Classic Le Mans 2016

[Maersk]

A quick question, I'm also staying at blue nord and never done the classic before. What's the electrical power situation, Same as the 24 hr ? ( done that a few times and I'm sure the power wasn't carrying a safety certificate 😂)

[JamesMK]

I'm going for the first time this year - have been reliably informed that there are a few generators around but no other power. I will bring a phone charger and make friends with anyone who has a working power socket in their car!

Maersk said:

A quick question, I'm also staying at blue nord and never done the classic before. What's the electrical power situation, Same as the 24 hr ? ( done that a few times and I'm sure the power wasn't carrying a safety certificate ??)

[Leins]

Maersk said:

A quick question, I'm also staying at blue nord and never done the classic before. What's the electrical power situation, Same as the 24 hr ? ( done that a few times and I'm sure the power wasn't carrying a safety certificate ??)

From memory, there was no power available where we were, so we made do with batteries and USB-connectors in the cars for the likes of phone charging. However, that was not in the PH section of Bleu Nord, so might be different in there

[Prancing Hippo]

Planning on heading over earlier and driving around the region for the week beforehand. Does anyone have any recommendations on things to do / place to go before the great event? Thanks.

[GT5S_1985]

Prancing Hippo said:

Planning on heading over earlier and driving around the region for the week beforehand. Does anyone have any recommendations on things to do / place to go before the great event? Thanks.

Here's a cut-and-paste to a friend who asked the same question. Apologies if it's long, but you asked! Note that it's somewhat personalized and refers to previous trips with a whole bunch of DeTomasos, but the info is the same:
. I’d suggest spending time in two areas – the Loire Valley and Normandy.

After Paris, the most widely visited area in France is the Loire Valley, and for good reason. It’s an area littered with well-preserved chateaux and small, little towns with the inevitable display of flowers at the entrance, cobblestone streets, and well maintained buildings and lawns from another era. It’s most famous for their hundreds of castles, and you could spend weeks just in the this area visiting them.

The most impressive castle in the valley is no doubt Chambord, where you could spend a day. It was built as a hunting lodge for the French kings. A hunting lodge with 365 chimneys – one for every day of the year! French kings in the 1400’s had a different idea of a “lodge” than I do, I suppose. There’s a lot of history that took place here – you can see the room where Emperor Charles V of Spain stayed in 1539 while visiting François I, for example. Speaking of important history at Chambord, you can see where Amaya and I spend an entire afternoon in the rain with the local gendarmerie trying to figure out how to start the Pantera when the alarm died and decided to prevent the engine from being started as a result.

You should consider spending a day or two in Blois, another medieval town with a history of intrigue and murder. Seven kings and 11 queens passed through the doors of the chateau de Blois between 1500 and 1715, some on “business” such as arranging the murder of rival dukes. The Duque de Guise was murdered on the rather famous stairs of the castle, which in turn led to the murder of his murderer 8 months later! The Pope excommunicated the whole gang as a result – interesting times! There is a dramatic sound and light show (son et lumiere) at night where they cover some of the highlights of the history accompanied by dramatic lighting and music.

Amboise is another medieval city that is well worth a stop. Leonardo Da Vinci lived here for the last few years of his life in the castle called Clos Lucé, and there is a museum dedicated to the man and his discoveries. The main chateau of Amboise has a spiral staircase with no steps – made so that the lord of the castle could ride up to the living room on his horse! I suppose it’s the medieval equivalent of parking your Ferrari inside your house… not much new under the sun!

Chinon is quite nice – yet another well-preserved medieval city with the defensive walls still rather well preserved. Other sights well worth visiting include Chenonceau, a particularly pretty chateau, with beautiful gardens and straddles the river
http://www.chenonceau.com
and
Azay-le-Rideau
http://www.azay-le-rideau.fr/
(Note – while checking the webpage I see that it is under restoration until 2017, so you may want to skip this one if you have to make choices)



Another region of France that is extremely popular and highly recommended is Normandy. It’s roughly 3 hours from the Loire Valley by car.
At the top of the list of sights to see is Le Mont Saint Michel –
http://www.lemontsaintmichel.info

It is quite rightly famous for the 1000+ year old abbey and the tides, which twice per day enter and recede more than 15 kilometers. It’s well worth the trip. Try to go during the week as opposed to weekends if you have a choice due to the number of tourists. If you are going to Normandy, then you should also consider visiting the D-day beaches and their associated cemeteries. The Pont du Hoc is particularly well known as having been the site of an especially brutal and famous battle, and the town of St Mere Eglise is where D-day technically began, as paratroopers that had been blown off-course landed in this little town instead of their intended location. The Germans picked them off as they landed, and one paratrooper faked being dead while hanging from the church steeple for most of the day until he could sneak down when nobody was around. There is a “dummy” hanging from a parachute from the steeple today, recreating the scene. Depending on how much you are into WWII history, there are lots of famous landmarks here. On the beaches you can still see German bunkers and the whole area is littered with craters from the bombing despite the passing of the years.

[indyxe]

Yes I would also agree Mont Saint-Michel, went there 2 year ago before Le mans, amazing place if your in the area it is a must place to visit.
If your into military then Normandy also the place to go.

[croydon]

This year im going a day early and splitting off the A28 before Rouen on to the A29 and stayin g at Honfleurs harbour town, then up the next morning to visit the D Day sites Mervilla Battery, Pegasus bridge before heading south down the A88 and merging back on before Alecon and then on to Le Mans.

Something different

[Prancing Hippo]

Great, thank you GT5S 1985.

[awooga]

I've been wanting to do this for years and this year I might just break the duck if I can persuade missus that it's a viable summer holiday, or find a pal with a little cash.

I saw the advert in Classic and Sports Car advertising a package for £595 - ferries plus cabin, tickets (paddock and stands), camping on secure site at the porsche curves (no idea where this is yet!) and a few other goodies thrown in. Does this seem reasonable? The missus doesn't mind camping, but we'd want the stuff to be secure while we're watching the racing.

Any other suggestions welcome. I'm coming down from near Glasgow in an MG B, so another alternative would be the ferry from Hull or perhaps the eurotunnel. Not started pricing anything up yet until I can get permission / approval.

ETA - quick bit of googling and I can go with the MG Owners club for about £360 - doesn't say where the camping is, nor which route they're taking across the Channel. I can also go with the Le Mans agency for £315 from Hull - camping on site. These all include paddock access. Quite tempted by the idea of a more relaxing drive to Hull and hope the weather in July is ok for a crossing (surely!!) and trying to find a D route drive from the French border to Le Mans. I suppose if we take few valuables, carry most of it on us and lock other stuff in the boot it should be ok. Can't be any worse than rock festival camping, where we had few problems.

Edited by awooga on Tuesday 8th March 06:54

[gt6]

Well you pays your money and you takes your choice, the cheapest way is DIY, book all the tickets on the aco website, book the tunnel yourself and enjoy the race. This is how most people do it to be honest and when you get there you will find that the campsites are a very friendly place and quite safe. Although i never get grandstand tickets for the main le mans i always get them for the classic and paddock tickets are a real must have.

[indyxe]

awooga said:

I've been wanting to do this for years and this year I might just break the duck if I can persuade missus that it's a viable summer holiday, or find a pal with a little cash.

I saw the advert in Classic and Sports Car advertising a package for £595 - ferries plus cabin, tickets (paddock and stands), camping on secure site at the porsche curves (no idea where this is yet!) and a few other goodies thrown in. Does this seem reasonable? The missus doesn't mind camping, but we'd want the stuff to be secure while we're watching the racing.

Any other suggestions welcome. I'm coming down from near Glasgow in an MG B, so another alternative would be the ferry from Hull or perhaps the eurotunnel. Not started pricing anything up yet until I can get permission / approval.

ETA - quick bit of googling and I can go with the MG Owners club for about £360 - doesn't say where the camping is, nor which route they're taking across the Channel. I can also go with the Le Mans agency for £315 from Hull - camping on site. These all include paddock access. Quite tempted by the idea of a more relaxing drive to Hull and hope the weather in July is ok for a crossing (surely!!) and trying to find a D route drive from the French border to Le Mans. I suppose if we take few valuables, carry most of it on us and lock other stuff in the boot it should be ok. Can't be any worse than rock festival camping, where we had few problems.

Edited by awooga on Tuesday 8th March 06:54

I take it all your prices are per person, if you booked the trip yourself tickets for camping and general entry for 2 would be £140, plus ferry another say £100 return if via Dover.

There is a lot of choice to book through agencies and clubs but generally more expensive, but also different levels of hospitality.
It all boils down to personal preference,

Security is like anywhere else, don't leave any valuables in your tent, lock anything of value in your boot out of sight.

[The Leaper]

awooga

FYI, this year my son and I are going to Le Mans Classic and we've arranged everything DIY as we do whenever we go to LM. The costs for Le Classic have so far worked out as follows and this is the cost for 2 people:

ACO membership (to get access to discounted tickets etc): £76

Circuit tickets: 2 general entrance tickets, 2 grandstand tickets, 2 paddock access tickets, 1 parking ticket, mailing: £138.00

Note that the above does not include camping: we stay at a hotel Friday and Sunday and sleep in the car at the circuit on Saturday.

Eurotunnel: £118.

In addition we'll have further costs being tolls, hotel for 2 nights, food, drinks, petrol, etc.

Hope this helps in your decisions regarding way to go.

R.

[magpies]

awooga said:

I've been wanting to do this for years and this year I might just break the duck if I can persuade missus that it's a viable summer holiday, or find a pal with a little cash.

I saw the advert in Classic and Sports Car advertising a package for £595 - ferries plus cabin, tickets (paddock and stands), camping on secure site at the porsche curves (no idea where this is yet!) and a few other goodies thrown in. Does this seem reasonable? The missus doesn't mind camping, but we'd want the stuff to be secure while we're watching the racing.

Any other suggestions welcome. I'm coming down from near Glasgow in an MG B, so another alternative would be the ferry from Hull or perhaps the eurotunnel. Not started pricing anything up yet until I can get permission / approval.

ETA - quick bit of googling and I can go with the MG Owners club for about £360 - doesn't say where the camping is, nor which route they're taking across the Channel. I can also go with the Le Mans agency for £315 from Hull - camping on site. These all include paddock access. Quite tempted by the idea of a more relaxing drive to Hull and hope the weather in July is ok for a crossing (surely!!) and trying to find a D route drive from the French border to Le Mans. I suppose if we take few valuables, carry most of it on us and lock other stuff in the boot it should be ok. Can't be any worse than rock festival camping, where we had few problems.

Edited by awooga on Tuesday 8th March 06:54

Hi awooga - we too are LM Classic virgins and have taken the 'expensive' deal as a first time. We are living in Teesside and travelling Hull- Zeebrugge on the Wed night and having a leisurely drive taking 10 is hours and no toll roads. Staying at the Porsche Curves in pre-erected Teepee tents Thursday to Monday. - Driving a TVR S1.

[awooga]

Cheers for all the advice folks, much appreciated. Haven't spoken to wife yet, but lining up replacements just in case! Then I can start working out packages / self done stuff depending on passenger's budget and thoughts.

Just realised that my MG B is valid for the parade lap. It's £180 for the experience, but one that might never happen again. Tempted!

Magpies - will PM you if we choose the Hull option; had similar thoughts about avoiding toll roads.

Went to Le Mans about 15 years ago just randomly, enjoyed the museum immensely. There was some sort of bike / Moto GP going on, so we didn't go into the circuit, but enjoyed the atmosphere. Nearby town (can't remember the name) is famous for its boudin noir and holds a festival every year. Lovely place and I plan on going there if I can.

[GT5S_1985]

awooga said:

Just realised that my MG B is valid for the parade lap. It's £180 for the experience, but one that might never happen again. Tempted!

.

The LMC organization informed me that the Parade Laps are sold out, fwiw

[awooga]

GT5S_1985 said:

awooga said:

Just realised that my MG B is valid for the parade lap. It's £180 for the experience, but one that might never happen again. Tempted!

.

The LMC organization informed me that the Parade Laps are sold out, fwiw

I'm not surprised tbh! Thanks for that; shame. Will get a phot of the car with a le mans sign in somewhere as a much cheaper consolation prize instead.

Wife wants to go, we're just not sure how much time she'll get off. She just said minimal driving, so not trundling all the way down to Kent in one day and she doesn't want to do car packages; GT40 routes, talks by drivers sort of packages so I guess I'll sort out the ferry from Hull and maybe do a day in Bruges either on the way there or (more likely) on the way back. She's not been to Normandy before, so a trip to Mont St Michel will be on the cards and then I'll add in something from the suggestions above, including a trip to the boudin noir town. Our honeymoon was in my previous MG B to a canal boat in the Loire Valley, so I'd like to think she has some fond memories of being in France with an old car.

Time to start booking up some camping spaces!

[indyxe]

If you are visiting St Mont Michel on way back look at ferry from St Malo back to Portsmouth, save you the drive to Zeebrugge,
Longer drive on the UK side though, might be worth a look.

[awooga]

indyxe said:

If you are visiting St Mont Michel on way back look at ferry from St Malo back to Portsmouth, save you the drive to Zeebrugge,
Longer drive on the UK side though, might be worth a look.

Cheers, did think about that and staying /catching up with friends on the way back up, but given the traffic from Portsmouth all the way back up to the other side of Glasgow, I really want to avoid all the southern congestion and take my chances on the French and Belgian roads instead. At least the hood should be down if we're stuck in any traffic on the continent and we can enjoy the weather.