Last Minute Le Mans
Discussion
And not to mention, that I'm doing it on the cheap too. Tunnel, ticket, no camping, just a bivi.
Can't get Friday off work, so leaving Swindon at 5pm Fri. Which leads to question one - I'm booked on the tunnel at 23:43 (I'm paranoid, I admit it!) - are they likely to let me on an earlier train should traffic be light (yeah right) and I get there early? Have some memory of Eurotunnel letting me on an earlier one on a Stelvio jaunt I made a few years back.
So, it's a blast along the autoroute instead of the D road jaunt from Caen I did in my 944T 5(!!) years ago to LM. Question two then, how likely are you to get stopped in the middle of the night on the Friday? I'm hardly likely to be speeding in my car though...
Final statement is that my steed, a Caterham, has no engine in it yet. Fingers crossed eh
Just joined Speedchills, so look forward to talking motors with a few of you, as I'm coming down on my own after my few petrolhead friends wimped out owing to the nature of my trip
Purpose of this post is to celebrate booking and generally shout from the rooftops that I'm finally going again, after it lived up to the hype and then some in '07, despite the rain. Hope no-one minds
Chris.
Can't get Friday off work, so leaving Swindon at 5pm Fri. Which leads to question one - I'm booked on the tunnel at 23:43 (I'm paranoid, I admit it!) - are they likely to let me on an earlier train should traffic be light (yeah right) and I get there early? Have some memory of Eurotunnel letting me on an earlier one on a Stelvio jaunt I made a few years back.
So, it's a blast along the autoroute instead of the D road jaunt from Caen I did in my 944T 5(!!) years ago to LM. Question two then, how likely are you to get stopped in the middle of the night on the Friday? I'm hardly likely to be speeding in my car though...
Final statement is that my steed, a Caterham, has no engine in it yet. Fingers crossed eh
Just joined Speedchills, so look forward to talking motors with a few of you, as I'm coming down on my own after my few petrolhead friends wimped out owing to the nature of my trip
Purpose of this post is to celebrate booking and generally shout from the rooftops that I'm finally going again, after it lived up to the hype and then some in '07, despite the rain. Hope no-one minds
Chris.
Edited by chris_speed on Thursday 24th May 15:45
Edited by chris_speed on Thursday 24th May 15:46
My brother and I decided to go last year on the Friday morning. This isn't even close to "last minute" 
Yes - Eurotunnel, arrive earlier and if there's space you'll go on the next train (that time of night literally the next train). Any later, though, and sometimes you have to pay for a new ticket.
As for driving through France; that time of night on the Friday last year there were very few cars at all (we got a midnight ferry I think it was), it was a very pleasant drive, though we stayed at the limit.
Yes - Eurotunnel, arrive earlier and if there's space you'll go on the next train (that time of night literally the next train). Any later, though, and sometimes you have to pay for a new ticket.
As for driving through France; that time of night on the Friday last year there were very few cars at all (we got a midnight ferry I think it was), it was a very pleasant drive, though we stayed at the limit.
I've been to LM many times since 1996. On two occasions I have got the shuttle at around 23:00 on Friday then driven straight to the circuit ariving at around 04;00 local time and in time for a good kip in the car. Then enjoy the whole event, and sleep in the car in the car park on Saturday night. Leave promptly, back to Calais in time for the shuttle at around 8 pm. All doable but admittedly it can be tiring at times!
R.
R.
I think that you will be alright on the Autoroute at that time of night. We often get on an earlier train so I wouldnt worry. I havent yet summoned up the courage to make the trip in my Tiger Avon (Kawasaki ZX9 engine - no screen etc). See you at Speedchills - come over for a beer - Black Audi A3 and black gazebo. Cheers.
CS,
I forgot to answer your specific point about getting on to an earlier shuttle than the one booked. The answer is a qualified yes, but almost a certainty if you're travelling reasonably late on the Friday night. Too early and you may be tied up with last minute Le Maners and also holiday makers, but towards the end of the evening you should have no problems. In fact, I recall having a booking at about 23:00 and I chanced it and turned up an hour early, got the next shuttle and there was no more than a dozen or so cars there.
By the way, living only 80 minutes from the Shuttle is a plus for me with these very short Le Mans trips!
R.
I forgot to answer your specific point about getting on to an earlier shuttle than the one booked. The answer is a qualified yes, but almost a certainty if you're travelling reasonably late on the Friday night. Too early and you may be tied up with last minute Le Maners and also holiday makers, but towards the end of the evening you should have no problems. In fact, I recall having a booking at about 23:00 and I chanced it and turned up an hour early, got the next shuttle and there was no more than a dozen or so cars there.
By the way, living only 80 minutes from the Shuttle is a plus for me with these very short Le Mans trips!
R.
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