Club Arnage

According to the ACO there is no plan of the pitches that they can send to us....I'm not sure if that surprises me or not!   

I've seen reference in other places to the agencies selling "luxury trackside pitches" which I imagine means that yet again we've been stiffed over the agencies and we'll all be downgraded to the back of the site - probably in the big grass section at the end of the campsite?

I'm awaiting tickets so I'm not sure whether they are numbered and what the numbers are.

Has anyone got tickets in their sticky hands or have any more info on layout? 

Map removed by request

Ade

Cheers AJ that's really useful, I'll enquire about pitch numbers.   I wonder why the ACO told me that there wasn't a map  ???

That map also is wrong, where it says trackside it is probably road side. The pitches we got allocated are not even on this map, so clearly it cannot be trusted. I guess we will have to wait and see what comes up in the end.

Been speaking to Paddy about this.

A couple of people I have spoken to ahve bought the large pitches from agencies and they have definatley been sold them on teh basis that they are trackside.

It makes sense as it looks like they've lined them up ready to receive motor homes like at Turn 1 in Sebring.

Of course there are maps, it's just that the ACO are telling all the agents (and public) they are confidential. I spent an hour on the phone to them yesterday trying to find out where I am in KN and was told they can't send the map as it is 'confidential'. the best I gould get was that "you are 4 rows from the track" - I have no idea why all the secrecy is abound .... ::)  ???

...and doesn't that just fill you with confidence for what you're going to find when you get there?!  ???    No doubt the favoured technique for unusable pitches, will be lots of shoulder shrugging. 

I'm quite glad this is our last year, I can't really be bothered with it all.  I just want to be able to book tickets (without getting screwed by an agent), know what I'm getting and have some certainty that what I've been sold will exist on the ground when I arrive. 

Will the pitches be allocated for the Classic or is it a free for all?
 It will be my first time on MB so keep it nice and tidy you lot!

I'm not sure we'll know until we get the tickets, which will be posted once all the 24 hours ones have gone out.

I'm hoping that as there haven't been any space problems for previous Classics they won't want to be bothered with repainting lines in the grass and relaying the pitches. 

As Deb says we'll have to wait for the tickets though to be sure. 

Well if that is true and the map on beermountain is correct, it would mean we are going to be left at the entrance, were before nobody was pitched, plus it is all concrete there, if that is true, we are royally fcuked, and it will definately be my last time I ever set foot on ACO grounds, f**k Le Mans, Sebring rules.

I got the impression that all the pitches this year were in the part of MB beyond the new mini-circuit, and that the circuit part was not camping space, hence the reduction in numbers.  My suspicion is that the reason the ACO won't publish a map is because they really don't know exactly how the pitches will work themselves.  Hopefully I'll be able to have a proper nose around next weekend.

I have the same feeling Deb, we won't know how the situation will be untill they start painting the lines!! French and the word preparation are rarely found in the same sentence.

Whatever happened to the 6 P's??

I remember a few years back they came round with the paint on about the Tuesday or Wednesday, and wanted us to move stuff for them to paint around...  ::)

Yeah, right...

Still find that hard to believe. If you are still right, then I agree with Knetter. Hell, already booked my ticket for Sebring '09! ;D


[edited as per request from mr Toad]

LOL of course now MB is a circuit in it's own right (the gate says MB Circuit) - I suppose lots of the pitches are trackside - I bet they don't say by the side of which track!  ;D

Yes, I have a feeling that it's all going to be way too much hassle as well .....  >:(

Sorry to have had to ask for the maps to be removed from public view - the issue is a bit sensitive, but hope this will be resolved before too long - after all the ACO should be letting all know about this! Clearly its going to be much clearer in 2 weeks time!

Back in my box, and I wish you all a positive outcome on where you end up.

Have you had a prod from the ACO Mr T?

I'm sooooo looking forward to the delights of MB in two weeks time... ::)   It fills me with confidence that they don't want us to know where we are!   They've sold numbered pitches so one would hope that they know where the pitches will be.

I'm with you Piglet...but as a result of the "cold war" have to respect the confidence of our secret agents..

Not long now till we get to see th reality of it all!

Fingers cossed

T

I'll bet you that we turn up on monday, no numbers on the campground whatsoever, we take our usual spot and then they start numbering pitches ::)

Anyone with any experience with "Houx"?

That's been a numbered site for years. Are they ready by Monday morning or is it a bit of a debacle until midweek?

Alphonse :  is that the guy in the Withe mini Toyota ??



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I was on Houx a few years ago (2004?) and it was fine (well other than the tree on the pitch!), they have a permanent set up so AFAIK pitch numbers stay the same and they just do the same thing each year.

I imagine the problem with MB is that when they started selling the pitches the site was still a work in progress so they've guessed the layout to some extent. 

If it all goes it's normal way, on Monday/Tuesday they'll be laying down the law with a heavy foot and by Wednesday when we arrive they'll have given up and it will be a free for all!  By the time the later comers arrive on Friday all the marked pitches will be full and they'll be shoe-horning people in to whatever gaps they can find (note to self fill pitches fully....)

We may have an additional problem, a nice lady drove into the back of my Saab this morning  ::)  As I have a fairly substantial tow bar so she did considerably more obvious damage to her car but I've got to take mine in later to see if the impact has warped the boot floor!  If it has we may be stuffed for LM as we won't have a vehicle to tow with.  Fingers crossed...

Of course, I realise that you have got luxury camping down to a fine art, but am happy to supply anything you aren't able to tow, if the car's badly damaged.  Blimey, you do have all the luck!

Thanks Deb, I might well take you up on that, we're camping with Simon and Rachel in their palatial motorhome (don't call it a camper van!) so I guess we'd not need much anyway.   

I'm taking the car up this afternoon for them to look at, fingers crossed good old Sven may have seen off the shiny new Honda Jazz, that looked slightly more second hand after she'd pulled the towbar cover out of her bumper! 

There are days when towbars have more uses than just pulling trailers!  Years ago I had an old Austin Agro (which was given to me for nothing, I hastily add!) which had a tow bar and a similar thing happened to me.  The idiot bloke who drove into me couldn't even move his vehicle and there was no damage at all to mine. ;D  Hope it's the same for you.

More importantly Anita, are you OK??

Cars can be repaired or replaced!

Towbars are quite effective!  Someone nicked the cover of mine last week so KK had stuck an old tennis ball on it to avoid us walking into the greasy bit - she had to remove it from in her bumper! 

Thanks JP, I've had an ongoing neck problem for the last couple of years, it has been fine for the last month or so, it was a bit problematic first thing (before the accident) and is a bit painful now so I'm off to see the Chiropractor at 2, I can't really tell if this is the same old problem or if it's down to the impact. 

Typically my colleague is on holiday this week so time off is a bit tricky - I could just do with a week home with daytime TV and icepack! 

Firstly, hope you are OK - may be worth getting yourself checked as well as the Saab! Secondly, get onto her insurance company immediately - they have an obligation to provide you with a vehicle if yours is damaged and off the road, and that includes one with a tow-bar. They will of course put up a fight and offer you a Corsa (that they get free from the repairing garage) but you need to immediately reject this and tell them you want like for like - I had a girl drive into the back of my Volvo the other month and exactly the same - got offered the freebie from the garage and rejected it and a brand new Saab 9-3 estate arrived the next day .... Claim what you're entitled to and DON'T let something as silly as this ruin your week  ;D

Doh! you must have replied while I was typing!

Totally agree,

sounds like you need a stiff drink,

Thanks guys, you're all so nice!   Fingers crossed Sven will be OK and there won't be a problem.  Chappy at the garage reckoned that more likely than not it will be fine as it's a pretty substantial construction!  I can't get out there until after I've been to the Chiro so I'll know later.

I'll update later. 

I'm sure that any twinges are new and that a substantial claim for compensation is in order that will cover the cost of yourself and KK getting out to Sebring in March 2009!!   ;)

Do you know a good lawyer?  ;D ;D ;D

 ;D ;D  I don't know how you could suggest that JP  ;D

Well to continue my hijacking of my own thread  ;D

Sven the Saab has fared better than me!   The bike rack that is bolted to the tow bar is bent and will need to be replaced but other than that Sven is entirely fine, no creasing of the boot, no damage to the bumper, nothing.  I knew I bought a Saab for a reason.  I can highly recommend having a tow bar as well!

I on the other hand have whiplash (I can't help but think of Max Mosely when using that word!  ;D), only a 1 on a scale of 0 to 3 but my cheerful Chiro tells me I should expect it to get worse over the next 24 to 48 hours!   

I am organising the cobra club trip to this years classic and the ACO have told me that the site will be zoned but not numbered.
All I need from them now is where they are planning to put 70 of us !!!!!!
SO in answer to your question if what the ACO say is correct then its a free for all in the zone you get allocated. If that makes sense.
To be honest in previous years at the classic it hasnt mattered as there has been plenty of space, however I am led to believe that this years event is going to be much better attended, by about another 30,000 so they say, MB, KN are both full and they are apparently allocating BJ for the latecomers. HA is reserved for the Triumph owners club.

Sue, Sue, Sue, Sue!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  ;D

Sebring here we come!!  ;)

LOL!  We won't make 2009 whatever, we have a house move planned for then.  Fingers crossed for 2010  ;D

Andy, unlike the Classic, June's 24 Hours will have numbered pitches in MB (and Bleu Nord for that matter).  The major part of people's concerns this year is to how this will be marked out / policed.
Last year, when it was just zoned, the ACO's security made a rather spirited attempt to enforce the zoning from about Monday to Wednesday but kind of lost interest as the site filled up.

Why aren't you pussies coming down for the real Le Mans 24 hours rather than that garden party in July?  ;D

I rather like tea parties!
 Seriously- would love to do both but I've a house to do up and we are renting at the moment which with the mortgage on top is costing a fortune. Need to get it finished before end of month and get in.  Tis a shame as 4 VIP tickets and invitations for Aston martin's hospitality landed on my doorstep on Tues from my friends at Gulf. Bugger!

Make sure you post a link to the eBay auction on here then Si  ;D

Actually Mark i'm going to mail the gaffer at Gulf to see if its alright to put a pair in the CA / DfH charity auction. Could you PM me some details on the charities we are supporting, links etc and I'll get on the case. I also owe you a few bob for a T shirt if my memory serves me well so include your PP address too matey.
 S

I guess this pales into insignificance against bent cars (sorry to read that), but...

I've just received notification from the UK ticket agency that the ACO have informed them that the MB layout is somewhat squiffy.  Specifically, the trackside pitches are, indeed, as far from trackside as can be.  As a "proud owner" of one... disappointment is an understatement...  :(

But on the positive side you do have a good solid barrier behind you ( the wall ) this adds greatly to the security of your pitch.

Interesting.  Is the wall in between me and the road?  Do you know how high it is?

I guess I should really just wait until I get out there and see for myself, but the anticipation is too much...  ;D

I'd say 12 feet, with barbed wire on top ;) No way out untill after the race ;D

Which means our pitches are on the back, trackside. ;D

From epic views of racing to lashings of barbed wire in one fell swoop...  hmph.

LangTall -  ;D - enjoy!  It did occur to me that for every person that's disappointed about the switch, there'll be someone who's just had their day made with the unexpected "upgrade"...  :)

The strip looks much modified too - not sure how the views will be, but fingers crossed!

To be honest, we did expect this "upgrade", as we layered the map that was somewhere on the internet to find over the satellite foto. The straight line of "trackside" matched perfectly with the road, but absolutly not with any part of the track!

Rich, I'm really sorry for you, that's a real bummer.    :(

I had come to the conclusion that the Dutchies were indeed correct and the track was shown on the wrong side of the layout plan.

I think we're pretty well at the back of the site as well, having thought that we were near to the front but at least we haven't paid extra for the privilege!

Still, who knows what it will look like when we get there!

I did not make sense at all to me that the big pitches would be trackside to begin with! Their just isn't enough space between the 24 hour track and the maison blanche track. If you look at it really, everybody is trackside, just not the right one.
We'll see tomorrow how they will enforce it though, not getting my hopes up yet!

First come,       first serve.


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