So much mystique surrounds Le Mans.  Books are constantly written about it, films have been made to try and capture its essence and each year over two hundred thousand people flock to the French town of Le Mans, rain or shine, to witness the worlds most famous endurance race.  But just what exactly is it that makes the “infernal roundabout”, as it is affectionately known, so appealing that you feel compelled to return each year? 

Le Mans 2006 was our first time at Le Mans.  Each of us had our own dreams about going to this event but I am sure none of us thought we would get there in the fashion we did.  Auto Futura was approached in late December 2005 by a company called Motor Racing Legends who run the feature races held just prior to the 24 hour event.  They asked us if we would like to supply the pace car for the 2006 feature races for pre and post war Le Mans cars.  It was a big ask to build a car, test it and ship it to France in six months.  We did not need to think about it for too long, the thought of being able to be at Le Mans with a CAV GT which we had built was too much for us to resist.  And so started an adventure that will stay with us as long as we live.

The car had to be special and we opted for a wide bodied car, in Gulf colours, fitted with a 500 HP racing motor with Weber IDF’s mated to a ZF transaxle.  Our excitement grew as the car started to take shape in our workshop.  When time is of the essence, it seems to fly by and before we knew where we were, the day had arrived for us to put the car to the test.  There were a few anxious moments as the car took to the tar for the first time.  When I opened the door and saw the smile on Jean’s face after the first spin I knew it would all work out fine. 

To build a car was one thing, but our business had to keep running as well.  There were the normal day to day production considerations and somehow this Pace Car had to be built.  To pull it off and get to the event, on time we needed to find some help in the form of sponsorship.  Many of our suppliers helped out in this regard and the car bears testimony to this with all the decals that found their way onto the body work.  We were delighted when SAA Cargo agreed to come on board as our Primary Sponsor.  As a sponsorship deal it was a great fit and we were very proud to have an internationally recognized South African Brand name on the car.

SAA air freighted the car to Europe. This was probably the most nerve wracking part of the project for all of us.  We had to hand over, our “sweetest car ever”, our baby, to strangers, and we would only see it again a week later in London 10 thousand miles from Cape Town.  We need not have worried though,  SAA Cargo did a fantastic job of getting the car to London for us in one piece.  It was not an easy exercise and they handled it very professionally and efficiently.  I am happy to report the car arrived in perfect condition – not a scratch on it.

We arrived in London and with the help of our shipping agent Pat, got the car on the road and ready for its journey to Le Mans.  This by itself was quite an exercise but that is a story for another day.  Our Australian distributor, Brian, joined us in London.  We hired a car, which was our support car for the trip and with some fairly vague directions, headed in the general direction of France. On the way Brian stopped to get the French maps loaded onto his GPS which slowed our initial progress but it was a decision we would come to appreciate some 12 hours later!  We met up with our other business partner, Andrew at a roadside truckstop and headed for the tunnel in convoy, just itching to put our foot down but ever mindful of not wanting to attract too much attention to ourselves! 

The train trip under the English channel to France was much quicker than expected.  Once on French soil we filled all the tanks, programmed the GPS and headed off.  We decided to follow the advice given by the Aston Martin Club and follow the back roads to Le Mans as we had been told that the French police would be out in full force.  The initial run to Rouen was uneventful and all seemed to be going really well.  The map we had was not very good and did not even show the village we were trying to get to.  That was a minor issue by comparison to threading our way through any number of small villages, all badly sign posted while still trying to have confidence in the GPS blaring forth instructions about how we should be making a U turn at the next available opportunity.  While we could still see it wasn’t too bad even if it was taking us longer than we thought.    When it got dark and fuel started to run low, that’s when our stress levels really started to rise.  French petrol stations brag that they are 24 hours.  What they don’t tell you is that they are unmanned and that your non French credit cards simply won’t work on any of the self service pumps, in spite of the fact that they all claim to accept Master Card, Visa, American Express, Diners club …..  if it wasn’t for a friendly English speaking Frenchman named Pierre who helped us with petrol at midnight in some obscure village, we would have had to spend the night sleeping in our cars at the side of the road.  Once we had refueled, and after a lengthy telephone conversation trying to get directions, we knew we were getting closer to the chateau we were staying in.  I am quite sure that there are whole villages wondering what the hell blasted through their main street at 1 o’clock in the morning.  First a V8 CAV GT, then a V12 Aston Martin and finally a Peugot 206.  That must have been the reason we didn’t get arrested! Finally, totally exhausted and suffering from a complete sense of humor failure, we arrived at 2 in the morning, needing sleep badly, but we had arrived with the car in one piece.

The next day we had to clean up the car before getting it through to the track.  Never having been to Le Mans before, we were not quite sure where to go.  Just how hard could it be though?  It is a big track, we would find the entrance, show our official entry passes and that will be it right?  Well it was a nice idea, and one we tried, but the official at the main gate did not want to know our problems.  He would not even listen and made us turn around and leave, which in the middle of a huge traffic jam, with an Aston Martin and a CAV GT in tow was never going to be easy.  Not five minutes later, when we pulled to the side of the road to phone for directions, we finally attracted the attention of the French police.  Fortunately one of our customers, Barry who joined us for the trip, could speak a little French and he bought us enough time to get instructions of where to go on the phone.  And so on we drove, and after another four security check points, swapping of official stickers and issuing of passes, we finally made it into the circuit with the CAV GT. 

From the moment we first drove the CAV GT into the circuit grounds, we were mobbed by people wanting to take photographs, people wanting to hear the engine blipped and to just see it drive down the road.  We had arrived at Le Mans! We were given pride of place in the Motor Racing Legends Historic Races Paddock and for the duration of the event, whenever the CAV GT was parked there, there was a crowd around it. 

Due to the scale of the event, the first thing you have to get your head around is how it all works, where everything is and how much time to allow to get anywhere.  Your pass is everything and without it you will be left out in the country side.  What I remember about that first day at Le Mans was the sound of race cars going out onto the track from the paddock area we were in, long before we had got anywhere near the pits or even seen the actual circuit.  It was one of those sounds that gives you goose bumps.  Once we had got the CAV GT all cleaned up and ready for presentation, and decided we could leave it unattended in the company of Historic Bentleys, Bugattis, Ferraris, Masserates, MG’s, Astons, BMW’s, Talbots, Oscars, Jaguars and Porsches, we headed for the pit lane.  We were immediately struck by the technical nature of the machines in the Le Mans 24 hours race.  Having just walked from a paddock where the newest car was of a pre 1960 vintage, the difference is marked.  In the pits these high tech masterpieces seem to unfold themselves into their constituent parts, all neatly arranged on the floor around the chassis.  There is a constant buzz and mechanics and team bosses all hard at work.  It is an experience, so many colours, sounds and the smell of racing fuel and burnt oil, the pit lane at Le Mans, where it all happens and we were all starting to get caught up in the excitement of Le Mans 2006.

For me personally, the biggest moment of the entire weekend happened on the Thursday.  Sir Stirling Moss was going to take the CAV GT on a lap of Le Mans to get the feel of the car.  It was all arranged and we drove the car down to the pit lane.  We could not drive at anything more than walking pace as people would walk out into the road to get shot of the car.  When we entered the end of the pit lane, there were people everywhere, all trying to get close to the car, to take pictures, see it up close, touch the car …. not even the V8 could drown out the shouts of approval from the crowds.  This must be what it feels like to be a rock star!  The officials quickly erected some barriers and held the crowds back but what a moment.  Sir Stirling duly climbed into the car with an ACO official and then headed out onto the track.  We did not have the benefit of any commentary or TV coverage so we agonized for the 5 odd minuets it took for him to re-appear with the car.   I think all of us would have given just about anything to have been in that car with Sir Stirling doing a lap of Le Mans.  With a thumbs up for the car, we could now concentrate on promoting the CAV GT until race day.

Saturday morning Le Mans 2006.  This is the big day we have all been waiting for.  There is a buzz in the Legends paddock and the tinkling of spanners as final adjustments are made.  There is a flurry of activity as the organizers make sure we all know what we are supposed to do and when.  The signal is given and the CAV GT leads a procession of priceless Le Mans historic racers down to the pitlane.  Once there, again the crowds swell as the cars get ready to be lead out onto the track behind the CAV GT.  There are pit officials, TV crews, photographers, racing drivers and all those with an interest and pit pass milling around.  Finally the signal is given and they are off.  To see our car leading the field from the grand stand  was an awesome experience and one that will stay with us forever. It was a very proud moment for us to see something we had created in our workshop in Cape Town leading such a historic field of Le Mans historic racers around this famous track.