Access to Circuit - Children

[spdpug98]

Will be sorting my booking tomorrow, but following on from my earlier thread I will be taking my 4 year old with me next year and was wondering if they get free access to the circuit or whether I need to purchase a GA ticket

I wil be staying on Houx and know that you need a GA ticket just to access the site and don’t want to arrive and them not let him in…………or maybe that could be a good thing

Edited by spdpug98 on Sunday 10th October 20:08

[SEE YA]

Hello, kids go free into the track. You will however have to pay for grandstand seats if you want them.

Edited by SEE YA on Sunday 10th October 20:27

[spdpug98]

SEE YA said:

Hello, kids go free into the track. You will however have to pay for grandstand seats if you want them.

Edited by SEE YA on Sunday 10th October 20:27

Thanks, I was going to go for a grandstand (I usually have a seat in ACO stand) but after going to the LMS @ Silverstone I have decided to try it without.....possibly a major mistake but will have to wait and see

[SEE YA]

I have been there, three times with my son now aged 8.

[Rs2oo]

spdpug98 said:

just to access the site and don’t want to arrive and them not let him in…………or maybe that could be a good thing

You said it !

[davidd]

SEE YA said:

I have been there, three times with my son now aged 8.

So have I (with my son 8, not yours!)

[spikep]

Have booked for next year. It will be my sons 4th time (age 13), but he now has an exam on Monday.
WHAT DO I DO?
A, Leave early Sunday (normally leave Monday)
B, Go without Him
C, Take my daughter for the first time (better half not happy about this option)

If option C how do I put this forward in the argument?

Spike
(In 2 x TVR 3000M and BMW on Houx)

[spdpug98]

spikep said:

WHAT DO I DO?
A, Leave early Sunday (normally leave Monday)

I have gone for option A, I will be on the 11.30pm ferry from Caen. This means I can watch the end of the race and spend a couple of hours in the campsite waiting for everyone else to leave, then hit the road to arrive at Caen for 10.30ish

A few beers in the bar then get some sleep in the Cabin

(Also on Houx - Merc C220)

Edited by spdpug98 on Wednesday 13th October 09:13

[Printertosh]

I went in 2009 with my wife, 5 year old and 1 year old. It was an experience but at least I made it there unlike the previous year as he was born on the 9th June! Reverted back to mates only in 2010!

[Rs2oo]

Printertosh said:

Reverted back to mates only in 2010!

Now you're getting it ! I couldn't think of anything worse than taking a young child to Le Man, Lego-Land yes, Le Man NO !

[SEE YA]

Each to there own. I could not think of anything worse, than drinking and smoking.

However many people do there call.

[Rs2oo]

SEE YA said:

Each to there own. I could not think of anything worse, than drinking and smoking.

However many people do there call.

Agree ! Moderation is key and im a non-smoker. I wouldn't take kids there because its just too packed these days and the campsites certainly aren't child friendly. I would take them at perhaps aged 14-15 plus with the right group, when they actually know whats going on unlike a 4 year old who doesn't even know what day of the week it is. Theres a time and a place for children and personally, I dont think Le Mans is the right place. Hope people who do take their children enjoy it though !

[SEE YA]

I went with the PCGB a nice camp site. Which was safe and security was there as well.

We were safe and so was my car.

[davidd]

Rs2oo said:

SEE YA said:

Each to there own. I could not think of anything worse, than drinking and smoking.

However many people do there call.

Agree ! Moderation is key and im a non-smoker. I wouldn't take kids there because its just too packed these days and the campsites certainly aren't child friendly. I would take them at perhaps aged 14-15 plus with the right group, when they actually know whats going on unlike a 4 year old who doesn't even know what day of the week it is. Theres a time and a place for children and personally, I dont think Le Mans is the right place. Hope people who do take their children enjoy it though !

My soon was 5 when he first went, he is an absolute car/ le mans anorak I bet his knowledge is better than at least 50% of the other race goers...

I take your point though, they have to be with the right group of people. There were 4 7 year olds in our group last year they loved it...

D

[Gingerbread Man]

So you've swapped the Father in law for the son hey? I wonder who will stay awake for more of the race! Good to see that you are still going down, and getting the son hooked on Le Mans early on.

Oh, forgot to ask....Will he have a bike to go down the Mulsanne on the Friday?

Edited by Gingerbread Man on Saturday 18th December 01:04

[spdpug98]

Gingerbread Man said:

So you've swapped the Father in law for the son hey? I wonder who will stay awake for more of the race! Good to see that you are still going down, and getting the son hooked on Le Mans early on.

Oh, forgot to ask....Will he have a bike to go down the Mulsanne on the Friday?

Edited by Gingerbread Man on Saturday 18th December 01:04

I think Harry will stay awake much longer than Mike did!! He just won't be drinking

He should be OK as he has already been to a couple of the Silverstone Le Mans Series races and he comes with me when i'm racing, so he is used to cr@p cooking and being away racing

No bikes this year as I will be taking the car instead of the camper van, so will have transport to get around

[Printertosh]

Had no problem with taking the 1 and 5 year olds. We were in a motorhome inside the circuit so didn't have to fight our way through the water guns, crazy drivers and general non kid friendly areas. Which is why I reverted back to mates so I didn't have to avoid those areas which in moderation can add to the weekend!

[Rude-boy]

Kids and Le Mans only mix well if they are genuinely well behaved and understand that they are in a very different World to Disney Land. This is a World of people of all guises from the drugged up boozed up ejit to the anorak who has the same seat every year in the ACO grandstand on the start and stays there for the whole 24 hours, as well as every practice and qually.

There are also some not very nice people about (just like you'll find at any such event) who will not think twice about snatching his wallet out his hand etc.

For the benefit of your fellow campers no one will notice the noise (if any) they make much nor care. They will get stroppy about kids running through and around their camp and cars though and it is far better you keep a handle on them than that someone sets up a trip rope as I have seen before...

Last year there were a couple of British kids who were ambushing cars with water pistols on the road through Houx. It didn't end well for them either iirc.

Treated with the caution and respect it deserves it will be one of the best lessons in growing up your kid could ever have. If you think they are ready for it then great, if you have any doubts though pass him the Sky remote and tell him you'll bring him a programme back...

As for grandstand seats - I wouldn't bother except as a change once every 5-10 years. You'll not want for a good spot to watch all but the start and for that you just need to accept that leaving camp with your chairs, cooler and so on at 2pm is about 2-3 hours too late for the top spots. If your group is any more that 2-3 you need to be where you want to be by 12 at the latest really to make sure you get the best place to park your arse for the next 4-5 hours +.

[spdpug98]

Rude-boy said:

As for grandstand seats - I wouldn't bother except as a change once every 5-10 years. You'll not want for a good spot to watch all but the start and for that you just need to accept that leaving camp with your chairs, cooler and so on at 2pm is about 2-3 hours too late for the top spots. If your group is any more that 2-3 you need to be where you want to be by 12 at the latest really to make sure you get the best place to park your arse for the next 4-5 hours +.

I have decided to go for grandstand seats after all, I usually have seats in the ACO stand but due to having to pay full price for him, I had decided against it.

However, on reflection I have decided to get a couple of seats as there is no way I would expect him to sit down at 11/12.00 o'clock at the edge of the track and then stay there until 4/4.30pm (as I wouldn't myself). I can then have a base for us to go to and from during the race and it also has decent toilets and showers, I can just imagine his face if I took him to one of the 'squat bogs' in Houx

[Rude-boy]

Good call with a child on their first trip. You can also always us it as an emergency 'lost in the crowds' place to meet that isn't the extra mile back to camp.

As for the Jean-Claude’s, perfectly good for number 1 but after considering the logistics once after a particularly violent burger I still clenched and waddled the 300 yards to those more suited to reflection.

One other thing i have found over the years is that whilst radios are good for inter car banter on the way around the place they are absolutely no substitute for mobiles and so i would strongly advise that you make sure he has a cheap one in his back pack or pocket.

When you get there this will all seem a little over the top until you have tried to cross teh Dunlop Bridge between 12 and 4 on race day and then you will know the true meaning of crowding, sort of reminds you for those pictures of the Hajj you see once they reach Mecca, except with less beaerds and a different type of religious fever.