Le Mans (1961)

The great-grandfather of today's racing games, elements of Le Mans are clearly evident in games like Formula Dé. Le Mans offers the choice of twelve different car specifications that detail the number of spaces the car travels in each gear and which gears the cars can safely negotiate turns. Also, the different car types have different braking characteristics.

The game includes two tracks printed on the same board, Monte Carlo and Le Mans. Each track is only two lanes wide, and the spaces on the track are only a half-car-length, so a car takes up two spaces at once.

The cars move in order of track position. Each turn, a car may either remain in the same gear, shift up one gear, or shift down according to the car's specifications. It must then move the exact number of spaces required by the particular model of car in the specified gear.

When cornering, if a car exceeds the gear specified for the particular model of car, it must "take a chance." The driver must roll the die to determine if the car safely cornered, spun out, crashed, or damaged the car such that a pit stop is required. If a car spins out, a "wet track" marker is placed on the corner, subsequently requiring all cars to roll for a chance when going through it.

If a car is blocked and cannot move the entire number of spaces required (and the car has no more hard braking left and cannot down shift enough), the cars collide. Collisions require that the involved cars make a pit stop for repairs.

Optional rules include guidelines for slipstreaming, over-revving to move an extra space, and details of team, solo, and timed play, and "Le Mans-style" starts.

The game is a revised version of Wright-Mudge Enterprises' Grand Prix: A Sports Car Racing Game.

from The Avalon Hill Company History, 1980

Le Mans (1961) Revised 1965, Discontinued 1971
Freelance design revised by Avalon Hill
Designed by Rodney Mudge and Scott Wright

The company's first venture into the realm of sports, LE MANS was actually one of the better games of its day but suffered from lackluster sales. The second edition consisted of a set of new car specifications on blue card stock.

Magazine References:

The GENERAL Index Article List:

• The GENERAL Vol.2,No.2
  • Le Mans – “Le Mans Chance Table” (Variant Discussion) Ken Hoffman
  • Le Mans – “CONTEST #8” (Strategy)
  • Le Mans – “Racing Hints for Le Mans” (Discussion) Jared Johnson
• The GENERAL Vol.3,No.4
  • Le Mans – “Formula 1 for Fun” (Variant Discussion) Sanford Pliskin and Kenneth Hoffman
• The GENERAL Vol.4,No.6
  • The Question Box - Afrika Korps, The Battle of the Bulge, Blitzkrieg, Football Strategy, Le Mans
• The GENERAL Vol.5,No.3
  • Le Mans – “See How They Run...” (Variant Discussion) Norman Beveridge, Jr.
• The GENERAL Vol.6,No.4
  • Le Mans – “CONTEST NO. 34” (Strategy)
• The GENERAL Vol.7,No.3
  • The Question Box - The Battle of the Bulge, Blitzkrieg, Football Strategy, Le Mans, 1914, Jutland, Anzio, Afrika Korps, D-Day