Tetra Rouge camp site pitches might be marked out?

[here]

In September last year (2008) I ordered my Tetera Rouge camp site tickets along with a couple of Dunlop Grandstand tickets as well.
I spoke to a very helpful guy at the Tickets 2 U office. He was saying that its yet to be confirmed, but that this year at the Tetra Rouge site, the pitches MAY be marked out.
Has anyone heard the same? I personally think its a great idea. Even though i arrived at dinner time on the Thursday last year. I struggled to find a pitch even though i paid the high fee for it. The guy on the phone said that they always seemed to sell more tickets than there are pitches (money grabbing). And that people were complaining about this so that's why they were thinking about trying marked out pitches this year. Any one heard if this has been confirmed yet?

[FredericRobinson]

They've been roughly marked with paint for the last few years, might have worn away by the Thursday though. Marking the pitches is fair enough, hope they're not numbered though, one of the reasons we head out on the Monday is to get our regular spot.

[here]

Sorry i forgot to mention that they may be marked out and numbered. IMO it should not be first come first served, especially because we all pay the same for a pitch no matter what day anyone arrives. A pitch is a pitch bought and paid for. Anyone arriving late Thursday or even Friday are scratching about for room. This procedure is complete rubbish IMO.
Thats what the Tickets 2 U guy believes as well. he told me to ring him back in spring and he will have more details of if its going ahead or not.

[//j17]

If the ACO stick to their plans than I believe 2009 should be the first year where almost all campsites get marked, numbered pitches (a-la Houx).

This has been a gradual transition over the last few years, with zones in 2007 and maked (but not numbered) pitches in 2008.

I've only used Maison Blanche once, and that was for the Classic when numbers are a lot lower but that was a ballache. By Friday it was 50/50 you could get your car from where it was parked to the road and 50/50 there wouldn't be someone else camped/parked in the space when you got back. For the 24hrs in Houx you can turn up Fri and know you have your 5x7 space and be able to get in/out as you please.

[G T 3]

Looks like most sites will be marked out, so not first come take up all the room any more, there were a lot of people with booked pitches not being allowed on sites last year, and left with no where.
There is a lot less camping near the track now so it is a premium to get space.
Just remember the ACO rents space by the sq metre to agents, so you cant expect to turn up and take up more than allocated any more, I guess they will be more strict as has been the case on Houx.
I predict problems on sites where people over fill their space and lap on to others,this is bound to happen, and when you turn up late to beer fueled campers or they have gone out, there will be trouble.

I remember a year on Beau, when a bloke came back to his now trapped in car, got pissed off and drove out removing tents as he did.....

Edited by G T 3 on Friday 9th January 14:13

[Vette_1978]

G T 3 said:

I predict problems on sites where people over fill their space and lap on to others,this is bound to happen, and when you turn up late to beer fueled campers or they have gone out, there will be trouble.

I'm not so sure. Most folk I've met at LM have been very accomodating with space. As long as you talk to each other an agreement can always be made. In 2005 we parked the Vette in someone elses pitch after asking. In 2007 we pitched up the security fence and checked with everyone that they could get their motors out. No bother from anyone.

I hope TR is numbered as we're not arriving till Thursday this year.

[G T 3]

Vette I agree this doesnt normally happen but if pitches are now marked out and people arrive with loads of stuff expecting no boundaries, there will be problems, I agree marked out is better, but we all take up more space when we arrive early and there is lots. Especially when groups have several pitches that are not necessarily next to each other, and this is hard to organise for the ticket companies. Unless all of one groups pitches are booked together there will be no "save me a space" stuff. Groups will be spread across the site.

Edited by G T 3 on Friday 9th January 15:13

Edited by G T 3 on Friday 9th January 15:14

[FredericRobinson]

I've no problem with pitches being marked, everyone should get what they've paid for, first come first serve for choice of pitch seems fair enough to me though

[G T 3]

That wont be the way they do it, you will get a pitch number on your ticket, so unless you have a map of the site you wont know where you will be sited till you get there. Unless you are on a private site.

[DJFish]

Usually if you get there fairly early on a Thursday you can get a decent pitch, however I'd prefer marked and numbered pitches as it'd save a lot of stress on the journey down and I'd feel more inclined to take it easy and stop off for lunch rather than the normal balls out rush.

[gt6]

TR is a very rustic campsite, we use it every year but although the pitches have been marked out for several years, access to some is difficult and others can consist of solid concrete or tree stumps, usually everyone is very accomodating but some people do turn up with campervans which are just to big and then try to put up gazebo's etc.

Still the best site (as the ACO price indicates and 25 years of experience has taught me) but if they allocate spaces and you have no choice then we may make alternative if our group can not camp together and get lumbered with unsuitable pitches when we arrive on Wednesday.

[molestrangler]

It's a shame, but it,s greed as much as anything. A 5x7 pitch is a bit tight, but this way they can cram as many, if not more people into a smaller area. Take out the area for your car and there,s not much area left. Still, it makes damn sure you talk to your nieghbours!

[//j17]

molestrangler said:

It's a shame, but it,s greed as much as anything. A 5x7 pitch is a bit tight...

It depends, if you are used to arriving on Tuesday/Wednesday, slipping in to your best lederhosen and annexing an area the size of Poland then yes, it is a bit tight.

If your used to arriving late on Friday/early Saturday and can only find a space slightly smaller than a midgets toilet tent then no, 5x7 is palatial!

[molestrangler]

//j17 said:

molestrangler said:

It's a shame, but it,s greed as much as anything. A 5x7 pitch is a bit tight...

It depends, if you are used to arriving on Tuesday/Wednesday, slipping in to your best lederhosen and annexing an area the size of Poland then yes, it is a bit tight.

If your used to arriving late on Friday/early Saturday and can only find a space slightly smaller than a midgets toilet tent then no, 5x7 is palatial!

Fair point, but I feel that perhaps this was not at the front of the minds at the ACCO....cynical maybe, but this years 5x7 could be next year,s 5x6, etc., etc.

[//j17]

molestrangler said:

...I feel that perhaps this was not at the front of the minds at the ACCO....cynical maybe, but this years 5x7 could be next year,s 5x6, etc., etc.

It's always (technically) been 7x5 but only enforced on Houx. I don't really think this is part fo some evil master plan, just making things equal for all and meaning less crap for the ACO to deal with when people arrive with tickets to find no room at the inn.

gt6 said:

TR is a very rustic campsite, we use it every year but although the pitches have been marked out for several years, access to some is difficult and others can consist of solid concrete or tree stumps...

In Houx the whole area is marked out as pitches but not all are allocated. Some are left empty so people with camper vans, etc that get pitches with trees can be moved. Others are left empty because they containe large trees.

I'd imagine the ACO would take the same approach to allocating pitches on the other sites, so those that are mainly tree/concrete will be marked up and numbered as pitches but not allocated to people.

But then they ARE French...