Friday at the Hotel de France is fun, with all manner of sporting machinery, from blower Bentleys onwards parked outside. Fantastic atmosphere - but crowded. Still possible to get a beer though!
Teams no longer allow drivers or personnel to stay there - they want everyone under one roof, and strict control.
Ask Christophe, the barman about the "demo run" Justin Bell gave him a few years ago when he was still allowed to stay there. Derek Bell always stayed there.
What and where is Hooters ? Surely not
http://www.itchynottingham.co.uk/venues/44.html

The Tempest - Le Mans 2001

Much Ado About Nothing - My tickets haven't arrived yet.

It's all to do with
http://www.leblon-delienne.fr/

Eric and Marie leblon Delienne are old friends and neighbours. They are having a big party in a local chateau to ceibrate the first 20 years of their company.
Marie is about to start work on a series of Michel Valliant statuettes - so Jean Graton will be there and Marie will introduce me to him.
This month's Automobile Historique has an interview with Henry Grandsire!

Radio Le Mans is an amazing asset. Ian Titchmarsh does a quite outstanding 24 hours + at the mike. Just a shame that some other members of the team aren't so knowledgeable. Particularly a prat from the top right hand corner of England (no offence H), who knows far less than he thinks.
For keeping up with what's occuring it's indispensable.

I'm supposed to be meeting Jean Graton, Michel Valliant's creator, at a party tomorrow night.

I'll try and get some info from him then.

Incidentally, Michel Valliant was a TV series in the mid 60s, with MV played by real-life racer Henry Grandsire, and with genuine GP footage with the GP drivers of the day.
Henry was once French F3 Champion and came a heroic 9th overall in a 1292cc  Alpine A210 with Leo Cella at Le Mans 1966. 1st in Prototypes 1151-1300cc.

Now look what you've done H!!
Tell you what, I'll better any offer BoyRacer makes and I'll throw in a couple of camels, a whole night with my 13 year old sister, a weekend at the Ritz in Paris (you can top the Hamiltons on the wine stakes), your own weight in uncut diamonds, and one day's production from one of my oil wells.  If you're snappy about it, I'll fly you down to Monaco for the rest of the weekend, you can stay on the yacht and I can probably fit you up with one of Eddie I's cast-offs (no promises).
Only condition is - you don't let Smokie hear about this, as he mighthave the absurd idea that there was some element of profiteering involved on your part.
That's the advantage of this private messaging system. The old moderator doesn't know what really goes on.

Well, I did say "something like that" !! I'll have a crack at your English next Gilles!!
And I bought you some little LM models at a brocante today!

   

PM -

Hélicoptères : Jet Systems - T : 02.43.72.07.70

I have an idea they are signposted race week - baptemes en l'aire, or something like that.

Got the address off pages jaunes. So if they are moving, where to, Gilles?

The chosen years, 1959 to 1971, represent a golden era for Le Mans. In the mid-1960s, as Ford took on Ferrari, the new generation of mid-engined cars was reaching unprecedented speeds on the 3-mile Mulsanne Straight. Then, as the decade drew to a close, the emergence of aerodynamic downforce changed the face of racing for ever. The Porsche 917 and Ferrari 512M were not only faster in corners: they also raised straight-line speeds well in excess of 200mph
   
    Yet 1971 was the swansong of these 5-litre beasts. Their short but glorious life as contemporary racers came to an abrupt end in 1972, with the introduction of a new 3-litre capacity limit. Changing regulations, and alterations to the track, have meant that the average speed of the winning Porsche in 1971 - over 138mph for a day and a night - has never been beaten
    In 2003, the Le Mans Legend will re-run the heroic battles between Porsche 917 and Ferrari 512, between Ford GT40 and Ferrari P4, between Matra V12 and Porsche 908. Also invited are charismatic GT cars like Le Mans Cobras and Lightweight E-types, Ferrari GTOs and Aston Martin Project cars
      In the smaller-engined classes, too, history was being written between 1959 and 1971. A fascinating mix of cars is eligible for the 2003 event, from period Porsche, Lotus and Lola via Le Mans versions of Austin-Healey Sprite, Triumph, Sunbeam and MG to less familiar marques like Chevron, Costin, Abarth and Ligier
    For the first time, this year’s Le Mans Legend will be a two-driver, one-hour event. The new, two-driver format opens the way for entrants to share their cars with Le Mans pastmasters, in a race which will see all the excitement of pit-stops and driver changes plus some famous names and cars from recent Le Mans history. These include Jackie Oliver in a GT40, Phil Hill in an Alfa Romeo TZ1, Stirling Moss and Ulrich Bez sharing the Aston Martin DBR1 which won Le Mans outright in 1959, Nick Mason in a Ferrari 512S and David Piper in a Porsche 917
   
 "When the first Legend race proved so popular with the crowds at Le Mans," explains Duncan Wiltshire, "we decided to maintain the excitement of subsequent events by accepting Le Mans cars from different eras. Each time this historic battle is run, we'll review the eligible dates. By accepting cars from 1959 to 1971, the spectrum of entries in 2003 will take us forward in motor racing history to years of great innovation, before the era of the magnificent 5-litre racers came to a close. This is only the second Le Mans Legend race and the first time it has been run as a two-driver, one-hour event,” said Wiltshire. “Driver changes in the Le Mans pit-lane, just a few hours before the start of the 24Hours, will add a new dimension to the atmosphere and excitement of this Historic race."
   
Nicked from www.motorracinglegends.com

Dream Machine  
33 r Albert Einstein 72650 LA CHAPELLE SAINT AUBIN     02 43 23 96 00
fax : 02 43 87 68 62
 
It's to the west of the industrial/commercial area which includes Auchan. Near the motorway.
If you need it the village is on any 1/200000 map.

Think you'll find a nice "mobile block" of WCs, with wash basins well maintained by its guardians. Big queues at peak hours.
As for showers, you have to cross the road to the entrance by Maison Blanche for those. Queues for those too, of course.

No, it doesn't.  

There is a return service. But you'll need to ask the driver or enquire at the SETRAM office.

Tickets now sold.