Le Mans Classic 2016

Le Mans Classic 2016

Author
Discussion

littlerichb

Original Poster:

1 posts

205 months

Friday 13th February 2015
quotequote all
Hi all,

Looking for some advice. Last year at Le Mans Classic 2014, i saw that there was a PistonHeads club area in the paddock. We drove our classic 1969 Fiat 500 to the event and had a fantastic time. But left our little car at the campsite (off-site) as we did not get a circuit pass for the wee car. My friend organised the tickets through the French Datsun owners club.

Are pistonheads looking to go again in 2016 and have a club area? Is this open to anyone - or just people from Haymarket?
How difficult is it to apply for your own club area? Several UK 500 owners are thinking of going.

Any advice would be great.

Thanks
Rich

fatboy18

18,930 posts

210 months

Friday 13th February 2015
quotequote all
Was there a PH Area? Don't think I saw that? Where in the paddock was it?

rdjohn

6,135 posts

194 months

Sunday 15th February 2015
quotequote all
I think that this page tells you everything you need to know. http://www.lemansclassic.com/en/inscriptions

In all fairness to Petermotorsports, I am not aware that FIAT have had significant success at La Sarthe, but as there are loads of Vespas about, perhaps you could convince them that they would add to the retro atmosphere.

In 2012, I was beating myself up as I arrived at the auction too late to bid for a gorgeous 500, I can't think how I would use it, but I just love them.

Bobafett

72 posts

212 months

Friday 17th July 2015
quotequote all
Have just seen this thread, and I also would be interested to hear if a 'planned' get together of PH nutters is in the offering at LMC 2016.

Cheers.

Incognegro

1,560 posts

132 months

Saturday 25th July 2015
quotequote all
Me and my pops are thinking of taking our TVRs next year so a PH convoy would be cool?

joncon

1,446 posts

222 months

Thursday 30th July 2015
quotequote all

furtive

4,498 posts

278 months

Thursday 30th July 2015
quotequote all
joncon said:
AWESOME.

Very excited....

TVR TELL

278 posts

145 months

Monday 17th August 2015
quotequote all
Incognegro said:
Me and my pops are thinking of taking our TVRs next year so a PH convoy would be cool?
Hi
I am also looking to do the Classic in 2016 so could be up for a little convoy (we also have 2 TVR's) depending on where people are traveling from ?
Who are people booking through ?

Terry

HvdWeerden

1,736 posts

199 months

Monday 17th August 2015
quotequote all
TVR TELL said:
Hi
I am also looking to do the Classic in 2016 so could be up for a little convoy (we also have 2 TVR's) depending on where people are traveling from ?
Who are people booking through ?

Terry
I have used this http://www.fasttracktours.co.uk/events/le-mans-cla... in the past, good price/service !

scotty_d

6,795 posts

193 months

Thursday 27th August 2015
quotequote all
I am heading down again this year, took the Tvr last year but using my classic mini this time. Could do a convoy, we are heading down from west Scotland to Portsmouth for our crossing, ferry booked already Portsmouth- Le Harve.

We have 2 minis going so far with the chance of a 3rd.

Bobafett

72 posts

212 months

Thursday 3rd September 2015
quotequote all
I'm booked in also attending in a Sunbeam Tiger with a few others in convoy, ferry booked from Portsmouth to Caen on the overnight boat. Mrs B also coming, be her first overseas trip with me in the Tiger so should be an experience and a half!!

Would be interested to hear if you can park a classic in the infield on the Bugatti circuit if not going via an organised club meet, or if there is any parking area for attending classics?

Hoping to deal with paddock passes, entrance tickets and grandstand seats through the ACO - or do I have to be a member of the ACO for that?

Any help much appreciated.

Cheers

Bobo W

761 posts

251 months

Wednesday 7th October 2015
quotequote all
Sorry to say I think you'll find that parking on the Bugatti circuit is restricted to affiliated clubs

gt6

1,422 posts

184 months

Thursday 8th October 2015
quotequote all
Almost all of the camping sites are like classic car shows themselves and there are specific area's for each make at certain points your car club should be able to tell you where they are and how to get there. A for tickets you will be able to get them either from the ACO, tourist office or on the lemans classic web site, if you join the ACO the discounts will go a long way to paying for the membership and gives you access to certain areas so worth considering.

Richard 858

1,882 posts

134 months

Friday 6th November 2015
quotequote all
We should have at least 2 or 3 TVRs coming down from Northants, on an early Thursday tunnel crossing if anyone fancies a convoy then ?

London424

12,826 posts

174 months

Friday 6th November 2015
quotequote all
Richard 858 said:
We should have at least 2 or 3 TVRs coming down from Northants, on an early Thursday tunnel crossing if anyone fancies a convoy then ?
I'm booked on the 8:50 tunnel. My first trip so looking for friends!

masermartin

1,629 posts

176 months

Friday 6th November 2015
quotequote all
I'd also be interested if there's a convoy or if anything semi-PH-official gets organised...

TimLambert7

642 posts

124 months

Tuesday 10th November 2015
quotequote all
PARADE LAPS Info Needed

Hello All,

I went in 2014 and couldn't help thinking the parade laps looked like great fun; to drive is a full lap of that circuit is bucket list stuff.

Going this year with my dad and his 997 GTS. It's on the list of elegible cars, which is handy.

1st Tickets offer parade laps as an additional item on camping bookings - I remember this from 2014.

2016 we are with Speed Chills and they've said only approved car clubs can book parade laps and that they're unable to do so.

Firstly, are the parades lap worth doing?

Secondly, how can I book?

Cheers

fatboy18

18,930 posts

210 months

Tuesday 10th November 2015
quotequote all
Parade laps are worth doing BUT.....I don't understand how the ACO group the cars together?
I have done it twice now smile I got a spare ticket from someone who dropped out the first time round and the Second time I did it was through the French Club "Viper Passion" On the ticket it says "Tour De Piste" and you display this on your windscreen. There are so many people now wanting to drive the circuit that it's very hard to get your foot down. There are some other groups later in the morning who seem to get on track with less cars but I'm not sure how they do it? When we have been on track there has been everything from an old 1920s banger, MG Midgets, Healey Sprites, TR6s one or two other yanks like mustangs, TVRs a real mixed bunch! Now remember cough, cough, This is supposed to be a "Parade" Well I can tell you, some think its a race so make sure you keep an eye on your rear view mirrors otherwise you might have a V10 Up your chuff biggrin

Another thing to remember is that once you enter the track, your normal insurance is Void! 2012 I saw a very nice Aston Martin DB4 rear ended and pushed into the wall, the car was bent like a banana! A french TVR Sagaris had lost it just after the ford chicane and walloped into the DB4! no insurance wink

If the weather is dry and you get a good couple of gaps on track you might be able to get 3 laps in, but generally due to the amount of cars on track you will probably end up doing two laps wink

Check out my Videos on youtube to give you an idea of the traffic situation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owChT0g2tQs
You can catch a glimpse of the bent Aston at the end of the pit wall wink
At one point in the "Parade I was doing over 160mph on a bit of the mulsanne straight biggrin but it's impossible to keep that up due to the traffic. At the end of the day its about being safe around the other cars, im not interested in cutting anyone up to gain a couple of places.

Its also worth remembering that this is a track and that Flags apply (Yellow Caution, no overtaking) Sadly not everyone is aware of the "rules" You can fall into the trap of just following the line of the car in front of you, but once your track head sets in you realise you can overtake as many cars as you want, but be aware they may not have seen you!

A wet le mans in 2014 (with a wobble at Arnage) driving

Worst thing I have seen is a tit in a porsche boxter pull up on the track by the pit wall and wait for his mate to catch up! That has to be the most dangerous thing i've ever seen and I'm amazed he did not get rear ended!!!

People like that should not be on track!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7D7gMPEGqVI

Edited by fatboy18 on Tuesday 10th November 18:52

Richard 858

1,882 posts

134 months

Saturday 28th November 2015
quotequote all
London424 said:
Richard 858 said:
We should have at least 2 or 3 TVRs coming down from Northants, on an early Thursday tunnel crossing if anyone fancies a convoy then ?
I'm booked on the 8:50 tunnel. My first trip so looking for friends!
We're booked on the 07:20 Eurotunnel on the Thursday and more than happy to convoy with anyone crossing on or close to the same time.

Richard 858

1,882 posts

134 months

Saturday 28th November 2015
quotequote all
TimLambert7 said:
PARADE LAPS Info Needed

Hello All,

I went in 2014 and couldn't help thinking the parade laps looked like great fun; to drive is a full lap of that circuit is bucket list stuff.

Going this year with my dad and his 997 GTS. It's on the list of elegible cars, which is handy.

1st Tickets offer parade laps as an additional item on camping bookings - I remember this from 2014.

2016 we are with Speed Chills and they've said only approved car clubs can book parade laps and that they're unable to do so.

Firstly, are the parades lap worth doing?

Secondly, how can I book?

Cheers
Having done the parade laps last time (2014) I largely agree with Fatboy's comments. It was raining when I went out and coupled with the number of cars on track we only got 2 laps in.

However it was a good experience and I certainly got some of that evocative feeling of having driven such an historic circuit (albeit not quite the configuration of the "classic" era).
In short I'm glad I did it, pity it was wet, won't do it next time but maybe again in 2018.

I believe you can book directly with the organisers through their official LMC website, iirc the allocation was fully booked in February/March in 2014 so I wouldn't leave it too long.

Hope this helps thumbup


Edited by Richard 858 on Saturday 28th November 10:29


Edited by Richard 858 on Saturday 28th November 10:31