ACO Membership and is it worth while?
Discussion
Just wondered if joining the ACO is a goo thing if your a Le Mans lover like myself, I have gone most years since 2002 and intend to keep going until I peg out/can't drive or the tree huggers ban it!. I would be interested if any ACO members on this site could explain the pro's or con,s and what it offers for your euro's. I'm guessing "LOWDRAG" is a fountain of info on this matter? Thanks in advance, Tom
Personally, I cant see the point. For almost £100 what do you get ? As a group a few years ago, we joined the ACO thinking we would get preferential treatment when ordering tickets. Our 1st choice was the Houx. We got Karting Nord. we asked for Grandstand tickets and got our 2nd choice. Basically, we wasted €95 as there was nothing else that interested us. All tickets slightly cheaper than normal but you wont save anywhere near your initial outlay. Having said that, just cos it didn't suit us doesn't mean it wont suit other people. Cheaper and more reliable to go with an agent.
I think ACO membership is right for me and my son, although I'm pretty sure it may not be right for everyone. I know that the annual June trip can be done for a lot less than I've set out below if all is done DIY, a cheaper ferry is used, and you camp which we've never done.
We've been going to Le Mans since 1996 and until 2009 always used one of the ticket agencies. We've always arranged the following:
Eurotunnel
Hotel (single rooms) for three days (Friday to Sunday inclusive)
General entrance tickets
Grandstand seats (usually Maison Blanche/Le Sarthe)
Parking Blanc
For 2008 this cost with a well known motor racing ticketing/tour firm for the two of us all up was around £1400 which I considered to be getting seriously expensive!
For 2009 I decided to join ACO and do everything for the two of us myself. Exactly the same package plus ACO membership worked out to be all up £720 for two. I considered this a good result! For the ACO associated costs (ie excluding Eurotunnel and hotel) the cost was around £370.
This year we cannot make Le Mans in June but we are going to Le Classic in July, on exactly the same basis as before although in the ACO grandstand plus the addition of paddock passes. This works out to be all up £640 for two. The ACO only cost is £210.
Aside from discounted ACO costs, an advantage of ACO membership is that tickets etc can be booked via ACO well in advance (although their booking system is lousy!) and ahead of the ticket agencies, so you know what you will get. Booking significantly in advance is the key to getting exactly what you want as evidenced by many other posts elsewhere on the PH Le Mans thread.
R.
We've been going to Le Mans since 1996 and until 2009 always used one of the ticket agencies. We've always arranged the following:
Eurotunnel
Hotel (single rooms) for three days (Friday to Sunday inclusive)
General entrance tickets
Grandstand seats (usually Maison Blanche/Le Sarthe)
Parking Blanc
For 2008 this cost with a well known motor racing ticketing/tour firm for the two of us all up was around £1400 which I considered to be getting seriously expensive!
For 2009 I decided to join ACO and do everything for the two of us myself. Exactly the same package plus ACO membership worked out to be all up £720 for two. I considered this a good result! For the ACO associated costs (ie excluding Eurotunnel and hotel) the cost was around £370.
This year we cannot make Le Mans in June but we are going to Le Classic in July, on exactly the same basis as before although in the ACO grandstand plus the addition of paddock passes. This works out to be all up £640 for two. The ACO only cost is £210.
Aside from discounted ACO costs, an advantage of ACO membership is that tickets etc can be booked via ACO well in advance (although their booking system is lousy!) and ahead of the ticket agencies, so you know what you will get. Booking significantly in advance is the key to getting exactly what you want as evidenced by many other posts elsewhere on the PH Le Mans thread.
R.
I have often thought about Joining the ACO but I cant justify the cost 
If there's 6 or 7 of you, then I reckon its worth it, as overall you will save monies on grandstand tickets and Camping and general entrance and it will also get you into the ACO members restaurant area at the rear of the village (the one Steve Mcqueen sat in, in the film Le Mans)
For one or two of you joining IMO I don't think you get any value at all, however I respect the Leapers comments
Considering how they manage ticket allocation and camping, I'm amazed they even manage to organise a 24hr race at all!
PS: Hope your well Tom, Ile be their again this year in the Viper, I owe you Pudding
If there's 6 or 7 of you, then I reckon its worth it, as overall you will save monies on grandstand tickets and Camping and general entrance and it will also get you into the ACO members restaurant area at the rear of the village (the one Steve Mcqueen sat in, in the film Le Mans)For one or two of you joining IMO I don't think you get any value at all, however I respect the Leapers comments
Considering how they manage ticket allocation and camping, I'm amazed they even manage to organise a 24hr race at all!
PS: Hope your well Tom, Ile be their again this year in the Viper, I owe you Pudding
Have a look here 'Venom 500' 
I think you get printed results of the race and a poster too for 97 EUROS!
http://www.autoclub.fr/club24/pages/club24_gb.html
I think you get printed results of the race and a poster too for 97 EUROS!http://www.autoclub.fr/club24/pages/club24_gb.html
ACO membership gets you limited freebees...there's a well produced, comprehensive post race package which includes the poster and very comprehensive stats etc (not something I'm particularly interested in), and so far at all Le Classics there's free paddock entry (although I suspect entry without a pass is not difficult!).
There is a discount on the tickets (GE, tribune and parking, probably camping too), and you can get a reasonable allocation of the number of tickets.
Tickets in the ACO grandstand are easier to get. I think this is a good grandstand for Le Classic where there is a great deal of pit straight and pits action, but I prefer Le Sarthe for the 24 hour race. The ACO grandstand has a bar which is useful and a good place to meet and chat too.
Re the ACO restaurant in the Village, I think that it's possible to get into there without ACO membership by a small payment "on the door". I've not used the restaurant but the trackside bar there is good.
I still feel the best part of ACO membership is the ability to order tickets really early and get what you want without any worries. Payment is made a few months before the event, not when ordered if early. I just wished the ACO invested some of my annual sub in a decent members only online ticketing system!
I do accept that for E95 the value is questionable. Maybe I just like the peace of mind when planning my next trip well ahead.
R.
There is a discount on the tickets (GE, tribune and parking, probably camping too), and you can get a reasonable allocation of the number of tickets.
Tickets in the ACO grandstand are easier to get. I think this is a good grandstand for Le Classic where there is a great deal of pit straight and pits action, but I prefer Le Sarthe for the 24 hour race. The ACO grandstand has a bar which is useful and a good place to meet and chat too.
Re the ACO restaurant in the Village, I think that it's possible to get into there without ACO membership by a small payment "on the door". I've not used the restaurant but the trackside bar there is good.
I still feel the best part of ACO membership is the ability to order tickets really early and get what you want without any worries. Payment is made a few months before the event, not when ordered if early. I just wished the ACO invested some of my annual sub in a decent members only online ticketing system!
I do accept that for E95 the value is questionable. Maybe I just like the peace of mind when planning my next trip well ahead.
R.
I was ordering 7 sets of tickets on the ACO site when it offered me membership. The discount on 6 of the tickets covered the cost and I got all of the tickets that i wanted (and they've arrived!).
Not sure what other benefits to expect but I can't complain given that it was effectively free.
Not sure what other benefits to expect but I can't complain given that it was effectively free.
theaxe said:
I was ordering 7 sets of tickets on the ACO site when it offered me membership. The discount on 6 of the tickets covered the cost and I got all of the tickets that i wanted (and they've arrived!).
Not sure what other benefits to expect but I can't complain given that it was effectively free.
I also went for the Breakdown cover option - that helped my justify it. I also feel like I am supporting Le Mans.Not sure what other benefits to expect but I can't complain given that it was effectively free.
I have been a member for a few years now and find that with a group of four of us the membership pays for itself with the reduction in ticket prices for general entry and camping. About 3 years ago they said that I could only have ACO membership if I had a French address (which I have), otherwise I would have to get Club 24 membership. I stuck with ACO membership because of the breakdown cover it provides and because I am not too worried about the poster and photos which you can get after the 24 hour race - these are available to ACO members at extra cost, however.
In the past there has been a free grandstand for ACO members, but when booking for the Classic this year (we aren't going to the 24 hour race) they have charged me for the grandstand, can't remember how much but it wasn't too bad.
In the past there has been a free grandstand for ACO members, but when booking for the Classic this year (we aren't going to the 24 hour race) they have charged me for the grandstand, can't remember how much but it wasn't too bad.
Slurms said:
So the breakdown cover is only available to those with a french address?
I've got one but wasn't planning on using it for a membership... As i'm camping at Houx this year and will be around the village more I was wondering if it was worth it to use the restaurant bar etc...
The ACO bar area gets busy, but the toilets can be about the cleanest in the village. Overall it makes a nice break with good track views.I've got one but wasn't planning on using it for a membership... As i'm camping at Houx this year and will be around the village more I was wondering if it was worth it to use the restaurant bar etc...
The membership is okay if there are more than six as the saving on camping is very small but greater on the general entry tickets. Four or less and you make a loss.
You do get an english speaking telephone line, but they don't always answer it. And for ACO grandstand tickets you are limited to two per membership and no gaurantee of actually getting seats any way.
There are showers and clean toilets in the ACO stand so that in it self is useful.
But the cost is high so I haven't renewed this year, will que with the rest for a pee and have booked cheaper grandstand seats with no facilities but the same view.
You do get an english speaking telephone line, but they don't always answer it. And for ACO grandstand tickets you are limited to two per membership and no gaurantee of actually getting seats any way.
There are showers and clean toilets in the ACO stand so that in it self is useful.
But the cost is high so I haven't renewed this year, will que with the rest for a pee and have booked cheaper grandstand seats with no facilities but the same view.
Hi - is the ACO grandstand one of the ones above the garages/pits? What are the others - or are they all ACO?
So, does ACO membership provide you with access to one of those grandstands, and to their building at the track? There seem to be varying answers on here. There is no mention of either benefit on the ACO membership page here: http://www.passion-24.org/htm/passion.asp
Thanks
So, does ACO membership provide you with access to one of those grandstands, and to their building at the track? There seem to be varying answers on here. There is no mention of either benefit on the ACO membership page here: http://www.passion-24.org/htm/passion.asp
Thanks
Edited by spanishchocolate on Tuesday 20th July 00:43
spanishchocolate said:
Hi - is the ACO grandstand one of the ones above the garages/pits? What are the others - or are they all ACO?
So, does ACO membership provide you with access to one of those grandstands, and to their building at the track? There seem to be varying answers on here. There is no mention of either benefit on the ACO membership page here: http://www.passion-24.org/htm/passion.asp
It's Grandstand Number 18 the tall grandstand halfway along opposite the pitsSo, does ACO membership provide you with access to one of those grandstands, and to their building at the track? There seem to be varying answers on here. There is no mention of either benefit on the ACO membership page here: http://www.passion-24.org/htm/passion.asp
It does also have the advantage of some decent Loo's, I think you would appreciate that
There is now another building at the end of the pits
spanishchocolate said:
Hi - is the ACO grandstand one of the ones above the garages/pits? What are the others - or are they all ACO?
So, does ACO membership provide you with access to one of those grandstands, and to their building at the track? There seem to be varying answers on here. There is no mention of either benefit on the ACO membership page here: http://www.passion-24.org/htm/passion.asp
Thanks
Tickets to ACO 18 are €15 for members. Well worth it as it includes breakdown cover in france. I will be rejoining.So, does ACO membership provide you with access to one of those grandstands, and to their building at the track? There seem to be varying answers on here. There is no mention of either benefit on the ACO membership page here: http://www.passion-24.org/htm/passion.asp
Thanks
Edited by spanishchocolate on Tuesday 20th July 00:43
NormanD said:
It's Grandstand Number 18
Ah. We had passes for Lagache for Classic, which was 21 IIRC - so not that far away. Plus it's not free entry to the grandstand, given what Irish said. Hmmm, so the only benefit seems to be discount on tickets and entry to their buildings. If the posts above are correct, you need to have an address in France to get the breakdown cover option, Irish 
What are all the grandstands above/on the same side as the pits? How does one get entry to those?
spanishchocolate said:
NormanD said:
It's Grandstand Number 18
Ah. We had passes for Lagache for Classic, which was 21 IIRC - so not that far away. Plus it's not free entry to the grandstand, given what Irish said. Hmmm, so the only benefit seems to be discount on tickets and entry to their buildings. If the posts above are correct, you need to have an address in France to get the breakdown cover option, Irish What are all the grandstands above/on the same side as the pits? How does one get entry to those?
I recokon I saved around €60 on tickets so not bad all in all. Plus the sticker is pretty in the car window.
Irish said:
Plus the sticker is pretty in the car window.
Sold Thanks for the info. The Passion 24 option is the only one translatable into English though, which seems a little suspect. The Passion 24 Gold option includes '€141 savings on the Pitwalk pass during the "24 Heures du Mans". What's that? The only pitwalk I know of on the Friday is free. I didn't know one could purchase pitwalk passes?PS I'm guessing you went for the Serenite 24 VIP or Gold option Irish? The non-breakdown benefits don't seem as good for the Serenite package, versus the Passion 24 package. Edit: I see now that the Passion 24 options offer breakdown cover for a little extra - which must put paid to the having to have a French address rumour. Which package do you have Irish?
PPS Seems the breakdown addition only covers one for one breakdown: '1 breakdown service, assistance and replacement vehicle for 5 days in France.'
Me rambling. Me most confuddled
Edited by spanishchocolate on Tuesday 20th July 14:16
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