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Le Mans


Bobbeh

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I'm off there next weekend to watch some of the race / see the events etc.

 

I know some of you have been before.... so does anyone recommend good places to camp/stay, things to do around the area etc and more importantly, useful things I should be aware of before I make my trip! :)

 

Thanks.

 

Rob.

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I'm off there next weekend to watch some of the race / see the events etc.

 

I know some of you have been before.... so does anyone recommend good places to camp/stay, things to do around the area etc and more importantly, useful things I should be aware of before I make my trip! :)

 

Thanks.

 

Rob.

 

Hi Bobbeh. Due to the missus being about to drop at anytime, this will be the first year I have missed since 2001.......:(

 

Last year we went to the exhibitions place opposite the main entrance to the circuit and bought tickets for parking only. Once we got there we broke the tent out and had a great time. Don't go into the official camping areas as they will charge you a fortune.;)

 

Whilst there, make sure you visit Arnage village. All the brits will be there and having a laugh wheelspinning down the main street. Also go to Mulsanne and Arnage corners at night if you can. The traffic will be horrendous but it is worth it!

 

Remember, there are no rules at Le Mans. They try to control where people camp etc but just tell the stewards to F.O!!

 

H.

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Yep, Le Mans is awsome :-)

 

We are going in convoy and fancy dress this year.. Although we are on the 4am ferry on wednesday :-)

 

Jenine's Bar by the main entrance, there is a big meet going on there thursday afternoon/eveining. We camp opposite that so not too far to walk/stagger/crawl :-)

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I have a hotel too :)

 

Be good to meet up, I'm a bit screwed for mobile phone coverage in frenchland, how about we set a time and a place now? Also I'll have my walkie talkie with me, on channel 5 thingy 5 so bear that in mind :D

 

-Ian

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Staying in a hotel at Le Mans is a bit like going to Glastonbury and staying at a hotel 5 miles away. The whole atmosphere of the place is the campsites!

 

Things you MUST have:

 

  • High factor sun screen - it's usually seriously hot (38 degrees not unknown) and there's virtually no shade.
  • A hat/cap, same as above.
  • Portable radio - you will spend virtually the whole time listening to Radio Le Mans, which is brilliant and the only way of knowing what the hell is going on.
  • Good comfy shoes - you will walk bloody miles.

 

If you're camping:

  • kids inflatible paddling pool - fill with water and keep your beers only luke warm ;).
  • hosepipe - use to fill your beer cooler and have a shower if you're in a crappy campsite.
  • some sort of gazebo to give you some shade.
  • camping chairs
  • head to the hypermarket and buy a ton of beer, disposable bbqs and dodgy sausages.

 

Things you should do/see:

  • Thursday is good because there's day and night practice and far less people there so you can watch from places like the Dunlop curves without a ton of people in the way.
  • Mad Friday is a must, walk around the pits (and go and see our man Dave Haggas), drive the circuit and go to the impromptu car meet around Indianapolis/Arnage. Then head to the Houx Anexe roundabout if you want to see all sorts of chaos, burnouts, blokes in mobile pirate ships and mopeds with fireworks attached. Total carnage and very funny - take some beers.
  • Head to Tetre Rouge at night, it makes your spine tingle to hear the cars through the trees, downshifting with the brakes glowing.
  • Arnage you also have to go watch from, that's also good at night, but is a nightmare to drive to then as it's so busy.
  • Don't bother watching the start from the start straight - it's way too busy. We've watched the start from Arnage before, which wasn't too bad.
  • Have a look round the campsites, you'll see all sorts of stuff. E.g. A McLaren F1, motorised sofa, a bunch of guys with a full bar complete with TV, optics and draft beer.

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Staying in a hotel at Le Mans is a bit like going to Glastonbury and staying at a hotel 5 miles away. The whole atmosphere of the place is the campsites!

 

Things you MUST have:

 

  • High factor sun screen - it's usually seriously hot (38 degrees not unknown) and there's virtually no shade.
  • A hat/cap, same as above.
  • Portable radio - you will spend virtually the whole time listening to Radio Le Mans, which is brilliant and the only way of knowing what the hell is going on.
  • Good comfy shoes - you will walk bloody miles.

 

If you're camping:

  • kids inflatible paddling pool - fill with water and keep your beers only luke warm ;).
  • hosepipe - use to fill your beer cooler and have a shower if you're in a crappy campsite.
  • some sort of gazebo to give you some shade.
  • camping chairs
  • head to the hypermarket and buy a ton of beer, disposable bbqs and dodgy sausages.

 

Things you should do/see:

  • Thursday is good because there's day and night practice and far less people there so you can watch from places like the Dunlop curves without a ton of people in the way.
  • Mad Friday is a must, walk around the pits (and go and see our man Dave Haggas), drive the circuit and go to the impromptu car meet around Indianapolis/Arnage. Then head to the Houx Anexe roundabout if you want to see all sorts of chaos, burnouts, blokes in mobile pirate ships and mopeds with fireworks attached. Total carnage and very funny - take some beers.
  • Head to Tetre Rouge at night, it makes your spine tingle to hear the cars through the trees, downshifting with the brakes glowing.
  • Arnage you also have to go watch from, that's also good at night, but is a nightmare to drive to then as it's so busy.
  • Don't bother watching the start from the start straight - it's way too busy. We've watched the start from Arnage before, which wasn't too bad.
  • Have a look round the campsites, you'll see all sorts of stuff. E.g. A McLaren F1, motorised sofa, a bunch of guys with a full bar complete with TV, optics and draft beer.

 

 

:yeahthat:

 

Also you've got practice on the Wednesday as well ;)

 

I've found it's got a bit more corporate over the years, and there seems to be a larger contingent of the "race, what race?" from the Brits going.

 

It used to be great with the fairground up after the Dunlop Bridge and before Tetre Rouge. And shouting at the gilrs in the stripper tents, begging them not to take anymore of their clothes off, they were that bad.:D

 

We've managed to take our push bikes down with us for the last few years, which is a must to get around especially out to Indianapolis/Arnage at night. Don't forget to take wet wipes. If you can't get to a shower, they're the next best thing. ;)

 

My personal highlights in no particular order are:

 

The drive down, and this year we're going back onto the N138 all the way baby, no more peage for us.....too boring ;)

Meeting up with the group we get together with. It's always like we've never been apart.

Arnage Village, a petrol head/posuers dream.

Mad Friday. :D

The start. and it doesn't matter where you see it from, the 1st lap is excellent. But if you are a virgin then try and get into the pit straight.

Outsinging the Frenchies at La Marsellaise "ou'est le papier" :D

Pit lane walkabout including the vintage Le Mans parc ferme.

Arnage/Indianapolis at night.

Tetre Rouge at Night.

Waving to SimonB who always seem to be driving in the opposite direction to me. ;)

Going on a blue light cruise around Maison Blanche at about 2am with the Sweeny light attached to the roof and my mate hanging out the car with one of those night sun search lamps. Scares the shit out of people. :D

The fireworks battle between Maison Blanche and Karting Nord.We always win.

Going to a nearby Frenchie swimming lake. Full of beauties and undiscovered by Les Rosbifs. :love:

 

The bad side

 

Standing in the queue for the shitter knowing that you may have to hover because it could well be a pyramid in the pan. :blink:

Your tent turning into a sauna at 7am after 3 hrs sleep.

Magueze sausages.

Those motorised go ped things. I think I might take a stinger with me this year. :devil:

Having to leave on Sunday night. So we always leave on Monday now :)

The French deciding to do road improvement outside the Carrefour shopping centre in town, on the busiest weekend of the year.

 

If you see a pic like this on the side of a tent or a camper van and a Silver Supe parked nearby, come and say hello. I'll be the fat cripple in the directors chair. :)

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:lol: Sounds delightful :) I could shit in a frying pan and say its curry, I bet some of your drunk buddies would have bought it :D

 

BTW, whats the deal with speeding/fines etc - has it changed at all with regard to UK licenses? Not that I intend doing any of course.

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