First time to Le Mans
Discussion
Hi,
I have family who live about 1hr from Le Mans, so i thought this yr would be a great yr to go ( free diggs) SO three of us along with our girls have booked the boat, all we need now is help on knowing the best way to go about tickets to the race? and where is the best place to view from? Parking? and anything we need to know.
Thanks for your help.
leetvr
I have family who live about 1hr from Le Mans, so i thought this yr would be a great yr to go ( free diggs) SO three of us along with our girls have booked the boat, all we need now is help on knowing the best way to go about tickets to the race? and where is the best place to view from? Parking? and anything we need to know.
Thanks for your help.
leetvr
All you need to do is turn up, find a parking space and pay the gate price for parking, walk up to the main gate and buy your tickets. About £30 each for the whole`weekend.... Don't buy them before you go, there will always be availability....
Don't whatever you do let anyone convince you to buy them before you go from Page and Moy or such like...
Don't whatever you do let anyone convince you to buy them before you go from Page and Moy or such like...
Mark B said:
All you need to do is turn up, find a parking space and pay the gate price for parking, walk up to the main gate and buy your tickets. About £30 each for the whole`weekend.... Don't buy them before you go, there will always be availability....
Don't whatever you do let anyone convince you to buy them before you go from Page and Moy or such like...
Don't whatever you do let anyone convince you to buy them before you go from Page and Moy or such like...
How many yrs have you done that ( just turn up and pay on day). You know what its like, as ive never been, i would hate to get there and they just look at me...no ticket, no get in...lol
But if you say there will always be availability.
Where is good to watch? do we need to go into one of the stands or not?
leetvr
There are loads of good places to watch the race from, and because it's 24 hours long you will probably visit them all anyway... One of my favourites this year was the mulsanne corner at sunset... Also Arnage was a high for me as the track is quite close to the spectators, and there can be some good action.
If you have somewhere to stay already sorted, don't bother buying the general entrance tickets ahead as they are always available (because the site is so big and there are so many people, there is no interest for them to stop selling). The first year I went I just turned up and paid for the car park and general entrance at the gate, and if you park far (like Antares), there are free busses to the village... There are busses to Arnage and Mulsanne too, driving there and back can be a bit of an adventure at night...
Have a look at www.lemans.org for maps and such...
ETA: Grandstands are good for the start and finish, and "comfy" to spend a lot of time at the same place, but bloody expensive in my opinion. Main problem i've had with watching the race this year was the heat, if standing in the sun make sure you have plenty of water available, and plenty of chilled beer at base camp!
If you have somewhere to stay already sorted, don't bother buying the general entrance tickets ahead as they are always available (because the site is so big and there are so many people, there is no interest for them to stop selling). The first year I went I just turned up and paid for the car park and general entrance at the gate, and if you park far (like Antares), there are free busses to the village... There are busses to Arnage and Mulsanne too, driving there and back can be a bit of an adventure at night...
Have a look at www.lemans.org for maps and such...
ETA: Grandstands are good for the start and finish, and "comfy" to spend a lot of time at the same place, but bloody expensive in my opinion. Main problem i've had with watching the race this year was the heat, if standing in the sun make sure you have plenty of water available, and plenty of chilled beer at base camp!
Edited by Alex@POD on Sunday 3rd December 23:39
I've been going to le mans for a fair few years now and there have always been tickets for general entrance available on the day - even managed to get Houx Annexe camping passes the year before last which usually sell out months before. Don;t bother buying the general admission tickets from the ticket companies online they will charge you fortune in commission - camping tickets are probably a good idea to buy in advance though. You can still apply to directs direct to the aco - try www.lemans.org.
Hi, As the others have said, you will always be able to get the general entry tickets at the gate. You may also be able to get grandstand tickets at the ACO office inside the circuit, but they are limited. But if you did want your choice of grandstand, then they are worth booking early.
It is probably going to be even busier next year with Peugeot entering the race.
I always sort out my tickets prior to going, but get them at cost price. Through the travel companies, they are more expensive. If you are planning on staying at the circuit then sorting out the camping tickets may be owrth doing early. The popular sites will probably already be booked now. But if you have accomodation nearby, then it isn't too much of a worry. The parking tickets can be bought at the entry to the car parks.
Well worth the trip, i'm sure you'll enjoy it. Check out www.lemans24.piczo.com
It is probably going to be even busier next year with Peugeot entering the race.
I always sort out my tickets prior to going, but get them at cost price. Through the travel companies, they are more expensive. If you are planning on staying at the circuit then sorting out the camping tickets may be owrth doing early. The popular sites will probably already be booked now. But if you have accomodation nearby, then it isn't too much of a worry. The parking tickets can be bought at the entry to the car parks.
Well worth the trip, i'm sure you'll enjoy it. Check out www.lemans24.piczo.com
Read
www.lemanszone.de/caguide2007/caguide2006-full.pdf
very helpful. The '07 version is still "under construction" but it's still a good and useful read.
www.lemanszone.de/caguide2007/caguide2006-full.pdf
very helpful. The '07 version is still "under construction" but it's still a good and useful read.
leetvr said:
Lads, you have all been a great help........thanks.
I will just pop along and get my tickets on the day, i hope to see some of you there or on the way.
leetvr
I will just pop along and get my tickets on the day, i hope to see some of you there or on the way.
leetvr
Sorry Lee, delay to replying... I've been going for 15 years and there have always been tickets for sale on the door, I have never bought them from a dealer in this country unless if I struggled to get camping tickets...
You'll be fine... A small word of warning though, if you are going to arrive on the day, leave home before 9.00am and plan to spend the whole day there. In fact the earlier the better - 2 reasons, firstly you'll miss the rows of traffic caused as the French come in for the day and more importantly you will get the atmosphere form first practice through the displays and support races...
Mark B said:
leetvr said:
Lads, you have all been a great help........thanks.
I will just pop along and get my tickets on the day, i hope to see some of you there or on the way.
leetvr
I will just pop along and get my tickets on the day, i hope to see some of you there or on the way.
leetvr
Sorry Lee, delay to replying... I've been going for 15 years and there have always been tickets for sale on the door, I have never bought them from a dealer in this country unless if I struggled to get camping tickets...
You'll be fine... A small word of warning though, if you are going to arrive on the day, leave home before 9.00am and plan to spend the whole day there. In fact the earlier the better - 2 reasons, firstly you'll miss the rows of traffic caused as the French come in for the day and more importantly you will get the atmosphere form first practice through the displays and support races...
Thanks mate,
I think we will get there very early, and just stay there. As we are not camping, is there lots of grass areas, with a view of the track, where we can just sitdown have a drink and a bite to eat. Or is it like a GP, no room to sit down and chill?
Sorry to be a pain, just wont to make the most of my first trip.
leetvr
There are plenty of grassy areas that you can sit and chill, it is nothing like a GP! There are also plenty of more rocky and dusty areas to sit and watch so you might want to think about taking something to put your bum on for those - the banking round Dunlop and out to Tetre Rouge is pretty dirty and dusty.
For the real effect you might want to think about camping for the Saturday night, having digs an hour away is OK but we find the day very long and either very hot or very wet - it's nice to have a base camp to go back to with some shade etc. You might not plan to sleep but if you're a mixed group you might find that not all of you want to walk round the circuit for the whole 36 hours that you're likely to be there! It's pretty hard going if you don't have a base.
I'd second the advice to get there early on the Saturday morning, the traffic is dreadful from early on.
For the real effect you might want to think about camping for the Saturday night, having digs an hour away is OK but we find the day very long and either very hot or very wet - it's nice to have a base camp to go back to with some shade etc. You might not plan to sleep but if you're a mixed group you might find that not all of you want to walk round the circuit for the whole 36 hours that you're likely to be there! It's pretty hard going if you don't have a base.
I'd second the advice to get there early on the Saturday morning, the traffic is dreadful from early on.
It's absolutely awesome, 1000 times better than any GP you'll go to!! you simply HAVE to go through the 24hrs though!
You can find a space to sit and chill almost anywhere, and nearly always get a view of the track. On the sunday afternoon of the 05 race there were a couple of guys sat in fold up chairs about 5 meters from the track on the run down to tetre rouge out cold!! Obviously gone through the night, but to be able to sleep with the 'Vettes and Astons roaring past every 30 seconds was a sight to behold.
Will try and go every year for the rest of my life! It's simply that good.
Andy
You can find a space to sit and chill almost anywhere, and nearly always get a view of the track. On the sunday afternoon of the 05 race there were a couple of guys sat in fold up chairs about 5 meters from the track on the run down to tetre rouge out cold!! Obviously gone through the night, but to be able to sleep with the 'Vettes and Astons roaring past every 30 seconds was a sight to behold.
Will try and go every year for the rest of my life! It's simply that good.
Andy
Most of the spectating around 'The Village' is dust rather than grass.
The far ends of 'the village' tends to get grass - the spectator banks in-front of Maison Blanch and up at Tetre Rouge.
If you really want grass head out to Mulsanne and Arnage corners (there is a free bus that runs from the corner of the car-park opposite the main entrance, though with a very French idea of regularity - even when there isn't any traffic).
If your not going to camp I'd say:
1) Get there early and get your bearings.
2) Grab some lunch and hit your chosen starting position around 1 - for first timers I'd say the start/finish straight. This should get you a reasonable view. Turn up at 3:30 without a grandstand seat and you won't see anything but heads.
3) Depending where your parked, wonder to the other end of the village, stopping and spectating as you go then back to the other end.
4) In the evening stop by your car to kit-up. Grab some layers for warmth and sleeping bags if your flagging and catch the free bus to Arnage (personal fav. spectating area).
5) When you have had enough of that bus on to Mulsanne, where the best impromptu sleeping is to be had (that's impromptu, not quiet mind). From the bus, head for the nearest noise and you end up on an almost empty grass area along-side the track between Mulsanne and the first 'kink'.
6) Watch/sleep till the sun comes up then wonder back to 'The Village' for breakfast (nothing like coffee and a Grand Marnier crepe at 7AM).
The far ends of 'the village' tends to get grass - the spectator banks in-front of Maison Blanch and up at Tetre Rouge.
If you really want grass head out to Mulsanne and Arnage corners (there is a free bus that runs from the corner of the car-park opposite the main entrance, though with a very French idea of regularity - even when there isn't any traffic).
If your not going to camp I'd say:
1) Get there early and get your bearings.
2) Grab some lunch and hit your chosen starting position around 1 - for first timers I'd say the start/finish straight. This should get you a reasonable view. Turn up at 3:30 without a grandstand seat and you won't see anything but heads.
3) Depending where your parked, wonder to the other end of the village, stopping and spectating as you go then back to the other end.
4) In the evening stop by your car to kit-up. Grab some layers for warmth and sleeping bags if your flagging and catch the free bus to Arnage (personal fav. spectating area).
5) When you have had enough of that bus on to Mulsanne, where the best impromptu sleeping is to be had (that's impromptu, not quiet mind). From the bus, head for the nearest noise and you end up on an almost empty grass area along-side the track between Mulsanne and the first 'kink'.
6) Watch/sleep till the sun comes up then wonder back to 'The Village' for breakfast (nothing like coffee and a Grand Marnier crepe at 7AM).
//j17 said:
Most of the spectating around 'The Village' is dust rather than grass.
The far ends of 'the village' tends to get grass - the spectator banks in-front of Maison Blanch and up at Tetre Rouge.
If you really want grass head out to Mulsanne and Arnage corners (there is a free bus that runs from the corner of the car-park opposite the main entrance, though with a very French idea of regularity - even when there isn't any traffic).
If your not going to camp I'd say:
1) Get there early and get your bearings.
2) Grab some lunch and hit your chosen starting position around 1 - for first timers I'd say the start/finish straight. This should get you a reasonable view. Turn up at 3:30 without a grandstand seat and you won't see anything but heads.
3) Depending where your parked, wonder to the other end of the village, stopping and spectating as you go then back to the other end.
4) In the evening stop by your car to kit-up. Grab some layers for warmth and sleeping bags if your flagging and catch the free bus to Arnage (personal fav. spectating area).
5) When you have had enough of that bus on to Mulsanne, where the best impromptu sleeping is to be had (that's impromptu, not quiet mind). From the bus, head for the nearest noise and you end up on an almost empty grass area along-side the track between Mulsanne and the first 'kink'.
6) Watch/sleep till the sun comes up then wonder back to 'The Village' for breakfast (nothing like coffee and a Grand Marnier crepe at 7AM).
The far ends of 'the village' tends to get grass - the spectator banks in-front of Maison Blanch and up at Tetre Rouge.
If you really want grass head out to Mulsanne and Arnage corners (there is a free bus that runs from the corner of the car-park opposite the main entrance, though with a very French idea of regularity - even when there isn't any traffic).
If your not going to camp I'd say:
1) Get there early and get your bearings.
2) Grab some lunch and hit your chosen starting position around 1 - for first timers I'd say the start/finish straight. This should get you a reasonable view. Turn up at 3:30 without a grandstand seat and you won't see anything but heads.
3) Depending where your parked, wonder to the other end of the village, stopping and spectating as you go then back to the other end.
4) In the evening stop by your car to kit-up. Grab some layers for warmth and sleeping bags if your flagging and catch the free bus to Arnage (personal fav. spectating area).
5) When you have had enough of that bus on to Mulsanne, where the best impromptu sleeping is to be had (that's impromptu, not quiet mind). From the bus, head for the nearest noise and you end up on an almost empty grass area along-side the track between Mulsanne and the first 'kink'.
6) Watch/sleep till the sun comes up then wonder back to 'The Village' for breakfast (nothing like coffee and a Grand Marnier crepe at 7AM).
Nothing to add to that, well said!
Actually yes: Make sure you have plenty of water with you, as in the heat there has been the past few years it's easy to get dehydrated and all... And it might be worth taking a trip down on the friday night to see the action.
[quote=LaSarthe&Back]It's absolutely awesome, 1000 times better than any GP you'll go to!! you simply HAVE to go through the 24hrs though!
You can find a space to sit and chill almost anywhere, and nearly always get a view of the track. On the sunday afternoon of the 05 race there were a couple of guys sat in fold up chairs about 5 meters from the track on the run down to tetre rouge out cold!! Obviously gone through the night, but to be able to sleep with the 'Vettes and Astons roaring past every 30 seconds was a sight to behold.
Will try and go every year for the rest of my life! It's simply that good.
Andy[/quote]
In 2004 I feel asleep at Tetra Rouge, the damn safety car came out after about an hour, it woke me up because there was no noise
You can find a space to sit and chill almost anywhere, and nearly always get a view of the track. On the sunday afternoon of the 05 race there were a couple of guys sat in fold up chairs about 5 meters from the track on the run down to tetre rouge out cold!! Obviously gone through the night, but to be able to sleep with the 'Vettes and Astons roaring past every 30 seconds was a sight to behold.
Will try and go every year for the rest of my life! It's simply that good.
Andy[/quote]
In 2004 I feel asleep at Tetra Rouge, the damn safety car came out after about an hour, it woke me up because there was no noise
Just a note to add that you can also buy tickets from the Carrefour hyper market in town. Last year a friend who was coming over with me couldn't get ANYTHING out of the boot of his car (Mondeo saloon with a solenoid lock), all he had was his clothes he was in, wallet and passport. Carrefour turned his weekend from disaster to success. Do not underestimate it's power!
Regardless, go, enjoy, go again (repeat for ever)
Regardless, go, enjoy, go again (repeat for ever)
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