Maison Blanche - busy!
Discussion
Ok so our party (3 cars, 2 tents) arraived about 18:00 on Thursday to find MB very nearly full. With no full pitches left at all 
We managed to find half an area right next to the grass bank and wall on the Porsche curves and had a great time...
But just how early do you now have to arrive in the sites to get a decent pitch? or is it time to book into Houx only?
We managed to find half an area right next to the grass bank and wall on the Porsche curves and had a great time...
But just how early do you now have to arrive in the sites to get a decent pitch? or is it time to book into Houx only?
We arrived on thursday afternoon and it was already full and what really annoyed me is that some people had got there early and roped off around 20 - 30 feet to the side of their campervan. How big did the space need to be for these people to manoevre their fat arses around the camp? 
Edited by Fruitcake on Tuesday 20th June 16:27
We've been going since to Maison Blanche since '93 and this was the busiest yet. We arrived around 4pm on Thursday and were lucky to find a 'gap' for 13 cars and 10 tents. The guys next to us said there was space up until midday on Thursday and then it just went mad. A likely combination of things - the new A28 means everyone gets down there quicker than before, England were playing at 6pm and most people seemed to want to get there get set up and head off to a bar,etc.
Also, it seemed that some people were roping off huge areas of the campsite for their mates, taking far more space than was needed. We had a run in with a group behind us who had 7 motorbikes and a Range Rover but needed half an acre just in case.
The thing is, up until they banged that big wall up back in 2003(?) there was acres of space. We're aiming to get down there Weds night next year and will have to miss the pre event curry in Welwyn
Also, it seemed that some people were roping off huge areas of the campsite for their mates, taking far more space than was needed. We had a run in with a group behind us who had 7 motorbikes and a Range Rover but needed half an acre just in case.
The thing is, up until they banged that big wall up back in 2003(?) there was acres of space. We're aiming to get down there Weds night next year and will have to miss the pre event curry in Welwyn
tvrforever said:
time to book into Houx?
But being at Houx only got you a pitch - sod getting access to it. One of our team made it down Friday and inspite of marking out his pitch with tape to show it was indeed taken, some people decided that they would block off the access with their cars and vans under the impression that the pitches were for just their tents. I was not too impressed when I politely asked for them to move their as we had someone arriving to be told - "Well he should have got here sooner".
Big_M said:
tvrforever said:
time to book into Houx?
But being at Houx only got you a pitch - sod getting access to it. One of our team made it down Friday and inspite of marking out his pitch with tape to show it was indeed taken, some people decided that they would block off the access with their cars and vans under the impression that the pitches were for just their tents. I was not too impressed when I politely asked for them to move their as we had someone arriving to be told - "Well he should have got here sooner".
Just been speaking with MRI (who we booked with and were great) and they said by Thurs midday most of the campsites they used were classed as full!!!
Trying to decide if it should be MB or Houx next year and whether it should be Tues, Wed or Thur for arrival...
tvrforever said:
FUBAR said:
I still cant get the smell of the toilets by the entrance out of my nostrils 
We actually found the portacabins in the middle to be ok - and also the MRI facilities were fine... Did discover a fair amount of my 'sun tan' washed away in the bath last night though Yeah, I used those ones too. And for future ref, there was a small toilet block just out and right of MB entrance that was the cleanest, emptiest toilet I found all weekend....they even had seats on the toilets...how good is that!
We too got to MB on Thursday at about 7:30. But to be greeted by a few different groups (some wearing PH T Shirts) Looking at the Camper van and shaking there head in a you might as well turn round and bugger off tone. (Its amazing what an expression can convey)
Others where great and in true Le Mans spirit helped us find a spot and did not moan when we pulled out the 'biggest tent in the world'*.
Got a great spot for the camper right near the track, but it was next to a huge skip.
All in all great time had but will probably go for Houx next year again.
And I'm not driving a camper down ever again.
(* this may be a slight exaggeration)
Others where great and in true Le Mans spirit helped us find a spot and did not moan when we pulled out the 'biggest tent in the world'*.
Got a great spot for the camper right near the track, but it was next to a huge skip.
All in all great time had but will probably go for Houx next year again.
And I'm not driving a camper down ever again.
(* this may be a slight exaggeration)
xjsjohn said:
thursday 8pm and BeauSejour still had loads of field left ....
Looked quite full to us when we arrived, but the late arrivals on Friday soon showed us that there was loads of room still to be had!!!!
Looked quite full to us when we arrived, but the late arrivals on Friday soon showed us that there was loads of room still to be had!!!!
Yep, we were late arrivals to Beausejour at about 18:30 on Friday eve - zero space left on the main capsite so we 'let ourselves into' the wooded area adjacent - made ourself at home in a nice sized area and the shade from the trees meant it was nice and cool. Perfect!
tvrforever said:
But I thought Houx was marked numbered pitches for tents & cars with electricity?
But the pitches are in double back to back rows with a 'road' access down the middle. The access 'road' was blocked with cars and vans so the pitches at the back couldn't be accessed. Thankfully we managed to get one of the other guys to move and got access through their pitch. Big_M said:
tvrforever said:
time to book into Houx?
But being at Houx only got you a pitch - sod getting access to it. One of our team made it down Friday and inspite of marking out his pitch with tape to show it was indeed taken, some people decided that they would block off the access with their cars and vans under the impression that the pitches were for just their tents. I was not too impressed when I politely asked for them to move their as we had someone arriving to be told - "Well he should have got here sooner".
We all went out for lunch Friday, to return to our marked off, tents laid out, Surrey TVRCC flagged pitch to find another TVR and a Skoda blocking our parking and tents up where we parked the cars. Total disregard for our pitch. 2 older boys asked them to move and got short change from them. When I got back I asked them nicely but forcefully to move. I even said if they waitied 20 minutes for the rest of our gang to get back and re-park, if we had room for the outsiders then they could park/camp there.
The skoda driver seemed ok with the but the Chim driver got right arsey, flashing his TVRCC membership card under my nose and telling me he had a devine right to park there. Sorry chum, but no. They (or more he) left in a huff.
Dude, if you're on here, try being polite next time?
I think it's time for maison blanche to have numbered reserved pitches. I arrived early friday morning and the place was rammed. managed to get a pitch by forcing someone else to relinquish a couple of his 'reserved' car park spaces. BTW Friday evening was like being on the set of 'mad max - welcome to the thunderdome'!! Also how worrying is this - the 'bog lady' said she remembered me from a previous year!! My french is not good enough to understand why she remembered me and it's probably best I don't find out....
)FUBAR said:
Big_M said:
tvrforever said:
time to book into Houx?
But being at Houx only got you a pitch - sod getting access to it. One of our team made it down Friday and inspite of marking out his pitch with tape to show it was indeed taken, some people decided that they would block off the access with their cars and vans under the impression that the pitches were for just their tents. I was not too impressed when I politely asked for them to move their as we had someone arriving to be told - "Well he should have got here sooner".
We all went out for lunch Friday, to return to our marked off, tents laid out, Surrey TVRCC flagged pitch to find another TVR and a Skoda blocking our parking and tents up where we parked the cars. Total disregard for our pitch. 2 older boys asked them to move and got short change from them. When I got back I asked them nicely but forcefully to move. I even said if they waitied 20 minutes for the rest of our gang to get back and re-park, if we had room for the outsiders then they could park/camp there.
The skoda driver seemed ok with the but the Chim driver got right arsey, flashing his TVRCC membership card under my nose and telling me he had a devine right to park there. Sorry chum, but no. They (or more he) left in a huff.
Dude, if you're on here, try being polite next time?
I can only echo this sentiment. It's very poor form to turn up shouting the odds and demanding space, this being the second time this had happened in as many days.
It might well be possible to sort something out with some polite conversation, but I cannot comprehend why anyone should invite an angry little man they've never met on to a pitch, simply because a card is waved. I mean would you walk up to someone you didn't know and say, "we both own volvos, now budge up a bit, there's a good lad?" Steve.
neilly500 said:
I think it's time for maison blanche to have numbered reserved pitches. I arrived early friday morning and the place was rammed. managed to get a pitch by forcing someone else to relinquish a couple of his 'reserved' car park spaces. BTW Friday evening was like being on the set of 'mad max - welcome to the thunderdome'!! Also how worrying is this - the 'bog lady' said she remembered me from a previous year!! My french is not good enough to understand why she remembered me and it's probably best I don't find out....
Did you meet her young son?
neilly500 said:
I think it's time for maison blanche to have numbered reserved pitches. I arrived early friday morning and the place was rammed. managed to get a pitch by forcing someone else to relinquish a couple of his 'reserved' car park spaces. BTW Friday evening was like being on the set of 'mad max - welcome to the thunderdome'!! Also how worrying is this - the 'bog lady' said she remembered me from a previous year!! My french is not good enough to understand why she remembered me and it's probably best I don't find out....
I saw a couple of what looked like ACO types walking around on Thursday afternoon shaking their heads at some of camps. It made me think that it's a matter of time before they go to numbered pitches. I think it will be a shame if they do as part of the fun of Le Mans is building your camp complete with marquee, bbq etc. That being said, I understand the frustrations of those that turn up later having paid to camp only to find that there is no space left. I think the answer is rather than paying per vehicle, to pay for your pitch on a per square foot basis.
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