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I’m just in the process of sorting out my holiday plans for this year. A week and a half in central France. Le Mans to be precise, to watch the greatest motorsport event of the year, le 24 Heures Du Mans. I’ve never been to see an endurance race like that. We’re going long enough to catch all of the testing and qualifying, and to see the whole race. It’s a camping trip so nice and cheap. It’s actually the first holiday I’ve been on for years so I’m pretty excited about it, and it’s been even longer since I went camping so that’s even more reason to be excited. And that’s before we get to the spectacle of LM Prototypes running at full chat in the middle of the night. The Mulsanne straight of the Circuit de la Sarthe illuminated only by headlights and the flashes of blue and red flame from 700 degree exhaust outlets. I’m so excited I could poop.
But what are your plans for your summer holiday, or if you’re an American, your summer vacation?
Anyone else going to Le Mans like me and fancy catching up at some point?
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quote:Originally posted by Ringo: But what are your plans for your summer holiday, or if you’re an American, your summer vacation?
We're planning a camping trip to the Cape Cod, MA, area; my family and four other families who are also homeschooling-liberal-hippie-types. We're also planning a handful of day trips to various and sundry places (the aquarium in Boston being one of them). If I can swing it, I'd like to travel south to Philly to visit me old mum and dad. It's been a few years since I've seen them.
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I think camping is something I'd like to do more of. More than 'not ever' that is. I used to go camping when I was younger, in the Scouts, but I've not done anything of the kind since. Except this one time when I got drunk and fell asleep in my garden. I don't think that really counts though.
But there's something really pleasing about roughing it in a tent, with a little camping stove and some basic food. But the unfortunate thing is that for most of my friends, camping is only done in conjunction with going to some fuckawful music event like glastonbury or some other gobshite like that. Brr
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I'm going to play stupid amounts of cricket and lie around drinking Pimms. Can't leave the country, stupid pregnant women
And need to save money for small person etc.
I always thought motorsport was one of those things like golf and sailing, where you get a much better idea of what's going on if you watch on TV.
And then I did a stint as track doctor at the Goodwood Revival. Fuck me that's some crazy shit. Absolutely awesome experience, and that's 30 year old cars! 800bhp aero'd brutes at 220mph down Mulsanne - that's going to redefine sweet. You'd better take some metformin with you Ringers...
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There's something to be said for classic GT cars. The Cobras, Austin Healeys, Aston Martins, Jaguars, etc etc. They make a much sweeter noise than modern cars, and drive in a way that's much more exciting to watch than modern race cars, because they're more inclined to slide in 4 wheel drifts around the corners which is always great to see.
Also, most of the top LMP1 cars are now running biodiesel or similar, which just don't have the same kind of noise as the old petrol monsters, even if they are quicker.
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Much like Carter, my holiday plans this summer are likely to be on the low-key side. Given that we will have a baby in the household for most of the summer months, overnight travel away from home doesn't seem likely. I will be avoiding Cape Cod, though, because it's nightmarish during the summer months. So, lots of day trips, I guess, to events like the Scooper Bowl in Boston, and such other family friendly fun. Oh, and hopefully heading out cycling with the older daughter a few times. Just the one, though- I won't be able to head out with both younguns until next year.
-------------------- Give 'em .0139 fathoms and they'll take 80 chains. Posts: 3201
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Oooh holidays! I have totally got a wide-on for holidays at the moment! Having recently returned from snowboarding in Colorado (paid for by work as I had to go to a conference there), I am mostly looking forwards to going diving in the Red Sea on Thursday. The rest of the time I am shitting myself about it. Then in May I am going to Gibraltar for a day and a night, sailing across the straits to Tangiers, staying a day and getting the over night train to Marrakech to stay in one of those fancy riads with a little pool and dining room on the roof! Then in mid July I am going to go and stay with posh-friend’s parents in their Irish castle and go on speedboats! Then in late July I am going to row up the Thames in an old rowing skiff for 5 days and camp on the river banks at night. We will row past Bray and I want to go to The Fat Duck, but there is dissent in the ranks about this. Mostly from a vegetarian student which makes sense I suppose.
I would also like to do some more UK camping. Possibly the Wye valley. And the Isle of Mann.
I think I may be having some kind of mid-life crisis what with all the adventure-holidays and yearning for an impractical vehicle. I even caught myself thinking about getting a tattoo! Does anyone know any hot, but unsuitably young boys?
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There's an awesome E-type prototype called the CUT 7 that always turns up. Beautiful body, phenomenal noise, driven like a barried Nova (but perfectly, obv) - in a ridiculously butch battleship grey colour.
There's an awesome E-type prototype called the CUT 7 that always turns up. Beautiful body, phenomenal noise, driven like a barried Nova (but perfectly, obv) - in a ridiculously butch battleship grey colour.
Woof.
I love a good E-type. Not that there's such a thing as a bad one. Especially with a nice row of big-choke carburettors popping and wailling. But the best thing is seeing these cars, each worth hundreds of thousands, being driven hell for leather in a competative way. Not just a parade but a proper race where all involved are actually doing their best and driving as hard as they can while still racing cleanly. It's what the cars are made for. It makes me sad seeing these beautifully restored sports and race cars sitting gathering dust in garages, never getting to turn a wheel in anger.
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I reckon that below 24 would be ‘a bit young’ and below 22 would be unsuitable? Who knows! I am 28...what do you all reckon the eyebrow raising limit would be?
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also, good luck in tangiers abby. Helpful hint: Don't talk to a fucking soul until you leave because everybody will try and sell you something if you let them. Everybody. Do not believe in any of the smiles or the offers or the chats. They are lies.
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quote:Originally posted by Abby: I reckon that below 24 would be ‘a bit young’ and below 22 would be unsuitable? Who knows! I am 28...what do you all reckon the eyebrow raising limit would be?
It takes a lot to raise my eyebrow when it comes to age differential. Of course my wife is 17 1/2 years younger than I am.
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I haven't, no. I mean to go to things like that, but unfortunately just never seem to get round to it. Although this year my mission is more to get myself some proper track action. As of tonight, the Roadster is going into the garage to have a complete footwork overhaul so should be in good shape for me to attend a few trackdays over the summer. I keep making excuses because I know I'm going to suck, but it's the only way to get better.
I think the last actual motorsport I went to see was Rallycross at lydden hill last year.
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quote:Originally posted by Carter: Are you suggesting Abby takes a 10-year-old boy to Marrakech?
I'm suggesting that I wouldn't judge her provided her escort was of an age where he could legally consent to whatever it was she had planned.
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quote:Originally posted by Abby: I reckon that below 24 would be ‘a bit young’ and below 22 would be unsuitable? Who knows! I am 28...what do you all reckon the eyebrow raising limit would be?
Somewhere between 16 and 18, I'd say.
Ringer/Carto:
Have you heard about the *proposed plan to ban cars over a certain age from entering cities, for pollution reasons? How does this make you feel?Posts: 14015
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I'm totally jealous of Abbey's holiday plans! I don't have any at all, apart from a week in London over Easter. And then after I have squeeze the child out I was thinking of just going home because I miss home etc, but then everyone keeps going on about how awesome Stockholm is in the summer. And part of me thinks that maybe to spend July here might be nice. There is water everywhere and you can swim wherever you want, it's so clear and nice, maybe I could take the baby swimming or something? So I might spend the summer here and then go home for the autumn. Maybe. I don't know. I don't know what life is like with a new baby. I don't know what happens. Crying, shitting. What else?
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quote:Originally posted by MiscellaneousFiles: plan to ban cars over a certain age from entering cities, for pollution reasons?
Still think lorries and buses are worse offenders, although they're not so revenue-friendly to fuck over.
Has anyone looked into the TOTAL environmental cost of new cars? Mine's 8 years old {and drinks like George Best's ghost, but that's another issue...} - and I would definitely get better mileage and pollute less with a newer car, but at which point would construction and shipping (environmental) costs be outweighed by this benefit?
All the advice columns in the motoring supps always warn people about to change cars for mileage/money reasons - especially to diesels - that you have to keep and drive the car for a surprisingly long time before this makes financial sense - so how about green sense?
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quote:Originally posted by Carter: Has anyone looked into the TOTAL environmental cost of new cars? Mine's 8 years old {and drinks like George Best's ghost, but that's another issue...} - and I would definitely get better mileage and pollute less with a newer car, but at which point would construction and shipping (environmental) costs be outweighed by this benefit?
My thoughts precisely.
This legislation would undoubtedly be a good thing for the motor industry. It would be a bit like when Microsoft launch a new version of Windows that forces people to upgrade their hardware to run it. Artificially limiting cars' lifespans hardly seems like an answer to the pollution problems.
I'm also pretty disgusted by those adverts that say "If you don't pay your car tax, we now have the power to crush your car." Wow, yeah, crushing a perfectly servicable car that took X amount of raw materials and power to produce... that's pretty environmentally friendly. What's wrong with impounding, and ultimately auctioning off offenders' cars?
quote:Originally posted by MiscellaneousFiles: I'm also pretty disgusted by those adverts that say "If you don't pay your car tax, we now have the power to crush your car." What's wrong with impounding, and ultimately auctioning offenders' cars off?
They should just fuck them up a bit: dent a few panels, key scratch down the side, bit of obscene graffiti and a smashed side window replaced with cardboard. Then give it back.
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