Photos and Stories from LM19
Discussion
A mate of a mate was working catering for United Autosports and invited us over for lunch on Saturday. Unbeknown to him, the passes that afforded us access to the hospitality suite also afforded access to the garage. Rather special weekend this one - got close enough to everything that I'm still cleaning podium champagne from my camera!
It's last year, but it's a new thread, so I'll help you out with a story.
Toward the end of the race, the rest of my party were leaving (to avoid the 'rush'), but I had an other group of mates on a different camp, so was staying. They decided to make their way to Arnarge from the camp, so they'd get a quick get away prior to the end of the race. I went with, knowing full well I'd be walking back to my mates camp at Premier Vert, before walking back to my camp at the Porsche curves. In total it was about 12 miles in 30 degree heat...
Anyway, as the race was finishing, I stumbled across a marshal post that was very close to the track. There was maybe 5-6 of us standing watching, the race was finished and they let us stand on the grass and wave to the passing cars. Then, car #5 (a Ginetta G60-LT-P1) driven by Charlie Robertson happened to come to a complete stop in front of me.
Charlie jumped out the car and removed his helmet, declared he really needed a beer, of which I had several in my bag, and discussed the race with me whilst leaning on his car. I can't remember if he did indeed have one of my tinnies
Toward the end of the race, the rest of my party were leaving (to avoid the 'rush'), but I had an other group of mates on a different camp, so was staying. They decided to make their way to Arnarge from the camp, so they'd get a quick get away prior to the end of the race. I went with, knowing full well I'd be walking back to my mates camp at Premier Vert, before walking back to my camp at the Porsche curves. In total it was about 12 miles in 30 degree heat...
Anyway, as the race was finishing, I stumbled across a marshal post that was very close to the track. There was maybe 5-6 of us standing watching, the race was finished and they let us stand on the grass and wave to the passing cars. Then, car #5 (a Ginetta G60-LT-P1) driven by Charlie Robertson happened to come to a complete stop in front of me.
Charlie jumped out the car and removed his helmet, declared he really needed a beer, of which I had several in my bag, and discussed the race with me whilst leaning on his car. I can't remember if he did indeed have one of my tinnies
Edited by illmonkey on Tuesday 18th June 11:35
My Second Le Mans
Really enjoyed it but it didn't all go well unfortunately!
Have decided that i'm not going to camp at Expo ever again, Thieves spotted on both Friday and Saturday nights.
A friend had 300 euros stolen from his wallet whilst he was sleeping in his tent!
And sadly when we thought it couldn't get any worse someone took my wallet during the podium ceremony
Bit of a pain in the arse but hasn't put me off going again!
I think PH Blue Nord will be the plan next time!
And maybe time to invest in a wallet chain!
Really enjoyed it but it didn't all go well unfortunately!
Have decided that i'm not going to camp at Expo ever again, Thieves spotted on both Friday and Saturday nights.
A friend had 300 euros stolen from his wallet whilst he was sleeping in his tent!
And sadly when we thought it couldn't get any worse someone took my wallet during the podium ceremony
Bit of a pain in the arse but hasn't put me off going again!
I think PH Blue Nord will be the plan next time!
And maybe time to invest in a wallet chain!
FIREBIRDC9 said:
My Second Le Mans
Really enjoyed it but it didn't all go well unfortunately!
Have decided that i'm not going to camp at Expo ever again, Thieves spotted on both Friday and Saturday nights.
A friend had 300 euros stolen from his wallet whilst he was sleeping in his tent!
And sadly when we thought it couldn't get any worse someone took my wallet during the podium ceremony
Bit of a pain in the arse but hasn't put me off going again!
I think PH Blue Nord will be the plan next time!
And maybe time to invest in a wallet chain!
I was told from my first trip to keep all valuables by your head when camping. I put them under my pillow.Really enjoyed it but it didn't all go well unfortunately!
Have decided that i'm not going to camp at Expo ever again, Thieves spotted on both Friday and Saturday nights.
A friend had 300 euros stolen from his wallet whilst he was sleeping in his tent!
And sadly when we thought it couldn't get any worse someone took my wallet during the podium ceremony
Bit of a pain in the arse but hasn't put me off going again!
I think PH Blue Nord will be the plan next time!
And maybe time to invest in a wallet chain!
In the stadium my wallet is in my little rucksack carried on my front. I look stupid but nothing gets nicked.
We met in Warwick to merge cars.
My mate realised by Newbury that he'd left his wallet in his car in Warwick. I gave him my car as he's insured on it from last year, and agreed to meet at Portsmouth in the evening while the rest of us went to the car museum in Southampton.
He got it, then drove to his house I think in Chesham to get some bits!!!
It was a nervous time waiting for my car with 3 passports etc to arrive at the docks...albeit only 10 minutes behind schedule.
On the way back he left his phone in the hotel - they are posting it to him today. To be fair to him others in our group caused a rush for everyone - first and last time I ever do a big group
My mate realised by Newbury that he'd left his wallet in his car in Warwick. I gave him my car as he's insured on it from last year, and agreed to meet at Portsmouth in the evening while the rest of us went to the car museum in Southampton.
He got it, then drove to his house I think in Chesham to get some bits!!!
It was a nervous time waiting for my car with 3 passports etc to arrive at the docks...albeit only 10 minutes behind schedule.
On the way back he left his phone in the hotel - they are posting it to him today. To be fair to him others in our group caused a rush for everyone - first and last time I ever do a big group
I can honestly say that for me our 2019 trip is probably equal best of the 7 I’ve done now in a row. We had the usual excellent service from 1st Tickets at PH Bleu Nord (with no issues re security which makes life so much easier/stress free) - it’s the adage “you get what you pay for”.
We also had a great “blag” with one of the manufacturers’ offering free access to their hospitality facilities if you knew what to do (either showing your appropriate car key or an owners club card) & we therefore had great uninterrupted viewing of the start/finish of the race with a complimentary beer or two thrown in - whether they’ll do it again is another matter. Whilst the LMP1 wasn’t what it used to be, the GT classes were as close as ever IMO. We also take the time/opportunity as we travel back on the Monday to take the back roads every year and find some great driving/scenery for most of the journey in France - it’s really worth it for those that just normally sit on the autoroute & main roads.
We also had a great “blag” with one of the manufacturers’ offering free access to their hospitality facilities if you knew what to do (either showing your appropriate car key or an owners club card) & we therefore had great uninterrupted viewing of the start/finish of the race with a complimentary beer or two thrown in - whether they’ll do it again is another matter. Whilst the LMP1 wasn’t what it used to be, the GT classes were as close as ever IMO. We also take the time/opportunity as we travel back on the Monday to take the back roads every year and find some great driving/scenery for most of the journey in France - it’s really worth it for those that just normally sit on the autoroute & main roads.
This was my first trip to Le Mans, but certainly not the last. 
We stayed at Porsche Curves with Travel Destinations, it's a great spot, lively, but not out of control and very secure with only one way in/out and security on 24 hours a day right up until Monday afternoon.
No issues at all with the toilets, showers and wash up areas. The marquis with food and drink was decent, a themed food night each evening, curry, barbecue etc meant we didn't need to bring out our own barbecue.
I don't know how the prices compare with the other sites, but we're not bothering to shop around and are going to book 2020 asap.
Big thanks to the people on here for the numerous invaluable tips about getting there, what to take, what to watch, what to wear even.
I didn't take many pictures as drinking 28 tins of Strongbow Dark Fruit, 15 Rekorderlig cans and a 5ltr Rekorderlig keg screwed up my ability to take photo's, so just a few here.
We stayed at Porsche Curves with Travel Destinations, it's a great spot, lively, but not out of control and very secure with only one way in/out and security on 24 hours a day right up until Monday afternoon.
No issues at all with the toilets, showers and wash up areas. The marquis with food and drink was decent, a themed food night each evening, curry, barbecue etc meant we didn't need to bring out our own barbecue.
I don't know how the prices compare with the other sites, but we're not bothering to shop around and are going to book 2020 asap.
Big thanks to the people on here for the numerous invaluable tips about getting there, what to take, what to watch, what to wear even.
I didn't take many pictures as drinking 28 tins of Strongbow Dark Fruit, 15 Rekorderlig cans and a 5ltr Rekorderlig keg screwed up my ability to take photo's, so just a few here.
My 15th trip, my sons 10th. He had his final GCSE exam on friday, finishing at 10:15am. We did consider skipping a year but decided that I'd pick him up from school and we'd head straight down.
So we did, we missed all the fun roads and hit the autoroutes with cruise on 133kph and were at the porsche curves by about 18:30. The rest of the team had been there since thursday so were all set up with cold beers for us.
First time on the porsche curves as we normally stay on the PH site at BN. Whilst the catering and toilet cleaning are not as good the location makes up for it. We spent a large part of the race on the banking popping back to the tent for beer when we needed it. A wander up through the circuit in the early evening and dinner in the giant ham place by the dunlop bridge followed by dodgems and crap karts.
More time on the banking late into the night (my son stayed up all night).
An early start to see the sunrise, which was excellent then some proper karting before packing up.
We watched the last couple of hours from our position on the banking then hit the road as soon as the cars went past on the last lap.
Our route home is back roads to Rouen then autoroute, we were home in Cambridge by 21:50 which is amazing.
So we did, we missed all the fun roads and hit the autoroutes with cruise on 133kph and were at the porsche curves by about 18:30. The rest of the team had been there since thursday so were all set up with cold beers for us.
First time on the porsche curves as we normally stay on the PH site at BN. Whilst the catering and toilet cleaning are not as good the location makes up for it. We spent a large part of the race on the banking popping back to the tent for beer when we needed it. A wander up through the circuit in the early evening and dinner in the giant ham place by the dunlop bridge followed by dodgems and crap karts.
More time on the banking late into the night (my son stayed up all night).
An early start to see the sunrise, which was excellent then some proper karting before packing up.
We watched the last couple of hours from our position on the banking then hit the road as soon as the cars went past on the last lap.
Our route home is back roads to Rouen then autoroute, we were home in Cambridge by 21:50 which is amazing.
My first time to LM and me and 3 mates stayed in PH blue nord. Really enjoyed it and the meal on Sunday night was steak and chips (which topped the weekend off nicely).
Things I now know about LM:
1: if there is a hole in the fence, chances are there is a french man behind it taking a piss
2: if someone pushes passed you and says "merci" they are english
3: best weekend event I've ever done. Would highly recommend it to anyone (but stay on a secure site for peace of mind)
Things I now know about LM:
1: if there is a hole in the fence, chances are there is a french man behind it taking a piss
2: if someone pushes passed you and says "merci" they are english
3: best weekend event I've ever done. Would highly recommend it to anyone (but stay on a secure site for peace of mind)
Thursday night the bottle of sunflower oil fell open in our car boot so everything was oily.
Friday night the salt bottle cracked open....everything salty.
Saturday night the butter melted...you get the picture.
Otherwise Houx was great, loved the atmosphere and friendly people all around.
Also:
- the shuttle bus to Mulsanne bursting out in a hymne of the local Le Mans FC at 1h30am
- seeing legendary Bentleys lined up on track on Friday
- this lovely Renault 8 Gordini at the CBW really made my day
Friday night the salt bottle cracked open....everything salty.
Saturday night the butter melted...you get the picture.
Otherwise Houx was great, loved the atmosphere and friendly people all around.
Also:
- the shuttle bus to Mulsanne bursting out in a hymne of the local Le Mans FC at 1h30am
- seeing legendary Bentleys lined up on track on Friday
- this lovely Renault 8 Gordini at the CBW really made my day
Another cracking year with the peeps from Team Langoustine thanks to all the staff and special mention to the Scottish lad who was on the door when a group of chaps tried to enter without passes he went above and beyond, and also the pit stop crew for pulling it out the bag and providing great bacon butties etc.
See you all next year
See you all next year
French Passport Control at Folkestone on the way down was "interesting". Probably won't sticker up as a Police car again, it didn't go down well with the Border Control guys but the Gendarme didn't seem to care.
Only saw one Gendarme on the way down. Little traffic and some good blatts on D roads.
Stayed in Tetre Rouge for the first time, usually stay on Houx Annexe, AMAZING party on Friday night in TR.
Some great memories, meeting new people, visiting Hotel de France, no rain (thank you Cat), lots of booze and very little sleep.
Another great trip! Bring on 2020!!
Only saw one Gendarme on the way down. Little traffic and some good blatts on D roads.
Stayed in Tetre Rouge for the first time, usually stay on Houx Annexe, AMAZING party on Friday night in TR.
Some great memories, meeting new people, visiting Hotel de France, no rain (thank you Cat), lots of booze and very little sleep.
Another great trip! Bring on 2020!!
Gassing Station | Le Mans | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff