Le Mans Classic 2014

---

Opening Page

Story and Images by Joachim Gruchot

Story and Images by Patrick Wheeler

Story and Images Page 2 by Patrick Wheeler

Story and Images Page 3 by Patrick Wheeler

---

Hard at work, "if it ain't broke, you were not driving hard enough" may sound good on a Tee-Shirt

Time trials are a critical period, drive hard enough to place well and proud, do not break anything significant as parts are hard to come by (especially for the oldtimer), a lot of hard work went into getting the cars here, no one wants to be left in the paddock ... the motto of 24 hours is, "...to Win at Le Mans, you have to Finish at Le Mans..." and this is true even for the old gentleman racers ...

Cobra with a set of fixing hands ...

MG with an empty engine bay ...

Hope it is not serious, but the helping hands display tension, races start in earnest tomorrow and a full engine pull is not the best of news ...

Porsche 904 paddock and all is orderly as the team makes minor adjustments ...

Nothing to see here, just a bit of brake (and steering) work

The gentleman discuss matters of import ...

Ok, Le Ferrari v12, look ma, no hands!

GT40 on the other hand has electrical issues, new night running lights are being fixed and adjusted ...

But there is a short somewhere and the tension between the cockpit and outside is mentionable, if not notable, controlled stress at this moment, an hour or more before this grid starts ...

A spot of rain dust ... but I love the engine box full of food/water and tools resting on the carb intakes, the GT40 is really such a tiny car, and such amazing technology wrapped in a pretty sheathing

The Sunbeam Tiger boys are catching a few winks of shuteye ...

And another series of Porsche 904's are getting some minor going's over ..

While support crew in back takes care of matters the pilot gets a few of the winks the Tiger boys were enjoying as well ...

All is quiet out at the Ferrari exhibit, crouds have thinned as a light dusting of moisture adds effect ...

The early grid is returning from the track ... running smooth and easy through the traffic in the cool of the night ...

Meanwhile the LMP's are several hours out from there start but body panels are splayed about the place to gain access to the internals ...

Meanwhile the oldtimers (1920's and 1930's) are out pounding the pavement ... a few come in to the stalls for a driver change and are still a moment and my little camera can capture them ...

Sigh ...

"watch the moisture on tetre rouge, and someone dropped an entire oil slick on the inside of the entrance to the Mulsanne ... gear three is catching and there is a short in one of the headlights, new driver, car is yours ..."

Head back to the track from the pits ...

I did try and photo the track, I guess I should have included a blur ;-)

Meanwhile this gal did not make it to the grid for the night running, she had the equipment, but perhaps others were granted the honor instead ...

But she is a lovely little thing ...

Bug-eye view ...

Yes, the Bugatti is gorgeous, but they've also had fun collecting the pit bikes and associated machinery ...

After the grid is drifting back in from the track, discussions occur and the work commences again for the next heat, as the beginning of the 24hour le mans classic 2014 continues through the night ...

Weather report is bad for tomorrow ... let us hope some good fun and safe racing happens after the time trials of this day and night ...

BACK TO TOP