Planning for 2016
Discussion
I've always done Le Mans mostly via the daylight hours, watch in 2 hour stints until i'm either too drunk or too tired to stay up anymore then cycling back to an off circuit campsite for a bit of kip in relative peace and quiet with the group I go with, it's always alot of fun and I can't complain.
Next year though i'm quite interested in going alone and sitting in the grandstand, in a sleeping bag and trying to watch as much as possible, particularly overnight.
Do other people do this? Any advice and are seated tickets easy to get hold of or do they get snapped up quickly?
Next year though i'm quite interested in going alone and sitting in the grandstand, in a sleeping bag and trying to watch as much as possible, particularly overnight.
Do other people do this? Any advice and are seated tickets easy to get hold of or do they get snapped up quickly?
Grandstand seats are easy-enough to get, if you book early and don't leave it to the last minute and do make it easier to watch more of the actual race before fatigue kicks in. Rather than turning up 2hrs before the start to get a good spot you can turn up 10min before if you want, safe in the knowledge that your seat is waiting for you.
When it comes to which stand DON'T go for T34 (Paddock) or T22 (Wolleck). You can only really see the track from T34 and are looking at the sun most of the day. T22 has a reasonable view of the final chicanes, start line, and some of the pit garages but no roof. If it's raining or blazing sun having a roof/shade makes life easier.
The rest of the start straight grandstands are much of a muchness and it's all a matter of trying to guess which garage your favourite teams will be in so which end you want to be. All have reasonable views of the TV screens at one end of the straight of the other.
With T4/T5 (Panorama/Dunlop) you don't get to see much pit action but have a good TV view for that and also miss out on the sound of the race start through the pit straight gorge but you get a good view down that straight and can usually rely on people getting the Dunlop chicane wrong right in front of you.
If you're going to have your bike next year I say you'd be better off riding out to Arnage/Mulsanne corners and watching some night racing from there. Also grandstand seats are only booked for Sat/Sun and are free-for-all for qualifying, so try a few on Wed/Thurs and work out which view you want for 2017.
When it comes to which stand DON'T go for T34 (Paddock) or T22 (Wolleck). You can only really see the track from T34 and are looking at the sun most of the day. T22 has a reasonable view of the final chicanes, start line, and some of the pit garages but no roof. If it's raining or blazing sun having a roof/shade makes life easier.
The rest of the start straight grandstands are much of a muchness and it's all a matter of trying to guess which garage your favourite teams will be in so which end you want to be. All have reasonable views of the TV screens at one end of the straight of the other.
With T4/T5 (Panorama/Dunlop) you don't get to see much pit action but have a good TV view for that and also miss out on the sound of the race start through the pit straight gorge but you get a good view down that straight and can usually rely on people getting the Dunlop chicane wrong right in front of you.
If you're going to have your bike next year I say you'd be better off riding out to Arnage/Mulsanne corners and watching some night racing from there. Also grandstand seats are only booked for Sat/Sun and are free-for-all for qualifying, so try a few on Wed/Thurs and work out which view you want for 2017.
If you are planning on spending a lot of time in a grandstand, then become an ACO member and buy T17/T18.
Toilets, showers, food and drink within the stand. This is the only one like it.
You can see a large screen, opposite the last garages.
These go very quickly, so join soon or speak to an agent and get your name down.
IMHO
Toilets, showers, food and drink within the stand. This is the only one like it.
You can see a large screen, opposite the last garages.
These go very quickly, so join soon or speak to an agent and get your name down.
IMHO
Ahh, yes! there is nothing I like more than getting into the grandstand after a liquid supper (Red bull, coffee) and watching away. I always get tickets for the ACO stand 18 - the best by miles. I have to say, the grandstands get very quiet through the night, I'd say there were only 10 or 15 people in there at sunrise last year! The best time of the race to me.
One word of warning though, Even when its been a hot day, it gets bloody freezing at 3am! be prepared!
One word of warning though, Even when its been a hot day, it gets bloody freezing at 3am! be prepared!
My son(23) and I(57) have done the whole 24hour spectating thing for the last 5 years, its knackering but well worth it if you go for the racing rather than going because its an excuse to be constantly pissed and be away from the misses..
We have never bothered with grandstand seats, for us they are not worth the cost, not very comfortable if you want a sleep, or move about.
We get a good spot on the banking next to the startline at 8.30am is on Saturday morning, watch all the support stuff and build up take food and drinks with us, grab stuff as the day goes on from the concessions behind the stands and enjoy the day. We usually stay there until early evening, then wander back to Houx grab something to eat and then go back out about 10pm.. We take drinks, redbull, coffee, food, small folding stools in a backpack and walk up to the Ford chicane, watch there then head up towards Porsche curves, stopping and watching the racing and the screens, wander back down to the start finish straight, usually about 3am by they then,over to the Dunlop chicane, down to Tetre Rouge then just before it gets light back to Houx, pick up the car and then go up to Arnage. We stay up there til about 7.30, then back to Houx restock on drinks and food, by this time our mate who doesn't do the all nighter has gone up to the start finish line and set up camp, wander back up there via a bit more spectating and then spend the rest of the day there, a few sleeps during the morning, 3pm back to Houx for beers, wine and curry... Bed usually about 2am Monday, so up for 40+ hours!
We have never bothered with grandstand seats, for us they are not worth the cost, not very comfortable if you want a sleep, or move about.
We get a good spot on the banking next to the startline at 8.30am is on Saturday morning, watch all the support stuff and build up take food and drinks with us, grab stuff as the day goes on from the concessions behind the stands and enjoy the day. We usually stay there until early evening, then wander back to Houx grab something to eat and then go back out about 10pm.. We take drinks, redbull, coffee, food, small folding stools in a backpack and walk up to the Ford chicane, watch there then head up towards Porsche curves, stopping and watching the racing and the screens, wander back down to the start finish straight, usually about 3am by they then,over to the Dunlop chicane, down to Tetre Rouge then just before it gets light back to Houx, pick up the car and then go up to Arnage. We stay up there til about 7.30, then back to Houx restock on drinks and food, by this time our mate who doesn't do the all nighter has gone up to the start finish line and set up camp, wander back up there via a bit more spectating and then spend the rest of the day there, a few sleeps during the morning, 3pm back to Houx for beers, wine and curry... Bed usually about 2am Monday, so up for 40+ hours!
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