Classic Le Mans,who's been before???Any tips???
Discussion
I went to this in 2004. It was very different to the 'normal' 24 hour race, much more relaxed. No sign of drunken Brits, but there were a lot more French about. 
You could walk up and down without bumping into people, and really absorb the atmosphere of the older cars at night. The race itself is broken up into several shorter races, run over the 24 hour period, which works well, and you can actually drive to the different parts of the circuit without getting caught up in traffic!
As for camping, I stayed with the same crowd I stay with for the 24 hour in June, so I couldn't say what the other options are.
It only happens every 2 years, so I would suggest you go!
Cheers
You could walk up and down without bumping into people, and really absorb the atmosphere of the older cars at night. The race itself is broken up into several shorter races, run over the 24 hour period, which works well, and you can actually drive to the different parts of the circuit without getting caught up in traffic! As for camping, I stayed with the same crowd I stay with for the 24 hour in June, so I couldn't say what the other options are.
It only happens every 2 years, so I would suggest you go!
Cheers
Defintly go to the Classic. We went two years ago and as said it is much more French and a very different event to the 24 hour. It's a bit like the difference between the British GP and the old Coys Historic Festival if that helps at all!!
We stayed in a hotel in Le Mans last time and although that was nice we missed not having a base at the circuit to chill out. The weather was VERY hot and it would have been nice to have a campsite base to go back and chill under the gazeebo with a beer!
Be aware that the Classic is 24 individual races not one big historic race (sorry if I'm teaching granny to suck eggs!), so there are 24 starts and finishes to watch so lots of opportunities to watch REAL Le Mans starts with drivers running across the track.
It is a fantastic event - I'd recommend it and would suggest camping unless your dad is very anti that. We've booked our tickets to include paddock access and we got free grandstand tickets as well - check out the web site there is a link from www.lemans.org. The only campsite open is Maison Blanche.
We stayed in a hotel in Le Mans last time and although that was nice we missed not having a base at the circuit to chill out. The weather was VERY hot and it would have been nice to have a campsite base to go back and chill under the gazeebo with a beer!
Be aware that the Classic is 24 individual races not one big historic race (sorry if I'm teaching granny to suck eggs!), so there are 24 starts and finishes to watch so lots of opportunities to watch REAL Le Mans starts with drivers running across the track.
It is a fantastic event - I'd recommend it and would suggest camping unless your dad is very anti that. We've booked our tickets to include paddock access and we got free grandstand tickets as well - check out the web site there is a link from www.lemans.org. The only campsite open is Maison Blanche.
Basically the place is deserted compared to the modern event. You could camp and watch at Arnage and not have to pay a penny. There wasn't anyone checking tickets when we were there, and virtually no spectators either.
I'm sure this years event will be better organised, its completely different from the modern event, but a great one nonetheless.
We're staying at that Green 7 hotel, literally just a walk across from the spectator entrance at Tetre Rouge. Should be great. Heres a little montage I put together after the 2004 edition...
I'm sure this years event will be better organised, its completely different from the modern event, but a great one nonetheless.
We're staying at that Green 7 hotel, literally just a walk across from the spectator entrance at Tetre Rouge. Should be great. Heres a little montage I put together after the 2004 edition...
puffpuff said:
Just to add a bit more 'Brit' to it this year there will be around twenty Rileys pre war and post war in the club area; I'll be there in my '54 RME.
Pha! You looking at around 200+ Triumphs heading down - hell they have even negotiated their own camp site with the ACO. For the Classic Tetre Rouge will be known as Parc de Triumph.
On the track the provisional list is
Grid 2
1955 TR2 Hubin FR/ Durecu FR
1955 TR2 Dron GB / Marsh GB
Grid 3
1958 TR3a Brison B/ Deneve B
1958 TR3 Petch GB / Bull GB
1958 Peerless GT Stevens GB / Mc Donald GB
1961 TRS Dron GB / Marsh GB
Grid 4
1964 Spitfire Elstrop GB / Elstrop GB
Just a few from 04 to give you an appetizer
www.gtphotosport.com/lmhistoric2004/index.html
>> Edited by happy snapper on Friday 17th March 07:00
www.gtphotosport.com/lmhistoric2004/index.html
>> Edited by happy snapper on Friday 17th March 07:00
Our group 'Club Houx Annexe' will also be parked up in Tetre Rouge car park which is the over flow from the Classic Marques parking. Last year were, as mentioned, Triumphs and the GT40 boys....
Roll on this year, it is great fun and rapidly becoming my choice for my Le Mans experience as there are too many W
s at Le Mans in June now....
Roll on this year, it is great fun and rapidly becoming my choice for my Le Mans experience as there are too many W
s at Le Mans in June now....//j17 said:
Just to add a bit more 'Brit' to it this year there will be around twenty Rileys pre war and post war in the club area; I'll be there in my '54 RME.
Pha! You looking at around 200+ Triumphs heading down - hell they have even negotiated their own camp site with the ACO.
Quantity isn't everything
200 old Triumphs? As an ex Vitesse owner, hope every other one has tow rope
I'll be there (firstimer) in my 71 Camaro RS. Taking my Dad too, but the chances of getting him in a tent are pretty slim. P'ah! When I went to Bol D'Or on my old GSXR, rode their in one go, just stopping for petrol/coffee, and none of us had a tent when we got there! Tell that to people today and they won't believe you!
I'll be there (firstimer) in my 71 Camaro RS. Taking my Dad too, but the chances of getting him in a tent are pretty slim. P'ah! When I went to Bol D'Or on my old GSXR, rode their in one go, just stopping for petrol/coffee, and none of us had a tent when we got there! Tell that to people today and they won't believe you!
71RS said:
200 old Triumphs? As an ex Vitesse owner, hope every other one has tow rope
I'll be there (firstimer) in my 71 Camaro RS.
Yea, it's OK. The Triumph straight 6 should have enough torque to pull you when you break down
Think we only lost 3 or 4 last year - 2 before reaching the channel.
The Cobra club is attending the classic en masse this year, with approx 70 -80 of the noisiest cars around!!!!!!!!!
All camping on Maison Blanche so prepare for the invasion from Weds onwards, with the majority arriving Thurs / Fri.
So if you get there early and see a couple of lone cobras parked up beware....its only the invasion party securing an area big enough for the rest of us.
At this time there are 27 of us booked on one crossing alone....
All camping on Maison Blanche so prepare for the invasion from Weds onwards, with the majority arriving Thurs / Fri.
So if you get there early and see a couple of lone cobras parked up beware....its only the invasion party securing an area big enough for the rest of us.
At this time there are 27 of us booked on one crossing alone....
Just been looking around and found this site, it might be of interest.
www.lemansclassic.com/uk/index.ht
www.lemansclassic.com/uk/index.ht
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