Best place to get autographs

[gpm67]

Hi,

2019 is my first 24 hrs of le mans and looking forward to enjoy the experience. Does any ex drivers like Derek Bell attends and where is the best place to get their autograph or is it more adhoc?

Cheers

[Tyre Smoke]

Pitwalk early on a Friday, or driver's parade in town early evening.

Both are like rugby scrums though. In reality, you won't get close enough to the paddock where the drivers are with a GE ticket, unless you spend your race hanging about at the entrance to the paddock.

[chasingracecars]

Tuesday pit walk or Test Day. Drivers are more relaxed and less people about.

[old'uns]

or Scrutineering / drivers sign on days in town?

[wsn03]

Or perhaps put on a short skirt and hang around the motorhomes at night? I haven't tried it myself so not sure if it works...

[Gingerbread Man]

Tyre Smoke said:

Pitwalk early on a Friday, or driver's parade in town early evening.

Both are like rugby scrums though. In reality, you won't get close enough to the paddock where the drivers are with a GE ticket, unless you spend your race hanging about at the entrance to the paddock.

Ahh memories of having my wallet lifted during one of the pit walks.

[Tyre Smoke]

You and my best mate. One year it was rife.

[FredericRobinson]

Not much use for former drivers, but there's an autograph session for current ones on the Tuesday evening

[ellroy]

wsn03 said:

Or perhaps put on a short skirt and hang around the motorhomes at night? I haven't tried it myself so not sure if it works...

I’m sure it does, but comes with certain costs....

[gpm67]

ellroy said:

wsn03 said:

Or perhaps put on a short skirt and hang around the motorhomes at night? I haven't tried it myself so not sure if it works...

I’m sure it does, but comes with certain costs....

I will need to get my legs shaved but it is a normal weekend activity.....

[Storer]

Never understood the desire to get someone’s signature, but if you send me £20 you can have mine.

Derick Bell will probably be staying at the Hotel de France in Chartre as usual and there may be a few other ex drivers there too over the weekend. They sometimes have events there where you could pester them for a squiggle.

[Printertosh]

The outer paddock is open to general ticket holders until Saturday (I think?) so you can catch the odd person walking from the back of the pits across to the hospitality units. Not as easy as at Silverstone though.

[Tyre Smoke]

Used to be, not anymore.

You need a paddock pass to get in there from Wednesday now.

[FredericRobinson]

Wandered through the outer paddock same as usual on the Thursday last year

[eps]

gpm67 said:

Hi,

2019 is my first 24 hrs of le mans and looking forward to enjoy the experience. Does any ex drivers like Derek Bell attends and where is the best place to get their autograph or is it more adhoc?

Cheers

In all seriousness the best chance of getting autographs is at other WEC events, so Spa or Silverstone. Of course you won't get all of the LM24hrs drivers autographs, but you'll get most.

Derek Bell will invariably be where someone has already posted - think he's been there for the past couple of years on the Friday, not sure about other days.

[Storer]

eps said:

gpm67 said:

Hi,

2019 is my first 24 hrs of le mans and looking forward to enjoy the experience. Does any ex drivers like Derek Bell attends and where is the best place to get their autograph or is it more adhoc?

Cheers

Derek Bell will invariably be where someone has already posted - think he's been there for the past couple of years on the Friday, not sure about other days.

He has stayed at Hotel de France for many years and I think he is a friend of the owner now. It is very busy over the LM weekend and preceding week but you can get a beer or coffee. There will be interesting cars in the square in front of the hotel. It was the haunt of teams back in the 50s, 60s, and 70s with pictures all over the walls.

I have stayed there 3 times, but we do it the week after LM (we stay in LM for the race) and it is a charming French town with a lovely peaceful pace.

[chasingracecars]

There is a campsite about 10 minutes walk away if you need it.

[Storer]

chasingracecars said:

There is a campsite about 10 minutes walk away if you need it.

From where?

[chasingracecars]

Storer said:

From where?

The hotel de France that we are all talking about.

[Storer]

chasingracecars said:

The hotel de France that we are all talking about.

Ah.

I stopped going camping when I was 14.
My idea of hell.