24hr 2CV race to be webcast!

[Chris Y]

The Classic 2CV Racing Club has always enjoyed being daring and different. For years the club has held the only 24hr race in the UK, but this year we've decided to really push the boat out, in celebration of 20 years since the club's first all-2CV race. This year, we're bringing the race to you, LIVE on the web!

In partnership with Radio Show Limited, the expertise behind Radio LeMans, the commentary from the circuit will be broadcast live via our website (http://www.2cvracing.org.uk). On the 8th and 9th of August, ace commentators Alan Hyde, Matt James and Lewis Beales will have their words broadcast around the world, with expert input from 2CV club stalwart Ainslie Bousfield.

And in partnership with DriveData (http://www.drivedata.com) we'll be bringing you a LIVE onboard video feed from one of the Tete Rouge cars, and a camera or two in the pitlane!

Not only that, but through our website you'll have the chance to send messages through to the commentators as the race unfolds. Get involved! Get online at www.2cvracing.org.uk - hit the "24hr LIVE" button at the top.

With just the 24hr race to go in the 2009 championship, 10 drivers are capable of winning! Out of the 8 races held so far, there have been 5 different winners, so it really is impossible to predict who will come out on top. Carl Breeze will be racing in one of the 2CVs, hoping to continue his run of success at the Norfolk track after double wins in the Ginetta G50s last weekend.

[sceptic]

Sounds good so far.

[Peter Mallett]

I'm listening now.

[westfieldbend]

shame there is a high powered spotlight next to the web camera

[Peter Mallett]

Foggy at the moment.

[TWRv12]

Mega production by Al & Matt. Joy to listen to.

[Peter Mallett]

Brilliant stuff, I really enjoyed it. People tuned in from all over the world. Well done Chris and Alan, Matt et al.

[Chris Y]

Thank you all! I hope to have some facts and figures about the webcast soon. I think at one point we had about 231 simultaneous viewers of the video stream, although I believe the amount of people who tuned in over the course of the weekend was much higher.

Many thanks to those who emailed or 'tweeted' the studio - I'm afraid there wasn't much chance to reply to each message as it came in, but I think we got round to most of the messages on air eventually!

Lessons were learned about various things. The remote moveable camera developed a bit of condensation on the *inside*, which meant we couldn't clean it, so that was blurred in some places. Then the fog came down and the lights made it hard to see out of the camera, and of course the in-car camera on car #88 went on the blink. We looked at it during the red flag period, and it was turned on and transmitting, but somehow the signal wasn't being received. Something to look into for next time!

The commentary streaming worked very well, and I don't think there were any hitches there, so thanks to the people at Radio Show Limited (Radio LeMans) for their support. Apologies to some people who thought there should be more talk about the actual race, but it's pretty hard to commentate on a 24hr race for long periods without going off-topic, and I know some found the banter enjoyable

As I say, I'll try and post more about this in the coming days, when I have some more information to share. Certainly I'd like to try for a bigger and better broadcast next year, but that depends on a lot of factors, so no promises at the moment, but we'll do our best!