Le Mans is easily my favourite motorsport event, I've never been to something like the Indy 500 or the Daytona 500 (events that are equally as large) so I've yet the experience the atmosphere of something like those.
I'm afraid I'm very boring in one sense, I'm a complete petrol head and motorsport nut. I know lots go there to drink lots and party with friends like it's a rock festival but I just love motor racing and that's what I go to soak up and I thoroughly enjoy myself. Nothing else like it. There's the human side of the race as well as the technical side.
1993 was my first visit and I went mainly because it was the last year of Group C, the sound of the Peugeot's and Toyota's were just incredible and the Peugeot's just dominated the entire race. Also I remember it very fondly for the Jaguar win. I know the cars were disqualified afterwards (missing catalytic convertors) but they crossed the line first in GT1 and they won in it in my view.
1995 was my second visit and was very special for other reasons. My Dad and I arrived earlier than usual and we made the effort to get to the Driver's parade in town on the Friday night (we also caught the end of qualifying on Thursday.) If you are there in time and can get to the parade then please do it's a fantastic experience. The race of course was very special. Although I've never been so soaked in all my life! lol. It rained for almost the entire race and the tent simply gave up trying to be waterproof at night after being hammered for 20 hours by drizzle and rain. Seeing the McLarens fighting for the win though will always be a very special memory and they will always be one of my all time favourite race cars. There was also a Kudzu Mazda with it's triple rotor
, another classic sportscar memory for me. I was so glad for a hot shower and a warm bed when I got home though!
2000 has some interesting memories for me as well. My Dad and I went along with the Jaguar Owners Club as part of a special trip that weekend. It was great for a number of reasons but two were quite special. We got to drive on the circuit the morning of the race (at 5am no less...that was a long day!) and the Jaguar took part in the drivers parade on the Friday night which was also very cool and something unique. The race was great but a bit like this year, the only factory team was Joest and they dominated, leading one, two, three for almost all the race so no real battle at the front. Still a great weekend nonetheless. EDIT: I've just remembered something. As we were part of the parade I ended up signing autographs! Didn't have the heart to tell them I wasn't a driver!
2004 was the last time I went. It was a last minute decision as I was looking at Audi UK's website (there were no factory cars that year) and came across a package for a secure campsite, with facilities and food all laid on, so we just went for it. This was Pescarolo's best chance of winning. They'd had the fastest cars all year and with no factory cars in LMP900 this was their golden opportunity. So as expected in qualifying the cars were easily fastest and three seconds faster than the Champion Audi. In the race though things started to go wrong. It was hot, 30 degrees plus and tough to walk around in let alone be in a race car (this was before the GT classes had Air Con too). This started to cause overheating issues with both of the cars and the Champion car sneaked through for the win. The crowd were happy for Audi but you could sense the crushing disappointment in Pescarolo and they hurt badly, for the first few hours they were just cruising and it would have been an easy win for them. Funnily I remember it because of the heat. Due to the campsite we had, we had our own showers which was like water in a desert. I think I was showering three times a day to try and cool down!
. I also remember a bunch of guys in a tent opposite who on Friday night decided to drink as much lager as they could and then missed all the race because they were so ill!
I know I've focused on the main battle at front but I have lots of other memories in other classes. Things like the DBR9 Astons, F40's and the Lotus Esprit in GT1, the rumbling Corvettes, the beautiful bright yellow Ferrari 33SP which we saw in qualifying but never made the start, the determination of teams to get their cars to the end and of course the Radio le Mans team without which most of us would be completely lost. Lot's of little memories which make up some great times.
I didn't really have a camera through all of this but I do know my dad have his SLR. He's recently scanned in all his old slides so if anyone's interested I'll see what I can find.
I suppose my only slight regret is missing out on the '98 and '99 years. That was a golden time for the race and also being a Mazda fan, missing the '91 win. Although I only got into motorsport around '92 anyway.
I haven't been since then mainly because of work and it's always tough to get the time off I sometimes need, however I have been looking at returning soon and also I looked at the Classic Le Mans which is huge event all by itself. It's actually a pretty smooth route from Guernsey. Across to St. Malo and a few hours drive and you're there.
I still go to the WEC event at Silverstone every year and seeing both the six hour race and the ELMS race the day before is just brilliant, nothing like it and it's my "Le Mans" experience for the year.
I'm hoping to maybe do Sebring next year. Cheer on the Joest Mazda's and also take advantage of the double header event for 2019.
For those of you going this year, have fun and enjoy. Can't make it this year but looking forward to Silverstone in August
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