Club Arnage

Hi Everyone , Managed to camp on MB again for probably what will be the last time. We have been on here since it
opened in 1986. Unfortunately with the interest of Porsche with its new centre I very much
doubt that it will be available next year. Particularly since a hardcore group of residents try to do their utmost to trash the site.The ACO have already in previous years asked us to try and keep it "tidy"but we British don't seem to know what a dustbin or bin liner is! I would imagine that huge swathes of rubber on the new skid pan will do wonders to the surface! Is it really necessary to set fire to our unwanted holiday accomodation? Would we do this in the UK? Someone will have to clear all the broken glass, bottle caps, tent pegs, etc.before the test track can be used again safely.So sorry folks I think we have sucessfully managed to put the last nail in the coffin called "Camping Maisn Blanche". Anyone else got any thoughts on this.

I'm interested in what MB was like and people's views on the future. I didn't go this year (not been for a while) but we usually camp on MB. Dad went this year but stayed in one of the containers in the circuit, he wandered to MB to see the changes and reported back that it had been crucified by Porsche centre.

A group of us are looking to return to Le Mans next year and so need to know what site to book for. If MB is no more, are there any recommendations of best/worst options?

I visited MB and found it a shadow of its former self. But I had given MB up for Houx a while back.  I agree with you NWorth, I doubt that we will have access again.

Houx experience was mixed. Euro pop and classical (yes) late and loud. Houx, in contrast to Annex used to be for your quiet types like me, but it didn't seem so last week.

I want to know about the Epinnetes experience.

Aricus

We were the very last camper to leave the Maison Blanche camp site for 2105 and I have to agree with NWorth - it was a bomb site - tents, gazebos & armchairs burnt , rubbish strewn across the area that had been camped on - appears no one knew how to put it in a bag . I must say though the majority of the site was indeed cleared up , rubbish in piles if not by the bins . Unfortunately due to these few groups of people I think Porsche will say they dont want their nice new track to be trashed and the money they make back from the ACO is not enough . They will probably want to make it a campsite for Porsche owners - maybe even move the one from the Porsche curves into MB . I guess we will wait and see , as we did this year

Sorry but the party history of LM goes back to the 30's and is not ever going to be compatible with Porche's clinical vision of a "porche experience", MAISON BLANC has been sold to the Corporate buck and we are out, it is a shame that a few left the wrong impression ~ most of the CA MB hard core were on Houx this yea.

I agree that MB has been Party Central for the twenty years that I have been going but that security issues, pegged out areas and creeping corporate intervention has changed things. Most CA'ers seem to have de-camped to Blue Nord but I loved MB especially before they moved the concrete wall to the edge of the site.
I loved that fact that I could sit in my chair on the embankment next to the track and watch the race through the night, occasionally nodding off (passing out) then waking to the sound of a Corvette - who the hell can sleep through that glorious thunder? Walking to the Arnage end of the site to watch cars come through the fast right and left hand combination kept me awake whilst shivering through the night.

As I got older the ability to get some sleep became more attractive and I enjoyed the relative quiet of Tetre Rouge last year. Great site and very secure.

A lot of the character of the circuit has gone with the over-development of Le Village and the other significant areas but, the race remains and will forever be a draw to me and everyone here. I'm sure that everyone has already started planning next year's pilgrimage!

Steve

I always used to camp on houx annex (sorry if spelt wrong!) and did for years until it was removed to become a car park. I then moved to MB and loved it. Great folks, secure and right on the track so I could wake up watching the race in seconds and watch it late into the night before crawling to the tent. This year due to the ticket issues I for fitted my ticket and the guys moved to Houx. Bit of a mission to walk apparently & from memory it was!

Next year I'm undecided and tbh I think I'm going to try a year away from track. Buy a parking pass and stay at my folks 15 minutes away. We will see still undecided but this thread will help make me choose what I do

We camped on MB this year, and you can't blame all the garbage left on the Brits, although I would say some. While I tried to make sure any and all rubbish bags were in the bins, in my opinion, leaving rubbish neatly bagged on the pitch when you go is acceptable. The site itself this year was in effect, empty. Sterile of all that had been before, and although many spots had been marked out for use, obviously not sold. RIP MB, you were good

What I found unacceptable were the twats racing their cars up and down on a busy campsite on friday night, and that is something I won't be missing

Our corner of MB was left quite tidy this year (and nobody set light to the dumpster), but probably not up to Porsche standards.

The main problem was theft.  I had quite a lot of kit nicked, and its the scum that torch things.  Why does the place attract these people, and why don't the men in the vests marked "Securite" actually do security?

But where else do you go?

So......

Do I understand  correctly, on MB....(correct me if I am wrong)

There were unsold marked pitches,
Significant aritacts such as armchairs, gazebos etc were left behind.
Material including armchairs etc were set alight.
There were people racng cars around the site
There were thefts (I'd like to know more Lorry)

So, all in all, MB is NOT somewhere that I, or by the sound of it, other CAers want to stay.

However, I do hope that MB is open next year and that all the people who were responsible for these behaviours stay there, and not where I will be.  >:D

Aricus

We have been on MB for a few years until we lost our pitch to the Porche centre. Walked through it this year and thought this aint going to be here next year. It will be corporate next year.
Sad that more of the viewing bank has gone. And can't imagine Porche would have been impressed with the rubber laid all over the track and burnt areas.
Was at Terte Rouge this year and liked it, only problem was a lack of flat area for Friday cricket!

I had not been to LM for a few years until 2015, but previously camped many times on MB. This time although I wasn't there I walked through for the sake of nostalgia and could have cried. There was absolutely no element of the MB I remember and loved. It was pretty much an empty space by historic standards and I could see no spirit there at all. Never again is MB for me I am sad to say.

Seems to me that Epinettes is too much of a hike for my old bones with the need to enter the circuit through ticket barriers each time to add insult to injury. From my amblings Entree Est (is that where HA goes to?) was mainly French, the roadside of Epinettes had a large German contingent and Houx looked fairly British.

From what I can read up, Houx offers marked and numbered pitches with electric hook up for all and may (can anyone confirm?) be inside the entry gates.

Looking forward to more info on camping so come on guys.

You'd be wrong about CA's not wanting to be there, for many years MB was the site CA went to. It has had problems, and NO site is immune to thefts, rubbish/items left and twattish behaviour. I did not see things set alight, but I wasn't there the Sunday night. MB has always been tarmac'd, and for that reason, people have have spririted fun with their cars, previous years it has mostly been a bit of cruising/showing off. This year, because of the lack of campers I firmly believe the twunts were out to play.

Every campsite has it's arseholes. All anyone has to do is buy a GA ticket, and they have access to the campsite. Thefts do not have to be from those staying on the site. Security all over bugger off at 3pm on the Sunday, so you can see why 'enclosed' camps with own security are becoming popular

DFH report here, if anything our main goal always has been to be on MB for the race weekend. spend time drinking a cold one next to passing corvette's is the way we want to experience Le Mans

This year we where forced to look elsewhere due to the Porsche involvement and opted for Houx, with Neil, Martini and Steve.

positives:
good flat ground
good drainage
free electric hook-ups
warm showers in the building with acceptable que-ing all week
friendly campsite control
we saw more of other track bits than ever
good athmosphere
good friends around in former MB campers like the Gloucester boys etc
not many people passing through for the race, so relatively secure from pikies and stealing scum

negatives:
no  closeness to the track (although 10-15 mins walk is same for people on BN), and in those 15mins we are at Tertre Rouge or exit of the Dunlop, pretty good viewing there compared to MB
some campsite areas more dusty and some standing water after the showers on friday, so location is a bit variable

all in all for next year we will aim to go to Houx again

far away from camp Carnage

You are missing one of the best sites if you ignore BN, and Camp C'Arnage.

+'s

5/6 minutes flat walk to the entry gate.
Security patrolling well into Sunday night and gate still manned 9 o'clock Monday morning.
Camping in large group discourages thieves, there's always some one around, it's to risky so they go elsewhere.
One instance of a mobile phone theft that I heard about at other end of the site, but probably lost while pissed.
Except for Friday night not that noisy, and at least you don't get techno pap, OAP's in caravans camping next to us for the fourth year running without any complaints.
Company of a large amount of CAer's.
Good mix of people, Brits, Dutch, French, Czech, a few Germans, but we know them!
Very easy to get in and out of, especially Friday and Sunday night

-'s

Could do with more showers and bogs, but not to bad if you pick your times.
Catches the wind, Tuesday putting up tent in 40mph gusting 50 was a challenge.
Can be dusty if dry.
You have to ignore the helicopters during race times, bit Apocalypse Now at times.
Lot of glass and nails around pitches after the Moto 24, but easily cleared, just avoid the burnt patches.

Perfect summary Barry. AFAIAC MB died as a viable site in 2008 when the first major changes occurred. They ripped the heart and soul out of the place. Other than being right by the track, I have no idea why people have persisted with it. I used to be a huge fan of HA, but BN is our home now and has many advantages, not least that you can be in MB in about a three minute walk.

Ditto +1 for BN, we've been there for about the last 7 or 8 years after Karting Nord disappeared, and have seen the emascualtion of MB since.  Plus relatively easy/quick access to Arnage corner and village and elsewhere from there.

MG Mark

I fear BN will be taken over by 1st tickets or what ever their name is.( Stalag Luft III) which grows larger every year. Dividing the site . While we have been very happy with our spots for the last few years the Liverpool Boys among others did not get what they wanted (ie 10 spots together).
Phil

How times change!!!

I remember back in the day when I was the only CAer on BN and no-one else rated it at all!  Glad to see that where I lead others will follow......eventually.

 ;D

I didn't think that Stalag Luft III looked any bigger than last year, or the year before that.

Can anyone help me understand what the compound was or offered?

It looked to me to be a site within a site. Presumably this offered added security, I guess with its own facilities.

Aricus

Its a secure compound, with security, its own bogs and showers, and a Marquee with a bar and big TV.  Probably a bit more

So if you want to travel light, don't want to clean vomit off your new Porsche, have stuff nicked or worry about where the next cold one's coming from, its appealing.  I hate to use the word, but its almost glamping.

As long as you are a sardine. Have you seen how many they cram in there?

I agree with Barry, the FT/PH compound (we called it Stalagluft Pistandbroke) wasn't any bigger than two years ago and this time they actually allowed for a path round it at the bottom end as well as along the road

Made it better overall, that did

It would be good if TL managed to get us camping on the eastern side but it really wasnt too bad over there on the western bloc and we Messy Houx Annexers were not too badly served

We had both blocks of bogs/showers on OUR side this time  ;)

I never understood why the compound hasn't been swung around 90 deg so that it backs on the the airport fence with the bogs / showers across the front, it would be so much better for all. I got 3 really good showers hot with good pressure, but it was at 5.45am  and no other idiots were up a that time, this is cos that's what time my body demanded I get up, then back for a couple of hours of relax and kip until the rest of the chaps woke up!

Morning all!

Having stayed with the others on BN this year, as we have for a number of years, it was a good crowd to be with/around.
Showers on BN weren't that bad this year - but they DO need to provide more showers and bogs. I did have to queue on Sat morning for the shower, but that was only due to Fri night's excesses. Water was hot and a good pressure.
(I didn't bother treckign to the track to use the - surprisingly reduced - facilities in the ACO building)

Pity those of us who've stayed on Beausejour. The ratio of showers/toilet blocks to the number of campers is unhealthily low.