I must admit that, by the time I reached the perimeter of the Le Mans circuit, my patience was wearing a little thin.
We had got out of bed at the crack of dawn, been on the move almost all day, battled with the consequences of erratic sat-nav routing and dealt with myriad tailbacks and traffic jams.
More importantly, we had so far managed to preserve the condition of the £142,000 Aston Martin DB9 Volante that we had driven all the way from Autocar’s office in Teddington. I would be damned if I was going to let anyone else damage it.
So, when people started crowding around it as we drove along the access roads of the track, I got a little twitchy. The crowds thickened, intentionally forming a single-car width lane and forcing cars passing through the throng to a crawl.
A chap in the crowd – to whom I will remain in eternal debt – shouted at me to close my windows. I heeded his warning, and made sure the doors were locked for safety’s sake. I could see people in the rear-view running their hands along the flanks of the DB9, while others came up and tapped on the windows inquisitively, giving us the thumbs-up or gesturing for us to wind our windows down.
Suddenly, we found ourselves in a clear spot in the heaving throng of people. Evidently cars had been doing burnouts here, the tarmac rich with the freshly burnt remnants of Michelins, Pirellis and Goodyears. In my books, however, there’s nothing more stupid and careless than doing a burnout in a crowd. One of the spectators lowered a mock ‘stop’ barrier, while everyone else started cheering, waving and shouting.
I wasn't going to entertain them, but I gunned the engine a few times which seemed to gratify them enough to allow us to move on. The chap with the barrier, however, persisted and simply walked along with us until the crowds forced us to a stop again. Despite the narrowness of the road, there was still traffic trying to work its way through in the other direction, as well as numerous cyclists and people on scooters passing each way.
This time, an air of intimidation descended and I felt a distinctly unnerving mob mentality flooding through the crowd. They really packed around the Aston, trying to get in to it, shouting abuse, tapping it, and I got the impression that it wouldn't take much for someone to actually feel inclined to damage it.
Stan, the photographer travelling with me, looked distinctly unsettled and insisted that we push through and get the hell out of there. I was inclined to agree with him, so - while trying not to flatten anyone - I forced the Aston slowly and steadily through the amassed spectators. Coming the other way was a chap on a motorbike, who promptly got a bucket of water poured over him. He didn't, understandably, look amused.
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Agreed
We walked down this road and I got ht on the shoulder and head by a water filled balloon
This really hurt and I was somewhat shocked
Other yobi=bish behaviour included fireworks at 4am Saturday morning and a bugler
Luckily 99.9% plus people there were fans enjoying a wonderful occasion (and of course shocked by the tragic accident)
So will I go again - yes pf course; but I will avoid that road
shame
I had pretty much the same experience this year. The same bunch of morons wanting me to do a burnout in a 4 wheel drive Audi...When I politely declined with a smile on my face whilst indicating that 4 wheel drive would scupper their plans, it all turned ugly with people banging the roof and swearing at me through the drivers window. My 9 year old boy (it was his first time at Le Mans) was more than a little concerned.
I still Love Le Mans and won't let this rabble put me off. The lads next to us in the campsite were great fun and despite being horribly hungover they were happy to to challenge my boy to a water pistol fight etc. but it's a shame that we have to tolerate the ugly mob on 'Mad Friday' just to access the campsite.
In years gone by I've had urine filled water pistols squirted into my Elise and some drunken skank thinking she was funny by throwing whole buckets of water into passing convertibles. These are not 'car people' having fun. If they were they would know the first and only important rule at these events: "DO NOT MESS WITH ANOTHER MANS AUTOMOBILE". We all love seeing the varied mix of cars dotted around the campsites but if this sort of moronic behaviour escalates I can see people not wanting to risk their pride any joy and turning up in humdrum hatchbacks instead.
But most of all it just takes the gloss off what should be a magical moment as you enter the circuit first time having been looking forward to it for the last 12 months.
Missing the point
I would have thought after the weekend Aston Martin had this probably isn’t the biggest issue facing the race at the moment. I would also add that as someone who has been as a guest and a paying punter it is always good to experience these events from both sides of the fence. As a paying punter what constitutes entertainment differs somewhat from what you expect as a guest. All I can say is you probably don’t want to go to a 24hr bike race on the continent.
I would be interested to read what you felt it was like driving home in a car that someone had just died racing in and what the atmosphere was like in the corporate hospitality and garages over the weekend.