Name the Year

[Lorry]

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.

[Ferrari Spider]

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/

[Lorry]

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

[Fran]

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?

[Lorry]

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

[jpchenet]

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!! 

[Lorry]

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

[Nordic]

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.

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

[Bobblehat]

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

[rcutler]

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


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.

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.

[Steve Pyro]

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?

2. - 2000

5. - 1999

[Fran]

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! 

[Lorry]

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

[Lorry]

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!! 

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

[garystout]

  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