Be prepared for delays at circuit

Be prepared for delays at circuit

Author
Discussion

delta0

2,334 posts

105 months

Monday 19th June 2017
quotequote all
lowdrag said:
As the OP I couldn't have been more wrong it seems. Every time I left home to go to the track I was waiting for the traffic jams, yet we just drove in with no trouble at all. In fact better than I have known it for many a year. I was very pleased that the CRS clamped down and hope that will continue as a standard thing now. Whatever iy was a great race and for those of you who supported the Corvette, here's what happened to it.

The Corvette front left wheel was completely locked when I saw it cross the finish line. He just forced it around after breaking it! What a finish to the race!

Security just had a quick look in the top of the bag. I got glass bottles into the campsite no problem. I took cans to the track, again no problem.

I'm probably miss remembering but I thought Porsche Curves were supposed to be manned with people checking tickets. I went up there a few times and not once did I see any officials.

chrisr111r

188 posts

128 months

Monday 19th June 2017
quotequote all
No bag checks at all going in/out the MB entrance by BN. Did enjoy arriving 5pm weds and not queing for hours from the main entrance down past the pit straight to get to the campsite entrance.

Speaking of corvette, spied some of their trucks on the midnight caen crossing.

Edited by chrisr111r on Monday 19th June 23:18

surveyor

17,768 posts

183 months

Tuesday 20th June 2017
quotequote all
delta0 said:
I'm probably miss remembering but I thought Porsche Curves were supposed to be manned with people checking tickets. I went up there a few times and not once did I see any officials.
It used to be. I'm not sure they bothered last year either.

thegoose

8,075 posts

209 months

Tuesday 20th June 2017
quotequote all
We went as 6 first-timers in a convoy of 3 vehicles carrying 6 bikes, arrived Wednesday evening to Village on the Curves with no trouble. We went out for lunch at L'Hotel De France in La Chartre on Friday in two cars, took a rather circuitous route back as we'd searched for a supermarket on the way back (no ice, but did get a frying pan, bacon & bread), so came back past the main entrance again and into Beausejour with all its armed police on the roundabout (quite a relief, had been concerned about the cars getting hassled).

I wasn't aware of an alcohol ban and took cans of beer in my cargo short thigh pockets without thinking about it (been to Glastonbury the last 2 years and if you can carry it, you can take it in (except glass)).

Later that night we used the site shuttle bus service to get to the tram into Le Mans but the road was blocked to everyone at the Technopark so a 20 minute walk. We were too late for the last shuttle bus so had to walk all the way back (actually detoured through the paddock areas but very quiet at 12.30am), this was fine but we realised we should have cycled to the tram instead. Bikes were a godsend generally all weekend and we did a full lap of the track at 4pm Sunday, taking in the pit-entry Parc Ferme area as they started to remove the cars, before a sprint to the finish line, then around the pit garages. After a fruitless search for a beer or cold drink we eventually found the Karting bar still open on the way out. After showers back at site at about 7-8pm we drove out to a Siri-found local pizzeria (quiet area, on a roundabout), which was great and no traffic getting there or back.

After packing everything away we left a 7.20am yesterday, hit traffic around Le Mans (fuel & espresso at Aire Les Haras on the N28) and some delays at Rouen but made the 13.55 Calais-Dover ferry no problem so the traffic didn't stress us at all (and hence I can't even remember whether Rouen was just a little bit slow moving or we we were stuck for 30 minutes - it didn't matter so I've already forgotten).

My biggest surprise was how few people use the DFDS ferry VIP lounge - for £10 you get unlimited free prosecco, newspapers, coffee, soft drinks, pastries, fruit and lots of nibbles (macarons were nice). It's relaxing and spacious (especially the corner couches you could stretch out on). There's nice loos and a big TV too. It must seat about 150 and there was just one other guy in it on Wednesday and only about 6 others yesterday. We got full waiter service for sensibly-priced snacks too (croque monsieur, steak sandwich etc £6.95). Why would you not do it?! smile

Edited by thegoose on Tuesday 20th June 11:54


Edited by thegoose on Tuesday 20th June 11:58

ribiero

539 posts

165 months

Thursday 22nd June 2017
quotequote all
thegoose said:
We went as 6 first-timers in a convoy of 3 vehicles carrying 6 bikes, arrived Wednesday evening to Village on the Curves with no trouble. We went out for lunch at L'Hotel De France in La Chartre on Friday in two cars, took a rather circuitous route back as we'd searched for a supermarket on the way back (no ice, but did get a frying pan, bacon & bread), so came back past the main entrance again and into Beausejour with all its armed police on the roundabout (quite a relief, had been concerned about the cars getting hassled).

I wasn't aware of an alcohol ban and took cans of beer in my cargo short thigh pockets without thinking about it (been to Glastonbury the last 2 years and if you can carry it, you can take it in (except glass)).

Later that night we used the site shuttle bus service to get to the tram into Le Mans but the road was blocked to everyone at the Technopark so a 20 minute walk. We were too late for the last shuttle bus so had to walk all the way back (actually detoured through the paddock areas but very quiet at 12.30am), this was fine but we realised we should have cycled to the tram instead. Bikes were a godsend generally all weekend and we did a full lap of the track at 4pm Sunday, taking in the pit-entry Parc Ferme area as they started to remove the cars, before a sprint to the finish line, then around the pit garages. After a fruitless search for a beer or cold drink we eventually found the Karting bar still open on the way out. After showers back at site at about 7-8pm we drove out to a Siri-found local pizzeria (quiet area, on a roundabout), which was great and no traffic getting there or back.

After packing everything away we left a 7.20am yesterday, hit traffic around Le Mans (fuel & espresso at Aire Les Haras on the N28) and some delays at Rouen but made the 13.55 Calais-Dover ferry no problem so the traffic didn't stress us at all (and hence I can't even remember whether Rouen was just a little bit slow moving or we we were stuck for 30 minutes - it didn't matter so I've already forgotten).

My biggest surprise was how few people use the DFDS ferry VIP lounge - for £10 you get unlimited free prosecco, newspapers, coffee, soft drinks, pastries, fruit and lots of nibbles (macarons were nice). It's relaxing and spacious (especially the corner couches you could stretch out on). There's nice loos and a big TV too. It must seat about 150 and there was just one other guy in it on Wednesday and only about 6 others yesterday. We got full waiter service for sensibly-priced snacks too (croque monsieur, steak sandwich etc £6.95). Why would you not do it?! smile

Edited by thegoose on Tuesday 20th June 11:54


Edited by thegoose on Tuesday 20th June 11:58
beer sounds like you had a good LeMan! smile