Le Mans Classic 2010

[Nick M]

Having semi-volunteered to organise a trip to the Classic next year, someone asked me at the weekend how many days they should plan to be away.

I know the event is on the Friday through Sunday, and I expect we'll probably head back on the Monday morning as we do for the regular Le Mans trip. I was expecting to head down on the Thursday but is there any reason to go any earlier ? Is it possible to wander round the pit lane / paddock on the Thursday for example ?

Thanks everyone.

[The Leaper]

Nick,

My son and I have been to the past three Le Classics. We've always travelled there on the Friday and back on the Monday. Getting a paddock pass is easy and gives you access all the time from Saturday through Sunday while the raxcing is on and probably Friday too. You will not need a pit pass as the pit lane is only used for driver changes, attention to cars while racing, and other minor things. All the real work goes on in the paddock.

[The Leaper]

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Getting into the paddock is therefore a must do thing. It's easy to get close up to all the cars, the drivers, chat to owners and mechanics etc. The paddock can get a bit busy but I'd not say it get's over-crowded at all. The paddock occupies a large area behind the pits and is usually set up in decades so all cars of a certain period are together.

Hope this helps..going earlier may be OK but I cannot see what you'd want to see that you cannot see at the weekend.

R.

[Nick M]

Grand, thanks for that. I wasn't sure how much access there would be during the 'race' with cars moving around, so that's reassuring.

I think we may still venture down on the Thursday so the weekend feels a little less rushed. Went down on the Friday evening for the main Le Mans race in 2008, and it felt like the whole weekend whistled by far too quick.

Would also give us the chance to have a nice lunch somewhere on the Friday !

Thanks again

[The Leaper]

Nick, I assume you are familiar with the pretty good restaurants in the area of the old town of Le Mans, although they may be more appropriate for dinner not lunch. There are also some good ones, favourites with many Brits, on the road to Le Mans.

R.

[Nick M]

The Leaper said:

Nick, I assume you are familiar with the pretty good restaurants in the area of the old town of Le Mans, although they may be more appropriate for dinner not lunch. There are also some good ones, favourites with many Brits, on the road to Le Mans.

R.

Well then we'll just have to have lunch *and* dinner !!


I enjoy the run down to La Chartre sur le Loir - lovely drive if you don't go via the N138 and choose the road to the west - although I imagine it's rather more quiet during the Classic weekend.

[e635815]

But I fear that most of the accomodations are already fully booked...unless you consider camping. Even though, it is just on time to start looking for a place to stay. Good luck.

[Nick M]

e635815 said:

But I fear that most of the accomodations are already fully booked...unless you consider camping. Even though, it is just on time to start looking for a place to stay. Good luck.

Was planning on camping to be honest, although we may not camp at the circuit.


[tangent] are there any storage places in Le Mans - like those "Big Yellow Storage" places over here ? Was just thinking it might be handy to drop a bunch of stuff off there after the normal Le Mans trip and collect it for the Classic, to save lugging it all back and forth.

[leyorkie]

Friday is by far the better day for paddock access, I live 40k south of the circuit and the Classic is a big event for me (7 mates already booked for next year). Attendance on the Friday is probably less than 50% of the weekend attendance so not as busy and much more relaxed. If you want to look at the cars and talk to the competitors it is much easier to do so than during race. Plus if you are camping you can get a better spot by being in early.