Classic instead of 24h!
Discussion
I’m forming the plan to only attend the classic next year instead of the 24h. Which for me is a bit controversial. But having now had a (forced into) broken chain of attendances it doesn’t feel quite so bad.
Logic being… things will get really interesting again from 2023 with all the new teams entering and being the anniversary race. And since the run of events has been broken anyway, use the year until it spices up again to give the classic a go for the first time. There are also so many cars I would love to see at the classic it is simply really appealing in its own right.
I probably could do both, but family life would make that a bit of a selfish decision. It just seems a bit wrong inside to chose the classic over the 24h.
Anyone else’s perspective changed since the forced break from the event?
Should I hang my head in shame or does the classic stack up as a great event in its own right?
Plus any tips for the classic? I do fancy the track laps option.
Logic being… things will get really interesting again from 2023 with all the new teams entering and being the anniversary race. And since the run of events has been broken anyway, use the year until it spices up again to give the classic a go for the first time. There are also so many cars I would love to see at the classic it is simply really appealing in its own right.
I probably could do both, but family life would make that a bit of a selfish decision. It just seems a bit wrong inside to chose the classic over the 24h.
Anyone else’s perspective changed since the forced break from the event?
Should I hang my head in shame or does the classic stack up as a great event in its own right?
Plus any tips for the classic? I do fancy the track laps option.
LM240 said:
I’m forming the plan to only attend the classic next year instead of the 24h. Which for me is a bit controversial. But having now had a (forced into) broken chain of attendances it doesn’t feel quite so bad.
Logic being… things will get really interesting again from 2023 with all the new teams entering and being the anniversary race. And since the run of events has been broken anyway, use the year until it spices up again to give the classic a go for the first time. There are also so many cars I would love to see at the classic it is simply really appealing in its own right.
I probably could do both, but family life would make that a bit of a selfish decision. It just seems a bit wrong inside to chose the classic over the 24h.
Anyone else’s perspective changed since the forced break from the event?
Should I hang my head in shame or does the classic stack up as a great event in its own right?
Plus any tips for the classic? I do fancy the track laps option.
I chose to do exactly this back in 2012 (I think), I was disappointed. That year the circuit opened on the Friday, the on-track facilities were dialled back, the racing was disappointing as many a car was being taken for a nostalgic stroll....we were lucky with the GT40s and Lola T70 whereby the Lynns were full on it!Logic being… things will get really interesting again from 2023 with all the new teams entering and being the anniversary race. And since the run of events has been broken anyway, use the year until it spices up again to give the classic a go for the first time. There are also so many cars I would love to see at the classic it is simply really appealing in its own right.
I probably could do both, but family life would make that a bit of a selfish decision. It just seems a bit wrong inside to chose the classic over the 24h.
Anyone else’s perspective changed since the forced break from the event?
Should I hang my head in shame or does the classic stack up as a great event in its own right?
Plus any tips for the classic? I do fancy the track laps option.
I’d go again but would level my expectations, probably start in Le Mans, or nearby, rather than camp and see the racing as a side show to a weekend away. There are some amazing cars but I probably still think if you want nostalgia you go to Goodwood.
I made it to the 24hr this year, the crowd and area was different naturally but the main event if the racing and that was still full and I’ll,be back next....and the year after etc etc.
My favourite years were certainly the 1980’s; the circuit still harked back to a medieval festival, the fair was memorable, the bars brilliant, the dust and smells luscious....the bogs indescribable, but god it was fantastic
cn7k7 said:
I chose to do exactly this back in 2012 (I think), I was disappointed. That year the circuit opened on the Friday, the on-track facilities were dialled back, the racing was disappointing as many a car was being taken for a nostalgic stroll....we were lucky with the GT40s and Lola T70 whereby the Lynns were full on it!
Interesting comment as I’ve been thinking about doing the Classic for a while but wondered whether the racing would be that entertaining. The Classic looks like it could be a bit of a parade in some classes and I’ve always assumed the facilities are scaled right back.Can anyone with recent Classic experience comment? Is the above still true and is it anywhere as close as the racing that you would see at something like the Silverstone Classic / Goodwood Revival / Members Meeting?
I do like the Classic, but you have to treat it differently to the 24hrs.
It is much more of a weekend than a week, of course. And there's no racing on the Saturday until 3 or 4pm usually (which then continues until the same time on the Sunday to mimic a 24hr race event) with one race per hour cycling through the eras - so you need to plan to be on site for the evening and early hours (and/or dawn).
They attempt a dress code, and the vast majority are somewhat smartly dressed, but it is not the 'fancy dress' of the Goodwood Revival.
You definitely need to get tickets for the paddock areas as you can get close up to all the cars - especially interesting overnight with teams working on cars under spotlights.
I find the early 20-30-40s car races a bit tedious as they are slow enough that there are large gaps in traffic between laps.
At least one of our group has given up on the 24hrs and just comes to the Classic.
It is much more of a weekend than a week, of course. And there's no racing on the Saturday until 3 or 4pm usually (which then continues until the same time on the Sunday to mimic a 24hr race event) with one race per hour cycling through the eras - so you need to plan to be on site for the evening and early hours (and/or dawn).
They attempt a dress code, and the vast majority are somewhat smartly dressed, but it is not the 'fancy dress' of the Goodwood Revival.
You definitely need to get tickets for the paddock areas as you can get close up to all the cars - especially interesting overnight with teams working on cars under spotlights.
I find the early 20-30-40s car races a bit tedious as they are slow enough that there are large gaps in traffic between laps.
At least one of our group has given up on the 24hrs and just comes to the Classic.
kel176506 said:
....
Can anyone with recent Classic experience comment? Is the above still true and is it anywhere as close as the racing that you would see at something like the Silverstone Classic / Goodwood Revival / Members Meeting?
There are some battles, but due to the nature of the course and event (multiple 45min races for each car) cars are very much driven in an 'endurance' style.Can anyone with recent Classic experience comment? Is the above still true and is it anywhere as close as the racing that you would see at something like the Silverstone Classic / Goodwood Revival / Members Meeting?
Plus you get to see them in the dark which you wouldn't get at the other events.
I got tired of what the standard Le Mans has become, so we went to the Classic in 2018. Loved it. Going again in 2022 (we had booked for 2020 but…).
The Classic only really attracts people who want to see cars and racing. Fewer d
heads and people just on a piss up. Also with fewer people you can move around the circuit and see a lot more.
You can get very close to the cars in the holding area between the paddock and the circuit. It’s excellent. You’re in a huge grass area inside the circuit and the cars just drive right by you (slowly) on their way to join the circuit. No special ticket required for that if I remember rightly.
The early cars as mentioned above are a bit slow, but the rest of the racing is decent. If I remember rightly each race is an hour, and there are 6 classes, and 4 races per class. So each race is a sprint and therefore quite exciting.
We are booked in at the PH enclosure. Can’t wait! Paid for it almost 2 years ago so it feels like a free trip
The Classic only really attracts people who want to see cars and racing. Fewer d
heads and people just on a piss up. Also with fewer people you can move around the circuit and see a lot more.You can get very close to the cars in the holding area between the paddock and the circuit. It’s excellent. You’re in a huge grass area inside the circuit and the cars just drive right by you (slowly) on their way to join the circuit. No special ticket required for that if I remember rightly.
The early cars as mentioned above are a bit slow, but the rest of the racing is decent. If I remember rightly each race is an hour, and there are 6 classes, and 4 races per class. So each race is a sprint and therefore quite exciting.
We are booked in at the PH enclosure. Can’t wait! Paid for it almost 2 years ago so it feels like a free trip
Making good progress getting plans / tickets secured.
Quite excited by the change in routine but still getting back to Le Mans. The racing ultimately won’t mean much in terms of results, but I can’t wait to see the huge variety of cars racing and what’s likely to be in the club enclosures.
Should be fun as well as the usual social side of things.
Quite excited by the change in routine but still getting back to Le Mans. The racing ultimately won’t mean much in terms of results, but I can’t wait to see the huge variety of cars racing and what’s likely to be in the club enclosures.
Should be fun as well as the usual social side of things.
LM Classic is one of the best experiences I’ve had. It’s a touch more classy than the standard LM.
The number of priceless classics from all over Europe both on show, in the car parks and racing is phenomenal. Some really unusual and rare cars you just don’t see anywhere else and the trip over is way more fun.
Next year will be slightly different in that the GTs and prototypes from 1990-2000, will be run as a competition and no longer as parade laps as before. Grounds are open to the public on the Thursday next time too.
195000 spectators,650 cars racing, 8500 cars on show, many many more in the grounds.
I’m booked on the parade laps this time so looking forward to that too.
If you’ve never done it I would say don’t hesitate.
hmg said:
Next year will be slightly different in that the GTs and prototypes from 1990-2000, will be run as a competition and no longer as parade laps as before. Grounds are open to the public on the Thursday next time too.
Oh wow, I didn’t know this was happening. If there is a Toyota GT-One or Mazda 787B in that I’m going to lose it 
Yil said:
We are also planning the Classic in 2022 as cant make the 24hr. Never been to the Classic before.
Is it best to arrive on Thursday or Friday and leave sunday or Monday.
First one also, but looking at timetable for next year there is track/paddock access on the Friday with on track practice sessions. Is it best to arrive on Thursday or Friday and leave sunday or Monday.
Main ‘racing’ starts Saturday and concludes late afternoon Sunday.
We always stay the Sunday night at the 24hrs just to enjoy a social night without having to drive whilst probably quite tired. Nice then making a day of it on the Monday for the drive back. Though that also depends on whether you want to take the Monday off work.
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