Suggestions for LM2019 Stag Weekend
Discussion
Hi,
I'm hoping that now might be a good time to ask these questions as everyone is on the come-down from the big weekend...
I'm planning my mates stag weekend and seeing as he's a motor sport fan, I thought that Le Mans might be a good idea. The groom isn't the biggest of drinkers, but most of the rest of the group are. Not all of them are particularly into motor sport either.
I'm looking for some recommendations on which would be the best campsite for atmosphere and not feeling guilty for making noise when coming back in the early hours.
Also, where is the best place to go for tickets? I've emailed Brian at 1st Tickets a few weeks ago for some advice along these lines, but haven't heard back from him yet.
I know that there's a 24/7 tram service into Le Mans itself - what's this like for clubs and pubs? My experience of most other French provincial towns is that they're terrible for this kind of thing. I'm aware that there's plenty of entertainment on within the track area, but it'd be nice to be able to mix things up and not do the same things each night.
I'd really appreciate any pearls of wisdom you've got as none of the stag party have ever been to Le Mans, but I'm obviously keen to ensure that we plan a great trip, rather than just feel our way through it.
I'm hoping that now might be a good time to ask these questions as everyone is on the come-down from the big weekend...
I'm planning my mates stag weekend and seeing as he's a motor sport fan, I thought that Le Mans might be a good idea. The groom isn't the biggest of drinkers, but most of the rest of the group are. Not all of them are particularly into motor sport either.
I'm looking for some recommendations on which would be the best campsite for atmosphere and not feeling guilty for making noise when coming back in the early hours.
Also, where is the best place to go for tickets? I've emailed Brian at 1st Tickets a few weeks ago for some advice along these lines, but haven't heard back from him yet.
I know that there's a 24/7 tram service into Le Mans itself - what's this like for clubs and pubs? My experience of most other French provincial towns is that they're terrible for this kind of thing. I'm aware that there's plenty of entertainment on within the track area, but it'd be nice to be able to mix things up and not do the same things each night.
I'd really appreciate any pearls of wisdom you've got as none of the stag party have ever been to Le Mans, but I'm obviously keen to ensure that we plan a great trip, rather than just feel our way through it.
If you are taking a load of non motorsport mates then I would say travel down on Thursday 20th June. I'm sure they will find plenty of spaces to camp and have a lovely weekend. 
I took a load of folks to Le Mans on a stag weekend about 20 years ago, it was the worst Le Mans I've ever been to. We'd have been better off just finding any old town for a couple of days drinking. The issue was that most of the people were not at all interested in the race which spoiled it for those who wanted to watch it.
However most of the campsites are fairly noisy for most of the time ( beausejour has been one of the more rowdy ones of late). Plenty of places to eat and drink in town, now sure about clubs though.
I'd say for a stag crowd.
Head down Thursday, watch a bit of quali so they can see if they might actually enjoy the racing. Then hit the bars in the village or concert
Friday, bars/pitlane walk/Classic British Welcome/Houx roundabout/Mulsanne to watch stuff then tram to town, beers in the square, dinner somewhere, more beers, tram back.
Saturday
Watch the race/sit in bar/get drunk/big wheel/massive catapult thing/dodgems/go karts/ concert
Sunday
Watch the race/sit in bar
Watch Sunday night antis whilst drinking more beer
Monday
Go home
Get married
I took a load of folks to Le Mans on a stag weekend about 20 years ago, it was the worst Le Mans I've ever been to. We'd have been better off just finding any old town for a couple of days drinking. The issue was that most of the people were not at all interested in the race which spoiled it for those who wanted to watch it.
However most of the campsites are fairly noisy for most of the time ( beausejour has been one of the more rowdy ones of late). Plenty of places to eat and drink in town, now sure about clubs though.
I'd say for a stag crowd.
Head down Thursday, watch a bit of quali so they can see if they might actually enjoy the racing. Then hit the bars in the village or concert
Friday, bars/pitlane walk/Classic British Welcome/Houx roundabout/Mulsanne to watch stuff then tram to town, beers in the square, dinner somewhere, more beers, tram back.
Saturday
Watch the race/sit in bar/get drunk/big wheel/massive catapult thing/dodgems/go karts/ concert
Sunday
Watch the race/sit in bar
Watch Sunday night antis whilst drinking more beer
Monday
Go home
Get married
Whilst within the circuit there's plenty of eating and drinking opportunity, do be aware that you are looking at Swedish levels of cost for booze (€9 a pint).
The campsites are known (in parts) for a bit if rowdiness and joviality but this has a habit of occasionally spilling over into hooliganism. This has long been an unpleasant part of Le Mans but I sense a growing desire to stamp this out (by visitors if not the ACO but that's another thread/story).
As you suspect Le Mans is a pleasant city but not exactly 'party central' I'd liken it to Stafford: pleasant in the middle, bit of history but generally functional / municipal rather than anything dynamic.
FWIW...(and IMO), I would suggest that unless all of the group are into racing, then LeMans might not be your best bet for a Stag Weekend. There are many deficiencies and negatives in attending (cost, crowds, facilities, etc). If you 'get' Le Mans and are into the racing and understand what's happening then these deficiencies are outweighed in orders of magnitude by the positives. But if you have members of the group that are not, then those negativities will likely skew their opinions and negatively affect the enjoyment of others.
The campsites are known (in parts) for a bit if rowdiness and joviality but this has a habit of occasionally spilling over into hooliganism. This has long been an unpleasant part of Le Mans but I sense a growing desire to stamp this out (by visitors if not the ACO but that's another thread/story).
As you suspect Le Mans is a pleasant city but not exactly 'party central' I'd liken it to Stafford: pleasant in the middle, bit of history but generally functional / municipal rather than anything dynamic.
FWIW...(and IMO), I would suggest that unless all of the group are into racing, then LeMans might not be your best bet for a Stag Weekend. There are many deficiencies and negatives in attending (cost, crowds, facilities, etc). If you 'get' Le Mans and are into the racing and understand what's happening then these deficiencies are outweighed in orders of magnitude by the positives. But if you have members of the group that are not, then those negativities will likely skew their opinions and negatively affect the enjoyment of others.
t idea based on the group you've suggested. I'm surprised. Everyone I know who's been to Le Mans has said that it would make a great stag weekend and that there's concerts, fairground etc. for people who aren't particularly keen.
Indeed, even those who are keen on motorsport are likely to only sit and spectate for half an hour or so every few hours.
Indeed, even those who are keen on motorsport are likely to only sit and spectate for half an hour or so every few hours.
ryanMIL said:
I'm surprised. Everyone I know who's been to Le Mans has said that it would make a great stag weekend and that there's concerts, fairground etc. for people who aren't particularly keen.
Indeed, even those who are keen on motorsport are likely to only sit and spectate for half an hour or so every few hours.
DELETED: Comment made by a member who's account has been deleted.Indeed, even those who are keen on motorsport are likely to only sit and spectate for half an hour or so every few hours.
Since I first went to Le Mans last year, I've had no end of chums who, motivated by my constant talking up of the event, have remarked upon their desire to come along one year, despite them at best having a passing interest in motorsport or indeed cars and motoring in general. Great blokes the lot of them but I have suggested to all that the investment in time, energy and money would be wasted.
This year we camped next to two chaps who had driven from Scotland in a Caterham containing a sizeable tent and provisions for their five night stay. Only a 'car-person' would understand the respect that deserves and why - and this is a good indicator whether someone would 'get' the whole Le Mans thing.
There are plenty of UK based motorsport/camping opportunities that would provide a suitable stag-do type weekend - BTCC, British GT, DTM, etc.
Snetterton - and you can do Norwich on the Friday or Saturday night. Oulton Park - Chester (maybe Manchester), Brands you're not too far from London...
I don't think there's any objection to drunk Brits, per se. There are plenty of 'die-hard' fans who are a drunken shambles at some point over the course of the weekend. I just think that the casual/disinterested fan with access to massive amounts of booze has potential to have a pretty terrible time...
I would only take people who have expressed an interest in the event.
Non racing activities, fairground, half an hour including going on the big wheel.
Concerts 2 hours standing in a car park in front of a temporary stage, this year was unusual in that the headliners were recognised UK artists. Some years it’s a who’s this lot, runners up on French version of the voice.
Food/ restaurants either sausage ( google merguez sausage) and chips or sit down restaurant where I don’t think they would let you in and looking at 100€ for nothing special. No groups.
And I’ve been going since 1992 😲
Non racing activities, fairground, half an hour including going on the big wheel.
Concerts 2 hours standing in a car park in front of a temporary stage, this year was unusual in that the headliners were recognised UK artists. Some years it’s a who’s this lot, runners up on French version of the voice.
Food/ restaurants either sausage ( google merguez sausage) and chips or sit down restaurant where I don’t think they would let you in and looking at 100€ for nothing special. No groups.
And I’ve been going since 1992 😲
This is a disaster waiting to happen. People unused to camping, ill prepared, not interested in motor sport, just wanting to get pissed, doing so, falling down, getting pick-pocketed, forgetting to hide everything on the camp site and losing their passports, credit cards, and all their money. You will arrive on the Thursday, erect the tents (if you can) then go into town to the bars. You'll come back on the tram (which I think finishes at 1 am) or walk it. Someone will of course have lost/forgotten his camping site passes. You'll head for the circuit bar, probably still half-cut, then find somewhere to sleep it off. And, from what you are saying, the groom will be watching you all in horror wondering what the hell is happening.
May I suggest the other type of stag weekend which I was on in the 1980s? We all went on several minibuses to north Wales on the Friday afternoon, hit the bars and the clubs and had a whale of a time. Saturday was a day's golf, followed by a really serious session later on. Sunday of course, we were ready for opening time, only to find out that the bloody bridegroom had chosen one of the only counties in Wales that was dry on Sunday. You have never seen people pack so quickly, get in the wagons, and decamp. There was one wonderful moment before we left Wales though. Opening the back door of the bus and one of our fraternity projectile-vomiting 10 yds on the windscreen of the car behind. Some things are unforgettable.
May I suggest the other type of stag weekend which I was on in the 1980s? We all went on several minibuses to north Wales on the Friday afternoon, hit the bars and the clubs and had a whale of a time. Saturday was a day's golf, followed by a really serious session later on. Sunday of course, we were ready for opening time, only to find out that the bloody bridegroom had chosen one of the only counties in Wales that was dry on Sunday. You have never seen people pack so quickly, get in the wagons, and decamp. There was one wonderful moment before we left Wales though. Opening the back door of the bus and one of our fraternity projectile-vomiting 10 yds on the windscreen of the car behind. Some things are unforgettable.
OP, Brian at 1st Tickets might be slightly busy given this is the bi-annual year where the 24hrs and Classic events take place and hence he might have literally got back from the 24hrs for just enough time to re-pack etc. before heading back to France for the Classic event where he'll do it all over again.
I'm sure Brian will be in contact shortly and given the fact that the ACO don't release the dates officially for a good few months after the event, an expression of interest should suffice in the intervening period. In the meantime, I'm sure the fellow PHers will give you various other options to be able to consider including Thomas Cook and Travel Destinations if you're after a catered camp site that saves you the strain of daily trips to the supermarket and having to either have a dedicated chef or a rota for cooking duties.
I'm sure Brian will be in contact shortly and given the fact that the ACO don't release the dates officially for a good few months after the event, an expression of interest should suffice in the intervening period. In the meantime, I'm sure the fellow PHers will give you various other options to be able to consider including Thomas Cook and Travel Destinations if you're after a catered camp site that saves you the strain of daily trips to the supermarket and having to either have a dedicated chef or a rota for cooking duties.
ryanMIL said:
I'm surprised. Everyone I know who's been to Le Mans has said that it would make a great stag weekend and that there's concerts, fairground etc. for people who aren't particularly keen.
Indeed, even those who are keen on motorsport are likely to only sit and spectate for half an hour or so every few hours.
Erm...No! We do a minimum of 12 hours race viewing and every year we complain that's not enough!Indeed, even those who are keen on motorsport are likely to only sit and spectate for half an hour or so every few hours.
We get the Wednesday night ferry, pitch up lunchtime on Thursday, drink beer until it's time for quali. Friday is a wander around, pit walk, museum or the like and (in the old days) mad Friday. This year we did JQ concert and drinking until small hours. Saturday is hangover morning followed by pitching up at the track by 1pm, ready for 3pm kick off. Viewing until dinner, then more viewing until heading back to camp. Sunday is an up and out down to Porsche curves by 10.30ish until race end. Straight back to camp before belongings wander off with the local "clean up crew". More drinking before Monday regret sets in.
We camp at Houx Annexe. We've had varying numbers over the years from 2 - 11. This year we had 2 who could not have cared less about the racing. They spoilt it for everyone else!
Edited by xemmaxsx on Monday 2nd July 20:26
Ive got a lot of mates who want to come with me to Le Mans. They won't really be into it so I don't bring them
You put up with a lot of stuff you wouldn't tolerate on any break. You do it because its Le Mans. Unless you're absorbed by it the whole thing will just seem like an expensive bad idea.
I stick to weekends in cities with the lads. Le Mans would be a bad idea. Trust me
You put up with a lot of stuff you wouldn't tolerate on any break. You do it because its Le Mans. Unless you're absorbed by it the whole thing will just seem like an expensive bad idea.
I stick to weekends in cities with the lads. Le Mans would be a bad idea. Trust me
Edited by wsn03 on Monday 2nd July 22:40
I organise our Le Mans trip every year and every year someone new says they want to come along, they are soon put off when they hear how much racing you watch or how much booze is consumed, in reality if you’re not interested in racing and don’t like camping it would be a nightmare.
If you go, I’m sure some of your group would go again but most wont, the fairground and concerts only take up a really small percentage of time, the rest is drinking and Cars.
If you go, I’m sure some of your group would go again but most wont, the fairground and concerts only take up a really small percentage of time, the rest is drinking and Cars.
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