Travelling Back Sunday After the Race?
Discussion
It’s my daughters 1st birthday on the Monday after the 24 hours, and I obviously want back with her.
The options being:
Taking my own car and leaving after the race (really enjoyed Sunday evening last time)
Leaving very, very early Monday morning.
Flying back and leaving the rest of the chaps to it.
Or do the Classic instead.
Any constructive thoughts welcomed.
The options being:
Taking my own car and leaving after the race (really enjoyed Sunday evening last time)
Leaving very, very early Monday morning.
Flying back and leaving the rest of the chaps to it.
Or do the Classic instead.
Any constructive thoughts welcomed.
We drove back Monday after a heavy sunday night, not pleasant.
This year we're on the overnight ferry from Caen on Sunday so we get the end of the race and then head for the port. Get in 6:30am, back home by 11ish.
Flying out at that time might be very expensive.
How about train & Eurostar?
This year we're on the overnight ferry from Caen on Sunday so we get the end of the race and then head for the port. Get in 6:30am, back home by 11ish.
Flying out at that time might be very expensive.
How about train & Eurostar?
We always leave after the Race on Sunday, roads are reasonably empty and few if any lorries due to local regulations, if you leave soon after 3.00 you can get back to the channel ports in 5 hours, 6 if you stop for a meal. However be careful as the local police will be camped out on the old N138 and the motorway.
Trip back on Sunday is made so much better by the local french waving to everyone from the side of the roads, it is a bit like the London to Brighton run for them.
Trip back on Sunday is made so much better by the local french waving to everyone from the side of the roads, it is a bit like the London to Brighton run for them.
Agreed. Driving back after the race is quite fun, with all the locals camped out at the bridges. A few years ago, it looked like an entire village had turned out on one bridge, complete with tiered seating! Last year we were booked on the 10:40pm Eurotunnel crossing, but managed to get to Calais by 8:30pm and got on the next crossing (About 9 ish) with no problems. We usually just take the motorway back the whole way. Snarls up a bit around Rouen, but not too bad.
Downside is one has to be fairly careful about drinking on the Sunday...
Downside is one has to be fairly careful about drinking on the Sunday...
used to leave bang on the end of the race, head to st malo straight onto ferry back in poole by 00.30 and back home by 02.30
Yes it means your last beers will be saturday night so as to avoid any drink driving issues but hey its your daughters 1st birthday and you really should be there when she wakes up.
However the classic is also very good been to the last few as last main race was in 2004, never looked back. much prefer the classic, the cars are great theres space to move around and the atmosphere etc is much better IMHO, its like the main race used to be in the late 90's early 2000's
you can leave your chairs under the gazebo and come back 2, 3 5 hours later and they will still be there!!!
Yes it means your last beers will be saturday night so as to avoid any drink driving issues but hey its your daughters 1st birthday and you really should be there when she wakes up.
However the classic is also very good been to the last few as last main race was in 2004, never looked back. much prefer the classic, the cars are great theres space to move around and the atmosphere etc is much better IMHO, its like the main race used to be in the late 90's early 2000's
you can leave your chairs under the gazebo and come back 2, 3 5 hours later and they will still be there!!!
McSwerve II said:
It’s my daughters 1st birthday on the Monday after the 24 hours, and I obviously want back with her.
The options being:
Taking my own car and leaving after the race (really enjoyed Sunday evening last time)
Leaving very, very early Monday morning.
Flying back and leaving the rest of the chaps to it.
Or do the Classic instead.
Any constructive thoughts welcomed.
In 2005 dad and i left straight after the race, no autoroute to Rouen then. We caught the ferry at calais to dover and got to doncaster for bang on midnight. We were doing 80 ish in UK and 90 ish in france with the odd off the clock moment on the N138. Cant do this now though too many rossers. My point is by combining the auto route, and the tunnel you could easily make it home in reasonable time to see in your daughters birthday. Best of luck!The options being:
Taking my own car and leaving after the race (really enjoyed Sunday evening last time)
Leaving very, very early Monday morning.
Flying back and leaving the rest of the chaps to it.
Or do the Classic instead.
Any constructive thoughts welcomed.
We travelled back in 2008 on monday morning at 8am and im ashamed to admit it, we were all probably over the limit. It's stupid to do and you need time to recover before driving. Staying sunday night is excellent though, lots of drinking and getting together with other campers.
Last year we got the 00.15hrs ferry 1st thing monday morning and it was a perfect time to travel. Your daughter is only one once - no brainer.
Last year we got the 00.15hrs ferry 1st thing monday morning and it was a perfect time to travel. Your daughter is only one once - no brainer.
hotpowner said:
Do you know what a birthday is when youre one year old?
Do you know how slow my death would have been at the hands of my wife if I had missed my daughters 1st all for a few hours and a later ferry !!Actually, if you're flying back early monday, you dont miss her birthday AND you get to stay sunday night, a win-win situation
We always get the over night Sunday - Monday or very very early Monday morning. This leaves time for an easy drive back after the race - collapse big things like the gazebo during the race and then it's only pack up and set off.
You miss the traffic 1st thing after the race and you'd be cueing for god knows how long in this anyway. We're only 30 minutes drive from Portsmouth, so easily home crack of dawn.
You miss the traffic 1st thing after the race and you'd be cueing for god knows how long in this anyway. We're only 30 minutes drive from Portsmouth, so easily home crack of dawn.
I would skip te main event and go for the Classic instead.
I am sure you will win massive brownie points from SWMBO and have the fun of your daughters birthday party and even at one they do seem to like being the centre of attention.
Then spend the brownie points at the classic and, maybe, see if you can take and extra day or two on the classic trip and spend some time hooning round France.
I am sure you will win massive brownie points from SWMBO and have the fun of your daughters birthday party and even at one they do seem to like being the centre of attention.
Then spend the brownie points at the classic and, maybe, see if you can take and extra day or two on the classic trip and spend some time hooning round France.
SEE YA said:
Same here, leave about 430am Monday morning nice easy drive back then.
+1. We get everything bar the tents packed up after the race and then leave early Monday morning. That way you can still enjoy a beverage or two on Sunday (as long as whoever is driving doesn't go over the top).
Thanks for the advice chaps.
I think I’ll go for the Sunday night ferry option, as it sounds do’able. We enjoyed the Sunday evening last time (2008) but I think I’d rather have a dry & late Sunday, than a very restrained Sunday / very, very early Monday.
I’ll just have to have a few extra 1664’s on Thursday / Friday / Saturday to make up for it!
I think I’ll go for the Sunday night ferry option, as it sounds do’able. We enjoyed the Sunday evening last time (2008) but I think I’d rather have a dry & late Sunday, than a very restrained Sunday / very, very early Monday.
I’ll just have to have a few extra 1664’s on Thursday / Friday / Saturday to make up for it!
Murder 
But it depends where you are! The roads which incorporate the circuit are opened very quickly and any earth barriers are cleared very fast. If you head out towards Arnage the rozzers send you off in a southern direction towards the main roads. Its almost impossible to get near the circuit as the police will send you away from Le mans! Where are you staying?
But it depends where you are! The roads which incorporate the circuit are opened very quickly and any earth barriers are cleared very fast. If you head out towards Arnage the rozzers send you off in a southern direction towards the main roads. Its almost impossible to get near the circuit as the police will send you away from Le mans! Where are you staying?
I've been 12 times since 1996 and always parked in Parking Blanc which is very near the circuit entrance at the start of the pits straight area.
Twice I've needed to get back on the Sunday, late. Both times I left 30 minutes before the race ended and missed all the celebrations etc which was great shame. I listened to the end on Radio Le Mans of course. Anyway, getting out from the car park and out of Le Mans was a doddle, maybe 15-20 minutes to get out to the old N138 immediately north of Le Mans.
Once I tried staying to the end and leaving promptly: disasterous! Took maybe 2-3 hours to get to the same north Le Mans area. The police send all cars south towards Arnarge and then via various country lanes and then west of the circuit. By the time I started to get to north Le Mans there was serious congestion. Not recommended!
Most times I've not needed to get away promptly because of I've travelled back Monday morning. On these times I've stayed at the circuit for maybe 2 hours after the race ended. I've always had a seat in La Sarthe (previously Maison Blanche) tribune so I can see the race end and all the post race pits straight action admittedly from a distance. Radio Le Mans keeps the interest up too. Then, aside from maybe a bit of time getting out of the car park, all is fine: the roads are pretty clear and everything is fast moving. The A28 heading north is then fine, although the police are still very evident.
So, all the above is pretty well as you'd expect. Hope it helps you.
By the way I have a good street map of Le Mans which is really helpful at times.
R.
Twice I've needed to get back on the Sunday, late. Both times I left 30 minutes before the race ended and missed all the celebrations etc which was great shame. I listened to the end on Radio Le Mans of course. Anyway, getting out from the car park and out of Le Mans was a doddle, maybe 15-20 minutes to get out to the old N138 immediately north of Le Mans.
Once I tried staying to the end and leaving promptly: disasterous! Took maybe 2-3 hours to get to the same north Le Mans area. The police send all cars south towards Arnarge and then via various country lanes and then west of the circuit. By the time I started to get to north Le Mans there was serious congestion. Not recommended!
Most times I've not needed to get away promptly because of I've travelled back Monday morning. On these times I've stayed at the circuit for maybe 2 hours after the race ended. I've always had a seat in La Sarthe (previously Maison Blanche) tribune so I can see the race end and all the post race pits straight action admittedly from a distance. Radio Le Mans keeps the interest up too. Then, aside from maybe a bit of time getting out of the car park, all is fine: the roads are pretty clear and everything is fast moving. The A28 heading north is then fine, although the police are still very evident.
So, all the above is pretty well as you'd expect. Hope it helps you.
By the way I have a good street map of Le Mans which is really helpful at times.
R.
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