What do i need to do to get to Le Mans???

[DeanR32]

Hi all.

Been wanting to take the Skyline on a road trip for ages now and think what better way then the pilgrimmage!

Not too sure what i need to do to get there, camping wise, tickets etc etc.

How do you lot book your trips for this. All details would be great guys. Who to book through, costs, ferries, times to leave, maybe even what ferry you all take for this etc

Cheers

Dean

[MadMacMcMad]

Blimey
There are many options, but it depends on budget and the level of security and comfort you want.
You would be best to use the search option. Lots of options discussed.

[blueg33]

For your first trip it would probably be worth contacting Speed Chills who arrange Le Mans packages. Look sharp though as camp sites and grandstands were nearly all booked up a couple of weeks ago.

But there are lots of options depending on how much you want to slum it and how much money you are prepared to spend.

For me, I dont camp, I prefer a Chateau close to the Loire

[The devil]

Travel destinations

[robmlufc]

Speed Chills still had Maison Blanche tickets a week or so ago, but like they said above get on it quick as they will be gone soon

[Blues]

When I was in your position I found Team Langoustine had the best reputation. I went with them and had a brilliant time. They were really friendly, helpful and reasonably priced. I've been with them ever since. You get a secure campsite by the trackside, a marquee bar with cold beer on tap, freashly cooked BBQ food and cleantoilets and showers with planty of hot water. Do it - you won't regret it.

No, I'm not associated with their business, just a very happy customer

[PHOENIXUK]

DeanR32 said:

Hi all.

Been wanting to take the Skyline on a road trip for ages now and think what better way then the pilgrimmage!

Not too sure what i need to do to get there, camping wise, tickets etc etc.

How do you lot book your trips for this. All details would be great guys. Who to book through, costs, ferries, times to leave, maybe even what ferry you all take for this etc

Cheers

Dean

I may be wrong but I think Stub has a spare ferry/cabin/camp/grandstand ticket for a car and 2 people for sale due to a drop out,(basically all your work done) if your interested I would mail him quick, you can find him on search of members.

[boolay]

I have always used just tickets. All you need is a camping pass for each car and a general admission ticket for each person. Ga tickets can easily be bought when you get there. Dover to calais ferry is the most popular. Wed and Thursday early morning ferries are generally full of nice cars and like minded people heading for la sarthe. Supermarkets are readily available for anything you forget to take. Beermountain.com has plenty of tips and advice

[StuB]

PHOENIXUK said:

I may be wrong but I think Stub has a spare ferry/cabin/camp/grandstand ticket for a car and 2 people for sale due to a drop out,(basically all your work done) if your interested I would mail him quick, you can find him on search of members.

Unless Dean's a mate of Gyrock, I think it's a none starter Rich as he's based in Essex.

[PHOENIXUK]

StuB said:

Unless Dean's a mate of Gyrock, I think it's a none starter Rich as he's based in Essex.

I'm not placist Stu, just because he's a southern softie doesn't mean he can't navigate North....Does it?

[StuB]

PHOENIXUK said:

I'm not placist

[DeanR32]

PHOENIXUK said:

I'm not placist Stu, just because he's a southern softie doesn't mean he can't navigate North....Does it?

I'm not sure my sat nav understands anything north of the Watford Gap! I dont understand the people so i'd be fooked!

I'm looking to book with one of the mentioned companies but they all do add ons like shuttle buses etc. Do any of you do any add ons?

[froglet]

What add-ons are you looking at? Bus to Arnage and Mulsanne corners at night? Into town for the Drivers Parade? You can drive to the corners for a couple of quids worth of petrol assuming you can lay off the beer for one evening, the plod do look like they stop and breathalyse drivers out at night so don't risk it. And the queues for the buses always appear to be hours long waiting to get back to the campsite. Just what you need if it is pissing down like last year! And as for the Drivers Parade you can hop on the tram into town nowadays. So...in my opinion, not worth the money.

[DeanR32]

Thnks mate. I think i'll leave it then. Might even make friends with someone driving for the firday night thing.

I'm just waiting on Speed Chills and Langoustine to get back to me about booking something up

I'm not sure what car to take now. I might get the 535d mapped and take that instead. I trust my 32 GTR to get me there but if anything went wrong i reckon i'd find it harder to get anything fixed on it in France

Any suggestions on the best campsites? How are my chosen companies facilities?

[blueg33]

DeanR32 said:

Thnks mate. I think i'll leave it then. Might even make friends with someone driving for the firday night thing.

I'm just waiting on Speed Chills and Langoustine to get back to me about booking something up

I'm not sure what car to take now. I might get the 535d mapped and take that instead. I trust my 32 GTR to get me there but if anything went wrong i reckon i'd find it harder to get anything fixed on it in France

Any suggestions on the best campsites? How are my chosen companies facilities?

Well I am doing a longer trip in a Tuscan so the 32 GTR should be fine, its only France and its not even a long drive from the channel ports. Le Mans trips deserve to be made in the most interesting car available to you

[DeanR32]

Yu make a very good point. I'll have to see if i can get the little spot of rust on the back arch sorted before i go though. If not then the 535d will have to do. Not a bad car by any means but not a Skyline!

Taking a Tuscan? For some reason, and this is probably just my experiences with TVR's, but i expect to see at least one at the side of the road on route. But that is just through the experiences my friend had with his couple of TVR's (Tuscan 1 and Cerby 4.5 lightweight).

Sound advice though. For the experience i should take the GTR

[blueg33]

DeanR32 said:

Yu make a very good point. I'll have to see if i can get the little spot of rust on the back arch sorted before i go though. If not then the 535d will have to do. Not a bad car by any means but not a Skyline!

Taking a Tuscan? For some reason, and this is probably just my experiences with TVR's, but i expect to see at least one at the side of the road on route. But that is just through the experiences my friend had with his couple of TVR's (Tuscan 1 and Cerby 4.5 lightweight).

Sound advice though. For the experience i should take the GTR

This will be my first year in the Tuscan. Hopefully all will be well as the G33 broke down last year in Spain.

So far on our trips the following cars have broken:

Ginetta G33 - Fault on the fuel pump circuit fixed by a brilliant Spanish auto electrician
Ferrrari 355 - Clutch thrust bearing, car recovered to the UK
Hot Rod with chevy small block - Constant overheating, driven back slowly

We havent done too badly considering the cars that have been in our convoy are the ones above plus

Porsche 993 C2s
Porsche 996
Catherham Superlight
Focus RS
Previous Focus RS
Elise
KTM - seriously fast motorbike!
Porsche Cayman
Audi TT.

This years convoy will be tame, Tuscan, 993 C2S, Cayman, Elise, Possibly Aston DB1 replica (uless he brings something else) and the KTM rocket bike!