Which corners? When?

Which corners? When?

Author
Discussion

cavebloke

Original Poster:

641 posts

228 months

Monday 23rd May 2005
quotequote all
First time at le mans this year and ridiculously excited about the whole thing!
I was hoping you guys could recommend the best times to be at certain corners and how best to get there.
I hear it’s amazing at the Dunlop bridge at dusk.
Thanks PHers!

Mark B

1,621 posts

266 months

Monday 23rd May 2005
quotequote all
Arnage and Indianapolis at night......
Mulsanne corner, day light or at night.
Mulsanne Straight - Anytime, awesome.

Directions... not easy as I am not sure where you are based whilst there.

patrick

513 posts

285 months

Monday 23rd May 2005
quotequote all
Personal preference -- Esses for the start. 20:00 - 22:00 Mulsanne corner / Arnage / Indianapolis for as long as you can stand it. 01:00 - 03:00 Chinese restaurant if you can fight through the coach loads. 03:00 - 06:00 Porsche curves in the early hours / Sunday am -- Start/finish straight for the end..

cavebloke

Original Poster:

641 posts

228 months

Monday 23rd May 2005
quotequote all
I'm based in beausejour, but really i was wondering if its a car/bus/walk thing? Do people walk about mostly? It seems a long way, some people have told me there can be long waits for the buses.

Mark B

1,621 posts

266 months

Monday 23rd May 2005
quotequote all
I am based in Houx Annexe. I would never want to rely on buses for anything. As a group we regularly drive out at about 9pm to take in the round robin from Arnage through Mulsanne Corner then the straight then head back to the campsite. Grab a slab and wander over to the pits taking in Dunlop Bridge, Tetre Rouge and finally park ourselves opposite the pits until my eye lids become too heavy!

If it's your first time, definately watch the start from the start finish line. You need to get there very early, 13.00 onwards. If it is hot take plenty of water with you!!!!

cavebloke

Original Poster:

641 posts

228 months

Monday 23rd May 2005
quotequote all
Mark B said:
If it's your first time, definately watch the start from the start finish line. You need to get there very early, 13.00 onwards. If it is hot take plenty of water with you!!!!


Cheers Mark i think i'll do that.
Do you guys reckon I will regret not having a grandstand ticket? Should i try and get one off ebay?

Mark B

1,621 posts

266 months

Monday 23rd May 2005
quotequote all
No, get the atmosphere standing amongst the crowds........

I did it the first year back in 1994 and will remember the sound of the cars and the roar form the crowds as Derek Bell went past in the Porsche forever!

TJDIXON911

1,911 posts

238 months

Monday 23rd May 2005
quotequote all
And there was me thinking the best place would be in the Spearmint Rhino tent

NormanD

3,208 posts

229 months

Monday 23rd May 2005
quotequote all
Mark B said:
Arnage and Indianapolis at night......


As well as Arnage at the START

gary judd

2,675 posts

266 months

Monday 23rd May 2005
quotequote all
patrick said:
Personal preference -- Esses for the start. 20:00 - 22:00 Mulsanne corner / Arnage / Indianapolis for as long as you can stand it. 01:00 - 03:00 Chinese restaurant if you can fight through the coach loads. 03:00 - 06:00 Porsche curves in the early hours / Sunday am -- Start/finish straight for the end..

gary judd

2,675 posts

266 months

Monday 23rd May 2005
quotequote all
gary judd said:

patrick said:
Personal preference -- Esses for the start. 20:00 - 22:00 Mulsanne corner / Arnage / Indianapolis for as long as you can stand it. 01:00 - 03:00 Chinese restaurant if you can fight through the coach loads. 03:00 - 06:00 Porsche curves in the early hours / Sunday am -- Start/finish straight for the end..



oops pressed the wrong button, how do you get to the chinese resturant that is the one on the mulsanne straight and is it possible during the race.


Ballistic Banana

14,698 posts

268 months

Monday 23rd May 2005
quotequote all
Gary you can get to the bar down the Mulsanne(went there one year) Its a long way round from memory and so small a viewing place didnt get to see much as they are also slowing down for the Chicane... Thats why I never went back.

BB

patrick

513 posts

285 months

Monday 23rd May 2005
quotequote all
Ballistic Banana said:
Gary you can get to the bar down the Mulsanne(went there one year) Its a long way round from memory and so small a viewing place didnt get to see much as they are also slowing down for the Chicane... Thats why I never went back.

BB


It used to be much better before they banned everyone from sitting on the wall - They've put an earth bank set back, so you don't see anywhere near as much - if I could find a place to stand half way up between Arnage & the Porsche curves, now that'd be good...
Although that may involve a bit of exploring through the woods...

up-the-dubs

4,282 posts

230 months

Monday 23rd May 2005
quotequote all
Mark B said:
If it's your first time, definately watch the start from the start finish line. You need to get there very early, 13.00 onwards. If it is hot take plenty of water with you!!!!


Another Newbie!!!

How is this done? Is it in front of the grandstand or what??? Bouncing off the walls ever so slightly!

white_van_man

3,846 posts

250 months

Monday 23rd May 2005
quotequote all
arnarge at night is a must and the pit lane i was there untill about 4am last year

Trackside

1,777 posts

234 months

Monday 23rd May 2005
quotequote all
Agree with the Arnage at night theory! Last year we were around the Dunlop Bridge area until dusk then moved to Arnage for the nightime stint. Stayed there until 6.30am, which time we were fg freezing! Returned a couple of hours later and moved between Arnage and Mulsanne until the end of the race.

Mark B

1,621 posts

266 months

Tuesday 24th May 2005
quotequote all
up-the-dubs said:
Another Newbie!!!

How is this done? Is it in front of the grandstand or what??? Bouncing off the walls ever so slightly!


It'll be obvious when you get there, but yes, it is opposite the pits and in front of the grandstands.

IMHO - Your first year should be watched from here, you will have goosebumps as they nail it on the rolling first lap......

up-the-dubs

4,282 posts

230 months

Tuesday 24th May 2005
quotequote all
Mark B said:
IMHO - Your first year should be watched from here, you will have goosebumps as they nail it on the rolling first lap......


Excellent

nutskie..

343 posts

238 months

Tuesday 24th May 2005
quotequote all
Trackside,

We seem to be crossing paths rather a lot at the moment: we do Arnage each year for the night stint. Got there about 3am last year with seats, sleepbags and bottle of single malt: ever so refined !!

Arnage is simply a tradition that can not be missed (8th year for me 2005).

We also have done the start there for a couple of years. Rather entertaining to see Biela looking embarassed by the Audi R8 as he explains to the pit that he's run out of fuel (they started packing up as he went passed the pits apparently !!). After the huge capital investment he must have been struck of Audi's Christmas card list that year !!)

simon996

207 posts

233 months

Tuesday 24th May 2005
quotequote all
couldn't agree more with arnage for the night stint - and the sunrise above the cars as they blat up from indianapolis is quite something if you can stay awake - can be very cold but the sleeping bags (and whiskey) help a great deal.

have also spent the early night hours (up to midnight ish) around the dunlop bridge and esses which is a great place to watch.