Tips for getting home on Sunday

Tips for getting home on Sunday

Author
Discussion

Mackey444

Original Poster:

15 posts

147 months

Sunday 31st January 2016
quotequote all
I am about to book a 3rd trip to Le Mans for me and my friends going for Speed Chills campsite at Beausejour once again. The last two times we went Friday to Monday, the second time we were a little later so we didn't get the best plot and missed the start of the festivities in the town, but still had fun and witnessed the normal mentalness on the roads around the circuit. The Sunday parties were epic although didn't really help us feel that refreshed for the drive back on the Monday!

This time one of my inconsiderate friends is off on another holiday on Monday, so we are sticking together and going Thurs - Sun, it does mean its a bit different and we can do some other things and fully enjoy the Friday.

However I have heard the horror stories, and witnessed the queues, of people trying to escape Sunday.

Does anyone have any tips. Like getting the car packed up and parking somewhere just outside the main circuit area before watching the end of the race? Or it feels like sacrilege to say it, but even leaving just before the end??

I need to chose a return time for the Eurotunnel, how long extra should I leave to get out of Le Mans.



indyxe

343 posts

182 months

Sunday 31st January 2016
quotequote all
I used to always leave on the Monday morning, but the last two years I have left on the Sunday night.

What I do now is go back to the campsite and whilst everyone else is stuck in a traffic jam I leisurely have something to eat and de-camp, by then which time is about 5.30-6.00 ish the grid lock has gone and its a clean run to the motorways and beyond. Just book a later crossing.

The only other option is to leave early if your after an early channel crossing without any delays, or risk missing your crossing if you leave on or just after the race end.

OvalOwl

924 posts

130 months

Sunday 31st January 2016
quotequote all
There's an option for a quick getaway from Mulsanne Corner to the A28 in the Club Arnage guide.

I have made a reasonably quick exit from Parking Rouge after the race to get back to the Municipal Campsite at La Suze.

The Leaper

4,938 posts

205 months

Monday 1st February 2016
quotequote all
Several years ago (1999 I think) I had the choice: go to LM and leave Sunday or not go at all....I had to be somewhere in the UK Monday morning. So, I left my tribune seat 30 minutes before the end of the race and "escaped" the traffic turmoil, listening to the end of the race on RLM on the way. It was the year that the Toyota GT1 was in the lead until the last few minutes when course debris punctured the car on the Mulsanne Straight and took the car out of the race.

I got to the Eurotunnel in 4 hours, still a personal record! I seem to recall travelling many kms along with 4-5 TVTs doing the same thing. This was before the completion of the autoroute from Rouen to Le Mans.

R.

Truckosaurus

11,183 posts

283 months

Tuesday 2nd February 2016
quotequote all
With the extra hour you've got from the race start/finish moving to 15:00 it's much easier to leave on the Sunday.

Either stroll back to your campsite, de-camp and leave around 18:00-19:00 and have a nice clear run to the coast, or pack up early on the Sunday and move your car to a spot on the road outside the camping zone. Then you can leave straight after the race and although you have to queue in some traffic you'll be on the open road within the hour.

If you are really keen about leaving, get going at 14:30 and listen to the last half hour on the radio. No traffic at all.

adsvx220

705 posts

182 months

Tuesday 2nd February 2016
quotequote all
Leaving on the Sunday is busy but not too bad. The last time I left in a Sunday was when I camped in bleu sud. We had packed the car up Sunday morning so we were ready. Watched the race finish from my usual spot on the concrete steps opposite the pits. The flag dropped and we watched the lmp1 finish aswel as some of the gt's.

We got out the circuit area within an hour or so. I walked through my door at 2am which I thought wasn't bad. Left LM at 4:30-5pm and grabbed a 8pm ferry from Calais.

MadMacMcMad

1,266 posts

253 months

Tuesday 2nd February 2016
quotequote all
We used to leave on a Sunday. If you want a quick getaway, pack up and load your car late morning.
Follow the road past the main entrance with the airport on you left and drive for 1/3 a mile, leaving the airport and campsites behind you. There are some laybys and a parking area on the right. Park up here and wander back.
That way at the end of the race, you are North of the track and well away from campsite traffic.
When back to your car, that road will take you directly to the ring road road. Turn left at the end. You may have to turn right to the new roundabout, then all the way around. Next stop Alencon.

Edited by MadMacMcMad on Tuesday 2nd February 16:27

The Surveyor

7,576 posts

236 months

Tuesday 2nd February 2016
quotequote all
If you want to get home on Sunday, why not head to Caen, the ferry crossing is longer to Portsmouth but you'll not get caught in the Calais traffic, and it's much closer to Le Mans (1hr 45mins instead of 4hrs!). Depending on where you live, the drive on the UK side may also be quieter.

We always do Portsmouth to Caen as the drive from Newcastle to Portsmouth is no different that heading down to Dover. Less risk of disruption from the Immigrant situation too.

Paul

fatboy18

18,930 posts

210 months

Tuesday 2nd February 2016
quotequote all
Do what I do, book yourself a Chateaux 1/3rd of the way back to the ferry Sunday evening and Posh it up.

You will sit there drinking fine wine recollecting the great few days you just had biggrin Get the ferry or tunnel Monday afternoon smile

eastsider

1,101 posts

222 months

Tuesday 2nd February 2016
quotequote all
OvalOwl said:
There's an option for a quick getaway from Mulsanne Corner to the A28 in the Club Arnage guide.
We've done this the last two years and will be again this year. Pack car Sunday morning, move down to Mulsanne around 1pm. We watch the last lap then leg it - the route departs to the East initially - that side of the circuit is much quieter on traffic than the West. One brief fuel/coffee stop and we're normally at the chunnel at around 20:30, generally booking a 21:30 ish return.

indyxe

343 posts

182 months

Tuesday 2nd February 2016
quotequote all
fatboy18 said:
Do what I do, book yourself a Chateaux 1/3rd of the way back to the ferry Sunday evening and Posh it up.

You will sit there drinking fine wine recollecting the great few days you just had biggrin Get the ferry or tunnel Monday afternoon smile
I think Mackey444 needs to be on a crossing Sunday night as he needs to be back on Monday

I agree with you after a few days on the campsites, I used to always stop on the Sunday evening, was always a good atmosphere on the campsites until a few years ago. The last couple of years I have de-camped after the race and then headed to Rouen for a comfy Hotel then headed to Calais on the Monday morning.
I think if you book a sensible time later on the Sunday or into the small hours of Monday evening you'll be fine, rather than busting your neck to get there for eight or nine o'clock, remember if your going via Calais the migrant situation may delay you further.
I got held up coming back from the WEC round at Nurburgring at the end of August last year, I thought I gave myself more than enough time but got stuck in a grid lock and only just made my scheduled ferry due to migrants.

Mackey444

Original Poster:

15 posts

147 months

Tuesday 2nd February 2016
quotequote all
Thanks guys. I suggested 9.30pm when I booked at first but Speed Chills just changed it to 10.20pm as they recommend slightly later (they said I could change back if I wanted). But they said if you arrive up to 2 hours before you just get put on the next available train. So I am not too worried should have plenty of time, if not cest la ve. Just sit back relax and play spot the French police hidden in the bush. Might just be tactical about where we see the end of the race.

Last time we went I missed the crossing back on the Monday anyway after a horrific detour around Rouen that after missing one sign I went round twice!

Jon_Bmw

619 posts

201 months

Wednesday 3rd February 2016
quotequote all
Mackey444 I am doing something similar this year. I have to be back at work on Monday morning so I need to be in bed by 1am Sunday really. I have booked the 21.50 departing train, which means I need to be checked in by 21.20 French time.

I am going to park over by Mulsanne, watch the last lap and use the back roads to get to the A28, as per the guide. If I leave at 1530, this gives nigh on 6 hours to get back to Calais. I will try and avoid the Rouen toll queue as well to help matters, although it may not be a problem at around 1700 when I would get there. But better to be safe than sorry. Fingers crossed I don't bugger up the Rouen bit!

That's the plan, what could possibly go wrong... (clutches for some wood)

eastsider

1,101 posts

222 months

Thursday 4th February 2016
quotequote all
Mackey444 said:
But they said if you arrive up to 2 hours before you just get put on the next available train.
I think that is the theory and on 'normal' days probably right, but the last three years we've been between 60-120 mins early but made to wait for booked train. Unless you have the flex ticket which is megabucks.

va1o

16,029 posts

206 months

Monday 7th March 2016
quotequote all
We've always left after the race on Sunday and never had any trouble. Generally leave Arnage around 4/ 5ish and have an easy journey back to Calais. Can't remember what exact crossing we picked up but it wasn't a particularly late one. Helps to pack up all your stuff well before the race ends!

twocolours

150 posts

146 months

Tuesday 8th March 2016
quotequote all
fatboy18 said:
Do what I do, book yourself a Chateaux 1/3rd of the way back to the ferry Sunday evening and Posh it up.

You will sit there drinking fine wine recollecting the great few days you just had biggrin Get the ferry or tunnel Monday afternoon smile
Our first trip to Le Mans this year and this is our plan. From what I've read the campsites at Le Mans are open Sunday to Sunday so I assumed you can't camp at the circuit Sunday night and leave Monday which was our original plan, not sure if this is correct though? Anybody able to confirm? Cheers

rwstokes

196 posts

143 months

Tuesday 8th March 2016
quotequote all
twocolours said:
fatboy18 said:
Do what I do, book yourself a Chateaux 1/3rd of the way back to the ferry Sunday evening and Posh it up.

You will sit there drinking fine wine recollecting the great few days you just had biggrin Get the ferry or tunnel Monday afternoon smile
Our first trip to Le Mans this year and this is our plan. From what I've read the campsites at Le Mans are open Sunday to Sunday so I assumed you can't camp at the circuit Sunday night and leave Monday which was our original plan, not sure if this is correct though? Anybody able to confirm? Cheers
Cant comment on any of the private sites, or any of the other ACO sites, but I was on Beausajour last year, and stayed till monday with no bother, reckon about 30/40% of people stayed Sunday night.

twocolours

150 posts

146 months

Tuesday 8th March 2016
quotequote all
rwstokes said:
Cant comment on any of the private sites, or any of the other ACO sites, but I was on Beausajour last year, and stayed till monday with no bother, reckon about 30/40% of people stayed Sunday night.
Thanks for the quick response! Beausajour is where we're going to be so that's very helpful! Cheers

Potatoes

3,572 posts

169 months

Tuesday 8th March 2016
quotequote all
twocolours said:
rwstokes said:
Cant comment on any of the private sites, or any of the other ACO sites, but I was on Beausajour last year, and stayed till monday with no bother, reckon about 30/40% of people stayed Sunday night.
Thanks for the quick response! Beausajour is where we're going to be so that's very helpful! Cheers
Same here, my first time and I'm staying at Speed Chills - Beausejour, like you, undecided on whether I leave on Sunday or Monday... I'm leaning toward Monday but will probably make the final decision on Sunday 19th July!

It seems as though if leaving on Sunday is necessary, an earlier departure will mean you miss the main traffic and miss the end of the race or a later departure will mean you miss the queues and can pack up at a relatively leisurely pace, not getting time-pressure stress from any traffic issues along the way.

fatboy18

18,930 posts

210 months

Tuesday 8th March 2016
quotequote all
You can camp Sunday evening, BUT the marshals and Security staff will be very sparse, many go home after the race, the local Traveler like people swarm onto the sites and any tents gazebos chairs BBcues not nailed down will be instantly swiped to be sold on at Boot sales across the country. Its amazing how fast the circuit empties out after the race.

If you were to leave all your stuff unattended and return Sunday evening it may not be there when you return!

The campsites normally look like fly tips by Sunday evening, with rubbish crews picking up stuff and bonfires of melting plastic, broken glass from all the old bottles scattered around the bins.

Team Langoustine is a Private secure site and don't suffer from the locusts.

A few years back we stayed on Houx, TVR were racing and after the race finish Sunday evening brought over a very large monitor so everyone could watch the World cup football match. smile

So yes you can camp but, Having another venue to go to after camping for a few days and somewhere to have a bath relax and some fine dining midway back to your crossing point is the Icing on the cake for a great weekend. smile