Le Mans classic 2020
Discussion
Having been inspired by B'stard Child I thought I'd take a look at Le Mans Classic which is due to run in 2020. I quite like the idea of taking a run down in the Sprite with a mate for a few days, but I know literally nothing about it. Where do I start? It looks like a bit of a minefield and note tickets are not yet available. Where is best to stay, what do you do whilst there, is parking secure etc.
Tell me what I need to know please!
Tell me what I need to know please!
Maybe search the forums...?
Here's what I wrote about it last time out.
"I’ve been to five classics and am happy to pass on such knowledge and wisdom as I possess on the subject.
The racing itself is the least best thing. It’s like watching a millionaires trackday. The different groups encompass such a disparity of machinery coupled with ‘priceless’ cars means that people are there to have a good time, not to win. And there’s nothing wrong with that at all - I keep going back! - but be aware if a first timer that it really isn’t about the racing.
If you have even a small drop of petrol running through your veins you will have your mind utterly blown by the scale, variety, quality, rarity, value, and sheer sexiness of the cars all around you.
Two examples:
One year we stayed in a hotel about 25 miles away - we were a party of six Lotus cars - and the rest of the hotels rooms had been taken by Bentley Owners, one of whom was driving the actual LeMans winning car of 1930. You what? He parked £10,000,000 worth of vintage Bentley on the street in front of the hotel, unscrewed the radiator cap, threw a tarpaulin over it and secured with a bungee. Chatted for hours whilst we got hammered in the hotel bar.
Another year - another perfect motoring moment - it’s Monday and we’re heading out and are navigating the merging roads, flyovers and tunnels when I see coming down a suspended slipway a 288, F40, F50 and Enzo moving as if tethered together by tractor beams and trying to achieve escape velocity. It was fking awesome to behold.
Parking will be as parking will be, as Forrest might have said. If you’re going in one of the infield eligible cars you’ll think all is going swimmingly until you are fed into the biggest field snake queue you’ve ever seen as tickets are checked and people enter through the single track lane leading to the bottom of the Bugatti circuit. To avoid the queue, especially on Saturday, you’d need to be at the circuit by 0600, or leave it until after 1100.
If you’re coming in an ineligible car you are at the mercy of general parking and I have no experience of that.
When I was there last year, I camped from Thursday to Sunday. I’m not a fan of camping but the ability to walk to the village in 10 minutes (your pitch location may vary!) coupled with the ‘freedom’ to enjoy the odd beer or two made it an even better event for me.
Also, since I first went the city has put in a tram line which gives you the option of parking near any of the other stations and using the tram.
In my experience the dress code is not enforced, but access to the stands and paddocks is. Key to your dress will be the weather, not the ACO. In terms of making an effort it’s not like Goodwood with fat men in military uniforms and barefooted women drunkenly toting their stilettos. I wear linen trousers - or jeans if it’s wet - and a shirt. Zero effort because that’s what I would be wearing anyway if I were on holiday in France. If I were younger I might change my death metal t-shirt for a plain one or something motoring related. I do however ponce about in a Panama hat because when it’s hot at LM you quickly notice the almost total lack of shade and air conditioned bars.
You’ll want a tribune (stand) ticket. Pick one with a roof, so you get some shade if it’s hot and some shelter if it rains…
Also you must watch at least one of the LeMans starts. Saturday afternoon watching the drivers leg it across the track, start up and roar off is absolutely fantastic. Worth the admission price by itself. Of course it plays no part in the race. The cars, having sped off the grid then slow down and re-assemble in ‘qualifying’ order. They lap the circuit in formation and have a rolling start to the ‘race’ as they come round again.
Using sensors in the cars and on the track the winning Porsche in this years 24 put in a lap that the state of the art digital time recoding equipment from Rolex measured at 3.19.782. The ’35 MG in Plateau1’s lap times are recorded with chalk on a blackboard by observing how far down the candle has burnt.
Get a paddock pass.
If you can afford it, get a VIP pass. I did last time as a treat with some money I’d inherited. I wouldn’t do it again for the weekend but I would for just the Saturday. You can man math it by offsetting the benefits of the VIP parking area which have a fleet of vintage busses and citroen 2CVs to shuttle you from car park to village and around the circuit. You also get access to the terrace bar situated right at the end of the pit lane. The breakfast is all pastries and croissants. Lunch and dinner are in the dining room below and were mighty. All booze is included. Champagne for breakfast bucks fizz is a great way to start the day.
You can spend a long time queueing for food and liquid refreshment: take a picnic lunch with you and as much water as you can bear to carry. The food and drink range available will suit any taste but expect event/festival prices...
My favourite day is Friday.
Find your own favourite coffee shop outside the circuit (mine is in Arnage) and spend Sunday morning sitting by the roadside with a hot one and a croissant and watch the cars go by.
Some pics: https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B0XGrq0zwGIUyp...
Here's what I wrote about it last time out.
"I’ve been to five classics and am happy to pass on such knowledge and wisdom as I possess on the subject.
The racing itself is the least best thing. It’s like watching a millionaires trackday. The different groups encompass such a disparity of machinery coupled with ‘priceless’ cars means that people are there to have a good time, not to win. And there’s nothing wrong with that at all - I keep going back! - but be aware if a first timer that it really isn’t about the racing.
If you have even a small drop of petrol running through your veins you will have your mind utterly blown by the scale, variety, quality, rarity, value, and sheer sexiness of the cars all around you.
Two examples:
One year we stayed in a hotel about 25 miles away - we were a party of six Lotus cars - and the rest of the hotels rooms had been taken by Bentley Owners, one of whom was driving the actual LeMans winning car of 1930. You what? He parked £10,000,000 worth of vintage Bentley on the street in front of the hotel, unscrewed the radiator cap, threw a tarpaulin over it and secured with a bungee. Chatted for hours whilst we got hammered in the hotel bar.
Another year - another perfect motoring moment - it’s Monday and we’re heading out and are navigating the merging roads, flyovers and tunnels when I see coming down a suspended slipway a 288, F40, F50 and Enzo moving as if tethered together by tractor beams and trying to achieve escape velocity. It was fking awesome to behold.
Parking will be as parking will be, as Forrest might have said. If you’re going in one of the infield eligible cars you’ll think all is going swimmingly until you are fed into the biggest field snake queue you’ve ever seen as tickets are checked and people enter through the single track lane leading to the bottom of the Bugatti circuit. To avoid the queue, especially on Saturday, you’d need to be at the circuit by 0600, or leave it until after 1100.
If you’re coming in an ineligible car you are at the mercy of general parking and I have no experience of that.
When I was there last year, I camped from Thursday to Sunday. I’m not a fan of camping but the ability to walk to the village in 10 minutes (your pitch location may vary!) coupled with the ‘freedom’ to enjoy the odd beer or two made it an even better event for me.
Also, since I first went the city has put in a tram line which gives you the option of parking near any of the other stations and using the tram.
In my experience the dress code is not enforced, but access to the stands and paddocks is. Key to your dress will be the weather, not the ACO. In terms of making an effort it’s not like Goodwood with fat men in military uniforms and barefooted women drunkenly toting their stilettos. I wear linen trousers - or jeans if it’s wet - and a shirt. Zero effort because that’s what I would be wearing anyway if I were on holiday in France. If I were younger I might change my death metal t-shirt for a plain one or something motoring related. I do however ponce about in a Panama hat because when it’s hot at LM you quickly notice the almost total lack of shade and air conditioned bars.
You’ll want a tribune (stand) ticket. Pick one with a roof, so you get some shade if it’s hot and some shelter if it rains…
Also you must watch at least one of the LeMans starts. Saturday afternoon watching the drivers leg it across the track, start up and roar off is absolutely fantastic. Worth the admission price by itself. Of course it plays no part in the race. The cars, having sped off the grid then slow down and re-assemble in ‘qualifying’ order. They lap the circuit in formation and have a rolling start to the ‘race’ as they come round again.
Using sensors in the cars and on the track the winning Porsche in this years 24 put in a lap that the state of the art digital time recoding equipment from Rolex measured at 3.19.782. The ’35 MG in Plateau1’s lap times are recorded with chalk on a blackboard by observing how far down the candle has burnt.
Get a paddock pass.
If you can afford it, get a VIP pass. I did last time as a treat with some money I’d inherited. I wouldn’t do it again for the weekend but I would for just the Saturday. You can man math it by offsetting the benefits of the VIP parking area which have a fleet of vintage busses and citroen 2CVs to shuttle you from car park to village and around the circuit. You also get access to the terrace bar situated right at the end of the pit lane. The breakfast is all pastries and croissants. Lunch and dinner are in the dining room below and were mighty. All booze is included. Champagne for breakfast bucks fizz is a great way to start the day.
You can spend a long time queueing for food and liquid refreshment: take a picnic lunch with you and as much water as you can bear to carry. The food and drink range available will suit any taste but expect event/festival prices...
My favourite day is Friday.
Find your own favourite coffee shop outside the circuit (mine is in Arnage) and spend Sunday morning sitting by the roadside with a hot one and a croissant and watch the cars go by.
Some pics: https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B0XGrq0zwGIUyp...
If you are after a secure camp site, you’d best look at the private camping options if you want to camp close to the circuit (have a look at the 24hr topics as it’ll help you). A private camp site will be able to offer everything from just a camping pitch to a full “glamping” service with pre-erected tents and brekkie/evening meals depending on your budget. 1st Tickets/Lycian etc. are amongst those mentioned in posts on the PH forum for the LM events.
If you’re planning on a taking a proper classic I’d suggest planning you’re route very carefully and if possible take advantage of a channel crossing that gets you closer to the circuit I.e. either Caen or Le Havre (about 100 and 120 miles respectively to the track from the port) though these will still offer plenty of non autoroute options to travel on & hence be more leisurely.
If you’re planning on a taking a proper classic I’d suggest planning you’re route very carefully and if possible take advantage of a channel crossing that gets you closer to the circuit I.e. either Caen or Le Havre (about 100 and 120 miles respectively to the track from the port) though these will still offer plenty of non autoroute options to travel on & hence be more leisurely.
I suggest the best thing for you is either do it on the cheap getting tickets and on circuit camping from the ACO or tourist office or spend a little extra and go with a car club, the sprite means you can go with the austin healey clubs or even with the mg clubs all with have decent sites and some security, but to be honest just don't leave stuff lying about to get stolen. I have been 6 or seven times and always camped in the aco sites and never had any trouble.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Might be worth a read if you are looking at camping with like minded individuals - I have just bumped the thread for an update as I'm organising (but not staying with) another group that wants to do the Classic
My take on it having done every Classic since 2004 and this year (for the first time in 15 years) the normal Le Mans 24hr
My take on it having done every one since 2004
Decide on "Off Circuit" or "On Circuit" Camping
Arrive on Wed so you have a day to set up camp and get in food / beers etc
Try and go with a group of cars so you can share out the essentials - in a Sprite I'd definitely be leaning on others for "support"
If you are in a group you don't need Grandstand or Paddock Passes for everyone - 33% of group is plenty we have found (normally group of 12) so 4 of each. In fact I think for classic I'd skip grandstand tickets altogether unless you absolutely wanted to watch start and end of the race
I've only bought tickets this year and I found it a relatively painless experience - we pool organisational stuff in our group
If I think of anything else I'll chuck another post in the thread
If "off circuit" I recommend
http://www.chateau-de-chanteloup.com/
Really enjoy it here and I wouldn't go back to circuit camping now
Might be worth a read if you are looking at camping with like minded individuals - I have just bumped the thread for an update as I'm organising (but not staying with) another group that wants to do the Classic
My take on it having done every Classic since 2004 and this year (for the first time in 15 years) the normal Le Mans 24hr
My take on it having done every one since 2004
Decide on "Off Circuit" or "On Circuit" Camping
Arrive on Wed so you have a day to set up camp and get in food / beers etc
Try and go with a group of cars so you can share out the essentials - in a Sprite I'd definitely be leaning on others for "support"
If you are in a group you don't need Grandstand or Paddock Passes for everyone - 33% of group is plenty we have found (normally group of 12) so 4 of each. In fact I think for classic I'd skip grandstand tickets altogether unless you absolutely wanted to watch start and end of the race
I've only bought tickets this year and I found it a relatively painless experience - we pool organisational stuff in our group
If I think of anything else I'll chuck another post in the thread
If "off circuit" I recommend
http://www.chateau-de-chanteloup.com/
Really enjoy it here and I wouldn't go back to circuit camping now
Have done the Classic Twice - enjoyed both and we did it differently each time.
First time camped with le Mob off site -brilliant!! Super site, great food, amazing people and temps in the 30's - down side was the drive in each day and no beer for the drivers!!!
next time we camped with Speed Chills - again, amazing site, great people and organisation - nice to pop over at night and see the cars but was a bit wet and cold at times
Personally, done it twice, and loved it but would stick with the main 24 hours as I am not a massive historical car buff, but its a top weekend and well worth doing
HH.
First time camped with le Mob off site -brilliant!! Super site, great food, amazing people and temps in the 30's - down side was the drive in each day and no beer for the drivers!!!
next time we camped with Speed Chills - again, amazing site, great people and organisation - nice to pop over at night and see the cars but was a bit wet and cold at times
Personally, done it twice, and loved it but would stick with the main 24 hours as I am not a massive historical car buff, but its a top weekend and well worth doing
HH.
B'stard Child said:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
If "off circuit" I recommend
http://www.chateau-de-chanteloup.com/
Really enjoy it here and I wouldn't go back to circuit camping now
Hi, If "off circuit" I recommend
http://www.chateau-de-chanteloup.com/
Really enjoy it here and I wouldn't go back to circuit camping now
This looks like quite a nice option.
What were the food options like on site other than having a BBQ. Is the restaurant nice?
Is the place packed or just about right?
What were the showers and toilets like?
What was access to the circuit like?
Cheers
DS240 said:
B'stard Child said:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
If "off circuit" I recommend
http://www.chateau-de-chanteloup.com/
Really enjoy it here and I wouldn't go back to circuit camping now
Hi, If "off circuit" I recommend
http://www.chateau-de-chanteloup.com/
Really enjoy it here and I wouldn't go back to circuit camping now
This looks like quite a nice option.
What were the food options like on site other than having a BBQ. Is the restaurant nice?
Is the place packed or just about right?
What were the showers and toilets like?
What was access to the circuit like?
Cheers
Resturant good
Showers and toilets - well attended and clean
Access to main circuit 20 -25 mins - have done in less but at risk
We (all 18 of us who have been) love it
Mrs BC who is very fussy would like it but she won’t camp something to do with spiders apparently
B'stard Child said:
Owner won’t overbook it - ie plenty of space around - big open green areas - nice lake for fishing
Resturant good
Showers and toilets - well attended and clean
Access to main circuit 20 -25 mins - have done in less but at risk
We (all 18 of us who have been) love it
Mrs BC who is very fussy would like it but she won’t camp something to do with spiders apparently
Cheers. Resturant good
Showers and toilets - well attended and clean
Access to main circuit 20 -25 mins - have done in less but at risk
We (all 18 of us who have been) love it
Mrs BC who is very fussy would like it but she won’t camp something to do with spiders apparently
The current perfect set up is being shattered by the French family moving. Options in same village possible but this looks interesting. Looks a good set up. Plus it would change up the routine a bit.
We're partnered with 1st Tickets who run a private PistonHeads camp site in Bleu Nord - you camp with other PHers, have your breakfast and dinner cooked for you and we have a bar 
More info here - hope to see you there!
More info here - hope to see you there!
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