[LM24] The Official 2012 10Tenths Le Mans Garage Visit to Toyota

[Aysedasi]

Just incredible! Thank you very much James

[Bentley03]

Originally Posted by Mal

Next year I think you can pick who you like!

But that's what I did this year!

[Bluarmy]

WOW! That's something special. As a new and not very active forum poster I wouldn't dream of asking to be considered, but I hope the lucky few all have a great time.

[rich07]

WOW!
Bentley you have raised the bar into orbit as far as garage visits go. Im stunned. Nice to see Toyota rating Ten Tenths so high in their eyes as to approve of this. I wont be there but to everyone who's lucky enough to go on this enjoy yourselves.

[GTfour]

Am I right in thinking a few kind words from the brilliant Rebellion Racing Team, with their factory Toyota engines, might've helped you in their decision to grant 10tenths a pit visit ?

[Dani Filth]

damn!!!!!!

[Bentley03]

Originally Posted by GTfour

Am I right in thinking a few kind words from the brilliant Rebellion Racing Team, with their factory Toyota engines, might've helped you in their decision to grant 10tenths a pit visit ?

Nope, it was just Toyota and me, nobody else was involved.

[the.cosmic.pope]

How does one get involved in such a visit?

That's a pretty incredible piece of work, to get a brand new works team involved. Well done sir.

[Down F0rce]

Congratulations on pulling it off yet again James! I'm sure you'll all have a ball in the Toyota pits.

[Bentley03]

Originally Posted by the.cosmic.pope

How does one get involved in such a visit?

Any 10Tenths member can request a place, but only 20 places are available, which means some members are inevitably left disappointed. Places are offered on merit.....merit encompassing a whole host of different criteria (forgive me if I don't elaborate further).

[Bentley03]

Right, time to put you all out of your misery (my sincerest apologies to those I have had to disappoint):

The Lucky 20!
Bentley03
Aysedasi
PascaLM
isynge
GT6
batmobile
lemansfan
nobster
bernard b
Kpy
Mal
Simmi
rblanshard
tonypowe
Truckosaurus
GTfour
bella
NelisB
vincegail
wewantourdarbyback

Please keep checking this thread regularly for updates regarding timings etc.

As of now, I will keep a reserve list for those who have requested a place and been disappointed. If any other 10Tenths members subsequently come forward to request a place, they too will be added to the reserve list. If a place becomes available, I will apply the same criteria that I've used in selecting the 20, when determing who will take up that place.

Again, apologies to those who have been left disappointed. It's the one part of organising these visits that I hate!

[vincegail]

Originally Posted by Bentley03

Right, time to put you all out of your misery (my sincerest apologies to those I have had to disappoint):


vincegail


(

Whoo! Have not enough words to express my feelings at the moment! Hope this smiley does it!



And of course: a very big thank you to Bentley03 and Toyota!!!!

[nobster]

This is going to be awesome, last year we visited Audi and look they won......

[NelisB]

Originally Posted by vincegail

Whoo! Have not enough words to express my feelings at the moment! Hope this smiley does it!



And of course: a very big thank you to Bentley03 and Toyota!!!!

I can only echo these comments.
And again a big, big, big thanks to Bentley03 and Toyota!

[lemansfan]

This will be the Highlight of my 30th Le Mans Visit . Thanks to Toyota and wishing a good Result . And very special Thanks to JAMES . You do again a absolut fantastic Job .

[rblanshard]

Originally Posted by NelisB

I can only echo these comments.
And again a big, big, big thanks to Bentley03 and Toyota!

What else can I add to what's already been said. Really looking forward to this trip. Thank you for including me James and for your hard work putting this together. And a big thank you to Toyota for hosting us. I'll see you guys in a little over 3 weeks from now.

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by Bentley03

As of now, I will keep a reserve list for those who have requested a place and been disappointed. If any other 10Tenths members subsequently come forward to request a place, they too will be added to the reserve list. If a place becomes available, I will apply the same criteria that I've used in selecting the 20, when determing who will take up that place.

Again, apologies to those who have been left disappointed. It's the one part of organising these visits that I hate!

If I've missed the comment elsewhere, forgive me, and I'll ask James to accept my apology for 'interloping' in what is very much his 'party', but I'm sure it goes without saying that those of us who have been lucky enough to be allocated places on the tour are thereby committing to be there. The last thing we would want to happen is for only 18 people to turn up as firstly Toyota will wonder why we couldn't apparently generate enough interest to get the full 20 there and, perhaps more importantly, some unlucky people will miss out.

Looking at the list, this caution should be completely unnecessary, but I do think it needs to be said......

[wewantourdarbyback]

Wow, thank you so much, I cannot say how brilliant this is.

[Simmi]

Thanks for the amazing opportunity James. I've been on tenter hooks ever since I heard a pit visit had been green-lit, let alone a visit to Toyota!!!

[rblanshard]

Quick question: with Toyota holding a press conference at 13:30, what time/times can we expect our visits to take place. I'm only asking to make sure I can catch my train back to my hotel.

[Kpy]

Originally Posted by rblanshard

I'm only asking to make sure I can catch my train back to my hotel.

Where's the hotel, that you have to take a train?

[rblanshard]

Originally Posted by Kpy

Where's the hotel, that you have to take a train?

I'm staying down in Tours with my US tour group. I have a 9AM train that arrives in Le Mans around 10:30 and a return train that leaves around 4:30.

[Kpy]

Right, That's the 16.38 to Tours.
Unlikely you can do the visit and catch that - the Toyota guys will take a while to get to the pit after the conference, and you will have to walk to Antares or Guetteloup, wait for a tram and then ride to the station.
Next train is the 18.38 - takes exactly two hours to Tours.

[Bentley03]

Originally Posted by rblanshard

I'm staying down in Tours with my US tour group. I have a 9AM train that arrives in Le Mans around 10:30 and a return train that leaves around 4:30.

Robert, I have no precise timings as yet. But, I'll make sure you're in the first group. Once we know the timings, we can assess whether or not you will realistically be able to do the garage visit and catch your train. The walk from the pits to the tram station is what, 20-25 minutes? Allow a 15 minute wait for the tram + a 20 minute journey back to the train station.....provided you set off by 3:15, you should be fine.

My only slight concern is if there's a queue for the tram (Drivers Parade). Has anyone done that journey into town at that time of day on the Friday?

[Bentley03]

Originally Posted by Kpy

Right, That's the 16.38 to Tours.
Unlikely you can do the visit and catch that - the Toyota guys will take a while to get to the pit after the conference, and you will have to walk to Antares or Guetteloup, wait for a tram and then ride to the station.
Next train is the 18.38 - takes exactly two hours to Tours.

Missed your post before starting mine......and I shall certainly bow to your VASTLY superior local knowledge!