ACO Membership?

ACO Membership?

Author
Discussion

cdon

Original Poster:

2,124 posts

174 months

Wednesday 15th May 2019
quotequote all
I already have a ticket for Parc Blanc and the grandstand by the Dunlop curve. My plan is to sleep in the car or do an all nighter. No camping.

I understand there’s an area for ACO members at T18(?) grandstand that has a bar, toilets, showers etc. Can you access this with the €100 ACO membership but not a ticket to that grandstand?

is the ACO membership/members area worth it? I would be interested mainly to have somewhere to take a shower/retreat to if the weather gets crazy.

The Leaper

4,938 posts

205 months

Wednesday 15th May 2019
quotequote all
By flashing their membership card, ACO members can access all at T18 except the tribune seating area, so the toilets and bar are doable. You do not need a tribune seat for T18 to do this.

R.

//j17

4,471 posts

222 months

Wednesday 15th May 2019
quotequote all
Doesn't an ACO membership also get you access to a 'big tent' on the far inside of the Village?

MadMacMcMad

1,266 posts

253 months

Wednesday 15th May 2019
quotequote all
//j17 said:
Doesn't an ACO membership also get you access to a 'big tent' on the far inside of the Village?
At the Dunlop bridge inside the track down towards the Esses, Yes.

chasingracecars

1,696 posts

96 months

Wednesday 15th May 2019
quotequote all
Yes and the excellent viewing on the inside of the run down from the Dunlop bridge into the Esses. It’s my favourite afternoon spot to watch but not worth it alone for the membership.

ferrus

38 posts

61 months

Wednesday 15th May 2019
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I've often wondered about the ACO membership, but my weekend pass is included in the camping package - so no savings there.

Without the Tertre Rouge grandstand available this year (which I'm still seething about mad), I'm stuck as whether to get a seat at Dunlop, or gamble for dry weather and sit on the hill at TR.

Where's the ACO tent at Dunlop? I think I've passed it several times, but can't remember where.
Is there seating in it?

ferrus

38 posts

61 months

Wednesday 15th May 2019
quotequote all
cdon said:
My plan is to sleep in the car or do an all nighter. No camping.
I remember planning my first Le Mans.
My grand plan - was to sleep under a tree.

Honestly. Under a tree.
yikes

Fortunately - after reading a lot about the weather, the high incidents of theft, and a number of people telling me not to be stupid, common sense prevailed.
I booked into a premier glamping site, where they do everything but tuck you in for the night.

Haven't looked back.
I'm not one life's rough travellors.

If you have a car though - you have a nice place to escape to, keep valuables in, even have a quick phone charge.
I didn't. Just my tree.

cdon

Original Poster:

2,124 posts

174 months

Wednesday 15th May 2019
quotequote all
chasingracecars said:
Yes and the excellent viewing on the inside of the run down from the Dunlop bridge into the Esses. It’s my favourite afternoon spot to watch but not worth it alone for the membership.
Are the ACO benefits at the LM24 worth it? Viewing area, slight discount on GE and facilities at T18 (toilets, showers, lockers).

I’ve read some comments that said they were so busy that people ended up not using them.

ferrus

38 posts

61 months

Wednesday 15th May 2019
quotequote all
Can't comment on the ACO facilities (would like to know myself).

The public trackside toilets range from fairly empty during the week, to huge queues during the race.
It may depend on how much beer and fast food you plan to put away (for me - a lot), but I'd be quite tempted by some private facilities without a camping ticket.
With the high price of an ACO membership however - you're half way to a camping ticket.

Anybody with an ACO pass here?

The Leaper

4,938 posts

205 months

Wednesday 15th May 2019
quotequote all
I think that the two big plusses with having ACO membership are being able to get tickets, especially the tribunes and parking, in advance of non members, and access to T18 facilities except for the grandstand seats there unless you buy those anyway. If you do want T18 grandstand seats it's members first and non members afterwards.

R.

cdon

Original Poster:

2,124 posts

174 months

Wednesday 15th May 2019
quotequote all
ferrus said:
With the high price of an ACO membership however - you're half way to a camping ticket
I had planned to camp at the start but I’m not in LeMans until Saturday morning so I don’t think it’s worth it. I’ll be leaving again some time on Sunday.

StevieBee

12,795 posts

254 months

Wednesday 15th May 2019
quotequote all
cdon said:
take a shower
Just use one of the campsite shower blocks.

I'm sure there's rules that limit use to those on a campsite but if they are, I really don't think they'd be checked or enforced.

If you start queuing up when you arrive on Saturday, you'll get a shower in before you leave on Sunday.




JT3K

314 posts

129 months

Thursday 16th May 2019
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StevieBee said:
If you start queuing up when you arrive on Saturday, you'll get a shower in before you leave on Sunday.
The showers are surprisingly quiet mid-afternoon on Saturday and again on Sunday. No idea why though.

//j17

4,471 posts

222 months

Thursday 16th May 2019
quotequote all
JT3K said:
StevieBee said:
If you start queuing up when you arrive on Saturday, you'll get a shower in before you leave on Sunday.
The showers are surprisingly quiet mid-afternoon on Saturday and again on Sunday. No idea why though.
Don't be a sheep is the answer. If you follow the flock with this odd need to shower at 9am you'll have big queues. Leave it and shower around lunch time/before bed and you will either walk straight in or maybe have 2 or 3 people in the queue ahead of you - even on one of the 1000 people/show sites like Bleu Nord.

davidd

6,443 posts

283 months

Thursday 16th May 2019
quotequote all
//j17 said:
Don't be a sheep is the answer. If you follow the flock with this odd need to shower at 9am you'll have big queues. Leave it and shower around lunch time/before bed and you will either walk straight in or maybe have 2 or 3 people in the queue ahead of you - even on one of the 1000 people/show sites like Bleu Nord.
yes indeed, night time showers are the way forward.

cdon

Original Poster:

2,124 posts

174 months

Thursday 16th May 2019
quotequote all
//j17 said:
Don't be a sheep is the answer. If you follow the flock with this odd need to shower at 9am you'll have big queues. Leave it and shower around lunch time/before bed and you will either walk straight in or maybe have 2 or 3 people in the queue ahead of you - even on one of the 1000 people/show sites like Bleu Nord.
Are there any checks in place to access the campsites or could anyone walk into Bleu Nord and take a shower?

Output Flange

16,793 posts

210 months

Thursday 16th May 2019
quotequote all
I've had ACO membership for the past couple of years, and it's a bit of a double-edged sword.

On the one hand, it gives you early access to discounted tickets and the ability to buy the T18 grandstand (2 seats per membership). This is the tribune with the best facilities by far - having a bar in the back of it, for example.

Now, the other side of it is that since I've had access to that, I've become far more lazy about getting round to other viewing points on the track.

Last year was the first time I've used the tent on the inside at Dunlop. Nice viewing spot, and was pretty quiet when I was there.

I don't try too hard to justify the cost of the ACO membership, but I think it's just about worth it.

Dblue

3,252 posts

199 months

Thursday 16th May 2019
quotequote all
Output Flange said:
I've had ACO membership for the past couple of years, and it's a bit of a double-edged sword.

On the one hand, it gives you early access to discounted tickets and the ability to buy the T18 grandstand (2 seats per membership). This is the tribune with the best facilities by far - having a bar in the back of it, for example.

Now, the other side of it is that since I've had access to that, I've become far more lazy about getting round to other viewing points on the track.

Last year was the first time I've used the tent on the inside at Dunlop. Nice viewing spot, and was pretty quiet when I was there.

I don't try too hard to justify the cost of the ACO membership, but I think it's just about worth it.
Good points about being in a tribune tending to stop you wandering but it makes sense being a member. You can buy up to 6 tribune tickets per membership , in advance so all the best seats, you get the tent facility but you also get discount on your general tickets.
If you have a group of you its easy to save the109euro cost

Output Flange

16,793 posts

210 months

Friday 17th May 2019
quotequote all
You can only buy 2x T18 tickets per membership, I’ll take your word on the others.

//j17

4,471 posts

222 months

Friday 17th May 2019
quotequote all
cdon said:
Are there any checks in place to access the campsites or could anyone walk into Bleu Nord and take a shower?
The only access control to the ACO campsites is for vehicles, to stop people driving in and getting free camping. For sites 'outside' the circuit anyone can walk through the gate, around the site and use the facilities. It's much the same for those 'inside' the circuit with the exception that you'll need a GE ticket - but if you don't have one of those you have a VERY unusual way of 'doing' Le Mans!