They might sell car themed Hawaiin shirts.
M’off…. For the month of June
- Thread starter Wapping
- Start date
They might sell car themed Hawaiin shirts.
If I’d been at home:
Would see you in that from space.
A walk around most of the circuit. 27,445 steps or 11.5 miles. I am now somewhat knackered.
I'm not surprised at >27,000 steps!
Did you take many pictures?
The pictures from yesterday.
I cut through the wooded area to get to the circuit proper or, more particularly, up to the ‘village’ in the centre of the track. First up was tge local memorial to a bomber crew, killed in 1944. It, hidden away in the woods:
The Le Mans 24-hour track is eight-and-a-half miles in length, with an outright lap race record of three minutes, seventeen point three seconds, set in 2019 by Mike Conway in a prototype Toyota, at an average speed of 154 mph. Because the circuit is so long, the infrastructure and logistical effort by the organisers is immense. The woods are dotted around with encampments used by the trackside marshals:
I am now getting near the end of the first bit of my walk through the woods. Yiu can just about see the track’s edge behind the fellow in the orange overalls:
I cut through the wooded area to get to the circuit proper or, more particularly, up to the ‘village’ in the centre of the track. First up was tge local memorial to a bomber crew, killed in 1944. It, hidden away in the woods:
The Le Mans 24-hour track is eight-and-a-half miles in length, with an outright lap race record of three minutes, seventeen point three seconds, set in 2019 by Mike Conway in a prototype Toyota, at an average speed of 154 mph. Because the circuit is so long, the infrastructure and logistical effort by the organisers is immense. The woods are dotted around with encampments used by the trackside marshals:
I am now getting near the end of the first bit of my walk through the woods. Yiu can just about see the track’s edge behind the fellow in the orange overalls:
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Out onto the track itself, a large part of which is on public roads. This is the D140, looking westwards towards Indianapolis and eventually Arnage corner, both out of sight:
And eastwards, back towards Mulsanne corner:
Here is a crude picture of where we are standing and the direction the track takes:
And eastwards, back towards Mulsanne corner:
Here is a crude picture of where we are standing and the direction the track takes:
I crossed over the track, to continue walking through the woods, past more encampments.
Looking back across the track, to where we came out of the woods:
On we go:
Past new baby pine trees, struggling into existance:
and a sign to the nine hole golf course, inside the circuit at Mulsanne corner:
Looking back across the track, to where we came out of the woods:
On we go:
Past new baby pine trees, struggling into existance:
and a sign to the nine hole golf course, inside the circuit at Mulsanne corner:
I had intended to walk on up to the pit area and ‘Fan Village’ this way:
But I lost my way in the woods and instead walked too far to my right, finding myself out on the D338 Mulsanne Straight. Rather than retrace my steps, I walked northwards up the Mulsanne Straight ie. in the opposite direction to the way the cars will race down:
But at least my misdirection, took me past the famous restaurant on the Mulsanne Straight:
But I lost my way in the woods and instead walked too far to my right, finding myself out on the D338 Mulsanne Straight. Rather than retrace my steps, I walked northwards up the Mulsanne Straight ie. in the opposite direction to the way the cars will race down:
But at least my misdirection, took me past the famous restaurant on the Mulsanne Straight:
On I wandered, up the straight, coming eventually to the Antares stadium and the monument put up in 2023 to commemorate the 100 years since the race was first run:
and the signs put out, warning motorists that the roads will be shut during practice, qualifying and, on course, on race day:
and the signs put out, warning motorists that the roads will be shut during practice, qualifying and, on course, on race day:
We are now (eventually) at one of the public entrance gates, into the circuit proper:
Phew!
The Kronenbourg beer company, sponsors the free water dispensers, so visitors to the track can refill their water bottles. A very simple but good idea:
Phew!
The Kronenbourg beer company, sponsors the free water dispensers, so visitors to the track can refill their water bottles. A very simple but good idea:
Out into the ‘Fan Village’ where the main race teams have their merchandise outlets and cars on display, including Toyota’s race winning car, still covered with bugs and muck from the race:
The ‘Village’ done, I then turned south, down towards the rear of the pits, past where cars are borough in for some (I assume) random checks. I have seen them doing thus before but have never worked out quite what goes on:
The money that Ferrari spend must be immense. This is just one bit of it:
Ford’s VIP hospitality is up:
Whilst Aston Martin are still building theirs:
Past the main Michelin tyre changing station, quiet as there is no action on the track:
The money that Ferrari spend must be immense. This is just one bit of it:
Ford’s VIP hospitality is up:
Whilst Aston Martin are still building theirs:
Past the main Michelin tyre changing station, quiet as there is no action on the track:
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Now the long walk back to where I am staying:
To eventually work my way back to Indianapolis. You might be able to see how the corner (it’s a public road) is banked:
Then to Arnage Corner and (thankfully) back to home. It was a bloody long way and hot!
To eventually work my way back to Indianapolis. You might be able to see how the corner (it’s a public road) is banked:
Then to Arnage Corner and (thankfully) back to home. It was a bloody long way and hot!
Motor racing is dangerous! As the sign used to say….
Iron Dames’ Michelle Gatling is out of Le Mans 2025.
She damaged her foot (or had her foot damaged) in the pits. Her race seat will now be taken by Sarah Bovey, herself no slouch.
Their, all female, driver line-up has certainly caught the public’s imagination. Good for them and good for the sport. They are quick and can compete head on with any of the teams in the GT class of very fast cars.
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Day six
After yesterday’s hike, a day for a bit of shopping and preparing for the arrival of my chums tomorrow.
After yesterday’s hike, a day for a bit of shopping and preparing for the arrival of my chums tomorrow.
I've had Belgian Sarah Bovy in my office too.
I rather liked the fact that she stood her ground and offered a justification for her manoeuvre - even though her position was hopeless!
Or is it 2025?
