Le Mans 26 Advice (for a beginner)

[//j17]

MrC986 said:

In the 10+ yrs I've been to LM24 the trip down/back is just as much fun, especially if you go cross country and enjoy Northern France.

Yep, unless you're in a real hurry or actually like sitting at 130KPH with drool running down your chin as your brain slowly dies of bordom get off the Autoroute at Abbeville if you're coming from Calais and enjoy the generally supurb condition "A" roads (at least compaired to the ones you'd have driven to get to Dover!). OK a lot of it's 80KPH these days, at least until you get to La Sarthe, but doesn't actually add that much to the journey time vs. old 90KPH days.

MrC986 said:

As others say, don't speed excessively and if you are tempted, make sure you have plenty of Euros on you!

Never understood why people get upset and make claims the French are 'out to get the Brits' when they get caught doing over 100MPH in France, something that would get you an instant ban in the UK too.

MrC986 said:

Also, if you haven't grandstand seats, see if you can get some for tour first trip but make sure you have a clear view of the circuit (ideally opposite the pits or up by the Dunlop bridge) as the start is definitely worth watching from somewhere comfortable.

And if you do have a grandstand seat I can recommend taking a small piece of foam with you. Can't say I find those hard plastic seats all that comfy for very long!

MrC986 said:

Drink plenty of water is also important to stay hydrated

Yea, water. Whatever

Worth hunting around for refreshments. Beer is generally the same, slightly heart attach inducing price everywhere but while most just sell the same horrible of the year (Kronenbourg not-1664/Carlsberg) some have a range. Ironically last year it was the huge couldn't-be-more-Carlsberg-branded-if-it-tried tent were you had the best chance of buying a pint of not-Carlsberg.

[davidd]

Re grandstand seats...

Get one of these

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07MQV1JRG?ref_=ppx_hz...

Also handy if sitting on banking etc.

These are also excellent as they pack away to a small bag and are easy to erect.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DRHYB1Q4?ref_=ppx_hz...

I should get an amazon affiliate account

D

[MrC986]

Red9zero said:

blueg33 said:

One of our convoy - the lead car was stopped, he had to demonstrate that the alternate driver was insured otherwise the Ferrari would have been impounded. This required the insurance certificate and policy details.

The first 4 cars in the convoy were all booked, the lead was going the fastest, enough for an instant ban. The fact it meant that his wife then had to do all of the driving in France on their family holiday later in the year was even more painful than the fine....

I can imagine how many times she mentioned that ban during the holiday

We were camped next to the group the Ferrari was in I think- it did sound amusing. We were stopped a few yrs later on one of the main road sections and it was a fair cop - someone was else was leading who got carried away heading back to the ferry. Also saw a guy on his own who was stopped/banned on the spot

Try and drive the public sections of the track before you head home and get some pics to show your friends - it gives you a proper idea how long the Mulsanne Straight is (the one chicane on the Mulsanne is a good photo spot).

[blueg33]

MrC986 said:

We were camped next to the group the Ferrari was in I think- it did sound amusing. We were stopped a few yrs later on one of the main road sections and it was a fair cop - someone was else was leading who got carried away heading back to the ferry. Also saw a guy on his own who was stopped/banned on the spot

Try and drive the public sections of the track before you head home and get some pics to show your friends - it gives you a proper idea how long the Mulsanne Straight is (the one chicane on the Mulsanne is a good photo spot).

Must have been someone else with the same issue. We stay in a Chateau between Le Mans and Tours.

[Dblue]

blueg33 said:

One of our convoy - the lead car was stopped, he had to demonstrate that the alternate driver was insured otherwise the Ferrari would have been impounded. This required the insurance certificate and policy details.

The first 4 cars in the convoy were all booked, the lead was going the fastest, enough for an instant ban. The fact it meant that his wife then had to do all of the driving in France on their family holiday later in the year was even more painful than the fine....

Quite a few years ago the leader of our group was with his son in his car, sharing the driving, with 7 cars in convoy heading down the A16. Despite being very keen on getting on with it myself I was overtaken by said son doing above 230kph grinning wildly. As someone who drives in France every year I have learnt not to take the piss on the autoroute.
A couple of miles down the road we could see the 2 Gendarme motorbikes pull out , catch up with our mate and escort him into the next service area. Upshot was 750 euro cash fine (No credit card) and a 3 mth ban for the son. Funny admittedly but lucky to have that much cash with him, and for my mate to continue to drive.
Compounded by the dad then getting another tug , this time for a lesser speed and a further 90 euro fine. No point in doing more than 140-145kph max on the autoroute, get your maps out, get off the autoroute and plan a route through the countryside. A huge part of the trip for us and over the years we've refined the route so it's a proper hook on wonderful roads with very little traffic and not a gendarme in sight.

[guy_proc]

Thanks to all of you for some really helpful advice on this! Apologies it’s been a really slow response, but your tips (especially the entry to the Porsche Centre if you have a key!) has been really helpful!

Really looking forward to the trip! We’ll be in a M135i and V8 S5 and our plan is to stick to the autoroute from Calais. Dull, I know, but I’ve done the route before and also spent a lot of time in France on summer holidays so know the “don’t speed” drill well! Would have loved to do a non-motorway route but seeing as it’s a first trip and we’re heading down on the Thursday, we’d like to be in and sorted in time to see some of the action in the evening!

Also, thanks to Strasse for the nod to the guide! I’d actually come across it after my original post, only to be sent it by a mate afterwards insisting I should “look at this really useful guide!” 😂

Really looking forward to the weekend! If anyone’s about on BSJ and spots us come say hello!

[Manners79]

Well speeding is not a worry for me as I’m going to attempt to get there in my 1964 VW Splitty! Will be my 5th year, always in PH LM24 site. Agree with all the tips here. We take electric scooters for quick access to the circuit via karting

[RobbyJ]

Manners79 said:

Well speeding is not a worry for me as I m going to attempt to get there in my 1964 VW Splitty! Will be my 5th year, always in PH LM24 site. Agree with all the tips here. We take electric scooters for quick access to the circuit via karting

I'll pack a tow strap!

[Palmela]

I've done quite a few LMs and never have much sympathy for those idiots that get collared for high speeds and then whine about it. Driving at speeds that would see you in trouble in the UK will also see you in trouble on the continent.

Les flics aren't persecuting Brits, they just know that a bunch of dheads will be heading to Le Mans for that weekend, so it's hardly Sherlock-isque to catch a few mouth-breathers.

[Mark_S1000RR_2010]

I did the trip down two years ago on the bike with my boy on the back. Trip down (with a route found on PH) was the absolute highlight .

[blueg33]

Palmela said:

I've done quite a few LMs and never have much sympathy for those idiots that get collared for high speeds and then whine about it. Driving at speeds that would see you in trouble in the UK will also see you in trouble on the continent.

Les flics aren't persecuting Brits, they just know that a bunch of dheads will be heading to Le Mans for that weekend, so it's hardly Sherlock-isque to catch a few mouth-breathers.

No one on this thread has whined as far as I can tell and no one has said the Brits are persecuted.

Some of your facts are wrong too. You get booked in the UK for doing motorway speeds that are perfectly legal in France.

[Palmela]

blueg33 said:

Palmela said:

I've done quite a few LMs and never have much sympathy for those idiots that get collared for high speeds and then whine about it. Driving at speeds that would see you in trouble in the UK will also see you in trouble on the continent.

Les flics aren't persecuting Brits, they just know that a bunch of dheads will be heading to Le Mans for that weekend, so it's hardly Sherlock-isque to catch a few mouth-breathers.

No one on this thread has whined as far as I can tell and no one has said the Brits are persecuted.

Some of your facts are wrong too. You get booked in the UK for doing motorway speeds that are perfectly legal in France.

Either I haven't been clear or you have misinterpreted what I said. I didn't mention 'this thread' when I made my (entirely accurate) observations.
And your pedantic comment about relative speeds might be true but misses the 'in trouble' element that I was trying to get at.

[blueg33]

Palmela said:

Either I haven't been clear or you have misinterpreted what I said. I didn't mention 'this thread' when I made my (entirely accurate) observations.
And your pedantic comment about relative speeds might be true but misses the 'in trouble' element that I was trying to get at.

What’s the point of putting on this thread then?

I don’t get people posting irrelevant stuff.

[Palmela]

blueg33 said:

Palmela said:

Either I haven't been clear or you have misinterpreted what I said. I didn't mention 'this thread' when I made my (entirely accurate) observations.
And your pedantic comment about relative speeds might be true but misses the 'in trouble' element that I was trying to get at.

What s the point of putting on this thread then?

I don t get people posting irrelevant stuff.

A new poster asked for advice. Another new poster offered some. A seasoned poster got arsey about it.

If you don't like my post, ignore it. What's your problem?

[blueg33]

Palmela said:

blueg33 said:

Palmela said:

Either I haven't been clear or you have misinterpreted what I said. I didn't mention 'this thread' when I made my (entirely accurate) observations.
And your pedantic comment about relative speeds might be true but misses the 'in trouble' element that I was trying to get at.

What s the point of putting on this thread then?

I don t get people posting irrelevant stuff.

A new poster asked for advice. Another new poster offered some. A seasoned poster got arsey about it.

If you don't like my post, ignore it. What's your problem?

You admitted you posted something irrelevant.

Why bother to post it?

[Palmela]

blueg33 said:

You admitted you posted something irrelevant.

Why bother to post it?

Sorry sir. Won't happen again sir.

[cliffords]

Don't go in the tent with the bearded lady in the fairground.
That's my advice and you should take it.

[blueg33]

Op. Can't recall if anyone has mentioned this. Its well worth going to Arnage corner at night, we typically head off there at about 10pm and stay until 1.am.

You will need to drive, cycle or catch the shuttle bus. There will be some sitting in a traffic jam but its well worth it.

[24lemons]

blueg33 said:

Op. Can't recall if anyone has mentioned this. Its well worth going to Arnage corner at night, we typically head off there at about 10pm and stay until 1.am.

You will need to drive, cycle or catch the shuttle bus. There will be some sitting in a traffic jam but its well worth it.

I’d recommend trying the shuttle buses. They are much improved over the last few years and can be a real leg saver!

[bennno]

cliffords said:

Don't go in the tent with the bearded lady in the fairground.
That's my advice and you should take it.

Apart from it not having been there for about 15 years then that’s sage advice….