...and we're back.



Today is Thursday. Honestly, I had to take a minute to think about that.



So, Tuesday, we boarded "The Underground" aka "The Tube" aka the London Subway system. It's really underground, nor in a tube at least when we boarded. Our tour guides aka London cousins(in-law) were laughing at this oversight of which they've taken for granted for a dozen years. We made a 45 minute subway ride and ended up at Pickadilly Circus. Right in the heart of London and almost like Times Square. Giant TVs and shopping in every direction. Starbucks for the wife, and punched tickets for a double deck bus tour around the city. Typical tourists.



Around Trafalgar Square, the London Eye, Tower Bridge, and all the other wonderful attractions. It was quite nice. Jumped off the bus and walked the Princess Diana memorial walk to Buckingham Palace and took some pictures of the motionless guards on duty. Back on the bus and looped around to fight some traffic and back to Pickadilly for the subway ride back home.



We went to dinner at a nice resturant that night, and talked about our day, and how differences are across the pond. It was a wonderful dinner, and had a great time. Home around 11pm, and in bed around midnight, with the new found knowledge that the alarm would go off at 3:45am so we could get up in time to make the trek on the "The Tube" again to King's Cross where our train departed in it's high speed voyage to London.



Up, and exhaust, we made it to the depot with time to spare, a very nice place if I must say so. On the buttery smooth train, likely travling at 150mph, but with only rolling hills of French country side you really didn't know it. It was a nice trip. We arrived, and followed the signs to the rental car park.



A Fiat Punto was reserved, and parked in spot 7066. We signed off and made our way to that spot. There was an Alfa there, and a nice one at that. No Fiat. Returned to the ticket counter with arms raised in the universal signal for "WTF?" The guy may have chuckled to his coworkers about the silly American, but as we ventured back down to have him show me where the car was, the "WTF?" signal was on his playing feild this time. Back up again, and resigned and handed the keys to a Hyundai. Lame.



Upon arrival of the Hyundai, something of a mini-transit van, beat to a pulp, and horrid looking, we spotted the Fiat tucked in a corner, resting quietly. I insisted that we get the car we were supposed to, and it was again a trip back to the clerk's desk for more autographs. Luckily they were now carrying around our heavy bags for us. Heh... We scored the fresh, 5100 km original Fiat, and headed out. A minor 90 minute delay.



The Fiat is a turbo diesel that has a sweet spot in the rev range at 3100 rpm. Too low, and it bogs, too high, and it wheezes. The shifter is snickity and quite nice. It understeers pretty bad in round-abouts, especially in the rain. A pretty good looking car though.



Filled up the car with Shell diesel then make the gauntlet of the Paris streets to get onto the A roads and off to Lemans. Not that bad driving via a map, and my co-driver shouting directions. A real Europe rally. On the A10 and bound for Lemans, stopped for a pit stop, and scored Pringles, Nutella, Bread and Powerade. Nothing says healthy lunch like chocolate bread, salty chips, downed by energy drink.



Some chaps from Oxford were at the stop and we talked to them. They were Lemans bound and were the first people to speak English since the announcer at the train station back in London. Refreshing. Speaking of refreshing, a caravan from Germany also stopped, but they found the pine tree next to their parked cars a more suitable place to relieve themselves, then crack open the trunk to spot 1,000 cans of beer, and a sleeping bag. Yep, Lemans bound.



Arrived in Lemans, after dumping 20 Euros on toll roads to take some b-rounds, and then slowly figure out way to our bed and breakfast. The roads were quite fun, and almost right out of Gran Turismo 4, with the narrow passages in the small little towns. Quite nice. Found our hotel, and unloaded bags. We have the Rose Room as all the walls and doors are painted pepto-pink. Brilliant.



We, quite exhausted passed out and a knock at the door. Our host asked us to move our car as we had parked it in the spot of a Ferrari "reservation". Um, OK. Moved the Fiat, and went back to sleep. Later that night, starving, we made our way to the small village square and after walking the corners of the square we settled for 3 euro ham sandwiches and drinks from a little cafe diner place. It'll do.



The next day, we awoke at 10, then 11, then noon, when hunger hit. Unfortunetly we didn't know it was noon, but our host still had the bed and breakfast food for us set out. Too kind. We spotted the Ferrari, a wonderful red 355 from GB, along with a rare (and seemingly always wrenched on) Marcos Mantis. Nice.



We spoke to the owners of the cars, again a refreshing bit that we could understand them, and they told us all about Lemans. 26th year attending, and great every time. They sold us their unused parking pass, which was for a rental car they were planning on reserving, but couldn't. Likely for the reliability of the Marcos.



Drove to Lemans around 2, with a stop at Super U, perhaps like Walmart, but with a Cosworth, GT3, M3, NSX, and E55 AMG in the parking lot. Stocked up on stuff on what we knew was edible, and took a trip to the track. Following "Rouge" parking signs we parked, unloaded and soaked in the granduer that was Lemans. I felt like I couldn't stop smiling.



Wandering around the circuit, and down into the paddock. First attempts at pit access were foiled, but a venture to the other end of pit access was a French man who didn't care, and we strolled right in. Score! All the cars up close, and making pre-7pm qualifying adjustments. It was quite nice. Leaving we stopped at the Group C paddock, and drooled at the support race which was none other than that of the 1988-1993 GTP Lemans cars. A series called Group C.



Silk-Cut Jags, RE390 Nissans, all with 250+ Mulsanne speeds 20 years earlier. All on display, all ready to tackle the track again. Fantastic! We strolled to grand stand seats near the Dunlop Bridge with another ham sandwich, better than the previous, and hunkered down in our rain jackets as the skies opened up. We enjoyed another familar voice of the Radio Lemans broadcast, and watched the Group C cars struggle with light switch boost maps and slipper conditions. They weren't afraid to drive them either. Outstanding.



7pm rolls and the Lemans cars all come to life on a dry, partly sunny race circuit. The diesel cars eriely silent, while the Corvette cars rumbled the pavement their 7 liters crossed over upon. Some spins, some good passing, and all the cars insanely fast. After a heavy impact, the session was red flagged, and we found the Fiat, and headed back for dinner.



We stopped at a resturant that had $300K in cars parked out front, and blazing "OPEN" signs as well as other reassurance of their bi-lingual capabilites. Upon arrival their wait staff was not as English speaking as their signs published. We were lucky in that a French couple was sitting across saw us struggling and offered her services as a translator. She explained the menu, and luckily because the "meat stuffed intestines" were not a good choice.



We ate our salads and a couple guys with race team shirts sat at a table behind us. We overheard them speaking in English, and as the night went one began to spill into each others conversations. Soon, us, the French couple, and the race guys were all sharing in conversation. The French couple left, and the race guys were almost dry heaving at the attempts of the "meat stuffed intestines" were swallowed. They certainly made a failed choice at ordering a good meal, much to a good laugh.



More conversation revealed that the guy next to me was actually the CEO - organizer - head man in charge of the whole Group C racing program. A world traveler, well spoken with tons of stories to tell, and ...

ending this early do to a crappy (i'd put in other words here but i'll be nice) internet connection and exhaustion....