Le Mans 24hrs

[STUTZ]

With so many members here having an interest in technology, will anyone be watching this weekends Le Mans 24hours race?

[Tom Shannon]

Stutz;

Thanks for the post. After having worked the ALMS for Miller Motor Sports Park the last 2 yrs heres my favorites for this wknd:

LMP1 Audi R15 T. Bernhard
LMP2 Team RML Lola Mazda
Gt1 Corvette Team
GT2 Flying Lizards Porsche 911

You gotta watch this 5 min. Lemans video,some great vintage stuff!!
http://www.lemas.org/24heuresdumans/pages/pratique_qb.html

[Tom Shannon]

Sorry,try this correct link.. Got too excited watching with the vintage reels!
http://www.lemans.org/24heuresdumans/pages/accueil_fr.html

[RayTheRat]

I'll join in with Tom...whom I usually see at Miller's...and I'll be recording all of it to dvr.  I like yer picks, Tom.  Good teams.  I have a coupla predictions.  The Peugeots and Ginetta-Zyteks will be fast in P1 and P2, but will likely encounter mechanical problems over the course of the 24 hours...at least those with experienced drivers.  There are a coupla Prototype entries with "gentlemen drivers" that will, in all likelihood end up being driven into another race car and then stuffed into the trailer for the trip home.  If the Joest Audis and Lola/Mazda can avoid these rolling chicanes, they stand a good chance of winning.  I think the Astons will break, both in Prototyp[e and GT classes, although there's an outside chance they could go the distance and give the Pratt & Miller Corvettes some very real competition.  In GT2 I'm hopin to see the green Ferrari of Rici and Krohn do well with Nick Jonnson...he's paid his dues...I think it'd be nice to see him do well.  What I don't see is a Panoz in the line-up.  That's a pity.  Gonna be interesting and I'm really looking forward to it.

I should have mentioned that there are photos of the ALMS race at MMP (the last race before Le Mans) on my web server:
http://www.chevyasylum.com/racing/racing2009/Welcome.html

I was fortunate enough to get photo credentials from ALMS, since they did the media relations this year, rather than the track.  At the World Superbike event, the FIM did 'em and I only had the credentials on Friday (practice day) and I felt lucky to get that.  There are photos from that event at the same location.  I wonder if that FIM dude is gonna be at the Shootout this year.  Maybe I can bend his ear a bit and next year....

RtR

[Tzoom]

I wouldn't miss it.  I was stationed in England in the mid-80s and went to all of the World Sportscar races at Brand Hatch and Silverstone every year and got to go to Le Mans for the 24 hours in 1987.  I also got to go to the F1 races at Brands and Silverstone and at Spa.  That was back in the turbo era and the sight of the cars getting real small, real fast as they drove away from you was a sight to behold.  But as great as the F1 cars with Senna, Lauda, Prost, and Mansell were they were not near as much fun to watch as the Group C and C2 cars back then.  I like the new P1 and P2 cars and want to go to Elkhart Lake this year to watch them but I would like to see all of them race, Audis and Peugeots included.  Hopefully the economy will make a positive turn and allow more teams to run in the ALMS again.   

[Texican]

I'll be watching all of Speed's coverage, plus listening or checking the feed on internet for when they have their mandantory NASCRAP hours.
I see the Puegots managed to put on soft tires, that are only good for 2 laps at most to get the pole. Bragging rights only.
Gives them  a little more time to practice running from the Germans; something they should be good at, after 80 years!

[bak189]

The Le Mans 24 hours is a real great show.........had the pleasure attending the event several times, when I was roadracing "chairs" (sidecars) in Europe back in the middle and late 1960's.........in the 1968 race I worked on a Dutch team as part of the pit crew.......lots of work and little or no rest or sleep.....but then I was MUCH younger then..........Ah yes, past glory's

[grumm441]

They stopped the corvette to wash it

http://www.lemans.org/24heuresdumans/actu/2009-06-14__4533_gb.html