Le Mans Classic Dress Code

[Marvindodgers]

Hi, as a newbie to the Le Mans Classic this year, I thought I'd canvass opinion on what has previously stood as the dress code. I have read the website and I'm not really looking forward to the idea of jacket, shirt and tie in some possibly very warm july weather! Would plain polo shirt and light trousers (chino type) suffice do we think?

[tlracing]

[Bobo W]

Thankfully the pretentions over strict adherence to a dress code do not manifest themselves as they do at the Revival which is more the better with a much more relaxed attitude. A morning suit maybe a bit over the top but you wont be turned away in shorts and T-shirt either.

[anonymous-user]

Bobo W said:

Thankfully the pretentions over strict adherence to a dress code do not manifest themselves as they do at the Revival which is more the better with a much more relaxed attitude. A morning suit maybe a bit over the top but you wont be turned away in shorts and T-shirt either.

Is that definitely correct? I received my tickets today and they say no shorts, combats, flip flops etc.. and the covering letter from the company we have booked through suggests taking a tie! Will we be allowed into the paddock etc.. with shorts and T-Shirts or should we wear trousers and collars to be on the safe side? What about jeans?

[b2tus]

I went to the Classic in 2006. Getting into the pits in shorts and/or t shirt was very difficult...I was suitably attired but my son wasn't, which necessitated a cunning plan.....parlez mon bestest francais with guy on the gate and whilst he wondered what the hell I was on about, son nipped in behind his back.
Reckon they will be stricter still this year with increased numbers and wanting to emulate the Goodwood Revival.
It's worth taking a short sleeve linen shirt and lightweight trousers. If it's as hot as it was in 2006, you might appreciate the added protection from the sun.
Going again this year with about 20 TVRs from TVRCC SE London/NW Kent region . We are all travelling on Thursday morning....some on the 09.50 Eurotunnel train and the rest on Speedferries. Hope the bloody French fishermen don't go on strike again! The Eurotunnel lot will be fine though.

See you all there.

[Mark B]

unrepentant said:

Bobo W said:

Thankfully the pretentions over strict adherence to a dress code do not manifest themselves as they do at the Revival which is more the better with a much more relaxed attitude. A morning suit maybe a bit over the top but you wont be turned away in shorts and T-shirt either.

Is that definitely correct? I received my tickets today and they say no shorts, combats, flip flops etc.. and the covering letter from the company we have booked through suggests taking a tie! Will we be allowed into the paddock etc.. with shorts and T-Shirts or should we wear trousers and collars to be on the safe side? What about jeans?

I have been to each of the Classics, (with Bobo W) and all I can say is that we got in no problem in 2006 with shorts and Polo/Rugby style shirts. I am not sure what the result will be with T Shirts, but I don't see them trying to emulate the Revival, just ask people to dress smart/casual. I suppose it gives them a perfect (third party) reason to turn people away if they are not appropriately dressed/behaved.

All in all though, I really can't see it being that strict.

[benny.c]

We thought we'd enter into the spirit of things (for a few hours at least) so we are taking some 70's racing jackets ($10 on ebay.com), white trousers, and flat caps. Hopefully we'll look like a 70's race team and not just a group of tramps

[jiber]

polo/jean or trousers/boat shoes, it's good or not?

[shithotfast]

We will take a polo teeshirt, long lightweight trousers, heard its only the pits that are the issue? Just trying to keep it non-chav which I think is a good thing.

Loads of us going: TVR edge, ultima, Audi (fire up the) quarto, 2 x 911s, Lotus V8. Newhaven Thursday morning. Hope to see everyone down there.

[Skywalker]

sthotfast said:

Audi (fire up the) quarto

Don't you just hate it when that happens - and some smug git points it out?

[Obiwonkeyblokey]

benny.c said:

We thought we'd enter into the spirit of things (for a few hours at least) so we are taking some 70's racing jackets ($10 on ebay.com), white trousers, and flat caps. Hopefully we'll look like a 70's race team and not just a group of tramps

I say, im all for that it sounds great.

I will proably try to wear my gulf jacket ( not period though) and some trousers and shoes rather than trainers / sandals etc.

I like the idea of everyonemaking an effort.

http://www.lemansclassic.com/2008/UK/pdf/LMC_2008-...

[RichB]

Obiwonkeyblokey said:

benny.c said:

We thought we'd enter into the spirit of things (for a few hours at least) so we are taking some 70's racing jackets ($10 on ebay.com), white trousers, and flat caps. Hopefully we'll look like a 70's race team and not just a group of tramps

I say, I'm all for that it sounds great.

I will probably try to wear my gulf jacket ( not period though) and some trousers and shoes rather than trainers / sandals etc.

I like the idea of everyone making an effort.

http://www.lemansclassic.com/2008/UK/pdf/LMC_2008-...

Ditto, it's great that people make an effort to enter into the spirit of it! And no, it is not the least bit "pretentious" it's actually a bit of fun! Indeed on the Le Mans Classic web site there is a funny bit about dress code where they actually say that the British are better at making an effort than the French

I took some good pictures last year that, in black and white, have a real 60's feel to them, fortunately the people in the pictures simply had polo-shirts and chinos on and one French chap in a beret!

Obviously it's hotter than Chichester in September and there's a more casual feel about the place but for heavens sake it's not hard to stay away form the ripped jeans and F C UK T-shirts for one weekend is it

Edited by RichB on Friday 27th June 15:32

[lowdrag]

For the first time two years back our press indemnity we had to sign included a dress code of smart casual in the paddock. It hasn't appeared on any of the emails for this year yet but then again hardly any press members I saw respected it properly the last time. I surely didn't - it was too hot. Yes, they are trying to copy the Revival (Jeeps as taxis for instance) but the french won't stand for being told how to dress out of working time.

Security, on the other hand, is getting red hot and trying to bluff won't get you anywhere now. The bar code scanners are really operational and for example during the 24 hours I was wearing a media pass but had a marshal's pass on the car. I was on my way to pick up my passes to allow me inside of Mulsanne bend which you get to by a track not far from McDonalds on the Mulsanne) but they refused me entry until I phoned the chief marshal and he explained. Have a looki at each ticket - they have different codes for each type giving different rights. However, I had a paper pass which had instructions to staple it to my main pass; hard to do when the media pass is solid plastic! They still have a few things to sort out!

[Cotty]

Obiwonkeyblokey said:

I like the idea of everyone making an effort.

http://www.lemansclassic.com/2008/UK/pdf/LMC_2008-...

I like that idea as well. I really wanted to do the Goodwood revival with my ex. She was a nurse and was really into getting a period nurse uniform and me going in a forces uniform (army or navy), having an apporpiate car would have been the cherry on the cake.

Sometimes just tucking your shirt in can make a difference.

[Risky]

I'm making the effort. Can't say too much, but suitable period attire is being produced as we speak.

[Old Geezer]

Us too.

Just ordered a nice white flat cap from ebay!

White shirt and baggy trousers will keep you cooler than jeans and vest tops!

I have our tickets and they are marked up as not allowing the sort of scruffy beach clothes of the 24 Hr a couple of weeks ago.

My view is simple, if you can't be bothered to at least wear as a minimum a white short sleeve shirt, why are you going???

This is after all the real enthusiasts event.

Steve

[Zo-fo]

Old Geezer said:

if you can't be bothered to at least wear as a minimum a white short sleeve shirt, why are you going???

This is after all the real enthusiasts event.

Steve

To answer your question in all seriousness, as a real enthusiast I am going to watch the racing and enjoy the cars rather than to participate in some apparently Sebastian Flyte-inspired fancy dress fantasy.

[RichB]

Zo-fo said:

Old Geezer said:

if you can't be bothered to at least wear as a minimum a white short sleeve shirt, why are you going???

This is after all the real enthusiasts event.

Steve

To answer your question in all seriousness, as a real enthusiast I am going to watch the racing and enjoy the cars rather than to participate in some apparently Sebastian Flyte-inspired fancy dress fantasy.

I think there is a happy medium here, some of us also enjoy talking photo's of the cars and action and there is nothing worse than getting a shot of a DBR1 with someone dressed in a day-glow anorak and Ferrari baseball cap in the background. Loose shirts, polo's and shorts are fine but you do see some real chavs and I guess this is what the organisers are trying to discourage.

[john7]

Also ... two of us in a Caterham 7, camping, therefore no room for "fancy dress" although saying that we will try our best to wear something appropriate.

[FcukDieselRacing]

Smart polo shirt, smart shorts I reckon - It is the middle of France and it will be V hot!!!