"New" circuit village

[timbo48]

Some thoughts on the above. I've been going to LM since approx 2000 and had grown to like the old village with its narrow streets. It had atmosphere and you could sit with a beer and watch the world go by plus there was a good food stall right in the middle run by some nice ladies that did excellent baguettes, unlike the cardboard-like one I bought in KN this year. I thought I'd give the new place a chance but it hasn't done it for me. I keep expecting to see branches of W. H. Smith and Boots there.
Anybody else got any thoughts on this. It's the one thing I never see mentioned on this forum.

[Nick M]

First time I went was back in 1997, but compared to then I actually think the new village is an improvement. BUT, I generally try to avoid the whole area during Saturday and Sunday if at all possible as it's generally too busy for my liking.

But the new restaurant over the end of the pit straight is an excellent place from which to watch qualifying on the Wednesday evening, and it's nice having some toilet facilities which aren't from the middle ages.

Things change, but generally I'd say it's an improvement, even if the 'purists' may argue it lacks character.

[//j17]

Nice toilets and a handful of shops I've never seen anyone buy more than a T-shirt in taking up loads of space. You mean that village?

[timbo48]

Yep, that village. Find I'm spending less and less time there and certainly a lot less money. No problem with change or progress but I think they could have looked at what they had and improved that rather than flattening everything. Ho hum........

[fatboy18]

Hate it They have even knocked down the old drivers restaurant now at the rear of the village Replaced this year by a big Audi A1 area and a screen showing football Bloody sacrilege

The old village with the ACO Shop and Champagne bar was fab. It was a piece of history and should not have been removed.
OK I know Le mans is a motor racing circuit and large corporate companies want their piece of the Village, but personally I wish Le mans had taken a step back and had a good look at its self, I would have liked to see the Circuit become more in line with Goodwood (more retro buildings) with the emphasis on the glorious past, not the boring corporate structures we get now

[Nick M]

fatboy18 said:

but personally I wish Le mans had taken a step back and had a good look at its self, I would have liked to see the Circuit become more in line with Goodwood (more retro buildings) with the emphasis on the glorious past, not the boring corporate structures we get now

But it's a working circuit with a reasonably busy schedule of events throughout the year, including test and trackdays.

And the circuit has changed and evolved over the years to meet the needs of the different classes racing there, such as the bends they put in after the Dunlop bridge to accommodate the bikes racing on the Bugatti circuit - I hated it when they did that originally, but now it just seems normal.

While I think events such as the Classic are their way of harking back to the history of the place and of the 24 hour race, to me it is the knowledgeable fans who will also ensure the history of the race is maintained. Take, for instance, the respect with which drivers such as Henri Pescarolo and Jacky Ickx are afforded when they attend, and the special displays and prominence given to the likes of Jean Rondeau's cars and John Fitch and the No. 3 Corvette.

I guess you could say the history of the place is in the blood of the fans rather than the concrete of the buildings.

[fatboy18]

Agree they are all valid points you have made, but the OP was just about the Village area (not the track). I guess the point I'm trying to make is its lost its character Yes I understand people want modern facilities, but you can have modern facilities while keeping an original feel to the place. What I mean by this is to look at places like Disney world, Epcot etc You can make a false type front of a building in a retro style surely that beats a big silver steel box or those boring open marquees, Just a thought!

[ettore]

timbo48 said:

Some thoughts on the above. I've been going to LM since approx 2000 and had grown to like the old village with its narrow streets. It had atmosphere and you could sit with a beer and watch the world go by plus there was a good food stall right in the middle run by some nice ladies that did excellent baguettes, unlike the cardboard-like one I bought in KN this year. I thought I'd give the new place a chance but it hasn't done it for me. I keep expecting to see branches of W. H. Smith and Boots there.
Anybody else got any thoughts on this. It's the one thing I never see mentioned on this forum.

Completely agree - I loved the character of the old village hugely, dodgy lav's and all!

[timbo48]

Not too sure about the "dodgy lavs"-my first visit to LM was for the 'bike 24 hours back in the late 70s when a dodgy lav would have been a bonus. No, I understand that things do change but LM isn't like any other circuit and the experience covers everything, track, camping, food drink, etc but especially atmosphere, which for me doesn't exist in the village any more. I'm not bothered what Silverstone looks like, I only go for the race and as long as there are toilets and refreshments available, then I'm ok. But with LM it's different and I don't think that you can just take the race by itself, you have to have the whole experience and that was what I liked about the old place. Get the tent up and then wander up to the village for a cold beer or two and see if you could recognise people from the previous year. I'd no more want to sit in the new place than I would in my local shopping precinct. And yes, the trackside restuarant is ok but they could have added that quite easily without knocking everything down. The latest rumour about demolishing the bar at Tetre Rouge is the latest nail in the coffin for me. Is nothing sacred?