Not him, I’m afraid.
I know the picture you mean. It’s a works Honda F1, ridden by I think, Roger Marshall.
Le Mans to Berlin and a bit beyond
- Thread starter Wapping
- Start date
Not him, I’m afraid.
I know the picture you mean. It’s a works Honda F1, ridden by I think, Roger Marshall.
It was Denis Ireland who i mixed up with Mark Salle wappers; Ireland also won the 79 Belgian 500 gp;; i thought my young brain was bad but this old un is on another level;; i'll cut down on my thread bombing and let you finish yer wanders;
I usually take the opportunity to walk around the circuit on practice day. But, knowing that the concessions are few and far between, once you leave the paddock area, it was maybe best to watch the goings on from the shade:
Another busy day in the office for the camera crew:
They have certainly spent some money on Spa as a race circuit over the past 10 years. Overall, I think it’s been a great success.
There is a public restaurant above the new pits, which is always good and well staffed. I didn’t need to eat there, but we will for the Spa Classic at the end of September:
There is a public restaurant above the new pits, which is always good and well staffed. I didn’t need to eat there, but we will for the Spa Classic at the end of September:
The clouds are starting to build up:
The man with the fir cones and seaweed is predicting a thunderstorm sometime after noon on Sunday. Assuming it breaks at 12:00 it’ll make the last four-and-a-half hours of the race challenging. As if it’s not challenging enough already.
The man with the fir cones and seaweed is predicting a thunderstorm sometime after noon on Sunday. Assuming it breaks at 12:00 it’ll make the last four-and-a-half hours of the race challenging. As if it’s not challenging enough already.
As a friend of mine (and ChasMill’s) says about Le Mans, where he’s been going for about 45 years, says: “Every year is something different”.
I too can say the same about Spa. By chance I discovered staying at Camping 35 and enjoyed it. But now, as it was forced on me, as I had made no reservations, I think I prefer the simpler affair next door.
Camping 35 is big and, to be fair to the chap that runs it is well organised, with the pre-booked plots laid out by name. Its facilities are good (ie. permanent) and the powered pitches are reliable.
The site I am now is much more ‘gentle’ if that’s the right word. There is no power or at least none that I have discovered. The site is much smaller and the facilities good enough. Above all, I like the family that run it. Not least, the site is much more level. I’d come here again, in preference, now that I have the owner’s details.
The site I am on, as at this evening at 20:30:
‘Camping 35’ at the same time:
I suspect the site I am on operates more as a car park (those of us camping are arranged neatly around the edge) and less as a campsite. We shall see tomorrow.
I too can say the same about Spa. By chance I discovered staying at Camping 35 and enjoyed it. But now, as it was forced on me, as I had made no reservations, I think I prefer the simpler affair next door.
Camping 35 is big and, to be fair to the chap that runs it is well organised, with the pre-booked plots laid out by name. Its facilities are good (ie. permanent) and the powered pitches are reliable.
The site I am now is much more ‘gentle’ if that’s the right word. There is no power or at least none that I have discovered. The site is much smaller and the facilities good enough. Above all, I like the family that run it. Not least, the site is much more level. I’d come here again, in preference, now that I have the owner’s details.
The site I am on, as at this evening at 20:30:
‘Camping 35’ at the same time:
I suspect the site I am on operates more as a car park (those of us camping are arranged neatly around the edge) and less as a campsite. We shall see tomorrow.
Last edited:
" Not least, the site is much more level. I’d come here again, in preference, now that I have the owner’s details."
But ...you just push a button and hay Preston...your level...!
But ...you just push a button and hay Preston...your level...!
Evening Sir.....is it a Thule awning? Have you thought about sides for later in the year or when wet?
Yup, it’s a Thule.
I looked at a Thule video of the sides, a week or so ago. Too much faffing about for me, I’m afraid. If I was going to be static for a month or more, then maybe. My preferred route is: Get up, pack-up, go. If it’s raining that hard, I’m pretty much happy staying in the vehicle.
I’m looking at folding tables for exactly that reason. A bit bulkier and a bit heavier than my aluminium tables but quicker. If I do go down that route, I’ll jettison something else by way of compromise.
Aah ok. We are still in 'camp site' mode staying for a few days so I'll look to buy. Maybe off Ebay or the likes.Yup, it’s a Thule.
I looked at a Thule video of the sides, a week or so ago. Too much faffing about for me, I’m afraid. If I was going to be static for a month or more, then maybe. My preferred route is: Get up, pack-up, go. If it’s raining that hard, I’m pretty much happy staying in the vehicle.
I’m looking at folding tables for exactly that reason. A bit bulkier and a bit heavier than my aluminium tables but quicker. If I do go down that route, I’ll jettison something else by way of compromise.
Thanks for your reply
I had a drive away awning for my Bailey. I used it once at Le Mans and took it on a jaunt to Scotland. Bloody heavy and bulky, not least as it was one of those ‘pump up the pillars’ things. I gave it away, pleased to see the back of it.
Your post #331 proves what a compromise everything is and, not least, what suits one fellow does not necessarily suit another, for all sorts of perfectly valid reasons from both sides.
Your post #331 proves what a compromise everything is and, not least, what suits one fellow does not necessarily suit another, for all sorts of perfectly valid reasons from both sides.
I have a full Safari room for the wind out awning on my big van.
It’s massively heavy in its own bag. I put it all together once when I first got my van 10 years ago. It’s not seen the light of day since!
What an absolute ball ache to put up and away again! If you were staying put somewhere for a few weeks it may be worth the effort but definitely not for me.
I hardly use the wind out part either.
I think I’d definitely prefer the “ new “ site you’re on as opposed to the busy one.
It’s massively heavy in its own bag. I put it all together once when I first got my van 10 years ago. It’s not seen the light of day since!
What an absolute ball ache to put up and away again! If you were staying put somewhere for a few weeks it may be worth the effort but definitely not for me.
I hardly use the wind out part either.
I think I’d definitely prefer the “ new “ site you’re on as opposed to the busy one.
I’m with you, Udders on the awning, too.
Whilst I have wound it out, the direction the vehicle is pointing means that it doesn’t shield anything from the sun. It’s only real value, was to keep some light summer rain off me yesterday in the early evening. That said, it was so hot that everything was dry again in about 20 minutes.
I have now been away for nearly a month. The kitchen area cupboards and drawers I had about right after my shakedown trip to Belgium. The boot area I have reconfigured twice, not least as I moved the rarely used stuff to under one of the beds. I think I now have it about right. I’ll know when I have taken it down to Sid’s and from there on to Gedinne for the classic motorcycle racing weekend.
Whilst I have wound it out, the direction the vehicle is pointing means that it doesn’t shield anything from the sun. It’s only real value, was to keep some light summer rain off me yesterday in the early evening. That said, it was so hot that everything was dry again in about 20 minutes.
I have now been away for nearly a month. The kitchen area cupboards and drawers I had about right after my shakedown trip to Belgium. The boot area I have reconfigured twice, not least as I moved the rarely used stuff to under one of the beds. I think I now have it about right. I’ll know when I have taken it down to Sid’s and from there on to Gedinne for the classic motorcycle racing weekend.
Saturday… race day, the 24-hour race starting at 16:30.
It’s going to be a hot one, again!
Time to make some sandwiches for lunch and to remember to take my water.
It’s going to be a hot one, again!
Time to make some sandwiches for lunch and to remember to take my water.
11:00 and the temperature according to the screen on the new tower is alreadyvshowing 33 C:
I have got a great seat in the covered permanent grandstand, opposite the old pits and the large TV screen. Right up at the back, where the limited breeze comes through. It provides an uninterrupted view from the exit of the La Source hairpin, down the old pit straight, through Eau Rouge and up the hill through Raidillon (the very fast and dangerous left curve, which the drivers enter completely blind, due to the steep hill from Eau Rouge) to the start of the long Kemmel Straight:
I’ll watch the support races, the warm up (that’s very apt) and the start at 16:30 from here. Then maybe an hour or so, before pedalling back to my campsite for a BBQ. That said, it’s been so hot that food has not been of a burning priority, liquid having taken its place.
I’ll probably wait until it’s properly dark before walking around the circuit. I might even set my alarm for around 01:00 and set off then, returning in time for breakfast. A nighttime walk around is not something I have done before at Spa, so it’ll be different, for sure. I must remember a torch, as it’s bloody dark!
That’s the great thing about endurance racing. At eight in the morning tomorrow, they’ll still be going round and still at 16:29. There’s always something going on.
I have got a great seat in the covered permanent grandstand, opposite the old pits and the large TV screen. Right up at the back, where the limited breeze comes through. It provides an uninterrupted view from the exit of the La Source hairpin, down the old pit straight, through Eau Rouge and up the hill through Raidillon (the very fast and dangerous left curve, which the drivers enter completely blind, due to the steep hill from Eau Rouge) to the start of the long Kemmel Straight:
I’ll watch the support races, the warm up (that’s very apt) and the start at 16:30 from here. Then maybe an hour or so, before pedalling back to my campsite for a BBQ. That said, it’s been so hot that food has not been of a burning priority, liquid having taken its place.
I’ll probably wait until it’s properly dark before walking around the circuit. I might even set my alarm for around 01:00 and set off then, returning in time for breakfast. A nighttime walk around is not something I have done before at Spa, so it’ll be different, for sure. I must remember a torch, as it’s bloody dark!
That’s the great thing about endurance racing. At eight in the morning tomorrow, they’ll still be going round and still at 16:29. There’s always something going on.
Last edited:
The race is being shown on Crowdstrike’s YouTube channel:
www.crowdstrike24hoursofspa.com
Watch Live Race Streaming and Live Timing | CrowdStrike 24 hours of Spa
www.crowdstrike24hoursofspa.com
Chatting in Franglais to the family camped next to me. They come every year, booking the same spot up at the top corner of the site. They simply contact the owner (I now have the details) about a month before.
I’ll contact the owner when I get back, thanking them for the stay and confirming that I’d like the same spot as I had this year, for the ELMS six-hour race in May, which is a month before Le Mans. Then I’ll reconfirm a month before. I have taken some pictures of my spot, which should help me to explain in my Franglais messages. I’d like too to come back for the 24-hour GT race next June.
I need to find out if they are open for the Spa Classic at the end of September. For this, we have always stayed at Domain Long Pre, but our party is becoming larger, so an alternative might be something to explore for 2027 perhaps? As my friend says: “It’s always something different”.
I’ll contact the owner when I get back, thanking them for the stay and confirming that I’d like the same spot as I had this year, for the ELMS six-hour race in May, which is a month before Le Mans. Then I’ll reconfirm a month before. I have taken some pictures of my spot, which should help me to explain in my Franglais messages. I’d like too to come back for the 24-hour GT race next June.
I need to find out if they are open for the Spa Classic at the end of September. For this, we have always stayed at Domain Long Pre, but our party is becoming larger, so an alternative might be something to explore for 2027 perhaps? As my friend says: “It’s always something different”.
Last edited:
It was bloody dark walking up through the woods at the back of la source back to our camp site;
like you say; a few hours kip and back again;; i don't know if you've done the 24hr at Magney cours; but we've been stood on the top of the banking at night with the racing in front of us and the Stranglers on stage behind us ; mad old times.
I have never been to Magny Cours (I don’t know why) for a race. But I rode past it once, on the way to Le Mans, on a race day. Truly bonkers!
The police were stopping everyone at 10:30 to breathalyse us.
The police were stopping everyone at 10:30 to breathalyse us.
Last edited:
Similar threads
