This last weekend saw a merry gang of GT owners in the UK drive in convoy to the Roush organised weekend at Le Mans. As a precurser to those about to assemble for the factory tour, even just ten GT's on the road is a sight to behold!
Thanks to Roush - particularly Dave and Jim - for organising a faultless trip. We were even provided with an 'unofficial' music CD for the trip with Jim (who has quite a bit of broadcast and voiceover experience) acting as DJ.
One of our squad lost his transaxle bolts before leaving the UK :ack however Roush were on hand to fix in 25 minutes.... Quite how this was done so quickly is a testament to their skills.
The drive down was fairly rapid followed by supper in a chateau (castle) where we all stayed on Friday evening. Roush had their team clean all our cars during the early evening so they were polished for Saturday morning (a nice touch) and our drive into Le Mans.
Saturday saw a gathering of (I think) 18 GT's - ten from the UK and then a few from the continent and some press cars - in the (one of many) car parks within the circuit. The drive to the circuit was a lot of fun - it seemed that some small French villages actually emptied to see us drive past.... The circuit itself was packed and hot, but the GT's were all safely parked and we were left free to explore.
2pm we gathered with drivers from the GT40 Owners Club of the UK (there were probably over 40 cars - all replicas, but beautifully presented and, I should add, the GT40 Owners Club were a most hospitable bunch of people, delighful in fact) and hit the circuit for a parade lap. For those familiar with parade laps, it is normally the case that you are not allowed to overtake or 'race' in any fashion. I have something to tell the group. I'm not proud of this. I raced! :biggrin you can't put a red blooded male in a bright red GT on the circuit of Le Mans and ask him, or indeed expect him, to pootle around. I floored it. 165 mph down the Mulsanne - hoovering in the replicas. Fantastique!!
I spent most of my time with Rob G and his wife Tia - a delightful couple - we left the circuit together and had dinner just the other side of Arnage (the three of us) and then got massively lost at midnight trying to find our way back to our chateau.
On Sunday morning at 8am I had to go South of Le Mans for an early meeting with a chum - empty freeway, the perfect moment to explore the strength of my right foot and to see how robust my nerve was. 195 - no problem at all. I would have gone futher but the combination of soft bollocks and slight rain caused me to back off......
The GT is the ideal freeway car and I was hugely impressed at how comfortable it was at speed for a long cruise. I even listened to the hi fi!!
Here's some pics...
The first Fuel stop. Bit foggy....
Thanks to Roush - particularly Dave and Jim - for organising a faultless trip. We were even provided with an 'unofficial' music CD for the trip with Jim (who has quite a bit of broadcast and voiceover experience) acting as DJ.
One of our squad lost his transaxle bolts before leaving the UK :ack however Roush were on hand to fix in 25 minutes.... Quite how this was done so quickly is a testament to their skills.
The drive down was fairly rapid followed by supper in a chateau (castle) where we all stayed on Friday evening. Roush had their team clean all our cars during the early evening so they were polished for Saturday morning (a nice touch) and our drive into Le Mans.
Saturday saw a gathering of (I think) 18 GT's - ten from the UK and then a few from the continent and some press cars - in the (one of many) car parks within the circuit. The drive to the circuit was a lot of fun - it seemed that some small French villages actually emptied to see us drive past.... The circuit itself was packed and hot, but the GT's were all safely parked and we were left free to explore.
2pm we gathered with drivers from the GT40 Owners Club of the UK (there were probably over 40 cars - all replicas, but beautifully presented and, I should add, the GT40 Owners Club were a most hospitable bunch of people, delighful in fact) and hit the circuit for a parade lap. For those familiar with parade laps, it is normally the case that you are not allowed to overtake or 'race' in any fashion. I have something to tell the group. I'm not proud of this. I raced! :biggrin you can't put a red blooded male in a bright red GT on the circuit of Le Mans and ask him, or indeed expect him, to pootle around. I floored it. 165 mph down the Mulsanne - hoovering in the replicas. Fantastique!!
I spent most of my time with Rob G and his wife Tia - a delightful couple - we left the circuit together and had dinner just the other side of Arnage (the three of us) and then got massively lost at midnight trying to find our way back to our chateau.
On Sunday morning at 8am I had to go South of Le Mans for an early meeting with a chum - empty freeway, the perfect moment to explore the strength of my right foot and to see how robust my nerve was. 195 - no problem at all. I would have gone futher but the combination of soft bollocks and slight rain caused me to back off......
The GT is the ideal freeway car and I was hugely impressed at how comfortable it was at speed for a long cruise. I even listened to the hi fi!!
Here's some pics...
The first Fuel stop. Bit foggy....
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