TR Register at Classic Le Mans

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6th to 8th July 2012

Some forty-five members gathered in the Forestry Pavilion early Saturday morning at the IWE in Harrogate for a presentation on TR Register at Classic Le Mans 2012 (CLM 2012).

Following the outstanding success of CLM 2010 where some 600 camping and non-camping members attended, the TR Register once again intends to have a high profile presence at CLM next year.

With the TR Register Chairman Chris Cunnington in attendance, Howard Pryor (CLM 2012 Planning Team Leader) welcomed those gathered and introduced the other team members (Mike North and me). To set the scene, the presentation commenced with the Official Classic Le Mans promotional video followed by footage of the TR Register at CLM 2010 with plenty of shots of the ubiquitous red polo shirts.

Yours truly outlined the packages on offer and revealed the TR Register CLM 2012 logo which is to be used on the rally plate; albeit with minor amendments required. The logo features the 1960 Le Mans TRS 928 HP in full flow against a backdrop of the French Tricolour ensuring the spirit, ethos and history of Le Mans is portrayed. The logo will also be used on the polo shirts, windscreen stickers, the CLM 2012 Micro website and correspondence. For CLM 2012 The colour of the polo shirt will be ‘TR Register blue’ and will once again enable CLM 2012’ers to be identified from afar.

Camping accommodation will be provided at either at the Maison Blanche camp site with its excellent trackside viewing, ACO Grandstand, Pit and Village access or another camp site within convenient travelling distance of the circuit. Alan Wynn (Kiwifrog on the Forum) has volunteered to be our 'French Connection' and using his fluent French will no doubt help smooth the way on a number of logistical and organisational matters. There will be a ‘Meet & Greet’ BBQ on the Friday night which last year gained the interest of Sky News who filmed the sea of red shirts from their helicopter – planning is ongoing to make next years’ BBQ to be even more special!

CLM 2012 packages will include Entrance Tickets, Campsite Pitches, Car Parking, Pit Passes and entrance to the ACO Club Grandstand with its integral restaurant and large TV scenes showing the event. Track Laps will be provided by the TSSC. Also included in the package is a Regalia Pack comprising of a rally plate, two polo shirts (or single), a windscreen sticker and information CD/pack. The Regalia Pack will also be available to those members who wish to make their own accommodation arrangements but nonetheless want to be part of and recognised as a TR Register ‘CLM 2012’er’. When prices have been finalised members will be able to purchase their tickets and regalia packages on-line through the Register Shop or by telephone to the Register Office.

Mike North gave an excellent, very comprehensive, amusing warts’n’all’ and typically North London ‘chirpy chappy’ overview of the CLM 2012 Information Pack and spoke about the success of CLM 2010. The Information Pack will be made available to members on a CD containing MS PowerPoint, PDF and Word formats. It will also be available as a download on the CLM 2012 Micro website when re-launched shortly.

The information pack highlights the need to be correctly prepared with tips for TR maintenance, map reading/setting the Sat Nav waypoints (before you leave home!), what kit and spares to pack, the spares distribution scheme, maps of the Le Mans circuit/camp sites and surrounding areas etc, etc. Recognising that members will wish to make their own travel arrangements as a group or individually, the Register will not therefore be offering a ferry booking service. However, the CLM 2012 Planning Team is currently in discussion with a third party provider to offer discount ferry ticket to TR Register members – more details to follow; ferry routes and other travel advice will be provided in a CLM 2012 Information Pack.

Many questions from experienced CLM’ers and first timers all of whom expressed their appreciation of the efforts being made by the Planning Team and offered useful feedback and suggestions on how to improve on the highly successful CLM 2010 to make CLM 2012 an even more special and higher profile event.

All in all, planning and organisation is ‘on track’ and CLM 2012 is set to be one of the major highlights in the TR Register 2012 calendar.