Travelling Light - what can we leave out? newbies
Discussion
Im trying very hard to sort my mates out to book for le mans and its looking like i'll have to drive 4 of us down in my car because the b*stards dont want to drive themselves!
I have a 6 man tent which is quite large, but that and the sleeping bags / airbeds will fit in the boot with some small holdalls for clothes.
Now, I was planning on taking a stove, cool-box, gazebo for shade (although my tent has a large living space inside) fold-up chairs, etc. What essentials do i need for the trip and what can i buy over there when we arrive? conversely, what cant i leave behind? we'll be there thursday afternoon.
oh, my cars a fiat stilo by the way, so not a massive car!
I have a 6 man tent which is quite large, but that and the sleeping bags / airbeds will fit in the boot with some small holdalls for clothes.
Now, I was planning on taking a stove, cool-box, gazebo for shade (although my tent has a large living space inside) fold-up chairs, etc. What essentials do i need for the trip and what can i buy over there when we arrive? conversely, what cant i leave behind? we'll be there thursday afternoon.
oh, my cars a fiat stilo by the way, so not a massive car!
You can get pretty much everything at the Carrefour there - including tents sleeping bags and a gazebo (we got a cheap one there last year)
Stove is okay, but you can buy disposable barbecues there, coolbox is a good idea, but will be warm inside 36hours of arriving - buy ice at Carrefour.
A torch is a good idea, so you are not stumbling around and pissing on someone else's tent in the middle of the night!!
Stove is okay, but you can buy disposable barbecues there, coolbox is a good idea, but will be warm inside 36hours of arriving - buy ice at Carrefour.
A torch is a good idea, so you are not stumbling around and pissing on someone else's tent in the middle of the night!!
at the least, passport and credit card- everythign else can be bought in supermarkets near the circuit.
Realistically, a coolbox will be great on the way down but pointless when you're there, unless you can find a way of powering it.
The websites like club arnarge and beermountain.com also have lists of useful items, and what to leave behind. Your choice of campsite will help dictate what you bring as well...
Realistically, a coolbox will be great on the way down but pointless when you're there, unless you can find a way of powering it.
The websites like club arnarge and beermountain.com also have lists of useful items, and what to leave behind. Your choice of campsite will help dictate what you bring as well...
chrisbr68 said:
Tell the lazy bastards to drive!
Here Here!! Tell them there's only enough room for 2 in the car due to the gear you "need" to take. If you load the car up to satisfy your lazy friends the problem of buying gear over there won't be the only problem. Guess who's going to drive them around, guess who's going to get fined, guess who's not drinking.......
.....thats you my friend!!
VETTE_1978 said:
chrisbr68 said:
Tell the lazy bastards to drive!
Here Here!! Tell them there's only enough room for 2 in the car due to the gear you "need" to take. If you load the car up to satisfy your lazy friends the problem of buying gear over there won't be the only problem. Guess who's going to drive them around, guess who's going to get fined, guess who's not drinking.......
.....thats you my friend!!
haha thats what i originally said! I think i may have to re-emphasise this point...
we are staying at Beausejour and i dont plan to drive anywhere once we've arrived on thursday and got all the beer from carrefour - well i may nip out on friday to restock but i dont mind doing the odd quick trip!
cheers for the advice on carrefour by the way, ive read a few bits on club arnage and BM but its blocked at work
I wanted to do it in comfort and ive already got a gazebo / chairs etc so dont really want to buy more...
i was planning to take a coolbox and just keep refilling with ice and beer when needed...
Trust me you'll want to drive at some point. We stayed at BSJ our first year and drove to Mulsanne and Tetre Rouge a few times. I know there's buses but it's so much easier to take the car - air con, convenience, comfort. If you're taking a big tent, gazebo and chairs there's no more room, surely!
Yup as said, if there are four of you and gear your only option is to buy stuff there and leave it behind. If your buddies don't like it then they need to take their own car. It doesn't go both ways!!
I'd go for potentially dumping your tent as well in favour of something smaller - the inside space will be irrelevant as (unless it pisses down) once the sun comes up the temperature will become unbearable inside. I'd think about going for perhaps a couple of smaller "sleeping tents" rather than the big dome I'd imagine you've got. Perhaps buy them down there rather than in LM to save space going down.
A gazebo is a good idea and better than the living space of your tent (as above) - personally I'd buy one there if space is a problem.
Disposible BBQ's are a pain, they don't cook for long and aren't very big (for 4), I'd be tempted to blow 20 euros or so on a cheap permanent one, add a bag of charcoal and some fluid, use it and leave it for the locals. Unless you're not going to BBQ much in which case don't bother, just take a flat griddle plate to go over your stove for bacon butties etc.
Get youself some compression straps and put clothes, waterproofs and anything squishy in those. Ban pillows - take a pillow case and stuff it with clothes/towel if they want to.
I've done this with four people, a roofbox and a second car already down there and it is virtually impossible if you want to take kit as well.
They've got a choice...
I'd go for potentially dumping your tent as well in favour of something smaller - the inside space will be irrelevant as (unless it pisses down) once the sun comes up the temperature will become unbearable inside. I'd think about going for perhaps a couple of smaller "sleeping tents" rather than the big dome I'd imagine you've got. Perhaps buy them down there rather than in LM to save space going down.
A gazebo is a good idea and better than the living space of your tent (as above) - personally I'd buy one there if space is a problem.
Disposible BBQ's are a pain, they don't cook for long and aren't very big (for 4), I'd be tempted to blow 20 euros or so on a cheap permanent one, add a bag of charcoal and some fluid, use it and leave it for the locals. Unless you're not going to BBQ much in which case don't bother, just take a flat griddle plate to go over your stove for bacon butties etc.
Get youself some compression straps and put clothes, waterproofs and anything squishy in those. Ban pillows - take a pillow case and stuff it with clothes/towel if they want to.
I've done this with four people, a roofbox and a second car already down there and it is virtually impossible if you want to take kit as well.
They've got a choice...
snotrag said:
If theres 4 of you travelling together - how about all chipping in and buying a massive volvo/transit van/taxi/dropside tipper/whatever for 250quid each, sharing the driving, then flogging it for whatever you can get once your home?
we're all on a bit of limited budget to be honest, and im trying to keep it as hassle free as possible. I think ill try n talk my other mate into driving his diesel astra down, my other mate wont drive his type-r because he's a complete ponce and says 'his back will hurt and he will get bored driving that far...'
whats the point of having a type-r then? i tell you, some people sheesh!
My mate took his type R down in 2005 and even removed the back seats to fit in the scooters. I thought the Front Seats were excellent and was comfy all through the 8 hour monday trudge back to Calais. Its a great car for the trip, fast and with its mini-suv shape loads of room for your gear.
No true petrolhead would not want to drive down, its all part of the fun.
You asked what you could leave behind, my first suggestion would be him.
No true petrolhead would not want to drive down, its all part of the fun.
You asked what you could leave behind, my first suggestion would be him.
williamp said:
at the least, passport and credit card- everythign else can be bought in supermarkets near the circuit.
Realistically, a coolbox will be great on the way down but pointless when you're there, unless you can find a way of powering it.
Surely you can just keep stuff in the fridge in your hotel room? Realistically, a coolbox will be great on the way down but pointless when you're there, unless you can find a way of powering it.
Other thoughts...you don't say where you are camping. Most sites work off a notional 35msq camping space. If this is enforced (who knows) I doubt you'll manage to get a dome tent and a gazeebo on your pitch. If you do manage to get your mates to take another car then you'll need a second pass (which will of course give you a second allowance of space).
I have to say that trying to do this on a tight budget where one of you is providing the car is always a problem - you might want to think carefully about how you charge this out to them. They'll want you to pay fuel, tolls, ferry etc as a split I'm sure but don't forget you are the one supplying the car and incurring the wear and tear. You might want to think about a mileage rate to reflect the deal.
There is always one tight wad who moans about the cost of everything!
I have to say that trying to do this on a tight budget where one of you is providing the car is always a problem - you might want to think carefully about how you charge this out to them. They'll want you to pay fuel, tolls, ferry etc as a split I'm sure but don't forget you are the one supplying the car and incurring the wear and tear. You might want to think about a mileage rate to reflect the deal.
There is always one tight wad who moans about the cost of everything!
Naughty Magpie said:
Rolfie said:
No true petrolhead would not want to drive down, its all part of the fun.
You asked what you could leave behind, my first suggestion would be him.
You asked what you could leave behind, my first suggestion would be him.
i like it! Piglet - We're on beausejour, so will space be a problem on there? im gonna have a word with a mate tonight and see if he'll drive. cheers for the advice though!
BSJ is normally the easiest place to get a pitch on late in the week. However, it's suggested size is the regulation 5mx7m per car. With just the one car it might be a case of taking the piss if you then try to put up a tent the size of Wembley, and a gazebo, and not expect anyone to have a word.
Has anyone got any more info on the swimming pools after all the worry about them last year? I would expect you will be ok with a gazebo! Also, if your neighbours dont have one and you get them over to sit round in the shade for a drink, they wont be complaining. Are they really that strict?
They werent that strict in 2003 when I last camped, but I hear things have come on since then. Actually, the beermountain team were taking up plenty of space last year and they seemed to get away with it... theyre in MB iirc
They werent that strict in 2003 when I last camped, but I hear things have come on since then. Actually, the beermountain team were taking up plenty of space last year and they seemed to get away with it... theyre in MB iirc
chrisbr68 said:
Has anyone got any more info on the swimming pools after all the worry about them last year? I would expect you will be ok with a gazebo! Also, if your neighbours dont have one and you get them over to sit round in the shade for a drink, they wont be complaining. Are they really that strict?
They werent that strict in 2003 when I last camped, but I hear things have come on since then. Actually, the beermountain team were taking up plenty of space last year and they seemed to get away with it... theyre in MB iirc
They werent that strict in 2003 when I last camped, but I hear things have come on since then. Actually, the beermountain team were taking up plenty of space last year and they seemed to get away with it... theyre in MB iirc
right, just heard off one of the lads that he cant get time off so thats kind've ended my dilemma really! with three of us i can cope with that and i cant make one lad drive on his own... (well i can but it makes it cheaper for me!)
my tent isnt massive, its big but not taking the piss size, and i would put the gazebo over the front anyway so it kind of rests on the tent. i would try an make the pitch as small as possible but ill check the footprint of the tent as well.
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