Le Mans - last minute with a 9 year-old....
Discussion
Been going to LM since 1996 and I've always slept in the car, along with my son (he's now 40+) when he comes with me. We always travel to France on Friday, stay in a hotel some distance from LM Friday and Sunday nights, travel home Monday, so we sleep in the car at the circuit on Saturday night. I've always pre booked a reserved space in Parking Blanc which is a short walk to one of the circuit entrances.
The circuit facilities are much improved now so not really a problem, but if you become a member of the ACO you do get access to the best shows and loos at the circuit.
R
The circuit facilities are much improved now so not really a problem, but if you become a member of the ACO you do get access to the best shows and loos at the circuit.
R
When I used to camp at Santa Pod I sometimes set up a dome tent in my estate car by putting 2 of the pole ends into the rear footwells so the height was lower. It meant my duvet kept dry no matter how much it rained. If I got warm I could open a window for ventilation or more importantly shut it if it was cold and with Le Mans car parks you wouldn't get complaints for pitching in car park or more importantly ran over! 
I don't have an estate and a saloon with reclining seats works fine for two. I take a duvet each as well as they're needed if it's cold. Another useful thing is one of those windscreen sun shades you sometimes see on the continent in parked cars because if parked in Parking Blanc at Le Mans you tend to be parked facing directly east and so sun up (early) is really bright when you want to be asleep. Son and I typically watch the racing until around 1:00 am and sleep until at least 6:00 then it's back for more racing. Early morning racing is in our view the best time to be in a tribune, watching track activity, listening to RLM, downing a few 1664s, taking in the sun etc, and knowing there's still another 9 hours or so to go.
R.
R.
The Leaper said:
Been going to LM since 1996 and I've always slept in the car, along with my son (he's now 40+) when he comes with me......
Sharing a car for one night with a 20 year old is one thing, I'm just saying that the OP should think about the practicality of doing that with a 9 year old. Personally, I'd wait until next year and plan some proper camping facilities so it doesn't put him off for good.Taking my own soon to be 9 and 7 year old sons with me for their first LM this year too (my 10th). As usual we're staying in a cheap B&B hotel. We usually stay in Alencon or Tours as the drive to and from the hotel along the old N138 is part of the experience (for us). One of my fondest memories of LM is driving from Tours to LM early Saturday morning in 2005 in a heatwave en route to do the parade laps, passing an elderly couple in a prewar Lagonda, her scarf blowing in the wind. Magic.
Camping and driving is the way to go with a 9 year old..... This will be my lad's 4th year and he's 10 in October.
Planning is the key, it's never too late - check beermountain.com, ebay and here for a spare camping ticket, they will be fairly easy to find. Once your set up in camp, you don't need to move the car until Sunday evening/Monday morning.
Generally speaking, the younger the child, the closer to the village complex you will need to be as the furthest camp sites are a fair walk, even for an adult - especially when you need to march back a couple of times a day for rest/snooze/play time.
Mapping out the journey is pretty straightforward, just make sure you have the basics covered as regards breakdown cover, travel insurance, EHIC cards
and some decent camping/barbeque kit. What you forget or don't have, you can get while there at Carrefour. Its customary to get the shopping in on the way to the circuit here also.
So with a bit of planning, once you have the camping ticket it will work out fine, its nothing to be wary of tackling and its not too late, unless you fail to get hold of a decent camp ticket.
Planning is the key, it's never too late - check beermountain.com, ebay and here for a spare camping ticket, they will be fairly easy to find. Once your set up in camp, you don't need to move the car until Sunday evening/Monday morning.
Generally speaking, the younger the child, the closer to the village complex you will need to be as the furthest camp sites are a fair walk, even for an adult - especially when you need to march back a couple of times a day for rest/snooze/play time.
Mapping out the journey is pretty straightforward, just make sure you have the basics covered as regards breakdown cover, travel insurance, EHIC cards
and some decent camping/barbeque kit. What you forget or don't have, you can get while there at Carrefour. Its customary to get the shopping in on the way to the circuit here also.
So with a bit of planning, once you have the camping ticket it will work out fine, its nothing to be wary of tackling and its not too late, unless you fail to get hold of a decent camp ticket.
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