Club Arnage

OK.....this section has been a bit quiet recently.

Fairly easy one this for most of you....name the year.

You cant see it from the picture, but it is No 6.

Del

(http://muchos.co.uk/members/delboy9/No6-Med.jpg)

1969 driven by Graham Turner?

Am I right in thinking the car was not competing, just doing demo laps?

(http://www.expressandstar.com/EStar2/features/cullis/images/c-bullyturner.jpg)
 ??? I assume you mean the Graham Turner who was former manager of Wolves and Aston Villa? Rick you great big dingbat!!! I think you'll find Graham Turner is a motorsports artist. More care when Googling in future!

 ::) ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D



I'm probably wrong with the year looking at the pits and lack of debris fencing but  didn't Jackie Ickx do a couple of demo laps in this car in 2001

Nordic & Bob are on the right track (pun intended).  Looking at the number of cars and people in the pit lane, we're still in 'drive-past' time long before the race.

But Bob, you're way out - those pits disappeared after the '90 race (or was it after the '91 race??).

Del

I have been reading a book on the history of Le Mans actually!! The number 6 and the fact it was a gt40 rang a bell

And where is Graham Turner mentioned? I think he was playing for Shrewsbury Town at the time. And is that the definitive Le mans book written by Gary Linacker and Ally McCoist?  ;D

Derek Bell??  No - he wasn't driving this car either.   ;) ;) ;)

Del

Very good Del. Laughed so much I now feel Ickx.  :D

I would say it has to be later than 82 when the armco on the straight was replaced by concrete.

So I would guess at 1985.

Don't think Graham Turner was racing that year!

Spot on, Nordic.

The car originally won in '69 with Ickx and Oliver, and was driven here by Ickx on a 'lap of honour'.  Everyone expected him to have a blast around the circuit, but it took him about 10 mins to get round.

Bit of a trick one that - and it did catch a few out.

Del

Come to think of it, I think I'm wrong about Ickx driving it on that display lap.  That came a few years later.

IIRC, Ickx was driving a Rothmans Porsche with Jochen Mass in the race that year.

Del

Another couple of interesting ones, from the race that year:

One of Bob Tullius' Group 44 Jags

(http://muchos.co.uk/members/delboy9/Gp44-Jag.jpg)

And the Emka Aston Martin, driven by (among others) Tiff Needell.  It led for a short while, but eventually finished 10th or 11th.

(http://muchos.co.uk/members/delboy9/Emka.jpg)

And finally, one for Martini - just see it disappearing into the heads.

Driven by Pescarolo, would you believe.

(http://muchos.co.uk/members/delboy9/Lancia.jpg)

Eeee, it were good back then......

The best  :)

I agree, Matt.  I still feel that the mid-late 80's were the best.  Not only the cars, but the track was relatively unadulterated, little or no catch-fencing to obscure the view, and a much more homely feel about it all.  Very little of the 'give me megabucks and I still won't let you in' syndrome.  I have lots of photos of the old tented paddock that you could walk around and actually speak to drivers, mechanics, and in some instances, even sit in the cars as they were being worked on.  Ahhhh...nostalgia ain't what it used to be.....

End of Victor Meldrew soliloquy

Del

I agree! But did we ever establish who was driving the GT40 on the demo lap? Jackie Oliver?

And whilst we're on about the list of worst quiz answers ever, how about this lot copied from the Jokes thread next door:

WORST QUIZ ANSWERS EVER!!!!

>>Anne Robinson: In traffic, what "J" is where two roads meet?
>>Contestant: Jool carriageway.
>>
>>Anne Robinson: Which Italian city is overlooked by Vesuvius?
>>Contestant: Bombay.
>>
>>Robinson: What insect is commonly found hovering above lakes?
>>Contestant: Crocodiles.
>>Robinson: Wh...?
>>Contestant (interrupting): Pass!
>>
>>Anne Robinson: In olden times, what were minstrels, travelling
>>entertainers or chocolate salesmen?
>>Contestant: Chocolate salesmen.
>>
>>Robinson: The Bible, the New Testament. The Four Gospels were written
>>by Matthew, Mark, Luke and...?
>>Contestant: (long pause) Joe?
>>
>>NATIONAL LOTTERY JET SET
>>
>>Eamonn Holmes: What's the name of the playwright commonly known by the
>>initials G.B.S.?
>>Contestant: William Shakespeare.
>>
>>CHRIS SEARLE SHOW, BBC BRISTOL
>>
>>Searle: In which European country is Mount Etna?
>>Caller: Japan.
>>Searle: I did say which European country, so in case you didn't hear
>>that, I can let you try again.
>>Caller: Er... Mexico?
>>
>>FAMILY FORTUNES
>>
>>1) Something a blind man might use? A Sword
>>2) A song with the word Moon in the title? Blue Suede Moon
>>3) Name the capital of France? F
>>4) Name a bird with a long Neck? Naomi Campbell
>>5) Name an occupation where you might need a torch? A burglar
>>6) Where is the Taj Mahal? Opposite the Dental Hospital
>>7) What is Hitler's first name? Heil
>> A famous Scotsman? Jock
>>9) Some famous brothers? Bonnie and Clyde.
>>10) A dangerous race? The Arabs
>>11) Something that floats in a bath? Water
>>12) An item of clothing worn by the Three Musketeers? A horse
>>13) Something you wear on a beach? A deckchair
>>14) A famous Royal? Mail
>>15) Something that flies that doesn't have an engine? A bicycle with
>>wings
>>16) A famous bridge? The Bridge Over Troubled Waters
>>17) Something a cat does? Goes to the toilet
>>18) Something you do in the bathroom?  Decorate
>>19) A method of securing your home?  Put the kettle on
>>20) Something associated with pigs?  The Police
>>21) A sign of the Zodiac?  April
>>22) Something people might be allergic to? Skiing
>>23) Something you do before you go to bed? Sleep
>>24) Something you put on walls? A roof
>>25) Something slippery? A conman
>>26) A kind of ache? A fillet of fish
>>27) A jacket potato topping? Jam
>>28) A food that can be brown or white? A potato
>>29) Something sold by gypsies? Bananas
>>30) Something red? My sweater
>>
>>RADIO LINCS PHONE-IN
>>
>>Presenter: Which is the largest Spanish-speaking country in the world?
>>Contestant: Barcelona.
>>Presenter: I was really after the name of a country.
>>Contestant: I'm sorry, I don't know the names of any countries in

Spain.

>>
>>STEVE WRIGHT SHOW, RADIO 2
>>
>>Wright: On which continent would you find the River Danube?
>>Contestant: India.
>>
>>Wright: What is the Italian word for motorway?
>>Contestant: Espresso.
>>
>>Wright: What is the capital of Australia? And it's not Sydney.
>>Contestant: Sydney.
>>
>>THIS MORNING
>>
>>Judy Finnegan: The American TV show 'The Sopranos' is about opera. True


>>or false?
>>Contestant: True?
>>Finnegan: No, actually, it's about the Mafia. But it is an American TV
>>show, so I'll give you that.
>>
>>BBC RADIO NEWCASTLE
>>
>>Paul Wappat: How long did the Six Day War between Egypt and Israel

last?

>>Contestant (after long pause): Fourteen days.
>>
>>BOB HOPE BIRTHDAY QUIZ, LBC
>>
>>Presenter: Bob Hope was the fifth of how many sons?
>>Contestant: Four.
>>
>>BBC GMR, PHIL WOOD SHOW
>>
>>Wood: What "K" could be described as the Islamic Bible?
>>Contestant: Er...
>>Wood:  It's got two syllables... Kor...
>>Contestant: Blimey?
>>Wood:  Ha ha ha ha no. The past participle of run...
>>Contestant: (Silence)
>>Wood:  OK, try it another way. Today I run, yesterday I...
>>Contestant: Walked?
>>
>>DARYL'S DRIVETIME, VIRGIN RADIO
>>
>>Daryl Denham: In which country would you spend shekels?
>>Contestant: Holland?
>>Denham: Try the next letter of the alphabet.
>>Contestant: Iceland? Ireland?
>>Denham (helpfully): It's a bad line. Did you say Israel?
>>Contestant: No.

Do you remember they used to have a kind of portable Poo bar then, and you did not have to book camping. Plus all the fun of the fair... the hairy woman, 'strippers' for a franc

eeee lad

Martini...

And the date...





Martini...

Before we get to carried away:
'squat' loos and no showers on the campsites.
No Radio Le Mans - having to relay on the hourly update in English.
No Club Arnarge.

erhh can't think of anything else thats better now.

The mid to late 80's where my favorite as well. Great cars and atmosphere. The track had a good layout and provided great viewing.

No ponce's hanging around looking for freebies in corporate suites then either.

The horrible just pink porsche must have been 89, without looking it up.  Or was it 88.  Must get the negative scanner working tonight

Yes, those WERE the days

89?

Yes it was 89.  Joest ran a 3 car team.  Now I wonder what happened to them, and why are the crowd so close to the track, could this be Turn 10

I cannot remember for sure I thought it could have been '90 but maybe it was '89, I will bow to your knowledge.

The years just seemed to roll together!!?

Martini...

The years aren't really important they were all so good.

Have another go.  This was a good year too, and my photos were a lot better.  Not bad for 150 mph.  And it is a Goodyear driving - you can read it on the door.

Hi Lorry,
            Are you a closet Canadian? That would be the Canadians at Le Mans. Porsche dealers sponsored them. Scott Goodyear who had more success in Champ car nearly winning Indy 500 twice. Richard Spenard another of the greats. And Bill Adam who thinks he is great.
Canada Phil

It was 1989, the car was entered by Joest and driven by Hans Stuck and Bob Wollek
On Radio Le Mans in that year it was nicknamed "The pink Porsche" by the speakers and after it caught fire twice during refuelling they called it "The pink-black Porsche", damage is still to see on pic a little bit

I'm not a closet anything.  I just came across the photo - we see the stars and stripes, but the maple leaf is rare.

Heres another car the Japanese tried to destroy by paint scheme

I've been scanning my old photos in (as if you can't guess), and I know nostalgia isn't what it used to be, but it was so different when you had 3 or 4 works teams, a handfull of private Porsche 962s, Cougars (now Courage), the WM, and then a dozen C2 cars.

I suppose the factories don't have the money and the privateers are few and far between.

Lorry, unfortunately it is the way of things.  The bright side is that the old cars are still there and competing, albeit, at a reduced level. 

So, thanks to the historic series of races that are featuring around Europe now.

The next one in my diary is the Mille Miglia starting in Brescia, Italy, on the 11th May.  So that is something to look forward too, proper road racing!!

http://www.millemiglia.it/

I'm just glad I was there at the time, drinking beer at prices I couldn't believe.

Five LM incidents in particular have stuck in my mind over the years, tho the fine details are a bit hazy:-

1.  I think was a Nissan lost its rear panels and so another Nissan team (presumably same car difference team) who had dropped out gave them a rear end they had spare, so it finished the race looking like a cut n shunt.  (I think the back end was the pale blue n white colours - tho am quite prepared to be put right that was never a Nissan in the first place!)

2.  A Porsche (i think) where the bonnet flew up as he was leaving the pit lane, so he did a whole lap hanging outta the door.

3.  A car (not a clue what sort) that had a big smash and limped back to the pits, and cos the steering was shot to bits the driver couldnt get it round the corners and was trying to push it round, with marshalls helping, desperate to get it back to his garage, this was being shown on the big screen and everyone was cheering him on from the grandstands and willing it to get back for repairs.   Sadly he just couldnt do it even with thousands encouraging him....  :'( - but a heroic effort just the same.

4.  The "Sard" - based on (and recognisable as) the Toyota MR2 SW20 (which i drove for many years).  It always finished but kinda looked and sounded like it was just off to the coast for a Sunday afternoon run out.

5.  Of course the flying Mercs are memorable, goes without saying.  The "winglets"   ::) - yeah right like they were gonna do the trick.......

I am sure there are loads more but these kinda come to mind.... so - anyone name those years?

Its amazing how these things stick in the mind.  Also with the Sard were a couple of Nissan Skylines (or similar)  I was driving a Sierra at the time, and these things looked identical after a couple of beers, so I had a good giggle every time they went past, with a series of standing jokes (where did you get all the stickers from/is it your turn to drive yet)

I suppose that now I've bought a DB9, I'll have the same problems

So if we see a caravan being pulled at 150mph we'll know it's you!!  ;) ;D

I don't seem to be able to get it past 110.

I scanned my photos a few years ago, it rellay brings home just how the track and quality of entry vary thru the years.

btw. the skyline raced over 10 years ago in 95!!

http://rupert8766.fotopic.net/p2809453.html

Thanks for posting those Nordic. 1995 my first year! Brought a few memories back the noise of the Marcos and the rain.................. ;D

If that was 2001 it was a Chamberlain Viper. Crashed at the Porsche Curves in the heavy rain. The driver really struggled to get it back to the pits. It ended up in the gravel trap where marshalls and the driver managed to get it back into the pit lane. When the car got to the garage the mechanics took one look at it and withdrew it from the race.
I felt sorry for the driver as he tried his upmost to keep going.

2. - 2000

5. - 1999

4.  To kinda answer my own question - seems like the last time the Sard ran was 1996, and i saw them two years,  maybe three!  :)

1 1990, by deduction.  There was a private one in dark blue and plenty of spare light blue "works" body parts. 

The Nissan did lead briefly as it's famous for the Radio Le Mans commentary when it nudged a Toyota into the barrier on the approach to Dunlop and crawled back to the pits and they were totally confused as to what the pace car should do

For the avoidance of doubt, you can't get a tow bar to fit an Aston, so I reluctantly went for the Peugeot instead.

  For the avoidance of doubt, you can't get a tow bar to fit an Aston, so I reluctantly went for the Peugeot instead.

Shame, it could be used to pull Corvettes  ;D

No chamberlin cars in 2001, it was the 'Equipe de France FFSA' 'ORECA' Viper that crashed on the 4th lap and then expired in the pit entrance.

A couple of others also crashed at about the same time in heavy rain, the Pilbeam and Dick Barbour Reynard also went out.

It was the loss of one of the 'canards' (extensions to the front splitter) that caused Dumbrek's flight. Same situation with Dalmas's GT1 at Road Atlanta. Those goofy little wings can make a huge difference to the aero package.

Unfortunately in the case of the Mercs - they were flying before they fitted them, and they were still flying after they fitted them!  ???  Made for some great footage tho, and none of their drivers splattered  :)

Isn't it more the "Ayrton Senna" effect.  The ground effects work with the car one inch above the tarmac.  Two inches means less suction and zero inches means none at all.  A bouncy or porpoising car becomes lethal.

All together now, one, two, three

Oh Lord won't you buy be a Mecedes Benz, my friends all fly Cessnas..........

Yes you are correct I just visualized the car in my mind. It was a fantastic effort by the driver none the less.

Add to the question:-

WHO WAS DRIVING THAT VIPER IN 2001?

Ok, who's getting toasted here

A Peugeot Team Member???? ;D

David Terrien was the hapless guy who almost made it.

There where some Chamberlin cars in 2001, Uncle Hugh ran the MG's that year.