So...who has booked for 2020?

[Quags]

DS240 said:

Quags said:

Booked an airbnb but that's it!

I can't see how to book parking yet? Has anyone managed to?

Ticket office won’t open till late sept/oct time.

Ah ok, great, thanks.

[Tyre Smoke]

All booked for the same pitch in Houx for the 15th (16th?) year in succession.

Will be chatting to Brittany Ferries next month...

Might even try and get over for the practice weekend this time. Anyone got the dates for that?

[Great Dane]

Tyre Smoke said:

All booked for the same pitch in Houx for the 15th (16th?) year in succession.

Will be chatting to Brittany Ferries next month...

Might even try and get over for the practice weekend this time. Anyone got the dates for that?

Two weeks before the race.....

[DS240]

Booked accommodation. Airbnb 2 x rooms, nice house for £248 each (4 nights).

Same village as usual, but unfortunately not the same house. The perfect set up has been disrupted by the usual family moving from the village. Could have stayed with them north of Le Mans but access to circuit bit more a pain and in middle of no where.

Still a nice traffic free 15-20 mins from Expo parking entrance with bars, restaurants and shops to choose from. Fingers crossed this one works out alright. Still a big advocate of being open to staying away from the circuit for comfy accommodation and not pay silly prices.

[ettore]

After 22 years on the trot I have, rather sadly, decided not to go in 2020. The grid is dull (sound has mainly gone) , the race pre-ordained and the atmosphere is increasingly restrained. This, combined with some mercenary pricing has removed much of the fun.

I’ll sit it out and see what happens with the new regs - otherwise a gentle amble to the Classic with my 12 year old son to bore him about how good it used to be!

Edited by ettore on Friday 4th October 16:28

[kel176506]

After 12 years on the trot.....i’m still going in 2020!

I do appreciate all that’s been said in this thread but i always think about that first beer after the tents up, the BBQ is lit and when/if the weather plays ball it’s just a weekend not to be missed for me.

[DS240]

ettore said:

After 22 years on the trot I have, rather sadly, decided not to go in 2020. The grid is dull (sound has mainly gone) , the race pre-ordained and the atmosphere is increasingly restrained. This, combined with some mercenary pricing has removed much of the fun.

I’ll sit it out and see what happens with the new regs - otherwise a gentle amble to the Classic with my 12 year old son to bore him about how good it used to be!

Edited by ettore on Friday 4th October 16:28

I did very much feel like this a short while back but then really struggled with the idea of missing out next June.

Even in a bit of low I find the place has a special atmosphere. We watch as much as we are interested in rather than the early 24hr trackside days and the trips are now more about a nice sociable weekend in France. We try and mix up the routine a bit each year.

We avoid the mercenary pricing. Stay off circuit but close enough for easy access and bring food and drink in for sat/sun lunch. The rest is all restaurants off circuit.

I really don’t know about these new regs, they seem a bit of a mess. It won’t be until LM 2022 before it really picks up again if car makers jump into the new regs. I can’t sit it out until then.

I understand the LM fatigue though. I just wouldn’t want to get to June and think damn, I’ve left it too late and really want to be there! What about totally overhauling the routine to give the trip a really new feel?

[davidd]

We are booked, it's quality time for my son and I and the only time of the year we see a few friends. Clearly, it's about racing but it's also about.
The drive there and back
The route
The stickers
The beers
Cruising around on Friday, british welcome, mulsanne
Arnage at night
The big wheel
Karting
Friday night dinner
The inevitable decathlon run when we realise we've left a tent at home
The camaraderie
etc, etc

[joema]

Yep. Booked some tetre rouge tickets again.
Not super fussed on the racing prospect next year although the cars are still impressive but that's only part of it. I love the few days away and if I wasn't going I'd be sad.

[LM24Nut]

joema said:

Not super fussed on the racing prospect next year

There's a race?



Probably the funniest comment I saw on the PH Le Mans whatsapp group during LM2019.

[gt6]

That is nothing new, i remember in the early eighties on the sunday in one of the campsite meeting a group who were just waking up from a very heavy few days of drinking who had seen no racing and asked what was happening in the race, in those days radio le mans was not around and the only way you could find out info was monitor screens on poles but these guys had not left the campsite for several days

[Cass63]

There’s normally a group of us who go every year and normally one newbie, last year it was 3 dads with their 3 lads.
It’s a great bit of ‘us’ time.
It’s about this time of year I start getting numbers for the next tour, even without asking I know there’s at least 4 of us,one being a newbie.
The Le Mans what’s app group will restart in the next few weeks, can’t wait.

[Lemans2017]

Booked with Leger Holidays. My first time to Le Mans. Can't wait!. Would a normal pocket radio be okay to pick up Radio Le Mans?

[LM24Nut]

Lemans2017 said:

Booked with Leger Holidays. My first time to Le Mans. Can't wait!. Would a normal pocket radio be okay to pick up Radio Le Mans?

Yes.

[Alex0904]

Hi Lemans, and everyone.

I'd like to go, for the first time, next year. I want to take my son with me in a 2 seater with not much storage space. An R8. So taking lots of stuff is a none starter. I'd like to stay somewhere closeish or on the track. Houx or Houx Annex praps? Although I signed up a few weeks ago to that teaser on here, I've not heard anything so far. So I'd very much welcome advice about where, how and when to book; about what you do to park; about what you absolutely must take with you, about trains, About everything. lol.

Any advice would be very welcome indeed. Thanks!

BobG

[LM24Nut]

Alex0904 said:

Hi Lemans, and everyone.

I'd like to go, for the first time, next year. I want to take my son with me in a 2 seater with not much storage space. An R8. So taking lots of stuff is a none starter. I'd like to stay somewhere closeish or on the track. Houx or Houx Annex praps? Although I signed up a few weeks ago to that teaser on here, I've not heard anything so far. So I'd very much welcome advice about where, how and when to book; about what you do to park; about what you absolutely must take with you, about trains, About everything. lol.

Any advice would be very welcome indeed. Thanks!

BobG

How old's your son?

If you haven't got much space for gear, then you may want to look at the sites which provide glamping...I think it's called that?

[FredericRobinson]

There's people who manage it in Caterhams and on bikes, an R8 should be fine for a bit of camping gear surely?

[wsn03]

LM24Nut said:

Alex0904 said:

Hi Lemans, and everyone.

I'd like to go, for the first time, next year. I want to take my son with me in a 2 seater with not much storage space. An R8. So taking lots of stuff is a none starter. I'd like to stay somewhere closeish or on the track. Houx or Houx Annex praps? Although I signed up a few weeks ago to that teaser on here, I've not heard anything so far. So I'd very much welcome advice about where, how and when to book; about what you do to park; about what you absolutely must take with you, about trains, About everything. lol.

Any advice would be very welcome indeed. Thanks!

BobG

How old's your son?

If you haven't got much space for gear, then you may want to look at the sites which provide glamping...I think it's called that?

With the glamping thing they provide tent...you bring sleeping stuff. The mattress wasn't working for me vs sleeping on a quilt, and I had to provide a pillow. 2 man tent is small folded up. We glamped that year for the luxury / convenience because my mate that year liked hotels.

The next year 2 of us got our camping stuff, plus 2 chairs, plus a big cool box, plus loads of booze, plus 2 folding bikes into a Jaguar XKR...they are definitely not very spacious inside.
You get creative...under seats,.in the tyre well...and you don't need to see through the back window just so you know

[LM24Nut]

FredericRobinson said:

There's people who manage it in Caterhams and on bikes, an R8 should be fine for a bit of camping gear surely?

In a group or on their own? Even those I know who go on their own, in cramped cars like the R8, 911 etc, hook up with others they have met previously, become part of a super camp and so benefit from the logistical effort of others.

Edited by LM24Nut on Wednesday 16th October 22:55

[//j17]

Alex0904 said:

I want to take my son with me in a 2 seater with not much storage space. An R8. So taking lots of stuff is a none starter.

If taking lots of stuff is a non starter, don't take lots of stuff!

Generally people will fill their car with kit and be fine, be that a Se7en, a huge estate, or a Transit van. I'd guess you can get a small tent, pair of sleeping bags, clothing for just sitting in a dusty/muddy field drinking beer for a few days in an R8, which is really all you need. From there you can just buy a cheap BBQ, etc from one of the local supermarkets and you're grand.

If you need a tent bigger than will fit in your car just hit the local supermarkets/Decathlon and you'll find a range of disposable-priced tents that you can just leave behind at the end of the week.

Ultimately all you need to take are you car keys, passport, and credit card. For everything else, Carrefour will provide.