Le Mans - I'm over it now!
Discussion
After 6 visits (every other year since 2006) I think that's it for me.
I think Le Mans means different things to different people and for me it was about driving down in something interesting, watching some of the racing and having a few beers/BBQ. I've sort of got to the point where there is becoming too much crap to contend with......
1) Searching cars at the campsite for something! What is that all about? Do they really expect us to camp in a crappy field for four days and drink diet Coke. I managed to confuse the security and get him to check the rear hatch on my Cayman only so he didn't see the 50 cans in the front, but at what point will the ACO finally say 'non' and actually take all drink and finally kill the event for good?
2) Weather/travel. Houx was like a bog in many places. Set up camp in the rain and dismantled in the rain. Not anyone's fault I know, but just a fact. The drive back was horrendous with poor visibility and long delays at the Rouen tunnel where the 3 workers appeared to be doing nothing apart from causing a 5 mile traffic jam!
3) Issues at port(s). Over an hour queue at Dover at 5.45am, due to French passport control taking the pi** (in the words of the P&O check-in lady). Major issues at Calais, with lumps of bricks and concrete being thrown at our car and 2 other Porkers in front by the frendly migrants who I'd love to welcome in to the UK! I felt sorry for the guy in the black Corvette that got hit with a lump of concrete in the rear quarter panel.
Le Mans for me has never been about going down in a van in a big group of lads and I suspect those that do will still continue for as long as the alcohol is able to get through, but it's sort of becoming a bit too much like hard work and although all the French staff seem very friendly I do wonder if the ACO or French authorities really want us there or understand what the event really means for the Brits, Dutch, Danes and many other people who visit more on a social basis that just to see a motorsport event!
I think Le Mans means different things to different people and for me it was about driving down in something interesting, watching some of the racing and having a few beers/BBQ. I've sort of got to the point where there is becoming too much crap to contend with......
1) Searching cars at the campsite for something! What is that all about? Do they really expect us to camp in a crappy field for four days and drink diet Coke. I managed to confuse the security and get him to check the rear hatch on my Cayman only so he didn't see the 50 cans in the front, but at what point will the ACO finally say 'non' and actually take all drink and finally kill the event for good?
2) Weather/travel. Houx was like a bog in many places. Set up camp in the rain and dismantled in the rain. Not anyone's fault I know, but just a fact. The drive back was horrendous with poor visibility and long delays at the Rouen tunnel where the 3 workers appeared to be doing nothing apart from causing a 5 mile traffic jam!
3) Issues at port(s). Over an hour queue at Dover at 5.45am, due to French passport control taking the pi** (in the words of the P&O check-in lady). Major issues at Calais, with lumps of bricks and concrete being thrown at our car and 2 other Porkers in front by the frendly migrants who I'd love to welcome in to the UK! I felt sorry for the guy in the black Corvette that got hit with a lump of concrete in the rear quarter panel.
Le Mans for me has never been about going down in a van in a big group of lads and I suspect those that do will still continue for as long as the alcohol is able to get through, but it's sort of becoming a bit too much like hard work and although all the French staff seem very friendly I do wonder if the ACO or French authorities really want us there or understand what the event really means for the Brits, Dutch, Danes and many other people who visit more on a social basis that just to see a motorsport event!
We have stayed in Houx every time we have been and never had any major issues. We had great people around us this year, unlike 2014 when the pot smoking di**heads behind us insisted on playing loud music until 5.00am and seemed to quote 'The Le Mans spirit' quite a lot which seemed to cover everything they wanted to do and nothing that others might want out of the experience.
I think this year there was a 'perfect storm' of issues to contend with, some man made and others not, but I do genuinely fear for the event and wonder if the ACO envisage a more sanitised event in the not so distant future. I could be wrong (I hope I am)
We are off to Spa next year, so I'll be interested to see any feedback regarding possible booze confiscating issues and general problems, before considering booking in the future.
Either way I'm now planning to avoid Calais where other options exist!
I think this year there was a 'perfect storm' of issues to contend with, some man made and others not, but I do genuinely fear for the event and wonder if the ACO envisage a more sanitised event in the not so distant future. I could be wrong (I hope I am)
We are off to Spa next year, so I'll be interested to see any feedback regarding possible booze confiscating issues and general problems, before considering booking in the future.
Either way I'm now planning to avoid Calais where other options exist!
C70R said:
So you're essentially having a strop because the weather was bad and you queued for the ferry?
A different route (Dunkirk if you're on a budget) and an off-circuit campsite would cure 99% of the sand in your crevice.
I think you are missing the point slightly......the issues at Calais were unpleasant at best.A different route (Dunkirk if you're on a budget) and an off-circuit campsite would cure 99% of the sand in your crevice.
Houx in itself is fine. That's not my issue. I was merely pointing out that 'for me' maybe the benefits/enjoyement are starting to get outweighed by the hassles.
Each to his own and as I said in my original post, many people will continue to get enough from the experience to justify going, at least as long as the no booze rule is not enforced with any degree of consistency!
C70R said:
Definitely not missing the point.
I spent an hour right in the middle of a pitched battle between riot police and Sangatte 'residents', tear gas and all. We swerved around debris in the road and watched young men attacking lorries.
It's just that I'm not enough of a queen to let it ruin my whole trip.
It may be worth you going back to my original post and reading it again....or reading it in the first place....or even reading it properly!I spent an hour right in the middle of a pitched battle between riot police and Sangatte 'residents', tear gas and all. We swerved around debris in the road and watched young men attacking lorries.
It's just that I'm not enough of a queen to let it ruin my whole trip.
I gave numerous reasons why 'for me' I may not come back. You are entitled to have your own reasons for going. It's called having an opinion.
I'm surprised you were not out of your car (assuming you were in your own car, which I doubt) and helping the French police calm things down!!
Your final comment sums you up, where you associate my dislike of a bad situation with me being gay, assuming that's what you mean with your homophobic 'queen' reference.
It's a shame you couldn't post something worthwhile like all the others that responded.
C70R said:
If you haven't got a decent point to make, resort to playing the man (rather than the ball).
You sound like one of life's moaners, for whom nothing will ever be quite good enough or as good as "it used to be".
If you want to dodge the point of your whiny attitude by assuming that me calling you a "queen" is homophobic, that's fine. But it's not.
I think I made quite a view valid points that many posters have agreed with or at the least have suggested alternative ideas without resorting to name calling.You sound like one of life's moaners, for whom nothing will ever be quite good enough or as good as "it used to be".
If you want to dodge the point of your whiny attitude by assuming that me calling you a "queen" is homophobic, that's fine. But it's not.
I suspect you are only ok for people to have an opinion as long as it's the same as yours!
Also you must be a bit of a dinosaur if you still think it's ok to refer to someone as a queen, but heyho, happy days and all that. I'm sure there will be another poster along shortly that you can disagree with, although you may want to moderate the name calling slightly!!
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