RE: Join PistonHeads at the Le Mans Classic: 9-12 July
Wednesday 20th January 2010
Many PHers will be planning a trip to the Le Mans 24hrs, but this year also sees the return of the Biennial Le Mans Classic.
You are free to arrive at the circuit as you wish at the infield parking area. We offer refreshments from our hospitality marquee throughout the weekend, where you can join the PH team for a beverage or two, and for those that wish to do so there is the opportunity to drive two parade laps of the full 24 hour circuit on Saturday morning (see below for prices). Your tickets get you into the paddocks and you have a grandstand seat sitting opposite the pits.
Les Sittelles, Montfort-le-Gesnois - A modern hotel located in a quiet, wooded area and just 20 minutes drive from the track off the N23. Ample guest parking, bar and excellent restaurant are among the amenities. Opposite is a leisure centre with indoor swimming pool, sauna and Jacuzzi all open to hotel guests. Bedrooms are modern and spacious and all have private balcony.
La Crochardiere, Aigne - A traditional house in the heart of the countryside to the north west of the ring road and just thirty minutes to the track. There’s ample parking on the circular drive, and a very inviting swimming pool in the garden. The house is lovingly restored and you can take breakfast under the trees. Bedrooms are very comfortably furnished.
Join PistonHeads at the Le Mans Classic: 9-12 July
PH has teamed up with Grandstand Motor Sports to offer a truly classic package
This terrific event features a series of races over 24 hours, embracing cars that have competed at Le Mans from the very first race in 1923 right through to the late '70s. It offers a truly wonderful opportunity to relive the history of the Vingt Quatre Heures du Mans and for the first time you can join fellow PHers at ‘The Classic’ with our partners Grandstand Motor Sports.
The package is based on Dover to Calais sailings with P&O ferries and we offer a range of accommodation to suit your needs including camping at Maison Blanche, a comfortable hotel close to the circuit and a private house offering bed and breakfast. Also included is parking on the infield of the circuit for pre-1966 classic cars (and some more modern 'classics'), general entry, grandstand seats and paddock passes. At the infield parking area there is a Grandstand Motorsports hospitality area where refreshments will be offered throughout the weekend.
The programme – 3 or 4 nights
- Thursday 8th or Friday 9th July
Take the crossing of your choice from Dover to Calais and travel at your own pace to Le Mans. Check in to your chosen accommodation, your first engagement is at the circuit on Friday evening where there is a welcome dinner overlooking the circuit whilst practice takes place.
- Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th July
- Monday 12th July
Having checked out of your hotel/packed up your tent make your way back to Calais for your crossing back to the UK.
Accommodation
Camping - Maison Blanche 3 or 4 nights: £359 per person based on two people in a car bringing your own facilities.
3 nights: £559 per person based on two people in a car sharing a twin/double room
4 nights: £639 per person based on two people in a car sharing a twin/double room
4 nights: £769 per person based on two people in a car sharing a twin/double room
Parade laps of the circuit: £120 per car
To book, or for more information please contact 0845 375 0300 or email info@grandstandmotorsports.co.uk quoting PistonHeads
Discussion
B10BRW said:
Are these prices per person 
If you're a couple (or equivalent), it's effectively £720 for:-
- 1x ferry crossing (£50-80)
- 1x tent-pitch for 3 or 4 nights (assumed £20/pitch/night at worst, but +£70/PERSON/night for hotel)
- 2x weekend tickets w/ grandstand seats and paddock passes (<£200 by my calcs)
- "infield parking" (if that's worth anything...I included VIP parking in the £200)
...which suggests a profit-margin of maybe £400 per car/2-people!
Paul et.al. - I'm seriously considering doing the Classic this year...what else is there in this package that makes it worth my while booking this rather than doing it myself and saving the thick-end of £500?!? It's only taken me 10 minutes to find all the info I need on the web to sort it myself...
WAY OUT OF MY PRICE RANGE 
I guess the prices reflect the premium to be paid by going with an affiliated multi-marque club (of which there aren't that many) hence the package including options like track laps and in-field parking neither of which you can buy off the shelf. Should you have the chance to do the former they are great experiences not in a true track day way but for the laissez faire attitude to how demonstation laps should be interpretted.
Sorry chaps, I don't want PH to become elitist or out of reach as that isn't our intention.
This trip offers some great touches that you can't get elsewhere (OK, so having to dine with us lot actually devalues it slightly
) and offers a great way to enjoy a great event.
We realise that many will head to the classic under their own steam, but we sincerely hope that many of you will be able to join us at the Classic with Grandstand Motor Sport and even if not, then we'll see you there.
This trip offers some great touches that you can't get elsewhere (OK, so having to dine with us lot actually devalues it slightly
) and offers a great way to enjoy a great event.We realise that many will head to the classic under their own steam, but we sincerely hope that many of you will be able to join us at the Classic with Grandstand Motor Sport and even if not, then we'll see you there.
Bobo W said:
I guess the prices reflect the premium to be paid by going with an affiliated multi-marque club (of which there aren't that many) hence the package including options like track laps and in-field parking neither of which you can buy off the shelf. Should you have the chance to do the former they are great experiences not in a true track day way but for the laissez faire attitude to how demonstation laps should be interpretted.
OK, I'll bite:-1) What's so special about infield parking at LM? Honest question.
2) These laps (which cost you £60 each...in your own car!) - are they full-tilt laps, or are they 'follow-the-leader' parade laps as the car-clubs did (for free!) at last year's Silverstone Classic?!?
Garlick said:
Sorry chaps, I don't want PH to become elitist or out of reach as that isn't our intention.
Don't worry, PH has always had an elite, but hasn't been elitist overall Trips priced like this will sell, but they are far and away out of reach of most peoples view of what's a reasonable cost for a weekends camping, getting to park with some other sports cars, grandstand seat and a dinner. . .
Fair play though, it's a PH trip, it's just not what the average PH member in my experience would consider value for money when it can be done at an apparently lower cost.
I'm not sure I'd call it a laziness tax, but there is a debate about value of your own time 'v' getting someone else to do it.
I've not experienced the Classic yet, but it appears to me to be getting more and more like the Revival has, becoming more an 'event/function' rather than a motorsport event.
However, as I say, I've not been . . . Yet
What are these 'special' elements you hint at as part of this package that make the premium more paletable?
Johno said:
Fair play though, it's a PH trip, it's just not what the average PH member in my experience would consider value for money when it can be done at an apparently lower cost.
Isn't that the definition of 'elitist' though?!?I'd love to do this WITH PH. But I'm not f'n paying through the nose like this.
Sorry Paul, Stuart etc - IMHO this ISN'T the sort of thing that PH should be touting...it's out of budget for the majority of PH'ers, and will only get people's backs up (like mine!).
Vette_1978 said:
,,,,, although we are crossing via Caen overnight .....
What's the name od that Pub in Portsmouth, next to the Ferry loading area, where there are 3 pool tables ??Went to LeMans proper for 10 years and still can't remember the name of that bar (Hic !)
Have booked the same deal as Fubar for 2 night camping onsite with a picnic thrown in and the parade laps for 330 sovs
I appreciate that Grandstand normally organise good trips as I have done a couple of trips with them in Italy. I am not sure what they can add to the Classic though.
The marquee is by the in field parking so no track view? (unlike the ACO enclosure), the meal overlooking the track is probably available to anyone (around 100 euro IIRC but very nice). In field parking is only useful if you are not staying on the circuit. I am not sure what this offers over a DIY trip other than convenience.
At the end of the day both Grandstand and PH need to make something which is fair enough. The issue is that adding a margin to something you can arrange for yourself will inevitably make it look expensive. Still there is obviously a market for it and we can choose how we go. For me it the DIY route as that, to me, is part of what I enjoy about Le Mans (24 and Classic).
Keep an eye out for me with a silly grin on my face sitting by a bar in the paddock area on Saturday night watching the cars enter/ leave the track.
The marquee is by the in field parking so no track view? (unlike the ACO enclosure), the meal overlooking the track is probably available to anyone (around 100 euro IIRC but very nice). In field parking is only useful if you are not staying on the circuit. I am not sure what this offers over a DIY trip other than convenience.
At the end of the day both Grandstand and PH need to make something which is fair enough. The issue is that adding a margin to something you can arrange for yourself will inevitably make it look expensive. Still there is obviously a market for it and we can choose how we go. For me it the DIY route as that, to me, is part of what I enjoy about Le Mans (24 and Classic).
Keep an eye out for me with a silly grin on my face sitting by a bar in the paddock area on Saturday night watching the cars enter/ leave the track.
Mr.Cerbera said:
Vette_1978 said:
,,,,, although we are crossing via Caen overnight .....
What's the name od that Pub in Portsmouth, next to the Ferry loading area, where there are 3 pool tables ??Went to LeMans proper for 10 years and still can't remember the name of that bar (Hic !)
Have booked the same deal as Fubar for 2 night camping onsite with a picnic thrown in and the parade laps for 330 sovs
havoc said:
Bobo W said:
I guess the prices reflect the premium to be paid by going with an affiliated multi-marque club (of which there aren't that many) hence the package including options like track laps and in-field parking neither of which you can buy off the shelf. Should you have the chance to do the former they are great experiences not in a true track day way but for the laissez faire attitude to how demonstation laps should be interpretted.
OK, I'll bite:-1) What's so special about infield parking at LM? Honest question.
2) These laps (which cost you £60 each...in your own car!) - are they full-tilt laps, or are they 'follow-the-leader' parade laps as the car-clubs did (for free!) at last year's Silverstone Classic?!?
Only at Le Mans could the access to the infield parking be on the same route as all the racers have to take when on their way back to the pits, the multi-marque parking being on the grass run off areas around the bugatti circuit, so you get great access to the cars in a subtly different way than you would stationary in the paddock.
As to the track laps, don't be fooled into thinking it's like a track day but the French interpretation of 'follow the leader' is more like wacky races with no rules whatsoever. So if you want to press on then you'll be passing on either side and into corners, just don't stuff it. If however you would like a more sedate time then fine, just make sure you look in your mirrors. The added bonus of course is being able to drive the whole track which is quite a priviledge.
havoc said:
Bobo W said:
I guess the prices reflect the premium to be paid by going with an affiliated multi-marque club (of which there aren't that many) hence the package including options like track laps and in-field parking neither of which you can buy off the shelf. Should you have the chance to do the former they are great experiences not in a true track day way but for the laissez faire attitude to how demonstation laps should be interpretted.
OK, I'll bite:-1) What's so special about infield parking at LM? Honest question.
2) These laps (which cost you £60 each...in your own car!) - are they full-tilt laps, or are they 'follow-the-leader' parade laps as the car-clubs did (for free!) at last year's Silverstone Classic?!?
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