Le mans 2009: The cheap way.

[Jon_Bmw]

So everyone's got a triangle

Standard equipment on an executive chariot. I'll borrow a high vis off the old man, you just need one per car.

[tomson]

Standard equipment on an executive chariot.

I must have an executive chariot too then!!

After a 12hr stint in the workshop, I'm still not ready! A couple of hours in the morning and she'll be fit though, then shopping!

Jon, I'll bell you tomorrow when I've finished flapping!

[Dan318-is]

im ready, feel very bare this year! Bring water proofs! & lots of socks.

Hi jon

[Jon_Bmw]

Dan, get one in argos if they are cheap cheap.

Phone me tommorow to remind me about your tent, or else I'll forget.

Football is on tomorrow evening as well... So much to do, so little time.

[Ziggy]

Anyone got an inverter for the likes of phone/camera chargers?

[Jon_Bmw]

Aye.

[Dan318-is]

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... &langId=-1

Take your pick jon, my treat.

[BadDave]

I'm already in Dover,although i did have a "little" incident about 2.45am this morning when the fan belt decided it didn't want to make the trip.Fortunately i had a spare and made decent progress with only having 2 1/2 hrs sleep in the past 36 hrs

I checked into the hotel here around 2.30 ish, and found another spare fan belt or 2 ,so it's all good for tommorrow
I've got the car park meeting point set into the sat nav so i can find it again in the morning.

Got the warning triangle and hi viz vest in the car as well as the toolbag/trolley jack and a few other wee bit's n pieces.


Hope you have an uneventfull trip to Dover, and i'll see you at the meeting point about 4.20ish if i'm up in time.

[Ziggy]

[Jon_Bmw]

It is amazing how much crap you find to take, my e39 boot is full, but retaining rear window vision. No bikes for me, although i'll regret it I am sure. Still got my two passenger belongings to fit somewhere, although, its only clothes and food I think.

Good to hear you are down there safely Dave. I suspect we'll be at the meeting point at around 4.15-4.30.

Watching the football, bath and bed. Jon, i'll call you at half time.

[tomson]

I'm ready now too at long last! Good work packing a spare fanbelt Dave, I have one too, I was going to pack a spare cambelt but then I thought there is no point!!

See you all over the course of the next 7 hrs or so!

[BadDave]

Anyone got an inverter for the likes of phone/camera chargers?

I've got one somewhere in the back of the car so i can keep the laptop charged

[tomson]

Everyone back safely?

I landed about midnight after droppind Si off

[Dan318-is]

Got home about 7pm, JUST caught the early ferry, bit shit that you guys didn't make it!

Will sort the pictures out later in the week.

[yeah_mick]

so where was all you guys camping?? i only saw about 4 e30s, opne being a very nice m3 just leaving super u in arnage, i was the in the blue 4 door 316.

any pics from people? ive found this video of me

[tomson]

We were camping on Beausejour, next to Tiff Needell!!!

We had 4 Tourings, 2 E30's, an E34 and an E39....... I didnt see an E30 M3 there, saw a convertible and a couple of moredoor E30's and that was it.....

[yeah_mick]

tiff came over to us on sunday night when we was playing on the field. i offered him the keys to my car but he refused.

[Ziggy]

Mick, we saw your bit of sideways action & I was in the ferry queue near you too! Didn't recognise the car at the time...

All back ok then, apart from Dave who's probably only one fanbelt from home by now...

[yeah_mick]

did you notice the disgusting squeal comeing from my clutch release bearing?its horrible to drive atm, at points i was unsure it would get me home.

zigy, you wasnt the cabriolet camped opposite the toilets near me were you?

[Ziggy]

Nope, I took the E34 touring (dark met green on E60 17" wheels if you saw it). Aircon & a **** load of space was rather useful... but I still think I might take the E30 again next year!

[Jon_Bmw]

I got back at about 8.10 after dropping Yiangou off. So I made pretty good time. Unbelieveably the m25 and m3/a303 were spot on, with no traffic. Gash that Dave and Tommo didn't make the Ferry, it can only have been by about 2-5 minutes, pissed.

Quote of the week coming up.

Wicked weekend and decent weather, best le mans ever, although the race was a tad tame.

[yeah_mick]

heres a few pics from my trip

on the ferry


quick stop at cite europe


porsche curves


and the car just before we left


i got pulled over on the way home, they checked my paperwork then told me that i had to get my car cleaned at the next car wash i saw.

[tomson]

tiff came over to us on sunday night when we was playing on the field. i offered him the keys to my car but he refused.

We came over behind him to watch, the nutter in the jump suit & crash helmet was most amusing

[d6dph]

Jon, I heard about the Tiff quote. You'll be dining out on that for years

[Jon_Bmw]

It was so funny, he could have said anything, but he came up with a real gem

Some dude nearly killed Tiff as well.

[Dan318-is]

Another tiff quote: "These front wheel drive boys are ruining it for everybody".

Heroic weekend indeed.

[Jon_Bmw]

Come on then camera whores, where are the pictures?

I have a few in focus , but nothing good really.

[JayPee]

Got up at 4 am Sunday and watched the rest of the race through, including a pit straight run at the end. Then got in the car and drove for 11 hours, back at my door at 3:30 am Monday morning after dropping everyone off. Shattered was not the word. Managed to fit four of us and our gear in the car on the way back, quite how I am still not sure, but for those slip roads i was definitely in need of two extra cylinders! I too had a squeaky clutch release bearing which stopped me from any Mad Friday fun, but besides that the car was relentless. Somebody was taking pictures of my car on the campsite before we left on the Sunday, not sure who but by then it was reet mess! Spotted a very nice white M3 track car on Bleu Nord, a nice red 3 door 325i badged 320i on the pitch next to us, and a green cabby a few times but that was all of the E30's I saw! Great week again though, I will never get tired of that place! Here's a few pics-
At Base Camp-

Back home, bug splattered-

[Ziggy]

Jon, got mine down to 380 so far - a few more to cut out then I'll upload them, probably tomorrow eve. They're not too bad

[BadDave]

I'm finally back home,without the need of another fan belt change.

I had a few detours on the way back up the road to see 1 or 2 zoners/parts collections etc.
Eventually stopped about 12.30am ish south of Edinburgh and opted for a few hours sleep instead of attempting to make it all the way home in 1 stint.

Come on then camera whores, where are the pictures?

I have a few in focus,but nothing good really.

I've just got the ones from Friday's pit lane walkabout on the memory card.

All the "action" shots are on 35mm film

I'll scan/host them once there developed.

[mike_sayer]

Come on then camera whores, where are the pictures?

I have a few in focus , but nothing good really.

I think some of mine have turned out well, had to travel from Le Mans to Germany on business but finally get home tomorrow evening. Will look through them and put some up on Friday.

[Jon_Bmw]

Glad to hear you are back safe Dave.

I'm off to egypt now, so I won't be able to see the pictures for another week or so. If someone is doing CD/DVD then i'd love a copy(DAN!) i'll PM my addy once I am back.

[yeah_mick]

heres a few more pics my mate took, ill mostly put up pics of me but ill stick this up first to keep your interest.

[mike_sayer]

That means there were at least three E30 M3s there this year - the E-reg one above, caneswell's G-reg one that I went in, and an F-reg one that was also in our campsite at Houx Annexe...

[tomson]

Smoking well for a 316!