Hans
Active member
Thaks SO much for the pics from everyone who was there and shared! Shame that it didnt go Matechs way, but a wonderful effort none the less! By the way, unless someone beat me to it, this the 300th responce in this thread!
Le Mans - Amazing
- Thread starter ChipBeck
- Start date
BlackICE
GT Owner
AtomicGT
GT Owner
Very disappointing Speed Channel Coverage. Got a glimpse of Matech on Saturday night about 7:30 PST, seemed way too much P1, P2 and GT2 coverage. But that is obvious where the "money is".
There was a great story here, maybe they were clueless, but this story hopefully continues next year and that we have another chance to help Matech to the winner's circle!
:cheers
Matech ROCKS! Viva La Ford GT
There was a great story here, maybe they were clueless, but this story hopefully continues next year and that we have another chance to help Matech to the winner's circle!
:cheers
Matech ROCKS! Viva La Ford GT
Magic
GT Owner
Eurosport coverage the same as Speed Channel?
In Jakarta, Eurosports cable showed the Matech #60 car a few times while I was watching and did show it up close when it came in for it's last pit stop before being wheeled into the garage. Was talking to the wife who is back in the States during this time and she told me to call her back when I could concentrate on our conversation. Seems I was watching the TV and not responding properly to her questions at least to her liking. Hard to concentrate when they are rolling your favorite into the garage, you don't know for what reason and all you hear is your wife asking what you had for dinner! :ack
Most of their coverage later on was talking about the Corvettes and their history at Le Mans. Actually I've seen several negative comments about the GT1 class in the press. Most GT discussions are around GT2 cars and that was what I saw covered second by Eurosports behind the LMP1 and LMP2 cars.
Still a great race to watch on TV, partially on the internet and partially via LeMans internet radio! :cheers
Magic
In Jakarta, Eurosports cable showed the Matech #60 car a few times while I was watching and did show it up close when it came in for it's last pit stop before being wheeled into the garage. Was talking to the wife who is back in the States during this time and she told me to call her back when I could concentrate on our conversation. Seems I was watching the TV and not responding properly to her questions at least to her liking. Hard to concentrate when they are rolling your favorite into the garage, you don't know for what reason and all you hear is your wife asking what you had for dinner! :ack
Most of their coverage later on was talking about the Corvettes and their history at Le Mans. Actually I've seen several negative comments about the GT1 class in the press. Most GT discussions are around GT2 cars and that was what I saw covered second by Eurosports behind the LMP1 and LMP2 cars.
Still a great race to watch on TV, partially on the internet and partially via LeMans internet radio! :cheers
Magic
Leaving Le Mans in 30 minutes.
Gentlemen,
Yesterday evening the Matech Team hosted us to a farewell party. They brought #60 to the gathering so we could all sit in it, strap in, and put our hands on the wheel. Martin and Thomas joined us and told us why the car had to retire. My iPhone bill is gonna be about 3 grand with all these data roaming charges so I'll have to wait till I get home to relay that story.
We killed 2 bottles of Makers Mark last night and toasted Bony. This trip has been EPIC!!!!!!!
Chip
Gentlemen,
Yesterday evening the Matech Team hosted us to a farewell party. They brought #60 to the gathering so we could all sit in it, strap in, and put our hands on the wheel. Martin and Thomas joined us and told us why the car had to retire. My iPhone bill is gonna be about 3 grand with all these data roaming charges so I'll have to wait till I get home to relay that story.
We killed 2 bottles of Makers Mark last night and toasted Bony. This trip has been EPIC!!!!!!!
Chip
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FrankBarba
Permanent Vacation
Thank you for keep us posted on all the activities. I was gald to be part of this historic event.
DeaconBlues
GT Owner
Thanks to everyone for this thread. Great coverage. Good times. Wonderful story. Hope Matech is back next year.:thumbsup:thumbsup
GTdrummer
GT Owner
This has been fun to follow and much appreciated. I am glad I had a chance to be a small sponsor and contribute to this effort.
PL510*Jeff
Well-known member
What a tremendous effort by the Matech Team and those Forum Members that were able to attend and all the rest of you that helped put the Ford GT Forum on the World Map. Thank you Speed for the MEntion of our collective efforts. 2011 WILL be a bigger and better story for the Ford GT.
Makes me very proud to have been one of the names on the Matech race cars. And a bit sad that I couldn't be there in person. And due to an out of town sprint car race, I didn't get to watch the race. If some knows where I might find a web site that has stored this race please put up a post. I promise to stay up all night watching it. Just like it was live.
As the roket "sled" said earlier "that's racing" as far as not finishing is concerned, still a great effort by Matech Racing.
Go Far Matech!
Go Blu!
Go Ford GT Forum!
Makes me very proud to have been one of the names on the Matech race cars. And a bit sad that I couldn't be there in person. And due to an out of town sprint car race, I didn't get to watch the race. If some knows where I might find a web site that has stored this race please put up a post. I promise to stay up all night watching it. Just like it was live.
As the roket "sled" said earlier "that's racing" as far as not finishing is concerned, still a great effort by Matech Racing.
Go Far Matech!
Go Blu!
Go Ford GT Forum!
The Ford GT is gonna kick butt next year!!!!:thumbsup My hat is off to Matech for a job well done.
Thanks Chip and Dave and all those members who posted all those great pics. What an amazing exerience!!! :cheers
It is an honor to even have been invited to compete at LeMans. No telling what would have happened had the #60 car not been hit. Thats racing.
The fact that the Ford GT has returned to LeMans is epic in and of itself. :thumbsup
Thanks Chip and Dave and all those members who posted all those great pics. What an amazing exerience!!! :cheers
It is an honor to even have been invited to compete at LeMans. No telling what would have happened had the #60 car not been hit. Thats racing.
The fact that the Ford GT has returned to LeMans is epic in and of itself. :thumbsup
Kirby Vieira
GT Owner/B.o.D
AJB
GT
Home from LeMans
Margaret and I made it home late last night from Paris. It certainly was a week to remember. Feet still sore from walking the full 8.5 miles.
Hopefully we can help Matech for next year.
Looking forward to sharing some of this in person with many of you at VIR in September...
AJB (Andy Benedict)
Margaret and I made it home late last night from Paris. It certainly was a week to remember. Feet still sore from walking the full 8.5 miles.
Hopefully we can help Matech for next year.
Looking forward to sharing some of this in person with many of you at VIR in September...
AJB (Andy Benedict)
Neilda
GT Owner
AJB
GT
the track close up
Neilda..
My first impressions were how perfect the asphalt surface was. It was coarse with plenty of areas for water to drain into the aggregate at first rain. Walking from the start line up the hill and curves to the Dunlop Bridge you get a real sense at the elevation change. Walking it surely lets you know you are going up-hill. -but again perfect, grainly, solid black. Downhill from the Dunlop bridge was the same and the curves were longer radius that I had expected.
Naturally the blue/yellow ramped edges were newly painted in all areas and the tan colored gravel was manicured in small straight line mounds by a tractor-I refered to it as a 'finish mower for gravel".
The turn leading into the Mulsanne Straight was sharper radius than I had expected. At this point, the track was still open to the public road and so we had to walk on the berm with traffic..not safe. There were 5 of us up to this point..me, Margaret, Ralphie, Dave and Chip.
I could not believe how LONG the straight was - the Texas mile times 4 !! I thought it would never end. At the midpoint, Ralphie peeled off and took the shortcut home and left the 4 of us. Margaret and I accelerated down the straight, but Dave and Chip were 'motoring' faster and we could not catch up.
The two Chicanes on the straight were small, but certainly there to prevent 300mph top speeds!
The curve at the end Golf-de-mulsanne is probably 80degrees..2nd gear?
The total length of the track had the grass and the trees manicured and newly mowed..some very nice pine forests on either side.
At the Indianapolis Curve and Arnage Curve the gravel areas and tire-barriers were large and deep. You could tell by the area that many cars would go off the track at these points.
Chip and Dave were ahead of us but still in view. They kept looking back to make sure Margaret and I were not gaining on them..!
ThePorshce curve and the curve near the AlainProst circuit were gentle enough and sequenced so that I could imagine a feeling of exhilaration if you were driving since you would sweep right then left then left then right again..
The Pit sign came up quickly and far before the finish line but the Ford S curves were really sharp 90degree and forced the cars to slow heading back in front of the stands. It forced 3-4 gear changes past the start/finish line and grandstands. (when security came down the track we pretended to bend over and check the white line on the pavement edges as though we were track inspectors _ since we were 95% done, we did not want to get thrown off the course.!!
We could not see Dave and Chip and I think they 'pitted', but Margaret and I tried to run to the finish line...but that lasted for about only 50 feet!
We crossed the finish line and took photos at the line with the clock and grandstands...tired and a bit sore but with massive smiles on our faces.!
So, the final race ended with Chip and Dave finishing one-two and Margaret and I finishing three-four. (unless the officials tell us Dave and Chip went to the pits early - then we will protest the results)
It was a great / fun /once in a lifetime walk/run!!
Andy (AJB)
Neilda..
My first impressions were how perfect the asphalt surface was. It was coarse with plenty of areas for water to drain into the aggregate at first rain. Walking from the start line up the hill and curves to the Dunlop Bridge you get a real sense at the elevation change. Walking it surely lets you know you are going up-hill. -but again perfect, grainly, solid black. Downhill from the Dunlop bridge was the same and the curves were longer radius that I had expected.
Naturally the blue/yellow ramped edges were newly painted in all areas and the tan colored gravel was manicured in small straight line mounds by a tractor-I refered to it as a 'finish mower for gravel".
The turn leading into the Mulsanne Straight was sharper radius than I had expected. At this point, the track was still open to the public road and so we had to walk on the berm with traffic..not safe. There were 5 of us up to this point..me, Margaret, Ralphie, Dave and Chip.
I could not believe how LONG the straight was - the Texas mile times 4 !! I thought it would never end. At the midpoint, Ralphie peeled off and took the shortcut home and left the 4 of us. Margaret and I accelerated down the straight, but Dave and Chip were 'motoring' faster and we could not catch up.
The two Chicanes on the straight were small, but certainly there to prevent 300mph top speeds!
The curve at the end Golf-de-mulsanne is probably 80degrees..2nd gear?
The total length of the track had the grass and the trees manicured and newly mowed..some very nice pine forests on either side.
At the Indianapolis Curve and Arnage Curve the gravel areas and tire-barriers were large and deep. You could tell by the area that many cars would go off the track at these points.
Chip and Dave were ahead of us but still in view. They kept looking back to make sure Margaret and I were not gaining on them..!
ThePorshce curve and the curve near the AlainProst circuit were gentle enough and sequenced so that I could imagine a feeling of exhilaration if you were driving since you would sweep right then left then left then right again..
The Pit sign came up quickly and far before the finish line but the Ford S curves were really sharp 90degree and forced the cars to slow heading back in front of the stands. It forced 3-4 gear changes past the start/finish line and grandstands. (when security came down the track we pretended to bend over and check the white line on the pavement edges as though we were track inspectors _ since we were 95% done, we did not want to get thrown off the course.!!
We could not see Dave and Chip and I think they 'pitted', but Margaret and I tried to run to the finish line...but that lasted for about only 50 feet!
We crossed the finish line and took photos at the line with the clock and grandstands...tired and a bit sore but with massive smiles on our faces.!
So, the final race ended with Chip and Dave finishing one-two and Margaret and I finishing three-four. (unless the officials tell us Dave and Chip went to the pits early - then we will protest the results)
It was a great / fun /once in a lifetime walk/run!!
Andy (AJB)
GTJack
GT Owner
Andy
Thank you so much for your sharing with us your memories of walking the track. Sure wish I could have been there.
Thank you so much for your sharing with us your memories of walking the track. Sure wish I could have been there.
Apollo
GT Owner
15:00 Heures - Finish of the 78th Competition
Picture 1 - The Audi Pit Crews - anticipating the finish
Picture 2 - The victorious Audi cars, arriving at the finish line, 3 abreast, but not on the same lap
Picture 3 - The victors
Picture 4 - Pierre ("FordGT4fun") from Basel, Switzerland
Picture 5 - Chip, holding his favorite - Veronica ("Pace Car")
Picture 1 - The Audi Pit Crews - anticipating the finish
Picture 2 - The victorious Audi cars, arriving at the finish line, 3 abreast, but not on the same lap
Picture 3 - The victors
Picture 4 - Pierre ("FordGT4fun") from Basel, Switzerland
Picture 5 - Chip, holding his favorite - Veronica ("Pace Car")
Cobrar
GT Owner
Neilda
GT Owner
Andy, that was great, thanks so much. :cheers
I've driven at Le Mans and will be doing so again in July, so your perspective was not only good fun, but also very interesting.
Was there much of a difference between the surface of the Bugatti circuit (i.e. the full-time racing circuit) and the full circuit (i.e. road section)?
I think you guys did incredibly well to have walked it, I really do. That's really something to have chalked up in your life.
Obviously walking it during the race would have been the next level up.... :biggrin
I've driven at Le Mans and will be doing so again in July, so your perspective was not only good fun, but also very interesting.
Was there much of a difference between the surface of the Bugatti circuit (i.e. the full-time racing circuit) and the full circuit (i.e. road section)?
I think you guys did incredibly well to have walked it, I really do. That's really something to have chalked up in your life.
Obviously walking it during the race would have been the next level up.... :biggrin