Le Mans Tickets

[greggy50]

Hello

Just wondered does anyone know if these tickets for Le Mans are still available before I look at booking?

http://www.1st-tickets.co.uk/ph/enquiriesph.html

Never been before but thought might treat my Dad for his birthday

Thanks

[greggy50]

eybic said:

Hi,

I believe we do still have space, give 1st tickets a call and they will be able to confirm for you.

Nathan

Okay thanks will give them a ring this afternoon

Seen that AA will cover me for £69 for the trip is this a good price?

Planning on taking a 36year old MINI with a recently fitted engine by myself...

[greggy50]

Now all booked on Bleu Nord standard Pistonheads Area

Going on Thursday at 12:05 and return on Monday at 14:20

[greggy50]

Mellow Yellow said:

£69 is pretty expensive but there are not many options for cars of that age and with AA/RAC you should get a decent policy. If you do decide to go elsewhere, make sure you read the small print before you buy, things like replacement hire car and repatriation aren't alway included. Unfortunately none of these policies are geared towards weekend breaks, they also have some pretty draconian clauses. They choose the garage to take it to but you have to pay for the repair, you do not get to choose to have it repatriated. I suspect anything serious on a mini that old is not going to be repairable in the middle of France but I have heard horror stories of people fighting to get newish cars returned rather than let some backstreet French garage rebuild their engine.

In my own experience everything has worked smoothly, once I had an alternator repaired costing me £90 in total (It would have been about £3-400 UK for a replacement) and the second time (Serial TVR owner!) I had the pleasure of a Renault Megane for the weekend, my TVR was repatriated with me and started/ran perfectly the second the tyres hit British soil.

The cheapest way to get breakdown cover is packaged with your Classic Car insurance, most Classic insurers offer it as a low cost extra or even included it in the standard policy. I use rhclassicinsurance, policy includes European recovery and was around £250.

Okay thanks a lot for this useful information to have

My Dad has wanted to go for years so will be a great surprise for him (I hope) and as I am only started my graduate role about 6 months ago quite an expensive present for me so I hope he enjoys it!

What are peoples view on grandstand seats are they worth paying extra for? What areas would people recommend?

[greggy50]

Vette_1978 said:

Yep, have to agree with this but you may find it standard practice. I had an issue woth the Vette at the '08 Classic on the way down. Called RAC, they got it collected and taken to a garage, I got a courtesy car. They then told me it was going to Rouen for some new rear shocks, regardless of me telling them it wasn't a suspension issue. They said that if they can repair prior to you leaving AND it being cheaper than repatriating then they do this. In the end they took it to Corvette Kingdom in Norfolk as I requested and it turned out some U joints had gone. If you do breakdown then check the logistics of the courtesy car. I was on my way home passed Rouen when they called to ask me to return the car to Le Mans as they had no way of getting it from the Eurotunnel. In the end I abandoned the car in Lens outside their office but with no letterbox (honestly) I had to leave the keys with a rather confused Eurotunnel person and loaded the gear into the other Corvette.

Hmm interesting to be honest can see me taking my daily driver I think 1,000 miles may be a bit tough on the old girl especially when its been off the road for 8 months and just had a lot of new bits and different engine fitted worried about teething problems etc...

May go down the cheap thirsy stter route something like an old Jag if my Dad wants to play ball

[greggy50]

My Dad is 60 but still pretty active and a contracts manager so walking up and down ladders and round construction site as part of his job so he should be fine with a bit of walking.

I think I am going to leave grandstand seats for this year and maybe do that in the future depending if we enjoy it as I suspect many of the better seats will have sold now anyway!

Only choice now is what car to take... I really fancy taking my classic mini but don't think my Dad will be keen and 1,000 miles round trip may be tough on the old girl despite it being refreshed over the Winter.