At the circuit yesterday

[dredgey]

So I was at the circuit yesterday and I could hear some practicing going on. Didn't sound like bikes but was obviously on the Bugatti circuit, any thoughts on what it may have been?

Also I noticed that in spite of the new logo (which I'm not a fan of), all the banners etc are still showing the 'proper' logo!

Did a quick drive of the circuit and campsites just for fun, very strange seeing it empty as a ghost town, but has now got me fully excited for the trip next month!

[fatboy18]

Pics? So you did not get out of your car or walk across to the Circuit to see what was going on? How come you were there then?

Edited by fatboy18 on Saturday 10th May 09:07

[dredgey]

Sorry no pics, was a quick driving tour as I was driving up from my parents house who live a few hours south. Just wanted to take a pre-look en route to the ferry and to show my wife and son a little bit of where I go each year. Kicking myself for not stopping for a quick few snaps now, grassy banks at mulsanne, arnage and Porsche curves very long and slightly unrecognisable. houx had several large piles of broken wooden pallets piled up ready for bonfires? Trere rouge bar firmly shut.

Edited by dredgey on Saturday 10th May 09:16

[fatboy18]

No Worries, If you had gone down to the M&M stadium by Tet Rouge you would have been able to see what was going around the Bugatti Circuit

[leyorkie]

The pallets are for the motorbikers next weekend. They do like a campfire.

[lowdrag]

A bit unfair that. This weekend id the bike GP and they are a far better bunch than those that come for the 24 hour race. The trademark of the 24 hour event, until the police put a stop to it, was waving chainsaws in the air and bringing any old wreck, jamming the throttle wide open and taking bets as to how long before it seized/exploded. By comparison this weekend is a paradise. I've already loads of poster for it and for the 24 hour race in June. Nice posters this year too.

[Output Flange]

How busy does it tend to get in LM for the bikes? I'm passing through on Saturday. I have no interest in bike racing, but will the town be clogged up with leather-clad drunkards?

[rdjohn]

Probably not, they will be camping at the circuit.

Beware of speed traps in the vicinity though, Autoroutes, Route National and local roads. I have only been breathalised here once; that was 10.30am on the Sunday morning of the MotoGP, on an RN road just north of Le Mans.

[leyorkie]

The town is nothing like as busy as it is during the 24 hours.
The motorways are full of motorbikes especially after the race, the locals will assemble at any main junction or roundabout to watch them all pass. It's what passes as Sunday afternoon entertainment round here as of course the shops are shut.
Lowdrag may know, but is the sale of alcohol restricted during the bike events in the Le Mans city area?

[lowdrag]

From Friday opening until Monday the sale of beer is banned by prefectoral decree in all supermarkets within a given distance of the circuit. You'll have to go to Ecommoy, Moncé en Belin or Parigné l'Eveque to buy bottles of beer, and there is a restriction on taking it into the camping sites. Furthermore, be very careful out there; three more deaths this week in the Sarthe has led to a statement from the "Chief Constable" that there will be far more police out and about all year round doing speed checks and alcohol tests so that the death rate on the road can be reduced.