A day in Le Mans

[The Curn]

Just noticed that my route back through France takes me right through Le Mans. I needed a stop off point so this seems like the ideal opportunity to educate the boy in the ways of foreign motor sport, have an amble around the town, and a spot of lunch.

Is there any "must sees" that people could recommend, or indeed anything to avoid. From my brief research I don't think that there's any particular events that weekend.

Thanks...

Edited by The Curn on Wednesday 23 April 14:46

[Neil G60]

The museum at the actual track is worth a visit

[sc0tt]

If the Guinness tent isn't there (which it won't be) then there isn't anything worth seeing.

[Esders]

1. Drive around the bits of the circuit that you can (a lot of it is public road when they do the 24hr).
2. Visit the museum at the circuit
3. Have your picture taken with your car in front of the entrance to the circuit
4. If you go into the actual town then there is a square with plaques for the winners over the years and a statue but I can't remember what road it is on.

[The Curn]

Thanks for the ideas so far. Will do the museum and the driving bits.

Think I'll leave the photograph of the car outside the entrance for when I'm back on my feet in automotive terms!

A six year old diesel Rangie with a bike rack on the back, loaded to the gunnels with luggage doesn't really do it justice!!

[Puggit]

The old city is absolutely amazing. Park up by the river (free!) and just walk around the walled areas and the cathedral. If you're there in August they light up the walls and cathedral when night falls with some amazing graphics and patterns.

https://www.google.com/maps/@48.0099866,0.197917,6...

[littleredrooster]

Puggit said:

The old city is absolutely amazing. Park up by the river (free!) and just walk around the walled areas and the cathedral. If you're there in August they light up the walls and cathedral when night falls with some amazing graphics and patterns.

https://www.google.com/maps/@48.0099866,0.197917,6...

^ ^ This. Lovely place - we avoided it for about twenty years because a 'friend' told us it was very industrial and scruffy; nothing could be further from the truth!

[Mobile Chicane]

You definitely want to get off the Autoroutes and onto the back roads.

The surrounding villages are lovely and absolutely unchanged. Steve McQueen could come bombing round the corner any minute.

[rdjohn]

With the museum, there is also a mini bus trip around the circuit(s), but not the full one. You may see a track day or some testing going on. Unlike most things in France, this also stays open in August.

[leyorkie]

Hi,
What type of bike?
Some good routes around and about for both road and mtb but you may not have the time.
Where you staying? I'm 40k south.
Museum and old town are the best bets, the Roman walls are some of the oldest in Europe.

[perdu]

Build your own bottle wall outside the circuit gates

(ref Beermountain.summat for further info)

And visit Carrefour in the centreville.

It won't be Le Mans unles you fill a supermarche trolley with beer and unusual meat products, ah yes and a disposable barbecue.

Actually...

The Museum is an awesome place


And the best way to introduce the kids

Go there in June for the race


(Er, can I come with you? I'm already regretting making this a No LM year...)

[ben5732]

No LM?... You fool!

[Skodaku]

Was staying in Mulsanne a couple of weeks ago. Relative of our hosts has some connection with Le Mans so we were treated to a behind-the-scenes visit, including the Race Director's suite and piccy taken on the winners' podium. Also got to sit in one the cars that you can drive around the inner circuit, (behind a pace car........RS4 Avant or R8 - €200 for 3x laps ? No idea what make they are. Twin seat open, LM-type devices with a V8 stuffed in the back, it seems. Couldn't spot any badges. Anybody ?), and watched what I presume were paying punters being pillioned around the track on a large motorcycle at speeds that seemed scary.

Museum was fabulous and host was a mine of information, particularly on Deutsch Bonnet cars.

A very happy day. Le Mans city is lovely and there were vintage car/motorcycle efficiency trials happening on the Sunday. 5 Ltr plastic of petrol strapped to the vehicle and see how many times you can lap the road circuit they'd closed off around the old city. Nearly fainted at the thought of what UK Elf & Stacey would make of the 5 Ltr plastics hanging off car windows etc. Lots of classic French metal in evidence. Rather good fun.

Can also recommend a visit to Malicorne. Home to makers of fine pottery.

[OvalOwl]

Skodaku said:

Also got to sit in one the cars that you can drive around the inner circuit, (behind a pace car........RS4 Avant or R8 - €200 for 3x laps ? No idea what make they are. Twin seat open, LM-type devices with a V8 stuffed in the back, it seems. Couldn't spot any badges. Anybody ?)

These?



Pescarolo Le Mans Prototype:

Motor
• Centrally located aft
• GM LS3 V8 type - power 360 hp - max torque 540 Nm

Transmission
• Rear wheel drive
• Gearbox 6-speed sequential

Chassis
• Monocoque carbon
• Front suspension: double wishbones anchored to tub
• Rear Suspension: double wishbones anchored to the gearbox

Body
• glass-reinforced polyester

Dimensions and weight
• Empty weight: 830 kg
• Weight distribution (front / rear): 45% / 55%
• Length: 4360 mm
• Width: 1900 mm
• Height: 1090 mm
• Tank capacity: 100 l
• Ground clearance: 70 mm

[leyorkie]

Great event and as you say nothing like it in UK

[Puggit]

littleredrooster said:

^ ^ This. Lovely place - we avoided it for about twenty years because a 'friend' told us it was very industrial and scruffy; nothing could be further from the truth!

In fairness, most of LM is

We've got a house between Le Mans and Tours, and last summer was the first time we'd ever ventured in to any part of the city in the 8 years of owning!

[S A B]

Stop off at the Hotel de France on La Chartre its about 40k south of Le-Mans and was used by the John Wyre as his base when running Aston Martin, GT40, Mirage, and Porsche 917's lots of photos and great food, good also for somewhere to stay. The Hotel is now in new British ownership and has undergone a complete referb. Also in Le-Mans there are brass plaques of the drivers in the town centre that are good to track down.

[Puggit]

S A B said:

Stop off at the Hotel de France on La Chartre its about 40k south of Le-Mans and was used by the John Wyre as his base when running Aston Martin, GT40, Mirage, and Porsche 917's lots of photos and great food, good also for somewhere to stay. The Hotel is now in new British ownership and has undergone a complete referb. Also in Le-Mans there are brass plaques of the drivers in the town centre that are good to track down.

Our house is in La Chartre (sur le loir) and I didn't know this. Will go back in August and check it out