what age to start going?
Discussion
I'd love to take my son to Le Mans one year. I've never yet been myself, but think it's something we could both enjoy. He's 5 this summer, so I was wondering, what age did you, or would you consider taking your kids with you? It'd be just me and him for the weekend, rather than a 'family' holiday.
Each to there own, I think took my son when he was 7 he is now 13 been going since then.
You have to allow to miss a bit more of the action.
It was a great way to bond with him. He talks about it all the time, even when I raced a Ferrari on the way home.
It was the first thing, he told his Mother when we got home.
Pick the right camp site you will both be fine.
You have to allow to miss a bit more of the action.
It was a great way to bond with him. He talks about it all the time, even when I raced a Ferrari on the way home.
It was the first thing, he told his Mother when we got home.
Pick the right camp site you will both be fine.
5 might be a bit young perhaps, i'm guessing the attention span won't be long before boredom sets in, unless he's well into racing and watching for hours on end?
Most of the other threads seem to mention kids a little older, so maybe it's something to book in for next year or the year after but I would deffo recommend camping as the way to do it :-)
Most of the other threads seem to mention kids a little older, so maybe it's something to book in for next year or the year after but I would deffo recommend camping as the way to do it :-)
Thanks for the replies all...
I agree, I think 5 might be too young. He likes 'racing cars' but I think a whole weekend at this stage might well be too much. He loves camping tho, so that's not a problem. Something for the year after next perhaps.. It sounds like 7 might be a good age to start making the most of it.
I agree, I think 5 might be too young. He likes 'racing cars' but I think a whole weekend at this stage might well be too much. He loves camping tho, so that's not a problem. Something for the year after next perhaps.. It sounds like 7 might be a good age to start making the most of it.
We have a group of around 25 to 35 ish each year, really broad mix from builders to barristers and surgeons
This year we had a guy bring his 12 year old son who was a good lad, but after a while he did get bored and start to be annoying
The main problem we had was getting people to remember he was 12 and perhaps riding that motorbike / quad was not the best idea
If I ever have a lad I'm going to take him there from age 14 ish, meet some excellent people
This year we had a guy bring his 12 year old son who was a good lad, but after a while he did get bored and start to be annoying
The main problem we had was getting people to remember he was 12 and perhaps riding that motorbike / quad was not the best idea
If I ever have a lad I'm going to take him there from age 14 ish, meet some excellent people
5 year old and 1 year old in 2009 with wife. Stayed all week in Tertre Rouge in motorhome 
5 year old was very upset when he missed all the night racing during race as he was shattered from the Wednesday and Thursday night qualifying
Unluckily they can't get the time off school now so I have to go with lads
5 year old was very upset when he missed all the night racing during race as he was shattered from the Wednesday and Thursday night qualifying
Unluckily they can't get the time off school now so I have to go with lads
I've been thinking the same thing with my son. He's 6 now and was ok during the 6 Hours of Silverstone but I could tell he was getting bored. 24 hours I don't think he could handle. Also this year was my first trip to le mans and didn't want it "ruined" by someone who couldn't handle it, bit I'll definitely be taking him soon. I'd say another couple of years would be perfect!
One question though, what do you do about getting them out of school? He can't have the s
ts for a week!
One question though, what do you do about getting them out of school? He can't have the s
ts for a week! saintpaulie said:
I've been thinking the same thing with my son. He's 6 now and was ok during the 6 Hours of Silverstone but I could tell he was getting bored. 24 hours I don't think he could handle. Also this year was my first trip to le mans and didn't want it "ruined" by someone who couldn't handle it, bit I'll definitely be taking him soon. I'd say another couple of years would be perfect!
One question though, what do you do about getting them out of school? He can't have the sts for a week!
It's only a weekend. Friday to sunday night is perfectly feasible.One question though, what do you do about getting them out of school? He can't have the s
ts for a week! 5!!
Give it another 10 years.
Take him to the WEC at Silverstone, Spa etc
Each one is 6 hours long
A 24 hour race ( which we seem to enjoy 4-6 days of) , wish huge crowds ( where's Billy gone????) and a very kid unfriendly environment.... you already know the answer.
Deep down... you know you want to go every year.
And you want Junior to buy into it...
But.. he won't be able to understand.
Go to other WEC venues, enjoy touring cars etc etc
Get him have a true passion for it.
Give it another 10 years.
Take him to the WEC at Silverstone, Spa etc
Each one is 6 hours long
A 24 hour race ( which we seem to enjoy 4-6 days of) , wish huge crowds ( where's Billy gone????) and a very kid unfriendly environment.... you already know the answer.
Deep down... you know you want to go every year.
And you want Junior to buy into it...
But.. he won't be able to understand.
Go to other WEC venues, enjoy touring cars etc etc
Get him have a true passion for it.
It depends on you and your son.
If he's a 'young' child, then maybe leave it a few years. If he's good at walking around (a lot!) and used to the odd bit of language and drunkenness then he'll be fine.
I've taken my son to the Classic a couple of years on the trot, when he was 7 and then 9. He'll be 10 (almost 11) next year and so will probably be taking him to LM.
He's happy to go along to Silverstone, Brands, etc.. all day long. We even did all 3 days of the WEC at Silverstone this year, but he was (unsurprisingly) very tired at the end of it.
If he's a 'young' child, then maybe leave it a few years. If he's good at walking around (a lot!) and used to the odd bit of language and drunkenness then he'll be fine.
I've taken my son to the Classic a couple of years on the trot, when he was 7 and then 9. He'll be 10 (almost 11) next year and so will probably be taking him to LM.
He's happy to go along to Silverstone, Brands, etc.. all day long. We even did all 3 days of the WEC at Silverstone this year, but he was (unsurprisingly) very tired at the end of it.
Took my son this year for the first time, he's 15. Both him and his younger brother have wanted to go for a few years but I held off until I thought he would be able to appreciate all aspects of the trip (the drive, the ferry, the cars enroute, the campsite, the scale of the event and of course the race). The trip was a huge success, we got on brilliantly and he loved every part of it so glad I held off until I did.
As other posts have said it's each to their own; for me a key thing to remember would that be the trip becomes about them and what they want - take them too early and it might be too much to take in.
My younger son will be going in 2017, he's already talking about it...
As other posts have said it's each to their own; for me a key thing to remember would that be the trip becomes about them and what they want - take them too early and it might be too much to take in.
My younger son will be going in 2017, he's already talking about it...
Gassing Station | Le Mans | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff