Tribunes..... are they worth it?
Discussion
Just thinking ahead to next year and booking a tribune seat. This year had seats in T16 which was ok but not great as they were vertical posts supporting the roof etc etc.
I've had a look at various others such as T23 La Sarthe, which is just next to MB. Any thoughts on the position of this and experiences of other stands to consider?
Cheers.
I've had a look at various others such as T23 La Sarthe, which is just next to MB. Any thoughts on the position of this and experiences of other stands to consider?
Cheers.
We've had seats in T19 for the past few years (think we got lucky in 2006 and had ACO grandstand ones) and they're fine. They protect you from the rain and sun (unlike the ones over the pits, where people slowly seem to get toasted as the sun moves overhead !! ) and the view of the pits is great. You're also able to see all the build up to the start. So on that basis, definitely worth it.
That said.... I'd like to try one of the Tribunes down near the Ford chicanes. I imagine there's some good photo opportunities down there at the start / finish.
Hi T'bird,
Been going with my son since '96, Le Mans Classics too, and always had seats in La Sarthe Tribune (previously Maison Blanche). I'm too old to have just a GE ticket, and what the hell, I can afford a seat anyway. In my view La Sarthe is far and away the best grandstand, and many of the very early morning interlopers agree! I know it's away from the pit straight area but you get chicane action, see the cars entering the pits and you can see and get the noise all up the pits straight. Only problem is there is no big screen to see.
I always park in Parking Blanc too which is really convenient.
That said, for Le Classic 2010 my son and I are going for ACO tribune seats as there is a lot more pit and grid action for Le Classic. We're ACO members so we're hoping we succeed, otherwise back to La Sarthe which is no problem for us.
Just one thing about La Sarthe tribune: there's usually a lot of corporate types there on their hospitality do, so maybe there's a lack of motor racing fans, which pisses us off frankly. However, although these types will be there for the first hour or so it's not uncommon for them not to show up at all after then, which means there's more room. The seats in this tribune are pretty cramped and there's no back support as in, say, Lagache.
Maybe I've given away one of Le Mans secrets....
R.
Been going with my son since '96, Le Mans Classics too, and always had seats in La Sarthe Tribune (previously Maison Blanche). I'm too old to have just a GE ticket, and what the hell, I can afford a seat anyway. In my view La Sarthe is far and away the best grandstand, and many of the very early morning interlopers agree! I know it's away from the pit straight area but you get chicane action, see the cars entering the pits and you can see and get the noise all up the pits straight. Only problem is there is no big screen to see.
I always park in Parking Blanc too which is really convenient.
That said, for Le Classic 2010 my son and I are going for ACO tribune seats as there is a lot more pit and grid action for Le Classic. We're ACO members so we're hoping we succeed, otherwise back to La Sarthe which is no problem for us.
Just one thing about La Sarthe tribune: there's usually a lot of corporate types there on their hospitality do, so maybe there's a lack of motor racing fans, which pisses us off frankly. However, although these types will be there for the first hour or so it's not uncommon for them not to show up at all after then, which means there's more room. The seats in this tribune are pretty cramped and there's no back support as in, say, Lagache.
Maybe I've given away one of Le Mans secrets....
R.
I booked grandstands this year for the first time. We were in T19 as well 
100% worth it to me. Im disabled, so having somewhere guaranteed to sit and watch the race, at any time throughout the 24 hours, was a godsend. I'll be booking T19 next year too, although i really should make the effort to get to other parts of the track!
100% worth it to me. Im disabled, so having somewhere guaranteed to sit and watch the race, at any time throughout the 24 hours, was a godsend. I'll be booking T19 next year too, although i really should make the effort to get to other parts of the track!
I'd also say its definitely worth getting a seat.
I have twice had tickets for T23 - La Sarth (Maison Blanche) its a great grandstand. The downsides for me are you are not opposite the pits and you don't get as much of the atmosphere during the buildup.
However you do get a great view during the race and there is often action at the ford chicane.
This year I wasn't able to get T23 and had a seat in one of the stands beyond the ACO grandstand, it was worth it, better than roughing it without a seat. Fortunately I asked politely in french and was admitted to T23 at about 3am in the morning for a few minutes just to take some nice photo's.
I have twice had tickets for T23 - La Sarth (Maison Blanche) its a great grandstand. The downsides for me are you are not opposite the pits and you don't get as much of the atmosphere during the buildup.
However you do get a great view during the race and there is often action at the ford chicane.
This year I wasn't able to get T23 and had a seat in one of the stands beyond the ACO grandstand, it was worth it, better than roughing it without a seat. Fortunately I asked politely in french and was admitted to T23 at about 3am in the morning for a few minutes just to take some nice photo's.
I'd say so, we had T34 (above the pits), great view of pre-race, start/ finish & during the night you can get above pretty much every pit (great for pics if you don't mind hanging over the barrier).
Don't have to sit in the sun (on the hot years) for hours.
Does double the ticket prices though.
Don't have to sit in the sun (on the hot years) for hours.
Does double the ticket prices though.
We've had enough of the scrum to see start\finish without tribune seats so we're finally going for it next year .... feels a bit like cheating but given the tents have long since made way for a motor home it's only a little step.
We're reckoning on one down near Dunlop but would welcome any pointers.
They'll only be used for qualy\start\finish - we'll still be getting around the rest of the time
We're reckoning on one down near Dunlop but would welcome any pointers.
They'll only be used for qualy\start\finish - we'll still be getting around the rest of the time
Tyre Smoke said:
The grandstnds are a free for all for free practice/qually so no advantage in holding a ticket. The ticket only guarantees your seat for the 24 hours.
And you can usually wander into most of the tribunes (apart from the ACO one and the ones over the pit garages) in the early hours of the morning during the race itself.Edited by Nick M on Sunday 5th July 11:57
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