Fireworks at Le Mans

[giger]

a.christie said:

...Anyone know of anywhere to buy multishot, cakes,etc either close to the circuit or on the way down from Dieppe.These will obviously be set off properly,safely and in open space.

I thought this was going to be about banning fireworks not how to get them in. Idiots with fireworks are one of the things that ruin LM - mortars going off over my head when I am trying to get a couple of hours sleep, or worrying where they might land - no thanks. It also spurs others on.

A tent within the Airtrack campsite caught fire 2 years ago with people inside thanks to a rogue firework

[Printertosh]

RobbyJ said:

Printertosh said:

I don't think Cakes on solid ground away from tents and cars is a problem

That's exactly what they did last year on parking Bleu but due to the wind the blew straight into the camp site and I had to flick bits of my very expensive tent before they burned through. Fireworks in the campsites are a bad idea, end of story. Not that they still won't happen or that anyone will give a sh*t

When I say away from tents and cars that includes checking the wind direction. Where we are on Tertre Rouge it's very easy to set firework cakes off on the spectator banking outside the campsite on the Sunday evening as long as the wind isn't blowing straight back towards the campsite. Personally I've never bothered but wouldn't want to stop someone enjoying themselves as long as they're not putting others and peoples property at risk. Let's be real here though. They're usually pissed out their heads and half the time it's day time! I don't get the point of fireworks when it's light????

[jonby]

It's very simple

Many of us with nice cars either no longer go to LM, or no longer go in the nice cars, or go in the cars but avoid taking them into the built up areas around the circuit, because of wanton damage caused by idiots

Fireworks being set off at roundabouts directly aimed at cars is just one of those problems I've experienced on multiple occasions. Fireworks not deliberately aimed at cars but which as others state, often blow in the wind to cause damage to cars, is another common problem. I very rarely believe in banning anything at all but at LM, I am very supportive of the idea of a total ban on fireworks in the interests of the greater good

[Rs2oo]

Are they banned at LMS ? A few years ago we set off some Chinese lanterns on Sunday night. A LMS staff member/ security guy came over and told us they were illegal in France and were "donjerous" so obviously banned but what about fireworks, anyone know for sure ?

Off subject a little, why did the ACO ban paddling pools ? Anyone know ? At least they would help put out the fires started by rogue fireworks.......

[Troubleatmill]

re: Chinese lanterns.
As per fireworks earlier - having a hot thing with a flame take an unknown trajectory and land in a bone dry tinderbox field is a recipe for disaster.

Paddling pools are most like banned because of water shortages - just like here.
Also - a lot of folks decided that their pitch should be about 1/4 acre. And filling it with crap like paddling pools.
Then the poor sods that arrive on Friday night/ Saturday have nowhere to camp.

Hallelujah for common sense.
You now get a 7x5 metre pitch - and you fit your stuff into it.

It is a much better system.

After all - there is a race to be watching.....

[gt6]

Yes paddling pools were banned due to the dry summer and water shortages a few years ago, but most people were glad about it, the floods of water in the camp sites on Sunday were a real pain, those that came back either to stay sunday or pack up were not happy to have their camp rather wet due to some one inconsiderate berk emptying their pool. Fireworks are without doubt the one thing at le mans i miss the least to many memories of cars and equipement damaged by idiots.

[Rs2oo]

Yes, we all know how dangerous they are but are they banned ? Just curious. Over the 11 years I've been going we've seen various things going into the air including flares ! that's one reason why I take my van and sleep in it

Edited by Rs2oo on Monday 4th May 21:24

[JT3K]

Just came to add my $0.02. Was on Maison Blanche last year and some douche-nozzles decided that fireworks were a great idea on Friday night. Thankfully they thought better of it by Saturday night as I'm sure a driver who's been at the limit of concentration for six hours coming through the Porsche Curves really needs a sudden explosion of light off by the campsites.

Anyway, not only did they launch something with a buggered stick that came down and smacked a car (luckily not an exploding rocket) but they also forgot about the "dead" rockets falling back to earth. I mean, with the value of the car collection parked around the circuit and the stakes if a dead rocket ends up on the circuit, it's universally a dick move to take fireworks.

I always thought the paddling pools were banned for three reasons: (a) the drought conditions which allowed the ACO to ban them in the first place; (b) the cost of the water to fill them up that was the real reason the ACO didn't want them there; and (c) the lack of localised drainage that meant everything went to hell (for the owners and surrounding groups) if one ripped or when the owners emptied it to go home.