LM 2017

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Discussion

delta0

2,348 posts

106 months

Friday 3rd February 2017
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Jon6531 said:
Hello everyone just booked on the speed chills private site .....hopefully made a good choice ...Stayed with 1st tickets last year but on the general camping site for the classic. ......Heard lots of story's about the 24 having issues with theft's etc so hoping the extra cost will be worth while ....??

Cheers
I will be booking SC. I've used them before and it was good. Quite relaxed compared to some of the public sites. Their site is secure as are some of the other private sites. I'm booking mine in a month or 2 once I have numbers sorted. We have too many wanting to drive their own car and not wanting to park in a public car park means a pitch per car which is unrealistic cost. I need more people to confirm or I'm going to have to stop some from driving.

Chopper01

95 posts

168 months

Wednesday 8th February 2017
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Getting very excited now. Tickets booked and staying at Team Langoustine site at Tetre Rouge. Two LM virgins coming down this year with our 8 strong group of veterans.

How does the tunnel compare with the ferry crossing for time/convenience?

MadMacMcMad

1,266 posts

254 months

Wednesday 8th February 2017
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Really depends where in the UK you are. If North of Folkstone, then the Tunnel is your best bet. South, then my fav is Portsmouth/Cherbourg although we have done the Newhaven/Dieppe the last couple of years. Another big consideration is the return ferry. If you are travelling back Sunday, then ferry from Cherbourg/LeHavre/Caen/Dieppe is best as Calais can be a mare to get back to and if you are tired after a mad weekend, then the 5 hour drive is not a happy one.

Cost wise, it is swings and roundabouts. Ferry cost against Fuel and Tolls.

nono

ETA

Sorry, but deemed as an advert.

Edited by Big Al. on Friday 10th February 15:53
....

Mod Explain how this advice is an advert!!!!!!

Edited by MadMacMcMad on Friday 7th April 09:57

Storer

5,024 posts

215 months

Wednesday 8th February 2017
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Living near Cambridge the tunnel is my route of choice.

We book flex-plus tickets and go and return when we wish. Get straight on the train at both ends. Usually a maximum of 40 mins from arrival at terminal on one side and getting onto the motorway at the other.

But it is costlier.

Chopper01

95 posts

168 months

Thursday 9th February 2017
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Thanks all. We're up near Colchester and this will be the 6th glorious year. TL site is without doubt the best site. Really good folk staying there, they're friends more than anything and the folks that organise it are top drawer.

Maybe try the tunnel next year. Can't come soon enough!!

E36GUY

5,906 posts

218 months

Friday 10th February 2017
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Storer said:
Living near Cambridge the tunnel is my route of choice.

We book flex-plus tickets and go and return when we wish. Get straight on the train at both ends. Usually a maximum of 40 mins from arrival at terminal on one side and getting onto the motorway at the other.

But it is costlier.
Snap.

Although the tunnel was a disaster on the Monday last year but that was unusual. All I say with the tunnel - make sure you make your booking on the way back as it'll be busy. If you miss it, you don't just get on the next one like you might the ferry, it'll be the next available which could mean a wait for hours. I recall a few years back one of our gang booked the 1pm on the Monday and missed it. He was still there when we rolled in around 3 for the 4pm and was still there when we left! I'm afraid there may have been some mirth at his expense.

Storer

5,024 posts

215 months

Friday 10th February 2017
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E36GUY said:
Snap.

Although the tunnel was a disaster on the Monday last year but that was unusual. All I say with the tunnel - make sure you make your booking on the way back as it'll be busy. If you miss it, you don't just get on the next one like you might the ferry, it'll be the next available which could mean a wait for hours. I recall a few years back one of our gang booked the 1pm on the Monday and missed it. He was still there when we rolled in around 3 for the 4pm and was still there when we left! I'm afraid there may have been some mirth at his expense.
Not an issue with flex-plus.

We don't head back to the UK for at least a couple of days minimum anyway. A trip to, and night at Hotel de France is booked to start with.
We do a bit of exploring or information gathering too. This year we will be visiting a fellow farmer who is pioneering new methods of growing crops. Then a bit of D-Day sight seeing.
There will also be some French hospitality in the form of food and 'fortified grape juice' along with some R & R.

For us, this is what Le Mans is about. Picture taken 30mins after the end of racing at the Classic 2016!



vincegail

2,463 posts

155 months

Friday 10th February 2017
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Mmmmm Quiche and Affligem smile

Cool named place to eat too wink

Edited by vincegail on Friday 10th February 22:17

delta0

2,348 posts

106 months

Thursday 6th April 2017
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My plan is fuel up before arriving at LM on the Thursday. How far out do I need to be thinking about fuel before I hit queuing traffic to enter LM?

E36GUY

5,906 posts

218 months

Friday 7th April 2017
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delta0 said:
My plan is fuel up before arriving at LM on the Thursday. How far out do I need to be thinking about fuel before I hit queuing traffic to enter LM?
Stop at the services at Alencon (Aire de la dentelle d'Alencon) which is about 30K north of Le Mans and you can pick up a delicious sandwich from the Paul concession inside as well.

delta0

2,348 posts

106 months

Friday 7th April 2017
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E36GUY said:
Stop at the services at Alencon (Aire de la dentelle d'Alencon) which is about 30K north of Le Mans and you can pick up a delicious sandwich from the Paul concession inside as well.
Anything coming in from the East? We are doing a bit of a road trip on Thursday. Dipping into Belgium for some driving through the Ardennes and some beer at their many hyper markets. Then to Reims and across avoiding Paris.

We are thinking of doing some BBQs when there. Thursday is easy enough as we can grab some food on route to cook. On the other days where do people go to buy food to cook?

Edited by delta0 on Friday 7th April 18:45

Dickie Dastardly

Original Poster:

718 posts

166 months

Wednesday 3rd May 2017
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Emailed the school today advising them of my son's pending absence; time to look at getting stickers organised thumbup

FredericRobinson

3,693 posts

232 months

Wednesday 3rd May 2017
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delta0 said:
We are thinking of doing some BBQs when there. Thursday is easy enough as we can grab some food on route to cook. On the other days where do people go to buy food to cook?

Edited by delta0 on Friday 7th April 18:45
Carrefour mostly, big supermarkets aren't open on Sundays though

Storer

5,024 posts

215 months

Wednesday 3rd May 2017
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If all you do is take provisions from the UK or shop at the local hypermarket you are missing out and adding little to the local economy that welcomes you to Le Mans.

There are numerous small independent food retailers in and around Le Mans where great food costs no more than the hypermarket.

A couple of years ago we took a little drive a few miles out of Le Mans. Found a small café for lunch, slightly late, and they went to the boulenger and purchased the French stick to make us a sandwich while we had a beer.
The beer, sandwich, chocolate and coffee was 15.5 euro. I gave them 20 euros for their trouble.

And I have found this everywhere we go.

Venture out (but behave) and you will find you are very welcome.

gt6

1,424 posts

185 months

Wednesday 3rd May 2017
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I would confirm that if you go out of Le mans the local shops/cafe's are very welcoming and on your travels you will also find smaller supermarkets that have not been stripped bare of the items you want, Those around the trak will run out of some stuff very quickly