Classic Le Mans - with a dog!

[Mrs_P]

Hi all, I'm new here, I found you guys whilst doing a Google search! OK, so I'm the better half of a Porsche 911 enthusiast, I'm planning our summer holiday, and found out that our first day in France will be the Saturday of the Classic. I know that he would LOVE to go (I've not told him about it yet, in case its not possible).

Only issue is, we will have our 2 dogs with us, so not sure if we can take them in or not. I have emailed the ticket office but no reply so far. Even if we can take the dogs with us, how noisy is the event likely to be? They would obviously be on lead, and not in the main grandstand! I know when we went to Goodwood festival of speed a couple of years ago the F1 cars in particular were awesome, but very loud.

Other than the cars racing all day, what else is likely to be going on? And do you think it's worth a day trip?

Any advice would be most welcome!
Thanks

[Truckosaurus]

The continentals seem to allow dogs into their circuits, so you should be ok.

The Classic will be quieter than the main race, as there's smaller grids with bigger gaps in the action and some of the older cars don't make much noise.

[Mrs_P]

Great, thanks for the info, I'm trying to get through to the ticket office on the phone to get the official line, but not much luck at the moment!

Also having left it so late, working out where we could stay the night before (en route from Calais), and the Sat night (will be heading to the Dordgone) ont he Sunday morning. I'll get it all planned out before I tell his nibs!

[Mrs_P]

Just to update, I finally got through to the ticket office, dogs are allowed! On lead of course, but it is do-able.... but is it sensible?

[Voldemort]

Mrs_P said:

but is it sensible?

Obviously not. That's why you should do it!

[//j17]

I've seen people with dogs at the full Le Mans and they seemed perfectly happy.

I think, provided you don't have especially noise-sensitive dogs you should be fine, you just might want to avoid the start/finish straight when the 'more modern' cars are on - the later cars tend to be louder and the start/finish straight a canyon that amplifies the noise. There's plenty of other viewing though that are more open and a bit further from the track so you won't be missing out.

[Mrs_P]

Voldemort said:

Obviously not. That's why you should do it!

I like your thinking Voldemort - I think we might just give it a go! I could always hang back with the hounds at the start of a race and let his nibs get closer.
Yay, exciting!

[TheArchangel]

Mrs P you've already made your decision but I don't think the hounds will enjoy themselves all that much so soon after the crossing and in the heat and noise of the circuit. Your ticket lets you come and go as you please, however, and there are plenty of tree-lined lanes where you can hang out with the dogs rather than stay on circuit.

[Truckosaurus]

The whole in-field will be a big classic car show, so plenty of (quiet) space for dogs to wander around (and poo in a gravel trap ).

[Mrs_P]

aaah, they will love a gravel trap to poo in!!

Husband is definitely up for it, but I can always hang back a bit with the dogs, and keep to the quieter areas if they don't like it, or even a lovely walk away from the crowds. It's kind of too good an opportunity for us to miss as we'll be passing right by anyway. Still working on somewhere to stay though...

[sirtyro]

Go for it! I was going to take our Weimaraner to the 24hr race this year but as I'm going for the whole week, I didn't think it was fair on her to be camping for that long. But I think we will do a proper trip next year with her to the 24

[gt6]

There are plenty of quieter places to watch, perhaps at the start of each race stay away from the main pit straight with the dogs, but it is a massive place and plenty to see in the way off classic cars and bikes plus food/drinks and although it is busy in places there are a lot less people than at the main 24 hours, as for accomodation that could be a problem as local to le mans it will be quite full, perhaps stay somewhere near alencon on friday, drive to le mans on saturday and book somewhere south on saturday night. even 5 or 6 hours there will be an experience. If you consider the first race is at 3 by 8.30 you will have seen all of the plateaux(cars grouped into years) you will have seen all the cars in daylight whilst we get the same cars in the night and then in daylight again on sunday. Buy tickets on the gate you will not regret it and in 2 years time you will be back for the full 24 hours

[VanquishRider]

I think everybody has it spot on. Remember that the cars only race on about a quarter of the conventional circuit. So all the infield is pretty much a car show, auction and market stalls. Lots to see and do.

Avoid the area where the cars queue before entering the circuit just before the start finish straight. The cars can be very loud when they start back up. You can watch them pootle back to the pits at low speeds at the end of each Plateau. As they pass the classic car pitches on the infield.

Look for hotels at least an hour north of Le Mans and then an hour south for the Saturday night. You should find something for a reasonable price. But Le Mans is fairly short of hotels at the best of times. That's why we all camp. Even those that stay off the circuit.

Good luck.

[niva441]

They are certainly (and obviously) better at the track than in the car, just watch for the broken glass around the paths.

[TR4man]

Mrs P I hope your husband appreciates what a wonderful and thoughtful wife he has!

[Mrs_P]

TR4man said:

Mrs P I hope your husband appreciates what a wonderful and thoughtful wife he has!

Why thank you,I couldn't have put it better myself! He is a very lucky man!

[White-Noise]

I think you would be mad to take your dogs, its not the right place for them. Its very noisy and busy - I wouldnt take my own dog. Really, I am quite surprised they let them in, but each year people do take them in!

[PositronicRay]

White-Noise said:

I think you would be mad to take your dogs, its not the right place for them. Its very noisy and busy - I wouldnt take my own dog. Really, I am quite surprised they let them in, but each year people do take them in!

Different dogs are different. I took ours (illegally) to a sprint meeting, he was calm and well behaved trackside, quite surprised really, although it wasn't too noisey. Show him a Morris Man and you'd think you'd just introduced him to Beelzebub.

[Mrs_P]

Thank you all for your helpful replies. Whilst I agree that it's not ideal that we have the dogs with us, we will just have to try and see what happens, rather than not go at all. I'll judge on the day how I think they are coping (or not!), and if need be I can set up well away from the noise under a nice tree, and be happy with a picnic and a book for a while, or even leave the circuit and return to pick up Mr P later in the day.

We've managed to book with very good prices for the night before in a travel lodge type place in Alencon, and then the Saturday night in Tours, so it's all on our route to the Dordogne, without backtracking anywhere (and hoping the fuel strikes are resolved by then!)

Tickets are booked, and OH booked red parking before I had the chance to mention the free parking I read about on another thread!

Thanks again everyone, you've been great.

[perdu]

Although the Classic isn't my cup of char Mrs P you get my "POSTER OF THE YEAR" award

There is so much room around the circuit that the dogs should do just nicely if you place yourselves judiciously

As mentioned you wouldn't need to be between the tribunes at the start finish straight but elsewhere WILL be fine



Well done you



Well done him getting a good 'un too

Enjoy it all

See you all next year at the real one?

You KNOW you ought to try the full strength too