2008 24 Hours of Le Mans Official Thread

[Kitdy]

Originally Posted by Turbo.Jenkens

I don't need any reasons to go, just funding.

Considering the RS Spyder's performance at Petit LeMans, Catalunya, Monza, Spa, and of course the over all win at Sebring; does any one think they will hold together long enough to contest the fastest LMP1s?

I think the LMP1s are simply too quick along the Mulsanne and too numerous to be challenged by the RS Spyders, even if the rumour of a new aero package for the Spyder at Le Mans comes true.

What's the word on that anyways?

Personally, I think it'd be hilarious if none of the Audis or Peugeot's won.

[Zytek_Fan]

The Spyders have been fine in LMS and ALMS so far, but those nasty reliability gremlins may come back over the course of 24 hours.

[Kitdy]

Originally Posted by Zytek_Fan

The Spyders have been fine in LMS and ALMS so far, but those nasty reliability gremlins may come back over the course of 24 hours.

They had some trouble last year in Sebring though if I recall correctly.

On pace, they are faster than all the other LMP2 cars in Europe and this I doubt will change at Le Mans. It's simply a matter of whether or not they will last 24 hours.

[Dino Scuderia]

Wouter, who wrote those 24 points of light?

[Zytek_Fan]

It would be awesome to have some kind of contest for guessing winners of the classes...

[Matra et Alpine]

Your personal Le Mans horoscope!

Originally Posted by from [URL="http://www.beermountain.com/

www.beermountain.com[/url]"]

We asked the Captain Trousers to let us know his predictions for the race. Not so much who might win or lose, but how the stars may influence your life on the camp site...

Capricorn (Dec 22-Jan 20)

The sun and moon are in a positive phase for you, so make the most your trip this year. Avoid confrontation - if in doubt retire to your tent with a cold beer. Your finances should be good, so you can afford to drink as many bottles of champagne in the village as you like. Be careful on the N138 on the way home.
Lucky vegetable: Aubergine
Ideal tent partner: Audrey Hepburn
The right vintage wine from Carrefour: 1988
Lucky campsite: Bleu
Chances of coming a cropper on the go karts: High
Best colour car to travel in: Red
Car to avoid being seen in: anything from Japan
The right BBQ food: Spicy sausages
Ideal beer: Kronenbourg
Top camping tip: Bring extra tent pegs


Aquarius (Jan 21-Feb 19)

Expect to be Mr Popular on the camp site this year. Romance is likely to be in the air! Use your New Moon to trust your judgement if it looks like any of your team are in the wrong, and don't forget - if all else fails - smile! Expect to meet a lovely lady with dark hair and at Jannine's bar who may get pregnant on Saturday night.
Lucky vegetable: Swede
Ideal tent partner: Wilma Flintstone
The right vintage wine from Carrefour: 2002
Lucky campsite: Houx Annexe
Chances of coming a cropper on the go karts: High
Best colour car to travel in: Silver
Car to avoid being seen in: Ambulance
The right BBQ food: Shark from Carrefour
Ideal beer: Beck's
Top camping tip: Chill bog roll in the fridge

Pisces (Feb 20-Mar 20)

Plan well and keep some money in reserve for unexpected expenses. Make sure you look up old friends around more than just your camp site. Watch out for pikeys on Monday morning and try to avoid the big wheel in the funfair.
Lucky vegetable: Parsnip
Ideal tent partner: Vicky Butler Henderson
The right vintage wine from Carrefour: 1984
Lucky campsite: Maison Blanche
Chances of coming a cropper on the go karts: Low
Best colour car to travel in: Yellow
Car to avoid being seen in: MX5
The right BBQ food: Kebabs
Ideal beer: Grimbergen
Top camping tip: Always insulate yourself before turning fairy lights on in the wet

Aries (Mar 21-April 20)

Venus enters your "zone" for this trip, so it's going to be a good one. Your creative vision and dynamism should allow you to create some new inventions for your team. Make sure you plan ahead. A visit to the Leroy Marlin DIY store might be a good idea.
Lucky vegetable: Sprout
Ideal tent partner: Anna Freil
The right vintage wine from Carrefour: 1978
Lucky campsite: Basejour
Chances of coming a cropper on the go karts: Stay away!
Best colour car to travel in: Silver
Car to avoid being seen in: Porsche Boxter
The right BBQ food: Horsemeat burger
Ideal beer: John Smith's
Top camping tip: No beer before 9am

Taurus (April 21-May 21)

Don't be too cautious - say hello to all around you. Try not to say all that you think though, and try and set goals. Be careful when you visit the bog block - things could go unexpectedly wrong. Be wary of strangers carrying baguettes.
Lucky vegetable: Cabbage
Ideal tent partner: Britney
The right vintage wine from Carrefour: 1994 or 1997
Lucky campsite: Houx Annexe
Chances of coming a cropper on the go karts: High
Best colour car to travel in: Black
Car to avoid being seen in: Police car
The right BBQ food: Bacon sarnie
Ideal beer: anything cold
Top camping tip: Eat plenty of roughage

Gemini (May 22-June 21)

The new moon will change your feelings about the race and you will admit to yourself that you actually go for the beer. Don't force the pace - let other worry about if you remembered to pack the BBQ. With Mercury going backwards, you should avoid the bar on the ferry at all cost.
Lucky vegetable: Pumpkin
Ideal tent partner: Denise Van Outen
The right vintage wine from Carrefour: 2000
Lucky campsite: Tetre Rouge
Chances of coming a cropper on the go karts: Medium
Best colour car to travel in: Silver
Car to avoid being seen in: Caterham
The right BBQ food: Stuffed mongoose
Ideal beer: Watney's Red Barrel
Top camping tip: Use the toilet at McDonald's before the race, not after

Cancer (June 22-July 23)

Mercury in your way could stop you being able to communicate with the locals. Make sure you tell your fellow campers that you love them and stay positive. Don't go shopping by yourself, as you are bound to buy horsemeat and fritter the kitty on a paddling pool.
Lucky vegetable: Courgette
Ideal tent partner: Betty Boop
The right vintage wine from Carrefour: 1984
Lucky campsite: Houx Annexe
Chances of coming a cropper on the go karts: Low
Best colour car to travel in: Yellow
Car to avoid being seen in: Anything on your company's car list
The right BBQ food: Roast Pig
Ideal beer: Theakston's Best Bitter
Top camping tip: Obey the paddling pool Safety Officer at all times

Leo (July 24-Aug 23)

Don't travel too far from the camp site. You may get impatient at times, but don't take shortcuts. Don't make snap decisions without talking to your team first. Eat plenty of roughage and play nicely.
Lucky vegetable: Potato
Ideal tent partner: Sam Fox
The right vintage wine from Carrefour: 1988
Lucky campsite: Maison Blanche
Chances of coming a cropper on the go karts: Low
Best colour car to travel in: Blue
Car to avoid being seen in: Any 911 with coloured wheels
The right BBQ food: Sheep
Ideal beer: Kingfisher
Top camping tip: Bring a spare airbed pump and a puncture repair kit

Virgo (Aug 24-Sep 23)

Be tactful and discreet as Mars and Mercury are in the background. The new moon means you can enjoy the go karts with impunity - all in front of you will crash and you will almost certainly be victorious. Be careful when lighting the BBQ and avoid fireworks if you don't like French hospital food.
Lucky vegetable: Yam
Ideal tent partner: Julianne Moore
The right vintage wine from Carrefour: 1982
Lucky campsite: Technoparc
Chances of coming a cropper on the go karts: Low
Best colour car to travel in: Silver
Car to avoid being seen in: Campervan
The right BBQ food: Anything cremated and in a bun
Ideal beer: Steinlager
Top camping tip: Baguettes can be made to last longer if dampened with water and put in the oven

Libra (Sep 24-Oct 23)

Your domestic abilities are high thanks to the moon. Make sure you help keep things in order at your base. Listen to others and enjoy the good atmosphere that's bound to surround you. Stay off the champagne on Saturday and eat lots of burned meat.
Lucky vegetable: Leek
Ideal tent partner: Amanda Donohoe
The right vintage wine from Carrefour: 1990
Lucky campsite: Houx
Chances of coming a cropper on the go karts: Low
Best colour car to travel in: Green
Car to avoid being seen in: TVR
The right BBQ food: Avoid the BBQ at all cost if you don't like hospital food
Ideal beer: Foster's
Top camping tip: Use extra guy ropes on your gazebo - freak winds are common in June

Scorpio (Oct 24-Nov 22)

It should be an easygoing one - don't worry about arriving too early at the campsite. Don't make any big decisions under the influence of drink. Try and stay awake for Saturday night this year if you don't normally manage it. Avoid listening to any 80's music at all costs. Stay off the funfair rides after meals.
Lucky vegetable: Broccoli
Ideal tent partner: Betty Rubble
The right vintage wine from Carrefour: 2001
Lucky campsite: Houx Annexe
Chances of coming a cropper on the go karts: Medium
Best colour car to travel in: Red
Car to avoid being seen in: Anything with 4 seats and an airbag
The right BBQ food: Pork luncheon meat
Ideal beer: Peroni
Top camping tip: Point rockets away from your tent when lighting

Sagittarius (Nov 23-Dec 21)

You should get some surprising news - perhaps a new campsite? Don't plan too far ahead - things will sort themselves out. Try and shave at least once - you are going to have your photo taken with someone famous. Don't argue with the riot police, even if you think you are in the right!
Lucky vegetable: Cauliflower
Ideal tent partner: Demi Moore
The right vintage wine from Carrefour: 1983
Lucky campsite: Tetre Rouge
Chances of coming a cropper on the go karts: High
Best colour car to travel in: Red
Car to avoid being seen in: MGB
The right BBQ food: Antelope
Ideal beer: Baltika
Top camping tip: Ignore the early wake up calls on the ferry - they are purely designed to make you buy their hideous breakfast

[Kitdy]

Originally Posted by Zytek_Fan

It would be awesome to have some kind of contest for guessing winners of the classes...

I agree. Shall we do it before or after practice/qualy?

[Zytek_Fan]

Originally Posted by Kitdy

I agree. Shall we do it before or after practice/qualy?

I'd say immediately following the test days.

Maybe Wouter could award the winner(s) UCP stickers?

[Kitdy]

Originally Posted by Zytek_Fan

Maybe Wouter could award the winner(s) UCP stickers?

Fat chance.

The winner gets one important thing: pride.

[Turbo.Jenkens]

Originally Posted by Kitdy

They had some trouble last year in Sebring though if I recall correctly.

Yes, It was an electrical gremlin and we haven't seen it since. I'm thinking they'll finish ahead of the majority of the LMP1Ps, but who know 24hrs is a long time.

[Zytek_Fan]

Originally Posted by Turbo.Jenkens

Yes, It was an electrical gremlin and we haven't seen it since. I'm thinking they'll finish ahead of the majority of the LMP1Ps, but who know 24hrs is a long time.

I'll say either of the Spyders will have hit a problem by the 18th hour.

That Speedy Lola Judd will be quite dangerous

[Zytek_Fan]

You can make your class winner predictions now, and you'll be able to change them following the end of the test days. By end, I mean end of the last day.

So, here it goes for moi:
LMP1: Team Peugeot Total #8
LMP2: Speedy Racing Team Sebah #33
LMGT1: Luc Alphand Aventures #72
LMGT2: Flying Lizard Motorsports #80

[kingofthering]

LMP1 - Audi Team Joest

LMGT1- Corvette

I don't know too much about the other classes.

[Zytek_Fan]

Due to the multiple entries from some teams, you must use the car's # as well.

[Wouter Melissen]

Originally Posted by Dino Scuderia

Wouter, who wrote those 24 points of light?

The ACO.