Le mans 2010 June 12th

[BadDave]

Campsite ticket is £60? Is that what you 'orrible lot paid?

Seems expensive.

Fraid so old boy.
Shouldn't have any problems using those sources.

[BadDave]

How likely do you think it is that my car might make it onto the ferry without incurring significant economic loss?



I'm sorely tempted....

Rob

If you don't have problems with speedbumps and such like,you shouldn't have much in the way of problems getting on the ferry

[E30Gheko]

Rob, you'll be put on the lower level after you have proved you cannot get up top. Naa, usually they are pretty good.

To put it into context, trying to get it onto a standard drive on ramp at a local garage proved impossible a week ago. The last time I went on a ferry I vaguely remember a similar movable metal ramp.....

I'd hate to get to Dover and find I couldn't get on the boat!! How can I find out?

[march109]

Rob, you'll be put on the lower level after you have proved you cannot get up top. Naa, usually they are pretty good.

To put it into context, trying to get it onto a standard drive on ramp at a local garage proved impossible a week ago. The last time I went on a ferry I vaguely remember a similar movable metal ramp.....

I'd hate to get to Dover and find I couldn't get on the boat!! How can I find out?

Ask the ferry company.

I went as passenger in a low e30 once, they loaded us first carefully and slowly on the top deck, but we made prior arrangements.

[gareth]

if you point out the car is very low they will load you all on the bottom deck, with the trucks. this also means you're first off when you land
if you're worried, cut some lengths of timber and leave them in the footwell so you can hop out, drop them down and drive over. it'll annoy the bloke on the ferry doing the loading but not as much as taking longer trying and failing to get on.

[E30Gheko]

Cheers guys. If I can find a suitable co-pilot to share the fuel and ferry costs I'll be joining you I think.

[Ziggy]

If you get stuck going onto the top level of the ferry (& hence hold the ferry up for 15 mins or so), you won't be the first

DO IT.

[Jon_Bmw]

Finally pulled my finger out of my arse and booked the camping tickets through TL. They only have 7 left now, and the ACO isn't selling any directly anymore!

Dan isn't coming, the silly sod double booked with another holiday!

[BadDave]

I still need to sort out some accomadation in the Folkestone/Dover area for the Wednesday night.

Must pull my finger out and get that done.


Are we meeting at the same place as last year??
Same time(ish)?

[Jon_Bmw]

Yeah, meet at the hilltop, an hour and a half before sail off.

[BadDave]

Yeah, meet at the hilltop, an hour and a half before sail off.

Will you be able to make it for 4.30??

IIRC it was about 5.25 last year.

[Jon_Bmw]

It can't have been 5.25, as I doubt we would have made check in! As some people filled with fuel afterwards as well. Probably going to get there an hour before check in and move quickly on.

[BadDave]

Looks like I'll leave the E30 at home this time.

I plan on bringing something along to keep up with the 335i cabby and the 540i Touring


Jon.

I'm pretty sure it's was about 5.25am, as we arranged to meet at 5am, but were you not slighly delayed in getting there???

I could be mistaken though

[Jon_Bmw]

I'm not sure, perhaps we did get there that late, i'd be suprised though! Im going to aim to get there for 4.50-5.15 anyway.

What car are you bringing then? 80mph cruise all the way for me.

[BadDave]

Looks like I'll be bringing an old E39 executive chariot on this trip


The Alpina B10 version

It's only the 6cylinder version, but it should be able to keep up

[Ziggy]

Hmmm, I can see Mark's spitfire having no problems whatsoever.

We were both discussing the option of stopping over in Dover this time round. Dave, where did you stay last year?

Ticket's arrived btw!

[tomson]

Well guys it doesnt look good for me making this now as I dont have a car
I'm waiting on parts for the M5 still , the M3 is dead and nothing else I have has MOT ! ! !

I'm gutted.

[Ziggy]

I currently have no passenger... Still waiting on an old mate of mine who's always threatened to come, but as he's come up with a lame excuse every year so far...

[BadDave]

Hmmm, I can see Mark's spitfire having no problems whatsoever.

We were both discussing the option of stopping over in Dover this time round. Dave, where did you stay last year?

Ticket's arrived btw!

I stayed at the Ramada just north of Dover last year.

I may be at the Holiday Inn Express in Folkestone this year though.

I'll have to pull my finger out and get something booked


Tickets haven't arrived from TL yet

[Jon_Bmw]

Jon, you tow the turd to Dover, i'll do the long haul to Le mans. I swear we could probably tow it faster than it could ever go under its on steam!

I hope Mark is bringing lots of spares...

Tom, just train it to Soton, there will be room in one of the cars for sure.

[BadDave]

Tom, just train it to Soton, there will be room in one of the cars for sure.

Tom

If Jon or Jon can get you as far as Dover, I'll have room for 1 in the Alpina

[BadDave]

Jon, you tow the turd to Dover, i'll do the long haul to Le mans. I swear we could probably tow it faster than it could ever go under its on steam!

I hope Mark is bringing lots of spares...

As an alternative.

We could just leave/burn it on the autoroute

[Ziggy]

It'll fit in the boot of your 540 Jon. Or do you have a roof rack?

Tom, no excuses now!

[BadDave]

Tickets arrived this morning.

[Ziggy]

[Jon_Bmw]

So that is what needs signing for. I had the card through the door, and I couldn't work out what it was... Thankfully not a speeding ticket then!

-ve on the roofrack. It would have fitted in the back, but you all know I like to take EVERYTHING when camping and thus the boot is full.

[BadDave]

Just given the B10 an oil service
Phoned up Norfolkline and made the necessary change of details.

I'm bringing the Alpina this trip.

[Jon_Bmw]

You'll appreciate the air con for sure. I had mine on most of the way down last year. What a cracking car it looks too. I think it is just me and my brother this year, no Harrison and no Yiangou. Who is going to break all of the trees for fire wood on Sunday now?

On the plus side I might have room for some bikes

[Ziggy]

I now have a passenger! An old mate of mine stupidly agreed to it when I mentioned it on the phone t'other day!

[BadDave]

You'll appreciate the air con for sure. I had mine on most of the way down last year. What a cracking car it looks too. I think it is just me and my brother this year, no Harrison and no Yiangou. Who is going to break all of the trees for fire wood on Sunday now?

On the plus side I might have room for some bikes

I've gone for the soft option TBH(Must be getting old)
The Pina has more compliant suspension than the track orientated components on the Tourer.

Aircon and cruise is a plus, along with the less firm/harsh ride on them French roads.
It's no less fuel efficient than the B25 on a 200+mile mix of dual carriageway and backroad's with an avg of 30mpg.Bigger tank means less fuel stops en route too.
Should be able to avg 33-35mpg on the motorways/autoroutes hopefully.

I don't think I'll bother bringing the bike.
I'd have to dismantle it in order to make it fit in the boot.

[Jon_Bmw]

I averaged 27mpg last year and there was a fair amount of stop start driving within Le mans.

I am unsure on the bikes, I suspect I probably will though. Dismantle the front wheels should be enough for my car. They will go in complete, but leaves fack all room for anything else.

Just looking at breakdown cover, seems to be around £45, so i'll probably get that for peace of mind.

I have one last dilema, shall I get a nice rear box made up for my car to liven it up and bring out the v8 soundtrack?

[Ziggy]

I have one last dilema, shall I continue to be a big girl, or shall I get a nice rear box made up for my car to liven it up and bring out the v8 soundtrack?

Only you know the answer to that...

[Jon_Bmw]

2 weeks to go... Still haven't done anything about my exhaust.

[Ziggy]

Sort it aaaaaht!

& If it looks like you're going to have some spare space, I'm not going to have a huge amount of room for bikes...

Who's got a gas cooker? I'll have Mark's BBQ. Dave's got a Gayzebo. I'll attempt to remember to pack a saw!

[BadDave]

Jon,I'll have a multi fuel twin burner with me.I can throw in an MSR as a spare and the kettle if needed.
Gazebo is sorted as already mentioned.

Will have a cheapo coolbox to fill with water to keep the beers cool too.

I'll sort out some breakdown cover at the weekend or next week.

Sorted out accommodation near Dover for the Wednesday night and for when we get back on the Monday.