24hr Le Mans vs Le Mans Classic

[VladD]

I went in 2012. I saw a Gulf liveried Porsche 917 get sideways out of the last chicane and thrash up towards the Dunlop bridge. It was almost worth going just for that moment.

But honestly, there's lots of close up access to some very lovely machinery. I don't think you'll be disappointed. In fact the fact that it is so different from the main event is why I'm going to try and go to both next year.

[The Surveyor]

I've done both, the 'Classic' is a great classic car show, the 24 hours is a race event. The only thing they have in common is the venue.

I've done the 24 hours every year since 2015 and I was at the Classic last year, and had been in 2012. For a lover of old cars, the Classic is a great event and you can get nicely close to some amazing machinery, the racing is certainly a low point of the weekend though. Great to see cars being driven, but only a very few are being driven in a competitive manner, 45 minute races, with a fake 'Le Mans' start and a half-distance driver change means its impossible to follow the action especially given there are very few screens around the track. The pit areas and infield club displays are however fabulous and you'll find some real gems just parked up which makes the trip worth while.

The 24 hours is a party focussed around an epic test of endurance, one the whole region gets involved with and one you properly feel part of.

[VladD]

The Surveyor said:

I've done both, the 'Classic' is a great classic car show, the 24 hours is a race event. The only thing they have in common is the venue.

I've done the 24 hours every year since 2015 and I was at the Classic last year, and had been in 2012. For a lover of old cars, the Classic is a great event and you can get nicely close to some amazing machinery, the racing is certainly a low point of the weekend though. Great to see cars being driven, but only a very few are being driven in a competitive manner, 45 minute races, with a fake 'Le Mans' start and a half-distance driver change means its impossible to follow the action especially given there are very few screens around the track. The pit areas and infield club displays are however fabulous and you'll find some real gems just parked up which makes the trip worth while.

The 24 hours is a party focussed around an epic test of endurance, one the whole region gets involved with and one you properly feel part of.

You make a good point. Have you been to the Silverstone Classic or Goodwood Revival (or other similar events)? Silverstone is only about 40 minutes from my house, so if that's comparable, it might be a better option.