Le Mans 24hr Newbie

Le Mans 24hr Newbie

Author
Discussion

MadMacMcMad

1,266 posts

253 months

Tuesday 13th February 2018
quotequote all
Op.. I have been going since 89, so have done most of what can be done.
I always advise people that ask, wake up at LeMans Friday morning. Friday is such a good day with lots on, that you will miss if travelling.
So, at the very least, travel Thursday night on an overnight to LeHavre/Caen. They get in by 8 in the morning and you have a 2.5 hour drive down. Or do a Thursday night Calais crossing (Cheapest) and then a 4.5 hour run down over night. Crash for a few hours when you arrive and you are ready.

You will need 3 campsite pitches. As you are leaving it very late, DO NOT buy Beausejour or an un-numbered campsite. You will struggle with enough room for 3 vehicles together. Best buy would be Bleu Nord. This is a 5 minute walk to the main entrance outside the circuit. You will pay about 90quid per car. But your places will be together and waiting for you when you arrive. PM me if you want to know where to get tickets etc.

Bear minimum, you will need 3 campsite passes 1 per vehicle and 1 GE pass per person.

Hope that helps.

vincegail

2,456 posts

154 months

Tuesday 13th February 2018
quotequote all
chasingracecars said:
These small pubs make more money on Le Mans week then the rest of the year. If we don’t go there they will close. Then we will wish we had gone there.

Aside from the financial side you can sit outside where people drive past in their pride and joys. It’s lovely to sit out there for hours.
Never done that in all my years of going to Le Mans. Will make an effort to support the local economy this year beer

chasingracecars

1,696 posts

96 months

Tuesday 13th February 2018
quotequote all
vincegail said:
Never done that in all my years of going to Le Mans. Will make an effort to support the local economy this year beer
Fancy a quick beer in Arnage at Lunch hour during test? As you have probably seen we both arrive at Le Mans on the 1st of June!

Rick101

6,959 posts

149 months

Tuesday 13th February 2018
quotequote all
Tolls were around £35 each way in 2017 if I remember rightly.

Nigel_O

2,858 posts

218 months

Tuesday 13th February 2018
quotequote all
In 2016, we looked longingly at the roadside bars in Arnage, as we sat in a monumental traffic jam (four hours from the top of Arnage high street to Porsche Curves....)

This year, we will be doing it the other way - evening meal in Arnage looking at all the cars crawling past, followed by a leisurely amble back to the circuit to watch the night practice session

Nigel_O

2,858 posts

218 months

Tuesday 13th February 2018
quotequote all
Oh - and for the OP (and any other PH'ers breaking their LeMans virginity), you just HAVE to read the Red Sausage story - truly (in)famous amongst LeMans goers

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=14...

vincegail

2,456 posts

154 months

Tuesday 13th February 2018
quotequote all
chasingracecars said:
vincegail said:
Never done that in all my years of going to Le Mans. Will make an effort to support the local economy this year beer
Fancy a quick beer in Arnage at Lunch hour during test? As you have probably seen we both arrive at Le Mans on the 1st of June!
I sure do! Please contact me closer to June beer

Leptons

5,113 posts

175 months

Tuesday 13th February 2018
quotequote all
Nigel_O said:
Oh - and for the OP (and any other PH'ers breaking their LeMans virginity), you just HAVE to read the Red Sausage story - truly (in)famous amongst LeMans goers

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=14...
Magnificent rofl

Printertosh

563 posts

167 months

Wednesday 14th February 2018
quotequote all
I've often thought of walking to Arnage for a few beers on the Friday afternoon then getting the number 5 bus route into the city that terminates at the station (tram and bus tickets used to be valid for 1 hour so it was ok to get off one and onto another, I'm guessing it's still the same?).

Haven't tried it yet, maybe this year smilebeer

chasingracecars

1,696 posts

96 months

Wednesday 14th February 2018
quotequote all
Printertosh said:
I've often thought of walking to Arnage for a few beers on the Friday afternoon then getting the number 5 bus route into the city that terminates at the station (tram and bus tickets used to be valid for 1 hour so it was ok to get off one and onto another, I'm guessing it's still the same?).

Haven't tried it yet, maybe this year smilebeer
I often go down on either Wednesday or Thursday lunch time, its still got a lot of the atmosphere and people arriving, but yes Friday is the best day down there usually.

Printertosh

563 posts

167 months

Thursday 15th February 2018
quotequote all
chasingracecars said:
I often go down on either Wednesday or Thursday lunch time, its still got a lot of the atmosphere and people arriving, but yes Friday is the best day down there usually.
Cool, will see if any of my bunch fancy it smile Usually go St Saturnin but maybe we'll have a break from that. drink

Stevorocket

408 posts

218 months

Monday 19th February 2018
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This year is my 24th trip to the 24 hours!

These are my costs this year...

General entrance ticket 82 euros - called "Enciente General"

Parking in the green carpark (Called parking Vert) 40 euros, this is on the Bugatti circuit area and therefore handy for the Dunlop bridge and the shops and stands etc. It also sells out early because of this so get in NOW to order them and have them posted to you at a cost of 25 euros. I have mine already.
You can phone the ACO ticket office on 0033 24348000 and talk to operators with perfect English skills which is massively easier than trying to use the awful ACO web site.

Brittany Ferry from Portsmouth to Caen Saturday 8:00 am on the 9th June because its easier than M40, M25 M26 M20 to Dover with the risks of traffic jams.
cost £278 return for a Golf.
Long ferry time allows for breakfast and lunch and a snooze.
I wont use the tunnel after being pissed about several times in the past.

Hotel in Portsmouth night before ferry because I live in the Midlands, £85

Accommodation for a week: about £140 each because 8 of us hire a cottage. Yes it really is £140 each for a WEEK in a lovely cottage.

A28 Tolls can be a shock at £65 return.

Petrol is trivial compared to the above costs unless you live in the north!

Its always worth the money to watch the awesome Thursday night final qualifying at Arnage corner which ends at midnight.



Edited by Stevorocket on Monday 19th February 16:19


Edited by Stevorocket on Monday 19th February 16:23


Edited by Stevorocket on Monday 19th February 16:37


Edited by Stevorocket on Monday 19th February 17:21