Timetable for 2012

[Great Dane]

Here is the timetable with all the usual reservations about me not taking responsibility for the accuracy thereof



Friday 1st June:
18:00: Administrative Checks and Scrutineering (Circuit) – Test Day

Saturday 2nd June:
09:00 – 15:00: Administrative Checks and Scrutineering (Circuit) – Test Day

Sunday 3rd June:
09:00 – 13:00: Test Day
14:00 – 18:00: Test Day

Sunday 10th June:
14:30 – 19:00: Administrative Checks and Scrutineering (Place De La Republique)

Monday 11th June:
10:00 – 18:00: Administrative Checks and Scrutineering (Place De La Republique)

Tuesday 12th June:
17:00: Drivers’ Autograph Session

Wednesday 13th June:
16:00 – 20:00: 24 Heures du Mans - Free practice
20:30 – 21:30: Aston Martin Le Mans Festival - Free practice
22:00 – 24:00: 24 Heures du Mans – Qualifying 1
Concerts: Gérald de Palmas and THoM

Thursday 14th June:
16:00 – 17:00: Group C - Qualifying
17:30 – 18:30: Aston Martin Le Mans Festival - Qualifying
19:00 – 21:00: 24 Heures du Mans - Qualifying 2
22:00 – 24:00: 24 Heures du Mans – Qualifying 3
Concerts: Pony Pony Run Run and Dandies

Friday 15th June:
10:00 – 20:00: Pit Walk
18:00 – 19:00: Drivers' parade (City Centre)

Saturday 16th June:
09.00 – 09:45: 24 Heures du Mans - Warm-Up
10:05 – 10:50: Group C - Race
11:15 – 12:00: Aston Martin Festival Challenge - Race
14:22: Beginning of starting procedure
15:00: Start of the 80th 24 Heures du Mans
Concerts: Shaka Ponk, Kill the Young and Ekhô

Sunday 17th June:
15:00: Finish of the 80th 24 Heures du Mans

Edited by Great Dane on Saturday 12th May 17:38

Edited by Great Dane on Tuesday 15th May 08:49

[Printertosh]

I read somewhere on here that the drivers parade starts half hour earlier this year at 17.30. 18.00 would suit us better but just wondering as meeting my bro at station 17.37 so interested to know. Great to see timetable. Cheers

[vincegail]

According to the ACO site the parade starts at 18.00 hrs:
http://www.lemans.org/wpphpFichiers/1/1/ressources...

But according to the dedicated site of the drivers parade it starts at 17.30!
http://www.grande-parade-des-pilotes.com/

[Thejimreaper]

Thanks for this.

[Printertosh]

vincegail said:

According to the ACO site the parade starts at 18.00 hrs:
http://www.lemans.org/wpphpFichiers/1/1/ressources...

But according to the dedicated site of the drivers parade it starts at 17.30!
http://www.grande-parade-des-pilotes.com/

Cheers for that. 2nd site also says it on for 2 hours instead of 1. I'll head for our normal spot & see how it goes.

[vincegail]

Printertosh said:

Cheers for that. 2nd site also says it on for 2 hours instead of 1. I'll head for our normal spot & see how it goes.

(slightly of topic)
Apparently you've been to the parade before? I read a lot of different opinions about the parade. Some people find it a waste of time, others (you?) find it great. What's great about it in your opinion?

IMHO it is at a very unpractical time, with diner preparations and getting there etc. Is it worth the trouble after going to Saint Saturnin in the morning, pit visit in the afternoon?

Edited by vincegail on Sunday 13th May 21:14

[Easy_Targa]

Quote : Saturday
Concerts: Shaka Ponk, Kill the Young and Ekhô

So we have had: Stranglers, Levellers, UB40, Razorlight.............Shaka Ponk?

[vincegail]

2003 it was Jamiroquai.
Level has sunk very deeply this year.

[muppetdave]

With amazing albums like Loco Con Da Frenchy Talkin, Bad Porn Movie Trax, and The Geeks and the Jerkin' Socks and who can forget Sex, Plugs and Vidiot'Ape - I'm there...

[Printertosh]

vincegail said:

(slightly of topic)
Apparently you've been to the parade before? I read a lot of different opinions about the parade. Some people find it a waste of time, others (you?) find it great. What's great about it in your opinion?

IMHO it is at a very unpractical time, with diner preparations and getting there etc. Is it worth the trouble after going to Saint Saturnin in the morning, pit visit in the afternoon?

Edited by vincegail on Sunday 13th May 21:14

As we're usually in a motorhome, we've done the mulsanne meet by local bus a couple times (2009 & 2010) but never made it to st. Saturnin. Have always done pitwalk & headed into town for parade. In the past I've questioned my sanity but since the trams have been running it's much less stressful. Too b honest we don't crush in on street level for parade, we head up high above the cutting next to cathedral where you can have a beer while taking in the atmosphere. Straight after parade we head to Irish bar in doctor Leroy street. 1 street down from McDonald's corner of republic square. Great atmosphere but with football on it will be jammed! I know what U mean about eating, it's always a struggle on such a busy day but have done McDonald's once by not eating in but restaurants are a no go. Attempted that twice & been very stressful. Hope that's sort of answered ur question. Enjoy the week!

[DS240]

Parade on for 1hr instead of 2?!!

If you stand near the end of the parade lap, it takes an hour for the first thing to arrive after the start time! Then a further 20 minutes for something else to happen.

Find the whole thing very dis-jointed. Some bits are good to see, but overall I have been quite bored with it.

[Great Dane]

I have been to the parade twice and although my wallet was stolen once, I find it a good experience and at the same time I have not gone twice which was fine too. What I am trying to say is that my feeling of Le Mans is that you can do different things each year and have a great time. Other people follow a strict timetable for what they do and that is fine too.

Go to the drivers' parade to see what it is like and if you don't think it is worth the effort, don't go again in the following years - at least you can say you have been.

[DS240]

Agree with above.

That is the beauty of LM. Trying different things, skipping things one year, maybe doing it the next. Especially if you go year after year.

[vincegail]

Very sound advice all of you! Thanks for that! Will see how things go, but indeed with the trams running now, it must be a lot easier.

[GrahamG]

Whilst we already know that the scrutineering has moved this year to the Place de la Republique from the Place des Jacobins it's not clear whether the parade will do likewise

[Printertosh]

You definately don't need to be at parade early. As mentioned above it does take a while to get going but one problem you do find that if it's started it's nearly impossible to cross into the centre of the parade route due to over zealous Marshalls at the crossing points not letting anyone cross even if there's a 5 minute gap! Hoping to get round it this year by walking towards cathedral & over bridge if its starting in republique square as not usually possible to reach the steps to left of cathedral when it starts there!

[Grit]

http://www.facebook.com/AudiUK#!/AudiUK/app_395763...

Check this link out!

Hopefully an Audi R8 will be the chosen vehicle to drive down in !

[jack22012]

Hi, this is my first time going to Le Mans, I heard on the Friday 15th June there is some time that part of the 24hr course is open to the public to drive on such as the Mulsanne Straight- does anyone know about what times it's open- do you have to register before and do you have to pay to drive down it?

Thanks for any help

[Truckosaurus]

jack22012 said:

...do you have to pay to drive down it?

Only if the Cops catch you...

The Serious answer is that the roads making up the majority of the course are open until early afternoon on Weds and Thurs and for some of the Friday (when Les Flics shut off various parts to prevent hi-jinx.)

[t1grm]

Am I the only one that thinks the driver’s parade is crap? Fighting your way through 5 deep crowds to get a glimpse of a bunch of blokes - most of whom, let's face it, we probably wouldn't recognise walking down the street at home – crawling past in wedding cars. Personally I just sit it out in the pub