Le Mans for the day...with young kids?
Discussion
Hi all. I happen to be in France on holiday not too far from the Le Mans ("fancy that, eh the wife?" 
), and given I have a 10 month old and a 3 year old I was wondering if it was worth seeing a bit of the race? I'm thinking Saturday would be best. Not intending camping, but I've always wanted to go and it seems a shame to miss out. My eldest is nuts about cars, and with ear defenders etc, I'm kind of thinking it would be worth it? I have a back pack carrier that still fits my son and my wife can carry my youngest. I know it's a pretty drunken affair towards the end of the day, but I'm thinking it would be pretty civilised in the day...
Was thinking of parking in the yellow car park - assuming you can walk to the village etc?
), and given I have a 10 month old and a 3 year old I was wondering if it was worth seeing a bit of the race? I'm thinking Saturday would be best. Not intending camping, but I've always wanted to go and it seems a shame to miss out. My eldest is nuts about cars, and with ear defenders etc, I'm kind of thinking it would be worth it? I have a back pack carrier that still fits my son and my wife can carry my youngest. I know it's a pretty drunken affair towards the end of the day, but I'm thinking it would be pretty civilised in the day... Was thinking of parking in the yellow car park - assuming you can walk to the village etc?
All the car parks are walking distance, and often closer then the campsites!!! Never figured why!
Make sure you have ear defenders for the kids, I would suggests ear plugs and defenders for the little one.
It can be very busy on race day so get in very early or plan to use the tram and park away (I have never tried this)
Food on circuit is not great and they don't really cater for kids, take some food you know they will eat.
Make sure you have good footwear if you are carrying children, the ground is often un even and hard going.
I don't doubt you will have fun.
Make sure you have ear defenders for the kids, I would suggests ear plugs and defenders for the little one.
It can be very busy on race day so get in very early or plan to use the tram and park away (I have never tried this)
Food on circuit is not great and they don't really cater for kids, take some food you know they will eat.
Make sure you have good footwear if you are carrying children, the ground is often un even and hard going.
I don't doubt you will have fun.
Took my 5 year old and 1 year old for the week in 2009. It was fine although we had a motorhome to go back to when we wanted a break. If it ends up being a hot one you might want to think about where you'll head to avoid the heat as there's hardly any shade available apart from the ticket only grandstands. Same goes if it's bucketing it down. Don't let that put you off just probably best to plan for whatever weather is thrown at us!
If you're only going for a short while I think you'll have a more enjoyable experience if you stick to the Mulsanne and Arnage/Indianapolis viewing areas. The road network for access is very busy but you'll be closer to the cars with fewer people than if you go for the stereotype Le Mans experience of the main grandstand areas at the start/ finish ( and you'll have less walking overall I would expect).
Having taken my little boy at 6 months and 18 months (sadly not taking him this year), my two penneth...
You will be fine on raceday taking them in. With a three year old being so mobile obvious things like the size of the crowds need considering. If you are intent on going on raceday, it'd be a fairly pricey option but I would seriously consider joining the ACO and using the village by the Dunlop bridge. With littluns it's really handy having somewhere covered for rain/shade (delete as applicable but we all know the reality!), plus there's screens, food and beer/wine/champagne (selling point to the wife...). You also have 'private' viewing over the track so a little less busy other than at the start/finish.
If you are there on holiday without a specific intention to go to the race in a big way (i.e. my trip avec famille is that we are having a holiday around the Le Mans weekend and not a 'happy coincedence that it's on') my approach would be this:
You will be fine on raceday taking them in. With a three year old being so mobile obvious things like the size of the crowds need considering. If you are intent on going on raceday, it'd be a fairly pricey option but I would seriously consider joining the ACO and using the village by the Dunlop bridge. With littluns it's really handy having somewhere covered for rain/shade (delete as applicable but we all know the reality!), plus there's screens, food and beer/wine/champagne (selling point to the wife...). You also have 'private' viewing over the track so a little less busy other than at the start/finish.
If you are there on holiday without a specific intention to go to the race in a big way (i.e. my trip avec famille is that we are having a holiday around the Le Mans weekend and not a 'happy coincedence that it's on') my approach would be this:
- Go to the track Thursday AM and buy tickets for the day - although not officially pit walk day, you should (have always in the past) get in there and be able to get up close to the cars
- Have a wander around the village
- Head in to Le Mans itself for lunch - if you want to go the whole hog go to the Le Mans Légend Café
- Trundle back to the track for afternoon practise/quali
- Go to Arnage for dinner and soak up some more atmosphere
- Back to the track for evening practise/quali at Arnage/Mulsanne before heading home
As others have said just going to a practice/qualifying session would be a good idea. If that doesn't match the schedule or you actually want to see some of the race proper then I'd suggest Sunday morning.
Lots of people, both campers and locals just come for a few hours at the start and end of the race so Sunday morning the roads and village are a lot quieter and easier to keep track of rugrats/show them more than a sea of legs.
Lots of people, both campers and locals just come for a few hours at the start and end of the race so Sunday morning the roads and village are a lot quieter and easier to keep track of rugrats/show them more than a sea of legs.
Thanks for all the helpful replies chaps.
Unfortunately, we arrive in France on the Thursday at 1PM, so it really is only Saturday or Sunday for us.
From your comments, it's starting to look like we should get their early on Sunday morning. It's a two hour drive, so we could be there for 9ish and then could leave around 1PM-2PM to beat the traffic. It will probably be enough for the little ones anyway. Pretty expensive day at £80+ but at least we can say we have been, as I may never get around to it again. As for making sure the kids are ok, obviously that is primary concern and we will take the necessary precautions for sun/noise/rain/snow/wind.
Call this a taster for a longer stay in a few years time when both boys can appreciate it more.
Unfortunately, we arrive in France on the Thursday at 1PM, so it really is only Saturday or Sunday for us.
From your comments, it's starting to look like we should get their early on Sunday morning. It's a two hour drive, so we could be there for 9ish and then could leave around 1PM-2PM to beat the traffic. It will probably be enough for the little ones anyway. Pretty expensive day at £80+ but at least we can say we have been, as I may never get around to it again. As for making sure the kids are ok, obviously that is primary concern and we will take the necessary precautions for sun/noise/rain/snow/wind.
Call this a taster for a longer stay in a few years time when both boys can appreciate it more.
I'd recommend parking somewhere in town and getting the tram in to the circuit (last stop so can't exactly miss it). Not only will parking be easier/cheaper but you'll avoid the worst potential traffic blackspots and also means you can stop off in the centre of town for food, or just a change of scene when the wife/children have had their fill of:
1. Watching cars go around.
2. Wondering how any event can support this many stalls selling model cars.
3. If anyone has EVER bought a car painting from the stall in the village.
1. Watching cars go around.
2. Wondering how any event can support this many stalls selling model cars.
3. If anyone has EVER bought a car painting from the stall in the village.
All of the above advice plus expect to wait a while to get in and park. The French love a day trip out and cutting up brit cars. Make sure you have the car meeting all the French and euro regs as police are a mare. That includes two breathalysers even tho u have family in tow.
50 euro fine per missing item and its a field day for the local gendarme to hit the Brits.
watch out for pished up phers too.
take a buggy as you could park a fair distance away.
could be cold n rainy...could be super hot. So pack sun tan cream n hats. Take ear defenders as there are still some loud ones in this hybrid era :-)
hat goes off to u taking the family.
u could try arnage early Sunday am as the village is nice place to eat n some of the week brigade will be in a coma by then? I know i have been n passed our right by the track at arnage at 5am :-) get a nice spot in the sun for the wife, have a nice brunch, jumpy in the car with the 3 year old n watch some racing. Leave the card with the wife...
come back 3 hours later grinning from ear to ear with le mans noise at arnage, blame the delays on the traffic n head off. Happy wife = happy life :-)
its a huge estate and loads of viewing areas so you should find somewhere.
50 euro fine per missing item and its a field day for the local gendarme to hit the Brits.
watch out for pished up phers too.
take a buggy as you could park a fair distance away.
could be cold n rainy...could be super hot. So pack sun tan cream n hats. Take ear defenders as there are still some loud ones in this hybrid era :-)
hat goes off to u taking the family.
u could try arnage early Sunday am as the village is nice place to eat n some of the week brigade will be in a coma by then? I know i have been n passed our right by the track at arnage at 5am :-) get a nice spot in the sun for the wife, have a nice brunch, jumpy in the car with the 3 year old n watch some racing. Leave the card with the wife...
come back 3 hours later grinning from ear to ear with le mans noise at arnage, blame the delays on the traffic n head off. Happy wife = happy life :-)
its a huge estate and loads of viewing areas so you should find somewhere.
Edited by DasChin on Wednesday 14th May 20:09
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