Le Mans 24 Hour Race.

[DJFish]

Has anyone ever been???
I'm after going down with some mates this year but need some advice re campsites etc..
Does anyone know any good firms that do the travel arrangments??????

Cheers
Dave

[TomM]

I'm considering going this year, after me finals :) Anyone been before? Tips? :)

http://www.beermountain.com/mainpage.htm

[Dodger]

I'm going for the third time this year. We're taking three new Mini Coopers (wouldn't trust my 200 at the mo). Best tip: get there and enjoy it. It's the best.

[Rock Star]

I've been 4 times now, Its a great wkend! :D I've never driven there on my own before so I'm going this year with a mate. Its a bit of a mission to get there but French roads....well worth it!! Last time I was there Mazda one it!

[Actual_Ben_Taylor]

I went last year and, despite the rain, it was ****ing brilliant!

The Drive to Le Mans was the best, racing down single carriageway A-roads at 140mph, unbelievable.

We were in Camping Bleu, and we got a package through MRI, my mate sorted it all out as he's been before. I deffo going this year, already booked time off work. If you fancy it make sure you bring a passenger as overtaking gets a bit tricky when you're on you own.

[Dodger]

Rain? Tell me about it. In '98 it put down an inch in twenty minutes the night before the race. Southern side of the camping area we were in was literally thigh deep and people were having to rescue their gear from a lake. We were further up the site and just had a small river running through the tent, so we slept in the car while it dried out. Those lovely Loire thunderstorms!

[davidra]

Great fun at the event, and the drive back on Sunday was the best of my life. Everyone else from the UK is steaming it back as fast as possible, the police don't mind and stay away and in all the villages you pass through there're people standing outside waving and cheering. You're driving in convoy with all the best sports cars - TVRs, Porsches, Lambos, Ferraris, Aston Martins... and everyone is up for a race.

They don't have many 200SXs over there it seems, so they mistake an S13 for something more unusual and expensive!

Might go again this year too.

[shadow21]

Hi guys,

You could perhaps meet didier_gg , he lives in Le Mans!
I planned to go this year, but my bird is pregnant, ant can't move... :(

Cheers

Have fun!

[TomM]

I wanna go with some mates. And another mate's probably gonna go in his Impreza :)

[H]

Yeah I drove down both times I've been it is a mad drive and you get to race with everything (lose?) I tried to get tickets this year and we cant get a campsite they've all been booked, Camping bleu is the best one for exotic machinery

[Mikey75]

Went last year too.

Don't worry about the Camping,
We arrived late on Thursday night (about 2:30).
And chucked the guy on the gate 200 francs (about 20 quid!!!)and he let us in.:D :D . Lots were doing it.

Shame about the rain though!!!!!!!

But if you like looking at mad motors alday long its a must!!!

The racings pretty boring though!!!!:p :p

But beer mountain building seems to be the top past time!!!!!:D :D
Oh a french stick (light sabre) fights too!!!!

[Rock Star]

I was chatting to my old man last night about getting tickets, he said "don't worry just get them when you get to Le Mans" Is this a right?? Anyone know other was of getting tickets??

[Dodger]

You can buy them direct from the circuit office, they'll fax/post (now probably e-mail or even online booking) you a form with all sorts of options. Find the circuit website (search for Circuit de Sarthe).
You can do them through various agents (see Page and Moy)
You can buy general entry tickets at the gate, and to be honest while a g/stand seat is nice, it's far from essential.
Just go, park pay and walk in.

[Rock Star]

Who from SXOC is defo going this year? Can I follow someone down to Le Mans, Its my 1st time driving down...:confused: I think I gonna get the ferry to Calais, any Ideas????

[Cayman]

I'm going down on Wednesday if thats any use. If not I have some typed instructions.

Get Autosport the wek before as they have a special supplement. Always useful .

Please PM me if you or anyone wants any help. Been there for the last 14 years, driven 4 of them, 3 in the 200.

Cayman

[Dodger]

I've always got the ferry into Cherbourg (mainly 'cos I can overnight with friends there)...but many regulars I know get a Caen ferry. Or St Malo. Calais is a long way north, but I find it a fun drive down that way from there. Brittany Ferries fares appear to be quite stiff this year as well, so it helps to have a car full of people (ie three, with one sideways, in a 200) to split the cost to about £100 each.
If you want to go into Calais - or Dunkirk even - and do the big drive south, take a look at www.ferryoffers.co.uk and check out Norfolkline. I posted elsewhere that I got an 11-day return Dover-Dunkirk at the height of the school hols in August for £139 for the car and three people.

[J595HAS]

Pitch yer tent in Digglers back door...erm I mean garden. :D

[DJFish]

Cayman,

Was thinking of piling into a minibus with mates, buy loads of bog roll over here, buy loads of beer over there, trog down to Lemans on Saturday morning and pay at the gate, watch the thing, get trollied, kip in mini bus in car park, come home late Sunday.

In your experience, is this do-able?????

Dave

[Cayman]

It is do able, maybe leave friday night would be better and get back monday early AM. But all you will get is crowds on Saturday. It is a long race and you will be shattered

All the parties are on Friday and sunday night.

C