How do you explain/warn LM virgins what its like?
Discussion
I was a LM Virgin before 2003. What an experience!
The trip down was great but longer than expected (driving a Scooby and Cherokee). Watch out for fuel towards the end if you leave Blighty late. We left Essex lunchtime Friday and many small "convenient" fuel stops in the small villages nearer Le Man were closed. A couple of motocyclist were stuck as they did'nt have the right cashcard.
Friday night - tent erection, beer and loadsa fireworks (alhtough not our fireworks).
Saturday - Beer and fries (sorry chips) for breakfast, wander about until the start. The start must not be missed. FANTASTIC!
Rest of the day spent drinking, walking and smiling. Lots.
Saturday night - Jamiroquai LIVE. What an amazing gig and free. After JK, went down to Dunlop bridge for some "glow in the dark" brake action.
Sunday - more racing and beer drinking. Get to the start/finish straight for the finish. After the Bentleys cross the line invaded the track take loads of photos of the lads and general atmosphere.
Sunday night - nip down to Arnage for food, beers and merriment. Merriment involves watching all the visiting hoards "caning" their cars around a small bricked roundabout. Much fun was had by all.
Monday- Drive back to Calais along witht he remaining UK masses. Eurotunnel carpark looks like the Sultan of Brunei's garage. NICE!
In all 6 hour sleep, loadsa beers consumed and smiles had by all.
See you there!
Dipwing
The trip down was great but longer than expected (driving a Scooby and Cherokee). Watch out for fuel towards the end if you leave Blighty late. We left Essex lunchtime Friday and many small "convenient" fuel stops in the small villages nearer Le Man were closed. A couple of motocyclist were stuck as they did'nt have the right cashcard.
Friday night - tent erection, beer and loadsa fireworks (alhtough not our fireworks).
Saturday - Beer and fries (sorry chips) for breakfast, wander about until the start. The start must not be missed. FANTASTIC!
Rest of the day spent drinking, walking and smiling. Lots.
Saturday night - Jamiroquai LIVE. What an amazing gig and free. After JK, went down to Dunlop bridge for some "glow in the dark" brake action.
Sunday - more racing and beer drinking. Get to the start/finish straight for the finish. After the Bentleys cross the line invaded the track take loads of photos of the lads and general atmosphere.
Sunday night - nip down to Arnage for food, beers and merriment. Merriment involves watching all the visiting hoards "caning" their cars around a small bricked roundabout. Much fun was had by all.
Monday- Drive back to Calais along witht he remaining UK masses. Eurotunnel carpark looks like the Sultan of Brunei's garage. NICE!
In all 6 hour sleep, loadsa beers consumed and smiles had by all.
See you there!
Dipwing
What can I say - a lot - but I won't! In short it's the greatest motor race in the world!
LM 2004 will be my 8th - 4 times in the Griffith & a 4th in the Tuscan. It's the first holiday I book each year - nuff said. I won't divulge the inner secrets as some of you may muscle in on my group of 30. But in short:
1. Great petrolheads get-together - all marques.
2. Great driving in France - lovely roads if you pick the right ones.
3. BIG British contingent.
4. Fantsatic atmosphere for a long weekend.
5. Cheap French (Belgian) beer.
6. Champagne tent before the race (don't crowd it as I'll be there).
7. Tremendous camping facilities - well they look good after a skinful!
8. Being kept awake at night - pack the ear plugs.
9. Cruising down the Mulsanne straight - has to be done - so I'll be there taking a few LM virgins from TVRCC ES Region.
10. Indianapolis & Arnage corners at pace - marv.
PS There's also a motor race going on apparently! I must admit that having been down there for a number of years the race is almost of secondary importance.
PPS Go for the pre-race build up in the last 1.5 hours before the race, drink some beer during the race & go back for the last 1 hour.
PPPS Sober up before the drive home back to Blighty!
Anyway LM virgins - go for it. I'll be there - will you?
43 days & counting!
LM 2004 will be my 8th - 4 times in the Griffith & a 4th in the Tuscan. It's the first holiday I book each year - nuff said. I won't divulge the inner secrets as some of you may muscle in on my group of 30. But in short:
1. Great petrolheads get-together - all marques.
2. Great driving in France - lovely roads if you pick the right ones.
3. BIG British contingent.
4. Fantsatic atmosphere for a long weekend.
5. Cheap French (Belgian) beer.
6. Champagne tent before the race (don't crowd it as I'll be there).
7. Tremendous camping facilities - well they look good after a skinful!
8. Being kept awake at night - pack the ear plugs.
9. Cruising down the Mulsanne straight - has to be done - so I'll be there taking a few LM virgins from TVRCC ES Region.
10. Indianapolis & Arnage corners at pace - marv.
PS There's also a motor race going on apparently! I must admit that having been down there for a number of years the race is almost of secondary importance.
PPS Go for the pre-race build up in the last 1.5 hours before the race, drink some beer during the race & go back for the last 1 hour.
PPPS Sober up before the drive home back to Blighty!
Anyway LM virgins - go for it. I'll be there - will you?
43 days & counting!
What to expect from your Le Mans visit!
1.The convoy down there. Lots of waves to fellow UK drivers and French families at the side of the roads.
Fantastic road build quality. You will be lucky to find one pothole on the way down. Amazing cars you will see traveling to the same destination. The fantastic views of French countryside.
2. The camping. You will see all manor of hilarious things while in the campsite. Swimming pools, Lots of UNION JACKS. BEER PYRAMIDS/MOUNTAINS. Super Soakers (expect to get drenched). Loud music, fireworks, very friendly atmosphere from all countries. Drag racing, Burnouts, People in fancy dress. We even found two naked blokes in our swimming pool. Basically a bunch of Men and Woman (mostly men though) acting like wild apes from the stone age. BBQ's (I recomend the steak hach'e) or a whole salmon. Going for the Piggy Roast this year though. And if you do want to use the toilet cubicals best leave a tip if you want to wipe your ass in five star luxury
3. The Track. (before the race) Friday morning you will find people driving parts of the circuit. This makes the Motor Show look tame.
4. The Racing. See flames galore and glowing break disks. Experience the true NOISE of the turbo V6s, V8s, V10s and V12s. Start and Finish not to be missed. Try some potato mixed with ham and cheese cooked in a huge frying pan. Find your way to other parts of the race track. Mulsanne Straight and wonder how the hell the people camped next to it get one wink of sleep.
5. The Parade Des Pilotes (Located in Old Town of Le Mans next to Cathedral. Friday afternoon. Have a nice meal and plenty to drink in the Bistros/Cafes. I tried my first WELK curtersy of James Agger from his ENTIRE CATCH OF THE DAY LUNCH. Watch all the Drivers and Car Clubs invited drive through the Town. (ENZOS,DIABLOS,MUCCIELAGOS,CORVETTES,TVRS,ZONDAS ETC.)
Plenty of good looking woman too! DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE. POLICE BREATH TESTS GALORE.
6. THE FUNFAIR. See how good a shot you are after 50 Beers with real shotguns, Test your Driving skill in the GO KARTS but expect serious injury. Or there is The Sex Show of course. Go on the big wheel and get some great views of the racing. Bungee of some sort is always there. The Wall of Death is always amusing.
TOO MUCH TO TYPE ABOUT YOU COULD WRITE A BOOK!
Chimaera S3TAY.
>> Edited by john yates on Saturday 1st May 14:53
>> Edited by john yates on Saturday 1st May 14:59
1.The convoy down there. Lots of waves to fellow UK drivers and French families at the side of the roads.
Fantastic road build quality. You will be lucky to find one pothole on the way down. Amazing cars you will see traveling to the same destination. The fantastic views of French countryside.
2. The camping. You will see all manor of hilarious things while in the campsite. Swimming pools, Lots of UNION JACKS. BEER PYRAMIDS/MOUNTAINS. Super Soakers (expect to get drenched). Loud music, fireworks, very friendly atmosphere from all countries. Drag racing, Burnouts, People in fancy dress. We even found two naked blokes in our swimming pool. Basically a bunch of Men and Woman (mostly men though) acting like wild apes from the stone age. BBQ's (I recomend the steak hach'e) or a whole salmon. Going for the Piggy Roast this year though. And if you do want to use the toilet cubicals best leave a tip if you want to wipe your ass in five star luxury
3. The Track. (before the race) Friday morning you will find people driving parts of the circuit. This makes the Motor Show look tame.
4. The Racing. See flames galore and glowing break disks. Experience the true NOISE of the turbo V6s, V8s, V10s and V12s. Start and Finish not to be missed. Try some potato mixed with ham and cheese cooked in a huge frying pan. Find your way to other parts of the race track. Mulsanne Straight and wonder how the hell the people camped next to it get one wink of sleep.
5. The Parade Des Pilotes (Located in Old Town of Le Mans next to Cathedral. Friday afternoon. Have a nice meal and plenty to drink in the Bistros/Cafes. I tried my first WELK curtersy of James Agger from his ENTIRE CATCH OF THE DAY LUNCH. Watch all the Drivers and Car Clubs invited drive through the Town. (ENZOS,DIABLOS,MUCCIELAGOS,CORVETTES,TVRS,ZONDAS ETC.)
Plenty of good looking woman too! DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE. POLICE BREATH TESTS GALORE.
6. THE FUNFAIR. See how good a shot you are after 50 Beers with real shotguns, Test your Driving skill in the GO KARTS but expect serious injury. Or there is The Sex Show of course. Go on the big wheel and get some great views of the racing. Bungee of some sort is always there. The Wall of Death is always amusing.
TOO MUCH TO TYPE ABOUT YOU COULD WRITE A BOOK!
Chimaera S3TAY.
>> Edited by john yates on Saturday 1st May 14:53
>> Edited by john yates on Saturday 1st May 14:59
DustyC said:I wondered how long it would take to ask your mate!!!
My mate said "both! "
I don't think that the one at the funfair has been around for the last few years... not that I would have visited it anyway!!!... however in the old days, it never used to be too hard to miss on the Sat night as there were always fifty or so blokes hanging around outside!
ehasler said:
There wasn't one last year, but it was there in 2002. Allegedly.
It was definitely there in 2002... Well, there were two, one of which always had the reputation of being a little less, errr, pleasant... Anyway we popped along in 2002, just so we could report back on the differences between french and english lasses you understand, and the girls were doing their usual solicitation for extra money outside before the show. So my good friend "Jim", who never has cared two hoots, had a few spare Euros and through sign language and broken French managed to swap said Euro or two for a tactile inspection of the "goods" on show later!
indeed >> Edited by charlescrawley on Tuesday 4th May 16:04
DustyC said:
How do you explain to someone that has never camped at LM before what its really like?
A lot of people say "warzone".
There are both good and bad things when camping at LM.
How do you prepare people for it?
Tens of thousands of people in a Cannon Ball Run to the mother of all stag dos.
Best advice I got about Le Mans after I first arrived - go with the flow - there's too much to do and see in one year.
Cheers,
Andy.
murcielago said:
I really want to go now 
I wonder if it will all be suitable for my 50 year old dad?
Oh well who caresI will be wondering around in a Team Langoustine T-Shirt too, even though I want a TVR one
With a PH badge
>> Edited by murcielago on Wednesday 5th May 16:35
Take him either way... If he likes cars and beer, he'll love it.
charlescrawley said:
I really want to go now
I wonder if it will all be suitable for my 50 year old dad?
Oh well who cares
>> Edited by murcielago on Wednesday 5th May 16:35
Take him either way... If he likes cars and beer, he'll love it.
Oh no beer for him, he has to drive back the next morning
All the more for me
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