Wednesday 16th May 2012

PistonHeads Friday Service in Le Mans

It's a Sunday Service but with a French twist, which means it's not actually on a Sunday...

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Join us at Le Mans for the next PistonHeads Sunday Service and, as we'll be in France, the time difference will have to be accounted for. As a result this meet will be held on a Friday - Friday June 15 to be precise. OK, so time zones have nothing to do with it but apparently we'd clash with a race of some sort that's taking place on the Saturday and Sunday so Friday it is.

This certainly isn't the first meet PistonHeads has hosted in Le Mans but it definitely promises to be the biggest, as we now have access to an area capable of hosting up to 500 cars on Le Mans Friday.

Last year we held an excellent PH meet at Le Bounty and, while we loved that venue, the offer of a large piece of land close to the circuit from the ACO and 1stTickets was too good to ignore. We will return to Le Bounty for a Le Mans Classic meet later this year though so keep an eye out for further details about that soon.

We can't wait....

Back to the 24-hour and we'll be opening the gates to Parking Du Fresne (just off the roundabout near the parking for Porsche Curves and the entrance to Beausejour camping. See photo above too) at 1300h on Friday June 15 and will close things up at 1600h.

So what can you expect? Well this is a relaxed event when compared to a normal 'Sunday' Service, but you'll be greeted by the PH team on the gate and we'll invite you to park up, grab some lunch (catering and drinks will be available) and relax in the sunshine (we hope) as you admire the cars and enjoy a beer or two ... or a coke for the drivers of course. It's all about enjoying the cars, the Le Mans atmosphere and sitting on the grass in the sunshine without a care in the world.

As per usual you will need to sign up to show your intentions of coming along, but we will impose a 500 car limit to this and operate a one in, one out policy once full. It's a great opportunity for us to meet the Le Mans going PHer so please get your camping group to come over and join us and help us to make this the biggest Le Mans meet ever.

Thanks once more to the ACO for allowing us to use the space and as we get closer to the event we'll share more details with you. For now, get the date in your diary and your name on the calendar.

You can download a PDF map showing the location here.

If you fancy coming along to Le Mans and need some grass to sleep on, you could do a lot worse than call PH Le Mans camping providers 1st-Tickets.

 

[blueST]

Well, I'm in. This must be a new car park, I'm sure it was a farmers field last year. Nice and convenient for on circuit campers, especially for us on MB.

[Garlick]

Not new! See lead image as it shows it in use.

During the race it is used as a car park, but maybe it isn't used some years? We'll drape some PH banners around it and will drag a large BBQ along too

[blueST]

I really should look before putting fingers to keyboard

I like my merguez medium rare, BTW.

[S2000Etype]

Where did you find that map? I'm going to the classic this year so will want the equivalent for that event. Looking forward to the Friday meet as well. Fills a little hole in the diary nicely.

[Garlick]

Map was sent to us directly from the chaps at the ACO

[Antj]

As we're camped in Houx again and have a rented car, think we'll walk up to this one for a gander instead of driving.

[Garlick]

Antj said:

As we're camped in Houx again and have a rented car, think we'll walk up to this one for a gander instead of driving.

That means you can buy a beer and chill out too

[bernhund]

I'll be there in the Noble sporting the 'Squash My Car' graphics!

[Garlick]

If you plan to pop along, don't forget to sign up here: http://www.pistonheads.com/calendar/event.asp?i=27...

Ta

[WhiteBaron]

blueST said:

Nice and convenient for on circuit campers, especially for us on MB.

MB here I'll certainly wander over for a cheeky beverage and a look around.

[miln0039]

I shall have a walk over from MB also - but the car can stay and look after the tent while I look after a beverage

[Wide arse]

Another Sunday service to attend. Wont be in the Clio V6 this year so have bought a similar blue goped instead. Dont think i need to reserve parking for this one should be a nice ride from houx!!

[Harryh87]

Excellent, a 5 minute walk from MB for me too

[Garlick]

I (and a few of the PH team) won't be in a car either as we'll jump in the vans heading from the site with the bar and BBQ. Could this be the first pedestrian-biased PHSS?

PistonHeads. Walking and getting lifts matter.

To be fair, getting this approved and organised has been hard work. Surveying the scene with a beer in hand is all I want to do (after getting you in of course!)

[Switch]

Garlick said:

.. vans heading from the site with the bar and BBQ.
Surveying the scene with a beer in hand is all I want to do (after getting you in of course!)

Gently simmered and reduced to the salient points...

[Vette_1978]

Interesting posts on this subject so far. I wonder if this meeting will be mainly attended by people stumbling around drunk or shooting gravel around on gopeds? I might give this a miss and do CBW for the motor viewing and hit Bounty for an afternoon pie.

[miln0039]

Vette_1978 said:

Interesting posts on this subject so far. I wonder if this meeting will be mainly attended by people stumbling around drunk or shooting gravel around on gopeds? I might give this a miss and do CBW for the motor viewing and hit Bounty for an afternoon pie.

What a very dim outlook on life you must have?! I personally don't want to take my car out on mad Friday, am camping within walking distance and wouldn't mind the comfort of having a couple of beers without having to worry about driving....

...which of course turns me into something off Cops With Cameras in your opinion?!

A slightly more open mind perhaps required.

[Garlick]

Vette_1978 said:

Interesting posts on this subject so far. I wonder if this meeting will be mainly attended by people stumbling around drunk or shooting gravel around on gopeds? I might give this a miss and do CBW for the motor viewing and hit Bounty for an afternoon pie.

I doubt there will be any more drinking than at The Bounty last year. We'll have a bar and BBQ but the central location means it's easier for many to stroll than drive. a pint with your food is what we expect, not nightclub style binge-drinking as we're there for cars and PH.

Staff on the ground won't stand for any antisocial behaviour. It's a PH run meet and we take that sort of thing seriously, but if you don't fancy it we can't force you. Shame though

[jamiebae]

Might head up on foot too, particularly as I don't have a car worthy of showing off, and am especially partial to a beer at LM on a Friday!

[Vette_1978]

miln0039 said:

What a very dim outlook on life you must have?! I personally don't want to take my car out on mad Friday, am camping within walking distance and wouldn't mind the comfort of having a couple of beers without having to worry about driving....

...which of course turns me into something off Cops With Cameras in your opinion?!

A slightly more open mind perhaps required.

The point I'm trying to make is that for the CBW, Bounty and Mulsanne meets people had to make an effort to go to them. So you'd have a nice drive out, have a wander and a chat, see some decent metal, have some food and most of the people there would be visiting for the same reasons. With this location it could lead to chaos on the interior roads if there are queues, which in turn leads to lots of sitting ducks for the idiots with waterpistols. So do I have a dim outlook and need more of an open mind? Maybe? Or can I just foresee what might be before it happens?