Le Mans Alternatives

[dumbfunk]

I never thought I'd be even thinking this but after a fair few years of devoted Le Mans pilgrimage, the last couple of trips worth of rain, mud and unbearable chavosity have me wondering about finding an alternative Mecca this year.

I know the Nurburgring and Spa 24 hour events are about a month earlier and later respectively and wondered if anybody here had either tried or was considering trying a change?



Dumbfunk

[The Leaper]

IMHO you should still go to Le Mans, just fix an upgrade....hotel instead of camping, grandstand seat etc, keep away from chavosity. I've done this for 13 years, and as the ad says..."you know you're worth it"

R.

[CB911]

The Nurburgring 24 Hours has replaced our annual pilgramige to Le Mans mostly because we had been going to Le Mans for so long it was time for a change. The N24 is such a great event. Loads of partying, loads of good local food and beer, an unbelievable variety of cars, loads of racing incidents and the best circuit in the world for spectating! Just booked up our accommodation and ferry

[M3CHA-MONK3Y]

We were looking at the 'ring 24hr in two years time. I love going to classic Le Mans but getting a bit bored of the proper race and its just too busy and commercial. Saw a few comments about the ring so we're going to give that a go.

[flasher]

CB911 said:

The Nurburgring 24 Hours has replaced our annual pilgramige to Le Mans mostly because we had been going to Le Mans for so long it was time for a change. The N24 is such a great event. Loads of partying, loads of good local food and beer, an unbelievable variety of cars, loads of racing incidents and the best circuit in the world for spectating! Just booked up our accommodation and ferry

Ditto! We went last year for the first time and couldn't beleive how good it was. Great roads, Cheap Beer, amazing accomodation (we have apartments overlooking the track!)cheap entrance tickets, free grandstand access, good food, no tattoed British idiots, great cars, no French old bill (infact we saw one cop car all week!) etc. etc. I can't see me going to Le Mans again, barring the classic.

If you do the Ring 24hrs I can almost guarantee you wont want to go back to Le Mans.

[bigmanteebs]

flasher said:

CB911 said:

The Nurburgring 24 Hours has replaced our annual pilgramige to Le Mans mostly because we had been going to Le Mans for so long it was time for a change. The N24 is such a great event. Loads of partying, loads of good local food and beer, an unbelievable variety of cars, loads of racing incidents and the best circuit in the world for spectating! Just booked up our accommodation and ferry

Ditto! We went last year for the first time and couldn't beleive how good it was. Great roads, Cheap Beer, amazing accomodation (we have apartments overlooking the track!)cheap entrance tickets, free grandstand access, good food, no tattoed British idiots, great cars, no French old bill (infact we saw one cop car all week!) etc. etc. I can't see me going to Le Mans again, barring the classic.

If you do the Ring 24hrs I can almost guarantee you wont want to go back to Le Mans.

Exactly the same here. Would be there this year but it falls on the GF's birthday, d'oh.
Did both Le Mans and 'Ring 24hrs last year and it was no comparison at all. If your into Photography, the Ring is ideal. These are some of mine from 2008:







If you have any questions just ask

[Johno]

One real attraction of the N24 for me (not having been . . . yet) is the lack of the prototypes in the racing . . It's proddie based which Le Mans seemingly gets further and further away from and the prototype classes seemingly require weather intervention to drive a competitive interest.

[dobboMK1]

bigmanteebs said:

If your into Photography, the Ring is ideal.

Nice pics teebs. Couldn't agree more with that comment. Even now they have put a load of fences up there are still a huge number of places to shoot from.

From the 24 Hour Race:








GT support race:


Drift demonstration:


Historic race:

[dobboMK1]

flasher said:

(we have apartments overlooking the track!)

Are you staying in the An Der Nordschleife? I love the section of track from Breidscheid back up to Metzgesfeld. Many a happy hour drinking bitburger at Wehrseifen hairpin as the sun goes down

[dumbfunk]

Thanks for all the feedback (and the PM) on this. Good to know I'm not the only one unfortunately feeling a little disillusioned! I'm going to do some more research and start campaigning for a location change.

Being a month earlier I guess the weather is going to be even more of a lottery than Le Mans in recent years right? Time to ditch the tent for the hotel!

Cheers



dumbfunk

[philmar]

What dates are we looking at for N24? Done Le Mans past 2 years, maybe fancy a bit of a change...

[dumbfunk]

12-24 May
http://adac.24h-rennen.de/en.html

[dobboMK1]

The weather is variable, more due to it being Nurburgring than it being in May! Last year the weather was fantastic with just a few spots of rain as we were leaving on Monday. In 2007 the race was held the week before Le Mans, it was glorious sunshine apart from a 2 hour spell right before the start of the race when there was a freak lightning/hail storm!

[alman]

Where's the best place for information about the Nurburgring 24hrs then? is there something like beermountain especially for it? Also someone mentioned apartments overlooking the track any linkys?
Sorry to be so demanding but i've been considering doing this for a while and feel i need to look into it

[dobboMK1]

Alman, I've sent you a pm Will be able to help if you need accommodation.

[Mark B]

CB911 said:

The Nurburgring 24 Hours has replaced our annual pilgramige to Le Mans mostly because we had been going to Le Mans for so long it was time for a change. The N24 is such a great event. Loads of partying, loads of good local food and beer, an unbelievable variety of cars, loads of racing incidents and the best circuit in the world for spectating! Just booked up our accommodation and ferry

Ding to that, after 15 years of Le Mans I'm off to the N24, I believe with Dobbomk1 (Bobo W group)... Can't wait, just trying to secure a good barge to blat over there in

[flasher]

dobboMK1 said:

flasher said:

(we have apartments overlooking the track!)

Are you staying in the An Der Nordschleife? I love the section of track from Breidscheid back up to Metzgesfeld. Many a happy hour drinking bitburger at Wehrseifen hairpin as the sun goes down

Good guess! Yes, we have a couple of the apartments next door, owned by the same guy who owns the hotel. The view is a motor racing fans dream.....

[ginettag27]

LM is booked for this year, but might do the N24 next year.. I was also tempted by some of the GT races at the new circuit in Portugal..

[dobboMK1]

Mark B said:

Ding to that, after 15 years of Le Mans I'm off to the N24, I believe with Dobbomk1 (Bobo W group)... Can't wait, just trying to secure a good barge to blat over there in

I look forward to seeing the barge Mark Have you sorted your ferry yet? Just in the process of booking ours. Travelling Wed evening Dover,Dunkerque then staying in a formula 1 or similar near Liege. Should arrive in Nurburg by 10 or 11 on Thu morning. Cannot wait

[dobboMK1]

flasher said:

dobboMK1 said:

flasher said:

(we have apartments overlooking the track!)

Are you staying in the An Der Nordschleife? I love the section of track from Breidscheid back up to Metzgesfeld. Many a happy hour drinking bitburger at Wehrseifen hairpin as the sun goes down

Good guess! Yes, we have a couple of the apartments next door, owned by the same guy who owns the hotel. The view is a motor racing fans dream.....

It sounds great Flasher. I'd like to see some pictures of the view, remember to take plenty!