Slipstream - September 2005

The Fricks Go To LeMans
By Jean Frick
When we found out we were # 390 on the wait list for the
Hershey Parade, we decided to be realistic – we looked at
our “Do Before We Die” list and chose the 24 hour LeMans.
We read the Slipstream article written by John Evans (Maverick member
from Flint) after he went last year, and found out by e-mail that he
was going again this year. We talked to Linda Bambina about the trip
she and Alan made several years ago. Both conversations added to our
excitement, so we started the months of planning, list making, sorting,
organizing…all listed on a spreadsheet, of course.
We left DFW on June 15 at 5:50 pm. It was an overnight,
straight-through flight to Paris (CDG) arriving at 10:00 am on June
16. We found our way to the train station at the airport and waited
around for about 3 hours, had lunch, Dave took a picture of an
abandoned suitcase right before the police detonated it (never a dull
moment). We boarded the 1st class coach at 13:37 (had to get used
to the 24 hour clock) and finally arrived in LeMans at 15:10. So far,
so good. We waited in line for a taxi to take us to the Campanile
Hotel, our home for the next four nights, and we arrived there at
16:30…about 25 hours after we left DFW.
Photo provided by Dave Frick
Dave and Jean taking it all in.
The French bus system leaves much to be desired. On Friday,
June 17th we started out right after breakfast to ride to “the Circuit”
and have a look around. We started waiting for Bus #17, but each
bus driver stopping by told us something different in broken
English and gestures. We wound up going across the street to catch
Bus # 4 into City Center. Again, conflicting directions, so we went to
the bus station office, and a man who spoke NO English. We finally
found Bus # 6 – that driver didn’t understand us either, but he
took us to the end of the line and then we walked 3/4 mile to the
track entrance, arriving about 10:30.
There was quite a crowd assembled already, since the pit area is
open to the public the day before the race. We walked past the
bleachers and through a tunnel to the pit side, where we met some
blokes in Club Arnage T-shirts. These were the Brits who invade
France for the race each year. One of them told us it was his 8th time
to come to the race, and that all of the estimated 100,000 visitors
from the UK think it’s mighty nice for France to throw this party for
them every year! John Evans stayed in their camp last year and had
told us that he would bunk with them again this year. They gave us
directions to the Champagne Bar and invited us to join them when
they all meet there about 9 pm Saturday night, during the race.
We found our way up to Suite # 117, the Porsche AG office in
the grandstand, and visited a bit with Mr. Kristen and Mrs. Schuh.
Their window on 2nd floor looked right out on Pit Row and to the
track beyond. We were directly above the spot for the Porsche # 71,
which later won its class. If you remember, June was a hot month
everywhere, and especially so walking around in the sun. I’ve never
seen so many men without shirts except at the beach. Many of the
shirts became headbands to absorb the sweat. And everyone cooled
off with a cold beer.
Many folks walked the pit area looking over the cars, most of which
were in pieces for the final “shakedown” before the race. After checking
out the cars we walked to the most famous spot seen on TV, the Dunlop
Bridge, where Dave enjoyed taking pictures from different angles.
By now we were ready to go back to town for the Parade, so we
went out front to stand in line for the bus. The purpose of the
Parade is to introduce the driving teams, made up of three drivers
(or “pilots”) for each car. They would share the driving time for the
24 hour period. All the teams were riding in antique cars from the
museum. Each car was preceded by a motorcycle with an attractive
female passenger holding a sign with the names of the “pilots” and
their car make and number. Things came to a complete stop as fans
rushed up to the cars for autographs. Several marching bands and
dancing groups were mixed in, and a few actual race cars. The
Parade was still going strong, but after 2 hours we were tired of
standing and very hungry, so started looking for a place to sit down
and eat. A cold beer improved things a lot, as we visited with a nice
couple from Denmark.
Tired of the bus routine, we decided to take a taxi back to the
hotel. We are convinced there are only 3 taxis in the entire city, but we
finally got one and arrived back “home” at 10 pm. Tired, but happy.
Saturday, June 18th – the race starts today at 4 pm, but there is
much activity before then. At breakfast we visited with two gentlemen
from Audi (which had a HUGE presence at the track) and they
gave us a ride to Lot 12 where they had a parking pass. Traffic was
really heavy.
We watched the Le Mans Legend Car Race, where we saw some
really neat cars and watched as 75 year old Sterling Moss, a racing
legend, drove a 1952 Jaguar C-Type to 5th place. The crowd was really
picking up, and everyone was carrying chairs and beer. After sitting
on the ground and on the curb to rest, we purchased a couple of
three-legged stools, which turned out to be a very wise investment.
It was still hours before the race would start at 4 pm (pardon, I
mean 16:00). As the crowd grew much larger during the day, the
temperature continued to rise. By race time it was 95 degrees F, with
high humidity, so we got no break from the Texas heat.
Finally it was time to “start your engines.” And they all started,
except for one Audi – it just wouldn’t start. We had our little radio
tuned to the English announcers so we could tell what was happening.
Since the track, including some public roads, measures about 8
1/2 miles, the laps are very lengthy. Right away the two LMP1
Pescarola cars were ahead – one driven by S. Loeb, Rookie of the
Year. The Pescarola cars were 5 seconds a lap faster than the other
cars. A Lola started overheating. Aston Martin is falling behind. # 17
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