to a stop, its fricking embarrassing.  This is the opening lap of the greatest motor race in the world and it starts with a traffic gridlock?...Thrill a minute stuff there
I just don't get it!  Somebody please enlighten me because I'm clearly missing something about this.  I really feel sorry for the poor bastard who goes for the first time and actually thinks that this is the coolest thing they've ever seen, because they've been completely screwed.
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[Fax]

We've brought this up before, if they feel the bikes are travelling too quickly through there (last time I checked, my Kawasaki had a throttle & brakes to control that sort of thing) they could build a bypass chicane, like they did at Road Atlanta.  Why f**k things up for the cars as well?
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[chop456]

They did the same thing for the bikes at Road America, putting "the bend" in just before the kink.

Ah, what do we know, anyway? 

they could build a bypass chicane, like they did at Road Atlanta.  Why f**ck things up for the cars as well?
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[Fax]

At Mid-Ohio the bikes, karts and club cars use the inner loop chicane on the run up to the Keyhole. The pro cars pass it.  This isn't rocket science folks.
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[Lorry]

I wonder if the motive is guilt.  They've destroyed the esses as the entry is now at an angle, so they've decided to replace them at Dunlop.  Why dp they keep doing this -look at SIlverstone.  Its like the boy who gets more track for his scalextrix every birthday/xmas so adds a bit on.  Its not an improvement. 

Are Audi paying for it, this is the usual trick to try and keep the lap record; hence Ford Chichane/ Porsche Curves

[BigH]

Just took a look at the latest aerial photos.

Holy Mackerel!!
RIP indeed. It looks to me like it's probably a good time to be a gravel salesman in Le Mans. How much of the stuff will they be putting down between the fence and the track? Are they expecting Thrust 2 up the pits straight?
Maybe it's another campsite.
H

[Lorry]

It appears something similar to what I've seen at a local level.  Somebody has to run motorsport.  The drivers/teams are too busy so the local meglomaniac appears, takes control and ruins it.  Guess who I'm talking about.