[LM24 Race] What do you think makes Le Mans magical ?

[The Badger]

Just like to know what you people (especially the ones that have been there for the 24 hours) feel makes Le mans a magical experiance .

I'll reserve my comments .

[Chiana]

Anticipation
Start
Dusk
Night
Morning
Finish
Aftermath

And everything between those

[aneesh99]

Originally Posted by Chiana

Anticipation
Start
Dusk
Night
Morning
Finish
Aftermath

And everything between those

Hit the nail on the head with that

[johngee]

I can only paraphrase the Harley Davidson advertisment 'strap line' "If you have to ask why....you don't understand"

[GT6]

The magic for me is simple, being there

[barnettracing]

Because it's Le Mans. 'Nuff said.

[rwindle]

When I discovered the existence of Sports Car Graphic, AutoWeek and Road & Track at the tender age of 10, in 1963, the very first issues of those magazines I purchased featured coverage of Le Mans. I had watched Indy on TV and thought that was pretty neat but not magical.

But a 24 hour race in faraway France, on public roads, 2 or 3 drivers per car, an 8 mile track, 4 miles of straights, stops for fuel and tires, major repairs made to the cars in the pits/paddock, Ford was in the first stages of their assault to defeat Ferrari's dominance, Indy paled in comparison.

The magic remains with me today.

[The Badger]

One of the things that really buzz's me is last practice on Thursday night ..... thats always a right hammer and thongs session .

The other thing that gets me is the night time to early morning , glowing brakes , cherry red turbo's and various id lights all doing their stuff ..... and realising there is still 8 hours left to run .

Afternoon , all dirty with carbon dust sometimes make out hand prints where some mechanic had touched it , taped up badywork and damage ..... gladiators !!!

The general buzz , but that would take ages to list . Anyway , Chiana hit the nail on the head really .

[Tim the Grey]

Dusk, Dawn, and cheering the walking wounded to the finish... Though that first Night Practice is always a buzz, as you said.

It CAN be a right royal pain at times, but those are my favourite bits.

[GT6]

Well for me the most magical moment is the break of dawn, for the last ten years or more I always magically wake up just before dawn and watch a hour on my own as the day breaks the sight of the cars coming out of the gloom is unrivaled in any other form of motor sport

[gt917]

FRANCE and the FRENCH

[gucom]

the hypnotic effect of all the different engine noises going for 24 hours

daybreak on sunday morning, feeling almost heroic for still being there to witness the world waking up again and to properly see the circuit and the cars again, and then realising you're only just past halfway there - and when that feels challenging, spare a thought for the drivers and the pit crews!

the combination of almost F1-budget factory teams, who use the race to prove their engineering skills and to give their brand more sex appeal, and small privateer teams that paid for the development of their car out of pure enthusiasm (Robertson Racing Ford GT, anyone?), at one of the world's 3 great races...

[The Badger]

Sadly , Ive seen the best of the engine years ..... I hope they open up the regs again . Its really sad for me to think I wont hear a V12 at Le Mans again .

[Bentley03]

Originally Posted by The Badger

Thursday night.....hammer and thongs session.

Kinky!

[The Badger]

Originally Posted by Bentley03

Kinky!

..... thats a dirty mind in action !!!