Le Mans - Getting Around
Discussion
Hi All,
I have wanted to go to Le Mans for as long as I can remember and my wife generously bought myself and my best friend a weekend package for Christmas.
We had a little warm up last year by doing the Silverstone Classic, but we are both very excited to finally be going to Le Mans.
Rather than taking a car, we are planning on commandeering one of my works Mercedes Sprinters so that we won't struggle for space and will be able to lock anything back in the van whilst we are watching the action.
One thing that we found a little annoying at the Silverstone Classic last year was getting to and from and then around the circuit. Whilst the tracker pulled trailers were good, they were not overly frequent and they were permanently rammed full so we ended up walking most of the time.
With Le Mans being run on a much larger circuit and with there being a lot more to see and do around the track we were trying to work out if there was a better way of getting around.
We have been looking at little petrol scooters and wondered if (ridden sensibly and considerately) they would be OK to use to get us around on?
Like this
Or would a fold up bike be a better option?
Obviously we don't want to take them all the way down there to be told that we can't use them - but as we want to take in all that the event has to offer we were looking for a good solution.
Can any Le Mans veterans offer any advice?
Thank you in advance.
I have wanted to go to Le Mans for as long as I can remember and my wife generously bought myself and my best friend a weekend package for Christmas.
We had a little warm up last year by doing the Silverstone Classic, but we are both very excited to finally be going to Le Mans.
Rather than taking a car, we are planning on commandeering one of my works Mercedes Sprinters so that we won't struggle for space and will be able to lock anything back in the van whilst we are watching the action.
One thing that we found a little annoying at the Silverstone Classic last year was getting to and from and then around the circuit. Whilst the tracker pulled trailers were good, they were not overly frequent and they were permanently rammed full so we ended up walking most of the time.
With Le Mans being run on a much larger circuit and with there being a lot more to see and do around the track we were trying to work out if there was a better way of getting around.
We have been looking at little petrol scooters and wondered if (ridden sensibly and considerately) they would be OK to use to get us around on?
Like this
Or would a fold up bike be a better option?
Obviously we don't want to take them all the way down there to be told that we can't use them - but as we want to take in all that the event has to offer we were looking for a good solution.
Can any Le Mans veterans offer any advice?
Thank you in advance.
You do see people on those things and on bikes, and in some parts of the circuit its really annoying. The pinch points from the entrance round towards the dunlop bridge and tetre rouge can get really crowded and you will make zero progress, plus the terrain in those areas doesn't lend itself well.
It may be useful to get to Arnage, but TBH we usually drive there and park. The traffic for driving is very slow.
Le mans is many times busier than the Silverstone classic. But it does mix pedestrains, bikes, motorbikes and cars all the time and in my view it doesn't mix them well!
We always walk around in the circuit.
It may be useful to get to Arnage, but TBH we usually drive there and park. The traffic for driving is very slow.
Le mans is many times busier than the Silverstone classic. But it does mix pedestrains, bikes, motorbikes and cars all the time and in my view it doesn't mix them well!
We always walk around in the circuit.
http://www.beermountain.com/p/packing.html
beermountain said:
What to leave behind
Paddling pool (now banned by ACO)
Scaffold structures (now banned by ACO)
Monkey bikes, powered scooters (now banned by ACO)
Chainsaws, hedge cutters (bizarrely also banned by ACO)
Large gas bottles (now banned by ACO)
Petrol in cans (banned by most ferry operators)
Laser speed trap detector (illegal in France)
Sat nav with speed trap locations (illegal in France)
Fireworks (banned by most ferry operators)
Expensive things that you might accidentally lose!
That last one is why we get Gumtree bikes (from 15-20 quid) and then if they get lost stolen or bent then shrug and put it in a dumpster. They've all come back every year so far, but no point in tempting fate! Personally I think a bike really adds to the LM experience, so you can get down to Arnage as well as cycle the track (excluding the S/F, Dunlop and part of Porsche Curves) on Friday to get a real up close view of the track itself.Paddling pool (now banned by ACO)
Scaffold structures (now banned by ACO)
Monkey bikes, powered scooters (now banned by ACO)
Chainsaws, hedge cutters (bizarrely also banned by ACO)
Large gas bottles (now banned by ACO)
Petrol in cans (banned by most ferry operators)
Laser speed trap detector (illegal in France)
Sat nav with speed trap locations (illegal in France)
Fireworks (banned by most ferry operators)
Expensive things that you might accidentally lose!
Unless you have trouble walking I'd take something more fun to drive and forget about bikes, etc.
It's not far to walk from most of the camp sites to the side of the track and from there you can just amble along stopping and watching a bit as you go. Depending on camp site it's a bit of a walk down to the Porsche Curves where you can catch the bus out to Arnage/Mulsanne and heading out in the early hours last year this worked well with the new bus tracking app helping you plan when to move.
It's not far to walk from most of the camp sites to the side of the track and from there you can just amble along stopping and watching a bit as you go. Depending on camp site it's a bit of a walk down to the Porsche Curves where you can catch the bus out to Arnage/Mulsanne and heading out in the early hours last year this worked well with the new bus tracking app helping you plan when to move.
Drive down and back is part of the event and also there is a great car show (2 seats good/4 seats/doors bad) on the Friday just to north of Le Mans which is worth going to.
Spend a lot of time around tribunes and village area and bikes around there and main entrances would be more hassle than they are worth.
Spend a lot of time around tribunes and village area and bikes around there and main entrances would be more hassle than they are worth.
Some Gump said:
Just take pedal bikes. Those scooters are officially banned so all it takes is one of the door / ticket guys to say "non" and you're done...
Apologies, that's my fault. We were exploring and accidentally went past a security guard (didn't recognise him until we were past) and accidentally in to the drivers' sleeping area on Thursday aft in 2012(?). We didn't mean any harm and weren't being idiots. Besides, it got stolen on Saturday aft.Lucky they did ban them, I was in the process of building one with a 200cc engine (instead of the std 22cc), disc brakes and a large dynamo from an old tractor. Was going to be in the style of a Blower Bentley so also had a large wooden dashboard, two 6'' wire-covered spotlamps and a running board toolbox (refrigerated for beer). Would have reached 65mph (calculated) fairly rapidly and I'd probably have killed myself.
Just hate walking around the circuit all week.
For me the drive there and back is 2 hours of motorway so taking something fun is pointless as it'll impinge on my weeks fun. I'd rather have the stuff I want than a car either in queue or parked up.
Depending on what campsite you're in you could have a huge walk everyday and even if you didn't you could find yourself with a big walk around the circuit.
For the last few years we've taken push bikes. You can easily ride around the circuits perimeter roads and get to a lot more places. Some places are busy in which case be careful.
As for driving around in the event - forget it unless you like queues.
Depending on what campsite you're in you could have a huge walk everyday and even if you didn't you could find yourself with a big walk around the circuit.
For the last few years we've taken push bikes. You can easily ride around the circuits perimeter roads and get to a lot more places. Some places are busy in which case be careful.
As for driving around in the event - forget it unless you like queues.
Genuinely thinking of getting a non-powered scooter to get around the circuit on the Friday/Saturday am...
Having been going for many years, the group has changed and these days we tend to not see much more of the circuit than from Mulsanne/Tertre Rouge down to the end of the pits so it would be nice to get across to the other side again.
I'm thinking walking is about 2mph vs. a push scooter at 8-10mph!? Anyone else take them?
Having been going for many years, the group has changed and these days we tend to not see much more of the circuit than from Mulsanne/Tertre Rouge down to the end of the pits so it would be nice to get across to the other side again.
I'm thinking walking is about 2mph vs. a push scooter at 8-10mph!? Anyone else take them?
L500 said:
Genuinely thinking of getting a non-powered scooter to get around the circuit on the Friday/Saturday am...
Having been going for many years, the group has changed and these days we tend to not see much more of the circuit than from Mulsanne/Tertre Rouge down to the end of the pits so it would be nice to get across to the other side again.
I'm thinking walking is about 2mph vs. a push scooter at 8-10mph!? Anyone else take them?
I nearly did but ended up going for small folding bikes, after trying both out the bikes worked so much better and managed to fit them in an XKR (which dont have much space).Having been going for many years, the group has changed and these days we tend to not see much more of the circuit than from Mulsanne/Tertre Rouge down to the end of the pits so it would be nice to get across to the other side again.
I'm thinking walking is about 2mph vs. a push scooter at 8-10mph!? Anyone else take them?
We spend a lot of time around Tetre Rouge up to Hotel Arbor
For most of the track these scooters aren’t going to help. Lots of people and parts are only accessible by road. I can see them helping for the initial journey from the campsite. Getting around the track is easy with all the trams and buses. Just don’t try and take a scooter to Arnage/Indianapolis or Mulsanne!
I have been just about every year for the last 20 or so years. Apart from getting through the traffic to get to Arnsge (we go at midnight), I see no use for a bike, scooter, roller skates etc. There are just too many people.
Maybe if you are there for a whole week but you still won’t get much use from it to see the actual race.
Maybe if you are there for a whole week but you still won’t get much use from it to see the actual race.
I took a non-powered scooter to the WEC 6h Silverstone once and it was an absolute killer. So knackering. That was on the smooth service roads around the circuit too, so at Le Mans on the rough surfaces around the viewing areas, it would be even worse. Could fold/carry it I suppose, but that's a bit of a faff.
As a few have said, it's best to walk around the LM circuit - there's plenty of time after all. We camp at Beausejour, which is a fair old trek to anywhere other than Porsche Curves, but with a bit of planning we normally manage to walk down to Arnage/Indianapolis and up to Tertre Rouge over the course of the race.
Personally I wouldn't fancy dicing with the traffic on a bike outside the circuit either, whereas inside it always looks like an inconvenience to drag it through the crowds if your viewing route doesn't allow for locking it up and leaving it.
As a few have said, it's best to walk around the LM circuit - there's plenty of time after all. We camp at Beausejour, which is a fair old trek to anywhere other than Porsche Curves, but with a bit of planning we normally manage to walk down to Arnage/Indianapolis and up to Tertre Rouge over the course of the race.
Personally I wouldn't fancy dicing with the traffic on a bike outside the circuit either, whereas inside it always looks like an inconvenience to drag it through the crowds if your viewing route doesn't allow for locking it up and leaving it.
I must have been to a different Le Mans to the other posters. We used folding bikes both in and outside the circuit quite a lot, very handy, especially late in the evening when its quiet. No problems cycling around in the stadium area (park up and walk around the village), on the roads (picked quiet ones down to Mulsanne), even rode on the circuit to the podium at the end of the race. Loads of places to lock them, saved hours of walking.
The guys this year said the best thing we ever did...I agree.
Ebay - I've bought 4 in total for no more than £50 each (pick carefully, bargains don't come up often)
The guys this year said the best thing we ever did...I agree.
Ebay - I've bought 4 in total for no more than £50 each (pick carefully, bargains don't come up often)
Edited by wsn03 on Thursday 25th April 16:32
Edited by wsn03 on Thursday 25th April 16:33
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