(We shall communicate about 2015 on a future News Letter).
For his welcome party at Le Mans Classic 2016, on Friday evening, the European Ford GT Owners Club just booked a mythical place for our cars :
the HOTEL DE FRANCE.
From 1986 to 1989, this hotel in a little village located forty kilometers from Le Mans, served as a base camp to the winning GT40, the pilots and the leaders of the racing team.
For four years, this is where the GT40 went by road to the circuit to win and will also return on their own.
It is the place where, during four years, the strategies where built and the victories celebrated.
In July 2016, we shall drive our Ford GT on the little roads used 50 years before, by the winning GT40.
We shall spend the evening in this famous "Hotel de France" completely full of memories.
We just booked the place for a cocktail with Champagne, and a gourmet dinner.
We have reserved parkings for our Ford GT on the small square in front of the hotel. We shall take amazing photos, and meet, glass in hand, famous drivers of the 24 hours, as well as stars of racing never missing to be in the hotel during that famous weekend.
For our accommodation we definitively booked the 35 rooms of a hotel located just 15 minutes from the circuit, with a secure private parking on asphalt.
As this number is likely to be insufficient, we also blocked an option in a second hotel as close to the circuit.
We shall come again on that question in 2015, with registration and deposits.
*
For those who do not know the «*Hotel de France*» in La Chartre sur le Loir, some word of history :
Opened in 1905, it remained owned by the same family for four generations. It is located about 40 km (27 miles) southeast of Le Mans. Few tens of kilometers that once echoed roaring racecar returning the hotel. Since the 50s, it was the base camp of racing teams participating in the famous " Le Mans 24 Hours." For twenty years, teams working on cars at night, preparing the cars for the next day. The DBR1 Aston Martin, Ford GT40 and Porsche 917 of the Team Gulf Oil are some race cars that shook the walls of the courtyard and place when the engineers came back to this base, propel the small roads in the direction of the circuit. Incredibly, this folklore lasted until 1970, when the mechanics of the three Gulf Porsche 917 drove them for the last time.
It's a long love story between the hotel and the race ... And this is necessarily a story that is still making dream the fans of the " 24 Hours «*. Inside, the walls of the hotel are covered with wallpaper, exclusive made, telling this rare and beautiful story between the hotel and the race, the saga of these drivers, these teams and these iconic cars nesting there, the time of the competition. The beautiful story between the hotel and especially the race began when John Wyer, a very charismatic team manager, discovered the property in 1953. The location, of course, but also the quality of the restaurant were decisive. Wyer settled there a fallback position for his team and for as long as he remains involved in racing. The preparation of the cars was in the courtyard of the hotel ensued transport to the circuit by small tourist routes converging towards Le Mans.
The Hotel de France is always appreciated and frequented by the icons of motorsport. Many winners of the " 24 Hours ": Derek Bell MBE, Jacky Ickx, Phil Hill, Jochen Rindt , Bruce McLaren and Carroll Shelby, Sir Stirling Moss OBE, Jackie Stewart, Mario Andretti and other drivers. Movie stars like Steve McQueen, the French President and the children of John and Robert Kennedy stayed at the Hotel de France.
The victory was celebrated at the hotel in 1959 when the Aston Martin DBR1, driven by Carroll Shelby and Roy Salvadori won the race for the Aston Martin team, driven by Wyer. For years, Wyer will drain the stables with which he has worked, Ford Advanced Vehicles, JW Automotive GT40 Mirage and even Porsche 917. All this beautiful world was based at the Hotel de France. But others, Ferrari, Chevrolet and Triumph departed from the hotel to the circuit. Many joyous events punctuate history of this special relationship between the hotel and the race, as this celebration in 2009 to mark the 50th anniversary of the victory of Aston Martin.
Parking in front of the Hotel de France , moves and buzzes still regularly crowded sports cars, classic motorcycles or when lovers or nostalgic visit the hotel to read the story and recover the atmosphere …
1964 : First GT40, and Eric BROADLEY behind:
1968 : The winner comes back to the Hôtel by its own...:
In 2016, the enthusiasts of the Ford GT will be there !!!
For his welcome party at Le Mans Classic 2016, on Friday evening, the European Ford GT Owners Club just booked a mythical place for our cars :
the HOTEL DE FRANCE.
From 1986 to 1989, this hotel in a little village located forty kilometers from Le Mans, served as a base camp to the winning GT40, the pilots and the leaders of the racing team.
For four years, this is where the GT40 went by road to the circuit to win and will also return on their own.
It is the place where, during four years, the strategies where built and the victories celebrated.
In July 2016, we shall drive our Ford GT on the little roads used 50 years before, by the winning GT40.
We shall spend the evening in this famous "Hotel de France" completely full of memories.
We just booked the place for a cocktail with Champagne, and a gourmet dinner.
We have reserved parkings for our Ford GT on the small square in front of the hotel. We shall take amazing photos, and meet, glass in hand, famous drivers of the 24 hours, as well as stars of racing never missing to be in the hotel during that famous weekend.
For our accommodation we definitively booked the 35 rooms of a hotel located just 15 minutes from the circuit, with a secure private parking on asphalt.
As this number is likely to be insufficient, we also blocked an option in a second hotel as close to the circuit.
We shall come again on that question in 2015, with registration and deposits.
*
For those who do not know the «*Hotel de France*» in La Chartre sur le Loir, some word of history :
Opened in 1905, it remained owned by the same family for four generations. It is located about 40 km (27 miles) southeast of Le Mans. Few tens of kilometers that once echoed roaring racecar returning the hotel. Since the 50s, it was the base camp of racing teams participating in the famous " Le Mans 24 Hours." For twenty years, teams working on cars at night, preparing the cars for the next day. The DBR1 Aston Martin, Ford GT40 and Porsche 917 of the Team Gulf Oil are some race cars that shook the walls of the courtyard and place when the engineers came back to this base, propel the small roads in the direction of the circuit. Incredibly, this folklore lasted until 1970, when the mechanics of the three Gulf Porsche 917 drove them for the last time.
It's a long love story between the hotel and the race ... And this is necessarily a story that is still making dream the fans of the " 24 Hours «*. Inside, the walls of the hotel are covered with wallpaper, exclusive made, telling this rare and beautiful story between the hotel and the race, the saga of these drivers, these teams and these iconic cars nesting there, the time of the competition. The beautiful story between the hotel and especially the race began when John Wyer, a very charismatic team manager, discovered the property in 1953. The location, of course, but also the quality of the restaurant were decisive. Wyer settled there a fallback position for his team and for as long as he remains involved in racing. The preparation of the cars was in the courtyard of the hotel ensued transport to the circuit by small tourist routes converging towards Le Mans.
The Hotel de France is always appreciated and frequented by the icons of motorsport. Many winners of the " 24 Hours ": Derek Bell MBE, Jacky Ickx, Phil Hill, Jochen Rindt , Bruce McLaren and Carroll Shelby, Sir Stirling Moss OBE, Jackie Stewart, Mario Andretti and other drivers. Movie stars like Steve McQueen, the French President and the children of John and Robert Kennedy stayed at the Hotel de France.
The victory was celebrated at the hotel in 1959 when the Aston Martin DBR1, driven by Carroll Shelby and Roy Salvadori won the race for the Aston Martin team, driven by Wyer. For years, Wyer will drain the stables with which he has worked, Ford Advanced Vehicles, JW Automotive GT40 Mirage and even Porsche 917. All this beautiful world was based at the Hotel de France. But others, Ferrari, Chevrolet and Triumph departed from the hotel to the circuit. Many joyous events punctuate history of this special relationship between the hotel and the race, as this celebration in 2009 to mark the 50th anniversary of the victory of Aston Martin.
Parking in front of the Hotel de France , moves and buzzes still regularly crowded sports cars, classic motorcycles or when lovers or nostalgic visit the hotel to read the story and recover the atmosphere …
1964 : First GT40, and Eric BROADLEY behind:
1968 : The winner comes back to the Hôtel by its own...:
In 2016, the enthusiasts of the Ford GT will be there !!!
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