Le Mans Classic was a shock for me. I had already attended to the 24 hours race, big shows like Duxford Flying Legends or Retromobile. However, nothing could have prepared me to the avalanche that is LM Classic. Coming back from this weekend I could not pick a car, a brand or an era that define the 24 hours of Le Mans. What were the Icons?
Today Le Mans Classic has become one of the biggest event dedicated to classic cars. More than 500 cars from 1924 to yesterday, pilots from both the past and present, they all gather every two years for one weekend in the Sarthe.
In addition to the 6 main grids, you could see, smell and hear Group C racers, Jaguars, Porsches and even race cars from the early 2000s.
Add to the race cars a massive club area full of treasures and rare automobiles.
So picking the Best in Show, the One to remember, is almost impossible.
Where to start?
Though the first symbol is the location itself, the Dunlop Bridge, the Hunaudières… Iconic landmarks that suggest speed and bring back memories.
But then again during this weekend those memories are actually alive in a symphony of sound and smells. Thus, the beat of V8, V12 or inline 6 rocks you into ecstasy.
If you are more visual person you can’t stay indifferent to the beauty of a D-Type going by.
You can experience from so close old duels that forged companies like Ferrari Vs Ford.
Duels that produced Icons like the Ford GT40.
Meet your heroes
You can meet your heroes from the past, like Henri Pescarolo driving for the first time His car in public.
And if Matra is too old for you, what about a casual chat with Loic Duval? Actor of Audi recent domination in the Sarthe he was driving a little Alpine Renault A 210 in the 5th grid.
Then, they are the Car Heroes, like the fastest truck on Earth: the Bentley Blowers.
There are the Golden ages like the Group C.
So you guessed it, if there were no overview of Le Mans Classic yet it is not because of lack of material, but the opposite. Thus the great thing about Le Mans Classic is that the Icons are not still life, they are roaring on the track and in the paddocks, they are moving! Therefore it is hard to filter and pick your favourites as all your senses are tickled and memories alive.
Next time I may limit myself and set some rules or like for Porsche focus on a brand or an era. I could even just limite my weekend to a single line in the paddock. Hopefully this way I may not suffer from an overdose.
Unfortunately it is hard to get of this drug. So it it may be safer to learn to cope with the overflow.
