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Le Mans 2004 - The Tourists' Story

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It was time to return to Le Grand Luce for dinner.  A time when some of the Tourists always make the decision to stay at the hotel instead of returning to the track to watch the racing during the night.  (Actually, make that "most" instead of "some" this year!).  

The Tourists enjoy another good meal at Le Cheval Blanc

As it was, even Robert's normal stamina failed him this year, and it was just Ian, Dave and myself who made the trip back.  We stopped first of all at the Mulsanne restaurants where once again, the gendarmerie had done everything in their power to prevent even a glimpse of the cars over the fences.  So we had to resort to wandering through fields in pitch black looking for a vantage point.   We didn't really find a great spot this year, but we did at least have the compensation of the sounds......

Who says you can't get onto the Mulsanne Straight? Its not easy, but it can sometimes be done. (Not so easy to take hand-held pics at midnight though.....!)

We got back to the garage rouge I guess at about 1.00 a.m.  and within 15 minutes or so were watching the race at the end of the tribunes opposite the pits.  After half an hour or so, it was time for the traditional goodbyes as Ian and Dave headed back to the bus and Le Grand Luce for some shuteye, while I spent the night walking the circuit.  I know who I think loses out in this arrangement each year........  But I'm very grateful that Ian is still prepared to bring me back to the circuit.

Every Le Mans story has its obligatory "top of the Welcome building" shot. I think this is one of my better ones.....

It wasn't long before my thoughts turned to my favourite lofty perch atop the "Welcome" building and in the excellent weather, I spent over an hour up there with camera and tripod.  I was quite pleased with the results this year, particularly with some of the shots I was able to take down into the pits.

And if that was one of the better ones, this is probably one of the very best - pit stop time.

But I was also keen to spend time back in the pits grandstand.  There's such an advantage to this facility (or indeed, any of the grandstands) at night.  All of you who've been to Le Mans since 1991 will know how big the pits grandstand is, and I guess that at 3-3.30 a.m., there were no more than a dozen people in it.  Not exactly overcrowded.....

Its not always easy to get these shots - even though the cars seem so close when you're above them in the grandstand. Erik Comas brings in the #18 Pescarolo.      As you can see, the "pretty people" have all retired to their beds by this time on Sunday morning. Sometimes I wonder if they realise just what they're missing?

This means that I can lug my camera and tripod pretty well anywhere I like, peering over the parapet or setting it up at the top of the grandstand for long light trail shots - terrific.  

The advantage of having gone digital - whack up the "film" speed and you can still get a halfway decent shot. The #5 Audi starts another lap....

Having access to the grandstand has an increasing advantage for me as the years move on.  I'm now 47 and much as I like to walk around the circuit, I'm simply not as fit as I was nearly 20 years ago when I first came here.  Being able to set up camp in the grandstand (or on the "Welcome" building) brings considerable benefits to my weary legs and feet!

A shot from the tribunes as the #66 Ferrari of Enge, Menu and Kox makes a pitstop.

I did force myself to move on eventually and at about 4.30 I was over on the tribunes.  This is one of my favourite spells of the night.  Unlike the grandstands, there are usually still several hundred people on the tribunes at this time (albeit not all of them awake) and I usually spend an hour or so waiting for cars to come in for their pitstops (always signalled in advance by their pitboards and the arrival of the mechanics on the pit apron).

 

I took one or two night shots last year from the outside of the Dunlop Curve, as I rather liked the effect of the ferris wheel in the background.  Last year I left it a bit too late as dawn was already upon me, but I timed it just right this year.   

I took a few shots from here last year and was determined to return. The ferris wheel makes a delightful backdrop, don't you think?

I actually find it quite amusing as I meander from place to place, setting up the tripod for a few long exposure shots as I go.  People look at you (normally out of eyes dazed from lack of sleep or confused from overindulgence of alcohol) as if you're some kind of alien.... 

Perhaps the greatest disappointment of Le Mans 2004 was the demise of Shorty's Dallara - which most of the Brits had been cheering from the start. Thanks Sebastien.....

As always, sure enough, the dawn arrives much too quickly and another mesmerising night at Le Mans draws to an end.  And its now that I suddenly realise just how much my legs ache and just how tired I really am! But there were still a couple of hours or more before Ian would return to collect me, so it was back to the grandstand for a bit of rest.

I made my way back onto the tribunes for the rendezvous at (a surprisingly early) 7.30 a.m.  I then promptly fell asleep.  I woke up after a few minutes and spotted Ian just a few yards away.  No-one else had been roused from their slumbers, no doubt assisted in their decision by a few more bottles of wine....  It was then back to Le Grand Luce for breakfast and that wonderful change of socks and t-shirt!

sLappery at Mulsanne Corner as Nicolas Minassian in the #17 Pescarolo passes the #85 Freisinger Porsche.

Normally it takes a while to get everyone organised for the return to the circuit after breakfast on Sunday, but, just this once, everyone seemed keen to get back and we were viewing from the banking at Mulsanne Corner by 9.30. 

It has become something of a Tourists tradition now to take lunch at a particular eatery at Arnage where they serve excellent omelettes!

I was able to get some good shots of the remaining cars before we left again for the second overflow car park at Indianapolis/Arnage.  It has certainly become a very popular place over the last few years (surprisingly so really, considering how the ACO butchered the viewing area there before last year's race).

If you've read any of my other stories over the last 6-7 years, you'll know how much I HATE debris fencing. But I think this is still a reasonable shot, despite that.

Its a terrific place to while away a few hours on Sunday as the sleepy-heads get even more shut-eye (they don't really deserve!) on the banking and I squeezed off a few more shots of the cars, just hoping to get one decent picture through the dastardly debris fencing.

But, like all good things, the 24 Hours always comes to an end and it was congratulations yet again to Tom Kristensen, who with Seiji Ara and Dindo Capello, managed to see off the other half of the Veloqx challenge.  And, after a one-year interlude, Audi had won Le Mans again.

Our post-Le Mans stop was taken this year at Concale, for the first time since 1994.  It was great to be back at the Hotel Continental, enjoying the fantastic seafood once again and a wonderful night's sleep.....

And all was quiet and still....... Back at Concale after the race is over for another year. Ayse and Chief Tourist Ian relax before yet another meal......

For some, the Monday morning was spent buying oysters, for others it was just time to humour me with the team photograph.  

Yes, the obligatory team photo (only yours truly missing, of course). L-R - Ian, David, Mike, Jeff, Dave, Richard, Howard, Martyn, Robert, Chris and John.

After a splendid lunch at Arromanches, it was back to Caen for the trip home after another great trip to Le Mans.