Advice for Le Mans virgins
Discussion
It would seem that one of the most frequent topics on this forum is from newbies to Le Mans, wanting to know what all the fuss is about.
So I thought it would be good if the LM old timers amongst us were to impart their wisdom on everything LM then Ted can make it a sticky and the LM virgins will need to look no further.
So I thought it would be good if the LM old timers amongst us were to impart their wisdom on everything LM then Ted can make it a sticky and the LM virgins will need to look no further.
OK here goes for starters - just the boring stuff first and then at another time we'll introduce the more colourful stuff:
When - 18/19 June 2005 (although normally 2nd weekend in June)
How to get there:
Most people drive although some fly into the circuit and some take the train.
Ferry destinations:
Depends on how far you want to drive in France - Le Havre being the shortest distance and Calais the longest and of course distance from a UK port.
Tickets (ferry, camping, general entrance, grandstand) If you don't fancy booking yourself there are tour package companies who will take care of everything eg Page & Moy, tour companies who will just arrange your tickets eg Just tickets. From our experience we can recommend Continental Car Tours. Alternatively a number of the car clubs organise tours - TVR Club & Lotus 7 Club seem to be the main protagonists. Or of course you can do it yourself.
Ferry tickets:
With the exception of Dover - Calais & Eurotunnel, other routes do get booked up early.
Camping Tickets:
If you intend to camp at the circuit these tickets are hard to come by as the tour companies take block bookings on them. However invariably numerous tickets appear on here, ebay or Club Arnage prior to the event so don't fret. Tickets are by car and cost @ £40 for as many days as you want.
General Entrance - Can be bought on the gate @ £40 covering entry on all days also valid for pre-qualifying.
Grandstand Tickets - Well worth it if you can secure - Contact ACO direct or go through tour companies @ £60.
Where to Stay:
Camping - What the vast majority of people do. There are numerous campsits, all with their own character. people tend to develop a loyalty to one or another.
Facilities are positively luxurious for those used to Glastonbury but a tad basic to regular campers.
A number of people on here will be able to direct you to campsite away from the circuit which offer better facilities.
You'll be lucky to find a hotel or a gite within 30 miles of the circuit but good luck trying.
What's on:
Not sure about this one
Scrutineering is on Tuesday
Practice Wednesday & Thursday
Friday is a free day allowing you to walk round the pits or drive the majority of the circuit with a drivers parade in the main town on Friday evening
Race Saturday / Sunday
When - 18/19 June 2005 (although normally 2nd weekend in June)
How to get there:
Most people drive although some fly into the circuit and some take the train.
Ferry destinations:
Depends on how far you want to drive in France - Le Havre being the shortest distance and Calais the longest and of course distance from a UK port.
Tickets (ferry, camping, general entrance, grandstand) If you don't fancy booking yourself there are tour package companies who will take care of everything eg Page & Moy, tour companies who will just arrange your tickets eg Just tickets. From our experience we can recommend Continental Car Tours. Alternatively a number of the car clubs organise tours - TVR Club & Lotus 7 Club seem to be the main protagonists. Or of course you can do it yourself.
Ferry tickets:
With the exception of Dover - Calais & Eurotunnel, other routes do get booked up early.
Camping Tickets:
If you intend to camp at the circuit these tickets are hard to come by as the tour companies take block bookings on them. However invariably numerous tickets appear on here, ebay or Club Arnage prior to the event so don't fret. Tickets are by car and cost @ £40 for as many days as you want.
General Entrance - Can be bought on the gate @ £40 covering entry on all days also valid for pre-qualifying.
Grandstand Tickets - Well worth it if you can secure - Contact ACO direct or go through tour companies @ £60.
Where to Stay:
Camping - What the vast majority of people do. There are numerous campsits, all with their own character. people tend to develop a loyalty to one or another.
Facilities are positively luxurious for those used to Glastonbury but a tad basic to regular campers.
A number of people on here will be able to direct you to campsite away from the circuit which offer better facilities.
You'll be lucky to find a hotel or a gite within 30 miles of the circuit but good luck trying.
What's on:
Not sure about this one
Scrutineering is on Tuesday
Practice Wednesday & Thursday
Friday is a free day allowing you to walk round the pits or drive the majority of the circuit with a drivers parade in the main town on Friday evening
Race Saturday / Sunday
Oi my Caterham has the third biggest luggage space of all the cars I own so I reckon it's practically comodious even for someone of my delicate frame.
As to everything you need, Carrefour is probably the biggest supermarket you'll ever go to and is only a mile from the campsite. Go there with the intention of "buy it to burn it" and you'll find a greater choice than you'll ever need.
Remember shopping at Carrefour is about buying totally superfulous items that you will only use the once and one upmanship in the campsite is prerequisite, thus the more ridiculous the better.
As to everything you need, Carrefour is probably the biggest supermarket you'll ever go to and is only a mile from the campsite. Go there with the intention of "buy it to burn it" and you'll find a greater choice than you'll ever need.
Remember shopping at Carrefour is about buying totally superfulous items that you will only use the once and one upmanship in the campsite is prerequisite, thus the more ridiculous the better.
simonpacker said:
Hi all,
Never been before but looking forward to my first time and a good drive down. What is the best route to take on the french side, avoiding motorways, for some engaging roads?
You'll obviously be contending with all the local French traffic but there will be plenty of british exotica to latch onto. In terms of engaging roads, get a good map book and try to stay off the N-roads. having said that the N138 is one of the main roads down there so it can get quite busy but it's an excellent route for getting into the Le Mans spirit !
mr zymol said:
hi guys, i am a total lemans virgin and have decided to go this year with a few other guys. we will be travelling from york and dont mind going to dover then across by ferry or hovercraft. arrive on the other side then drive the rest of the way.
can anyone help me with a few suggestions.
a/if we set off to be there for fridays action would we be best travelling through the night thursday.
b/what is cheapest crossing.
c/book ferry before or just arrive
d/campsite pre book or just arrive.
e/would you suggest just taking beer and bar-b-q are there any facilities at all.
f/when does it all finish i.e when would you expect to be home.
i know some of these questions might seem a little obvious but you guys seem to have had many experiences there and trying to book something on the net is a total minefield.
hope to see you all there and buy you a beer.
a) Suggest you go as soon as you can to get there Thursday night. If you get there before midnight you can catch final qualifying. Friday is officially a rest day but there is still plenty going on - see separate post about about PH meet, there's also a big SELOC meet this year, the pits are open and there is a drivers parade in the evening. Basically, the sooner you get down there the better.
b) cheapest crossing I would have thought are ferry crossings from Dover.
c) June is getting towards peak time. With P&O dropping sailings from Portsmouth and Hoverspeed doing the same from Nehaven there will be extra demand this year. If you're after a cheap deal I'd try to find something now.
d) Campsite tickets can be as a rare as hens teeth however past years experience shows a number appearing on here or club arnage close to the event. My advice is to definitely buy before leaving but don't dispair if you can't get a camping ticket because there are ways round everything.
e) Believe it or not France is quite a civilised country and everything you could possibly need is within a couple of miles of the circuit.
f) The race finishes at 4pm Sunday. Depends on how much time you want to take off work. We stay Sunday night and travel back Monday as Sunday night can be one the best nights of the whole weekend. It also makes the whole going home bit a tad less hectic.
Gassing Station | Le Mans | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff