Radio Le Mans - who needs it

[oldtimer]

Ever since its inception I have listened to RLM and with each passing year become increasingly frustrated with the ever more banal coverage it provides.  Over the years it seems to have become more interested in cow-towing to its American TV audience than its trackside core of listeners

This year, by mistake, I left my radio at the hotel before the race - what a relief that turned out to be.  I no longer had to fume with rage as I listened to some pointless waffle about who cares what (usually nothing to do with racing let alone the race) when they should be giving a race order review.

Instead I listened to the English language hourly summary over the PA.  Clear, concise, punctual.  It is true that I did listen to some RLM when driving from place to place around the circuit, but at no point did I learn anything useful about the race that I did not already know.

So next yeaar if you want to keep up to date with events on the track (rather than in the commentary box) get rid of the radio and let the PA do the talking

[termietermite]

On the other hand, Motors TV did a splendid job. Recorded the entire race and have just finished wathcing it - splendid from start to finish.  Even Tony Delahunty (?) was just chipping in with useful up-to-date info.  Pity they don't have broader access for non-satelite subscribers though 'cos I'm sure their coverage would bring more people to the circuit on subsequent years.  Great job guys!  Next year let's just have their commentry on radio and forget RLM.

[Brian(Liverpool boys)]

Ever since its inception I have listened to RLM and with each passing year become increasingly frustrated with the ever more banal coverage it provides.  Over the years it seems to have become more interested in cow-towing to its American TV audience than its trackside core of listeners

This year, by mistake, I left my radio at the hotel before the race - what a relief that turned out to be.  I no longer had to fume with rage as I listened to some pointless waffle about who cares what (usually nothing to do with racing let alone the race) when they should be giving a race order review.

Instead I listened to the English language hourly summary over the PA.  Clear, concise, punctual.  It is true that I did listen to some RLM when driving from place to place around the circuit, but at no point did I learn anything useful about the race that I did not already know.

So next yeaar if you want to keep up to date with events on the track (rather than in the commentary box) get rid of the radio and let the PA do the talking

The only problem with letting the PA do the talking, was  sitting in the ACO stand it was not wired to the speakers and you could not hear a dam thing, sitting next to Debs, was great for me as she was tranlating the French, commetary for me. Come on ACO, sort your wiring out.
Brian

[monkey]

Old timer, I have to agree with you. This year, it was like listening to an American broadcast, I can only assume that it is now being financed by the them. Trust me, you missed nothing it was tedious in the extreme and provided little or no useful or for that matter accurate information. It does however have one useful side effect. A couple of the people that I was with didn't listen to the transmissions and they got a lot of dust in their ears. So next year I will take the headphones, but leave the receiver at home. I wonder if there is a way that we can persuade the ACO to re install the brilliant monitors that they used to have at the main viewing points. Simple black and white screens that automatically updated every lap to provide the precise details of the race as it unfolded, they were all you needed.

[Stu]

I have to say I enjoy RLM and think they do a good job. Would be worse with out them in my opinion. If you don't like it, don't listen, as my wife always says.

[monkey]

Stu fair comment, I won't.

[RichUK]

I think RLM is one of those aspects of the weekend that makes it what it is.

I guess you either like it or don't like it!

[Kpy]

I have to say I enjoy RLM and think they do a good job. Would be worse with out them in my opinion. If you don't like it, don't listen, as my wife always says.

I must say I shan't be bothering with RLM again. Before the race that  Hindhaugh fellow said that he "thought" that reliability "might" have some influence on the result. Profound, huh? During the race he told us that temperatures on the Sunday would reach 85 degrees "Centigrade, of course", and then repeated this error several times. Obviously a technical wizard.
I really miss Ian Titchmarsh on RTM. He was my one reason for listening. He used to manage a 24 hour commentary stint each year. I have an idea he fell out with the idiot element at RLM a few years ago. Anyway my earphone lead self-destructed on Saturday evening and I realised that I don't need RLM any more.

[nopanic - neil]

I wondered who listened to RLM, when on Thurs morning they played a record and a report on the Mini Cooper car and then the same record and the same report and then a record and..........

So that proves it , they don't even listen to it.

[Andy Zarse]

RLM was invented to cater for fans who didn't wish to crown around a crackly loud speaker once an hour. You should try to work out what's going on at the Classic when there's no RLM. It's hopeless!

On the other hand, this year was beset by many woeful technical problems. Did anyone else hear the laughable attempts to contact Dr Bez of Aston Martin who was driving at the 24 Hour race at the Ring? Did they ever suceed in getting through? 

[geoffd]

RLM was a real let down for me this year.  When we were away from the circuit it was impossible to find out what was going on,  and what was with the "Hourly Update"?  They announced the top 10 then the leaders in GT2!  So if you wanted to know about a car/team who wasn't in the top 10 or top 3 of GT2 then you had no chance.  We were following the exploits of our friends at Rollcentre and once they had dropped out of the top 10 it was a nightmare, still at least the big screens dotted about kept displayed the full list. Which begs the question as to why the RLM guys couldn't have got their info from a screen.... 

And if I ever hear the words "Corvette Moment" again I'm gonna screeeeaaammm.......

[monkey]

RLM was invented to cater for fans who didn't wish to crown around a crackly loud speaker once an hour.

I agree Andy and in the early days it really delivered. Now, I am not so sure. Does anyone else remember the screens in the bars at the Tribunes, Mulsanne and Arnage that updated automatically?? Last seen in about 1987/88. They were perfect, if you wanted an update, you simply checked those for 100% up to date accurate info.

[termietermite]

Corvette moment, CORVETTE MOMENT, CORVETTE MOMENT  ... yeah, I can hear you screeming from here.

[termietermite]

RLM was invented to cater for fans who didn't wish to crown around a crackly loud speaker once an hour.

I agree Andy and in the early days it really delivered. Now, I am not so sure. Does anyone else remember the screens in the bars at the Tribunes, Mulsanne and Arnage that updated automatically?? Last seen in about 1987/88. They were perfect, if you wanted an update, you simply checked those for 100% up to date accurate info.

These are still around in the ACO members' enclosures.  Reasons for joining the ACO part....  Oh, yeah, and don't forget the ACO post printed copies of the hourly times in the window of their offices behind the grandstand on  a regular basis (usually about 20 minutes after each hour).

[monkey]

RLM was invented to cater for fans who didn't wish to crown around a crackly loud speaker once an hour.

I agree Andy and in the early days it really delivered. Now, I am not so sure. Does anyone else remember the screens in the bars at the Tribunes, Mulsanne and Arnage that updated automatically?? Last seen in about 1987/88. They were perfect, if you wanted an update, you simply checked those for 100% up to date accurate info.

These are still around in the ACO members' enclosures.  Reasons for joining the ACO part....  Oh, yeah, and don't forget the ACO post printed copies of the hourly times in the window of their offices behind the grandstand on  a regular basis (usually about 20 minutes after each hour).

Thanks for the info. I suppose my point is it would be great to see them all round the track again, like in the old days