I t W as O nly, 24 H ours @ L e M ans

Saturday - Race Day

Having removed the touring trunk from the back of the car, we set off for the race course after a lazy morning and an alfresco breakfast & lunch. Through the country lanes, the navigation was easy as all we had to do was to follow the signs for car park blanc. In Arnage the traffic was very slow, good humoured and over 50% British.

Arriving at the car park there was a friendly and efficient attendant who politely showed us, using sign language that we had parked in the wrong slot. The walk to the main entrance was short and emerging into the Circuit de la Sarte - we were there. Masses of people, a chance to buy a transparent wallet to hold the entry and grandstand tickets, lots of stalls selling food, clothing, magazines, drink, more food, you get the idea. Radios were tuned into the English broadcast - Radio Le Mans we were soon getting the latest news. Finding our stand seats we started to lap up the atmosphere.

There had been Renault races earlier that morning and laps by Aston Martin cars, at 08:00, a little too early for the likes of us.

The radio told us the Mercedes team had had an upset that morning at 04:00 when one of the cars had "flipped" over. The front had gone up in the air at high speed, but no serious damage had been done to car or driver. It also seemed that a similar incident had occurred during the Thursdays practice, with the same driver - I think "somebody" was trying to tell him something. The cars had been modified by lowering the front by 25 mm and fitting small wings supposedly increasing the front down force by 25%. All would now be well we (and the drivers) were assured.

The days of the drivers running to their cars for the "Le Mans Start" are long gone, so after finding their places on the grid, and lots of publicity photos with the "Hawaiian Tropic" girls, the engines started and they were off, following the course car. Remembering that this is after all LE MANS, the course cars are a little special. Last year they had been Turbo Bentleys, this year they were Chrysler Vipers. V10 engines of huge capacity, special versions of these were taking part in the race and finishing very creditably well. After a lap the course car peeled off and the race began in earnest.

The Le Mans experience is only slightly connected with the race. The actual race is the reason or the excuse for the "experience", so that a large number of people with a common interest can gather in one place and be together. This common interest does not necessarily include seeing the "Naughty Nun".

As the afternoon progressed, a nun was to be seen watching the race. This nun, unusually, had a good 7 ‘o’ clock shaving shadow and hairy legs. "She" appeared at the top of the steps of our grandstand, beatifically blessed the crowd and with a flourish and turning to take "her" leave, showed a large, false, pair of plastic bum cheeks, much to the amusement of the Brits (and it would seem only the Brit. contingent). Later "she" was seen looking at the race, false bum glistening in the afternoon sun.

Mick has a well founded reputation for starting long and involved conversations with strangers. What I didn’t know was that he also takes "No Entry Without Permit" notices as a personal challenge. Thus we were behind the BMW hospitality suite over the pit area, negotiating entry with a tired looking security guard in the early evening when the french language PA system went into "meltdown".

Something had happened. Just to our right was one of the two huge video screens. Ear plugs were fitted and radio turned on to Radio Le Mans to hear that a Merc. was off the track. Simultaneously the screen showed a horrific sight. The Mercedes front, seemingly in slow motion, lifted up, the whole car became airborne the front still lifting fasted than the rear, turning over end over end and also barrel rolling.

It seemed to reach 10 metres high before disappearing into the woods. The lights of the following car could be clearly seen. It would be difficult to imagine what went through the drivers mind as the car lifted. There had been reports on the radio of the Mercs. "porpoising" on the straight, so it may not have been a complete surprise, but the courage to continue...........

What went through my mind was an immediate de ja vous memory of watching a small black and white TV in a B&B in North London whilst on a Rolls Royce Motors course in January 1967 & seeing Donald Campbell's "Bluebird" that fateful day on Coniston water whilst trying to break the Water Speed Record.

The scene was replayed, yellow flags displayed on the circuit and the safety car went onto the race track, so no overtaking and NOBODY to pass the safety car. The accident was on the fastest part of the Muslane straight where we had driven the MGs 24 hours previously and was a good couple of miles from the grandstand. We could see the blimp making its way over and helicopters starting to go that way. An ambulance could be heard. Speculation was rife on the Radio, the car was probably travelling at 190 mph, surely nobody could survive such an incident?

With overhead cameras from the blimp, the sight of the Merc, upright in a cleared section of woodland surrounded by marshals was shown. The ambulance arrived and within 5 minutes or so a stretched with drips attached was take away. There were reports that the driver was OK, and so it turned out to be. In fact he climbed unaided out of the wreck and was unhurt, but could not remember anything after folding his arms in front of his face as the car took off, until he was on the stretcher on the way to the ambulance. It was reported that once in the ambulance, he was breathalised by the police. Presumably as the accident was on a public road, this was mandatory and rules are rules you know.

Dark descended, and the four of us joined up again having been doing our own things, what ever that means, and wandered up to the Dunlop bridge to see the cars slowing after the long start/finish straight. As soon as the brakes are applied, the huge amounts of energy are converted into heat to slow the vehicle and discs go immediately to bright orange/red hot. Some, but not all cars belch tongues of flame from the exhausts on overrun - in all quite a sight. Groups of people sat & stood, watching the spectacle. Some were lying on the ground, oblivious of the noise and excitement, fast asleep, possible helped by a bit of booze.

Drinking at Le Mans generally starts early, and carries on, unhurriedly throughout the day. The huge walls of empty beer bottles were not as visible this year, but even so the bars were doing a good trade, especially as the late June night descended. With the booze, the big crowd and mixed nationalities, with an almost total lack of policing, we saw no trouble at all.

The fairground was in full swing - literally. I don’t know about you, but, whilst I love the more dramatic rides, I’m not at all sure about the ones that are unbolted and moved around the country all summer. Much prefer rides that are assembled in one place, and checked over regularly. Anyhow there was a good selection of machines that turned you upside down and shook you, thus getting the riders to pay twice, once to go on, and once when the pockets of change self emptied.

And then there were the ladies of negotiable virtue. I used this phrase last year (when we didn’t find them). It is one I’ve plagiarised with enjoyment and will use when ever it can be brought into half decent conversation. Anyhow these ladies were in two separate trailers that could be seen from a distance due to the long queues. Red coloured domed windows threw silhouettes of a dancing lady, presumably with little clothing, gyrating to the accompaniment of occasional loud cheering.

Were we tempted? No, not really, especially as Mike had seen a Wall of Death. Now this is a strange way to make a living, perhaps not as strange, or possible as dangerous as undressing in front of lots of semi-drunk lads, but strange. This lot used modern bikes rather than the old Indians as favoured in the UK, but what they did at the end of the act that was very different was to drive a CAR up the wall. Not a Ford or a MG you understand, but a small single seater, but even so, quite entertaining.

and so on to Sunday....

 

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