First timer

[TOV!E]

Hi just booked for the 2013 Le Mans, euro-star train on the 19th back on the 24th staying at some chateau 30 mins from the track. This will be our first time taking the Tuscan to Le Mans, so expect some silly questions for the next 9 months.....

[gt6]

30 minutes from the track in a Tuscan? you must be close to Paris
Cancel the silly place and camp like everyone else or you will miss most of the fun

[TOV!E]

gt6 said:

30 minutes from the track in a Tuscan? you must be close to Paris
Cancel the silly place and camp like everyone else or you will miss most of the fun

Hi gts, at my age (over50) the last thing I need is staying in a tent, and stting in a bucket, and 4 comfy nights in a hotel,train, and tickets for the event was only £525.00 p/p, plus the other 8 rooms are booked with other TVR people so we can have a convoy........

[gt6]

Well I passed 50 several years ago and the average age in our campsite at tertre rouge is quite high, you are as old as you want to be and after 27 years of camping at le mans I would not even consider the hassle of getting to and back from the circuit, I just walk back to my tent and sleep in a nice warm sleeping bag on a comfortable double inflatable mattress, and the bogs/showers at the campsite have been clean and pretty good for many years now. Camping is not a cheap option but if you want to watch the racing and enjoy the atmosphere it sure as hell beats sitting in a traffic jam for hours and there is no problem with having a few drinks, in fact you can have as many as you like.

[Great Dane]

gt6 said:

Well I passed 50 several years ago and the average age in our campsite at tertre rouge is quite high, you are as old as you want to be and after 27 years of camping at le mans I would not even consider the hassle of getting to and back from the circuit, I just walk back to my tent and sleep in a nice warm sleeping bag on a comfortable double inflatable mattress, and the bogs/showers at the campsite have been clean and pretty good for many years now. Camping is not a cheap option but if you want to watch the racing and enjoy the atmosphere it sure as hell beats sitting in a traffic jam for hours and there is no problem with having a few drinks, in fact you can have as many as you like.

I passed 50 seven years ago and this year I even enjoyed the birdsong for two hours in the morning at Houx Annexe when all gennies were off... what happened to party zone central???

Seriously camping is the way to go as long as the body can take it... atmosphere - bbq - drinking ---- can't wait

[The Leaper]

Been going since 1996, never camped (my bones are too old!). Usually travel very early Friday/Monday morning and stay in a hotel Friday and Sunday 80km from Le Mans and sleep in the car Saturday night in Parking Blanc. This plus GE plus La Sarthe tribune (tribune essential in my opinion) works very well for me and my son.

So, I get to the circuit maybe 09:00 Saturday and park up, traffic not a problem. I leave Sunday probably 2 hours after the end of the race, traffic is not good but OK, and back to the hotel for dinner etc.

Twice I have done the red eye: travel overnight Friday, arrive at 5:00 am Saturday, sleep in the car Saturday night, leave the circuit an hour before the end of the race to avoid the traffic to get an early evening shuttle, back home mid evening, somewhat shattered!

R.

[vincegail]

Each to their own!

I prefer staying in a grassy field and be able to stumble to/from the track as and when I please to do so above being stuck in a traffic jam too, but on the other hand, a chateau also sounds nice!

Luckily everybody has his own taste, everything gets a little more divers from it, and therefor the better!

Just ask what you want, and we'll try our best to supply you with our 'vast knowledge' where possible!

[ellroy]

TOV!E said:

Hi just booked for the 2013 Le Mans, euro-star train on the 19th back on the 24th staying at some chateau 30 mins from the track. This will be our first time taking the Tuscan to Le Mans, so expect some silly questions for the next 9 months.....

You mean this is your first time staying in the vacinity of Le Mans.

One of our TVR crew is celebrating his 60th camping trackside again this year.

You've not been until you are in the midst of 24 hour tent life and drinking madness.

[ellroy]

TOV!E said:

Hi just booked for the 2013 Le Mans, euro-star train on the 19th back on the 24th staying at some chateau 30 mins from the track. This will be our first time taking the Tuscan to Le Mans, so expect some silly questions for the next 9 months.....

You mean this is your first time staying in the vacinity of Le Mans.

One of our TVR crew is celebrating his 60th camping trackside again this year.

You've not been until you are in the midst of 24 hour tent life and drinking madness.

[TOV!E]

ellroy said:

You mean this is your first time staying in the vacinity of Le Mans.

One of our TVR crew is celebrating his 60th camping trackside again this year.

You've not been until you are in the midst of 24 hour tent life and drinking madness.

Hi all, the drinking part sounds good BUT i have not drunk for 20 odd years (another story) we have been asked if we would like grandstand tickets (£70.00 each) are these worth having????????

[Maryben]

TOV!E said:

Hi just booked for the 2013 Le Mans, euro-star train on the 19th back on the 24th staying at some chateau 30 mins from the track. This will be our first time taking the Tuscan to Le Mans, so expect some silly questions for the next 9 months.....

I hope it is Eurotunnel you have booked, you may have a problem getting the Tuscan on Eurostar

[gt6]

For your first trip there is so much to do that you will spend very little time in the grand stands, however the view of the start is probably worth the money, however stands are a luxury and you can watch everything with simple GE tickets

TOV!E said:

Hi all, the drinking part sounds good BUT i have not drunk for 20 odd years (another story) we have been asked if we would like grandstand tickets (£70.00 each) are these worth having????????

[ellroy]

TOV!E said:

Hi all, the drinking part sounds good BUT i have not drunk for 20 odd years (another story) we have been asked if we would like grandstand tickets (£70.00 each) are these worth having????????

Yes. If it rains, and trust me it can really rain, at least you can wtch some racing in the dry. If its hot, and it can be very very hot, you can also get out of the sun. Also, the start/finish gets rammed so you almost cannot move to go to the loo or go to get a beer if you're not in a grandstand.

[//j17]

If you're off-site then getting to/from the circuit will be the biggest issues. I'm sure a local like Lowdrag will be able to give firm recommendations but you may be better off finding somewhere in town, near a tram stop to park and taking the tram to/from the circuit (traditionally runs through the night Saturday). It's either that or expect to spend WAY more than 30 minutes getting to/from the circuit on race or qualifying days.

[TOV!E]

//j17 said:

If you're off-site then getting to/from the circuit will be the biggest issues. I'm sure a local like Lowdrag will be able to give firm recommendations but you may be better off finding somewhere in town, near a tram stop to park and taking the tram to/from the circuit (traditionally runs through the night Saturday). It's either that or expect to spend WAY more than 30 minutes getting to/from the circuit on race or qualifying days.

We have transport arranged, a local man with a mini bus and priority access has all been taken care of.....

[allojon]

Sounds like you are doing everything just right. Well thought through and well done to whoever organised the group.

[gt6]

Love to know what is ment by priority access, can you imagine any of the local plod giving priority to anyone and especially a load of english in a minibus, I think that might be a sales pitch, I have seen seriously important people stuck in the jams and no one has priority.

[DS240]

Stayed off circuit each year since 2003. Max 20 min drive away in nearby villages.

You are obviously limited to your track side drinking, but the amount put down where we stay it is probably a good thing.

Hotel, comfy bed, bar, shower/bath, breakfast. Shut the rooms windows if it rains. No camping gear to lug down.

Plans now perfected. Car park and route in means zero queues at any time! (ok, slight delay at race finish, but nothing major).

I'm sure the atmosphere at the track sites are great, but I can't be arsed with the hassle and worries. Fine if sunny all weekend, but miserable if it rains.

[TOV!E]

gt6 said:

Love to know what is ment by priority access, can you imagine any of the local plod giving priority to anyone and especially a load of english in a minibus, I think that might be a sales pitch, I have seen seriously important people stuck in the jams and no one has priority.

He works for the tyre company that is supplying some if the teams so is aloud to use some of the exit gates to get in.
You may have seen some important people stuck in jams, but with 24 years in the SAS, planning is everything.....
There will not be a load of English in a mini bus, just the 2 of us in a tyre company van........'

Don't take life so seriously GT6 it's only a car race not life or death.......

[TOV!E]

DS240 said:

Stayed off circuit each year since 2003. Max 20 min drive away in nearby villages.

You are obviously limited to your track side drinking, but the amount put down where we stay it is probably a good thing.

Hotel, comfy bed, bar, shower/bath, breakfast. Shut the rooms windows if it rains. No camping gear to lug down.

Plans now perfected. Car park and route in means zero queues at any time! (ok, slight delay at race finish, but nothing major).

I'm sure the atmosphere at the track sites are great, but I can't be arsed with the hassle and worries. Fine if sunny all weekend, but miserable if it rains.

Nice to see I am not the only one that is doing it this way