Hotel Arbor

[dredgey]

Did anyone go to Hotel Arbor to watch the race last year? I've been there a couple of times but not for a few years, so I'm keen to find out if it's still operating in the same way ie, no advance booking or something similar? We'd be driving there this year and it seems the days of being able to drive to different parts of the track and simply parking up aren't really an option? Or am I wrong?

[LM240]

As far as I know there are no changes in terms of access.

Though I did go early Sunday morning and found it wasn’t open yet.

Took this pic of the opening times *may not be the same now*

[Koen_Chevy]

Can you see the cars go by or is that fenced off?

[LM240]

Good view of straight heading off to Mulsanne from hotel car park. Short walk to 2nd chicane also with decent views.

Nice to get different perspective of the circuit.

Always been relatively quiet when I’ve been. Chilled out feel, can get food and use of toilets.

[JimmyLM]

I was last there in 2023 and we were able to walk through the woods and get a view at the exit of the second chicane. A fair few other people were there too and none of the marshals had a problem with us being there. Great vantage point, especially as it started to rain.

[MrC986]

It is difficult to get to and I wouldn't bother

[LM240]

MrC986 said:

It is difficult to get to and I wouldn't bother

True! I should also have mentioned the poisonous snakes in the woods and the new 8ft wall around the car park which has cut the view completely.

[dredgey]

MrC986 said:

It is difficult to get to and I wouldn't bother

Bloody awful place. I’ll definitely go but I will hate everything about it. In fact, probably best stay at home!

[acwh]

Went last year having been every year for eons.

Two problems now, price ratcheted and you only get a drink, no baguette. Worst though, access to the chicane was blocked off with waggy finger for anyone who approached.

Not on our list this year.

[dredgey]

acwh said:

Went last year having been every year for eons.

Two problems now, price ratcheted and you only get a drink, no baguette. Worst though, access to the chicane was blocked off with waggy finger for anyone who approached.

Not on our list this year.

Is it just me or are a lot of things about Le Mans “not as good as they used to be”?

[heebeegeetee]

dredgey said:

acwh said:

Went last year having been every year for eons.

Two problems now, price ratcheted and you only get a drink, no baguette. Worst though, access to the chicane was blocked off with waggy finger for anyone who approached.

Not on our list this year.

Is it just me or are a lot of things about Le Mans “not as good as they used to be”?

To be fair, we stopped going in the early noughties because of that.

I was a lucky boy, spectated through all of the Group C era, stood in the hedge on the Mulsanne straight besides the restaurant, etc.

Tbf though, a mate and I returned in 2016 and just sat beside the track at Indianapolis almost the whole time, and really quite enjoyed it.

[Mark B]

heebeegeetee said:

To be fair, we stopped going in the early noughties because of that.

I was a lucky boy, spectated through all of the Group C era, stood in the hedge on the Mulsanne straight besides the restaurant, etc.

Tbf though, a mate and I returned in 2016 and just sat beside the track at Indianapolis almost the whole time, and really quite enjoyed it.

In the hedges at Hunaudierre, never 😃

[fatboy18]

dredgey said:

acwh said:

Went last year having been every year for eons.

Two problems now, price ratcheted and you only get a drink, no baguette. Worst though, access to the chicane was blocked off with waggy finger for anyone who approached.

Not on our list this year.

Is it just me or are a lot of things about Le Mans not as good as they used to be ?

100% which is why i am no longer interested, end of an era.

[greeny12]

Mark B said:

In the hedges at Hunaudierre, never ??

Only time I ever got that close was on Test Day in its old slot earlier in the year. We stopped at the Restaurant and crept closer and closer to the track until being shooed away by a Gendarme!

That was a long while ago, mind. Probably early 2000s. The big blocking fences had gone up at Hunaudieres by the next time I went to a race...

[fatboy18]

greeny12 said:

Mark B said:

In the hedges at Hunaudierre, never ??

Only time I ever got that close was on Test Day in its old slot earlier in the year. We stopped at the Restaurant and crept closer and closer to the track until being shooed away by a Gendarme!

That was a long while ago, mind. Probably early 2000s. The big blocking fences had gone up at Hunaudieres by the next time I went to a race...

That pic is 1998 or 1999 Only reason I know is because of the Viper livery.

[rlw]

heebeegeetee said:

dredgey said:

acwh said:

Went last year having been every year for eons.

Two problems now, price ratcheted and you only get a drink, no baguette. Worst though, access to the chicane was blocked off with waggy finger for anyone who approached.

Not on our list this year.

Is it just me or are a lot of things about Le Mans not as good as they used to be ?

To be fair, we stopped going in the early noughties because of that.

I was a lucky boy, spectated through all of the Group C era, stood in the hedge on the Mulsanne straight besides the restaurant, etc.

Tbf though, a mate and I returned in 2016 and just sat beside the track at Indianapolis almost the whole time, and really quite enjoyed it.

One year we managed to reserve a window seat for dinner at the old 24 Heures restaurant at 8.30pm on Thursday night. It was a very, very long dinner only interrupted by the cars going full chat down the - no chicanes - straight, twenty to thirty feet away. Ordering was a very shouty process and the constant shaking of the tables and the windows, and the flapping of the tablecloths, was a minor distraction.

It were fking brilliant.

[LM240]

If anyone goes to hotel today and can check whether it is still 1000hrs opening time, it would be appreciated.

Would like to go earlier, but may just get there bang on 1000 tomorrow if only option.

And whether they have cut off access to the chicane. Don’t think I’d bother if they have gone down this route.