Le Mans 2016 Eurotunnel Convoy
Discussion
Anyone interested in driving down to Le Mans in a group next year?
I know it’s a long way off, but as people start booking the Eurotunnel for 2016, I thought I’d start a thread.
Date : Thursday 16th June, 2016
Start Point : A16 Shell Services just before Abbeyville and the junction with A28 to Rouen.
Departure Time : 10:00am (local time)
Arrival Time at Le Mans : Approximately 4:00pm (allowing for stops)
The services are located 60miles south of Calais on the A16, so will take you around 1 hour from disembarking the train. Shell V-Power is available here for refuelling. We’ll depart at 10:00am, initially using the Autoroute for 40 miles. We’ll then turn off and from here we’ll be using mostly rural, cross-country D roads for the remaining 160 miles to Le Mans. The route will be free of gendarmerie, tolls and traffic.
Speed limits on the Autoroute and all roads where limits are in place will be strictly adhered to, particularly through the many sleepy villages we’ll encounter. The pace WILL be quick on NSL roads which are often narrow and occasionally quite bumpy.
Maps, routes, written directions and rules will be provided nearer the time and if I can suss out how to create satnav files, these will be provided too. The journey will be broken up to allow for a lunch stop and loo breaks.
If you think you might be interested in joining us, please say so on this thread so I get an idea of numbers.
Further details will follow.
I know it’s a long way off, but as people start booking the Eurotunnel for 2016, I thought I’d start a thread.
Date : Thursday 16th June, 2016
Start Point : A16 Shell Services just before Abbeyville and the junction with A28 to Rouen.
Departure Time : 10:00am (local time)
Arrival Time at Le Mans : Approximately 4:00pm (allowing for stops)
The services are located 60miles south of Calais on the A16, so will take you around 1 hour from disembarking the train. Shell V-Power is available here for refuelling. We’ll depart at 10:00am, initially using the Autoroute for 40 miles. We’ll then turn off and from here we’ll be using mostly rural, cross-country D roads for the remaining 160 miles to Le Mans. The route will be free of gendarmerie, tolls and traffic.
Speed limits on the Autoroute and all roads where limits are in place will be strictly adhered to, particularly through the many sleepy villages we’ll encounter. The pace WILL be quick on NSL roads which are often narrow and occasionally quite bumpy.
Maps, routes, written directions and rules will be provided nearer the time and if I can suss out how to create satnav files, these will be provided too. The journey will be broken up to allow for a lunch stop and loo breaks.
If you think you might be interested in joining us, please say so on this thread so I get an idea of numbers.
Further details will follow.
Dblue said:
Miner49er said:
^^ Yep, everything //j17 just said.
Here's a taster (minus the leaves and damp patches):
Thats a vinyard. Not too many of them between the channel and Le Mans. Here's a taster (minus the leaves and damp patches):
For those who are interested, along with the leaves and damp patches, ignore the roadside fruit too.
davidd said:
We do that sort of thing most year, do not believe for one moment that the police will not be there..
I've been stopped twice in the last 4 years on very out of the way roads...
I'm really surprised. We change our route slightly every year and once off the Autoroute we never seen any police at all. We very rarely see another car!I've been stopped twice in the last 4 years on very out of the way roads...
‘Tanks’ for the feedback chaps , I’ll take a look at Tyretotravel – I’ve not come across that site before.
To clarify, Calais to Le Mans will be 260 miles total; broken down as follows:
- Calais to the meeting point is 60 miles of Autoroute.
- The meeting point to Le Mans will be 40 miles on the Autoroute, followed by 160 miles of rural D Roads.
To clarify, Calais to Le Mans will be 260 miles total; broken down as follows:
- Calais to the meeting point is 60 miles of Autoroute.
- The meeting point to Le Mans will be 40 miles on the Autoroute, followed by 160 miles of rural D Roads.
kel176506 said:
Just out of interest what Eurortunnel crossing time would you need to get if departure time is 10:00am (local time)?
How long do you estimate the route from the meeting point will take?
In order to make it to the meet point for the 10:00am departure, the last crossing I'd suggest would be the 7:36am (UK time) which arrives in Calais at 9:11am (local time).How long do you estimate the route from the meeting point will take?
Total driving time thereafter will be around 3.5 hours. I've allowed a generous 2.5 hours for breaks and a lunch stop, which in reality, will probably be less.
matboyslim said:
This sounds much like the route I normally do, due to it from Rouen not being policed at all down the old N138 to Le Mans.
I would be very much up for doing this as I saw three cars from Rouen to Le Mans!
No, we won’t be using the old N138/D438.I would be very much up for doing this as I saw three cars from Rouen to Le Mans!
We tried it years ago and found it clogged up with slow moving local traffic. Overtaking was always risky unless you had an alert passenger and trying to keep a group of cars together proved difficult. Perhaps we were unlucky on this occasion or maybe you travel down the weekend before?
The route I’ve planned for next year will be mostly traffic-free.
matboyslim said:
Would be interested in a route map of proposed route for next year!
McSwerve II said:
I appreciate you wouldn’t want to advertise the final route for obvious reasons, but maybe nearer the time we could swear a vow of secrecy and do the funny hand shake at a Sunday Service.
Ha! You're right - I'm keeping next year's route close to my chest!I'll have the route we used for the last race somewhere though, so if I can lay my hands on them, I'll PM them to you. Much of it was pretty narrow with lots of blind corners, so if you've got anything wider than normal, it might not be suitable.
tomm783 said:
I'm on a 6.25 crossing on Thursday so should be able to get there in good time after a stop at a hyper market to stock up on supplies. Driving down in a Golf R with a friend and as its our first Le Mans, it would be fantastic to start the experience off on the right foot. I'll check with my partner in crime but sounds like a fantastic way to enjoy the drive rather than a long, boring drive!
Our last stop before arriving at the campsite will be Carrefour in Le Mans, so if you didn't fancy driving all the way down with the extra weight or listening to the clinking of bottles, just follow us and stock up then. We've another Golf R in the group too.Ash1751 said:
Also on an early morning ferry so should be able to make it. First time going to Le Mans and going by myself so might as well join up!
It'll be a great start to your first (of many) trips.
Get your names down now Potatoes said:
My first time as well and looking forward to the convoy down!
ETA: I've just booked onto Speed Chills - Beausejour. My passenger and I will meet you folks at the meeting point just outside Abbeyville. We'll be driving across from Luxembourg to join the convoy, a bit of a detour I know, but... convoy!!
My car has a 32 litre fuel tank so, knowing this part of the world fuel stations are few and far between which means I'll probably have to stop at every fuel station we pass by.
Surely you’re not driving all the way from Luxembourg in the morning are you?!ETA: I've just booked onto Speed Chills - Beausejour. My passenger and I will meet you folks at the meeting point just outside Abbeyville. We'll be driving across from Luxembourg to join the convoy, a bit of a detour I know, but... convoy!!
My car has a 32 litre fuel tank so, knowing this part of the world fuel stations are few and far between which means I'll probably have to stop at every fuel station we pass by.
Edited by Potatoes on Monday 7th March 17:07
Regarding fuel, I think you’ll be fine…
The meeting Point has Shell V-Power.
It’s then 130 miles to the lunch-stop where 98RON is available.
Then 100 miles to Le Mans.
Potatoes said:
Update: I'm on my own now but still doing the drive, my passenger, TDutchy (hasn't posted in a while) is taking his own car so will get on the tunnel and meet us all at Abbeville at 10am
That’s a lot of driving for you then!My 20yo son has noticed you’ve a very nice looking VX220, and says he’s willing to share the driving with you?
He’ll have lots of good stories to tell you too – particularly the one where he launched his first car off the road at 60mph and rolled it five times.
Hope that helps…
With less than 3 months to go, it’s time to start a list which will also give me some idea of numbers.
Please add your username to the list by copying & pasting it into a new reply. If you’re a ‘maybe’ please say so.
Those definitely attending, PM me your email address and I’ll keep you updated with further developments, however itinerary and routes won't be issued until nearer the time.
This seems to be the provisional list so far…
Srlister – E93 M3
Lewisco – V8V
Tomm783 – Golf R
Ash1751 – Clio 182
Potatoes – VX220
TDutchy – Z4
Jonb – V12V Roadster (maybe)
Please add your username to the list by copying & pasting it into a new reply. If you’re a ‘maybe’ please say so.
Those definitely attending, PM me your email address and I’ll keep you updated with further developments, however itinerary and routes won't be issued until nearer the time.
This seems to be the provisional list so far…
Srlister – E93 M3
Lewisco – V8V
Tomm783 – Golf R
Ash1751 – Clio 182
Potatoes – VX220
TDutchy – Z4
Jonb – V12V Roadster (maybe)
Edited by Miner49er on Monday 21st March 13:27
SL320 George said:
What route would best for seeing all the faster ones on the Thursday? Thanks.
As mentioned above, if you’re sticking to the Autoroutes, you’ll see lots.The Steve said:
We have a mini convoy heading down (from Eurotunnel) mid Thursday morning. 1 x Stingray, 1 x GBS Zero & 1 x Exige. Anyone wishing to join us or we can tag on along with please let us know.
Links181 said:
We are a possibility dependant on speaking to one driver and also tunnel times which I'm not too sure on currently.
You’re very welcome to join us. Once you know for sure, just remove “(maybe)”, PM me with an email address and I’ll be in touch.The list as it stands:
Srlister – E93 M3
Tomm783 – Golf R
Potatoes – VX220
TDutchy – Z4 (maybe)
Ash1751 – Clio 182 (maybe)
Lewisco – V8V (maybe)
Jonb – V12V Roadster (maybe)
RobVX - Lotus Evora S (maybe)
The Steve – Stingray, GBS Zero, Exige (maybe)
Links181 - Gallardo, DB9, Merc SL (maybe)
Gassing Station | Le Mans | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff