Some random questions - viewing, Wed practice, Town etc

[wsn03]

I have some questions, not sure where to post them so will create one thread.

1. How do you get to Porsche Curves - I only know through the Beaujesour entrance - is this right? We won't be staying there so how will we get through (on foot) without a pass?

2. Anyone know what sort of time Wed practising is? We are going to go next year from Wednesday, wondering if practice runs until midnight like Thursday night does

3. Is Le Mans city worth a visit - the old part of the town?

[LawrieC]

As for Q2, this was the timetable for Wednesday, with the hyperpole changes. Last year, free practice started 30 mins later, and the first qualifying session was 10 to 12. The ACO have the full timetable somewhere on their website

15:30 - 20:00 Free Practice Sessions
20:30 - 21:30 Support races practice (tbc)
22:00 - 23:00 Free Practice Sessions
23:15 - 00:00 Qualifying for Hyperpole Session

Thursday practice is usually packed in the Grandstands, and Wednesday has a bit more room, but its far busier than it used to be.

Q3 Le Mans town is worth a visit. The old part is quaint, with restaurants and the cathedral - you have to see it once, and the scrutineering and drivers parade are very popular with some. The tram makes it easy to reach, but it must be busy

Edited by LawrieC on Wednesday 3rd June 16:29

[FredericRobinson]

We find find the best time to visit the old town to be Friday early lunchtime, get a seat in a restaurant before they fill up, few beers afterwards and then head away from the city centre as it gets busy for the parade.

[gt6]

To get to the porsche curves you can easily walk it but it can take a while, from some campsites you could drive without problem within the circuit area and then just park up somewhere. If it is running you could also take the train (sort of train) running around. If you are however going to drive then perhaps do arnarge and mulsanne as well on either Wednesday or Thursday evening.

[wsn03]

LawrieC said:

As for Q2, this was the timetable for Wednesday, with the hyperpole changes. Last year, free practice started 30 mins later, and the first qualifying session was 10 to 12. The ACO have the full timetable somewhere on their website

15:30 - 20:00 Free Practice Sessions
20:30 - 21:30 Support races practice (tbc)
22:00 - 23:00 Free Practice Sessions
23:15 - 00:00 Qualifying for Hyperpole Session

Thursday practice is usually packed in the Grandstands, and Wednesday has a bit more room, but its far busier than it used to be.

Q3 Le Mans town is worth a visit. The old part is quaint, with restaurants and the cathedral - you have to see it once, and the scrutineering and drivers parade are very popular with some. The tram makes it easy to reach, but it must be busy

Edited by LawrieC on Wednesday 3rd June 16:29

Really helpful thank you very much.
The lad suggested Porsche Curves Wed night, and I can't see why not. I normally arrive on a Thurs, but [EDIT] in 2021 a day earlier, so just want to make sure I have plenty of time for dinner etc at a relaxed pace - this timing is perfect. Our group will be arriving around 4 ish, so they can set up camp, dinner at KFC for the first session overlooking the track, then take our time and watch at Porsche curves for the latter session.

Glad of the recommendation for the old town, that was my idea. I went in 2008 (my first trip, horrendous experience) and like everything it was just badly organised. I fancy doing something different and seeing it properly, the right parts rather than just another aimless drunken bit of wondering.

Edited by wsn03 on Thursday 4th June 10:51

[wsn03]

FredericRobinson said:

We find find the best time to visit the old town to be Friday early lunchtime, get a seat in a restaurant before they fill up, few beers afterwards and then head away from the city centre as it gets busy for the parade.

I actually have Thursday morning free, hoping it should be even quieter then a day before the parade. Its just one of those things we've never really done - next year is going to be that little bit more special.

[wsn03]

gt6 said:

To get to the porsche curves you can easily walk it but it can take a while, from some campsites you could drive without problem within the circuit area and then just park up somewhere. If it is running you could also take the train (sort of train) running around. If you are however going to drive then perhaps do arnarge and mulsanne as well on either Wednesday or Thursday evening.

I should have said, we are going to be on bicycles, cycling from the KFC by the MM Arena over to the inside of Porsche Curves. As I recall we ride past Houx, and I think the road comes out at the Beaujesour campsite entrance - once in there there is a lane that goes all the way to the curves through all the campsites. We won't have a pass for any of the sites, that's my only small concern (though I'm guessing they only check passes for cars and not people on bikes or on foot)?

However now you've got me thinking - I could do Mulsanne as I've never done that - I'm planning Arnage Sunday late morning (for the groups benefit not mine, I've done it before and found it easy to get to and park in)

When I stayed there with Lycian we only ever drove through the entrance at Beujesour and usually were checked. I'll check the map, maybe drive and be on the outside of the curves?!?

Edited by wsn03 on Wednesday 3rd June 17:08

[Strasse]

Have a look here for a few ideas www.le-mans-guide.co.uk

All the Best Strasse

[Nosynchro]

You don’t need to go through BSJ camp site. From the direction you are coming instead of going straight on at the roundabout on which the entrance sits, turn right. After about 100 yards on the left just before the track bridges over the road there is a gate and path past the allotments. Takes you straight there ish. The gate is not always open but can get bikes through

[LawrieC]

"Relaxed pace" is the way to do it. There's plenty of time, till you realise its Monday.

Do go to Indianapolis after dusk, its not far, but you have to drive to Arnage and back. You're in the centre of the corner.

And do go to Arnage for Lunch on Friday, which is the day of the San Saturnin's "Great British Welcome"/Arnage's 24hr race car procession/Mulsanne village's car display, and I think Ruadin wave something going too, and its the driver's parade and the open pitlane. And what happened to Mad Friday

I take a very relaxed pace, and avoid most of it now.

[wsn03]

Strasse said:

Have a look here for a few ideas www.le-mans-guide.co.uk

All the Best Strasse

Thank you Strasse, much appreciated!!

[wsn03]

Nosynchro said:

You don’t need to go through BSJ camp site. From the direction you are coming instead of going straight on at the roundabout on which the entrance sits, turn right. After about 100 yards on the left just before the track bridges over the road there is a gate and path past the allotments. Takes you straight there ish. The gate is not always open but can get bikes through

That's extremely helpful, thank you for giving me that guide.

[wsn03]

LawrieC said:

"Relaxed pace" is the way to do it. There's plenty of time, till you realise its Monday.

Do go to Indianapolis after dusk, its not far, but you have to drive to Arnage and back. You're in the centre of the corner.

And do go to Arnage for Lunch on Friday, which is the day of the San Saturnin's "Great British Welcome"/Arnage's 24hr race car procession/Mulsanne village's car display, and I think Ruadin wave something going too, and its the driver's parade and the open pitlane. And what happened to Mad Friday

I take a very relaxed pace, and avoid most of it now.

I do a very relaxed pace, fully agree with you.

We're doing dinner in Arnage Thursday early evening before heading to Grandstand for qualifying. The Tandem restaurant I think its called is big, on the edge and very good for what we want.

Love the Indianapolis tip, thank you. I'll give the parade a miss, too crowded, going to do pitlane walkabout for benefit of those in my group, and St Saturnin for the first time to please one of the hard-core regulars - Im not really into cars so will have a look around followed by reading a good book in the sun.
I will actually try to listen to the Isle of Man senior TT on the internet if its at all possible?!?

[davidd]

If you have bikes then it is easy to get to Arnage and then onto Mulsanne, and well worth it in the middle of the night.

Sitting on the bank with a beer, red sausage and a portion of frites.. I'm really missing this year already.

We've traditionally been into town on friday, a few drinks in the square then off into the old town for a good meal.

[StevieBee]

wsn03 said:

but this year

Assuming it does run and spectators allowed, I would envisage that some major restrictions will be in place to limit crowd density (such as the driver's parade being binned), possibly even the trams not running.

On the one hand, this may make for a more relaxed experience but on the other hand, it may also remove much of what makes the event special.

We've made peace with the fact that we'll bin it this year and focus on 2021.

[wsn03]

StevieBee said:

wsn03 said:

but this year

Assuming it does run and spectators allowed, I would envisage that some major restrictions will be in place to limit crowd density (such as the driver's parade being binned), possibly even the trams not running.

On the one hand, this may make for a more relaxed experience but on the other hand, it may also remove much of what makes the event special.

We've made peace with the fact that we'll bin it this year and focus on 2021.

Sorry my mistake - I meant 2021 and I have just edited my comment.
I can't believe anything being available this year, aside from a race if that even goes ahead.

Like you I've binned this year as the hallowed ground love of my life experience, doesn't mean I won't go but it will just be another race if we do, not the theatre of light / field of dreams that we have started to know and love - hopefully we get all that back again in 2021

[wsn03]

davidd said:

If you have bikes then it is easy to get to Arnage and then onto Mulsanne, and well worth it in the middle of the night.

Sitting on the bank with a beer, red sausage and a portion of frites.. I'm really missing this year already.

We've traditionally been into town on friday, a few drinks in the square then off into the old town for a good meal.

We bring folding bikes with us, it really opens up a whole new world of opportunities.
Arnage looks really easy - I rode it last night on google street view (not that I'm bored or desperate to get to Le Mans or anything) - didn't think of Mulsanne on bikes but it does sound a good idea.

There are dozens of little roads linking everything round there, closed to cars but open to foot and bicycle, so I'll have to work something out.

Friday night for me has become dinner in a village south of Le Mans, meeting up with Leyorkie. It's a total contrast to what is going on at Le Mans, and a welcome break before the massive head rush of the race itself. 12 months to go...we'll be back!

[LawrieC]

wsn03 said:

I actually have Thursday morning free.....

Just noticed. Thursday has become a problem in the last few years as they close the roads all day for the support race practice.

[wsn03]

LawrieC said:

wsn03 said:

I actually have Thursday morning free.....

Just noticed. Thursday has become a problem in the last few years as they close the roads all day for the support race practice.

That's ok, we're going to take the tram in to town

[//j17]

Thurs. is actually quite a nice, quiet, chill day. There's usually a short shopping trip for forgotten items, the last fresh bread/meat for the weekend, etc. After that it can be a really nice time to hit the Village before the unwashed masses start to arrive for the track action. The last few years we've been able to just walk up to anything we wanted to do/look at and tops have 2 people to queue behind (so have a healthy collection of Toyota straw hats).