Best/preferred Grandstand for LM 24 hrs
Discussion
Scooby_snax said:
Dunlop or wolleck
Wolleck is an open stand which means that you will be open to the elements, but close to the finish line with good views of the start/finish straight.Dunlop is covered with good views of the first bend and the Dunlop Chicane. There is also a TV screen near both stands.
If it was me I would choose Dunlop.
chum racing said:
Scooby_snax said:
Dunlop or wolleck
Wolleck is an open stand which means that you will be open to the elements, but close to the finish line with good views of the start/finish straight.Dunlop is covered with good views of the first bend and the Dunlop Chicane. There is also a TV screen near both stands.
If it was me I would choose Dunlop.
T18 ACO is without doubt the the best all rounder.
Opposite the pits 2/3 up the pit straight and big screen.
Good vciews of the Start/finish/ pit / Dunlop chicane. And it has two bars and food.
An indoor area with TVs if you want to get warm/cool down.
Toilets and showers.
Tickets for T18 go very quickly for good reason, so start asking the ACO/Agents now.
Opposite the pits 2/3 up the pit straight and big screen.
Good vciews of the Start/finish/ pit / Dunlop chicane. And it has two bars and food.
An indoor area with TVs if you want to get warm/cool down.
Toilets and showers.
Tickets for T18 go very quickly for good reason, so start asking the ACO/Agents now.
Scooby_snax said:
chum racing said:
Scooby_snax said:
Dunlop or wolleck
Wolleck is an open stand which means that you will be open to the elements, but close to the finish line with good views of the start/finish straight.Dunlop is covered with good views of the first bend and the Dunlop Chicane. There is also a TV screen near both stands.
If it was me I would choose Dunlop.
Wolleck and T34 Stands are at the other end of the price spectrum. T34 is good value, as it gives you an excellent view of the start, but has little on now view of the pit lane. However, once the race is well underway, people tend to head off around the track to watch the racing from different places. As the T34 stand emptys it is possible to walk down to the front of the stand and look straight down into the pits.
People all have their own favourites, but hopefully this is of use.
(BTW - have received your online enquiry and will be in touch shortly)
SS,
Non ACO members can apply direct to the ACO for tickets etc from 4 November. By that time it's likely all T18 ACO stand tickets, and tickets for the best stands, will have been sold mostly to ACO members(like me) or to ticket agencies.
I think the best stand is La Sarthe. It's on the outside of the Ford Chicane, opposite the pits entrance, and angled so that you can see all the way directly up the pits straight. There's no large screen TV in view, though. Everyone will have their favorite grandstand, of course.
I think the worst place is in the pits grandstand. It sounds like it should be a good place but it is above the pits and unless you are actually in the front row you cannot see any pits action.
Dunlop will be good roo and there's a new stand down towars the Esses that should also be pretty good.
R.
Non ACO members can apply direct to the ACO for tickets etc from 4 November. By that time it's likely all T18 ACO stand tickets, and tickets for the best stands, will have been sold mostly to ACO members(like me) or to ticket agencies.
I think the best stand is La Sarthe. It's on the outside of the Ford Chicane, opposite the pits entrance, and angled so that you can see all the way directly up the pits straight. There's no large screen TV in view, though. Everyone will have their favorite grandstand, of course.
I think the worst place is in the pits grandstand. It sounds like it should be a good place but it is above the pits and unless you are actually in the front row you cannot see any pits action.
Dunlop will be good roo and there's a new stand down towars the Esses that should also be pretty good.
R.
sleep envy said:
agreed
why sit in the same place for 24hrs when you can view the race from most of the corners for free?
porsche curves at dawn is a favourite of mine
Cos t'other half is coming we wont be sitting there for 24 hrs but seemed an idea to have a seat to return to (have no space to take folding chairs)why sit in the same place for 24hrs when you can view the race from most of the corners for free?
porsche curves at dawn is a favourite of mine
I agree that a tribune seat is not essential for circuit viewing but in my view, and at my age, a seat is essential for survival! It's somewhere to go any time for a break and to rest my legs and back, have a bevvy etc....yes, there are bars at the circuit but seats are few.
I always spend quite a lot of time walking the circuit to spend some viewing time at all the better places, but having a seat to return to is just a plus, especially for the first and last couple of hours or so of the race.
I dont't do camping (too old!) so I sleep in the car in the car park Saturday night/early Sunday for a few hours.
Sleep Envy, I agree with your comment about the Porsche Curves, especially the "at dawn" bit.
R.
I always spend quite a lot of time walking the circuit to spend some viewing time at all the better places, but having a seat to return to is just a plus, especially for the first and last couple of hours or so of the race.
I dont't do camping (too old!) so I sleep in the car in the car park Saturday night/early Sunday for a few hours.
Sleep Envy, I agree with your comment about the Porsche Curves, especially the "at dawn" bit.
R.
T34 (over the pits)
my first year in the stand, i was lucky enough to get a seat on the front row
hanging over the edge looking down on the cars coming into the pits is wonderful
and then looking out over the mass of fans in the stands opposite, you then realise what a massive event LM really is
and the bar is pretty cheap in the stand too (and with proper glasses, not cheapo plastic)
my first year in the stand, i was lucky enough to get a seat on the front row
hanging over the edge looking down on the cars coming into the pits is wonderful
and then looking out over the mass of fans in the stands opposite, you then realise what a massive event LM really is
and the bar is pretty cheap in the stand too (and with proper glasses, not cheapo plastic)
Edited by Man-At-Arms on Friday 8th October 10:44
FredericRobinson said:
Also worth pointing out that grandstad seats are far from essential, next year will be my 8th Le Mans, I've never had one.
Well that depends......First couple of years I joined the thousands of people on pit straight trying to watch the start and finish. Need to get there very early to get a decent spot and then guard that spot with some determination. Need a drink/toilet/food.... then say goodbye to your spot you have been holding on to for several hours.
In that same scenario add either roasting hot sun or pouring down rain.
Did it, but not any more.
Got a grandstand and it was the best thing i've done. It is a guaranteed place to sit when you want to get out the crowds. They may not be that comfy for hours, but they also provide a bit of shelter, either from the sun or rain.
Last year, in error judging traffic into the circuit, we arrived with 2 minutes to spare before the start. Being able to rush to that place knowing I had a seat was great.
Within a short space of time most the grandstands empty, so give a chance to spread out a bit.
Having got the stand though, doesn't mean you are going to sit in it for 24hrs. I still head off down mulsanne or arnage and sleep on the banking down there during the night. It just provides a place to head make to every now and then. (mainly start and finish).
It is all personal preference though. There is no, 'you must do this' with Le Mans.
sleep envy said:
agreed
why sit in the same place for 24hrs when you can view the race from most of the corners for free?
porsche curves at dawn is a favourite of mine
Why ? 2007 for example is why. Half our 10 strong group had covered grandstands the others didn't. They got soaked even in wet weather gear. They were miserable and had to dry out after the race. We were in front of a giant screen, they wern't because of the scrum to get in any decent viewing position. We were dry and comfotable, had a great view of the start/finish line, and saw everything on the screen.why sit in the same place for 24hrs when you can view the race from most of the corners for free?
porsche curves at dawn is a favourite of mine
Like you, we like other viewing points as well and only really use ours for the start (4 hours or so) and end of the race with bits in-between and to keep dry ! We also watch from other areas like Tet-Rouge, Dunlop, arnage and Mulsanne so get the best of both worlds.
Grandstands are a personal choice I know but it's strange that the people who don't use them or cant afford to use them always seem to question the people who do.Not sure why.
Edited by Rs2oo on Tuesday 12th October 17:50
Gassing Station | Le Mans | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff