moglite
Part of things
Posts: 815 
Club RR Member Number: 144
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I'm off to Le Mans on Friday
I've wanted to go for ages, and finally got my ducks in a row.
Ferry into France on Friday, and rolling up to Le Mans on Saturday Morning.
Camping on-site on Saturday night
Getting a Ferry back on Monday morning
Anyone got any do's and don'ts for surviving and having a laugh ?
Is there a funfair and freak show, like I've heard at the regular 24hr race.?
Was hoping to take my Daimler Double Six, but the AC needs serious work, and the temperature is 28-30C, so the daily driver is being pressed into service.
Thanks
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1967 Morris Oxford Traveller
1979 Toyota LandCruiser BJ40
1993 Daimler Double Six
2007 Volvo XC70 2.4D
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Will write some stuff later, but I've got a vlog that has bits of advice in it. You can also see how vast the damn thing is.
(As a side note, the vlog isn't all that great, but I think captures the atmosphere a little)
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moglite
Part of things
Posts: 815
Club RR Member Number: 144
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That was great - I wasn't expecting loads of club stands, nice bonus.
Such a variety of cars - it'll be worth the trip for all the funky Citoens alone - especially the DS Sarari in period logos.
So disappointed I'll be in a modern though.
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1967 Morris Oxford Traveller
1979 Toyota LandCruiser BJ40
1993 Daimler Double Six
2007 Volvo XC70 2.4D
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That was great - I wasn't expecting loads of club stands, nice bonus. There are literally thousands of cars there on club stands. So my advice (and keep in mind this is just my advice) Take plenty of water,... more than you think you need, to the point where you are saying to yourself "this is a ridiculous amount of water". There isn't much shade at the circuit and it will be hot. Very hot. You can get drink at the circuit but there are queues and it is expensive (as is the food, but that is a necessary evil, unless you go all packed lunchy) Know what you want to see and make sure you see it, the event is vast. For me I tend to go in early on the first day and do as much of the club area as my legs will let me. Then maybe a pop down to the paddocks if the queue isn't too mad. I then go back to where I'm staying to rest for a bit, eat a bit, cool off a bit. Return for some night racing, you can get great views from the grand stands at night. I also popped down to the pits/paddock because it was A LOT quieter. Then home for sleep, then back in the morning for some more racing and maybe a last few shots of the clubs. There is a little train thing that can make travelling around the site a lot easier, it is free you just have to keep you eye out for it. Also keep you ears out for whistles, it means cars are on their way and probably about to run you over. Oh and stump up for a paddock pass, it is MORE money on to of everything else but it is worth it. I didn't get it one year and regretted it. I'm sure there is more but that is all I can remember at the moment... |
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olduns
Part of things
Posts: 326
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All of what hotwire said.....apart from Paddock pass, long sold out and usually can't buy on day.
However all is not lost, make your way to the bottom past the paddocks and see the cars preparing to go to grid or returning off track.
Also head to the Ford Chicane area where they line up to go on track.
3rd time in 4 events for me, same cars year on year so passing on the Paddocks pass and saving 45eur and spending time walking the club stands on Bugatti circuit.
Enjoy it....water,water and more water!!
If going cross country remember speed limits have changed in France, 90ks are now 80ks unless it has central barrier and 3-4ks over will get you a pull, none of the 5mph and 10% over here.
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Last Edit: Jul 3, 2018 18:53:18 GMT by olduns
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longman
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 506
Club RR Member Number: 3
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Stick a bike in the car , its a big circuit
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Paul
98 500 SL
86 911 Carrera/sold
23 Octavia Phev
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moglite
Part of things
Posts: 815
Club RR Member Number: 144
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Great advice - thanks all.
Paddock passes have already been bought - so that is a done deal.
No room for a bike alas, as there are three of us going in a Seat Leon Coupe.
Water seems to be a theme ;-) There is a shopping trip for groceries planned to cut down on queuing.
Is there a map of the circuit/club stands/car parks available in advance?
Or is it down to buying a program when there.
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1967 Morris Oxford Traveller
1979 Toyota LandCruiser BJ40
1993 Daimler Double Six
2007 Volvo XC70 2.4D
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If going cross country remember speed limits have changed in France, 90ks are now 80ks unless it has central barrier and 3-4ks over will get you a pull, none of the 5mph and 10% over here. And the rumours about the French cops picking on English drivers are true, keeping up the tradition of the two nations hating each other... |
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And the rumours about the French cops picking on English drivers are true, keeping up the tradition of the two nations hating each other... Interesting, from my experience of driving at pace in France and I've never been pulled over. Your mileage may vary though. Oh and Rouen is very easy to get lost in. |
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And the rumours about the French cops picking on English drivers are true, keeping up the tradition of the two nations hating each other... And the rumours about the French cops picking on English drivers are true, keeping up the tradition of the two nations hating each other... Interesting, from my experience of driving at pace in France and I've never been pulled over. Your mileage may vary though. It's a few years ago now (before CLM was thought of) but the coppers were very hot between Caen and Le Mans on anyone tanking it, not just Brits, yet were remarkably laid back at the (predominantly) British antics on Mad Friday! |
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Last Edit: Jul 4, 2018 11:51:30 GMT by georgeb
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moglite
Part of things
Posts: 815
Club RR Member Number: 144
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Bl**dy Hell that was hot.
Thanks again for all the advice.
I drove like a nun, and avoided the speeding tickets.
Racing was good but hard to stand in the sun and watch.
Paddock pass was expensive, a lot of the cars in there Ive seen at UK events, so if there is a next time, I think I'd spend the money on a ticket for the stands.
That would also help with the photographs, I'm still on the ferry home but I suspect Ive got lots of photos of chain link fencing.
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1967 Morris Oxford Traveller
1979 Toyota LandCruiser BJ40
1993 Daimler Double Six
2007 Volvo XC70 2.4D
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olduns
Part of things
Posts: 326
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Bl**dy Hell that was hot. So hot I couldn't"t be bothered to walk around the Club stands which was the plan this year. OH is walking slowly disabled so got parking behind stands opposite pits, did the display areas at top then down to bottom of Paddocks. B in L knows someone in the Ancient Commisionaires, very handy! basic bar....buy 10 tickets for 20euros = 10 drinks, beer or wine. Left the OH there with her sister and used her Paddock pass. Trotted back via the Ford Chicane tunnel back to car and thought 'f*** it's to the walk back down there. I also made a faux Pas re tickets.....Friday was other events, Chateau Rivesarthe and a BBQ, so planned Sat only, went up Friday to buy....you can buy Fri and Sun only tickets not Sat so w/e ticket only..whoops! Managed to sell the tickets to someone in our village who was going Sunday so recouped 40 euros from the 110 along with not buying a Paddock pass so not quite so bad. Lasting memory will be the Sunday evening at the Rose and CROWN at Le Luxe...... Obnoxious *wa* walks out after eating inside, complaining about no Aircon and conditions going back to the slave ships and then sits on flower bed trough, curse word enough to fall over otherwise, and starts ranting about the French organisation of the Classic. Apparently they Q'd for hours to get in circuit, usual boorish thing.. didn't read tickets for which entrance to use and the heat and Q"into nearly caused his "200-300k' cat to overheat. 😀 Also the Aircon at his Hotel wasn't working either! At this point I was told by OH to go and get drinks before I bit.....turns out he also told the bar stuff to F off over all sorts of things Inc taxi costs....'i don't f'ing care how much, just get me one"..turns out they came in a minibus and it was booked to pick them up! Happy days. |
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