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Post by chrisb on Jun 15, 2019 12:56:32 GMT
here's hoping for a great race and may the best team win,
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Post by René on Jun 16, 2019 9:49:28 GMT
Aarrgh. Just watched the Racing Team Nederland car have a big crash with Nyck de Vries at the wheel. Luckely he's ok and he managed to bring the car back in the pits. Something obviously broke and he went off high speed. They are trying to repair the car so they can finish the race but a top 10 qualification is now gone. A shame.  |
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Post by chrisb on Jun 16, 2019 20:36:23 GMT
The Toyotas look so good, I would love to have had Porsche sell their cars to privateers and we could have had a real race, really feel for the guys who finished second, but must admit it was not a race I really got into, I like the GTE category but that seemed to fizz out or maybe I just missed it I am unsure, but it has been a weekend that promised much and didn't seem to deliver.
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Post by Carl on Jun 16, 2019 21:38:27 GMT
The race was better than the coverage, with too few cameras and too much jabbering.
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Post by mikael on Sept 21, 2019 5:36:23 GMT
Watching the Indycar onboard movie from Laguna Seca posted by Carl, I somehow came across the Porsche 936 onboard movie, from Le Mans 1977, posted below. I find it very impressive and enjoyable. We're on board with Jürgen Barth, the eventual winner (he shared the car with Jacky Ickx and Hurley Haywood). His commentary is really nice (in German, though ...). Amazing that this model (the Porsche 936) was used for six seasons. According to Wikipedia, the car ran in 1977 with the five-speed gearbox used earlier in the 917. In 1981, the five-speed gearbox was replaced with a four-speed version; but still, the top speed was 360 km/h (220 mph). To imagine a car achieving such a top speed using just a four-speed gearbox ... The torque must have be almost scary ... Youtube link:  The winning Porsche 936/77 of Barth / Haywood / Ickx at Le Mans 1977. |
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Post by René on Sept 21, 2019 9:43:14 GMT
Fantastic footage Mikael, thanks for sharing! Those Porsche and Renault prototypes looked the part, didn't they? Very 70's style cool.  |
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Post by Carl on Sept 22, 2019 1:03:02 GMT
Watching the Indycar onboard movie from Laguna Seca posted by Carl, I somehow came across the Porsche 936 onboard movie, from Le Mans 1977, posted below. I find it very impressive and enjoyable. We're on board with Jürgen Barth, the eventual winner (he shared the car with Jacky Ickx and Hurley Haywood). His commentary is really nice (in German, though ...). Amazing that this model (the Porsche 936) was used for six seasons. According to Wikipedia, the car ran in 1977 with the five-speed gearbox used earlier in the 917. In 1981, the five-speed gearbox was replaced with a four-speed version; but still, the top speed was 360 km/h (220 mph). To imagine a car achieving such a top speed using just a four-speed gearbox ... The torque must have be almost scary ... The winning Porsche 936/77 of Barth / Haywood / Ickx at Le Mans 1977. Mikael, I especially enjoyed Jürgen Barth's mastery of the gear lever, an essential skill at the time that many young drivers today would need to learn, along with the immense bravery required to drive 220 mph past houses and the modest Armco barriers that could do little more than politely suggest a direction of travel. |
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Post by chrisb on Sept 23, 2019 5:58:01 GMT
oh my word, that is just so brilliant Mikael, to listen to a calm voice controlling a powerful projectile that uses a proper gearbox with so much happening around him is just wonderful
the sheer sense of speed is a joy to watch - you really feel that car's power, thanks Mikael, that has started the day off vey well, especially after yesterday's rugby,
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Post by mikael on Jan 16, 2021 11:38:39 GMT
It seems that the cars in the new Prototype class LM-H ("Le Mans Hypercar") are going to look very good. The Toyota, which recently was presented, certainly does. Very harmonic in its dimensions. And looking at the photo with a driver inside, one can sense that it's actually a small car - just like prototypes (e.g., Ford GT40, Ferrari 333P4, Porsche 917, ...) used to be. If only the Formula One regulation-authors would pause - and take a look!
(Photos borrowed from Motor Sport Magazine)
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Post by charleselan on Jan 16, 2021 13:07:06 GMT
Indeed the new Toyota LM-H does look very good, and a great improvement of the previous prototype machines. I am a little surprised that they are not that dissimilar in many respects as i thought that the idea was for them to be very like road going supercars but more race orientated, must have got that wrong.
I do believe that the series will be good as there appears to be some major manufacturers involved which is what we need.
As you mention Mikael, it is a shame that F1 does not look at the dimensions of these cars and see what F1 desperately needs in respect of more appealing cars dimensionally.
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Post by René on Jan 16, 2021 17:43:41 GMT
I was also surprised as it looks more like a baby LMP1. I don't like the styling of the headlights this way but the compactness of the car is much better. Still not a bad looking race car!
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Post by charleselan on Feb 7, 2021 18:22:32 GMT
The other evening I came across an really excellent film shot at the 1972 Le Mans 24 Hours that has to be shared here for obvious reasons. The film must have been shot by a cine photographer, not certain whether it was a pro' of a very good amateur, but it makes no difference it is stunning in my opinion. Ferrari fans like René & Rob should love the shots of the various Gt Ferrari's that ran that year especially the mighty Daytona 365GTB models.
It is sad seeing the lovely little prototype Lola's that were run by Jo Bonnier as he tragically lost his life later in one of the cars.
Some of the driver portrait shots in the paddock and pits are also superb, with Graham Hill looking his usual determined self, he really closed a few mouths after a superb drive when many thought his better days had passed. Maybe they had in F1 as he was never the same after the US GP accident which smashed his legs in 1969, but in this race he proved that he was still capable of an outstanding performance.
Unfortunately the film has no soundtrack from the meeting but is overdubbed with some marvellous period rock music, which is more than appropriate.
A great bit of film well worth watching.
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Post by René on Feb 7, 2021 18:35:16 GMT
Wow, fantastic film! Just watched the first 10 minutes. Certainly like the Ferraris but also the Porsches and the De Tomasos and the Lolas and the Matras and the girls! Great stuff! |
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Post by charleselan on Feb 7, 2021 18:40:38 GMT
I had forgotten how very attractive Marie-Claude Beaumont was as well, no wonder that prat Mark Thatcher got lost in the desert with her   . Some fabulous cars and ladies in the film as you point out René, one of the best films of this great race. Incidentally I downloaded a fantastic blue-ray edition of Steve McQueens Le Mans last night, stunning quality. |
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Post by charleselan on Feb 9, 2021 17:36:07 GMT
I see that it has been reported that Kevin Magnussen has been signed up for the factory Peugeot sports car team for 2022, as has Jean Eric Verne. Kevin has apparently said he isn't interested in a reserve F1 role, sensible lad.
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