Discussion
The devil said:
We have done Le Mans for the last 4 years and its getting a bit "same old" now.
Need to leave it a few years and maybe go back then.
But, still need somewhere to go next year that is a good weekend away for the boys
Suggestions anyone?
Leave Le Mans!!!!!!!! You my good man should be taken to the tower and shot. In my best Terry Thomas voice, you are a rotter. LOLNeed to leave it a few years and maybe go back then.
But, still need somewhere to go next year that is a good weekend away for the boys
Suggestions anyone?
The devil said:
Anyone done Spa or the ring, if so, any good?
I am driving across to Spa this year, going to the F1 of course.I usually go to the Le mans main event, was going to the Classic up to yesterday. It sounds to much like hard work from what i have gathered, so not bothering.
But yes i will be doing Spa. I have been to the ring four times now and its a great place. A must for the petrol head.
4 years eh? It took me 24 years to come to the same conclusion, but I understand your sentiment. I think that Le Mans can never be as 'good' as it once was, probably because of the ACO's need to cater to corporations, before individuals and the need to modernize the facility. When I first started going at the beginning of the 80's, it had a rustic, hokey feel that is difficult to describe. It also reeked of it's heritage (and stale urine, as it does today).
It was a much more accessible, friendly and less 'controlled' event. It was a great party event that thankfully few people were aware of.
Over the years it's progressively lost it's charm and a lot of mystique, replaced by razor-wire-topped concrete structures obscuring the track, Audi-ization and hoardes of morons, who seem to have no regard for the comfort, safety or enjoyment of the people around them.
I just don't enjoy it enough to justify the expense anymore.
With regard to some of the American alternatives suggested, allow me to share my thoughts and experiences.
Daytona 24 Hours - I have a muted affection for this event, because Daytona is my local track. The Rolex 24 is seeing a bit of a resurgance of popularity as the Grand-Am series is grudgingly accepted by US race fans. The fugly prototypes are getting faster and more reliable - and the class rules ensure very close racing. The 24 has started to attract a good number of guest drivers, who's credentials are interesting - and the GT class is very entertaining.
Being early in the year, the weather can get a bit dodgy. It is often very cold at night and I've been there when it's been raining so hard that they have red-flagged the race. Daytona is an awesome facility - and the tiny crowds that the Rolex attracts (around 50,000) are dwarfed by the surroundings. There is a good hard-core of infield race fans who whoop it up, but it doesn't have the attendance or importance of Le Mans, so don't expect that kind of vibe.
Pit access is good (you can see all the action through a chainlink fence) and the sight of the pack thumping through the tri-oval is pretty emotive.
Suggestion: Rent an RV - often too cold to camp.
Indianapolis 500 - I've done the 500 about 15 times - the first one back in 1987. That event melted my mind. It was utterly stupendous and a complete stimulus overload. CART turbo-cars doing average laps at 220mph+ - an enormous amped-up crowd and an atmosphere that hit me like a train. It's still a wonderful mix of Americana and gladatorial conflict - but not quite as visceral as it was when I first attended. The night before the race, on Georgetown Road is a zoo - even a little intimidating for some, but crazy, funny and boozy.
I suggest it is one of those "must do at least once in your life" kind of events - I love it. Weather is usually fantastic - but a storm will delay/stop the race. Persistant rain means postponing until the next day, so if you base a visit around the 500, make sure you have time to use your rain-check.
Suggestion: It's not called Indian-no-place for nothing. There's not an awful lot to see/do in Indy - so maybe best to make this an add-on to a larger US visit, than a race dedicated trip.
12 Hours of Sebring - This, without doubt, is the best US motor racing experience on the calendar, in my opinion. This year was my 10th Sebring and it just never fails to deliver. 'Awesome' is an over-used word in American vernacular, but it is bang-on for this weekend.
In a nutshell, it's like Le Mans used to be. Laid-back, relaxed, friendly, fan-oriented, accessible, non-threatening, spectacular.
The crowd is big, is there for a massive party, is knowledgeable about what's going on, on the track and above all welcoming. There are some very large and well organized groups of race fans, who occupy the same real estate at the track each year and bring with them everything required to party hard. I'm talking live bands, pig roasts, all manner of eccentric vehicles (thankfully no f
king go-peds or pushbikes). It has also become a spring break destination, so there is a quite high flange quotient - but it's all good natured and sociable.
The ALMS put on a good show and Sebring is used as the test-run for Le Mans by many of the top prototype and GT teams.
If you go to these races to actually see the race (in addition to drowning your synapses in alcohol) Sebring offers spectating opportunity that is long, long gone at Le Mans. The only down-sides are that the track is very flat (zero elevation changes) and the combination of tarmac and concrete is very punishing, so attrition can be high.
The race is held in mid-march, which is generally a very warm and dry period, here in FL. However, when it does rain, it tends to do so with a vengence. Like Le Mans, it's not so much fun in the rain - but at least the rain is warm.
Suggestion: Just do it - you'll thank me later.
Also consider:
The Petit Le Mans (ALMS) at Road Atlanta end of Sept - Gorgeous circuit (a bit like Brands) fun, party weekend.
Gatornationals (NHRA Drag racing) at Gainsville FL - mid March - often conflicts with Sebring - but is a spectacular event if 4000bhp+ and 0-100mph in less than 1 second is your kind of fun.
Daytona 500 (NASCAR) February - don't automatically blow this one off. It is a huge, huge event and another of those 'must-do at least once' events.
As a footnote to the OP, you need to give Le Mans more than 4 years in order to 'taste all of it's flavours', but all of the above events have something different to offer.
In terms of cost - you can spend a large chunk of money if you don't think it through. I would suggest avoiding organized tours like the plague - they don't offer anything you can't source yourself for half the money. Race tix are easy to get hold of in these tough economic times (Bristol NASCAR race being the only exception that I can think of).
My brother-in-law came over from England for Sebring this year and spent less (including his flight) than he did at Le Mans last year - and we didn't hold back on the piss-up.
If you'd like any help/thoughts/advice on the logistics of any of these events, let me know, I'd be more than happy to help, if I can.
It was a much more accessible, friendly and less 'controlled' event. It was a great party event that thankfully few people were aware of.
Over the years it's progressively lost it's charm and a lot of mystique, replaced by razor-wire-topped concrete structures obscuring the track, Audi-ization and hoardes of morons, who seem to have no regard for the comfort, safety or enjoyment of the people around them.
I just don't enjoy it enough to justify the expense anymore.
With regard to some of the American alternatives suggested, allow me to share my thoughts and experiences.
Daytona 24 Hours - I have a muted affection for this event, because Daytona is my local track. The Rolex 24 is seeing a bit of a resurgance of popularity as the Grand-Am series is grudgingly accepted by US race fans. The fugly prototypes are getting faster and more reliable - and the class rules ensure very close racing. The 24 has started to attract a good number of guest drivers, who's credentials are interesting - and the GT class is very entertaining.
Being early in the year, the weather can get a bit dodgy. It is often very cold at night and I've been there when it's been raining so hard that they have red-flagged the race. Daytona is an awesome facility - and the tiny crowds that the Rolex attracts (around 50,000) are dwarfed by the surroundings. There is a good hard-core of infield race fans who whoop it up, but it doesn't have the attendance or importance of Le Mans, so don't expect that kind of vibe.
Pit access is good (you can see all the action through a chainlink fence) and the sight of the pack thumping through the tri-oval is pretty emotive.
Suggestion: Rent an RV - often too cold to camp.
Indianapolis 500 - I've done the 500 about 15 times - the first one back in 1987. That event melted my mind. It was utterly stupendous and a complete stimulus overload. CART turbo-cars doing average laps at 220mph+ - an enormous amped-up crowd and an atmosphere that hit me like a train. It's still a wonderful mix of Americana and gladatorial conflict - but not quite as visceral as it was when I first attended. The night before the race, on Georgetown Road is a zoo - even a little intimidating for some, but crazy, funny and boozy.
I suggest it is one of those "must do at least once in your life" kind of events - I love it. Weather is usually fantastic - but a storm will delay/stop the race. Persistant rain means postponing until the next day, so if you base a visit around the 500, make sure you have time to use your rain-check.
Suggestion: It's not called Indian-no-place for nothing. There's not an awful lot to see/do in Indy - so maybe best to make this an add-on to a larger US visit, than a race dedicated trip.
12 Hours of Sebring - This, without doubt, is the best US motor racing experience on the calendar, in my opinion. This year was my 10th Sebring and it just never fails to deliver. 'Awesome' is an over-used word in American vernacular, but it is bang-on for this weekend.
In a nutshell, it's like Le Mans used to be. Laid-back, relaxed, friendly, fan-oriented, accessible, non-threatening, spectacular.
The crowd is big, is there for a massive party, is knowledgeable about what's going on, on the track and above all welcoming. There are some very large and well organized groups of race fans, who occupy the same real estate at the track each year and bring with them everything required to party hard. I'm talking live bands, pig roasts, all manner of eccentric vehicles (thankfully no f
king go-peds or pushbikes). It has also become a spring break destination, so there is a quite high flange quotient - but it's all good natured and sociable.The ALMS put on a good show and Sebring is used as the test-run for Le Mans by many of the top prototype and GT teams.
If you go to these races to actually see the race (in addition to drowning your synapses in alcohol) Sebring offers spectating opportunity that is long, long gone at Le Mans. The only down-sides are that the track is very flat (zero elevation changes) and the combination of tarmac and concrete is very punishing, so attrition can be high.
The race is held in mid-march, which is generally a very warm and dry period, here in FL. However, when it does rain, it tends to do so with a vengence. Like Le Mans, it's not so much fun in the rain - but at least the rain is warm.
Suggestion: Just do it - you'll thank me later.
Also consider:
The Petit Le Mans (ALMS) at Road Atlanta end of Sept - Gorgeous circuit (a bit like Brands) fun, party weekend.
Gatornationals (NHRA Drag racing) at Gainsville FL - mid March - often conflicts with Sebring - but is a spectacular event if 4000bhp+ and 0-100mph in less than 1 second is your kind of fun.
Daytona 500 (NASCAR) February - don't automatically blow this one off. It is a huge, huge event and another of those 'must-do at least once' events.
As a footnote to the OP, you need to give Le Mans more than 4 years in order to 'taste all of it's flavours', but all of the above events have something different to offer.
In terms of cost - you can spend a large chunk of money if you don't think it through. I would suggest avoiding organized tours like the plague - they don't offer anything you can't source yourself for half the money. Race tix are easy to get hold of in these tough economic times (Bristol NASCAR race being the only exception that I can think of).
My brother-in-law came over from England for Sebring this year and spent less (including his flight) than he did at Le Mans last year - and we didn't hold back on the piss-up.
If you'd like any help/thoughts/advice on the logistics of any of these events, let me know, I'd be more than happy to help, if I can.
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