LM and the recession
Discussion
Camping is getting more difficult, with a lot having marked pitches and getting smaller, less people can get on them.
They will start moving the camping further away as the farmers sell their land to the developers.
I predict camping prices to rise as the available good stuff gets scarcer, and the farmers put up their rent.
They will start moving the camping further away as the farmers sell their land to the developers.
I predict camping prices to rise as the available good stuff gets scarcer, and the farmers put up their rent.
Last year some people had to choose between June and July for there annual trip 2009 there is no Classic so numbers from the UK will be up but if the big corporate hospitality is cut back that may have an effect. The annual trip can be done very cheaply with planning and car sharing so the recession is less of an issue.
I'm praying it means the chav's wont go.
I missed it last year and did the Nurburgring 24hours instead which was a total breath of fresh air, no chavs, freindly hosts (the Germans were fantastic, you'd have thought we'd fought the wars with the French in comparison!) cheap beer (half the price of Le mans) and the best bit the accomodation which was unreal and cheap. Top that with a plod free blast through France, Belgium, Holland and Germany and it's hard to see me going back to Le Mans in it's current state. We literally saw one cop car all weekend as opposed to Le Mans the year before being like a war zone and witnessing people getting CS gassed!
The biggest question really is even if the chav's stay away will the atmosphere there ever return to what it was?
I missed it last year and did the Nurburgring 24hours instead which was a total breath of fresh air, no chavs, freindly hosts (the Germans were fantastic, you'd have thought we'd fought the wars with the French in comparison!) cheap beer (half the price of Le mans) and the best bit the accomodation which was unreal and cheap. Top that with a plod free blast through France, Belgium, Holland and Germany and it's hard to see me going back to Le Mans in it's current state. We literally saw one cop car all weekend as opposed to Le Mans the year before being like a war zone and witnessing people getting CS gassed!
The biggest question really is even if the chav's stay away will the atmosphere there ever return to what it was?
cmsapms said:
I wonder if sponsorship difficulties will mean a reduction in the number of cars running.
I doubt it, it could lead to a reduction in the quality of cars entering though.We're going back for 2009r after a successful trip to the Classic this year. I do hope the chav issue sorts itself out because if it's the same as 2007 then I won't be going again (after 13+ trips).
I have to say that I've never really noticed the chav element, as we always stay at a "chateau" campsite away from the circuit. We treat it as a lads' camping holiday with plenty of motorsport related content, starting and finishing with an eight hour blast across la belle France in a pair of Westfields. Best of all worlds as far as I can see. YMMV.
Well living on site here I've heard no news unless you are talking about camping sites etc. It certainly looked yesterday as if there is a new camping site being finished opposite Beauséjour. They even moved the pikeys off it! For the rest though I'd be interested to hear what they are now proposing.
ACO being "aware" = little or no price rises.
In hindsight, I shouldn't have posted but got some news from the ACO...who them promptly said don't tell anyone.
So not a myth and not bad news for most of us - just a sure fire sign that costs are very much on the agenda. Will post the minute we get the nod.
I'm 100% sure though that we will still have 24 hours racing.
In hindsight, I shouldn't have posted but got some news from the ACO...who them promptly said don't tell anyone.
So not a myth and not bad news for most of us - just a sure fire sign that costs are very much on the agenda. Will post the minute we get the nod.
I'm 100% sure though that we will still have 24 hours racing.
Piglet said:
A sensible booking system for tickets might help so that punters don't have to pay agency mark ups or buy on ebay....
I don't suppose that is what the ACO are planning though
Absolutely !I don't suppose that is what the ACO are planning though
It makes no sense, as far as I can see, to join the ACO if you can't easily book general entry (at a discount), ACO grandstand and a camping spot easily without the 'have we / haven't we' got what we ordered dilemma.
It can't be that hard, surely.....
Off the track hopefully it will mean the corporatisation of LM is reduced, on the track it's hitting a lot of teams hard already in terms of sponsorship. Rollcentre, Embassy, the Essex LMP2 winner last year are already out, the Aston engine won't be in the Lola coupe LMP1. Audi are entering their new R15 but are cutting back on the LMS and ALMS programmes. With the hole GM are in will the Corvette GT1s be back? Will the Astons for that matter? There's bound to be a few more casualties yet.
If the historic support race gets replaced by this Le Mans junior prototype series that the ACO have launched the on track action could be well down on entertainment next year.
It'll still be the best week of the year though.
If the historic support race gets replaced by this Le Mans junior prototype series that the ACO have launched the on track action could be well down on entertainment next year.
It'll still be the best week of the year though.
Martin Short said last year he wasn't coming back anyway since he didn't appreciate there being two separate races - diesel and petrol. Also, with test day cancelled because the teams can't afford to spend the two weeks here, we are looking more and more like a re-run of 1992 when, if memory serves, we had but 28 cars only. As a knock on effect, will they get the full complement of marshals either? I know of some who aren't coming because of their financial position. I guess so but this recession is far worse than the others I have weathered in my lifetime.
lowdrag said:
Martin Short said last year he wasn't coming back anyway since he didn't appreciate there being two separate races - diesel and petrol. Also, with test day cancelled because the teams can't afford to spend the two weeks here, we are looking more and more like a re-run of 1992 when, if memory serves, we had but 28 cars only. As a knock on effect, will they get the full complement of marshals either? I know of some who aren't coming because of their financial position. I guess so but this recession is far worse than the others I have weathered in my lifetime.
I think the ACO / Le Mans made a big mistake in selling their soul to the AUDI / Peugeot corporate thing.. Le Mans was once again made great by teams such as Roll centre / Essex / McLaren privateers ..
This is just a return to 28 car grids..
Big mistake.
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