Le Mans first timer after some advice

[samparker]

Just after some general advice please guys. I think a party of about 5 of us are planning to come down on Thurs to get there mid afternoon then come back on the Monday. Do you think we will get a decent camp spot if we get there then? If not, when would be a good time to turn up in order to achieve that. Also, what are the best campsites which don't require membership of any club? Cheers, Sam

[-JUT-]

samparker said:

Just after some general advice please guys. I think a party of about 5 of us are planning to come down on Thurs to get there mid afternoon then come back on the Monday. Do you think we will get a decent camp spot if we get there then? If not, when would be a good time to turn up in order to achieve that. Also, what are the best campsites which don't require membership of any club? Cheers, Sam

First things first, all of the campsites are reviewed on beermountain.com - have you had a look there?

There will still be plots in all of the camps on Thursday afternoon but finding several consecutive ones may be hard. Are you talking about 5 cars or 5 people in fewer cars? Better if you can to buy 5 tickets at a campsite with marked and numbered plots, so you know you'll get 5 together.

[fatboy18]

What sort of package are you after? You can go to the ACO website to ckeck out campsite locations, prices of general entrance tickets and grandstand locations and ticket prices. However, getting grandstand tickets and camping tickets directly from the ACO can be a bit hit and miss They operate a queing system, so you have to ask, then wait to see if they will allocate you your tickets!! You may not here for a couple of months! Which, to be honnest is a nightmare as your on tender hooks wondering wether or not you will get your tickets!

Many tour operators are allocated camping permits 'on block' you can purchase tickets from these operators but you will pay more! But thats the tourist business

There are many tour operators that do Le mans packages and many of them advertise on PH. The bottom line is how much you are willing to pay for peace of mind. Also of course what your preferences are?

[alloallo]

Yes buying numbered plots is a good idea even if you only have two cars. You could try the ACO to see if they have had any returns. Otherwise a mate of mine bought Blue Nord from Speed Chills the other day. They are numbered and allocated, and you don't have to belong to their club.

[Emsman]

I bought off ebay last year from Blu Nord, to arrive and find half of our pitch over bloody concrete.

Read the reviews on beermountain.com

Make your choice, although they will all come up for sale again on ebay nearer the time as folk drop out/turn a quick profit etc

Oh, and you will love the weekend!!

I went once in 1993, been each year since

[tom1982]

make sure you have good bowels is my tip as the toilets are shoddy, well recent years are better.

[odyssey2200]

Do you need to buy tickets in advance or can you buy them on the gate?

I have always been on an organised tour or been a guest before.

[The Leaper]

I assume you mean circuit tickets only. General entrance tickets are easily bought at the gate and give access to the circuit but not the grandstands. Grandstand tickets need to be purchased well in advance. Search on the PH Le Mans thread for info where they can be bought.

r.

[chimtvr]

To get your choice of camping ticket from the aco you must book at the latest 11 months ahead.
the only way now you will get choice tickets is an agent or maybe ebay also check forums , club arnage, pistonheads or beermountain.

[84smm]

Buying General admission tickets in advance usually depends on when you plan on arriving @ the track - For example if you travel down on Friday and go to the track Saturday morning you will be queuing for a long time (you will always get tickets!) but if you get down there on wednesday you wont have to wait at all! Hope this helps