Le Mans

I do have a "Maison Blanche" as well

That perfect picture again.

Allo, allo, allo...

Gulf's GR7 was a thinly disguised GP car. Is sports car racing on the brink of going the same way?

Trisha said:

Gulf's GR7 was a thinly disguised GP car. Is sports car racing on the brink of going the same way?

Click to expand...

Could be but the same was true for the 1955 Mercedes 300 SLR. Its real name was the W196 S and chassis and engine were both basically the same as the W196 grand prix car. I doubt if anybody here has a problem with the 1955 World Sports Car Championship, apart from the Le Mans disaster.






Andy

I'm trying to construct a diorama/vignette of the area around Maison Blanche as it appeared in 1970 and frankly I need some help. I'm attaching three images showing the Curve(s) before Maison Blanche and then showing the Road leading into what would have been the Pit Area in 1970. I'm under the impression that the "House" is still there and went to google earth to try and decipher it to get a better feel for the roadway running past but the subsequent changes to the Route used are hindering me. Finding the Pit area is easy enough given that things have changed over the years but I also believe that I have found the Road used in Arnage ( the hard right hand turn heading roughly North ) Following this road more or less north, I think it's labelled as D139. I can easily find the Virage Porsche which wasn't used/didn't exist in 1970 but continuing along the D139 I cannot find the curves or even that distinct roof .... So can someone with local knowledge provide some assistance Please ?

A little searching came up with this website which states that the original Maison Blanche is now within the Maison Blanche campsite. Aerial/satellite photos are shown which no doubt you will be able to co-ordinate with your known road layout.


This photo was recently published on the Forum and might give you further clues. It looks to be taken from the same position as your night photo and the trees such as can be seen appear the same. They are totally absent from your (presumed) contemporary photo though which is odd, Surely every single large tree has not died and been removed in the intervening years?

Last stopped in that exact same position in 2019 to take in the atmosphere, marvel at the thought of the sweeps in a 512 or 917, plus if course to remember poor old John Woolfe.

The house opposite the famed Martini hoarded roof has I seem to remember gone, the road sweeps left slightly heading north to run behind the west side of the pit straight, then past the main entrance and museum, past the doors to the circuit pub, up the hill with reserve rouge car park on the west and general car park to the east.

The road, very busy in race week obviously, carries on North past the cemetery,through an area of social housing and meets the peripherique sud .

The Porsche curves were new early seventies,think it was 72 bypassing Maison Blanche.

The great thing about LM ,apart from the bargain entry price is the ability to get around most of the circuit during practice and the race,apart from the Mulsanne/Hunaudieres.

Thing to remember is that Hollywood always uses a little artistic license, to get to the circuit and Place Jacobin I'm pretty sure Steve comes from different directions, but that shot at Maison Blanche where he gets out of the car, keeps totally still and the camera circles around him is a classic.

Quark

Daubings that might help a little.