Drivers Parade and St Saturnin cancelled
Discussion
I just hope the race is on and I’m allowed to go watch it.
I’m willing to accept changes to accommodate that, especially with the condensed schedule and different time of year.
The worry is that this news is simply a softener for news of restricted or no spectators. There’s no point holding these extra events if no one is going to be there!
I’m willing to accept changes to accommodate that, especially with the condensed schedule and different time of year.
The worry is that this news is simply a softener for news of restricted or no spectators. There’s no point holding these extra events if no one is going to be there!
Edited by LM240 on Friday 26th June 10:59
I am not trying to be negative, but I can't see spectators being allowed frankly. Normally, there are over 200,000 who come to Le Mans, but that (like Bournemouth) could create a time bomb of new COVID cases. Sanitary arrangements for campers; how the hell will that be policed? Everyone is talking about the second wave of the disease, and that lockdown could come back. I have no idea; I am Joe Bloggs and no medical expert, but even so, on a personal note as someone who lives here, I don't really want to see 100,000 great unwashed wandering around my neck of the woods. We can only wait and see though. I stay with the marshals on their guest tickets at Mulsanne, but - will guest tickets exist either? It seems to me that if my friends come as usual we'll be watching it on the tele, and with it being nearly October possibly with horizontal rain and 8C temperatures. However, nil desperandum. Let's hope for the best.
That’s my feeling also. Even if by chance the 5,000 crowd limit (end of July earliest) is lifted I don’t think it will be an unlimited increase. If as it looks now there is a second wave beginning to form then I expect it will be extended. If it is lifted I don’t think it will be enough to cover a 200k person event, maybe 10k.
As much as I’d love to be able to go I think it’s probably not sensible to be encouraging large crowds to gather at this time.
From a personal standpoint I haven’t missed a race since 2003 and I am looking forward To achieving an unbroken run of 20. If there’s any way I can be at Le Mans this year, I’ll do what I can to go. It would feel wrong to be watching it on the tv.
In a way, I’d rather they run it behind closed doors or cancel it altogether.
From a personal standpoint I haven’t missed a race since 2003 and I am looking forward To achieving an unbroken run of 20. If there’s any way I can be at Le Mans this year, I’ll do what I can to go. It would feel wrong to be watching it on the tv.
In a way, I’d rather they run it behind closed doors or cancel it altogether.
Not sure why anyone was expecting the drivers parade to be on? i think on Friday the drivers might be busy doing other things at the circuit, like driving. Who was expecting it to be on? Have these people ever been to le mans?. Lets all hope the Race happens and we can watch it, next year we can return to usual but for now lets just be grateful if we get to watch the race.
gt6 said:
Not sure why anyone was expecting the drivers parade to be on? i think on Friday the drivers might be busy doing other things at the circuit, like driving. Who was expecting it to be on? Have these people ever been to le mans?. Lets all hope the Race happens and we can watch it, next year we can return to usual but for now lets just be grateful if we get to watch the race.
I thought it was a given it was off - social distancing plus Friday Qualifying?!? I'd expect if spectators are allowed in then probably it will be very controlled - no concerts, no late night drinking etc etc
I think that anyone who has ever been to Le Mans knows that Friday is the rest day so the drivers get a day off after free practice and qualifying. So there is the Drivers Parade to please the crowd. I've done it a few times and it is very impressive. Except that this year they have compressed the event into four days and not five so no free Friday. Will this be like the non-existent moon landing? Will it be virtually run and they will pretend it took place? Do conspiracy theories start here folks? Answers on a postcard please.
Edited by lowdrag on Friday 26th June 14:47
My feeling at the moment is the announcement will state spectators are welcome but camping will not happen at the circuit.
This will deter many people who go there just for that and keep it to the hard core fans that actually go for the race.
It will also mean that can shut the event down with much shorter notice. Ie Without the thousands of people already on site.
This will deter many people who go there just for that and keep it to the hard core fans that actually go for the race.
It will also mean that can shut the event down with much shorter notice. Ie Without the thousands of people already on site.
I hate to disagree but it is the hard core race fans that camp, they do not stay in hotels away from the circuit, they love the atmosphere of being with other race fans, and sit around the campsites until late at night talking about cars and the race, not sure if you have ever camped at le mans but if you have then you will understand that to the majority of fans staying in a hotel at le mans is missing the whole point of attending.
i remember the days when yes there were people there in the campsites with little or no interest in the cars but in the better campsites (TR, maison blanche houx etc) there are very few of those around, they are almost to a man/woman hardened le mans fans. Not sure those in hotels etc are that as to be honest, quite a few of those types are there on hospitality or have money to burn and crossing another event off the bucket list. Whilst there is life left in my body i will camp at le mans. But saying that i do hotel/chalet when doing silverstone and spa.
I thought people went just to see the race, but the group of ftards I ended up going with on my first trip in 2008 had no interest in it, all they wanted to do was drive around in their sports cars posing - using Le Mans as a base only, driving to destinations miles away each day. They thought I was pretty odd when I opted to leave them to it so I could actually watch the race.
I met someone on a project who was a "seasoned" Le Mans traveller. I started talking about a particular race and he said "what do you actually watch the race?" - turns out all he went for was "the beer". He asked me why didn't I just watch it on TV, didn't see the point in me going there if I just wanted to watch the race? I asked him why didn't he just go to the pub? I think cretins like him are probably at Le Mans in bigger numbers than people realise.
That video banding around of Le Mans experience 2015 or whenever it was shows big scenes of massive groups getting trashed to music in big crowds. I suspect there are a lot of people like those I've experienced who only go for the "festival" atmosphere of the place. Close everything down and they won't come, leaving hopefully a much smaller group who can just see the race.
I'm interested in the race, steak and chips with red wine, France, being with mates...in that order, but the race itself makes up about 90% of the whole deal for me. Without it I wouldn't go - and if that was all there was I'd still go. I'd go on my own, I just want to see the race. The party goers won't feel the same, there would be no point in making the trip for them if all there was was lots of cars going around a race track.
I can watch the race in reasonably safe isolation or distancing, the people going to get trashed in campsites, the Village or the pop concert are less likely to achieve the same - they are the virus spreading risk everyone will be worried about.
I met someone on a project who was a "seasoned" Le Mans traveller. I started talking about a particular race and he said "what do you actually watch the race?" - turns out all he went for was "the beer". He asked me why didn't I just watch it on TV, didn't see the point in me going there if I just wanted to watch the race? I asked him why didn't he just go to the pub? I think cretins like him are probably at Le Mans in bigger numbers than people realise.
That video banding around of Le Mans experience 2015 or whenever it was shows big scenes of massive groups getting trashed to music in big crowds. I suspect there are a lot of people like those I've experienced who only go for the "festival" atmosphere of the place. Close everything down and they won't come, leaving hopefully a much smaller group who can just see the race.
I'm interested in the race, steak and chips with red wine, France, being with mates...in that order, but the race itself makes up about 90% of the whole deal for me. Without it I wouldn't go - and if that was all there was I'd still go. I'd go on my own, I just want to see the race. The party goers won't feel the same, there would be no point in making the trip for them if all there was was lots of cars going around a race track.
I can watch the race in reasonably safe isolation or distancing, the people going to get trashed in campsites, the Village or the pop concert are less likely to achieve the same - they are the virus spreading risk everyone will be worried about.
Edited by wsn03 on Friday 26th June 17:37
gt6 said:
I hate to disagree but it is the hard core race fans that camp, they do not stay in hotels away from the circuit, they love the atmosphere of being with other race fans, and sit around the campsites until late at night talking about cars and the race, not sure if you have ever camped at le mans but if you have then you will understand that to the majority of fans staying in a hotel at le mans is missing the whole point of attending.
Disagree... a hard core Le Mans fan, but I don’t camp. Nor feel I’m missing out on anything, in fact quite the opposite. Only negative is can’t drink too much at track, but then do enough of that off circuit, so maybe a blessing.
The pros far out weigh the negatives of staying off circuit (15-20min drive) for me personally.
Big pros are proper comfortable accommodation, secure, proper facilities i.e not sharing temp toilet/showers. And the private ‘luxury’ sites are ridiculously expensive for what you get compared to having cheaper proper accommodation. All in my opinion of course.
The arrangements have been refined over many years and make for absolutely perfect weekend.
LM240 said:
gt6 said:
I hate to disagree but it is the hard core race fans that camp, they do not stay in hotels away from the circuit, they love the atmosphere of being with other race fans, and sit around the campsites until late at night talking about cars and the race, not sure if you have ever camped at le mans but if you have then you will understand that to the majority of fans staying in a hotel at le mans is missing the whole point of attending.
Disagree... a hard core Le Mans fan, but I don’t camp. Nor feel I’m missing out on anything, in fact quite the opposite. Only negative is can’t drink too much at track, but then do enough of that off circuit, so maybe a blessing.
The pros far out weigh the negatives of staying off circuit (15-20min drive) for me personally.
Big pros are proper comfortable accommodation, secure, proper facilities i.e not sharing temp toilet/showers. And the private ‘luxury’ sites are ridiculously expensive for what you get compared to having cheaper proper accommodation. All in my opinion of course.
The arrangements have been refined over many years and make for absolutely perfect weekend.
My son and I have been going since 1996, never camped, always stayed in a hotel and slept in the car in Parking Blanc Saturday night, always had tribune seats, and probably watched maybe 18-20 hours of racing each time. We do not go for the beer and everything else not connected to racing. That's not to say we do not sink our share of 1664s and enjoy a chat with nearby folks while we are there.
R.
There are some really strange people at Le Mans. They seem attracted by the "atmosphere", cheap booze and loud music, and just get in the way.
As for hotels, we could never find vacancies, so bought caravans and motorhomes. So I have cold beer, hot running water and a comfy bed, within a few minutes walk to the track. It all costs money, which is totally wasted this year.
As for hotels, we could never find vacancies, so bought caravans and motorhomes. So I have cold beer, hot running water and a comfy bed, within a few minutes walk to the track. It all costs money, which is totally wasted this year.
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