Club Arnage

Hi all,

Great forum, I've been getting a kick out of reading some of the threads.  I'm from Canada and will be backpacking europe on my honeymoon with my main lady...  We're going to go to the Le Mans Classic in July!  I've always loved vintage racing, and am hoping to some day race my volvo 1800s (my pa won't let me race his jag xk150S or E-type... damn)

Was hoping for some advice...  I've never been to Le Mans, and have no clue about where to stay.  I would love to camp, but would need to track down a tent.  Any suggestions?  Will I even be able to get camping tickets at this late a date?

Are there any hostels or cheap accomodations for the budget concious?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Cheers!
Andrew Y

Andrew,
I would suggest, to get a better feel for the atmosphere of the place (and be right on top of the racing) you camp.

There's a huge Carrefour hypermarket a couple of minutes bus ride in to town that has cheap camping equipment.

The Classic is not so much of a frantic, booze fueled, busy event as the main 24 Hours.  I'm sure you'll be given a hearty welcome.
My crowd will be 20 strong at this years Classic plus they'll be other CA'ers in the same camp site.

Thanks Steve...

Any idea how much a cheap cheap 1-time use tent would run me at the carrefour market?

Also...  The site lists 70E for camping.  Would that be per person, or per campsite?

Cheers

Hi Andrew

That sounds like a fantastic honeymoon and sounds like an excuse for a CA party!! 

I'd have thought you could get a cheap tent for well under 50 euros at Carrefour.  The other place to try is Decathlon (sports store) - they'll be one of these in pretty well every french town you find.   

The camping ticket is an interesting question.  The pass allows you to get one car into the campsite.  In theory there is no requirement for a pass if your on foot, although you'll need general admittance tickets for each of you to get into the campsite as it is "inside the wall". 

Maison Blanche is not marked out as pitches, it's a case of turning up and getting yourself some space and if you don't have a car then you don't need a pass! 

I'm not sure what day the campsite is open from for the Classic but it would be sensible to get down to Le Mans a couple of days before the event.  The locality is lovely, Le Mans town is a really nice place and there are lots of things that you can wander around and a really nice market to buy seafood at!   

You'll either need to buy yourself a cheap BBQ at Carrefour or you'll need to make friends on here and find one of the groups who'll share with you! 

Stick around here for the next few months and they'll be lots more info about the Classic. 

edited to say:  I second the vote for camping. It's great to be close to the action.  The other advantage is that you've got somewhere to chill out in the shade if it's as hot as it was in 2004.

Also - I'm a girl, there are a number of us who'll "do" le mans so your wife won't be completely a token female if she's worried about it being a "bloke" event.

Yes, as Piglet mentioned, of the 20 in my group, at least 3 will be of the fairer sex.

Does that mean they are proper girls or just fussy boys;D

Hey!

He he...  Thanks all...  especially piglet for the tip about the camping!  My fiance will be happy to hear there will be a few companions!  She's a great girl...  We've entered a couple classic car rallies, she drives while I navigate.  She's even agreed to drive around in a Jag XK150s on our wedding day.  Hope she doesn't mind the wind messing her hair!

Unfortunately I don't think we can get to the track before friday...  We are coming all the way from Interlaken, Switzerland that day.

Hopefully we'll be able to find a few square feet to throw a tent on the friday!


Another question...  How many of you purchase grandstand tickets?

Cheers

It's woth paying the bit extra for the Grandstands and Paddock, with the grandstand it is a roving ticket instead of a dedicated seat, so all of the fixed Grandstands are open? I believe.

Last time we used the ACO grandstand most because it has a bar/cafe' plus the best loo's.  Good place to sit when it is hot for a chill out, tv set's runiing with commentary so you shouldn't miss anything.

Someone will now post and tell me this is all Gibberish!!

I haven't booked grandstand tickets for this year but hopefully we'll have media access  ;D

It's deff. worth paying extra for Paddock access and if you're going to do this I think you've got to book by June. 

I'm not sure what the deal is with Grandstick tickets for the Classic and whether they're roaming or not. 

For the 24 hour a grandstand ticket is a lifeline and avoids you having to sit for hours in the sun to get a good view of the start/finish but for the classic as there are starts every hour it's not the same but unless you're on a budget I think it's probably worth stumping up for one if only for some shelter.

Getting there on the Friday shouldn't be a problem - you're only likely to have a small tent and I'm sure they'll be someone who can find you a corner if you struggle.

Hi Andrew,

Our lot picked up a tent last year from the Carrefour for about 25 euro (if memory serves me correctly).  That was for a two bedroom four man tent so by my reckoning a smaller one would be even cheaper.

See you in July.

D

As far as I remember at the last Classic, the grandstand seats weren't roving, you had to stay in your allocated stand, however seats themselves were not allocated.
As far as I read the application form for tickets, like the last Classic, if you apply before a certain date, Grandstands are free.
Paddock tickets are a must as far as I'm concerned.
There was still plenty of space on MB on Friday, and as far as I know you can just walk into the site with your tent, no ticket required, except for general admittance. If there was a problem I am sure that someone from CA could run out in their car and get you through into the site.

Another girlie with me for their second Classic :)

Andrew, if you would like a copy of the ticket application form which explains prices etc, PM me your email address and I'll send you a copy of it.

I knew someone would know about the grandstands.  Thanks Barry.

Not at all Peter.............that's ME.  ACO granstand tickets in 2004 came free with ACO membership passes when buying entry tickets.  I remember being with Steve Brown when he got ours.   ;)

Gibb, good to see you on the forum, any chance of visit to the sarthe' and a feel of your knee, me ole' mate!!

My dear boy..........Knees are now absolutely fine, and being felt regularly by my new lady, thak you very much.  Don't think I'm going to make the classic this year, but will definately be at the 24.  Catch me if you can :-*

where might you be camping my little matelot?

Yet again, my little cuddly person, I shall be on the most wonderous Beaucejour.  ::)

Signing off for the weekend now.  have a good one

Hi Andrew,
                 There is a Decathlon store between Tetra Rouge and the first chicane on Mulsanne straight. Drivers left. A complete camping department reasonable prices. there are some resturants close to the track if you do not want to cook and down town is well worth the bus ride. The ACO store in the infield also sells a small tent which I recall looked quite good but do not recall the price.
Which part of Canada? I am near Toronto.
Canada Phil

Phil, unfortunately the "village" is in a skip and needs to be re-built ;D Have a look on the ACO web-page many photographs showing the uplift work.

I s'pose the place will be up and running come June 8)

Hey all...
Thanks...

I'll probably be arriving in Le Mans around 5pm on the Friday...  Until what time do these stores stay open?

And Phil...   I'm from Sudbury!  Only 3hrs away...  small world.
Are you going to be at the classic?

Cheers
Andrew

Just in time for the driver's parade in Le Mans town (starts at 6 IIRC)

The stores would normally be open in the evening but seeing as it's race weekend I'm not so sure. Gilles will be able to advise...

There isn't a drivers parade for the Classic Smokie.

I believe that Carrefour is open until 8pm.

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Hi Andrew,
                 Not much racing in Sudbury ::)
as much as I would love to do the classic it will not be this year. Just Sebring and Le Mans planned so far beyond the local stufff at Mosport and Toronto Champ Car.
You said you are backpacking and plan to come from Interlaken in one day. If coming by car that is a long drive and will cost you many Euro's in tolls. Not possible without using the toll roads. You will also be missing some good parts of France. 8 1/2 hours from Le Mans to Geneva and about 60 Euro tolls (right GAB?)
Canada Phil

...that`s about right Phil, it costs even more if you don`t "forget" to buy the motorway pass for the Swiss Autobahns  ;)

I thought we were not going to mention that 8)
Canada Phil

...your right, forgot again. Guess I`ve been losing too many gray cells recently.

For "restaurants" not too far from the track you'll also have the Mc Donald whici is inside track just next to the Leroy Merlin DIY-superstore.

If yuou wish hotels or guesthouse with private garden and/or carparks call the Hotel booking agency of the ACO at 00 33 892 70 24 72 or type www.lemansreservation.com

For any other request you always have the unofficial LM Tourism office at your service  ;)

Hey...

We are riding the rails with our euro passes.  It is still a very long day on the tracks... and is unfortunate that we are passing on a lot of France.  We are in Europe for 5 weeks, so will likely be needing a bit of a change from the normal sightseeing.  Finding out about that this race can fit into our itinerary was great!

Not much racing in Sudbury :(  But I usually try to make it down to Mosport for the vintage festival in my old volvo. 

Cheers

You may find some place to see and visit in La Sarthe out of the circuit and the car museum...

... you have the Loir and Sarthe Valley, the old town of le Mans, vineyards and cellars,...

HI Andrew,
                 European train travel is great.
The TGV is  fast and very comfortable.  Not sure if the special bus is laid on from the Gare (station) to the track. Gilles? ( our man in Le Mans) will know.
Sure you can not fit in the main event as well?
Canada Phil

Another instance of Britain not quite being "Europe" - train travel in Britain is a blimmin nightmare!!  >:( >:(

My invoice includes ACO tribune seats for 4 people and Tribune Lagache for the rest.

Not sure that you will have special bus lane from TGV station. Otherwise, take the #3 bus line direction "Oasis" until the terminus. You'll arrive at the entrance of the Centre des Expositions. Just walk along the fences, and you'll arrive at general welcome of the Aco and the main gate of the circuit.

Escaping to the Classic as well as the main event this year.

I assume that there is no Radio Le Mans for the Classic, but is is it still worth taking the radio, do you get the five minutes in English every hour  on the French Radio?

If not, maybe a Classic veteran can tell me how you keep tabs on whats going on.

Cheers

Stuey

I might have been imagining it, but I think RLM was at the Classic last time. :-\ :-\

Reading Thomas the Tank Engine ?  ::)

I think it was the breakfast cider Barry.

Ah, I was imagining it, not surprising after non stop chattering about TTTE all the way from Calais. Got both the little buggers portable DVD's now, thats shut them up. ;D ;D

Jo's the only breakfast cider drinker in our family ;)

It's easier to keep tabs on what's going on as it's 24 individual 50 minute races split into I think 6 classes - so each group of cars runs 4 times (or it's 8 classes and 3 runs  ??? ) rather than a 24 hour race. 

I can't remember if there was RLM last time  ???