I'd love to hear about the members who drove to Le Mans
Discussion
I don;t know you and I have no idea of you target demographic so don't take as a criticism.
That said, 80 cars travelling the UK has the potential for a lot of publicity.
A lot of bad publicity if any stupid antics occur or speeding. As the organiser I hope your covering yourself. As a petrolhead it worries me that en mass bad road behavior will inevitably spoil things for the rest of us.
Please don't let it
That said, 80 cars travelling the UK has the potential for a lot of publicity.
A lot of bad publicity if any stupid antics occur or speeding. As the organiser I hope your covering yourself. As a petrolhead it worries me that en mass bad road behavior will inevitably spoil things for the rest of us.
Please don't let it
Hi Mark,
I’m glad you brought up your fears and I’m also glad that you mentioned that you worried as a petrolhead.
I too am a petrolhead, hence why I am getting involved in this event in the first place. Every participant so far is also a petrolhead, and I anticipate that how ever many cars we leave London with, they will all be petrolheads.
The reason I am so confident in saying so is that this isn’t a rally like most, seeking Lamborghinis and Ferrari’s to drive fast between parties and hotels. It is an event set up to provide some adventure to drivers. The sort of people that speed, drink drive, hit reckless speeds and endanger other motorists are not the sort of people who will happily pitch a tent between other car fans, go without a shower, sit and enjoy one another’s company in the middle of nowhere, where even phone signal is unheard of.
That, combined with the demographic of people that have signed up and those I am carefully targeting, leads me to believe that your fears can rest easy about this event, anyway.
Robert.
I’m glad you brought up your fears and I’m also glad that you mentioned that you worried as a petrolhead.
I too am a petrolhead, hence why I am getting involved in this event in the first place. Every participant so far is also a petrolhead, and I anticipate that how ever many cars we leave London with, they will all be petrolheads.
The reason I am so confident in saying so is that this isn’t a rally like most, seeking Lamborghinis and Ferrari’s to drive fast between parties and hotels. It is an event set up to provide some adventure to drivers. The sort of people that speed, drink drive, hit reckless speeds and endanger other motorists are not the sort of people who will happily pitch a tent between other car fans, go without a shower, sit and enjoy one another’s company in the middle of nowhere, where even phone signal is unheard of.
That, combined with the demographic of people that have signed up and those I am carefully targeting, leads me to believe that your fears can rest easy about this event, anyway.
Robert.
MckRob85 said:
Hi all.
As I am planning a big driving event for next June, I am looking for all the good bits/bad bits about the journey down, not specifically the route, as mine won't be in France, but what parts of such an undertaking were most enjoyable, what little things made a big difference, what bugged you, what you would add/change/remove all together.
I know a bunch of guys drove to the event together, so thats right up my alley.
Any tips/suggestions that I might be able to consider/incorporate for enjoyment/remove for annoyance would be very helpful. Also, its just great to hear about your adventures!
Adventure is the name of the game, right?
Evening,As I am planning a big driving event for next June, I am looking for all the good bits/bad bits about the journey down, not specifically the route, as mine won't be in France, but what parts of such an undertaking were most enjoyable, what little things made a big difference, what bugged you, what you would add/change/remove all together.
I know a bunch of guys drove to the event together, so thats right up my alley.
Any tips/suggestions that I might be able to consider/incorporate for enjoyment/remove for annoyance would be very helpful. Also, its just great to hear about your adventures!
Adventure is the name of the game, right?
Ive done the trip since 2000 and in the same car, my ford racing puma. I go A41 M25 M20 Tunnel A16 A28 to Rouen then use the N138 now re numbered the D438 to Le Mans. The D438 is a great road and offers many places to stop and refresh, also has some very nice twisty sections. Also due the A28 being used so much the police dont tend to be on the D438 giving you a nicer drive!
We have one rule....... we always drive down in something different each year. Last year was a Mercedes R129 SL, the year before that an E60 M5, the year before that an E21 323i.... and so on.
We've always gone for the direct route - we stop overnight in Dover to break up the journey, but we always head down on Thursday and aim to be set up and strolling into Arnage as quickly as we can. Perhaps we are missing a trick.....
2019 It's my turn to drive, so it will be either the M3, or a fingers crossed road trip in the £100 Volvo.... suitably liveried (of course)
As people have already said..... the journey to Le Mans is an event (and part and parcel of the weekend) itself. From patching up classic cars by the roadside, to 130 MPH blow outs and perforated radiators, what seems like a major issue at the time (we've experienced all of these) becomes part of the fabric of what actually makes the annual trip to Le Mans a pilgrimage. You either get it, or you don't (I have friends who have been once, ticked the box, and have no desire to go back).
For me, those few days in Mid- June are a drug.
As someone once said, if you are not at Le Mans, you are thinking about going to Le Mans.
We've always gone for the direct route - we stop overnight in Dover to break up the journey, but we always head down on Thursday and aim to be set up and strolling into Arnage as quickly as we can. Perhaps we are missing a trick.....
2019 It's my turn to drive, so it will be either the M3, or a fingers crossed road trip in the £100 Volvo.... suitably liveried (of course)
As people have already said..... the journey to Le Mans is an event (and part and parcel of the weekend) itself. From patching up classic cars by the roadside, to 130 MPH blow outs and perforated radiators, what seems like a major issue at the time (we've experienced all of these) becomes part of the fabric of what actually makes the annual trip to Le Mans a pilgrimage. You either get it, or you don't (I have friends who have been once, ticked the box, and have no desire to go back).
For me, those few days in Mid- June are a drug.
As someone once said, if you are not at Le Mans, you are thinking about going to Le Mans.
B.J.W said:
We have one rule....... we always drive down in something different each year. Last year was a Mercedes R129 SL, the year before that an E60 M5, the year before that an E21 323i.... and so on.
We've always gone for the direct route - we stop overnight in Dover to break up the journey, but we always head down on Thursday and aim to be set up and strolling into Arnage as quickly as we can. Perhaps we are missing a trick.....
2019 It's my turn to drive, so it will be either the M3, or a fingers crossed road trip in the £100 Volvo.... suitably liveried (of course)
As people have already said..... the journey to Le Mans is an event (and part and parcel of the weekend) itself. From patching up classic cars by the roadside, to 130 MPH blow outs and perforated radiators, what seems like a major issue at the time (we've experienced all of these) becomes part of the fabric of what actually makes the annual trip to Le Mans a pilgrimage. You either get it, or you don't (I have friends who have been once, ticked the box, and have no desire to go back).
For me, those few days in Mid- June are a drug.
As someone once said, if you are not at Le Mans, you are thinking about going to Le Mans.
You need to read through the whole thread - this guy is only interested in how he can make a drive around the UK more interesting by speaking to people about their Le Mans road trips - I think the two are completely unrelated - bit like asking a skier for tips for a beach holiday. We've always gone for the direct route - we stop overnight in Dover to break up the journey, but we always head down on Thursday and aim to be set up and strolling into Arnage as quickly as we can. Perhaps we are missing a trick.....
2019 It's my turn to drive, so it will be either the M3, or a fingers crossed road trip in the £100 Volvo.... suitably liveried (of course)
As people have already said..... the journey to Le Mans is an event (and part and parcel of the weekend) itself. From patching up classic cars by the roadside, to 130 MPH blow outs and perforated radiators, what seems like a major issue at the time (we've experienced all of these) becomes part of the fabric of what actually makes the annual trip to Le Mans a pilgrimage. You either get it, or you don't (I have friends who have been once, ticked the box, and have no desire to go back).
For me, those few days in Mid- June are a drug.
As someone once said, if you are not at Le Mans, you are thinking about going to Le Mans.
Your quote "if you are not at Le Mans, you are thinking about going to Le Mans" is scary, sad...but true. I'm not even into car racing, but I can't stop thinking about my next trip to Le Mans. It's just the best thing you can do, I can't find anything close, not even at my beloved motorbike races.
Thanks BJW, indeed I am.
The 4BallR is coming along nicely with everyone’s help so that’s brilliant. From peoples responses, I think I get what it is to plan something special, and using my own trips that I loved as a template, it’s shaping up superbly.
Although we don’t have a world famous 24 hour race at the end, what we have got along the way is utterly fantastic roads, wonderful places to stop and some great entertainment every evening alongside the adventure of camping together. It’s not for everyone but then neither is Le Mans... those who love it will do it again and again, those who hate it will find something else to sign up to.
😄
The 4BallR is coming along nicely with everyone’s help so that’s brilliant. From peoples responses, I think I get what it is to plan something special, and using my own trips that I loved as a template, it’s shaping up superbly.
Although we don’t have a world famous 24 hour race at the end, what we have got along the way is utterly fantastic roads, wonderful places to stop and some great entertainment every evening alongside the adventure of camping together. It’s not for everyone but then neither is Le Mans... those who love it will do it again and again, those who hate it will find something else to sign up to.
😄
I think I’ll leave the stereo choices to the participants but I could certainly make some recommendations!
Music is a huge part of the event. Just now in talks to book some amazing artists for our evening entertainment. I’m what you would call ‘off the charts excited’ by recent emails!
Music is a huge part of the event. Just now in talks to book some amazing artists for our evening entertainment. I’m what you would call ‘off the charts excited’ by recent emails!
MckRob85 said:
I think I’ll leave the stereo choices to the participants but I could certainly make some recommendations!
Music is a huge part of the event. Just now in talks to book some amazing artists for our evening entertainment. I’m what you would call ‘off the charts excited’ by recent emails! A good one is sweet caroline.... trust me... the horns will be tootin'
Music is a huge part of the event. Just now in talks to book some amazing artists for our evening entertainment. I’m what you would call ‘off the charts excited’ by recent emails! A good one is sweet caroline.... trust me... the horns will be tootin'
MckRob85 said:
I think I’ll leave the stereo choices to the participants but I could certainly make some recommendations!
Music is a huge part of the event. Just now in talks to book some amazing artists for our evening entertainment. I’m what you would call ‘off the charts excited’ by recent emails! A good one is sweet caroline.... trust me... the horns will be tootin'
Music is a huge part of the event. Just now in talks to book some amazing artists for our evening entertainment. I’m what you would call ‘off the charts excited’ by recent emails! A good one is sweet caroline.... trust me... the horns will be tootin'
Last year 5 of us from Canada drove down from Portsmouth in a Citroen C4 Picasso. Loaded to the gunnels with 5 guys and all our gear. 1.4 Diesel, at 120km it was doing 4.3 lts per 100. Great car once you got it rolling, from a standing start with all of us it was slower than a snail. Dangerous in fact.
We had a blast
We had a blast
As per previous comments, Le Mans is as much about the journey and people you travel with. I did the Classic for the first time this year, having done the regular event three times over the last decade.
Four of us went - me and two mates who have known eachother since school - and a random Australian female one of the guys met on Tinder a couple of weeks previously. We took a 1991 BMW 325i Touring and a 1968 MGB GT, bought a week beforehand. Mix in England's success during the World Cup that was on huge screens at the track, two Raleigh Choppers and a BMX (Charlene/Madge/Mrs Mangle had baccies everywhere) made for a very memorable trip for us all.
Four of us went - me and two mates who have known eachother since school - and a random Australian female one of the guys met on Tinder a couple of weeks previously. We took a 1991 BMW 325i Touring and a 1968 MGB GT, bought a week beforehand. Mix in England's success during the World Cup that was on huge screens at the track, two Raleigh Choppers and a BMX (Charlene/Madge/Mrs Mangle had baccies everywhere) made for a very memorable trip for us all.
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