The photos that Derek put up on the net certainly all our classic... What
is missing is the sound of those cars. It was utterly fantastic!
The paddock area was immense, and provided a unique area for 41 different
clubs. What was not known, was that Meguair's was going around and checking
the quality of the cars, the quality of the food, the hospitality of the
people
involved in the club area. On Sunday afternoon the Dutch Healey club was
awarded the trophy for " The Best Club Organization".
I had driven down from Holland with the Dutch club (in a newly restored BJ8
with a John Chatham prepared engine). Arriving at the Le Mans food and drink
were provided by the club in a large tent located in the paddock. As time
went on more and more Healey's arrived until the paddock had over 100 cars. A
large sign in the tent proclaimed that you had to be there at 9 a.m. in
order to drive the track!!
By 9 a.m. on Saturday morning they were well over 150 cars in the parking
area ready to go out onto the track. There was no speed limit! You were
allowed to drive the full Le Mans circuit. Passing and being passed was a
part of
the game. The club was allowed to full circuits and then we returned to the
paddock area. The smiles and conversation made the entire trip worthwhile.
At 4 p.m. the traditional Le Mans's start occurred. Drivers on one side of
the track running across, jumping into their cars, and tearing off down the
straight toward the Dunlop Bridge. The grid consisted of over 400 racecourse
divided into different grids depending on their age and displacement. The
Healey's ran in grid 2 and 3, with a 100S being the fastest Healey in grid 2.
In grid three to Dutch Healey's finished the race within 10 feet of each
other and were the fastest Healey's on the track.
In car video from the fastest Dutch car will be shown at rendezvous in
Nelson British Columbia.
The next running of "Classic Le Man's will occur in 2008... Make your plans
now and don't miss it.
Bill Emerson
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