Messages

1

General Discussion / Re: Club Arnage meeting at the Le Mans Classic?

« on: July 06, 2016, 01:27:05 pm »

Count me in! Coming down tomorrow and again staying until Monday in the HotelF1 in Arnage... 1st time at the Classic, so I'm a bit excited!  

I'm probably quite recognisable...  I have a wheelchair with an electric bike attachment on the front!

Or - if I can find out how to get permission to use one of the disabled spaces behind the main stands... a phone call to the ACO Billeterie just drew a blank ("You could show your badge and ask at the entrance!") so I'm about to email them! - I may bring my car down to the circuit. Look out for a red '83 928S with a Blue Badge & hand controls.  

Cheers & beers!

Colin C.

2

General Discussion / Re: Club Arnage Guide 2015 is ready for download

« on: June 11, 2015, 04:01:15 pm »

Donated via PayPal, then downloaded! Wish I'd had time to download & read it before I left...looks really useful!

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General Discussion / Re: 24H in a wheelchair! Advice on local transport...

« on: June 08, 2015, 08:30:18 pm »

So... the deed is done! Leave request approved, hotel reservation confirmation received, "Chunnel" booking made! :-)

Taking the 5.50am train from Folkstone on Thursday morning, so should arrive by lunchtime! :-) In time, I see, for the Legends & main qualifying sessions!  Staying in the Hotel F1 Arnage Sud... I'm sure I'll meet at least some other GA members there and/or at the circuit! Was going to say "I'll bump into you" but hopefully not literally... Look out for "The Flying Scotsman" (sic) in a wheelchair with an electric bike attachment on the front! ;-)

BTW: If I can help any CAers while in Le Mans, and thereby repay some of my debt to the group, I'd be happy to do so... For my sins, I studied French and use it very regularly, so if you're get into trouble, lack the lingo & need a hand, please do ask!

See you on Thursday! Can't wait...! :-)

Cheers!

Colin

4

General Discussion / Re: 24H in a wheelchair! Advice on local transport...

« on: June 07, 2015, 11:33:17 am »

So, it looks like I'm going to be losing my  Le Mans virginity next week!

And - thanks to a fellow CA member  - staying not in Laval, but in an F1 hotel in Le Mans about 0.5 miles from the circuit... even got a wheelchair accessible room! :-)

"Excited" doesn't even begin to cover it...! :-) Hope to meet a few of you at the circuit... How does one recognise anotger CAer? Is there a secret wave...?! ;-)  Or any other distinguishing characteristics?! ;-)

5

General Discussion / Re: 24H in a wheelchair! Advice on local transport...

« on: June 04, 2015, 04:10:13 pm »

Hi easyrider64, and welcome to the CA forum. Cannot comment at all on the wheelchair access to trams etc. but can comment on the traffic in and out of the circuit approaching from the Laval direction. Until the last couple of years we used to stay that way (Evron-Mezangers) and commuted in to the circuit daily, using the D357 or the A81/A11, joining the D338 ring road near the university. Over 19 years we have rarely found the traffic to be that bad at all. There will of course be some queuing for whichever parking area you are destined for, and even then, as others have said only for Thursday night qualifying (when the locals come out in force) and on the Saturday itself when of course an early start is advisable. I reckon we have never queued for a car park for longer than 20 minutes going in on the Saturday am, arriving at the circuit around 09:30am.  Getting out a different matter, but wait an hour and a half or so post race, and most of it melts away. The LM authorities seem to make a much better job of managing it than some other major circuits I can think of.

Whatever you do have a great time, it won't be your last :-)

Pete B.

Hi Pete

Thanks for your reply. 

So, if I read this correctly, you're suggesting that it might be possible (better!) to drive to the circuit and get a blue badge space in one of the car parks there? I'm very familiar with the traffic in and out of Silvo at major events like F1, MotoGP etc... generally I leave home at about 5am to get there for opening time, and enjoy a leisurely breakfast before the track action starts!

Cheers!

Colin

6

General Discussion / Re: 24H in a wheelchair! Advice on local transport...

« on: June 04, 2015, 04:07:20 pm »

Hi Dean!

And welcome to CA from a fellow CA'er - also in Oxford (Woodstock!).

Thanks - good to hear from another local! 

I have been going to Le Mans for a number of years (19th now).
On of our group has a disabled lad who attends occasionally - even camping ! - Although he has parental assistance.

I may try camping another time, but not until I've had a go at it at a UK event... maybe Cornbury or Carfest? Much easier to cope if it doesn't work out...

Are you bringing the Classic (What is it?).
Obviously if it is RARE, you need somewhere safe to park it.

http://ticket.lemans.org/info-pratiques-auto?

Unfortunately, my car - a 1983 Porsche 928S - is not quite finished (she's been getting new paint over the winter) so I'll be using my daily driver, a Skoda (Octavia!). Chalk & cheese, but both good in their own, different ways...

Firstly, contact the ACO.
They have ticket deals, free parking and grandstands available for badge holders and their carers. (See attachments)
Grandstands 13, 17 and 23 all have disable access for FREE.

Yes, I read that on their Le Mans site. Am about to drop them an email, but it looks like you can only get the ticket deals at the gate, and - it seems - the blue badge holder car park passes.

Head to the Grandstands early on Saturday as it will be 20 or 30 people deep in punters 2-3 hours before the start! (allow at least 2 hours to get through the crowd).

That sounds familiar... ever been to the F1 at Silvo?! 

Secondly, I suggest you call Setram.
Although I don't have personally experience for disabilities on the Tram, I understand that some stops (maybe not ALL) but certainly Antares does, have disabled access.
Access from Antares to the circuit and village is good from Antares, although access to the outside of the circuit can only be found using the ramps / underpass between "S" de la Foret and Tertre Rouge Corners AND at the underpass at the main (Nord) Entrance (by the Musee).

I am about to do that... although from what you say below, I'm wondering if driving to the circuit and getting a blue badge space in a car park there may in fact be an option...?

Finally, I would say that traffic is NOT ALL THAT BAD during the week.
Except on Saturday 4 - 5 hours before race start and 2 - 3 hours after on Sunday and maybe an hour or so before each qualifying session  - so Thursday.
Just make sure you leave early AM on Saturday to get to the circuit.

Again, good advice, and that sounds very familiar from F1 and MotoGP at Silvo... I generally leave at 5 or 5.30am to get there for "gates open", and sail up the A34/M40/A43 in my usual 35 mins! 

If I can help in any other way, just ask

Will do... Cheers!

Colin

7

General Discussion / Re: 24H in a wheelchair! Advice on local transport...

« on: June 04, 2015, 03:57:55 pm »

Great to hear that you want to do this. Please do us a favor after the race: Add your experience to the wiki - may be an update to Deborah's report, that would be great.

Werner - CA Wiki house keeping

Hi Werner!

If I make it - still trying to tie a few things together - I'd be happy to do that... finding it the other day was very helpful, and an update would also help others contemplating attending the 24H!

Hopefully it'll be this year, but if not, then definitely in 2016!

Cheers!

Colin

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General Discussion / Re: 24H in a wheelchair! Advice on local transport...

« on: June 04, 2015, 03:55:43 pm »

Sadly Debs isn't with us anymore, and the Tram wasn't in place when she wrote the part for the guide. Ian may be along and could advise.
If you're staying in town, that sounds a good option, just make sure you know what time the last tram is, as night sessions end midnight.

Hi Jason

Thanks for the reply and advice... much appreciated.  After I posted, I realised from reading another posting that Debs had passed away... sounds from that, and also her guide which I read, that she was quite a lady!

I'll check with SETRAM as you suggest, although some on here seem to be saying that if you leave early - as I'm used to doing for major events at Silvo! - that traffic isn't too bad and that a Blue Badge space in a circuit car park may be an option...?

C.

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General Discussion / 24H in a wheelchair! Advice on local transport...

« on: June 03, 2015, 03:11:31 pm »

Good Afternoon!

Colin the 24H "newbie" here!  I'm a classic car owner & confirmed petrolhead... I've been a member of the Silverstone Racing Club since '91, and currently hold season passes for both Silvo and Brands, but although I visited the circuit about 15 years ago, haven't yet made it to the 24 Heures. So, albeit at the last minute, I'm thinking about a trip this year, hence my joining CA - I met an existing CA member at the Donington Historic Festival a few weeks ago, who recommended the group/forum!  

I use a wheelchair, so there are obviously a number of things I need to check in advance. I've found (hotel) accommodation - camping won't, I think, work for me and I'm a frequent user of Ibis hotels... obviously, all the Ibis (and other Accor Group) hotels in Le Mans are full, but there's space in the one in Laval, which is only about 40 miles away... not much further than from my home in Oxford to Silvo.

The question I'd like to ask here is:

What is the best way to get in and out of the circuit... I'm told that all the main roads in the town is absolutely solid with traffic during race week, and the tramway has been recommended as a better option. Are there any other wheelchair users on here who use it and can confirm that it's wheelchair friendly?

I've found and read the - extremely useful - "Visitors with physical disabilities" guide by a lady called Deborah Dudley on the CA Wiki, but she doesn't mention the tramway. I speak French, and have gone through the full SETRAM website, but can't find any access info there... my hope/plan would be to use the P&R at the University and take the T1 tram, which I believe terminates within the circuit itself?

Before I contact SETRAM by other means, any tips or advice on whether this sounds workable would be gratefully received... In terms of getting round the circuit once there, I'll be fine - I have an electric "Power Trike" bike attachment which clips onto my chair and has a 25-30 mile range between charges.   My idea would be to arrive on Thursday next week, and return to my hotel each night... except Saturday night obviously! ;-)

Cheers!

Colin C.

10

Just To Say Hi / Another Le Mans newbie

« on: June 03, 2015, 01:23:00 pm »

Good Afternoon!

A quick note just to say hello and thanks for letting me onto the forum! :-) My name is Colin, I live in Oxford, and I'm a classic car owner & confirmed petrolhead... been a member of the Silverstone Racing Club since '91, and currently hold season passes for both Silvo and Brands.

But... I've never been to Le Mans! Well, that's not strictly true - I visited the circuit about 15 years ago, but haven't yet made it to the 24 Heures. And I'm thinking of a last minute trip this year, hence my joining up. I'll be posting something on the main topic board soon...

Look forward to meeting other group members, both virtually and - hopefully, sooner rather than later! - IRL! :-)

Cheers!

Colin C.