A bit later than during normal, here are the things that caught my eye (and my sensor) during 2011. I have selected about 900 shots that will be subsequently posted here in random order, as determined by my screen saver. Shots are mostly around 1400x900 but some track shots have been cropped additonally. All shots were batch edited (sharpened and the UCP mark overlaid).
Main event for me was my first time ever 24 Hours of Le Mans, and will things surrounding the event, 900 pictures would not even be enough, but there are still quite a lot. There are quite a lot of shots of people, as "shooting cars on track" is an art much better executed by Wouter. Don't expect a picture of all 25 or so GTOs we saw this year, but there are some...
Two persons will appear regualarly, Horacio Pagani, who came to the US to show his new Huayra, and Sir Stirling Moss, who drove his last lap in anger at the Le Mans Legend practice, and decided racing was no longer fun for him. normal driving still is, so he is a prominent guest at many occasions.
Well here are the first six
1: The lavish interior of the Huayra
2: The lucky number carrying girl
3: Leave oversteer to the Brunn Porsche
4: Siata at Villa d'Este as a show car
5: "a strictly non-smiking area"
6: Purpose built tent
"I find the whole business of religion profoundly interesting, but it does mystify me that otherwise intelligent people take it seriously." Douglas Adams
1: Paul Knapfield can choose from a 312, a 512 or a 712...
2: A welcome addition to the field, the Maserati 151
3: The Peugeot team after scrutineering
4: One of the GTOs NOT at Pebble
5: The return of the rotarian: Flame spitting practice by Johnny Herbert
6: Fiat 8V Mille Miglia
"I find the whole business of religion profoundly interesting, but it does mystify me that otherwise intelligent people take it seriously." Douglas Adams
1. View of the underside of an Allard J2
2. Frans van Haaren drives his unrestored 540K off the Pebble ramp.
3. Never heard of the car before: A Lancia Fulvia bodied by Ghia
4: Sandy Watson's Chevron B8 passing the welcome sign at the top of Spa track
5: Lola T298, the CER overall winner this year
6: The restored Lindner Nocker E type.
"I find the whole business of religion profoundly interesting, but it does mystify me that otherwise intelligent people take it seriously." Douglas Adams
1. The Scarab from the Donnington Collection has returned to the track
2: Arturo Merzario, as usual iwth hat
3: A Chrvron B21, new to CER this year
4: The E Type race at Goodwood, Newey's car still in the lead
5: At Spa all looked very bright, initially
6: Le Mans winner Lotterer preparing for the long race against the Goodwood Hill
"I find the whole business of religion profoundly interesting, but it does mystify me that otherwise intelligent people take it seriously." Douglas Adams
1. Four of the 22 GTOs at Pebble
2. Alan McNish during the LeMans Testday
3. Norman Dewis in E2A
4. Belgian applied to the Pescarolo team poster
5. A Lotus 23, this a german engine
6. The crashed F50GT has been rebuild
"I find the whole business of religion profoundly interesting, but it does mystify me that otherwise intelligent people take it seriously." Douglas Adams
1. Most of the time the order was the other way round (only not when it mattered)
2. A DB3S as a LeMans Legend
3. Dr Ulrich on fruit juice
4. Paris Hilton raced at spa
5. The Goddess came to Carmel
6. Fulfilling a dream, Roger Wills doing the 24 Hours
"I find the whole business of religion profoundly interesting, but it does mystify me that otherwise intelligent people take it seriously." Douglas Adams
1. Franco Sbarro explaining his latest contraption
2: Karmann Cheetah prototype
3: Former Le Mans winner Ortelli chats with the winner to come: Bernhard Treluyer
4: Stanguellini FJ in the Corkscrew
5: Michel Quiniou
6: David Mercer's Spice
1: Horacio Pagani showing the Huayra at the Quail lodge
2: Lotterer contemplating that he will have to drive that after retiring..
3: The most expensive 911S ever, one of the cars used by Steve Mcqueen during the shooting of Le Mans
4: The Siata 208 show car from Villa d'Este, now being prepared for the Monterey historic races
5: No win or #2 at Spa
6: Green racing.
"I find the whole business of religion profoundly interesting, but it does mystify me that otherwise intelligent people take it seriously." Douglas Adams
1. Yes it was an official Jaguar colour
2. Audi R18
3. A Fiat 131 Racing negotiating the La Source hairpin in an unconventional way
4. and then spoiling its tyres even further
5. "and I would like 100 more BHP and some reliability might help too"
6. Mr. Robertson in France
"I find the whole business of religion profoundly interesting, but it does mystify me that otherwise intelligent people take it seriously." Douglas Adams
1. The Hybrid struggling through the 24 Hours
2. A Ferrari during sunset
3. The rarest of the R4s, the R3
4. Animosity? Only between the fans
5. Forced sale of the unique Marzal, record price for a Lambo
6. One of the ten official Lola T28x cars.
"I find the whole business of religion profoundly interesting, but it does mystify me that otherwise intelligent people take it seriously." Douglas Adams
1. Early in the lead, still leading at the end, the Greaves Zytek.
2. Hauling a Cobra Coupe around on a wet track in anger requires balls, obviously Kenny Brack has them
3. Last year's Pebble winner came to Italy
4. A Lola T212
5. Going into the ex-busstop
6. If it looks streamlined, it must be....
"I find the whole business of religion profoundly interesting, but it does mystify me that otherwise intelligent people take it seriously." Douglas Adams
1. Ferrari's Quattro system
2. Dr. Ulrich discussing tyre strategies
3. More engine than car
4. Yes, within that tiny wheelbase sits a brutal V8. With all the nast consequences.
5. John Surtees gets guest ride in a Mercedes
6. And this is Arturo finally without his hat.
"I find the whole business of religion profoundly interesting, but it does mystify me that otherwise intelligent people take it seriously." Douglas Adams
1. An early 33/2 at Villa d'Este
2. the almost UCP COTY
3. Holy Mason in the family's Frazer Nash
4. Two of the impressive Mercedes selection sold by RM this year at Monterey
5. Transam cars at Laguna
6. A surprise visitor at Paul Ricard, not that far away from the city that gave it her name...
"I find the whole business of religion profoundly interesting, but it does mystify me that otherwise intelligent people take it seriously." Douglas Adams
1. The brutally fast Nissan R89
2. Jochen Mass
3. Alan spolied his official retriement, so he will be back
4. The four pot TVR is slower but more balanced
5. An early Kremer Porsche
6. Hans Hugenholtz once more brought his Elan first over the Line at Laguna
"I find the whole business of religion profoundly interesting, but it does mystify me that otherwise intelligent people take it seriously." Douglas Adams
1. Lotus came back to Le Mans, it has some history there
2. The unique Stratos Prototype
3. Quiffel just adapted their LMP2 car to become an LMP1, hired Oliver Pla and became most of the time the quickest non-diesel car, while it lasted....
4. Dario can be spotted on both sides of the ocean
5. A Corvette Roadster
6. The Sebring winner at Spa
"I find the whole business of religion profoundly interesting, but it does mystify me that otherwise intelligent people take it seriously." Douglas Adams