Messages

1

General Discussion / Re: Invitation to join our Motoring/MotorSport 'Pub Quiz' in aid of CA charities.

« on: June 07, 2009, 01:37:15 am »

That's it folks, we're OFF TO FRANCE tomorrow.

This will be my last post on the subject until after the race - No good asking specific questions about the quiz now, it's too late to get an answer from me, and no one else has knowledge of the details! (Hopefully my first post has all the details you need).

If you have a more general question such as where is BSJ campsite, or how far is it from 'X', how do I get there, etc., I'm sure any number of folks on here will help you out.

Of course if you want to join in the quiz, just turn up unannounced, you will be made very welcome.

Here's hoping you all have a great time at the race and that the weather isn't as grim as some of the forecasts!

TC

2

General Discussion / Re: Invitation to join our Motoring/MotorSport 'Pub Quiz' in aid of CA charities.

« on: June 05, 2009, 09:34:46 pm »

Hi Gaz

Bit off subject, this is the Pub Quiz thread, but the answer is 'THE COURBE BAR' near the Dunlop Bridge. See CA Guide for more details.

Why not come to our Pub Quiz on Fri night as well 

TC

3

General Discussion / Re: Invitation to join our Motoring/MotorSport 'Pub Quiz' in aid of CA charities.

« on: June 05, 2009, 06:52:05 pm »

Queen Vic - We always realised that it was likely to be far to much of a trek from the other campsites, but reckoned BSJ was big enough to supply sufficient bodies.

Of course, if anyone from another site wants to come, then they will be made very welcome.


Chris24 - What can I say, we'd be very honoured by your presence, with or without 'chafed' bits. 

I really don't want to know which particular bits you were planning on chafing or indeed how you planned to chafe them, but some athletic girlie type friends swear by Vaseline to minimise the problem on some 'sensitive' bits (... I think I may have to offer to assist in their preventative measures )

Hope to see you there, and if we don't, enjoy the w/e anyway.


Well Termie, just very glad you are able to make the race, that's pretty impressive considering how you were, really not so very long ago!

If anyone has a justifiable reason for not making our Quiz, then yours has to be about the best.

Mind you I think it was a little OTT pranging the motor just so you could avoid us! - if you just said you didn't want to come, we wouldn't have hunted you down and forced you - we're very reasonable people you know 

We wish you the very best and hope you enjoy the race.

4

General Discussion / Re: Euros

« on: June 05, 2009, 06:07:24 pm »

1.0607 at the post office. 215 euros for £202.70 

The PO used to quiet good, only knocking off 2 or 3 cents from the bank rate.
Now it's 6 or 7.  Greedy. No commission my ar*e.
After using them for about 15 years I have voted with my wallet and gone eslewhere.

I believe the PO use two different exchange rates, one for over the counter sales and one for online sales, the online rate has been pretty competitive whenever I've checked, and if you order over £500 you get free next day delivery to home or nominated Post Office.

I ordered mine from PO online on 2nd June at 1.1231 €/£, and received it next day - no hassle, well happy

Notice today's online rate has dropped back to 1.0934, so happier still I did it when I did 

5

General Discussion / Re: Invitation to join our Motoring/MotorSport 'Pub Quiz' in aid of CA charities.

« on: June 04, 2009, 02:14:35 pm »

Smokie
The quiz is open to ALL, CA'ers, mates of CA'ers, peeps you met on the ferry, peeps in the 'tent next door', absolutely anyone who can drag their carcase along to our pitch.

I'm not looking for absolute commitment, just an indication of whether or not ANY CA'ers might turn up.

It's not a lack of patience, it's a lack of time - I'm off to France early on Sun 7th, so won't be checking the forum again until after the race (unfortunately I was unable to put the invite out before this week, which was a lot less notice than I would have liked).

A fair number of hits suggest it has reached people's attention, but not produced a great response. We were always prepared to accept that it wouldn't fit in with other plans, or that it's simply not to everyone's taste, but from experience, BSJ is a very busy place on a Fri night, generally there seem to be a lot of peeps just socialising with others on the site, so we reckon we can drag in sufficient numbers, but we'd just like to catch a few CA'ers amongst them.


JDS
It's not a silly question at all, but originally we set the quiz up for our own amusement and 8 out of the 12 of us are not arriving until late Fri., so Fri is the day it needs to be.


At least a bit of 'conversation' on the subject might bring in a few more 'viewers' and stimulate some interest.

6

General Discussion / Re: Invitation to join our Motoring/MotorSport 'Pub Quiz' in aid of CA charities.

« on: June 04, 2009, 11:30:01 am »

OK folks - where's the great stampede of peeps showing support?

When the idea of a quiz was mentioned to a few potential interested parties, it was greeted with enthusiasm, so we made it a reality.

A quick scan through the forum suggests there are at least 75 CA'ers camping on BSJ (I'm sure there must be MANY more with the way the ACO allocated tickets!), so all things considered, a bit more interest was expected. 

Expressing interest is NOT a commitment to attend, you are free to choose on the night. We are just trying to get a feel for the likely numbers of CA'ers. We will throw it open to the campsite in general on a first come first served basis (limit of 30 teams total), but obviously, we'd like to have as many of you lot as possible.

With enough support, some lucky bod could have a wad of cash in their pocket and the CA Charities would also get a wad of cash to boost what under the economic circumstances is likely to be a lean year.

For little more than the cost of a (highly overpriced Le Mans bar) beer, you and your team could have a couple of hours of fun. 

This isn't 'Mastermind', most of the questions are going to be fairly simple, we're looking to provide a couple of hours of fun, NOT find 'BRAIN OF LE MANS 2009'!

Come on folks, let's have a CA get together as a warm up for the Sat. meetup in the Courbe bar. 

I'll overlook the comment from one unkind soul, that you've all addled your brain cell with excess booze and aren't up to the task, I still have faith that there are a few partially functioning brain cells left amongst you. 

7

General Discussion / Invitation to join our Motoring/MotorSport 'Pub Quiz' in aid of CA charities.

« on: June 03, 2009, 05:50:22 pm »

We have organised a 'Pub Quiz' for Friday 12th June at 9.00pm to be held on (and around!) our pitch on Beausejour camp site.

There will be a cash prize for the winner (*up to 100 Euros!) AND a donation from proceeds to the 2009 CA charities. This year's charities are AICR (Association of International Cancer Research) and The Motorsport Safety Fund, both very worthy causes in the eyes of CA'ers I'm sure, see CA guide for more details.

Entry charge is 10 Euros per team (max 5 persons/team) - play on your own or join up with some other peeps to make a team if need be, it's just for fun and a good cause.

Sorry I'm not able to give you a definitive location on Beausejour yet, as we won't know where we are going to be on the site until we arrive on Monday 8th,  but so early in the week, we should be somewhere near the 'front'. We plan to post direction arrows as best we can to try and guide you.

Our pitch will be big and fairly obvious, with a 40m 'frontage', a couple of large St George Cross flags, plus 40m of St George Cross bunting, not to mention a easy to spot red Landrover station-wagon, horse-box trailer and a large green/white striped gazebo.

Bring your own chair AND booze (this is for fun, you don't need a clear head  ). Question sheet and pen will be provided.

If you are interested, please send me a PM BEFORE Sat 6th (I wont be checking after the 6th, so just turn up), so we can judge numbers. If only a small number of CA'ers express interest, we will throw it open to all on the campsite to boost numbers. We've enough question sheets to cope with up to 30 teams (150 peeps)! (Could be interesting if that many peeps turn up!!!!!!! )

* Prize amount will be dependent upon number of teams entering quiz.

Cheers

TC

Mods - Any chance of making this sticky until the race?

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General Discussion / Re: Euros

« on: May 30, 2009, 01:29:44 am »

I wish I got commission for these people, the times I've recommended them.

http://www.crowncurrencyexchange.com/

Currently offering 1.1255, no commission. You'd be hard pushed to better that. Only problem may be minimum order is £300.

I've used them before and am using them again (next month) for dollars.

But it also seems to take them 10 days to deliver! - We'll be in France by then!

I'm with Leftie, the PO online rates are pretty good (Just checked - 1.1096), no commission, and no delivery charge for £500+ AND they deliver NEXT WORKING DAY. 

9

So You Think You Know About Le Mans / Re: One for Mr Z, Which film

« on: May 25, 2009, 07:00:38 pm »

Do you want the spec, taken from the same place as the photo!

1939 Peugeot P53

100cc with 3-speed hand-change gearbox.

In order to encourage people to buy motorcycles in the thirties, the French government allowed pedal-assisted motorcycles under 50cc to be exempt from registration and the need for a driving license.

Peugeot made this 100cc model with fixed foot-pegs that look like pedals so that people could break the law and ride it without a license or reg!

Mr Invisible, you have been GOOGLED 

10

General Discussion / Re: Where are we all?

« on: May 25, 2009, 02:51:30 pm »

I'm in the shadow of Norman Foster's limp dick, otherwise known as the arch over Wembley Stadium.

Every architect seems to design at least one phallic symbol, think Norman was showing his age with this one!

If you get the impression I don't like it, you're right, like most peeps that live with it, we think the Stadium's an obscenely expensive eyesore in the wrong location! 

TC

11

General Discussion / Re: LM 2009 first practice - Pic

« on: May 25, 2009, 02:30:54 pm »

Call that practice! - where's the great pile of discarded beer bottles? 

You also look far TOO 'pristine' - what happened to the traditional look of dishevelled, hot & sweaty and that accumulation of LM 'grubbiness' that seems impossible to dislodge until you return home! 

But I believe there is hope, you will live 'down' to expectations in France, I'm sure. 

12

General Discussion / Re: Pictures of the new campsite and entry tickets needed for the CA-Guide

« on: May 20, 2009, 05:46:04 pm »

Hi Werner,

You have a BSJ ticket image on it's way to you now!

TC.

13

General Discussion / Re: Return Of The Vulcan

« on: May 18, 2009, 10:18:43 pm »

As a design engineer myself, I have huge admiration for the folks that designed and developed the V bombers, they were great aircraft that more than proved their worth by satisfying roles that were way outside of their original design brief and operating far beyond their designed service life. I have a very large soft spot for the Vulcan in particular, a stunning aircraft.

I've also had plenty of experience of the 'bean counters' forcing cutbacks and compromises on designs, sometimes to the point where safety was reduced from what was technically achievable! - That's when I worked in the industrial safety equipment industry! Martin-Baker proved that it was technically achievable to safeguard all crew members.

I doubt that the people responsible for designing these aircraft would have had such a cavalier attitude towards the welfare of the crew, but I have little doubt that the powers that be considered them 'expendable', in much the same way as more recent military personnel have been endangered by poor quality or complete lack of suitable equipment.

It is a sad fact, our political masters then and now, put many other factors ahead of the well-being of military personnel.

14

General Discussion / Re: Arnage will be busier on Friday

« on: May 18, 2009, 02:01:50 pm »

Yet another reason for taking the old push bike this year I think 

Word of warning, I was stopped taking my push bike into the circuit at two different gates last year I did ask why but got the usual gaelic shrug and told interdit!!!!! 

Dont forget to take a lock

We got our bikes into the circuit very early Sat. morning without a problem, but got a b*llocking on the way OUT late afternoon 

Basic message was DON'T DO IT AGAIN! 

If you really need to bike it to the circuit, you could always lock the bike(s) to the fencing/barriers at the entrance(s) as many, many others had done. Recommend good locks and removing anything 'removable' to ensure to come back to all that you left!

15

General Discussion / Re: BEAUSEJOUR SOLD OUT?

« on: March 31, 2009, 02:56:58 pm »

Made the mistake of taking incorrect info from another LM supporters site, the ACO site says that DAIRON does have showers (didn't last year!), so I owe the ACO a bit of an apology. 

Bas, this is France, why shouldn't we expect Bidets But our expectations are set much lower, we tend to be more grateful for a light bulb and/or a toilet seat, and a loo that will flush down the hole and not over your feet!

OK, no showers for a w/e is tolerable, as you say, you CAN improvise, but to put a little prospective on our outlook, we are there for 7 days, and there will be up to 12 of us in our party, so things like camping solar showers are not really a viable option.

The other point is, we are putting nearly £400 into ACO coffers for the privilege of camping, is it really so unreasonable to expect basic amenities in return!

The shower/no shower thing is a little academic for us, we're on BSJ (booked in Jan. by choice - it suits us better for a long stay), which has always had showers for the past few years that we have been there, even if they are often cold!

Leftie has a valid point though, the attitude of the ACO has changed over the past 2-3 years, they seem to have been infiltrated by 'bean counters' who have no passion for the sport and empathy with the 'true' fans, they seem to be obsessed with making money out of the event and pander to the needs/wants of the corporates over and above the considerations of the true (and loyal) fans. I don't expect the ACO to organise the event 'at cost' or make a loss, but it was much better years ago when the true fans were treated with a little more regard.