Going alone

[meehaja]

On the whole I tolerate my own company quite well, I enjoy photography and mad road trips so quite fancy a trip from Leeds to Le Mans.. Am I likely to have a crap time by myself, or is it enough of an experience to not matter?

[UpTheIron]

If you are the type that:

- Makes new friends when there is a mutual interest (cars, motorsport, beer)

- is happy in your own company watching / photographing / drinking

- will go for the social aspect and just make friends regardless

...then chances are you'll be fine.

What's the worst that could happen, compared to never going!

[gt6]

If you camp in one of the ACO campsites you will be surrounded by groups mostly english speaking who are there for the same reason, just say hello and in most cases you will be welcomed with a beer or glass of wine and after that you will not be alone. If you are interested in cars then you will always find a car or group of cars that you will have an interest in close by your spot and as always if you show an interest then the owners will chat at length about them. If later on you wander back with presents (usually a pack of beer) then your evening is sorted although you may have only vague memories of it in the morning.
One tip, the earlier you are there, ie Tuesday or Wednesday, the easier it will be as often a group starts off small and grows as the week passes, when the campsites are spartanly populated it is easier to mingle.. Do not worry about being on your own as if you make the effort you will not be alone for long.
If you get a camping pass later in the year it will probably come from a spare ticket a group has so you will be close to them and have a link to them.

[RickRob]

Good advice above. I you haven't been, then you must. An amazing event.

Unless your car is left-Land drive I recommend that you get one of these:

https://www.saneftolling.co.uk/

You just attach it to your windscreen and the autoroute barriers automatically open. They bill you by Direct Debit at the end of the month. Rather more convenient than getting out and walking around the car to pay!

[meehaja]

Thanks all, I’ll get booked up. That toll pass is great, thanks for the hint, I got quite quick at jumping out, running round paying and back in as quick as most lhd cars paid regularly!

[wsn03]

Like you I'm quite comfortable with my own company, and do go to some events on my own - mainly the Isle of Man TT races.
I've been to Le Mans 3 times, each with at least one other person. On the first 2 visits I spent most of the race on my own at various spots.

I'm not into cars, or car racing, but Le Mans is something I can loose myself in.

My ideal scenario - Radio Le Mans, a tent and a bottle of whiskey....with or without anyone else there.
I've met a few people there on their own, all seemed very happy - you can't not be knocked out by the Theatre of the event, you really don't need people with you to enjoy it.

[The Leaper]

Been going to LM24 since '96, usually with my son, sometimes with friends, and also 3 times solo. No problem for me at all with this. I always park in Parking Blanc usually surrounded by Brits. A supply of beers to offer up usually gets me into a local group, sometimes breakfast included!

I've also had the Sanef tag since it became available from the UK. Indispensable anytime but especially for LM24 because of the heavy traffic. It's great when a Frenchie is behind at the tolls expecting me to have to reverse out! And, of course, saves getting out of a RHD car to pay.

R.

[illmonkey]

I went alone last year, 3rd time in total though. It was brilliant, I must have been alone for all of 30 minutes before someone threw me a beer and we got chatting, that turned into a group of 10 of us, all sitting about or visiting the track in smaller groups.

Take a look at my post about it: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=16...

[FredericRobinson]

For the last few years I've travelled out by myself the weekend before the race, usually others come out later in the week to join me, but a couple of years ago I did it solo for the full week, but as others have said if you're camping on site you won't be alone anyway, there's always plenty of people about willing to share a beer or a BBQ, Le Mans is the most sociable event, I go to plenty of other races on my own, BSB, WEC at Spa and Silverstone, I've done a couple of Spa 24s on my own, at those I'll usually pretty much stick to myself, Le Mans isn't like that.

[//j17]

You could always post a 'Spare seat' thread or wait for someone to post an 'Anyone got a spare seat?', usually closer to the time.

At the very least you'll get some company for the drive/someone to pay at the toll booths.

[wsn03]

//j17 said:

You could always post a 'Spare seat' thread or wait for someone to post an 'Anyone got a spare seat?', usually closer to the time.

At the very least you'll get some company for the drive/someone to pay at the toll booths.

Or end up with some bloke who's favourite subject is himself, who goes as far as turning down your sterio whenever he wants to start talking...bit risky i reckon...but could work if you're lucky (i guess i wasn't on that occasion!)

[Flamma]

I'm a very solitary type.. Went to LM for the first time this year, a long term ambition. I chose a straight there and back coach trip just for the race.. It was one of the best experiences of my life... Although I chatted a bit to my travelling companions on the journey and random people during the race I was pretty much a lone warrior. Am planning same trip next year..