Camp Spanner Open

Saturday 30 June 2007

A few Pics of the Start

Chip's auditions for Long John Silver
Skip n Shaz

Nick AKA "Lofty" AKA "Fire Officer" and Lisa


A Lovely shot of half of the team at the pit straight.



Friday 29 June 2007

Proposed Municipal projects on Houx Annexe fields

Hi Folks,

Oh my God!
Losing a massive amount of Houx Annexe camping is going to cause problems for a lot of people and lot of people are going to be verily disappointed.
Oh Dear.

Best we get Andy to keep getting updates from the ladies in the ACO ticket office.
I wonder if there is an online Le Mans local Newspaper that we could keep an eye on to see if anything about the proposed municipal projects are published there. Timescales etc.
Does anyone in the Team command enough French to be able to peruse a Newspaper?

Latest news on the video camera is that it is definately had it.
I am in negotiations at the moment to get a new one from my insurers.
The footage taken prior to the 'accident' may be lost as the insurers want the damaged camera and the tape is stuck in the camera. Hopefully I can explain that and they can extract it.
I could extract it but then it would look like an clumsily opened sardine tin and may be refused by the insurers.
Bah humbug.

I hope this entry to the Blog works.

Regards to all

Mark.

Just Found This Info - Check the bottom paragraph...

Houx Annexe

Proximity to Village:
This boisterous site is a 15 minute walk from the Village via the northern loop of the Bugatti circuit or the Esses corner.

Proximity to track:
On foot, the corner at Tertre Rouge may be reached in 10 minutes with the Esses complex accessible in only 5. The Mulsanne straight stretches out beyond the trees to the East of the site and although concealed from view it provides a cacophony of noise!

Ground:
Houx Annexe is dissected by two lines of trees that effectively split the site into three fields. The best pitches are those that lie within close proximity of the trees as they offer shade and some protection from the dust kicked up by all the vehicular traffic across the site. The ground consists of patchy grass that will take a sturdy tent peg without any trouble.

Facilities:
There are temporary shower and toilet blocks dotted around the site that are maintained to a good standard.

Getting around by car:
This site is easy to navigate to and from by car as it is served by the roads that make up the circuit’s infrastructure. As such they wont be clogged up with through traffic.

Typical camper:
Houx Annexe is widely regarded as the wildest of the official Le Mans sites, its regulars returning each year for the non stop party atmosphere. Unsurprisingly, the site is almost exclusively British although you will find a few Europeans if you try hard enough.

Additional:2007 is the last year that Houx Annexe will remain in its current state. Following the race it is scheduled to be halved in size to make way for the building of a football stadium.

Thursday 28 June 2007

Bad Day for Team Spanner Mechanic...

Our very own Team Spanner mechanic (Gyp!) who keeps the LDV Team Motor on the road has had a bad week...(for the Weymouth part of the team)

http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/video/index.var.5725.0.0.php

A COACH burst into flames outside a Weymouth petrol station. (TUES) Its engine caught light as it was being driven back to Barry's Coaches for repair.

Driver Paul Loveday said he tried to put out the blaze with the on board fire extinguisher but was driven back by the flames.

He said: "I pulled up the engine cover and tried to put it out with another bloke but it was too intense.

"The extinguishers you get on the coaches aren't big enough."

Mr Loveday said he had noticed smoke coming from the exhaust and was returning it for repairs.

But it broke down and burst into flames a few dozen yards from The Granby Filling Station in Cumberland Drive.

Weymouth Fire Station watch manager Alan Briggs said: "When we arrived the rear of the engine was well alight.

"It is believed that a turbo charger could be responsible. Oil got into the exhaust and it caught alight."

Mr Briggs added that the petrol station was not at risk because the fire was outside the forecourt.

Kyle Fears, 20, witnessed the blaze.

He said: "The fire was massive. There was smoke pouring out and flames shooting out the back.

"There was also a huge bang."

Wednesday 27 June 2007

2007 Team Photos


Pictures From RS Focus Chris


No 3 Driver Celebrating at the start!!


No 2 Driver Forgetting how he smokes...


Dickie multi-tasking before the start... first decent meal in days!!


Our Le Mans Virgin "Chip" loosing his cherry at the start - and did he party!!

Team Update...Please

Team Spanner - you know who you are

Can you leave me comments with your email addresses and I will add you all in so you can author updates - so it not just me...

I will not publish these comments, so your email addresses will be safe

Mark - we also need a picture of your shirt from this year as you missed the role call - think you were in bed!!!

Jules

2006 Cobra Shoot Out...

Jamie Nailing the Cobra as he passes the Support Landy!!!

More Videos...

I have also registered with YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/teamspanner24

As Mark says another bloody username and password....

Anyway, here are a few clips - more to follow

--And, yes I need to edit them to remove the video of the dash!!

If there are other video's you want to upload - we can share this account

Enjoy

Julian

Safety First - Video Clips

Gents,

Some quick clips I stuck up on Youtube...all are safe for work! :)

http://www.youtube.com/safetyfirst999

You'll notice that I got an appropriate username on Youtube....safetyfirst999

Feel free to pass these on to the others that you may have email addresses for.

Rgds,Paul

Monday 25 June 2007

Team Spanner Blog Lanched....

Welcome to "Team Spanner"

Team Spanner has evolved over many years during the party weekend at the annual 24 heure Le Mans race in June, when they join the pilgrimage to Le Mans in France.

The Team is lead by Team Captain - Skip and Team Director Mark, bring the different parts of the team together.

The team has expanded over the years, and sadly some members are unable to join in the fun and frivolities as they are now on the other side of the world - especially our CEO - Cheif Entertainment Officer - Sharpy!! You can catch up with him at floppyflaps.com....

After many years Team Spanner have decided to get a web presence, to help the team members from around the UK arrange logistics (sponsored by LDV!!!), Team Shuttle services (provided by BMW) and our drivers race times from Caen to Le Mans and how many speeding fines they can avoid....

Update:

Driver 3 in his Focus RS - 2 speed traps and 1 fine
Driver 1 in his Cobra and Driver 2 trying to catch up (as they got lost) in his Lotus Exige both avoided (some how!!) pit stops with the local fuzz....

This year we had a handful of new members join the team at a wet weekend (luckily not as bad as Glastonbury!!) and loose there Le Mans Cherry - Chip, Lisa, Dickie, Alan, Jason and Paul!! Let's not forget Safety First - it's very important to have a good time, but safety is always important...

Oops - sorry forgot another newbie - Clare (have has my knucles wrapped!!)

More updates to follow and some pictures...