Le Mans Tickets
Discussion
Hello
Just wondered does anyone know if these tickets for Le Mans are still available before I look at booking?
http://www.1st-tickets.co.uk/ph/enquiriesph.html
Never been before but thought might treat my Dad for his birthday
Thanks
Just wondered does anyone know if these tickets for Le Mans are still available before I look at booking?
http://www.1st-tickets.co.uk/ph/enquiriesph.html
Never been before but thought might treat my Dad for his birthday
Thanks
eybic said:
Hi,
I believe we do still have space, give 1st tickets a call and they will be able to confirm for you.
Nathan
Okay thanks will give them a ring this afternoonI believe we do still have space, give 1st tickets a call and they will be able to confirm for you.
Nathan
Seen that AA will cover me for £69 for the trip is this a good price?
Planning on taking a 36year old MINI with a recently fitted engine by myself...
£69 is pretty expensive but there are not many options for cars of that age and with AA/RAC you should get a decent policy. If you do decide to go elsewhere, make sure you read the small print before you buy, things like replacement hire car and repatriation aren't alway included. Unfortunately none of these policies are geared towards weekend breaks, they also have some pretty draconian clauses. They choose the garage to take it to but you have to pay for the repair, you do not get to choose to have it repatriated. I suspect anything serious on a mini that old is not going to be repairable in the middle of France but I have heard horror stories of people fighting to get newish cars returned rather than let some backstreet French garage rebuild their engine.
In my own experience everything has worked smoothly, once I had an alternator repaired costing me £90 in total (It would have been about £3-400 UK for a replacement) and the second time (Serial TVR owner!) I had the pleasure of a Renault Megane for the weekend, my TVR was repatriated with me and started/ran perfectly the second the tyres hit British soil.
The cheapest way to get breakdown cover is packaged with your Classic Car insurance, most Classic insurers offer it as a low cost extra or even included it in the standard policy. I use rhclassicinsurance, policy includes European recovery and was around £250.
In my own experience everything has worked smoothly, once I had an alternator repaired costing me £90 in total (It would have been about £3-400 UK for a replacement) and the second time (Serial TVR owner!) I had the pleasure of a Renault Megane for the weekend, my TVR was repatriated with me and started/ran perfectly the second the tyres hit British soil.
The cheapest way to get breakdown cover is packaged with your Classic Car insurance, most Classic insurers offer it as a low cost extra or even included it in the standard policy. I use rhclassicinsurance, policy includes European recovery and was around £250.
Mellow Yellow said:
£69 is pretty expensive but there are not many options for cars of that age and with AA/RAC you should get a decent policy. If you do decide to go elsewhere, make sure you read the small print before you buy, things like replacement hire car and repatriation aren't alway included. Unfortunately none of these policies are geared towards weekend breaks, they also have some pretty draconian clauses. They choose the garage to take it to but you have to pay for the repair, you do not get to choose to have it repatriated. I suspect anything serious on a mini that old is not going to be repairable in the middle of France but I have heard horror stories of people fighting to get newish cars returned rather than let some backstreet French garage rebuild their engine.
In my own experience everything has worked smoothly, once I had an alternator repaired costing me £90 in total (It would have been about £3-400 UK for a replacement) and the second time (Serial TVR owner!) I had the pleasure of a Renault Megane for the weekend, my TVR was repatriated with me and started/ran perfectly the second the tyres hit British soil.
The cheapest way to get breakdown cover is packaged with your Classic Car insurance, most Classic insurers offer it as a low cost extra or even included it in the standard policy. I use rhclassicinsurance, policy includes European recovery and was around £250.
Okay thanks a lot for this useful information to have In my own experience everything has worked smoothly, once I had an alternator repaired costing me £90 in total (It would have been about £3-400 UK for a replacement) and the second time (Serial TVR owner!) I had the pleasure of a Renault Megane for the weekend, my TVR was repatriated with me and started/ran perfectly the second the tyres hit British soil.
The cheapest way to get breakdown cover is packaged with your Classic Car insurance, most Classic insurers offer it as a low cost extra or even included it in the standard policy. I use rhclassicinsurance, policy includes European recovery and was around £250.
My Dad has wanted to go for years so will be a great surprise for him (I hope) and as I am only started my graduate role about 6 months ago quite an expensive present for me so I hope he enjoys it!
What are peoples view on grandstand seats are they worth paying extra for? What areas would people recommend?
Unlike most race tracks at Le mans you do not really need GS seats, they are nice to have but expensive and you will spend most of your time wandering around seeing the race from different places, yes they are nice to have for the start/finish but you can either stand amongst the throngs infront of the stands or take your seats and watch the start from the miles of trackside available else where, you pays your money you takes your choice. For a first timer you will be surprised just how big the place is and how many things you will have to do on your few days there. Plenty of advice on this and other forums so have a good read and then decide. ! option is to leave GS tickets until the last minute and either pick them up cheap on e bay or the various forums if not pick a nice spot close to the campsite enjoy the start from a camping chair then walk around
I have a slightly different opinion.
The grandstands on the main straight are excellent. Especially T17/18 (toilets, showers, bar, food) if you can get them.
They are a blessing if the weather is crap or really hot. Which it will be. If you are in a group, it is an ideal base.
There are 250K people there and quite honestly without stands, to get a decent view of the start/finish then you have to be set up hours before the race starts.
We usually watch at Tertre rouge inside the circuit. Excellent place to watch, apart from last year it was solid at the start/finish. So we missed the first 5 laps really.
So, if you don't want to have to fight for a place, or stand in the sun/rain (it is always one or the other) and you want unrestricted views of the start/finish/pit action, then spend £100 and get a stand oposite the pits. Do not get T34 above the pits (Rubbish view)
This is not expensive. Bear in mind that this price is for your seat for all support races and a 24Hr race.
Compare that to £300 for a GS seat at a 2 hour F1 race!
When you become familiar with the place, then you will find favourite viewing spots, but you need a good starting point and T16 to T21 are it.
The grandstands on the main straight are excellent. Especially T17/18 (toilets, showers, bar, food) if you can get them.
They are a blessing if the weather is crap or really hot. Which it will be. If you are in a group, it is an ideal base.
There are 250K people there and quite honestly without stands, to get a decent view of the start/finish then you have to be set up hours before the race starts.
We usually watch at Tertre rouge inside the circuit. Excellent place to watch, apart from last year it was solid at the start/finish. So we missed the first 5 laps really.
So, if you don't want to have to fight for a place, or stand in the sun/rain (it is always one or the other) and you want unrestricted views of the start/finish/pit action, then spend £100 and get a stand oposite the pits. Do not get T34 above the pits (Rubbish view)
This is not expensive. Bear in mind that this price is for your seat for all support races and a 24Hr race.
Compare that to £300 for a GS seat at a 2 hour F1 race!
When you become familiar with the place, then you will find favourite viewing spots, but you need a good starting point and T16 to T21 are it.
Greggy,
MadMac is absolutely right in my opinion. My son and I have been going since 1996, always had grandstand seats. We do go mainly to see the racing, unlike some folk, so we do sit and watch quite a bit. We also like to wander to the various other parts of the circuit, something that's easy in a 24 hour race. There is lots to see and lots of walking!
I'm old enough to have grandchildren and increasing age comes with increasing physical problems so you may need to bear this in mind depending on the age and physical condition of your Dad.
However, getting a seat may be too late now although there may be a few left with the major ticket companies. You need a general entrance ticket too to get a reserved seat.
R.
MadMac is absolutely right in my opinion. My son and I have been going since 1996, always had grandstand seats. We do go mainly to see the racing, unlike some folk, so we do sit and watch quite a bit. We also like to wander to the various other parts of the circuit, something that's easy in a 24 hour race. There is lots to see and lots of walking!
I'm old enough to have grandchildren and increasing age comes with increasing physical problems so you may need to bear this in mind depending on the age and physical condition of your Dad.
However, getting a seat may be too late now although there may be a few left with the major ticket companies. You need a general entrance ticket too to get a reserved seat.
R.
Mellow Yellow said:
£69 is pretty expensive but there are not many options for cars of that age and with AA/RAC you should get a decent policy. If you do decide to go elsewhere, make sure you read the small print before you buy, things like replacement hire car and repatriation aren't alway included. Unfortunately none of these policies are geared towards weekend breaks, they also have some pretty draconian clauses. They choose the garage to take it to but you have to pay for the repair, you do not get to choose to have it repatriated. I suspect anything serious on a mini that old is not going to be repairable in the middle of France but I have heard horror stories of people fighting to get newish cars returned rather than let some backstreet French garage rebuild their engine.
In my own experience everything has worked smoothly, once I had an alternator repaired costing me £90 in total (It would have been about £3-400 UK for a replacement) and the second time (Serial TVR owner!) I had the pleasure of a Renault Megane for the weekend, my TVR was repatriated with me and started/ran perfectly the second the tyres hit British soil.
The cheapest way to get breakdown cover is packaged with your Classic Car insurance, most Classic insurers offer it as a low cost extra or even included it in the standard policy. I use rhclassicinsurance, policy includes European recovery and was around £250.
Yep, have to agree with this but you may find it standard practice. I had an issue woth the Vette at the '08 Classic on the way down. Called RAC, they got it collected and taken to a garage, I got a courtesy car. They then told me it was going to Rouen for some new rear shocks, regardless of me telling them it wasn't a suspension issue. They said that if they can repair prior to you leaving AND it being cheaper than repatriating then they do this. In the end they took it to Corvette Kingdom in Norfolk as I requested and it turned out some U joints had gone. If you do breakdown then check the logistics of the courtesy car. I was on my way home passed Rouen when they called to ask me to return the car to Le Mans as they had no way of getting it from the Eurotunnel. In the end I abandoned the car in Lens outside their office but with no letterbox (honestly) I had to leave the keys with a rather confused Eurotunnel person and loaded the gear into the other Corvette.In my own experience everything has worked smoothly, once I had an alternator repaired costing me £90 in total (It would have been about £3-400 UK for a replacement) and the second time (Serial TVR owner!) I had the pleasure of a Renault Megane for the weekend, my TVR was repatriated with me and started/ran perfectly the second the tyres hit British soil.
The cheapest way to get breakdown cover is packaged with your Classic Car insurance, most Classic insurers offer it as a low cost extra or even included it in the standard policy. I use rhclassicinsurance, policy includes European recovery and was around £250.
Vette_1978 said:
Yep, have to agree with this but you may find it standard practice. I had an issue woth the Vette at the '08 Classic on the way down. Called RAC, they got it collected and taken to a garage, I got a courtesy car. They then told me it was going to Rouen for some new rear shocks, regardless of me telling them it wasn't a suspension issue. They said that if they can repair prior to you leaving AND it being cheaper than repatriating then they do this. In the end they took it to Corvette Kingdom in Norfolk as I requested and it turned out some U joints had gone. If you do breakdown then check the logistics of the courtesy car. I was on my way home passed Rouen when they called to ask me to return the car to Le Mans as they had no way of getting it from the Eurotunnel. In the end I abandoned the car in Lens outside their office but with no letterbox (honestly) I had to leave the keys with a rather confused Eurotunnel person and loaded the gear into the other Corvette.
Hmm interesting to be honest can see me taking my daily driver I think 1,000 miles may be a bit tough on the old girl especially when its been off the road for 8 months and just had a lot of new bits and different engine fitted worried about teething problems etc...May go down the cheap thirsy s
tter route something like an old Jag if my Dad wants to play ballgreggy50 said:
Hmm interesting to be honest can see me taking my daily driver I think 1,000 miles may be a bit tough on the old girl especially when its been off the road for 8 months and just had a lot of new bits and different engine fitted worried about teething problems etc...
May go down the cheap thirsy stter route something like an old Jag if my Dad wants to play ball
Don't let me put you off, just something to be aware of if you have issues. Taking a motor down is half the fun. If you have issues what better place to be than with thousands of like minded people to lend a hand. In 10 years this has been the only problem. Take the Mini, take it steady, enjoy.May go down the cheap thirsy s
tter route something like an old Jag if my Dad wants to play ballgreggy50 said:
What are peoples view on grandstand seats are they worth paying extra for? What areas would people recommend?
Me and my dad enjoy a grandstand seat at Silverstone especially when it's raining but at Le Mans we like to set up a camping seat in a decent position and enjoy the build up to the race. Not much else to do after lunch anyway on the Saturday. My dads 76 and it's less of a walk for him to where we watch start. The rest of the race is easy viewing without grandstand. Enjoy the race and try not to over rev your mini Printertosh,
I like what you say. I'm in my early 70s and my legs are becoming a bit of a problem so it may be less walking for me this year. We always arrive early Saturday morning and park in Parking Blanc (we sleep in the car there on Saturday night) and have seats in La Raccordiment so that's not far at all. Got to get to Tetre Rouge for at least a couple of hours racing along with several 1664s as the sun goes down so it may be a camper seat for me too once I get there! I think that this year the steps may be my biggest problem but I'll manage.
R.
I like what you say. I'm in my early 70s and my legs are becoming a bit of a problem so it may be less walking for me this year. We always arrive early Saturday morning and park in Parking Blanc (we sleep in the car there on Saturday night) and have seats in La Raccordiment so that's not far at all. Got to get to Tetre Rouge for at least a couple of hours racing along with several 1664s as the sun goes down so it may be a camper seat for me too once I get there! I think that this year the steps may be my biggest problem but I'll manage.
R.
My Dad is 60 but still pretty active and a contracts manager so walking up and down ladders and round construction site as part of his job so he should be fine with a bit of walking.
I think I am going to leave grandstand seats for this year and maybe do that in the future depending if we enjoy it as I suspect many of the better seats will have sold now anyway!
Only choice now is what car to take... I really fancy taking my classic mini but don't think my Dad will be keen and 1,000 miles round trip may be tough on the old girl despite it being refreshed over the Winter.
I think I am going to leave grandstand seats for this year and maybe do that in the future depending if we enjoy it as I suspect many of the better seats will have sold now anyway!
Only choice now is what car to take... I really fancy taking my classic mini but don't think my Dad will be keen and 1,000 miles round trip may be tough on the old girl despite it being refreshed over the Winter.
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