Le Mans to Berlin and a bit beyond

100% success on the delivery from the Amazon to the supermarket at Mulsanne:

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Now to buy the three essential components of Le Mans cocktail.
 
I see that the Stewards were busy during the Test Day on Sunday - over 40 Decisions - a few for exceeding the 60 km/hr limit in the pit lane (usually caused by the driver forgetting or being slow to activate the speed limiter or not being in 1st gear); fines issued - and many for multiple violations of track limits; stop/gos of 5 minutes being given.

This won't get better as the week progresses. Almost certainly, the winner of the 24 will be a car that has not picked up any penalty certainly during the race, but probably during the week.
 
I have made excellent friends with the security ladies that run the entrance / exit gates, who seem to have been here since Friday.

Unlike the frequently surly mouth breathers that the likes of Securitas employ in the UK, they are all good fun and are enjoying our Franglais banter.

I bought them a present, which they appreciated:

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The ACO employ a strict ban on bringing glass bottles and (from last year) alcoholic drink into the circuit. They also seem to have ramped up the bag checks, with bods being (politely) asked to better show the contents of bags and even remove chairs from their carrying sacks. All in all, I guess it’s a good thing, especially as France is in a reasonably high state of possible terrorist alert.

However, the campsite is inside the perimeter check, with no checks on vehicles (or me on my Brompton) coming in or going out, so all is well at ‘Chez Wapping’.
 
And I know how happy a full set of power converters will make you

I now have 10 metres of Euro plug / socket extension lead, too. I had the lead before, but for some reason I couldn’t find it when I left NW London. It’s odd as I have everything else. I can only guess that it stayed in Belgium last year?

The converters / leads don’t take up much space and it’s nice to have the flexibility.
 
I have made excellent friends with the security ladies that run the entrance / exit gates, who seem to have been here since Friday.

Unlike the frequently surly mouth breathers that the likes of Securitas employ in the UK, they are all good fun and are enjoying our Franglais banter.

I bought them a present, which they appreciated:

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The ACO employ a strict ban on bringing glass bottles and (from last year) alcoholic drink into the circuit. They also seem to have ramped up the bag checks, with bods being (politely) asked to better show the contents of bags and even remove chairs from their carrying sacks. All in all, I guess it’s a good thing, especially as France is in a reasonably high state of possible terrorist alert.

However, the campsite is inside the perimeter check, with no checks on vehicles (or me on my Brompton) coming in or going out, so all is well at ‘Chez Wapping’.
Not only that, I suspect that French is their first language, unlike many of the "security" companies here, who struggle with English?
 
stop/gos of 5 minutes being given.

I thought I picked up from the French PA announcement, that one of the Aston Martin cars had received a full five minute stop / go penalty. Your news confirms that my O-level was not entirely wasted.

If only schools in the 70’s had concentrated more on speaking and hearing French, rather than how to write a tense perfect letter to the Bishop of Rheims.
 
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If only schools in the 70’s had concentrated more on speaking and hearing French, rather than how to write a tense perfect letter to the Bishop of Rheims.
Oh, so you wrote one too, the poor Bishop must have been inundated!
Looks like a great trip, I last went when the Silk Cut Jags won, possibly another jaunt on horizon. Thanks for report brings back memories. Cheers :beerjug: John B
 
Richard,
Don't forget the Pride or equivalent for when you come to Sid's, as Sid is Alcohol free now.

PS
I still have supplies for the Arnage cocktail
 
It’s a tricky potion:

500 ml Cider

200 ml Calvados

50 ml Crème de peche

Is not far out, though it might depend on the cider, whether it is doux or brut:

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The considered opinion of the inventor of the cocktail, David ‘Shouts’ Gray is that it’s best to mix the two ciders in equal measure, not least as he’s never found a cider that quite mimics it. That said, he usually gets so pissed ‘tasting’ during making, he forgets his own name.
 


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