Le Mans must do's?
Discussion
Hi all
I gave been to LM countless times but never done the Drivers Parade or Great British Welcome.
Am I seriously missing out? Going with my dad this year and fear this may be his last time at the 24 so thought we'd do the things we have missed.
The main reason for not having done them before is the time involved (queuing in traffic) and town being super busy and just taking an age to get food and drink.
Is it really worth going to either or both?
Cheers
Ben
P.s getting pretty bloody excited now!
I gave been to LM countless times but never done the Drivers Parade or Great British Welcome.
Am I seriously missing out? Going with my dad this year and fear this may be his last time at the 24 so thought we'd do the things we have missed.
The main reason for not having done them before is the time involved (queuing in traffic) and town being super busy and just taking an age to get food and drink.
Is it really worth going to either or both?
Cheers
Ben
P.s getting pretty bloody excited now!
The Great British Welcome is a must do and usually quite sedate so eminently suitable for the "older gentleman" (me included)
As far as the Drivers Parade is concerned it is a nightmare (of French children who you would think have been eating raw sugar washed down with a fizzy drink all day), completely manic and for me unbearable now. It is however a good time to be in the town if you stay a bit away from the parade route and have booked a restaurant well in advance.
Bob
As far as the Drivers Parade is concerned it is a nightmare (of French children who you would think have been eating raw sugar washed down with a fizzy drink all day), completely manic and for me unbearable now. It is however a good time to be in the town if you stay a bit away from the parade route and have booked a restaurant well in advance.
Bob
I really like the drivers parade and while the Republique square does get rammed there are plenty of spots that are a lot quieter.
You say this may be the old man's last 24hrs so assuming he's not the spring chicken he once was so won't want to be standing for hours. If that's the case look at going in early. Grab some lunch then wander the route looking for somewhere with seats and park yourself for the duration while someone brings you beer.
We've never really had problems finding a restaurant post-parade, especially if it's just the 2 of you. Try the little warren of streets to the North of Place de l'Eperon / Rue de la Galere.
You say this may be the old man's last 24hrs so assuming he's not the spring chicken he once was so won't want to be standing for hours. If that's the case look at going in early. Grab some lunch then wander the route looking for somewhere with seats and park yourself for the duration while someone brings you beer.
We've never really had problems finding a restaurant post-parade, especially if it's just the 2 of you. Try the little warren of streets to the North of Place de l'Eperon / Rue de la Galere.
The one thing you must do is the Mulsanne straight at night. Its one of the most amazing things Ive ever done. The sound and feeling of the cars going past especially when there's a group of Corvettes is unbelieveable.
Here's a video we did in 2008 of it - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wM7k6rksf8
Here's a video we did in 2008 of it - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wM7k6rksf8
I've done it, don't know about you but it puts the hairs up on the back of your neck, the Arnco barriers resonate with the vibration from the engines, I was further down the track than you near the Golf Course, had to run Black opps through the forest with the biggest mosquitos I had ever seen! Worth it though 
Take insect replant
Take insect replant fatboy18 said:
I've done it, don't know about you but it puts the hairs up on the back of your neck, the Arnco barriers resonate with the vibration from the engines, I was further down the track than you near the Golf Course, had to run Black opps through the forest with the biggest mosquitos I had ever seen! Worth it though Take insect replant
Yeah its a spine tingling experience. Getting chased by Les Gendarmes with dogs was a fun one too. Take insect replant 
FartKong said:
The one thing you must do is the Mulsanne straight at night. Its one of the most amazing things Ive ever done. The sound and feeling of the cars going past especially when there's a group of Corvettes is unbelieveable.
Regret not making the effort to do this in 2009, so this year going to have a go.Can't rate sneaking around the circuit highly enough (if you dont get lost) Mulsanne at night is unbelievable, you won't know until you're there. A bit easier to get to (less marshalls) and similar thrill is trackside between arnage and the Porsche curves - they're going a fair lick past you there as well! Other must do's? Setting fire to anything you can find on the Sunday night!?
Don't rule out the town for the Parade. The organisers put in a lot of effort and there are plenty of places to view, especially if you don't want to be kerbside.
Enterprising locals bring trays of beer round so you don't have to miss anything. You will never see a greater variety of supercars in one place than on the Parade.
GBW is fun too, especially if you have an interesting car. Driving through a parting tunnel of camera wielding people can be a bit un-nerving and embarrassing but the show is worth it.
Something to remember is that you are helping to make the event for others. There would be a very small show without our cars.
Paul
Enterprising locals bring trays of beer round so you don't have to miss anything. You will never see a greater variety of supercars in one place than on the Parade.
GBW is fun too, especially if you have an interesting car. Driving through a parting tunnel of camera wielding people can be a bit un-nerving and embarrassing but the show is worth it.
Something to remember is that you are helping to make the event for others. There would be a very small show without our cars.
Paul
gman2207 said:
I WILL be participating in a bit of black ops action this year, i've been wanting to for the past two years but it's a trek from Bleu Nord. This year we are much more suitably located in Houx Annexe.
Ok as a Le Mans newbie this year, me and 2 mates, all young, "fit", students, undoubtedly intoxicated... please do explain the black ops approach to Le Mans. Sounds like fun!Jmorgan93 said:
gman2207 said:
I WILL be participating in a bit of black ops action this year, i've been wanting to for the past two years but it's a trek from Bleu Nord. This year we are much more suitably located in Houx Annexe.
Ok as a Le Mans newbie this year, me and 2 mates, all young, "fit", students, undoubtedly intoxicated... please do explain the black ops approach to Le Mans. Sounds like fun!The noise is amazing, the Anco barriers resonate with the noise from the cars. However some words of caution. If it goes wrong, your on your own out there! Do not use camera phones with the flash on, if a driver sees a camera flash at nearly 200mph in a place where there are no public, the consequences could be dire! a split second of loss of concentration could result in death, motor racing is dangerous. The woods have regular police patrols and Marshal camps, they know people will try to get trackside. Just when you think you are in the middle of nowhere chances are you will come across a couple of marshals that will not be pleased to see you!
I've done it once, that was enough for me, took me over an hour sneaking around Got bittern to death but Oh Boy what a noise.
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