Discussion
I'll be there 
We'll be staying on Maison Blanche - where will you be....?
Only advice I can offer is, depending on your route and time available, make sure you do at least part of the journey down there off of the motorways. The roads in France are generally in good condition, fun and empty
Also if you get there Thurs or earlier, use Friday as a chance to get away from the circuit - any of the places south of Le Mans remind you that you are actually in France and are great for lunch. You've still got time to see all the other exotica around the circuit in the morning and get back for the drivers parade if you want to do that. This year we'll be heading for the Hotel de France in La Chartre sur le Loir where the race teams (Aston) etc used to stay in days gone by.
Only advice specific to the S I would offer is if you are leaving Sunday straight after the race make sure you fill with fuel before you park at the circuit for the last time - there are not many petrol stops open on Sunday eve and those that are open are usually unmanned and only take French cards at the pumps.
Enjoy
Longers
We'll be staying on Maison Blanche - where will you be....?
Only advice I can offer is, depending on your route and time available, make sure you do at least part of the journey down there off of the motorways. The roads in France are generally in good condition, fun and empty
Also if you get there Thurs or earlier, use Friday as a chance to get away from the circuit - any of the places south of Le Mans remind you that you are actually in France and are great for lunch. You've still got time to see all the other exotica around the circuit in the morning and get back for the drivers parade if you want to do that. This year we'll be heading for the Hotel de France in La Chartre sur le Loir where the race teams (Aston) etc used to stay in days gone by.
Only advice specific to the S I would offer is if you are leaving Sunday straight after the race make sure you fill with fuel before you park at the circuit for the last time - there are not many petrol stops open on Sunday eve and those that are open are usually unmanned and only take French cards at the pumps.
Enjoy
Longers
Hi there, i have been twice now, the 1st year it was so nice and sunny, really perfect weather! SO stupidly i thoght it would be the same the next year...
It was shocking weather last year, really was a bugger, we did not plan for bad weather what so ever. Luckily for us we were in a big orange 'Dukes of Hazzard' style LDV, with a twin rear axle, so we could drive away at the end, but lots of cars had to be towed out of the fields! Just be prepared.
Also, we had a lovely little patch, just the right size, until some french blokes decided to park and stay on our pitch!! We were furious, but as the marshals were french, they did nothing about it. So next year we're taking some kind of mini fence to mark our pitch(maybe lay loads of british towels round the perimeter!!
You will have a great time no matter what though, if you love cars then you'll be in heaven!!
It was shocking weather last year, really was a bugger, we did not plan for bad weather what so ever. Luckily for us we were in a big orange 'Dukes of Hazzard' style LDV, with a twin rear axle, so we could drive away at the end, but lots of cars had to be towed out of the fields! Just be prepared.
Also, we had a lovely little patch, just the right size, until some french blokes decided to park and stay on our pitch!! We were furious, but as the marshals were french, they did nothing about it. So next year we're taking some kind of mini fence to mark our pitch(maybe lay loads of british towels round the perimeter!!
You will have a great time no matter what though, if you love cars then you'll be in heaven!!
Thanks for all the replies so far. I just hope that the weather is kinder to those of us making the pilgrimage this year!
Longers, that sounds like very good advice - just what I was looking for.
I will liaise with Paul (the North East TVRCC RO) about our precise route and itinerary. I imagine we will try to stay more or less in convoy, but I'll definitely aim to get off the motorways as you recommended. I'm sharing my car with a mate of mine, so there'll be someone to do the navigating... and if all else fails, I treated myself to a TomTom ONE Europe last year for the Germany trip. Good call on the fuel! I would not have realised this!!
I believe we have applied for camping pitches at Houx but Paul is awaiting confirmation of our allocation from the TVRCC office. At the moment, this is the plan:
Wednesday 11th June
Drive to an overnight stop south of London
Thursday 12th June
Ferry crossing (Speedferries) to France
Thursday 12th June
Group camp pitch booking in Houx camp site
Friday 13th June
Friday night trip into Le Mans town
Saturday 14th June
Race starts at 3.00
Sunday 15th June
Celebrate another Audi victory (or do we!)
Monday 16th June
Travel home with ferry crossing at mid day
Mike, I haven't had a lot of experience of using ferries in the S2 but I believe the available ground clearance depends largely on the height of the tide when you make the crossing! Last year I went over to Germany with DFDS from Newcastle and the service was absolutely first rate. They had about four men lying on the ramps next to my car making sure the exhaust was clear as I inched on to the boat. With the Le Mans trip I am banking on 'safety in numbers' as I'm travelling with several other TVRs!!
Longers, that sounds like very good advice - just what I was looking for.
I will liaise with Paul (the North East TVRCC RO) about our precise route and itinerary. I imagine we will try to stay more or less in convoy, but I'll definitely aim to get off the motorways as you recommended. I'm sharing my car with a mate of mine, so there'll be someone to do the navigating... and if all else fails, I treated myself to a TomTom ONE Europe last year for the Germany trip. Good call on the fuel! I would not have realised this!!
I believe we have applied for camping pitches at Houx but Paul is awaiting confirmation of our allocation from the TVRCC office. At the moment, this is the plan:
Wednesday 11th June
Drive to an overnight stop south of London
Thursday 12th June
Ferry crossing (Speedferries) to France
Thursday 12th June
Group camp pitch booking in Houx camp site
Friday 13th June
Friday night trip into Le Mans town
Saturday 14th June
Race starts at 3.00
Sunday 15th June
Celebrate another Audi victory (or do we!)
Monday 16th June
Travel home with ferry crossing at mid day
Mike, I haven't had a lot of experience of using ferries in the S2 but I believe the available ground clearance depends largely on the height of the tide when you make the crossing! Last year I went over to Germany with DFDS from Newcastle and the service was absolutely first rate. They had about four men lying on the ramps next to my car making sure the exhaust was clear as I inched on to the boat. With the Le Mans trip I am banking on 'safety in numbers' as I'm travelling with several other TVRs!!
When I went to Le Mans with the V8S, the only problem I encountered with ferries was on the 'fastcats'. Conventional ships are OK in the main.
If you were directed to the upper car decks, you needed to take the access ramps 'wide' as it was a sharper slope on the inside of the curves, with a tendency to hit the outriggers.
I was travelling back through France on the Sunday of LeMans last year and found a couple of Supermarket petrol stations open. However, as a rule of thumb, France does tend to shut down on a Sunday.
This year, I'm at Camping Rouge with Team Langoustine...and about 4 from Hants TVRCC.
Nick
If you were directed to the upper car decks, you needed to take the access ramps 'wide' as it was a sharper slope on the inside of the curves, with a tendency to hit the outriggers.
I was travelling back through France on the Sunday of LeMans last year and found a couple of Supermarket petrol stations open. However, as a rule of thumb, France does tend to shut down on a Sunday.
This year, I'm at Camping Rouge with Team Langoustine...and about 4 from Hants TVRCC.
Nick
nawarne said:
...you needed to take the access ramps 'wide' as it was a sharper slope on the inside of the curves...
With the S turning circle, often there's no choice but to go wide... when I got the ferry home from my last trip I had to do a quick three-point-turn inside the boat! 
Good to see you're still popping in here, Nick!
Gentleman Geoff said:
nawarne said:
...you needed to take the access ramps 'wide' as it was a sharper slope on the inside of the curves...
With the S turning circle, often there's no choice but to go wide... when I got the ferry home from my last trip I had to do a quick three-point-turn inside the boat! Good to see you're still popping in here, Nick!
Have to keep an eye out during Le Mans and have a glass or 2 then.
Nick
Got my LM ticket confirmation fron the TVRCC this morning. Seems as though there is very limited allocation of MB and Houx camping tickets this year so we've been offered Bleu Nord camping (adjacent to the airfield). I think we'll take it as the options otherwise are to spend big money on Ebay or end up in a more remote camp such as Expo or Beausejour.
Couple of other tips..
1) Club Class on P&O costs a tenner and lands you in a very civilised lounge with complimentary coffee/newspapers etc.
2) AVOID the main access roads to Camping Bleu and Houx on Friday evening...the good natured burn outs and water pistol fest of previous years has become chavilised and last year I saw cars damaged and people hurt.
3)Don't take your Road Angel as the gendarme will confiscate it and don't think of speeding at any point in the French leg of the journey !
Couple of other tips..
1) Club Class on P&O costs a tenner and lands you in a very civilised lounge with complimentary coffee/newspapers etc.
2) AVOID the main access roads to Camping Bleu and Houx on Friday evening...the good natured burn outs and water pistol fest of previous years has become chavilised and last year I saw cars damaged and people hurt.
3)Don't take your Road Angel as the gendarme will confiscate it and don't think of speeding at any point in the French leg of the journey !
Edited by moffspeed on Saturday 9th February 18:43
mikee boy said:
I'm planning to take my S2. Any problems with ground clearance on the ferries? Any ferries to avoid?
Cheers
Mike
Depends on your ride height....Cheers
Mike
Last time I went was just after the new suspension had been fitted. The ride height was a "bit low" at the time and despite asking to be loaded on the lower deck we were sent upstairs (normally when I've asked for lower deck it's been fine). Awful grinding sound at top of ramp, quickly overcome though by Mike R jumping out and while he lifted at one rear wheel arch a ferry crewman lifted the other and all was well!! Never had a problem with my previous S so unless you've got yours set at very low ride height you'll be fine
Harry1972M said:
I'm in with the North East lot also...
Nice one mate!! I just got the email from Paul and saw you were coming... that's great news! I'm also planning on a return to SCH this year (sorry I haven't put my name down yet) assuming that we make it back from France okay. Unfortunately, we won't have the benefit of your mobile repair service this time, Kev... Harry1972M said:
I'm in with the North East lot also...
Nice one mate!! I just got the email from Paul and saw you were coming... that's great news! I'm also planning on a return to SCH this year (sorry I haven't put my name down yet) assuming that we make it back from France okay. Unfortunately, we won't have the benefit of your mobile repair service this time, Kev... Ha ! I suppose we could negotiate a call-out charge eh ? But you have Geoff with you so you should be OK
Hows the classes going Geoff ? are you up to supporting Graham ?
Have a great time lads and dont forget to take loads of pics... see you before then anyway...
K
(wish I was going...
)
Hows the classes going Geoff ? are you up to supporting Graham ?
Have a great time lads and dont forget to take loads of pics... see you before then anyway...
K
(wish I was going...
)ketvrin said:
Hows the classes going Geoff ?
All done! You've reminded me to post an update:http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Don't think I'll be cancelling my AA membership just yet though...
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