Le Mans to Berlin and a bit beyond
- Thread starter Wapping
- Start date
Edited highlights from the 24-hours of Le Mans:
Edited ‘dramatic moments’ from the 24-hours of Spa:
Edited ‘dramatic moments’ from the 24-hours of Spa:
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Large queues at the tea huts.
The French side fully manned, whilst the Brits were obviously having a kip or it was a work from home day:
The French side fully manned, whilst the Brits were obviously having a kip or it was a work from home day:
Me in a two-seater car with an empty passenger seat.
Tea hut chimp: "Are you travelling on your own?"
Me (after a long look at the seat next to me): "Yes"
Not quite on a par with the "would you ask a woman wearing a burqa to remove it?" when another chimp asked my pillion to remover her lid .... Oh how he laughed...
Tea hut chimp: "Are you travelling on your own?"
Me (after a long look at the seat next to me): "Yes"
Not quite on a par with the "would you ask a woman wearing a burqa to remove it?" when another chimp asked my pillion to remover her lid .... Oh how he laughed...
Great blog & photos. Thanks-I’ve enjoyed this.
Thank you.
Now back from whence I started.
I need to give it a clean out, as my son-in-law’s father is borrowing it. That’s tomorrow’s job.
All round is was 2,268 miles, seeing and doing stuff I wanted to do.
Thanks for your company along the way.
Now back from whence I started.
I need to give it a clean out, as my son-in-law’s father is borrowing it. That’s tomorrow’s job.
All round is was 2,268 miles, seeing and doing stuff I wanted to do.
Thanks for your company along the way.
Cracking report thank you very much Richard.
Maybe you can help me with this, but your thread raised a memory from over thirty years ago (circa 91/92/93) that saw me drive a truck down through Eau Rouge and along the Kemmel Straight as it was a public road back then. I don't believe it is possible now at all but the memory of it lingers still. Do you know if it was a public road, open to all vehicles back then? Perhaps @Greg Masters might be able to contribute too?
Maybe you can help me with this, but your thread raised a memory from over thirty years ago (circa 91/92/93) that saw me drive a truck down through Eau Rouge and along the Kemmel Straight as it was a public road back then. I don't believe it is possible now at all but the memory of it lingers still. Do you know if it was a public road, open to all vehicles back then? Perhaps @Greg Masters might be able to contribute too?
When I first went to Spa (1994 IIRC) the Kemmel Straight was still public road.
However, in 2001, when they built a new by-pass, the N62C, the use of the Kemmel Straight as public road stopped. None of the current circuit is now public road, but sections of the pre-1979 circuit through Malmedy and Stavelot are public road.
Greg is spot on in his reply, Aidan.
The public road used to go along, exactly as you remember. The circuit on race days used to be closed off by big green wooden gates (a wall almost), just above the La Source hairpin. It then went down the hill of the old pit straight (pits to your right) and the old grandstand opposite the pits, to your left. From memory only, you could then turn left at Eau Rouge at the bottom of the hill and / or climb up again, along the Kemmel Straight.
I certainly remember doing just that in the late 70’s and through the 80’s.
Traditional ‘old fashioned’ road based circuits are now few and far between, which is a pity. It’s understandable though, as they were very fast but, ultimately, too dangerous. Spa, at least retains the essence of what it was. The track (and the public viewing areas) has been made safer - a good thing - but it still has the natural climbs and falls which makes it more interesting and challenging for drivers and the paying public alike. Long may it continue, which (judging by the works done) may well be a long time yet.
It’s a big earner for the local community, which is otherwise very rural. The track is used regularly for private events (there was a track day on the Monday) and for several ‘official’ race days, culminating in the Spa Classic at the end of September (which is very good and excellent value) before the season closes with I think, the 2CV 24-hour race, which I’d like to see before I shuffle off.
Besides the racing, what makes Spa ‘great’. I think it’s the friendliness of the staff, from officials right down to the hired in catering staff, the concession holders and the ‘light touch’ security on the entry gates. Everyone was polite and good natured, despite the heat which peaked in the low 40’s C. I can give an example from the ELMS round of last year. You can go to watch, reasonably close up, the cars being checked by the scrutineers. When they have to move a car in or out, the staff are very polite but firm, when they ask people to make space, which everybody does. It’s as if the organisers want the paying public to get as close as possible but still retain a safe distance for everyone to work in. Very ‘old school’.
The public road used to go along, exactly as you remember. The circuit on race days used to be closed off by big green wooden gates (a wall almost), just above the La Source hairpin. It then went down the hill of the old pit straight (pits to your right) and the old grandstand opposite the pits, to your left. From memory only, you could then turn left at Eau Rouge at the bottom of the hill and / or climb up again, along the Kemmel Straight.
I certainly remember doing just that in the late 70’s and through the 80’s.
Traditional ‘old fashioned’ road based circuits are now few and far between, which is a pity. It’s understandable though, as they were very fast but, ultimately, too dangerous. Spa, at least retains the essence of what it was. The track (and the public viewing areas) has been made safer - a good thing - but it still has the natural climbs and falls which makes it more interesting and challenging for drivers and the paying public alike. Long may it continue, which (judging by the works done) may well be a long time yet.
It’s a big earner for the local community, which is otherwise very rural. The track is used regularly for private events (there was a track day on the Monday) and for several ‘official’ race days, culminating in the Spa Classic at the end of September (which is very good and excellent value) before the season closes with I think, the 2CV 24-hour race, which I’d like to see before I shuffle off.
Besides the racing, what makes Spa ‘great’. I think it’s the friendliness of the staff, from officials right down to the hired in catering staff, the concession holders and the ‘light touch’ security on the entry gates. Everyone was polite and good natured, despite the heat which peaked in the low 40’s C. I can give an example from the ELMS round of last year. You can go to watch, reasonably close up, the cars being checked by the scrutineers. When they have to move a car in or out, the staff are very polite but firm, when they ask people to make space, which everybody does. It’s as if the organisers want the paying public to get as close as possible but still retain a safe distance for everyone to work in. Very ‘old school’.
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Did'nt that turning on left at the bottom of Eau rouge take you to some hard standing at the back of the old stand at one time.
Yes, I think it did. It’s now where the ‘Fan zone’ is situated, along with the Ferris Wheel. I think there is also some sort of ‘drifting’ or mini-race track there, too.
I have though half a memory, that when it was still a public road, you could go somewhere by turning left. But, very probably I’m not remembering properly.
It’s a shame I no longer have the few pictures I took in the late 70’s and into the 80’s.
They were good times at the motorcycle GP (one week after Assen’s TT on the old circuit) and for the 24-hour motorcycle races.
We were all skint but it never seemed to matter a jot.
They were good times at the motorcycle GP (one week after Assen’s TT on the old circuit) and for the 24-hour motorcycle races.
We were all skint but it never seemed to matter a jot.
You could juggle 3 different championships in a couple of wks with a decent tent ; a few quid in yer pocket; enough time off; and not forgetting plenty of imagination and a lets getit done out look on life; GP; WSB; World endurance.
From a time when it was a few quid in, you could wander the paddock and the machines, and the racing were interesting.
Before corporate got their filthy hands on it.
Thank you both very much indeed Greg and Richard.
I enjoy road circuits very much, being from over here where we have a few all dedicated to bike racing, but it's a happy memory of driving a 40 ton truck on part of one of the most famous circuits in the world.
I enjoy road circuits very much, being from over here where we have a few all dedicated to bike racing, but it's a happy memory of driving a 40 ton truck on part of one of the most famous circuits in the world.
You can do that at the Spa Classic 6-hour race, held at the end of September each year. It’s excellent. Not only do you get full access to the pits but, once the race has settled down, they allow you onto the pit wall alongside the hill down from La Source to Eau Rouge. Just be mindful that the pit lane itself is very much live. Don’t take the piss and don’t drop your camera / phone onto the track.
Of course you can do the same at the Classic Bike races in Belgium, which is why visits to Chimay and Gedinne are popular. The same applies to Vintage Sports Car Club meetings here in the UK.
Indeed, a great memory and, in a way, a privilidge to have driven on at least a part of a classic race track, no matter what the vehicle.
Today, it’s hard to imagine the speed of the Hypercars over the (still very fast) GT cars, when accelerating up the blind crest rise from Eau Rouge.
Classic and vintage bike racing here are the only ones that interest me these days, a visit to Olivers Mount last year showed it was well past its glory years, but still some good racing on what is still a gob smacking track.
Looks like you had a grand time to yourself in your New Camper Mr Wapping 
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