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<body> <Table Width="550" border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" cellpadding="0"><TR><TD Width="35"><IMG SRC="//www.totalmotorsport.com/images/spacer.gif" WIDTH="35" HEIGHT="1"></td><td> <CENTER><Table border="0" width="100%"> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="5">LE MANS</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="left"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="2">01/10/2001</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="4">Classic Le Mans</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="3">21 - 22 September 2002</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><img border="1" src="Storage/Mans21%20-LE%20.jpg"></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="1">  </FONT></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="left"><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="2">S.A.V.H., the organisers of the inaugural Classic Le Mans event planned for next year, have released details of the weekend - and it looks as though it is going to be an un-missable event for fans of La Sarthe, or at least those with any soul at all! A major change since the original announcement back in June is that the date has switched to 21-22 September, following protracted negotiations with the gendarmerie concerning road closures.<BR> <BR> The event caters for cars of a type that competed at Le Mans during the years 1923 – 1975, with priority given to machines which actually competed in the event. In recognition of the fact that many of the older cars will be unwilling / unable to race for 24 hours, the plan is to split them into five groups according to age and each group (consisting of up to 61 cars) will get four races of around 35 minutes duration during the 24 hours. The aim is to provide constant track action during the event. Just think about it - a Le Mans 24-Hours with around 300 cars taking part! As stated, the cars will be split into five groupings according to age: 1923-30, 1931-39, 1949-58, 1959-66 & 1967-75.<BR> <BR> Each era of course had its highlights, always featuring mouthwatering machinery. In the early days it was all about Bentleys, Bugattis and Alfa Romeos before the war intervened, after which British marques Jaguar and Aston Martin held sway through the fifties, with but brief interruptions by Ferrari and Mercedes. The sixties will always be remembered for the battles between Ferrari and Ford, before Porsche had their turn at world domination. Mirage was the winner in 1975, the last year of the era concerned. For the true anoraks amongst you, no less than 16 marques tasted victory between 1923-75. Ferrari were the most successful manufacturer with nine wins followed by Bentley and Jaguar on five a-piece, Alfa Romeo and Ford on four.<BR> <BR> The Classic Le Mans weekend will provide more than just track action though, starting with the traditional scrutineering in Place des Jacobins in the city centre on Friday 20 September. Back at the circuit, each group of cars will have its own paddock and it seems that the groups will be sponsored by various motor manufacturers who will also mount their own displays. There will also be an auction and an up-market autojumble.<BR> <BR> All in all, sounds like a second trip to La Sarthe will be obligatory!<BR> <BR> For those interested in taking part, the contact details for the organisers are as follows:<BR> <BR> S.A.V.H.<BR> 103, rue Lamarck<BR> 75018 Paris<BR> <BR> Tel: + 33 (0)1 42597340<BR> Fax: + 33 (0)1 42594828<BR> E-mail: infos@tourauto.com <BR> <BR> The list of available cars is comprehensive to say the least. 48 different types of Porsche are listed, while there are even eight different types of MG. The B ('63 / '64 / '65) is the last of them (above).<BR> <BR> John Elwin.<BR> </FONT></TD></TR> </TABLE><BR> </CENTER> <BR><CENTER><font size="1" color="#808080" face="Tahoma">Copyright ©2000-©2023 TotalMotorSport</font></CENTER> </td> </tr> </table> </body>