friday drivers parade

[911legend]

hi guys ive been a dozen times or so but never mangaged to get to town for drivers parade, normal friday for me is a drive up mulsanne early while its quiet a few beers at lunchtime and then an afternoon pit walk, by then ive had too many beers to drive into town ......my last trip was 2008 , so this year i hope to jump a tram to town , ill probably suss it out but where do you get off tram and wheres best place to see the parade , thanks in advance.....keith

[Jos Notstoppen]

I think you will see where to get off the tram, just follow the rest of the crowd.
Not sure there is a best place as such. Maybe where the drivers are interviewed as they stop, but there are large crowds.
There is a parade route in the race programme (and tram info) and in the Club Arnarge guide
The parade usually over-runs and the trams are packed so allow extra time for the journeys. Tram takes about 45 min

[GlennC]

We started watching the parade around by the river, just before it turns to go through the tunnel back towards the cathedral. It seemed to be a bit quieter, with good banking, steps, etc so you could see properly.
We walked back around towards the start against the flow of the parade & it just got really crowded.

There are plenty of restaurants & cafes open at that time, so maybe have a bite to eat before heading back to the circuit?

You could get the tram as far as Republique (the big plaza), but it may be easier to get off the stop before & have a wander through town

[gt6]

As said just go with the flow. the trams and city will be packed the route will be obvious due to the barriers and people and the cafes and bars will be lively

[DMN]

As said above, get the tram to Republique, thats where the parade passes. Plenty of bars etc there, the Leffe Bar (can't remeber the actual name) has never failed to deliver some good food.

[ClockworkDog]

I'll be going for the 6th time and have never managed to go to the parade, because no one wants to be the designated driver! Is it feasible to walk there from beausejour or is someone gonna have to take the sober bullet? Is there a bus service? Any advice gratefully appreciated...

[gt6]

The best way is to take the tram, you can catch that from several places and it will take you into town and back

[kel176506]

If you want to really see the parade you do need to get their early. We've been to the parade the last few years but normally get there a bit to late and you don't really see much but the atmosphere is great. There are plenty of bars and places to eat in town as well, can't recommend it enough if you haven't experienced it as part of your Le Mans weekend yet.

The tram runs late but can anyone remember what time the last train back to Arnage is on the friday?

[kel176506]

If you want to really see the parade you do need to get their early. We've been to the parade the last few years but normally get there a bit to late and you don't really see much but the atmosphere is great. There are plenty of bars and places to eat in town as well, can't recommend it enough if you haven't experienced it as part of your Le Mans weekend yet.

The tram runs late but can anyone remember what time the last train back to Arnage is on the friday?

[911legend]

ok so Ill head to Republique around 3pm then.....see you all there!

[//j17]

ClockworkDog said:

Is it feasible to walk there from beausejour...

Walk out Beausjour and straight ahead up Chemin aux Boeufs past the karting centre/Houx/Houx Annex, right at the 2nd roundabout and get on the tran at Antares.

Google Maps says 3km but it's an easy stroll with a bottle of beer.

[Tyre Smoke]

kel176506 said:

The tram runs late but can anyone remember what time the last train back to Arnage is on the friday?

It runs 24hr over the race week I think. Certainly been 24hr on the last two years on a Friday.

[OvalOwl]

The tram may well run late and extended but if Kel actually meant to catch a TRAIN then the timetable doesn't look too good.

These are from the DB journey planner (which covers the whole of Europe not just Germany) at http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en

Le Mans Fr, 13.06.14 dep 18:03
Arnage Fr, 13.06.14 arr 18:09

Le Mans Fr, 13.06.14 dep 19:07
Arnage Fr, 13.06.14 arr 19:13

Le Mans Fr, 13.06.14 dep 20:17
Arnage Fr, 13.06.14 arr 20:23

[kel176506]

No i was thinking tram, but thank you both. Getting excited now!

[Printertosh]

According to pdf leaflet, the last tram last year departed from university at 2.01am on the Friday (or Saturday morning if u look at it another way) so any later than 2am at the square & you might be playing with fire as knowing the French way of working that might mean last tram at 2.01 from square not the start of the line!!!

[FartKong]

We've never made the parade before but are planning to this year as mad friday has been ruined by chavs now. Im thinking get there really early and get a good spot and just make a day out of it providing the weather is dry.

[dele]

Friday is a great day to spend in the town, I think Mad Friday has lost its way, too anti-social these days

[Gtioli]

I have heard other people say spend the day in Arnage, anyone done this instead of heading into town for the parade?

[DMN]

Gtioli said:

I have heard other people say spend the day in Arnage, anyone done this instead of heading into town for the parade?

I've been to Arnage the past few years. Theres a good selection of places to eat, and plenty of nice cars driving down the drag.

[Printertosh]

There's usually a bus service runs from Arnage to Le Mans Station. Last year I considered doing Pitwalk in morning, then walk to Pistonhead meet after lunch, then walk to Arnage, then bus into Le Mans for parade.
If you're camping near the pits it's a shorter walk to Arnage from Pistonhead meeting than walking all the way back again?
Last year we walked back again and were knackered