Le Mans Centenary/Centennial Video & Info, along with the LM trophies and Porsches 956, 962 and 963

So. As June is Le Mans month, and not just any Le Mans month but the 100th anniversary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance car race (1923-2023), the most prestigious endurance race on the planet, I thought I'd make a music video/slideshow and typed essay about it. The music is Katy Perry's song Firework, I chose it because it is uplifting, positive and it brilliantly fits the fireworks on the Le Mans Centennial poster I found on the Le Mans book of f@ces page. The twisty trophy is a special 100th anniversary trophy they made just for this special LM year. The rectangular trophy is what the LM trophy generally looks like mostly. The picture of the rainbow car is the Porsche 963, and she is wearing special 100th anniversary livery when she races this month in her very first LM appearance. The two white Rothmans porsches are the 956 (left) and the 962 (right). To the untrained eye, they look like identical twins, but they're not. (The 956 is, of course, gobot Crasher's car mode.) In the 1980's no fireworks shone brighter than 956 and 962 at this race, as they won almost all of the 1980's LM races. (I'm not sure who owns the photos so if owners come forward and comment here, I'm only too happy to credit you for your work.)

LM is an endurance and stamina race, not simply a speed race. The cars must be able to race continuously for 24 hours straight, and it is VERY taxing on drivers as well. I read about one guy who lost 10 pounds during this time. The race is called Le Mans because it takes place every year near the town of Le Mans in France. Le Mans was designed to present a different test from other races. Instead of focusing on the ability of a car company to build the fastest cars, the 24 Hours of Le Mans would concentrate on the ability of manufacturers to build sporty yet reliable cars in addition to fast ones. There are different classes for drivers and cars (cars of similar specification), and both rookies and professionals are allowed to be in it. Three drivers share one car and so the drivers get breaks (but the car doesn't! poor cars.) LM has approximately 60 entries who compete each year (all different cars raced and won not just Porsches), and it is included in both the Triple Crown of Motorsport and the Triple Crown of Endurance racing. Some cars could go as fast as 253 mph, especially on the Mulsanne Straight. (Porsche 956 could go between 235 and 240 mph).

LM began in 1923. At first it was just the car who could go the distance over 3 consecutive 24 H races that would win, but they soon abandoned that idea. France stopped the race in 1936 due to general strikes and, of course, WW2. They resumed again in 1949.

Porsche entered LM in 1951. After almost 2 decades of not winning, they decided they WOULD win as the 1970's began. To that end they had developed the 917, a roaring lady of a car who was born for only one purpose: to win LM. Not just to race in it. She won in 1970 and 1971. That was the beginning of Porsche's many LM's successes. She was also the star of the Steve McQueen movie Le Mans.

In 1982 Porsche had a new racer, after five LM wins in the 70's, with different cars. The 956. She was much quieter than 917, and very princessy looking. 956 is only a little car, approx 3 feet in height. Her ground effect was much stronger than her ancestor 917 and that helped make her revolutionary. Her and 962 are the prettiest LM cars, in my opinion. I call them princesses. 1982 year was 956's very first attempt at LM - and she won. In her rookie year. Not just one of them though. Three 956's took all three podium spots. So 956 was a champion from the start. As weird as THAT was, things got even crazier. The year after that, in 1983, nine out of the top ten were 956's. In 1984 the top ten was also full of Porsches, with 956 winning in both years. 1985 was basically more of the same with 956 winning. (There is no need to wonder why Japanese company Bandai chose the 956 to be one of their transforming figures, whom they named Crasher. And Crasher later became a gobot.)

After that came 956's younger sister, 962. Basically a modified 956, She was born in 1984 because American rules barred 956 from competing in the US. 962 won LM in 1986 and 1987. 1986 top ten was also full of Porsches, but 1987 was less so. (962 also won LM in the 1990's. This was in 1994. (1994 Porsche 962 is often called the Dauer 962, because her creation was due a partnership between Porsche and Dauer.)

So basically that entire decade was dominated by the Porsche 956 and the Porsche 962. To provide more information about Crasher's car mode the 956.

The rainbow car pictured here, the Porsche 963, looks more like her ancestor the 919 (who also won LM), but her name and design were based on the 956 and 962. The special rainbow livery she is wearing at the 100th anniversary of LM is a mixture of all liveries Porsche used over the decades. The 75 on her refers to 75 years of Porsche. This 2023 LM year, will be her very first LM.

Видео Le Mans Centenary/Centennial Video & Info, along with the LM trophies and Porsches 956, 962 and 963 канала Crasher