Barry

I spoke to the ACO this morning.
Yes you can buy GEs at the gates this year as usual.
They thought I was mad to ask the question. I blamed my mad "ami anglais" 

More likely that you won't be able to collect the tickets you've paid for on-line at the gate.
There's no indication on the ACO French site that you have to buy GEs in advance.
As for pushing sales towards the agencies, no way - you can still buy GEs direct on-line and print them at home, see http://ticket.lemans.org/mes-dates-billets-dentree-auto

Yes

My tickets, ordered via the ACO website on 25 November, arrived yesterday.
Well done ACO.

A few seconds ago there were 87 pitches remaining on Epinettes (6 fewer than an hour ago), which is a damn sight closer to the action than Beausejour.

When I accessed the site on Tuesday Maison Blanche was not an option and never had been (not on the map on the booking page).
Most other sites were on offer including Rouge, Houx, Houx Annexe, Houx Chateau, Blue Nord and Sud, Arnage and Mulsanne. Epinettes, next to Houx and the tram stop is still available and looks a reasonable option.

ACO have yet to offer any MB tickets, due the the new Porsche development which extends on to the site.
They have now sold out all sites, bar Beausejour, Arnage and Epinettes, the new members only site, between Houx and the tram station.
Good luck!

This is really strange and makes me feel really guilty.
When I first went to log in I didn't realise that the ACO no longer had a separate member log-in and you just use the club member log-in (email address and password).
I got straight in at 10.30, bought the tickets I wanted, and paid at 1st attempt.
I feel really sorry for you guys who've had difficulty, but I've just tried to log-on again and yes it's up and running.

Just to bump this thread in time for the Classic with an update:
The Grande-Mare tunnel on the N28 is closed southbound until 8 August.
This is causing massive problems and the east side of Rouen is best avoided.
The signed HGV westerly route is the quickest:
https://mapsengine.google.com/map/edit?mid=zj4e85-846X8.keRqLSis1HBY
but you might like to take the scenic route via Yvetot and the Pont de Brotonne.
Neufchatel and Bourgtheroude are just arbitary points to create the map.

For information the tunnel is open northbound, but is restricted to one lane.

There are taps and standpipes in all the modern toilet blocks built over the last few years - in the village (two), on the path between the south entrance and the Dunlop bridge for starters. Likewise in the toilets in the support paddock, but you need a pass to get into that paddock during the 24 Hours.
I appreciate the wish not to pay silly prices for water, but  bottled water is available from local supermarkets (current price at Auchan) from around 17 cents (under 14p) for a day's intake (1.5 litres).

The thieves must have gained access from the pit lane if they indeed came from outside the pits and paddock.
Security was very tight between the support paddock and the paddock proper after the race. There is no way anyone could get into the paddock without a pass let alone a group of "pikeys".
If no one witnessed the theft, how does anyone know "pikeys" were responsible?

Unlimited access:
450 euros   

2 x Houx un-numbered camping passes at face value.
Available at the circuit from Monday onwards.
Don't hang about!

Getting back to the Rouen problem -
1st I agree with Barry and others who have found that the Yvetot/Brotonne route is probably a slower one.
2nd, if you follow the official signs round Rouen on the return on the Sunday you will run into the same queues for the toll on the A29 near St Saens.
I live only 35 minutes from Rouen - here's my alternative route to the A13 while the Pont Mathilde is out of action. It works well both ways:
http://www.google.com/mapmaker?saddr=49.4350073318085,1.1050758782959065&daddr=49.325122,1.098118&dirflg=d&gw=56&ll=49.405706,1.095274&spn=0.107008,0.241699&z=13&lyt=large_map_v3&hll=49.434949,1.105081&hyaw=296.1286536328666

No indeed, hence the"allegedly".
Those were the days, that's for sure