Le Mans classic 2012.

[Ross Robbins]

Thanks and a tip of the hat to Christian (Old English White), who gave me a ride around the Le Mans circuit last Saturday morning. I felt like Toad in the Wind in the Willows, "This time, at last, it is the real, the unmistakable thing, simple - passionate - perfect - " i NOW HAVE ONE OF MY BUCKET LIST ITEMS FULFILLED.

We passed numerous cars and went very quickly yet I was confident in both his car control and his judgement as we slowed where necessary and made three laps safely unlike a certain Pantera and Mustang. The track was wet in places and Christian seemed well aware of the places where caution was necessary. At the same time we did very well down the Mulsanne...photo attached. Thanks Christian you made a fine weekend better

[Old English White]

My pleasure Ross.
When you first ask me to found you a seat for a lap, I was sure about our members at CLF (Club Lotus France) when Jean-Luc show you your car...
I was happy to anonce you that it had been cancelled, and seconds later that I will had to play the taxi boy for you...
Thanks to my friend R?gis, owner of a freshly restaured GTS Elan (yes, that yellow/green stripe ), he gave us the ticket to ride...
Its car hit the track on friday already, and that was enough for both of them...
About the picture in the Hunaudi?res, this was begining to be fast, and we were faster (around 230/235Km/H) just before Mulsanne...
Please notice the gloves, these were for driving the Elan, rather than the Elise that I had given to my son, for the weekend only!
Hope you made more pictures, Ross, not as me...
Christian.

[rmd24]

I guess this relates to the 0945 laps on Saturday morning. Does anybody know anything about the accident on the start and finish straight between the Aston and , I think , a TVR. We were just about the next car through and it all happened so quickly that I couldn't really see what happened. The TVR appeared to hit the pit wall and then spun into the Aston. I can't quite understand why the TVR should have lost it on the straight unless another car pulled over in front of him and he spun avoiding it.
In my view there were too many cars on the circuit at once and too wide a variation in performance of both cars and drivers.
There were many slowish cars being driven perfectly well and keeping out of the way of those who wished to go faster but there were those who were drifting around without looking in their mirrors and worst of all were the cars (like the Pantera) which were being driven a totaly inappropriate speed for the mixed traffic on the circuit.
If there is going to be a mixed bag of cars on the circuit at the same time I'm inclined to think that it should be behind a reasonably rapid pace car, or failing that fewer and more evenly matched cars. For myself I was more than happy to have a virtually unrestricted drive on such an iconic circuit but I would have been very P***ed off to be involved in somebodyelses accident , particularly if was caused by someone with more power than sense.

There,

Roger.

[Old English White]

You are right Roger, the 9h45 laps session... Btw,
You can't rely on any driver on track, yourself apart. That's my point of view.
I spent some time on track and saw so many rich owners with cars they couldn't drive properly...
Another exemple, two years ago, at LMC 2010, during the Ford G40 enthusiasts club session, I was surprised to see so many cars (more than 15/54 on track) damaged, on mecanic & tyres damage, run out of fuel, overheated, etc...
When you consider that they all pay a lot of money, early in the year, you can't understand than their cars were so badly prepared for that event...
About power, this year with rain that was tricky... Ross can testimony how worried I was, following a DB6 in the Porsche curves, waiting for 100 meters of strait and the occasion to overtake that dancing ferry boat on wheels ...
Last, I prefer to be free on track rather than behind a pace-car. You are less exposed to a guy, flat out far behind you, being surprised when having catch the head of the group following the pace-car...
Christian.

[1558cc]

Bit of an eventful Le Mans....
From this:
To this:

[Old English White]

Oh shit!!!!!
What happen!?!
Christian.

[1558cc]

Well we got down on Thursday with the car on a trailer, had a lovely day at the track on Friday, safe drive there and back. Come Saturday morning, as you know the weather was pretty crap, we set off at 6:00 to go in for the Morgan Club "tour de piste" (and VIP laps later that day) and coming out of Le Lude on the way up to the circuit (we had a 40 minute commute in) a wet hairpin meant massive understeer, which was corrected but set a slide in action which via a couple of 360?'s we went nose first into an irrigation ditch and ended up upside down in a corn field. Thankfully the car has a full role cage, as well as willams harnesses, hence the main passenger structure of the car was protected, and we were absolutely fine. My Dad had a very painful rib-cage as he was in a Tillett Carbon Seat which must have been very hard to be thrashed about in. Once the battery isolator had been switched off (fuel pump could still be heard running post crash) we undid our harnesses and crawled out between the roof and door bar, and were able to assess the situation. As you can see from the photo above, the front apron is pretty bad, although only cracked fiberglass, the grill is missing (still in ditch we think), but aside from the interior mirror there is no other noticeable damage. A local stopped and helped us ring the police who came, breathalysed (negative), then took us to a local citroen garage who came out with a tow truck. As the car is only ?650kg we managed to turn it back over, and then the truck extended it's bed backwards and used a winch to pull the car on. Suffice to say, we got off very lucky. The front is still identifiable, and the only new parts will need to be a hood mechanism, screen and grill... The car is being repaired by Richard Hayhow of RNH Motorsports who is very good and has repaired other much worse wrecks before (Howard Bentham's Baby Elan etc..), and we should be out for the Elan races at Donnington!
Photos:
Front apron...
Interior (thank god we packed cushions )...
From one side...
To the other...
Not too bad really If ANYONE has a rear cage and thinks that that is enough to give them any chance of survival please think again, the screen will collapse under any kind of pressure and then your heads and necks take the next part of the load. The front cage is essential, and I hate to think what might have happened if it had not been there.

[stuartgb100]

My commiserations ..... but glad you're both safe and well.

My problems over there were insignificant in comparison .... blew a head gasket on the Sunday morning.
Getting home was a saga and a half.
Made it back late on Thursday night - even though I had full Euro recovery etc.
Still waiting for the car - now promised for 31st July !
The Brands Hatch Lotus meeting looks less likely.

To cap it all, I was staying 5k from Le Lude, so I know that road well.
It has a certain local reputation (which you were unfortunate to add to). Many
do not get to tell their story.

You've made me rethink the roll cage issue - should be a no-brainer decision.

Regards,
Stuart.

[Old English White]

Ross,
We've been caught on camera...
Remember, the "only one fast Triumph" after the crash between the Mustang and the DeTomaso... That was the boss of TRGB, a reputed specialist.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mW37panlPGw
Christian.

[1558cc]

Well aside from Skin damage, the only bent metal bits are the front wishbones and cage. So looks like it will be back for the start of September, complete with new gold hardtop to finish the garish Alan mann colour scheme (oh father...) Thanks for anyone's concerns!

[syrius]

Very good video
The TR5 runing very well
some spictures from Lotus parking .

A+
Serge

[syrius]

and the last pictures
A dream for me to drive a Lotus 23
Thanks very much Le Mans Classic

I forgeten to take the phone and addres of the owner
If you know him please send the infos .

A+
Serge

[Lotus7driver]

I have just seen the photos of you driving my 23 at Classic Le Mans. Glad you enjoyed your drive.. Thank you for looking after my car overnight on your stand it was good to know the car was safe. The last outing in 2012 was to Spa in September where I took part in two races. A few problems but all sorted and ver enjoyable..e
Twin cam is out being rebuilt for next season. I will be racing the 23 some races in the 22 and the series 3 7.

Happy new year and enjoy your lotus driving

John Rees

[syrius]

Hi John

Drive your car was a nice souvenir for me .
I have some mores pics if you want them
I give you my mail address on mp .

See you in 2013 at Le Mans Story in july may be ?

Regards

Serge