Aysedasi's Le Mans

Le Mans 2011 - Ayse's Story - Page 6 - Thursday

The Legends

(and the end of an incredible era.....)

After a fairly late night it was always going to be troublesome to get up in the morning and I didn't manage to get going until close to 9 am, but before long James and I were on our way up to the Bar Havane for coffee.  Our experience generally last year - and so far this - was that Madame at the bar tended to sell all her croissants before we got there, so this time we went to the local boulangerie and bought croissants and pain au chocolat.  Of course, as the law of Sod would have it, Madame did have some croissants left which Tim and Tony made the most of when they joined us a little later.

And it was just as they joined us that we experienced our first real rain of the week; actually, 'real rain' is a bit of an exaggeration as it was very light, so much so that we didn't even need to retreat inside the bar. 

The day seemed to pass in a blur and before long we were back at the circuit.  If I remember correctly (and my memory for detail has faded very quickly!), we grabbed a bite to eat in the ACO café at the back of the 17 and 18 stands before heading into the stand to take in the scenery across the track and watch the practice session for the Legends race. 

This was mildly entertaining to watch and although the majority of the cars seemed rather staid, they did sound good, ideas of diesel or electric propulsion being (thankfully) pie in the sky at the time these cars originally raced.  I guess this was all fantastic for the drivers of these machines and perhaps those spectators who witnessed them being driven properly in anger but for me, not one of the most exciting aspects of the Le Mans week. 

But I have to say that I was excited enough by the appearance in the pitlane of a 'real' legend- a certain driver of mature years in his pale blue driving suit and white helmet.  To my mind, more legendary than any other, the great Sir Stirling Moss would be taking the wheel of a Porsche.  There was a long wait until the car was brought in by his co-driver during which time Sir Stirling was very much the centre of attention in the pitlane, but once in the car we were surprised when he did just a single slow lap and got out, to be interviewed by Joe Bradley.  We learned afterwards of Sir Stirling's decision to retire from motor racing and I consider myself hugely privileged to have been present for his last lap. 

And here in pictures.....

I think the one-make Ferrari series practiced after the Legends but we had zero interest in that and we left the grandstand.  Much in the same way as last year, the plan was for James' cousin Julie and her husband Andrew to join us at some point this afternoon.  We knew that they were on their way to the circuit but they needed to be met on arrival as Tony had their garage rouge parking ticket.  We arranged to meet them out on the road by the main entrance and they soon appeared and the ticket was duly delivered.