Registration for 2016 LE MANS CLASSIC, and more.


Saint Ho

GT Owner
Feb 12, 2013
483
Paris FRANCE
In June / July 2016, Le Mans will be the center of the world for the Ford GT community :

- We will celebrate the 50th anniversary of 1966, when the Ford GT40 won the first three places of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, triumph followed by three more wins consécutives.
- We will live the Ford's return to endurance racing, with 4 Ford GT engaged in the 24-hours race.

Ford plans to associate the Ford GT owners in these events, in a unfortunately not yet published program.

In coordination with the official program, and in addition to it, the EUROPEAN FORD GT OWNERS CLUB, organizes the 2016 FORD GT DAYS in Le Mans, to welcome in France, all the owners of Ford GT, whatever their Continent of origin. The goal is to help to build an unforgettable memory of these events.

OWC.jpg

Three phases are planned :

- June 18 / 19 : «*The 24-hours race*». The details will be defined later, in coordination with Ford and the US Ford GT Forum.
- June 20 / July 7 : «*Touring*» on a program to be decided in close contact with those interested.
- July 8 / 9 / 10 : «*LE MANS CLASSIC*». No other event in France, and probably in the world, will gather in the same place as many collector racing and sport cars. Almost 400 cars on the track reproduce the history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans from 1923 to 1981. More than 8,000 cars exposed by Clubs, inside the Bugatti Circuit just tell the story of the Performance Automobile.

During the 2014 «*Le Mans Classic*», for the first time in Europe, we gathered 24 Ford GT on the space of our club, and we made them run on the track of the 24 hours race.
In 2016, we expect 35 to 40 Ford GT from Europe and the Middle East, and we hope that fans from the USA will join us with their car.

Since September 2014, we made all the bookings needed to receive them, and we work to warmly welcome all the Ford GT owners.

It is now necessary to move to the official registration of participants in that LE MANS CLASSIC phase.
The details of the program is :

Friday, July 8 :

- Installation in the rooms of the «*Hotel des SITTELLES*»* close to the Le Mans circuit, booked by the Club for the weekend.
- Welcome Evening at the famous «*HOTEL DE FRANCE*» site of memory and historic HQ of the Ford Racing Team victorious from 1966 to 1969.
- One hour journey from our «*hotel des Sittelles*», to the «*HOTEL DE FRANCE*» on the little roads used in the 60's by the GT40 to go by themselves, from their headquarters, to the track of the 24 hours race, and return back, after their victories.
- Photos of the Ford GT in front of the hotel, cocktail, gourmet dinner, etc …
- Back to the «*Hôtel des Sittelles*» for the night.

Saturday, July 9 :

- Gathering and exhibition of the Ford GT on the beautiful location booked and equipped by the European Ford GT Owners Club.
- Grouped «*parade*» of the Ford GT on the track of the 24 hours race.
- Free visits of the paddocks and the more than 8000 collector cars gathered. Sight on the races from the grandstand seats.
- Gourmet dinner along the circuit.

Sunday, July 10 :

- Gathering and exhibition of the Ford GT on the space of the Club.
- Free visits of the paddocks and the more than 8000 collector cars gathered. Sight on the races from the grandstand seats.
- Optional sightseeing of the Loire Castles, nearby.

Every Ford GT owner interested in joining us for the «*Le Mans Classic*», is kindly requested to contact me quickly by email at :

[email protected]

In return, I will send the prices, a registration form and a deposit request.
(I precise that I am totally volunteer, that I make no profit, and that I only ask the reimbursement of the amounts paid to the organizers, hotels, and others).

Best regards.

Francis (Saint Ho).
 

Ed Sims

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Apr 7, 2006
7,940
NorCal
That sounds great Saint Ho. I don't think we ever resolved the issue with insurance on US registered/owned GTs driving in Europe. Do you have any info on that for us? Thanks for all the work!

Ed
 

Brombear

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
May 16, 2013
1,408
Frankfurt Area, Germany
Hi Ed,

It's really simple, just don't crash :)

Looking forward having one or the other glas/bottle of whatever with you, Heidi and the rest of the bunch :)

Best regards

Matthias
 
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Indy GT

Yea, I got one...too
Mark IV Lifetime
Jan 14, 2006
2,546
Greenwood, IN
Brombear,
I too look forward to another bottle of France's finest at Le Mans, with you Ed and others.
However, the insurance question still remains.

I am not that concerned with my (crash) actions. I am concerned about other drivers hitting one of our entourage while being distracted by the sheer awesomeness of having a string of GT's traveling together. I have seen these type of distractions many times, especially while the observer is trying to take a picture while driving.

Let's see what Dave/Drew come up with....
 

Xcentric

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
Jul 9, 2012
5,213
Myakka City, Florida
Special Ed,

You won't need insurance, because your GT will be confiscated at the port for being 100 times louder than allowed by law and for emitting 100 times more noxious fumes than a fleet of VW TDIs.
 

Brombear

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
May 16, 2013
1,408
Frankfurt Area, Germany
Don't know if it makes sense to involve a european insurance company, especially not knowing if they are interested in such a venture. But before asking some common parameters would need to be defined like expected mileage, period of insurance, number of interested drivers. Race track activities are usually not covered ;)
 

fjpikul

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Jan 4, 2006
11,786
Belleville, IL
No worries about Special Ed's car. It was confiscated as an abandoned car by the state of Michigan.
 

Ed Sims

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Apr 7, 2006
7,940
NorCal
Dr Frank - you'll be glad to know it is on it's way home as you read this

Brombear - Ja, werfen wir viele Flaschen Wein zusammen.

Xcentric - I am hoping for a sound exemption (aka 100 Euro bill wrapped around my license when I hand to cop)!

Ed
 

Cobrar

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
Jun 24, 2006
4,037
Metro Detroit
What's this about drinking a few bottles of wine?? ;-))
 

Brombear

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
May 16, 2013
1,408
Frankfurt Area, Germany
French way of creating a bond :)
 

Ed Sims

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Apr 7, 2006
7,940
NorCal
I think it's kind of an international way to create a bond! LOL

Ed
 

Saint Ho

GT Owner
Feb 12, 2013
483
Paris FRANCE
French way of creating a bond :)

Dear friends.

" French way of creating a bond " ???

OK.
At Le Mans, I personally invite you to get a demonstration of that, around selected bottles of French wine.
If you accept, the pleasure would be for me.

Best regards.

Francis (Saint Ho).
 

Luke Warmwater

Permanent Vacation
Jul 29, 2009
1,414
Boondocks, Colorado
Francis, is this the LM Classic or the LM 24H where the new FGT will be returning? Are you aware of any events where the GT40 marquee will be celebrated? I missed out on Goodwood in 2013 but I have an opportunity to purchase entry to the 2016 Goodwood members meeting where they will be celebrating the GT40 with a special race and many originals. I think LM Classic would be the best but have not seen any mention of them doing anything special for the GT40s. I am also wondering if there will be anything at SPA next year celebrating the GT40? Thanks
 

Saint Ho

GT Owner
Feb 12, 2013
483
Paris FRANCE
Francis, is this the LM Classic or the LM 24H where the new FGT will be returning? Are you aware of any events where the GT40 marquee will be celebrated? I missed out on Goodwood in 2013 but I have an opportunity to purchase entry to the 2016 Goodwood members meeting where they will be celebrating the GT40 with a special race and many originals. I think LM Classic would be the best but have not seen any mention of them doing anything special for the GT40s. I am also wondering if there will be anything at SPA next year celebrating the GT40? Thanks

Hello Luke.

The European Club Ford GT has not the answers to your interesting questions.
Many highly skilled Clubs are dedicated to GT40. So I decided not to encroach on their domain.

There is always a lot of very interesting and genuine GT40 at Le Mans Classic.
I have already said that Le Mans Classic 2016 would be a good opportunity for Ford to make an extraordinary "parade" on the 24 hours circuit, gathering the new Racing Ford GT, the new street Ford GT, a lot of Ford GT 2005/2006, and the GT40 at the beginning of all.
I also repeated that I was ready to help with the 35-40 Ford GT 05/06, probably gathered by our European Club.
I think it would be an extraordinary event for the communication of Ford and for us all.

Unfortunately, the secret is the boss, and I have no answer from anywhere.
So we have to wait.

Best regards.

Francis.
 

Matt

GT Owner
Jan 27, 2012
126
Tampa, FL
Hi Francis,

How is the planning for LeMans 2016 coming along? I know that probably 100 or more of us here in the USA are planning to attend the festivities and show support for the new GT next June, it sure would be nice to meet up and have a few beers.
 

Ed Sims

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Apr 7, 2006
7,940
NorCal
I don't think we will bring our GTs over though. The insurance is too high (around $10-20K for 2 weeks). Even if Ford helps with transportation costs it doesn't look like it will be likely. The best we can hope for is to drive St Ho's GT! LOL

Ed
 

Saint Ho

GT Owner
Feb 12, 2013
483
Paris FRANCE
Good morning MATT.
Good morning ED SIMS.

You would like to drive my wonderful Ford GT 2006 on the delicious French roads ?
On behalf of the spirit of the Ford GT Community, why not ?
Much better yet : If you insist to Ford that it delivered me my new Ford GT before July 2016, there will be always a free car, the 2006 or the 2016.
One of the essential requirements would be to drive them carefully, with gentleness and tenderness, as I do myself.

For the weekend of the 24 Hours race of Le Mans, I will arrange anything, as Ford will not release its program. For this weekend, Ford will be the natural leader. In coordination with Ford, at its request or under my initiative, I just want to organize something «*complementary" if necessary.
For now, unfortunately with no more information than you, I remain on stand-by.

For the Le Mans Classic weekend, I published the program of our Ford GT DAYS and the participants list grows every day. Many Americans have contacted me to participate, and we want to verify that there is no conflict between my program and the possible program of Ford for its guests. When things will be clear, I will take bookings from the USA.

About the Insurance for the US cars travelling in Europe, I do not understand the enormity of the commitments announced.
Thank you to confirm that it concerns the insurance of the Ford GT during their trip on the European roads. I'll ask the question to the Company (European leader) that provides my car.

Best regards.

Francis (Saint Ho).
 

Matt

GT Owner
Jan 27, 2012
126
Tampa, FL
Hi Francis,

As always it is a pleasureful event to commit discourse with you. Thank you bountifully indeed for the warm and sincere offer to allow Ed and I to play with your automotive wonders in a gentle and tender way.

I believe that Dr.Bannister is working diligently to kindly push the Powerful Ford Mastheads to divulge the necessary plannings. But alas, it must be a cumbersome and cosmically massive event, so the time is going by slow.

The Le Mans Classic also must be joyous, however, we all may not have the luxury of plentiful time. You shall wait upon us patiently for further répondez s'il nous plant.

I too believe that the insurance price that Ed mentioned seems abhorrently unnecessary, but yet, I have not called upon the agents to gain a pricing inquiry. I will cross my fingers for now.

Take care and be well my friend.

Matt
 

Ed Sims

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Apr 7, 2006
7,940
NorCal
Heidi & I are planning on coming over the weekend before the race. Lots to do & see.

Ed