Following some of the recent threads, it is clear that excitement is building to a fever pitch as the Great Race approaches.
In my rather curmudgeonly way can I make a plea from the heart to all CAers...
Most of us are neither French residents nor French nationals and as such we represent, in many ways, ambassadors for our countries and our sport.
My plea then is that we all show our hosts the respect that they deserve.
Of course I understand that the Le Mans weekend has about it a carnival or festival atmosphere but this should not become the excuse for loutish, boorish behaviour.
Have a few drinks - get completely pis*ed if you want, but have consideration for your hosts and fellow race-goers. There can be no excuse for getting into drunken brawls with the French, either en-route or at the circuit. Why should you assume the locals speak English? Just try and speak French and I think you will find that they will be more accomodating towards you (you may even find out that more of them speak English than otherwise would have let on by taking this approach
)
We all want to have fun at Le Mans and not be shamed by the unacceptable behaviour of the minority.
I understand that it is unrealistic to expect that
everybody in a crowd as large as the one that will be at Le Mans will behave perfectly, but WE surely can lead by example.
Oh and by the way, I don't care if you think I am a patronising old git (or worse) for making this plea...
