First there was to be seven. Now it’s five to Spa Francorchamps
- Thread starter Wapping
- Start date
I must say, one of, if not the, best motorsports events I’ve ever been to. Walking around the paddock, if you showed an interest or asked a question, the owners, drivers or mechanics were incredibly gracious in engaging with you. I may have to come back……..
They have spent thousands upon thousands improving the circuit for spectators and drivers alike. Their reward? An F1 Grand Prix reduced to every other year; it really is a joke.
I don’t recall it ever being this warm, hot even, in late September at Spa before. We have been in pouring rain, drizzle, wearing two fleeces but never, as far as I know in shorts consistently for the full three days.
Indeed it is. Easy to get to (at least from SE England), the parking is great, the spectating areas around the track top notch and an ‘early bird’ ticket for EUR 25. It really is very hard to beat.
We are though going to the Portuguese ‘Classic’ at Portimao in late October, flying down on the Friday and flying back on the Tuesday. This is something new for us; it’ll be interesting to see what it’s like.
Unsurprisingly, some of the cars need a helping hand to restart after fueling.
One of the drivers got his GT4 restarted by bump starting it in reverse.
One of the drivers got his GT4 restarted by bump starting it in reverse.
The fuel stop fun watched, it was up to the main restaurant above the new pits for food and then to watch from above the old pits and from the pit wall of the old pits.
Endurance racing is a cruel sport.
Two GT40 cars and the little Ginetta were battling it out right until near enough the last lap.
The GT40, holding a slender lead after five hours 50 minutes started to have mechanical problems, finally being credited with a fifth place finish. This elevated the Ginetta to a very creditable second place, a reward if you like for losing a wheel last year, when in the lead.
Two GT40 cars and the little Ginetta were battling it out right until near enough the last lap.
The GT40, holding a slender lead after five hours 50 minutes started to have mechanical problems, finally being credited with a fifth place finish. This elevated the Ginetta to a very creditable second place, a reward if you like for losing a wheel last year, when in the lead.
i took these a few years ago at Monyash; seem's the righ time to post them an historic racing thread; anything can turn up at our regular caff; i'am thinking Lola but not sure if it's the real deal; not an every day i thought;
Illegal number...lol...
I'll be interested to see how they manage spectators at Portimao. We looked a going to a MotoGP there a couple of years ago, but it seems that you buy a ticket for a grandstand and only get access to that grandstand - no wandering round to different sectors of the track even on practice days. Very poor revies for marshalls and stewards too (for spectators, not racers).
Of course, it may be very different for an event that is likely to be rather less populous.
There I think you might well have it.
The spectators will be a fraction of those that attend a MotoGP event, let alone an F1 meeting.
A friend who went to the ELMS meeting last year, enjoyed it enough to say that he’d come along to the ‘Classic’ meeting, too.
Chat GPT identifies the car in post #69 as:
Sunday, saw us back at the circuit to watch the races through to the end. The last race on the card was particularly good, the first and second car finishing within a 10th of a second between them.
Not everyone likes the noise.
Not everyone likes the noise.
Monday, a cross country route, via Givet for lunch. The downside, a two sets of roadworks, resulting in me deciding to scrap our planned route and instead go via La Roche en Ardenne.
Monday night dinner in St Omer, at the excellent Au Bistronome restaurant. Tuesday, in thick’ish fog to the Chunnel and, hopefully on to home.
Monday night dinner in St Omer, at the excellent Au Bistronome restaurant. Tuesday, in thick’ish fog to the Chunnel and, hopefully on to home.
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Lovely Ginetta G4 and amazing to see so many GT40's in the same place. I've only been fortunate enough to see the odd one or two racing in the metal but they are amazing.
Did the drivers have to queue to pay for petrol? Did they get legged up by someone changing into a driving shoe once they got back to their car or waiting for the coffee machine whilst doing a mini shop and hogging a pump in the process?
I'd probably kill myself if I got a Cobra or a GT40 as I found my Ginetta G20 could be a handful in anything other than a clean and dry road.
Did the drivers have to queue to pay for petrol? Did they get legged up by someone changing into a driving shoe once they got back to their car or waiting for the coffee machine whilst doing a mini shop and hogging a pump in the process?
I'd probably kill myself if I got a Cobra or a GT40 as I found my Ginetta G20 could be a handful in anything other than a clean and dry road.
They don’t slouch about, driving into the station.
Yes, the team is charged for the fuel.
A GT40 came in and had to wait for an empty pump. The driver opened the door, to let some heat out, then saw a pump had become free. He rocketed forwards and swung in, alongside the pump. As the door was not closed, it swung open and clumped the post a resounding whack!
Whoops a daisy on clanging the door.
I know someone who bought a GT40 replica. It looked fantastic but, in reality, it was bloody awful. He sold it and bought a Jaguar XJ220 in its place.
My father knew a broker in Lloyd’s who bought a Le Mans GT40, who was surprised at how many things broke, not realising that they were designed to last for 24 hours, not forever.
