Mad Friday.. good fun or a nightmare for cars?
Discussion
Just wanted to wake up the forum a bit, seems very quiet for this time of year 
I was wondering what peoples thoughts and experiences are of 'Mad Friday' on the Mulsanne and around the track? Is it something that is an intergral part of the weekend and the special atmosphere of the event, or is it just a chav led mini car riot?
I was wondering what peoples thoughts and experiences are of 'Mad Friday' on the Mulsanne and around the track? Is it something that is an intergral part of the weekend and the special atmosphere of the event, or is it just a chav led mini car riot?
It *should* be an integral part of the weekend, but it seems to have ended up being spoiled by a small element of 'chavs' who have taken the edge off everyone's enjoyment by doing stupid things which they wouldn't dream of doing back in the UK.
Time was when people would park up along the straight from Mulsanne down to Arnage and admire all the nice cars, and if people did an occasional burn-out well, that was part of it.
Now you get baying hoards of pissed idiots trying to get a fully-laden 7 Series BMW to do a burn-out and deriding them for not even trying.
BUT, all is not lost !!
Thanks to the efforts of lowdrag, the meeting at Mulsanne last year was a proper breath of fresh air and a return to car enthusiasts being, well, enthusiastic about cars !
There's also the Classic British Welcome at St. Saturnin on the Friday morning.
And if you venture south a little further you can soak up the atmosphere of the hotel formerly used by the Aston Martin works team, among others (I'm not going to mention the name here - don't want to spoil it by becoming over-crowded
- but it's not hard to find out).So there are ways to enjoy 'Mad' Friday without having to deal with the chav element.
The road in and around the circuit have become a nightmare the last couple of years with pissed idiots stopping every single car that drives by, local or ethusiast and trying to get them to do a burnout. Will be in St Saturnin, Mulsanne and or Arnage on the Friday. Looking at some nice cars, or sitting outside a bar.
I'll be driving in and around the circuit in Cerbera - planning to go to the Corvette dsiplay at St Saturnin on Friday and was considering the PH meet on the Mulsanne BUT..... having seen the videos on youtube of the chavs in action I'm a bit wary of heading that way. So, what exactly is the score with this PH meet and what is the plan to stop it being ruined by the chav element. I'm quite a tolerant guy but if some knob throws a beer through my window then there will be swift 
ing being delivered. Hence I'm inclined to give the whole thing a miss, which is a shame.
ing being delivered. Hence I'm inclined to give the whole thing a miss, which is a shame.longbow said:
I'll be driving in and around the circuit in Cerbera - planning to go to the Corvette dsiplay at St Saturnin on Friday and was considering the PH meet on the Mulsanne BUT..... having seen the videos on youtube of the chavs in action I'm a bit wary of heading that way. So, what exactly is the score with this PH meet and what is the plan to stop it being ruined by the chav element. I'm quite a tolerant guy but if some knob throws a beer through my window then there will be swift ing being delivered. Hence I'm inclined to give the whole thing a miss, which is a shame.
The PH meet is in Mulsanne, not on the Mulsanne. We've been on the Mulsanne for the last couple of years but left quite early (before lunch) and we'll be doing the same again this year. Before the madness starts!ing being delivered. Hence I'm inclined to give the whole thing a miss, which is a shame.D
we get public transport to the Mulsanne meeting so can watch it all from the relative safety of the bus. 
-Lummox- said:
I'm still not sure why anyone who isn't on their way into a campsite would want to be driving around on Friday, anyway. After all, there's beer to be had... 
This may help http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/
it was tough last year getting around as we were trying to drive as much of the circuit as possible as my friend who hadn't seen it before
with that said though I would like to go back to the Mulsanne as there were a lot of interesting cars there
with that said though I would like to go back to the Mulsanne as there were a lot of interesting cars there
Edited by Jimski on Saturday 22 May 07:33
This year is my first visit to La Mans 
chocolatemonk said:
Just wanted to wake up the forum a bit, seems very quiet for this time of year
I was wondering what peoples thoughts and experiences are of 'Mad Friday' on the Mulsanne and around the track? Is it something that is an intergral part of the weekend and the special atmosphere of the event, or is it just a chav led mini car riot?
Sadly I think this will, if it continues force the Gendarme to start getting tough. Outside MB ive seen idiots throwing pee at people etc.One year I saw a dutch tw&t kick a GT3 just cos the driver didnt wheel spin.I was wondering what peoples thoughts and experiences are of 'Mad Friday' on the Mulsanne and around the track? Is it something that is an intergral part of the weekend and the special atmosphere of the event, or is it just a chav led mini car riot?
Sad but I think its on the cards
Edited by Russell B on Saturday 22 May 09:37
I was sat behind an old classic VW a couple of years ago when a chav appeared with a full bucket of water (?) ran over, opened the door and emptied it inside the VW before running back into the crowd.
Windows up and roofs on and avoid driving anywhere near there Friday night. It's a shame driving the circuit and parking up to walk around the other cars used to be a highlight of the weekend. Now a few people I know go in their daily drivers. I just plan the day making sure i avoid the bad bits at the worse times. I never used to have a problem with doing the odd burnout but only when there was plenty of room, when I didn't have a mates (or somebody elses) car sitting behind me to stone chip and when I wasn't being stopped and threatened to one or else get piss thrown over the car every 10 yards.
On a brighter note, petrol is expensive and the exchange rate is crap. That should = less chavs
Windows up and roofs on and avoid driving anywhere near there Friday night. It's a shame driving the circuit and parking up to walk around the other cars used to be a highlight of the weekend. Now a few people I know go in their daily drivers. I just plan the day making sure i avoid the bad bits at the worse times. I never used to have a problem with doing the odd burnout but only when there was plenty of room, when I didn't have a mates (or somebody elses) car sitting behind me to stone chip and when I wasn't being stopped and threatened to one or else get piss thrown over the car every 10 yards.
On a brighter note, petrol is expensive and the exchange rate is crap. That should = less chavs
A couple of years ago I was in the Evo, approaching these clowns. Made sure the doors were locked.
They stopped me and signalled to wheelspin.
"It's four wheel drive. It won't!" not that they paid any attention
Some characters there, though;
http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~bcash/phstuff/scoo...
(It has got MUCH busier since this).
They stopped me and signalled to wheelspin.
"It's four wheel drive. It won't!" not that they paid any attention
Some characters there, though;
http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~bcash/phstuff/scoo...
(It has got MUCH busier since this).
The Mad Friday I remember in 2006 (my first time at Le Mans) was definitely mad, but mostly amicable.
On my second trip in 2008 Mad Friday seemed much less fun. When I met up with some friends back home, they had some horror stories from other campsites.
Next time (2011 I hope!) I think I'll be giving the main madness a miss and finding much more relaxed fun!
On my second trip in 2008 Mad Friday seemed much less fun. When I met up with some friends back home, they had some horror stories from other campsites.
Next time (2011 I hope!) I think I'll be giving the main madness a miss and finding much more relaxed fun!
Google Mad Friday and make your own mind up. Morning and early afternoon is usually not too bad light hearted fun apart from the odd tit that has to ruin it. By late afternoon into the night it can get quite bad and much more crowded. Try and avoid the Houx Annexe roundabout if you can if your getting there late.
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