RE: Le Mans Friday Service 2018

RE: Le Mans Friday Service 2018

Tuesday 15th May 2018

Le Mans Friday Service 2018

Join us at the Classic British Welcome to kick off your Le Mans weekend the right way!



The countdown is well and truly underway for our annual cross-channel pilgrimage, and it's already looking like it's going to be another great year! As usual we'll be hosting our Friday Service to kick the weekend off right, here's what you need to know to join us.

On Friday June 15th we'll be back at the Classic British Welcome at the Val-de-Vray centre in Saint-Saturnin. The CBW, if you haven't been before, is an amazing little festival where we'll be joined by over 1,000 classic and sports cars - it really is the perfect way to get you in the mood for the weekend of racing ahead.


Each year the CBW features a celebrated manufacturer to focus the even around, and this year it is PH fan favourite, BMW - so if you have something extra special you're planning on bringing be sure to get in contact to get a little more involved in the day. There will also be the Saint-Sat' Cavalcade at 4pm, led by open tourers to the 24 Hours Drivers' Parade in Le Mans town centre. Of course, the weekend isn't just about the cars, as the amazing atmosphere also plays a big part drawing the crowds that the CBW does year after year. To that end there will also be live music, bars, restaurants, a cinema and paintings all based on the Le Mans 24 Hours. Oh, and none other than the legendary Jan Lammers will be the VIP guest on the day!

This year we again have space for 200 cars in our area - and as usual there is a fairly strict entrance criteria for our space; only sports cars or classic cars, no SUVs or other 'ordinary' cars can be let in unfortunately. If you are unsure on whether your car meets the CBW's criteria, then email info@classicbw.org and they will let you know. There will also be a shuttle bus for a park and ride off site; the site is not yet finalised, but we will update you here when we know more and have a map to share. So get yourself signed up to our calendar here, and check out the CBW's website here for any more info you might need!

 

 

Author
Discussion

Jack Mansfield

Original Poster:

3,256 posts

89 months

PH TEAM

Wednesday 16th May 2018
quotequote all
Hi all - for those that wanted to check out the event information posters CBW have created, please see below smile


Jack Mansfield

Original Poster:

3,256 posts

89 months

PH TEAM

Wednesday 16th May 2018
quotequote all

Jack Mansfield

Original Poster:

3,256 posts

89 months

PH TEAM

Wednesday 16th May 2018
quotequote all

MCSV8

880 posts

262 months

Wednesday 16th May 2018
quotequote all
This is a great event, but I have avoided attending for the last few of years due to the TERRIBLE traffic management when attempting to leave. Have there been any improvements ?

MrC986

3,481 posts

190 months

Wednesday 16th May 2018
quotequote all
MCSV8 said:
This is a great event, but I have avoided attending for the last few of years due to the TERRIBLE traffic management when attempting to leave. Have there been any improvements ?
I've been going for the last few years and we get there earlyish and leave before midday and we've now had real problems getting out to head back to the camp site.

BenLowden

5,967 posts

176 months

PH Marketing Bloke

Wednesday 16th May 2018
quotequote all
MCSV8 said:
This is a great event, but I have avoided attending for the last few of years due to the TERRIBLE traffic management when attempting to leave. Have there been any improvements ?
It was pretty bad three years ago but it has been much better the last two years, especially last year when it was the busiest I've ever seen it. We generally leave around 12/12:30 and don't have any big issues getting out.

surveyor

17,766 posts

183 months

Wednesday 16th May 2018
quotequote all
What do they mean as usual? In previous years PH members with pretty much anything have been able to attend.... That was the whole point of the separate area....

tankplanker

2,479 posts

278 months

Thursday 17th May 2018
quotequote all
I can't be arsed with the traffic to drive to this, is it simple to get a bus or tram to this?

JT3K

314 posts

129 months

Thursday 17th May 2018
quotequote all
Got a fairly low-production-numbers combo BM and never been, but I hear horror stories about getting in and getting out. Is it that bad?

davidd

6,443 posts

283 months

Thursday 17th May 2018
quotequote all
JT3K said:
Got a fairly low-production-numbers combo BM and never been, but I hear horror stories about getting in and getting out. Is it that bad?
Last year was fine, we went from 10 till 12 ish

daveinlemans

51 posts

131 months

Thursday 17th May 2018
quotequote all
Hi Everyone,
First of all, thank you to Jack and the PH team for selecting our venue for the fourth time.
Our advice for coming to the event is to arrive before 10 am on Friday as the bulk of the traffic problem is after around 10.30am.
We try every year to improve the flow of traffic but we have limited options available to us.
We have tried to improve the signage for cars leaving and I will request a review of this again at the next meeting.

Last year we tried a FREE Park and Ride and we will do the same as last year with 4 mini buses that will be provided by one of our sponsors. It did improve the traffic flow in, and I take on board the comments about departure from the site.
I will post the location and a map once the PARK & RIDE has been finalised.

The idea of PH having their own area is so that, at the request of PH, you can all be together. Unfortunately it is not so that you can get onto the site with a non sport or classic car. This leads to lots of complaints from those who get refused access because of an inconsistency.
You can't please all of the people all of the time !!

Remember this is a completely FREE event, free entry and parking, with free live music, free cinema and free exhibition. It is organised by volunteers and on the day there are around 130 people from the local community who give their time to help everyone visiting.
We really look forward to seeing you guys at St Saturnin and I have already had messages from some of you telling me the fantastic cars you are bringing. There are still a few places available in our Cavalcade that leaves the site at 4pm for a 45 min tour of the local villages.
Please email info@classicbw.org if you want to participate or if you have any questions about the event.
The guys from TEAM BRIT will be at the event (who are racing in the Aston Martin race on the Saturday morning, as well as other drivers from that race and hopefully the 24hrs as well.
We hope you all have a safe trip down to Le Mans in June and hope to see as many of you as possible at St Saturnin of course!
Dave Williams
Vice President
Classic British Welcome
www.classicbw.org

RickRob

83 posts

112 months

Thursday 17th May 2018
quotequote all
I went last year. Got there at about 09:30am and proabably queued for 10 minutes to get in. I think we left at around 2:30pm and left with no delays at all. Bear in mind that this was in perfect weather - dry, sunny and hot - so I guess it was even busier than usual.

And we had a great time (and I have an eligible car! smile )

daveinlemans

51 posts

131 months

Wednesday 23rd May 2018
quotequote all
To everyone who is planning on coming to the Classic British Welcome in St Saturnin (72650), here is a map of getting in and getting out.
There are two options when you get to the first roundabout at La Milesse as you will see from the RED arrows.
Our advice is always to arrive before 10 am or after 12.00.
We hope to see you at the event on Friday 15th June
Dave Williams
Vice President
Classic British Welcome

B.J.W

5,782 posts

214 months

Monday 28th May 2018
quotequote all
We've been going to the GBW for a good few years. Aside from a glass of wine or 5 at Arnage on Thursday evening, this is the perfect start to the Le Mans weekend. We've never had any issues leaving the event. We get there for 9am and aim to leave just before lunchtime. Accept that there will be a little bit if of a delay and you will have a great time if you have never been before.

B.J.W

5,782 posts

214 months

Monday 28th May 2018
quotequote all
Will there be the downloadable PH smileys to put in the cars to get entry?

MrC986

3,481 posts

190 months

Monday 28th May 2018
quotequote all
I think that in the past few years they've emailed the PH smiley before Wednesday (as I travel on a Wednesday night) as I've normally been able to print mine off before I set off.

Jack Mansfield

Original Poster:

3,256 posts

89 months

PH TEAM

Tuesday 29th May 2018
quotequote all
MrC986 said:
I think that in the past few years they've emailed the PH smiley before Wednesday (as I travel on a Wednesday night) as I've normally been able to print mine off before I set off.
This is correct! I'll probably send it the Friday before (8th June) just to be safe and give everyone plenty of time, plus another email for any last minute sign ups.

zippyprorider

732 posts

205 months

Wednesday 30th May 2018
quotequote all
I’ll be honest I preferred the stand alone event at the circuit, so you could do British welcome in the morning and the piston heads meet lunchtime/ afternoon and then back to the campsite.

morgs_

1,663 posts

186 months

Monday 4th June 2018
quotequote all
Hi Jack, I'm going with a couple of non PH drivers to LeMans. I notice there are only circa 60 people signed up currently for this SS. Provided they meet the criteria car wise, is it okay for them to join the PH section?

turbo-ww

1,766 posts

215 months

Tuesday 5th June 2018
quotequote all
They have been a victim of their own success.
I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole until something changes as the traffic is dreadful.....