Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Le Mans 24 hour race

Good day TM’ers,
Thoughts are now turning to this year Grand Prix d’endurance, which I and some of Morgan’s finest will be attending for about the 20th time, since 1997 when we thought we were going to watch one of Malverns own actually racing. It actually happened a couple of times in 2001/2 or maybe it was 02/03, but by then we were hooked with the whole experience of 24 hour racing, supporting Morgan, TVR, Aston Martin and various other British brands along the way.
We’ve enjoyed some amazing races, brilliant food and good company not to mention a lake of wine and several breweries production of beer.
Some of the early stalwarts sadly have gone to the great race meeting in the sky and every year at midnight on the Saturday of the Race we gather at tertre rouge bar to toast and drink the health and memory of those who couldn’t attend for whatever reason. If you happen to be attending this year come and meet us there for a drink.

We shall be doing so for probably the last time this year, at 66 I’m too old to camp on the expo site which has seen some hilarious goings on over the 22 years. So we’ve found ourself a nice sensible accommodation in an air bnb house 15 minutes walk from the circuit. Which has parking, cooking and yes our own toilet facilities. So many sagas about toilets I could tell, but I won’t as you might be eating whilst reading this.
We’ve had the privilege of meeting some amazing drivers, Phil Hill, Stirling Moss and Mr Le Mans Tom Kristenson.
The local village of saint Saturnin put on a fantastic event on Friday of race week and this year I understand they’re honouring 110 years of Morgan, so naturally we shall be there with 100’s of other classic cars and Le Mans fans.
Here’s to a good one and safe travels to my buddies in crime Ian, Paul and Tim.
I hope everyone has a good time, if youve never been do try it, the classic is a good meeting but the “proper” race is something else and as a motorsport fan I’m privileged to have attended so many Vingt quatres heures du Mans.

2002 - the yellow DeWAlt sponsored car Rob.
2004 - the blue and silver car (is in the Heritage Centre at MMC) - you'd recognise one or two of the sponsoring names on the bootlid...
If you haven't read it, the book by David Dowse "Morgan at Le Mans" is worth a go.

Ah Rob, the draw of the Worlds Greatest Motorrace.

Our little group of 6 have been going for the past 30 years. The past 15 I've been in my Morgan. We have been seating with the Vagabonds in the grandstands for some years now.

I remember seeing and hearing the Morgans, and looking at all the spondsors names on the rear wing whilst the car was parked in the pits on Friday. We always look for a car or team to follow, usually Astons nowadays.

In those days we would camp at Houx, but now we camp (glamp) at Malicorne-sur-Sarthe (even though we are all over 66) , which 20 - 30 minutes drive from the circuit. Proper showers, camp beds, frig, and three great restaurants.

We have a tradition of meeting at the tertre rouge bar at 9-10 pm on the Saturday. Maybe one day we will see you there at midnight. We will of course look out for you Saint Saturnin, or in the Grandstands.

and I will quote you many times in the next few weeks (especially to Quentin) "the Classic is a good meeting but the 'proper' race is something else".

Rob

I went there in the 1970s twice in order to recce for our own attempt at the real 24H with a +8 . It was of course something of an heroic failure as the regulation change banning works prototypes got over-ruled and the car would have been hopelessly uncompetitive and we cut our losses. The Traco engined +8 that was just sold in Germany was the only tangible result.

In those days it was real circus with most spectators more interested in the funfair and getting up to all kinds of mischief rather than the racing.

We stayed in a tiny gîte just south of Arnage, but didn't get any sleep at all as I was transfixed by the action everywhere from Mulsanne to Indianapolis. The noise was fantastic (these were the years of the Matra V12!) right through the night. Unfortunately no access to pits unless you had the correct passes (or enough French Francs to bribe the officials?) but the paddock area was more accessible then.

The main thing that struck me was how subjectively the regulations were applied. They were really strict and totally clear in print, however when a real live situation arose it all seemed to get very "fuzzy" according to which team was involved.

The main thing that struck me was how subjectively the regulations were applied. They were really strict and totally clear in print, however when a real live situation arose it all seemed to get very "fuzzy" according to which team was involved.

Always good to see you there Steve, I think we met at Arnage corner in the early days of the vagabond trips, I always look forward to bumping into you there or anywhere else.
Yep I’ll buy you a beer if I see you, maybe in tertre rouge bar.
Have a great time.