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Le Mans 2006 - The Tourists' Story - Page 8

The Night  (Part 2)

 

So, back in T34 I was looking forward to at least 2-3 hours actually enjoying the race, listening to the dulcet tones of my friend Paul Truswell on RLM and snapping away when the mood took me.  In fact, unsurprisingly, I was beginning to feel a little tired.  It was still quite warm and walking to and from Tertre Rouge had left me with little inclination to wander much farther.  At 49 years of age and carrying a significantly greater weight handicap than I did on my earlier trips in the 80s and 90s, I don't have as much stamina for wandering as I used to! 

               

                       

The advantage of being in the pits grandstand is that even though you can't actually see directly into the pit garages, it is possible to lean out as far as you dare over the fencing at the bottom edge of the stand and get some good shots of the cars coming in and going out as well as speculative grab shots of the cars being serviced in their pits. 

        This is probably one of my favourite pictures I've taken at Le Mans in recent years......               

               

.....and this is another......               

                       

As you can see, it was now 3.20 am and beginning to cool down.  There were still relatively few retirements although Pescarolo's hopes that his two fast cars would be a match for the Audi diesels for reliability in the race had long been dashed.....

                        And if you tire of the race (what?), you can always watch the TV.... What's on tonight then?         He shoots - he scores!!

               

       

                I think this shot of 1990 winner Dane John Nielsen isn't bad either......

               

              

               

                       

       

        "I think his name must be Hans" "Why do you say that?" "Coz he's got it tattood on the back of 'is neck!" ;-)       

And so, with much regret, we leave the night with dawn now well and truly upon us and the Audi steamroller pressing on in much the same manner as it had done for the previous 625 Le Mans races.... (well, sometimes it seems that long.......).