Le Mans Classic 2012

A Le Mans start at Le Mans. Rolling starts are much safer but don't create the same spectacle.

After a false start, I still went to this year's Le Mans Classic, the false start courtesy of a burst top radiator hose on a forthcoming Vintage Thing wot I own (watch this space). It happened on the way to the ferry in Plymouth and fortunately not on the other side of the channel so if it was going to happen that's the way it should've happened. A quick regrouping and assessment of the amount of stuff we proposed taking and the available vehicles at our disposal resulted in us choosing my neighbour's Land Rover Defender as fallback transport. Andrew the tractor man said it handled better loaded down with all our gear and was surprisingly economical on such a long run.

Now is not the time to forget your Jag is left hand drive. Or to put your leg through the steering wheel. Fortunately, Alex Buncombe, in the C Type and Peter Mulder in the Gullwing Merc don't make these elementary mistakes at the front of the grid.

As a result of our adventures, our time at the circuit was shortened by a day and half but we still packed in another visit to the Maurice Dufresnes musuem, which regular readers of this blog will remember from a couple of years ago. We were able to take in more of the exhibits this time and spent the best part of a day there.

I've a soft spot for this little six-cylinder Fiat (VT No.81), campaigned by the du Boucheron family

This year we paid more attention to the racing and didn't get to wander round the club stands. I was mad keen to get into the paddock again and managed to get some even though they were sold out a few days ago. The organisers went to the trouble of printing off some more and I staked out the ticket office to ensure I got some. There seemed to be plenty available though and it was definitely worth the queuing. Next time, though, I'll make sure I get all the necessary tickets in one big hit.

I love the pits at night at Le Mans

Some neighbours in the camp site (Bleu Nord for those who know Le Mans) had some tickets available for the ACO stand in the tribunes so we almost had access to all areas. This is a refreshing change to the attitude of the authorities Goodwood Revival. I don't mind paying extra for things like paddock access but I refuse to pay for them when they're bundled up at extra cost with stuff I don't need or want.

During the races, pit stops were mandatory. Corvettes are so much bigger than Elites.

 The weather was nowhere near as hot  as last time and we had some rain, which spiced things up in the racing. During practice, a Bugatti span out in front of us at the entrance to the Tribunes and stalled. That's it we all thought, but the driver hopped out, ran to the front of the car, gave the starting handle a quick flick of his wrist and off he went again, to rapturous applause.

Just a quick service for the Lola-BMW of Patrice Lafargue

And my ears were rining for days after watching a gird from 1966-1971 thunder through the Tribunes on a rolling start.

Chiascuro in the pits - the 7 litre Ford Gran Torino of Jacques Alvergnas and Chistophe Schwartz gets new bulbs