Taking my lil boy on his first Le Mans trip - suggestions?
Discussion
Hi all,
Right so ive been to Le Mans a few times but I missed last year due to my boys 1st birthday being that weekend and the year before of course - he was born.
So 2014, its the weekend after his 2nd birthday so im taking him with me!
Where would be the best place to camp? Would we be able to camp with the PH lot or is it no kids allowed (id take this as the case anyways). He loves loud cars and sleeps very well anywhere
Just wondering if anyone else has taken this challenge on before really.
Thanks,
Andy
Right so ive been to Le Mans a few times but I missed last year due to my boys 1st birthday being that weekend and the year before of course - he was born.
So 2014, its the weekend after his 2nd birthday so im taking him with me!
Where would be the best place to camp? Would we be able to camp with the PH lot or is it no kids allowed (id take this as the case anyways). He loves loud cars and sleeps very well anywhere
Just wondering if anyone else has taken this challenge on before really.
Thanks,
Andy
I've thought about taking my son in the past but will wait until he is a teenager when his enjoyment of the weekend shouldn't come at the expense of my enjoyment of the weekend. This is based on a "dry-run" at the 2004 6-hours of Silverstone where my then nearly-two-year-old was pretty tired of the noise and atmosphere after a couple of hours although he did love the camping.
If I were contemplating taking a toddler I'd camp away from the main circuit and drive in each day for the racing, have grandstand seats booked so you have a guaranteed resting point/ shade/ shelter on the circuit as well as the option of returning to your car so he can have a snooze.
On balance I have always concluded on the side of caution, that the Le Mans 24 hours isn't a suitable environment (IMO) for a toddler because there are too many things outside of your control that could spoil the trip. The Classic might offer a better introduction to a weekend away to watch some motor racing and arguably there is more to see and get close up to.
If I were contemplating taking a toddler I'd camp away from the main circuit and drive in each day for the racing, have grandstand seats booked so you have a guaranteed resting point/ shade/ shelter on the circuit as well as the option of returning to your car so he can have a snooze.
On balance I have always concluded on the side of caution, that the Le Mans 24 hours isn't a suitable environment (IMO) for a toddler because there are too many things outside of your control that could spoil the trip. The Classic might offer a better introduction to a weekend away to watch some motor racing and arguably there is more to see and get close up to.
BeeGT said:
I've thought about taking my son in the past but will wait until he is a teenager when his enjoyment of the weekend shouldn't come at the expense of my enjoyment of the weekend. This is based on a "dry-run" at the 2004 6-hours of Silverstone where my then nearly-two-year-old was pretty tired of the noise and atmosphere after a couple of hours although he did love the camping.
If I were contemplating taking a toddler I'd camp away from the main circuit and drive in each day for the racing, have grandstand seats booked so you have a guaranteed resting point/ shade/ shelter on the circuit as well as the option of returning to your car so he can have a snooze.
On balance I have always concluded on the side of caution, that the Le Mans 24 hours isn't a suitable environment (IMO) for a toddler because there are too many things outside of your control that could spoil the trip. The Classic might offer a better introduction to a weekend away to watch some motor racing and arguably there is more to see and get close up to.
I'd agree with this. I'm planning on taking my boy when he gets to about 11/12 when he should - hopefully - get it as well as having a level of physical maturity to enable him to enjoy it.If I were contemplating taking a toddler I'd camp away from the main circuit and drive in each day for the racing, have grandstand seats booked so you have a guaranteed resting point/ shade/ shelter on the circuit as well as the option of returning to your car so he can have a snooze.
On balance I have always concluded on the side of caution, that the Le Mans 24 hours isn't a suitable environment (IMO) for a toddler because there are too many things outside of your control that could spoil the trip. The Classic might offer a better introduction to a weekend away to watch some motor racing and arguably there is more to see and get close up to.
Wow that is a brave challenge to take on, and for me, one just too far (IMHO of course)
We had quite a lengthy discussion a while back where somebody wanted advice on taking children to Le Mans, and that was for a child (if I remember rightly?) of about 6. I think the general consensus was wait a few years.
If you are considering taking a 2 year old as a means to being able to go yourself then don't do it, he wont know much about it, certainly wont remember it and you will not enjoy the weekend either. If your wife was coming to assist with the (full time) labours that a 2 year old brings with them then it might just work (just)
Scenario: In a grandstand seat waiting for the start, cars on formation lap, and suddenly, where is that smell coming from?, no it wont be the food concessions, it will be from the rear end of said 2 year old, messy to say the least ! You get the idea.
BOB
PS if you manage it - I will be there to buy you a beer - oh no, you wont be in the bar you will be back in your tent with the baby ;-)
We had quite a lengthy discussion a while back where somebody wanted advice on taking children to Le Mans, and that was for a child (if I remember rightly?) of about 6. I think the general consensus was wait a few years.
If you are considering taking a 2 year old as a means to being able to go yourself then don't do it, he wont know much about it, certainly wont remember it and you will not enjoy the weekend either. If your wife was coming to assist with the (full time) labours that a 2 year old brings with them then it might just work (just)
Scenario: In a grandstand seat waiting for the start, cars on formation lap, and suddenly, where is that smell coming from?, no it wont be the food concessions, it will be from the rear end of said 2 year old, messy to say the least ! You get the idea.
BOB
PS if you manage it - I will be there to buy you a beer - oh no, you wont be in the bar you will be back in your tent with the baby ;-)
Haha that is awesome thanks guys!! a very amusing read especially the last paragraph
About 5 mates will be there who I usually go with but i'd be leaving the missus at home and travelling down with another mate who has kindly offered to help me look after Evan.
I dont need to take him to go myself, I even had to persuade her to let me take him! haha! Just something I want to do with him. But you may all have a point, and wait til hes at least into double figures. Its a good idea to drive in each day so he can get his head down in the car rather than a buggy with the corvettes in his ear.
Food for thought - thank you.
If I am there with him, ill take up that beer offer
youl know how to find me! Hahahahha!
About 5 mates will be there who I usually go with but i'd be leaving the missus at home and travelling down with another mate who has kindly offered to help me look after Evan.
I dont need to take him to go myself, I even had to persuade her to let me take him! haha! Just something I want to do with him. But you may all have a point, and wait til hes at least into double figures. Its a good idea to drive in each day so he can get his head down in the car rather than a buggy with the corvettes in his ear.
Food for thought - thank you.
If I am there with him, ill take up that beer offer
youl know how to find me! Hahahahha!Even the quieter camps are not really suitable for a child that young IMHO and the mass of people moving about will also make it difficult, as for trying to give a shower to a child that young in the campsite will not be easy. Also what about toilets if a child that young says he wants to go you can not expect him to wait in a queue. I think you under estimate the problems and safety of having a child that young at this sort of event for that length of time, the suggestion of waiting until he is a little older is very sensible
I wouldn't even consider it. I take my lad to the Isle of Man TT and you need to be able to take into account that you will be working to their timetable. Food, drink, bed, weather, toilets are all of a sudden more important than the beer/wine and motors. My lad is 8 and half term at the TT is great, good laugh, good bonding etc. But Let Mans is an annual meet with mates to escape the country and enjoy man time. Leave him at home, you'll enjoy it more.
I've also thought about this and took my lad (6) to Silverstone earlier this year. Within an hour or so he was bored witless. If I took him to Le Mans, I'd spend 23 hours in the campsite.
So, I've decided that as his 16th birthday will be within a week or so of the 100th 24H, he can go to that one if he wants to.
So, I've decided that as his 16th birthday will be within a week or so of the 100th 24H, he can go to that one if he wants to.
First took my eldest when he was 12. He's car mad and loved it, we took pushbikes and toured around the circuit with him snapping photos of all the fantastic cars brought by the spectators. It was a great bonding experience. This year we went to the Sebring 12 hour race and took my youngest who was 9. He was bored within a couple of hours and moaned about all the walking we did, but then he's not a car nut. Ended up being a bit of a drag, wanting to spend his time back at the car.
The idea of taking nappy age sprogs to LM doesn't appeal to me whatsoever! To much noise, baby logistics to deal with and I have no doubt that it would impair my personal pleasure and hedonistic freedom while there! In my opinion wait until your son is older and has decided whether he's a petrol head. For the moment he'll be much happier at home with mum.
The idea of taking nappy age sprogs to LM doesn't appeal to me whatsoever! To much noise, baby logistics to deal with and I have no doubt that it would impair my personal pleasure and hedonistic freedom while there! In my opinion wait until your son is older and has decided whether he's a petrol head. For the moment he'll be much happier at home with mum.
CupraAndy said:
About 5 mates will be there who I usually go with but i'd be leaving the missus at home and travelling down with another mate who has kindly offered to help me look after Evan.
For the avoidance of doubt, yes i will drive you down, and yes i will help look after bug, but under no circumstance will i be changing any nappies, that i shall leave to you dear boy! 
Hi Andy. My advice would be to do it in a motorhome if you have to stay at the circuit. Kids are so precious and LMS is not exactly a particularly safe environment for a toddler. As far as campsites are concerned, maybe Airtrack or at the very least an organised site with security. Good luck !
Hi. Took my 1 year old for his birthday (as you I missed the previous year due to his birth) and my 5 year old with my wife and stayed in motorhome on Tertre Rouge campsite. Wasn't a problem at all and had a good but tiring week. Took a blow up travel bath to wash him in. To be honest the 5 year old was more work than the 1 year old but they had a great adventure. Luckily they're both at school now and aren't allowed that week as holiday so I'm forced 
to go without them as soon as I've celebrated his birthday (9th June).
It wasn't a problem when the 24 hour was the middle of the month but they moved it earlier as soon as he was born!!! Glad it's slower creeped back to the middle again
to go without them as soon as I've celebrated his birthday (9th June).It wasn't a problem when the 24 hour was the middle of the month but they moved it earlier as soon as he was born!!! Glad it's slower creeped back to the middle again
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