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Well, Im checking off something from my bucket list in June!

Posted: Tue May 16, 2017 10:01 pm
by Reg
Those who lurk in the off-topic section probably realized that I'm a racing fan.

Well, a friend of mine (who I raced against in Karts for years) is heading to the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time ever in June, and he realized he can't speak a lick of french. So, as some half-arsed excuse, he invited his favorite frenchie to join him!

Pretty pumped about this! I'm actually going to see Le Mans, live, in the flesh! Tickets, camping spots, and flights are booked!


Re: Well, Im checking off something from my bucket list in J

Posted: Tue May 16, 2017 10:12 pm
by Leones
ooooohhhhh! damn! I'm delighted and so jealous! Have a blast Reg! Will you be able to see the parade before the race too?

Re: Well, Im checking off something from my bucket list in J

Posted: Tue May 16, 2017 10:13 pm
by Dinosaurs
Trendsetters wrote:Those who lurk in the off-topic section probably realized I'm a racing fan.

Well, a friend of mine (who I raced against in Karts for years) is heading to the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time ever in June, and he realized he can't speak a lick of french. So, as some half-arsed excuse, he invited his favorite frenchie to join him!

Pretty pumped about this! I'm actually going to see Le Mans, live, in the flesh! Tickets, camping spots, and flights are booked!

Whoa, pretty awesome. Have fun at the Circuit de la Sarthe.

Re: Well, Im checking off something from my bucket list in J

Posted: Tue May 16, 2017 10:47 pm
by Reg
Leones wrote:ooooohhhhh! damn! I'm delighted and so jealous! Have a blast Reg! Will you be able to see the parade before the race too?
I should be there by late Thursday, so I think i'll see most of the action. We are supposed to camp in the infield in a giant camp ground just before he Porsche Curves so, prime area!

Re: Well, Im checking off something from my bucket list in J

Posted: Tue May 16, 2017 11:01 pm
by Leones
Nice! Just thinking about it makes me smile. I'll be at home watching the race live. (my annual tradition) I was reading the entry list earlier today to see who going to be there. Got any favorites you'll be rooting for?

Re: Well, Im checking off something from my bucket list in J

Posted: Tue May 16, 2017 11:34 pm
by Reg
LMP1 (Toyota or Porsche) will def win the overall title and all, but the LMP2 field is really what I will be focusing on.

Just the idea that Prost (Nicolas), Senna (Bruno) .. on the same team! ... and Piquet (Nelson Jr.) and Barrichello will be racing each other is making me smile. Otherwise, I really don't have a favorite. I'm just excited to bits that i'll get to be there :grin:

Re: Well, Im checking off something from my bucket list in J

Posted: Tue May 16, 2017 11:42 pm
by Sandgnats
Congrats! That's awesome Reg!

Re: Well, Im checking off something from my bucket list in J

Posted: Wed May 17, 2017 2:57 am
by Borealis
That sounds pretty exciting! Have fun!!

Re: Well, Im checking off something from my bucket list in J

Posted: Wed May 17, 2017 12:05 pm
by Leones
The Prost, Senna pairing caught my eye too. How cool is that?

It'd be great to see Toyota come through with a win after last years disaster,

(to those who missed it they lost power while leading with about 3 minutes left, last lap and a half; after just under 24 hours of racing mind you)

but it won't have the same shine with Audi not being in the mix.

LMGT will be a blast again to watch. I've got a soft spot for the Aston Martin's beause of the ungodly sound that they make. Actually it's a godly sound, it is in fact the sound of Zeus making love. Overall though there are just too many great drivers and cars to be able to single any one out as a favorite.

Sincerely hope you have a terrific time!

Re: Well, Im checking off something from my bucket list in J

Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2017 10:25 am
by Leones
Wow! Just when you think you've seen it all!

Re: Well, Im checking off something from my bucket list in J

Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2017 9:17 pm
by Reg
Leones wrote:Wow! Just when you think you've seen it all!
What a finish!
I was sure we were going to see an LMP2 win the race! I was willing the #38 to the finish in the last hour! Those LMP1's were made of porcelain! Unbelievable.

Not to mention the dramatic last-lap pass by Aston Martin to overtake Corvette!
I will say, those Corvettes sound absolutely orgasmic in real life :twisted: :cry: what a GLORIOUS sounding car!

Overall, an unbelievable experience!

Re: Well, Im checking off something from my bucket list in J

Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2017 9:30 pm
by Reg
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Despite a 23-hour delay, we are off to Europe!


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Mmmm... airplane food.


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"If this plane drops right now.... "


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Prague!


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Met some fellow racers from there. We had a "Canada vs Czech Republic" billiards match. We lost...


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A pub with beer spouts directly at our table. Very cool!

Re: Well, Im checking off something from my bucket list in J

Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2017 9:53 pm
by Reg
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Steak tartar. Basically raw meat and onions, with a raw egg in the middle. Didn't care for it...


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On the bus to Belgium. Attempted to create something partially edible.


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A BMW 330ci. This is the beast which allowed us to drive 4 laps of the Nurburgring!! (two laps by yours truly :grin: )


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The elevation changes at the Nurburgring is so much more intense than is visible on television!


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Two more racers that we competed with online, which we met in real life :smile:


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Liege, Belgium!


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A portion of the old Spa-Francorchamps circuit from the 1960s. Scary that there were no barriers, and if you got the corner wrong, you smacked the side of that farmhouse at 200 mph...


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The "Masta Kink". The scariest turn in 1960s F1...


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"Spa" water. Some of the freshest water in the world. Hence the name.


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The modern day "Eau Rouge/Radillon" corner. 9 stories high as you exit the turn. Unreal.


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A Senna memorial.


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This was cool, as a small-time Kart Racing broadcaster. This was Spa-Francorchamps' endless string of TV broadcast booths. No, that is not a mirror, but a window between each one! One of my dream jobs!


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The media centre!


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"We went well until the Honda engine blew..."


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All the greats from past days


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...and their memorabilia. In case you want to pay 67€ for the equivalent of a hot wheels car...


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Made it to Le Mans!


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Our luxurious accomodations


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"When at Le Mans, eat like you're at Le Mans!"


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CHEERS! (that is apple juice, I swear! :grin: )


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This guy had too much apple juice.


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The paddock tour! Quite an amazing place!


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An LMP car 1/2 made with LEGO. All 300,000+ pieces!


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Merch! Some nice stuff.


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Always good to introduce yourself to the locals :D


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It was 95+ degrees for all four days. Yeah, that's gonna hurt my wimpy Canadian skin soon...


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The French know how to properly do Le Mans.


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Our neighbors were nice enough to let us watch the race live on their projector! (Le Mans level = 1000)


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Porsche Curves. Our vantage point for the race!

Re: Well, Im checking off something from my bucket list in J

Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2017 9:57 pm
by Reg
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Good crowd. 50,000 people were in our camp grounds. They all rotated to come watch the race on that same dirt mound.


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A 10-story-high ferris wheel. HELL NO. I'm sure it looked great from up top, though!


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We found a good view just before the start line, as it got dark!


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Yeah, glorious camping


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This was as much as we could handle, after 4 days...

Re: Well, Im checking off something from my bucket list in J

Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2017 10:06 pm
by Borealis
That looks awesome Reg!!! What a crazy adventure! Best pic - Reg sporting an Expos cap... with apple juice - right... apple juice...