In the pit lane

Posted by Richard | Filed under Le Mans Classic

It was not all that long ago, that if you wanted to see genuine historic racing cars you needed to go to a museum. If you were really lucky you might see one of these cars doing a parade lap between races at a major meeting. But all that changed in 2002, when the Le Mans Classic was launched. Now visitors can see the very best historic race cars from around the world, compete in a series of races over 24 hours at the famous 13.63km Circuit de la Sarthe just outside Le Mans in France.

Even in these times of economic uncertainty, the organisers were swamped with applications from teams wanting to take part. For these Teams, it is the highlight of the racing calendar. A chance for them to race the cars at the actual circuit on which many of the cars had originally raced 30, 40, 50 years ago. For the drivers it is an ultimate opportunity to race the best cars, against top drivers on the most famous circuit in the world.

Racing the sunrise at the Le Mans Classic 2010

The highlight for many of them is the night race, around a circuit where only a few key corners are lit. Without wishing to sound too clichéd, it is the ultimate test, with some cars reaching speeds of over 170mph in almost total darkness. It demands total concentration and very strong nerves to race at these speeds, wheel to wheel against other cars, when you can only see a few yards ahead of you.

I am lucky enough to be part of Surrey Sports and Classics Historic Motorsports team, which has competed at every one of the Le Mans Classics, as well as several of the support races at the modern Le Mans 24 hours. We run one of the truly iconic British built Le Mans cars of the post war era. The BMC works entered Le Mans MGB, driven to 11th overall and 2nd in class by Paddy Hopkirk and Andrew Hedges in 1965. The car has been owned by MG racing legend Barry Sidery-Smith since the early 1970’s and he never misses an opportunity to return the  car to circuit for which she was specifically built.

Barry's MGB Racing at the Le Mans Classic 2010

The logistics for the Le Mans Classic are quite mind boggling, and on a completely different scale to any other event. The cars are divided into one of 6 “Plateaux” dependant on their age. Each Plateau takes part in three forty minute races, spread over 24 hours. With one of the races held at night. The maximum number of cars in each race is 68, each with 2 drivers. This works out at 408 race cars and 816 drivers. And that is not including up to 7 reserve cars per Plateau and their drivers, who are allowed to join the two practice sessions but will only take part in the races if any of the other cars fail to make the grid.

For the teams involved it’s a lot of hard work to run the cars such a long way from home. Our team was very privileged, as our car and most of the equipment was taken over from England in the back of the magnificent 1950’s BMC race transporter belonging to Doug and Loraine Samuel. Fortunately for us our friends at Travel Destinations are very experienced at coping with our teams travel needs and had no problem booking ferry crossings for the race transporter, 2 large 4×4, an estate towing a trailer and 1958 MG Magnette, as well as several other assorted vehicles.

Racing in the heat at the Le Mans Classic 2010

It is difficult to describe to anyone who has not been there before, the scale of things at the Le Mans Classic. You get a better sense of the events popularity, when you go onto the Bugatti circuit. Here you will find the members of 160 different car clubs from all over Europe, with their cars all parked together proudly on display. It truly does cater for every taste, from Alfa Romeo to Zagato and everything in between. You could spend your entire weekend just wandering around this area, but this would be a shame because the Le Mans Classic has so much more to offer. One area that grows bigger and better each time is the sprawling tented village of trade stands, restaurants and displays. After three days at the circuit, I don’t think I managed to see half of what was on display.

The heart of the event is the tented Paddocks, one for each of the plateaux, where the cars a kept throughout the weekend. It is here that you will find the teams preparing the cars and battling to keep them running. At most modern race meetings this work would be done away from the gaze of the public, but the opposite is true at the Le Mans Classic. The crowds are given unprecedented access the paddocks, over the whole weekend. This provides plenty of opportunity for them to get right up close to these historic race cars and talk to the teams and drivers. Our team always tries to ensure that we have at least one person available to answer questions and talk about the car. The bustling atmosphere in the paddock also helps create a great feeling of camaraderie amongst the teams. Many of the teams go to great lengths to help those struggling to keep cars running, with the lone of equipment and spare parts. A great example of this is when we sold our spare MGB alternator to a very grateful team, who were desperately trying to fix their Aston Martin DB4 GT before the next race.

The Le Mans Classic paddock area

One of the main problems facing both teams and spectators at the 2010 Le Mans Classic, was the heat. With France gripped by a heat wave, and temperatures hitting 42 degrees, it was difficult to escape the heat. It was even worse for the drivers. Imagine what it must be like to be wearing long fireproof underwear, a three layer race suit, a balaclava and a crash helmet. Then think how well you would cope if you had to wear all that while racing a car, with no ventilation, flat out round Le Mans. Finally try to put yourself in the shoes of our cars owner/driver, Barry Sidery-Smith, who is doing all this at the grand old age of 74.

With such intense heat, it was not long into the first practice session that some of the racing cars started to run into problems. I stood in the pit-lane and watched as the Mike Hawthorne’s 1955 Jaguar D type came in after its first lap, smoke pouring from the seized brake calliper on the front off-side. My team’s car did not fair much better, cracking the cylinder head during the first qualifying session. Without a suitable replacement, things were looking grim. However all was saved when Travel Destinations customer Mick Loynes kindly volunteered the use of the cylinder head off his fast road MGB, in which he had just driven down to Le Mans. In record time, the team stripped the part off Mick’s car and installed it on our race car. Much to everyone’s relief the car worked faultlessly after that, running competitively in the middle for the pack for all three races. We tried to convince Mick that the extra Le Mans provenance we had just given his cylinder head would double his cars value. But I am not convinced that he believed us. And in case you are wondering, yes we did bring Mick’s car back to England and rebuild his engine for him.

Mick Loynes points out the cylinder head from his MG

The Le Mans Classic truly is a unique event that holds a special place in affections of all those have been part of it. If you have not been yet, I suggest you start planning now for the next one in 2012.

See you there,

James

James Pitt at the pit wall during the Le Mans Classic 2010

James Pitt is part of the Surrey Sports and Classics Historic Motorsports team

Read more | No Comments | August 18th, 2010

Here we go again!

Posted by Richard | Filed under Le Mans Classic

And so, just three weeks from the packing up our trackside campsite from the Le Mans 24 Hours we are back! This coming weekend sees the return of the Le Mans Classic and Travel Destinations customers are returning in force for this great weekend of historical motorsport.

As usual we are offering a number of different packages for the Le Mans Classic, but by for the most poular is our private trackside campsite. This year the campsite is being occupied by around 400 guests, many of whom are members of the MG Owners’ Club, Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club or the TIPEC (The Independent Porsche Enthusiasts’ Club).

The advanced team from Travel Destinations arrived on Sunday ready to begin work on Monday. By the end of the day the campsite had marked and numbered pitches and was beginning to take shape.

Tuesday was the day to start signposting the campsite. The circuit at Le Mans can be confusing for the first time visitor, particularly if they are arriving once the circuit is open and so the N138 is closed, so good signage is important. We try to go for the subtle approach and stay in keeping with the relaxed atmosphere that the Le Mans Classic has.

Wednesday sees the arrival of more staff in readiness for the majority of arrivals on Thursday and Friday. It starts to feel like an event now as other groups start to assemble their stands and the Le Mans Classic team begin preparing their car parks. The Le Mans Classic is the largest car club gathering in Europe and takes quite a bit of organising.

Friday sees the actual opening of the event, with over 100,000 people expected to descend on Le Mans across the weekend. The weather forecast is for hot and sunny weather, so if you are coming down remember to bring a hat, sunglasses and some sun block! We are really looking forward to it!

Read more | No Comments | July 7th, 2010

Le Mans Classic: A Race Team’s View

Posted by Richard | Filed under Le Mans Classic

Le Mans Classic 2008: A Race Team’s View

Despite only having been run every alternate year since its inception 2002, the Le Mans Classic has quickly built up a reputation as the most prestigious classic motorsport event in the world. Pick up any classic car magazine and you will find journalists waxing lyrical about the cars, the atmosphere and the people. But they are not the only ones who can’t get enough of this unique event. As soon as the dates are announced the organisers are swamped with entry request from all over the globe, from owners of exotic race cars desperate to come and compete at this Mecca of motorsport. To their credit the organisers do not just choose the rare multi million pound supercars. They are careful to try and include as many different makes and types of cars as possible. This results in most wonderful mix of cars on the grids, from Cobras and Aston Martins to little Renault Gordinis and MGs. It is this that gives the event such universal appeal.

The event not only attracts the best cars but also many top drivers and celebrities. Previous years have seen Sir Stirling Moss and Rowan Atkinson taking part. Whilst mingling in the paddocks you find the likes of Basil Wales (Head of BMC Special Tuning in the 1960’s) and the legendary 1950’s & 60’s Jaguar test driver, Norman Dewis.

For any team lucky enough to have their entry accepted there is a lot for work to do, both before and during the event. Whilst many of the entries may look like the road going cars they are based on, most are highly tuned and beautifully crafted pieces of precision engineering. A good example of this the 1965 works MGB originally driven by rally ace Paddy Hopkirk and works BMC driver Andrew Hedges. Since the early 1970’s this car has been owned by legendary MG racer Barry Sidery-Smith, who has competed in it at every Le Mans classic held so far. Whilst the car may look like a standard MGB roadster, its body panels are all hand built in aluminium and the 1800cc engine has almost twice the horse power of the ones fitted to cars on the production line.

The majority of motor races in the UK last less than 30 minutes, with most drivers arriving, qualifying and racing on the same day, before heading home in the evening. The Le Mans classic is very different, with teams arriving several days in advance to set up, scrutineer and test the cars prior to the weekends racing. The format is unique, with the cars divided up into one of 6 “Plateaus” dependant on the era they originally ran in.  The cars from each Plateau then compete in a series of 45 minute races throughout a 24 hour period. This means that spectators get to watch cars from the 1930’s up to the 1970’s in a series of thrilling races which run right through the night. For both teams and spectators alike, there simply is no comparison with any another event for sheer excitement and non stop action. It is an unforgettable experience to be on the pit wall at 4 0’clock in the morning as 75 classic race cars come thundering down the pit straight at full speed, throttles wide open and lights blazing. It literally makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up and tingle.

Whilst the modern race gave up the traditional “Le Mans Start” after 1969 for safety reasons, the spectacle is recreated for the first race by each Plateau. It is a wonderful sight to see the cars lined up along the pit wall with there drivers waiting on the far side of the track. It may only be for fun, but very driver wants to be the first to run across the track, jump into their car and pull away. All of which is accompanied by cheers and the support of a large and appreciative crowd.

The atmosphere away from the track is just as good, with spectators allowed unprecedented access to the cars and teams in the paddocks. For each Plateau the 5 hour break before their next race is an opportunity to fix the cars, catch up with old acquaintances and, if you’re really lucky, grab a couple of minutes rest in the back of the transporter.  Like the Goodwood Revival meeting, teams are encouraged to dress up in period outfits, with mechanics resplendent in white overalls and cloth caps, whilst drivers tend to opt for tweed jackets and the occasional cravat. All of which help conjure up images of a bygone era.

One thing that is often remarked upon by visitors, is the great friendship between competitors. Teams frequently lend whatever spare parts they can to other teams, in order to help them get back out for the next race. Many of the mechanics perform quite incredible feats of engineering, with everything from wheel bearings to entire engines being replaced with only a handful of tools and whatever spare parts could be crammed in to the back of a van when leaving their workshops. But there are always some things that have to be left behind. I spoke to one American mechanic who was bemoaning the fact that the team had been unable to bring the 8 golf buggies the crew usually used when racing their Shelby Cobra in America!

It really is a very special event for everyone involved. I can think of no other race meeting that combines excitement and organised chaos with such style. Long may it continue.

Thank you to James Pitt for the contribution of this article.

James is part of the Surrey Sports & Classic Historic Motorsport team that is racing an MGB again at the Le Mans Classic 2010.

Read more | No Comments | June 25th, 2010