Le Mans

Author
Discussion

ceecee

Original Poster:

116 posts

239 months

Sunday 9th January 2005
quotequote all
Just got some tickets for Le Mans this year. Can't wait!

I was wondering if anyone here has been before and can let me know what would be a reasonable time to book the return ferry from Calais to Dover on the Sunday evening.

Many thanks

Chris

dicky

928 posts

291 months

Sunday 9th January 2005
quotequote all
well the race finishes at 1600, if you were packed and ready an hour say to get out and a blast to calais, i think it took us 5 or 6 hours before but we were knackered and it was very tyring. Any chance you can come back on Monday

>> Edited by dicky on Sunday 9th January 20:59

GCerbera

5,161 posts

258 months

Sunday 9th January 2005
quotequote all
We left at 8pm last year (just as the footie started - shrewd move ) and we
were back at Calais around 1:15 - 1:30 having not seen any traffic and...
having wasted a good amount of time looking for an open gas station as
my brother had not filled up before we left the circuit.

obiwonkeyblokey

5,400 posts

247 months

Monday 10th January 2005
quotequote all
Hi chris,

do you mind me asking where you got your tickets and how much they were?

Im after some maison blanche ones if theres any knocing about.

thanks

v15ben

15,901 posts

248 months

Monday 10th January 2005
quotequote all
I am heading back on Monday, IMO its better to avoid the rush straight after the race and have a more relaxed exit on the Monday

Liszt

4,330 posts

277 months

Monday 10th January 2005
quotequote all
v15ben said:
I am heading back on Monday, IMO its better to avoid the rush straight after the race and have a more relaxed exit on the Monday


We travel back on a Monday, but it is not relaxed, normally due to the vast amount of alcohol consumed on the Sunday.
And I prefer to passenger so I can sleep.

v15ben

15,901 posts

248 months

Monday 10th January 2005
quotequote all
Bugger, I am doing all the driving there and back as the others have either been driving for a short time, or not at all!!

gemini

11,352 posts

271 months

Monday 10th January 2005
quotequote all
Better to share even if it cost money !

Its a bugger of a drive at speed and concentration may drop if you try to do it all on your own

Think safety Ben rather than cost

v15ben

15,901 posts

248 months

Monday 10th January 2005
quotequote all
Well, the other two could drive if worst comes to worst, but I drove further south into France last year and that really was a long day, 7am - Midnight.
Just going to have to be a roadtrip to remember I think

It's about 8-10 hours driving time according to AA Autoroute and that will involve a number of stops so should be OK.

bowdeeni

28 posts

242 months

Monday 10th January 2005
quotequote all
All I can advise is to leave PLENTY of time on return journey and don't be tempted to go mad speeding. Differs year to year but in 2003 almost everyone else I went / met with got speeding tickets on the way home - a little "thank-you" for boosting the French economy from the Gendarmes!!

carsarecool

4,428 posts

246 months

Tuesday 11th January 2005
quotequote all
We travel back on the Monday, ferry at Calais 18:30, leaves loads of time for stopping at service stations on the way back. Always loads of cars to see and great people to talk to.

usually the best day of the trip!

ceecee

Original Poster:

116 posts

239 months

Tuesday 11th January 2005
quotequote all
Many thanks for all your advice. I think I might try and come back on the Monday.

For Obiwonkyblokey I got the tickets from www.justtickets.co.uk I got them about a week ago and they had nearly sold out then, so you better be quick.

obiwonkeyblokey

5,400 posts

247 months

Wednesday 12th January 2005
quotequote all
thanks, got some from them yesterday....

tjdixon911

1,911 posts

244 months

Thursday 13th January 2005
quotequote all
Were returning at 18:00 on the Monday Calis - Dover, should give us plenty of time to have an easy drive back!

maxf

8,426 posts

248 months

Thursday 13th January 2005
quotequote all
Last year we left the campsit at the end of the race the had our own little race to a hotel on the coast about 2 hours from calais.

This makes monday a bit easier, gets you past a lot of the police waiting around le mans, gets you away from the campsite before the thieving french scroats desend and turns it a bit more into a relaxing break. You do miss some of the gooning on the way home, but with 15-odd elises doing the same we still managed a goon! Cold beers and a bath at the hotel were very much welcomed too.

Top tip for the way home - no matter how hard you try, a 1.8 Elise won't keep up with an F40 and a 575m

Balmoral Green

41,776 posts

255 months

Thursday 13th January 2005
quotequote all
maxf said:

Top tip for the way home, if you take the windey backroads - no matter how hard they try, an F40 and a 575m wont keep up with a 1.8 Elise.

maxf

8,426 posts

248 months

Thursday 13th January 2005
quotequote all
Good point!

However, my GF was navigating and this was comedic at best. At one point I overtook an old bus and about 6 old triumphs doing about 60mph. After 2 HOURS of genuine near flat out driving (on good a roads and motorways) we are met by the same bus and same 6 classic cars in our way! Such was the navigational skill. Backroads and we'd have ended up in Germany!

jellison

12,803 posts

284 months

Thursday 13th January 2005
quotequote all
All this Le man's seem alot of planning or is it simpler than I am!? Been asked if I want to go but alot of stuff around camping slots and ferries - Jees.
J - Chimp with north of 400bhp.

maxf

8,426 posts

248 months

Thursday 13th January 2005
quotequote all
Well, you obviously have to plan which ferry/train you want - and due to demand you are advised to plan ahead for camping tickets. Aside from that all the ballache 'planning' comes from trying to get groups together, arrange convoys, bully someone with a generator/fridge to go etc. Most of that isnt called for with a small group - just book it, buy a tent and forget about it until june!

littlegearl

3,139 posts

264 months

Thursday 13th January 2005
quotequote all
this year our ferry is 17:15 on tuesday... that gives us plenty of time to meander back!!!

and to recover from the drinking, my passenger barely said a word to me from when we left the campsite to the services on the M25/A1 junction where he asked if we could stop as he really wasn't feeling well!!!!