Le Mans Idiots Guide?
Discussion
As you're quite late in jumping on the Le Mans band wagon you're going to be very limited in what you can get, most people leave on the Thursday and return on the Monday. There's loads of campsites around the track all pretty much accommodating the sort of people who are in them (I.e Houx is the party campsite) might be an idea to call 1st tickets or just tickets and see what's available!
It's never too late 
Do it, just be prepared to do it again next year, and the year after....
These sites have all the info and Google is your friend too:
http://beermountain.com/
http://www.clubarnage.com/
And don't forget the official site:
http://www.24h-lemans.com/en/program/program.html
You can buy entrance, camping, parking and grandstand tickets direct if you want, you don't have to pay agents a mark-up unless you want a package. The official site seems to even have grandstand seats available right now.
In a nutshell -
Most (but by no means all) people travel down Thursday morning, travelling back either straight after the race or on Monday morning. Most cross Dover-Calais or use the tunnel. Dover-Dunkirk is a cheap option that'll probably have availability too.
From assembling for the ferry/train onwards you will literally be surrounded by others making the same pilgrimage. You won't believe how many until you see it. Many of the cars will be covered in stickers, a lot of the cars will be special in one way or another.
Depending what you want you will arrive and camp at either a private site (expensive but secure) or an ACO site (much cheaper). Whichever you choose, facilities will be basic unless you go off circuit to a proper campsite or hotel. Camping on circuit gets you close to the action so you can walk to the track, lots of atmosphere including fireworks and all night music - bring earplugs or ear defenders to sleep. For many it's a weekend long party and racing takes second place.
Timetable:
Thursday - travel down, see loads of cool motors, arrive, setup camp, go watch quali until midnight. All the stands are free at this time, so you can do things like get birds eye views of the cars in the pits etc.
Friday - pit walk, see the cars being prepared for the race. You can get very close. Drive down the Mulsanne Straight. Get there before the police close it down and you'll be treated to the beginnings of Mad Friday as people do burnouts etc. Go to St. Saturnine for the Great British Welcome. This is a like a massive moving car show with visitors providing the exhibits, lots of classics. Has food etc. PH Friday Service as well/instead. Drivers parade in town in the early evening. Mad Friday in full swing all around the circuit campsites after dark. Not everyone's cup of tea, but can be avoided if you want. You should experience it at least once though.
Saturday - Get woken up by the cars doing shakedown laps first thing. Classic races in the morning. 3pm the race starts - a grandstand seat is useful, otherwise you're in a big crowd trying to get a view. It's a long race though, plenty of time to walk the circuit soaking in the noise and adrenaline and crap food. After dark sneak off somewhere and get up to the armco to be just feet from 200mph cars, quite easy on the straight leading to the Porsche Curves, not so easy on the Mulsanne. Unless you're superman catch a scant couple of hours sleep but be awake in time (3am) to get to Arnage corner before dawn. It's a must-do to visit this place in the dark. Your general entry ticket will get you in, but you need to use either the free but erratic shuttle bus to get there or buy a parking ticket in advance (still available) for 10 euros and drive there if sober.
Sunday - go back to camp for a quick 40 winks, then off to the circuit to see the battle-weary racers fight to the finish. Afterwards the public campsites turn into wastegrounds salvaged by the local travellers so be careful to guard your property if you're staying overnight.
Do it, just be prepared to do it again next year, and the year after....These sites have all the info and Google is your friend too:
http://beermountain.com/
http://www.clubarnage.com/
And don't forget the official site:
http://www.24h-lemans.com/en/program/program.html
You can buy entrance, camping, parking and grandstand tickets direct if you want, you don't have to pay agents a mark-up unless you want a package. The official site seems to even have grandstand seats available right now.
In a nutshell -
Most (but by no means all) people travel down Thursday morning, travelling back either straight after the race or on Monday morning. Most cross Dover-Calais or use the tunnel. Dover-Dunkirk is a cheap option that'll probably have availability too.
From assembling for the ferry/train onwards you will literally be surrounded by others making the same pilgrimage. You won't believe how many until you see it. Many of the cars will be covered in stickers, a lot of the cars will be special in one way or another.
Depending what you want you will arrive and camp at either a private site (expensive but secure) or an ACO site (much cheaper). Whichever you choose, facilities will be basic unless you go off circuit to a proper campsite or hotel. Camping on circuit gets you close to the action so you can walk to the track, lots of atmosphere including fireworks and all night music - bring earplugs or ear defenders to sleep. For many it's a weekend long party and racing takes second place.
Timetable:
Thursday - travel down, see loads of cool motors, arrive, setup camp, go watch quali until midnight. All the stands are free at this time, so you can do things like get birds eye views of the cars in the pits etc.
Friday - pit walk, see the cars being prepared for the race. You can get very close. Drive down the Mulsanne Straight. Get there before the police close it down and you'll be treated to the beginnings of Mad Friday as people do burnouts etc. Go to St. Saturnine for the Great British Welcome. This is a like a massive moving car show with visitors providing the exhibits, lots of classics. Has food etc. PH Friday Service as well/instead. Drivers parade in town in the early evening. Mad Friday in full swing all around the circuit campsites after dark. Not everyone's cup of tea, but can be avoided if you want. You should experience it at least once though.
Saturday - Get woken up by the cars doing shakedown laps first thing. Classic races in the morning. 3pm the race starts - a grandstand seat is useful, otherwise you're in a big crowd trying to get a view. It's a long race though, plenty of time to walk the circuit soaking in the noise and adrenaline and crap food. After dark sneak off somewhere and get up to the armco to be just feet from 200mph cars, quite easy on the straight leading to the Porsche Curves, not so easy on the Mulsanne. Unless you're superman catch a scant couple of hours sleep but be awake in time (3am) to get to Arnage corner before dawn. It's a must-do to visit this place in the dark. Your general entry ticket will get you in, but you need to use either the free but erratic shuttle bus to get there or buy a parking ticket in advance (still available) for 10 euros and drive there if sober.
Sunday - go back to camp for a quick 40 winks, then off to the circuit to see the battle-weary racers fight to the finish. Afterwards the public campsites turn into wastegrounds salvaged by the local travellers so be careful to guard your property if you're staying overnight.
Edited by moribund on Monday 20th May 01:09
Costs:
Ferry: From £35 each way per car DFDS
Entry tickets: 71 euro per person direct from ACO who run the race. Gets you everywhere for the whole week. these tickets can be bought on the gate.
Camping: From 52 euro per car (direct from ACO) on Beasejour campsite. Plenty available. 10 mins from trackside at Porsche Curves, 20 minute walk from the main pit straight area. Had a good time both times I stayed there. Prices for private camping go from £350 per car (White Rabbit) upwards I think...
Extras:
Arnage/Mulsanne parking: 10 euro if required. Still available.
Grandstand: 100 euro per person direct from ACO if required. Still available.
Ferry: From £35 each way per car DFDS
Entry tickets: 71 euro per person direct from ACO who run the race. Gets you everywhere for the whole week. these tickets can be bought on the gate.
Camping: From 52 euro per car (direct from ACO) on Beasejour campsite. Plenty available. 10 mins from trackside at Porsche Curves, 20 minute walk from the main pit straight area. Had a good time both times I stayed there. Prices for private camping go from £350 per car (White Rabbit) upwards I think...
Extras:
Arnage/Mulsanne parking: 10 euro if required. Still available.
Grandstand: 100 euro per person direct from ACO if required. Still available.
Edited by moribund on Monday 20th May 01:03
I'll cut and paste this in from another post to give you a flavour of the weekend from the last few races:
Le Mans 24 Hour, June 2011 by giveitfish, on Flickr
Le Mans 24 Hour, June 2011 by giveitfish, on Flickr
Le Mans 24 2012 - Friday Mulsanne by giveitfish, on Flickr
Le Mans 24 2012 by giveitfish, on Flickr
Le Mans 24 2012 by giveitfish, on Flickr
IMG_6372 by giveitfish, on Flickr
IMG_2449 by giveitfish, on Flickr
Le Mans 24 2012 - Qualifying by giveitfish, on Flickr
IMG_6620 by giveitfish, on Flickr
IMG_0564 by giveitfish, on Flickr
Le Mans 24 Hour, June 2011 by giveitfish, on Flickr
Le Mans 24 2012 by giveitfish, on Flickr
Le Mans 24 Hour, June 2011 by giveitfish, on Flickr
Le Mans 24 2012 by giveitfish, on Flickr
Le Mans 24 Hour, June 2011 by giveitfish, on Flickr
Le Mans 24 Hour, June 2011 by giveitfish, on Flickr
Le Mans 24 2012 by giveitfish, on Flickr
Le Mans 24 Hour, June 2011 by giveitfish, on Flickr
IMG_1814 by giveitfish, on Flickr
Le Mans 24 Hour, June 2011 by giveitfish, on Flickr
Le Mans 24 Hour, June 2011 by giveitfish, on Flickr
Le Mans 24 2012 - Friday Mulsanne by giveitfish, on Flickr
Le Mans 24 2012 by giveitfish, on Flickr
Le Mans 24 2012 by giveitfish, on Flickr
IMG_6372 by giveitfish, on Flickr
IMG_2449 by giveitfish, on Flickr
Le Mans 24 2012 - Qualifying by giveitfish, on Flickr
IMG_6620 by giveitfish, on Flickr
IMG_0564 by giveitfish, on Flickr
Le Mans 24 Hour, June 2011 by giveitfish, on Flickr
Le Mans 24 2012 by giveitfish, on Flickr
Le Mans 24 Hour, June 2011 by giveitfish, on Flickr
Le Mans 24 2012 by giveitfish, on Flickr
Le Mans 24 Hour, June 2011 by giveitfish, on Flickr
Le Mans 24 Hour, June 2011 by giveitfish, on Flickr
Le Mans 24 2012 by giveitfish, on Flickr
Le Mans 24 Hour, June 2011 by giveitfish, on Flickr
IMG_1814 by giveitfish, on Flickr
What is all this about Thursday, Wednesday is now the more popular day to go down that way you can watch the practice that night and enjoy thursday. Increasing numbers are already there by the time we arrive. We leave Sunday and you have no problems getting back to Calais and the UK for work on Monday.
If you are going then cheapest option is buy camping ticket from le mans direct either the ACO or tourist office, get race tickets when you arrive (no limit on them) book crossing yourself and enjoy the drive down.
If you are going then cheapest option is buy camping ticket from le mans direct either the ACO or tourist office, get race tickets when you arrive (no limit on them) book crossing yourself and enjoy the drive down.
and well worth it Save Ferris said:
How easy is to get into the stands above the pits on the Weds/Thurs? It will be my 7th trip this year, and this is one of the few things Ive not managed to do yet.
You just walk straight in, it's all open and free during quali. Can get busy, but I've never had a problem getting to the front after dark for those pit stop photos.Gassing Station | Le Mans | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff