What to do when not watching the race?

[Truckosaurus]

Brett99 said:

Is it worth arriving on Wednesday for some of the qualifying ? Trying to work out what day is best to arrive.

Yes. Even Tuesday isn't too outrageous (get a good campsite spot, no rush to setup etc.)

[//j17]

Brett99 said:

Is it worth arriving on Wednesday for some of the qualifying ? Trying to work out what day is best to arrive.

I've found the best combo is a Wed-Mon trip.

Wed -> enjoy the drive down, arrive and set up camp, hit the supermarket for the big shop, then food and beer before some night qualifying.
Thurs -> basically a chance to relax and do very little. A top-up trip to the supermarket for fresh bread/meat in the morning, then wander in to the (at that point empty) Village for a look around in the afternoon, followed by some qualifying.
Fri -> maybe Classic British Welcome, followed by heading in to town for the Drivers Parade (which involves eating, drinking, and chatting and missing the whole parade).
Sat -> race.
Sun -> race, followed by either a relaxing wind-down evening on the campsite, or a chilled post-race breaking camp and packing before heading to a hotel part way back after the initial post-race rush has died down.
Mon -> enjoy the drive home.

[wsn03]

Brett99 said:

Is it worth arriving on Wednesday for some of the qualifying ? Trying to work out what day is best to arrive.

Ive started making Wednesday travel + day.

This year we did the Motor Museum nr Southampton then ferry that night, reaching Le Mans Thursday lunchtime

Next year we will head to Reims to see the restored F1 grandstand/ paddock area from the 60s, then head to Le Mans on Thursday morning

[delta0]

wsn03 said:

Ive started making Wednesday travel + day.

This year we did the Motor Museum nr Southampton then ferry that night, reaching Le Mans Thursday lunchtime

Next year we will head to Reims to see the restored F1 grandstand/ paddock area from the 60s, then head to Le Mans on Thursday morning

Reims was great when I went there in 2017. It is great they maintain this historic track. It is stunning and you should stop to walk around. It was also a lot of fun opening the car up with stands on one side and the pits on the other!

After we left there for Le Mans we took a wrong turning looking for fuel and we were completely overwhelmed when we found ourselves driving down the back roads with champagne vineyards surround us.

It is a long drive from Calais to Reims and then to Le Mans. We popped across the border in to Belgium to get some beers from one of the beer supermarkets. Overall it was around 10 hours from Calais to Le Mans but could have taken off around 1.5 hours off for the Belgium with lunch stop.

Edited by delta0 on Monday 12th August 22:31

[wsn03]

delta0 said:

wsn03 said:

Ive started making Wednesday travel + day.

This year we did the Motor Museum nr Southampton then ferry that night, reaching Le Mans Thursday lunchtime

Next year we will head to Reims to see the restored F1 grandstand/ paddock area from the 60s, then head to Le Mans on Thursday morning

Reims was great when I went there in 2017. It is great they maintain this historic track. It is stunning and you should stop to walk around. It was also a lot of fun opening the car up with stands on one side and the pits on the other!

After we left there for Le Mans we took a wrong turning looking for fuel and we were completely overwhelmed when we found ourselves driving down the back roads with champagne vineyards surround us.

It is a long drive from Calais to Reims and then to Le Mans. We popped across the border in to Belgium to get some beers from one of the beer supermarkets. Overall it was around 10 hours from Calais to Le Mans but could have taken off around 1.5 hours off for the Belgium with lunch stop.

Edited by delta0 on Monday 12th August 22:31

I don't know anyone who has been, so its great to get this feedback from you. Thank you.

It's quite a detour I can see, but it does look pretty special and worth giving up an overnight ferry for..

I have an issue with my planning - my nephew doesn't arrive at Heathrow until Wed 315pm, so our plan is to stay in Reims, then visit the stadium in the morning. If we do this at 9am, leaving at 10am we can reach Le Mans and be set up by mid afternoon.

Is 1 hour enough for the Reims circuit?
A lot of the racing track itself is no longer accessible, I believe the big attraction is the buildings.

[Trackdayguy]

The guy in the tent next to us appeared to be servicing his girlfriend when they weren't watching the race.

[blueg33]

Back in the day you could visit the back of an artic in the fair ground and watch properly filthy strippers...............

I know because I have been told.

These days you can browse Rolex watches, play on a playstation or get away from the circuit for a nice meal. We do the latter.

[gt6]

Well i was at le mans in the 80's and the strip shows were pretty poor to be honest, but the rides and track racing was great but lacked any safety rules. todays bits and pieces of the funfair around the circuit are a poor imitation of the original ones, however i am glad because most of that area forms tertre rouge campsite now and that is were i have camped for the last 20 years or so.

[blueg33]

gt6 said:

Well i was at le mans in the 80's and the strip shows were pretty poor to be honest, but the rides and track racing was great but lacked any safety rules. todays bits and pieces of the funfair around the circuit are a poor imitation of the original ones, however i am glad because most of that area forms tertre rouge campsite now and that is were i have camped for the last 20 years or so.

When I say filthy strippers - I meant in every sense of the word, and about 1000 miles away from an erotic experience.