Discussion
delta0 said:
They must be the only ones selling anything at the moment. The tickets aren’t even available yet! I’ll be waiting until Feb/Mar to make the booking.
I wouldn't wait until then! We're looking to provisionally book with our ticket provider at the end of August / beginning of September. It does feel like it will be a lot busier next year.eps said:
I wouldn't wait until then! We're looking to provisionally book with our ticket provider at the end of August / beginning of September. It does feel like it will be a lot busier next year.
I’ve never had an issue waiting that long, I’ve booked in April in the past. I may be able to bring it forward to end of the year if everyone commits. It is usually end of September/October before packages appear. Le Mans this year was down a bit on attendance from previous years (before the pandemic) and with what appears to be an almighty recession coming we may not find as many people with the money to make the trip next year. I hope otherwise and would love it to be an awesome packed event like it used to be!
Edited by delta0 on Sunday 31st July 23:30
nutsyH said:
Looks like its going to be heaving. Bagged the last 2 tent pitches at Porsche Curves (Travel Destinations) yesterday.
Little peed off that this is the case, I thought as a loyal TD customer I would have been at least sent a mail that they were already taking bookings for next year.We are looking at making the Le Mans pilgrimage for the Centenary event. Myself, my father, my soon-to-be father in law, and some of their pals.
My father did it with the TVR car club back in 2004 (ish - whenever the purple Tuscans were racing with Wheeler and Tomlinson at the helm). Had an area of a campsite setup just for the TVR club, but he can't remember much of it.
Is camping the usually go-to for PHers? I believe I've even seen a PH campsite somewhere on my forum trawling? It seems a bit early to be planning the trip already, but would be good to have a rough idea of what the best plan of attack would be!
My father did it with the TVR car club back in 2004 (ish - whenever the purple Tuscans were racing with Wheeler and Tomlinson at the helm). Had an area of a campsite setup just for the TVR club, but he can't remember much of it.
Is camping the usually go-to for PHers? I believe I've even seen a PH campsite somewhere on my forum trawling? It seems a bit early to be planning the trip already, but would be good to have a rough idea of what the best plan of attack would be!
1. The TVRCC used to have pitches on the Houx campsite but stopped doing them when the ACO changed their business model from "Sale or return." to "You have to buy X pitches up front and it's up to you to make the money back reselling them.". The Houx campsite remains though and is still the best bet if you want electrical hook-up.
2. There are 2 basic accomodation options - 'on site' or 'off site'.
2.1. With a few limitied, really expensive exceptions 'on site' means camping - but once you've arrived and done your supermarket run you don't need to use your car again until you're leaving after the race and will never be out of range of Radio Le Mans. Most 'on site' camping is just a field with staff on the gate who's job is to stop people driving in without a camping pass, they are not there to 'police' the sites. While all ticketing agents will sell those general camping tickets a number also offer enhanced packages that offer things like 'members only' areas inside the campsites with private security controlling both who can drive and walk in/pre-erected tents/catering/etc.
2.2. 'Off site' gives you more options, including camping on a general campsite, renting an apartment/villa, or staying in a hotel. Anything in/close to the circuit will be both really expensive and also already booked. Look further away and you'll get 'more' for less money than camping on site - but you'll have to drive to the circuit every time so someone's going to have to stay off the beers. You'll be out of range for Radio Le Mans FM too - but if you go hotel/villa you'll almost certainly have WiFi so be able to stream it and might even have access to the TV coverage (if nobody's willing to volunteer as designated driver just to see a practice session).
3. PistonHeads team up with (from memory) 1st Tickets to offer a private area inside the Bleu Nord campsite. Not sure they offer the pre-erected tents thing but do offer the private security/catering/social 'tent' with TVs.
It's up to you how much you want to spend/how risk adverse you are and you will find tales of woe on here from people who've been victims of campsite thefts at Le Mans - but just remember people are much more likely to come back and start an "I had stuff pintched" thread than an "I didn't have anything pintched" one.
I've been going to Le Mans for over 15 years, staying on 5 different 'on site' campsites and a mix of 'public' and 'private' areas and the only crime I've personally experienced has been petty and partly our own fault (if you use a full box of beer as a gazeebo tie anchor in a field full of 10,000 stranges then all p
s off into town for the drivers parade you can't be too suprised that there's no box of beer sat there in full public view when you get back - the ones inside the tents were still there though).
That's property, if it's your car you're worried about securing... Yea, one walk through the campsites or public car parks should put that worry to rest. Almost no matter what you drive it's unlikely to be the most exotic thing you'll see just parked up
2. There are 2 basic accomodation options - 'on site' or 'off site'.
2.1. With a few limitied, really expensive exceptions 'on site' means camping - but once you've arrived and done your supermarket run you don't need to use your car again until you're leaving after the race and will never be out of range of Radio Le Mans. Most 'on site' camping is just a field with staff on the gate who's job is to stop people driving in without a camping pass, they are not there to 'police' the sites. While all ticketing agents will sell those general camping tickets a number also offer enhanced packages that offer things like 'members only' areas inside the campsites with private security controlling both who can drive and walk in/pre-erected tents/catering/etc.
2.2. 'Off site' gives you more options, including camping on a general campsite, renting an apartment/villa, or staying in a hotel. Anything in/close to the circuit will be both really expensive and also already booked. Look further away and you'll get 'more' for less money than camping on site - but you'll have to drive to the circuit every time so someone's going to have to stay off the beers. You'll be out of range for Radio Le Mans FM too - but if you go hotel/villa you'll almost certainly have WiFi so be able to stream it and might even have access to the TV coverage (if nobody's willing to volunteer as designated driver just to see a practice session).
3. PistonHeads team up with (from memory) 1st Tickets to offer a private area inside the Bleu Nord campsite. Not sure they offer the pre-erected tents thing but do offer the private security/catering/social 'tent' with TVs.
It's up to you how much you want to spend/how risk adverse you are and you will find tales of woe on here from people who've been victims of campsite thefts at Le Mans - but just remember people are much more likely to come back and start an "I had stuff pintched" thread than an "I didn't have anything pintched" one.
I've been going to Le Mans for over 15 years, staying on 5 different 'on site' campsites and a mix of 'public' and 'private' areas and the only crime I've personally experienced has been petty and partly our own fault (if you use a full box of beer as a gazeebo tie anchor in a field full of 10,000 stranges then all p
s off into town for the drivers parade you can't be too suprised that there's no box of beer sat there in full public view when you get back - the ones inside the tents were still there though).That's property, if it's your car you're worried about securing... Yea, one walk through the campsites or public car parks should put that worry to rest. Almost no matter what you drive it's unlikely to be the most exotic thing you'll see just parked up
//j17 said:
....if it's your car you're worried about securing...
I did buy one of those RFID blocking pouches for my car keys on the off chance my car might be parked close enough to my tent to be in range for the keyless opening while I snored peacefully.I think the only thing I've ever seen about a car having trouble was the chap who broke down in Beausejour and left his car behind and when he returned a week later to collect it, it had been stripped.
//j17 said:
3. PistonHeads team up with (from memory) 1st Tickets to offer a private area inside the Bleu Nord campsite. Not sure they offer the pre-erected tents thing but do offer the private security/catering/social 'tent' with TVs.
It's up to you how much you want to spend/how risk adverse you are and you will find tales of woe on here from people who've been victims of campsite thefts at Le Mans - but just remember people are much more likely to come back and start an "I had stuff pintched" thread than an "I didn't have anything pintched" one.
I've been going to Le Mans for over 15 years, staying on 5 different 'on site' campsites and a mix of 'public' and 'private' areas and the only crime I've personally experienced has been petty and partly our own fault (if you use a full box of beer as a gazeebo tie anchor in a field full of 10,000 stranges then all ps off into town for the drivers parade you can't be too suprised that there's no box of beer sat there in full public view when you get back - the ones inside the tents were still there though).
That's property, if it's your car you're worried about securing... Yea, one walk through the campsites or public car parks should put that worry to rest. Almost no matter what you drive it's unlikely to be the most exotic thing you'll see just parked up
PH/1st Tickets at Bleu Nord do offer a pre-erected tent option and catering as well for breakfast/evening meals as well as the ability to pre-order sandwiches etc for lunch.It's up to you how much you want to spend/how risk adverse you are and you will find tales of woe on here from people who've been victims of campsite thefts at Le Mans - but just remember people are much more likely to come back and start an "I had stuff pintched" thread than an "I didn't have anything pintched" one.
I've been going to Le Mans for over 15 years, staying on 5 different 'on site' campsites and a mix of 'public' and 'private' areas and the only crime I've personally experienced has been petty and partly our own fault (if you use a full box of beer as a gazeebo tie anchor in a field full of 10,000 stranges then all p
s off into town for the drivers parade you can't be too suprised that there's no box of beer sat there in full public view when you get back - the ones inside the tents were still there though).That's property, if it's your car you're worried about securing... Yea, one walk through the campsites or public car parks should put that worry to rest. Almost no matter what you drive it's unlikely to be the most exotic thing you'll see just parked up
I’ve used the 1st Tickets facilities now on 9 different occasions and we’ve found the set-up good. We are aware as j17 says that you are camping so we don’t tempt fate by leaving expensive things in our tents (even though we have a security fenced site etc.) and use our cars as a secure storage facility whilst we’re there. We have considered taking our own tents (we use the pre-erected tent option), but when you take in to account we all take small type cars, we agree it isn’t worth the hassle of pitching your own tent etc. for what it costs, nor the hassle of trying to squeeze tents in to the back of say a 911!! If you have a pre-erected tent you also have back up if the tent gets a problem and they provide air beds, a camp table and camping chairs - the chairs are useful as you can take them off-site to watch the racing and bring them back rather than again having to cram them in your car for the entire trip if you have a sports car.
We do normally visit the hyper-market to stack up on beers/crisps to save some pennies (& have a cool box we use) but otherwise take the brekkie/evening meal option on-site.
For the limitations of camping (only one friend has said he wouldn’t do it that way in the time I’ve been going & he was slightly poorly prepared with an inadequate sleeping bag which didn’t help :heheh: ) everyone says they’ve enjoyed camping/meeting new people on-site and chatting to them about their cars etc. so I’m prepared to make a few compromises & it’s part of the fun camping with your mates with you
christhreadgill said:
Great info & responses. Is there usually a rough date when the PH camping options go live?
I like the sound of the pre-erected tent options for sure!
I suggest you email info@1st-tickets.co.uk with your interest as soon as you can and mention PH and they will add your name to the list - they will be catching up on admin from this year’s 24hrs & Classic, but I’d expect them to start on next year’s event in September. They already know the 2023 event will be well supported by the number of people who’ve spoken with them at this year’s event or who said they would come in 2023 with the introduction of the new hyper class and the fact it is the big anniversary year. Your next big decision is whether you use the tunnel or the ferry from say Portsmouth - the tunnel offers flexibility/speed of crossing although is quite a drive on the French side if you are travelling from “middle England”, whereas Portsmouth-Caen is just over 100 miles on the other side.I like the sound of the pre-erected tent options for sure!
MrC986 said:
I suggest you email info@1st-tickets.co.uk with your interest as soon as you can and mention PH and they will add your name to the list - they will be catching up on admin from this year’s 24hrs & Classic, but I’d expect them to start on next year’s event in September. They already know the 2023 event will be well supported by the number of people who’ve spoken with them at this year’s event or who said they would come in 2023 with the introduction of the new hyper class and the fact it is the big anniversary year. Your next big decision is whether you use the tunnel or the ferry from say Portsmouth - the tunnel offers flexibility/speed of crossing although is quite a drive on the French side if you are travelling from “middle England”, whereas Portsmouth-Caen is just over 100 miles on the other side.
I've now signed up to their mailing list for when tickets go live, thank you. We would prefer a Portsmouth > Caen ferry and then the usual recommended route down from there. Being in Surrey, Portsmouth is an easy jaunt for us.Agree now is time to be planning as a few private campsites are already booking up pitches and confirming cross channel travel bookings now as well (something they normally do in January).
Would start looking at what cars going and how many people are drivers or passengers (and get decent deposits (non-refundable unless a replacement person found) off them & agree dates of travel) as gets really dear if people drop out and you have the odd person in an extra car or too many pitches between too few and then organising becomes a real PITA.
If smaller groups or smaller cars then private camping sites are probably best and most accessible option at a cost - for car and general security, less shower queues, cleaner toilets and food options (breakfast and eveining meals - fairly pricy) and bar options on site. Bigger groups with some more luggage capacity and towing fridges etc are better able to cope in gereral camping. Some private campsites have direct track viewing or very close access to good spectator areas. Some don't have direct viewing from campsite but are much closer to start finish grandstands and village area.
Beer very dear inside circuit - which is good in one way as the queues for toilets (and beer) can be long and horrendous. ACO memberships can get ticket 2 x discounts (if campsite company gives you money off etc) and the Le Mans viewing area supplement Euro 40 per person this year (up to 4 with a membership) gives a couple of extra viewing areas and better facilities - 2 euros a beer discount and a couple of rolls etc. Need to make use of these on Thursday and Friday too as queues pretty bad in ACO stand building on raceday.
Would start looking at what cars going and how many people are drivers or passengers (and get decent deposits (non-refundable unless a replacement person found) off them & agree dates of travel) as gets really dear if people drop out and you have the odd person in an extra car or too many pitches between too few and then organising becomes a real PITA.
If smaller groups or smaller cars then private camping sites are probably best and most accessible option at a cost - for car and general security, less shower queues, cleaner toilets and food options (breakfast and eveining meals - fairly pricy) and bar options on site. Bigger groups with some more luggage capacity and towing fridges etc are better able to cope in gereral camping. Some private campsites have direct track viewing or very close access to good spectator areas. Some don't have direct viewing from campsite but are much closer to start finish grandstands and village area.
Beer very dear inside circuit - which is good in one way as the queues for toilets (and beer) can be long and horrendous. ACO memberships can get ticket 2 x discounts (if campsite company gives you money off etc) and the Le Mans viewing area supplement Euro 40 per person this year (up to 4 with a membership) gives a couple of extra viewing areas and better facilities - 2 euros a beer discount and a couple of rolls etc. Need to make use of these on Thursday and Friday too as queues pretty bad in ACO stand building on raceday.
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