Le Mans with 85 year old - Advisable?
Discussion
I'm thinking about taking my dad to Le Mans next year. Neither of us have been before. I'm thinking of booking one of the Flexhotel cabins. Does anyone have experience of these? I'd be interested to know how much walking there is from these to the track, whether you park your car adjacent to your cabin, or have to park miles away and carry all your stuff for the weekend and what the catering and shower / WC facilities are like?
Thanks in advance :-)
Thanks in advance :-)
The Flexotels are a decent walk (20 mins?) from the grandstands.
If limiting walking is the aim then camping on a site that is trackside such as Tertre Rouge might be better. Perhaps rent a motorhome for some extra comfort.
Also, definitely get a grandstand seat for some shade and rain protection.
If limiting walking is the aim then camping on a site that is trackside such as Tertre Rouge might be better. Perhaps rent a motorhome for some extra comfort.
Also, definitely get a grandstand seat for some shade and rain protection.
Perhaps not a direct response to your question but it might help if I shared my experience with my dad - he’s in his late 60s but physically he’s not in great shape and in terms of mobility is comparable to many people I know in their 80s. He’s been with us a couple of times and, health permitting, planning on coming next year.
I do have to make allowances for him being in our group of 7 and plan accordingly, in some ways it’s a bit easier with a large group as a few people can go off for a walk to other parts of the track and he’s not left alone, he is very conscious of holding others back. Anyway my tips would be:
- factor in regular stops on the journey to/from - my dads legs seize up after a couple of hours sat in the car
- grandstand is a must, but try to choose seats closer to the bottom and next to the stairs. Minimise climbing stairs and over others already seated. If you can see a screen, even better.
- we always book an air BnB a few miles out, it suits us as a group and gives my dad a decent bed and a bit of comfort as they’re long days
- consider driving between viewing points where possible if you do want to move around
- drivers parade might not be suitable. I couldn’t take my dad, the crowds wouldn’t work and he certainly couldn’t stand up for that amount of time - to be honest he wasn’t fussed anyway.
- make sure he’s got half decent travel insurance cover, an obvious one, but Le Mans is quite different to your average beach holiday and the risks are probably a bit higher
Don’t let any of that put you off, you’ll both have a great time. My dad loves going and despite not being a massive racing fan, really enjoys hanging out with the lads.
I do have to make allowances for him being in our group of 7 and plan accordingly, in some ways it’s a bit easier with a large group as a few people can go off for a walk to other parts of the track and he’s not left alone, he is very conscious of holding others back. Anyway my tips would be:
- factor in regular stops on the journey to/from - my dads legs seize up after a couple of hours sat in the car
- grandstand is a must, but try to choose seats closer to the bottom and next to the stairs. Minimise climbing stairs and over others already seated. If you can see a screen, even better.
- we always book an air BnB a few miles out, it suits us as a group and gives my dad a decent bed and a bit of comfort as they’re long days
- consider driving between viewing points where possible if you do want to move around
- drivers parade might not be suitable. I couldn’t take my dad, the crowds wouldn’t work and he certainly couldn’t stand up for that amount of time - to be honest he wasn’t fussed anyway.
- make sure he’s got half decent travel insurance cover, an obvious one, but Le Mans is quite different to your average beach holiday and the risks are probably a bit higher
Don’t let any of that put you off, you’ll both have a great time. My dad loves going and despite not being a massive racing fan, really enjoys hanging out with the lads.
Edited by T-bagger on Tuesday 20th September 11:00
Tram stop and Port Est entrance near Arena are a long way from start/finish straight & village area and most of the grandstands and quite a few steps etc.
Camping Bleu (fairly sure Pistonheads/Ist tickets private camping is in there - pretty plush camping and food etc provided plus TVs etc with coverage whilst you are there) or parking by Bleu/Blanc and access by Port Annexe (see 2nd map on attachment) gets you closer to most of the grandstands and it is much flatter there.
Think the few campsites with trackside viewing already sold out, they are further from main grandstands area.
https://www.dailysportscar.com/wp-content/uploads/...
Pretty crowded most years and next year especially - definitely need grandstand seats for shade/rest/rain protection. Further up the start finish straight is pretty noisy so stands nearer start line are better IMO.
Toilets are not plentiful and the queues are pretty long considering the price of a beer. ACO membership (pretty much covered by discount on two tickets) plus supplement for viewing areas may be worthwhile for extra space and toilets.
Bigger group would be easier as just going off for beers and/or food from grandstands etc can take a while.
Camping Bleu (fairly sure Pistonheads/Ist tickets private camping is in there - pretty plush camping and food etc provided plus TVs etc with coverage whilst you are there) or parking by Bleu/Blanc and access by Port Annexe (see 2nd map on attachment) gets you closer to most of the grandstands and it is much flatter there.
Think the few campsites with trackside viewing already sold out, they are further from main grandstands area.
https://www.dailysportscar.com/wp-content/uploads/...
Pretty crowded most years and next year especially - definitely need grandstand seats for shade/rest/rain protection. Further up the start finish straight is pretty noisy so stands nearer start line are better IMO.
Toilets are not plentiful and the queues are pretty long considering the price of a beer. ACO membership (pretty much covered by discount on two tickets) plus supplement for viewing areas may be worthwhile for extra space and toilets.
Bigger group would be easier as just going off for beers and/or food from grandstands etc can take a while.
T-bagger said:
Perhaps not a direct response to your question but it might help if I shared my experience with my dad - he’s in his late 60s but physically he’s not in great shape and in terms of mobility is comparable to many people I know in their 80s. He’s been with us a couple of times and, health permitting, planning on coming next year.
I do have to make allowances for him being in our group of 7 and plan accordingly, in some ways it’s a bit easier with a large group as a few people can go off for a walk to other parts of the track and he’s not left alone, he is very conscious of holding others back. Anyway my tips would be:
- factor in regular stops on the journey to/from - my dads legs seize up after a couple of hours sat in the car
- grandstand is a must, but try to choose seats closer to the bottom and next to the stairs. Minimise climbing stairs and over others already seated. If you can see a screen, even better.
- we always book an air BnB a few miles out, it suits us as a group and gives my dad a decent bed and a bit of comfort as they’re long days
- consider driving between viewing points where possible if you do want to move around
- drivers parade might not be suitable. I couldn’t take my dad, the crowds wouldn’t work and he certainly couldn’t stand up for that amount of time - to be honest he wasn’t fussed anyway.
- make sure he’s got half decent travel insurance cover, an obvious one, but Le Mans is quite different to your average beach holiday and the risks are probably a bit higher
Don’t let any of that put you off, you’ll both have a great time. My dad loves going and despite not being a massive racing fan, really enjoys hanging out with the lads.
I have a lot of affinity with this post.I do have to make allowances for him being in our group of 7 and plan accordingly, in some ways it’s a bit easier with a large group as a few people can go off for a walk to other parts of the track and he’s not left alone, he is very conscious of holding others back. Anyway my tips would be:
- factor in regular stops on the journey to/from - my dads legs seize up after a couple of hours sat in the car
- grandstand is a must, but try to choose seats closer to the bottom and next to the stairs. Minimise climbing stairs and over others already seated. If you can see a screen, even better.
- we always book an air BnB a few miles out, it suits us as a group and gives my dad a decent bed and a bit of comfort as they’re long days
- consider driving between viewing points where possible if you do want to move around
- drivers parade might not be suitable. I couldn’t take my dad, the crowds wouldn’t work and he certainly couldn’t stand up for that amount of time - to be honest he wasn’t fussed anyway.
- make sure he’s got half decent travel insurance cover, an obvious one, but Le Mans is quite different to your average beach holiday and the risks are probably a bit higher
Don’t let any of that put you off, you’ll both have a great time. My dad loves going and despite not being a massive racing fan, really enjoys hanging out with the lads.
Edited by T-bagger on Tuesday 20th September 11:00
My son and I first went to LM in 1996, and we've been a good number of times since then to both LM24 and LMC. Always had a hotel, parking at Parking Blanc, and grandstand seats usually at La Raccordament tribune. There's a large TV screen opposite, very good. We'd walk the areas from Maison Blanche to Tetre Rouge etc and use The Village for food and beer usually.
Since I turned 75 my mobility has declined due to arthritis in the knees and oedema in my legs, not a good combination. I'm now 79 and have not been to LM for a few years. The problems for me are the grandstands are steep and the seats are close so I cannot spread out my legs (although the last time we went we had seats at the very top row at the top of the steps so I could spread out}. Also, I can no longer contemplate the circuit walking. I have no problems with long distance car journeys.
All this means we have not been to LM for several years. Instead, we meet up either at my house or his, sign up for Euro-player for a month and watch the whole event live on TV. We have a supply of 1664s, French bread, cheeses etc for the duration. This is nowhere near as good as being there and making the trip, but it is the best I can now manage. I have thought about doing the trip for 2023 as it is a special year, but I really don't see how I could cope in all honesty.
R.
Good luck. The circuit is a big place, and we're finding that the walk from the campsite to the stands is a challenge, where you get an uncomfortable seat. Nipping back for a bite to eat is not really an option. I'm starting to think that watching it on the TV is the better option - you get to see all of the circuit, and the interesting events aren't usually in front of the stands
Consider the Lm24 Classic, it's a much more chill environment, generally a touch slightly older, wealthier crowd and associated attitude that goes with it, we wnt for the first time to the classic instead of regular last year and are totally converted. Less bar queues too! Oh and the cars 
Probably too late for LM23 but private campsite just before Porsche curves with bar and food (marquee with TVs) and a view of track whilst having a beer 100 yards or so from tents/clean toilets & showers etc and easy access to Porsche curves mound is hard to beat. Tribune 23 for cars (not too fast and Ford (now Motul) chicane), noise (not to much plus acceleration as cross finish line etc), pit lane entrance (good to work out whats going on in race & all the dramas/returning damage etc) and a big screen. Can walk it or drive to parking at Blanc or free minibus to inside entrances. Or infield parking at LMC on Bugatti track (best way to get there). Plus a midnight trip to Arnage/Indianapolis for a small fee in main race. If you don't want to go to track (grandstands/village area etc) every day then you don't. Plus ear defenders with a digital FM radio. Plus ACO areas access. Stands and ACO bit not essential but all in not far off 2022 F1 basic stand ticket price at Silverstone.
Plus trip to CBW on the Friday at St Saturnin.
Plus trip to CBW on the Friday at St Saturnin.
We've a couple of older guys in our group who have gradually retreated from tent-camping at the 24. Now in their mid 70s they've done a couple of years in hired motorhomes using the Tertre Rouge campsite and this year swapped to a city centre Air BnB and used the tram, but the long walk from tram stop to circuit entrance to LM village has put them off that option, with the added hassles of bag searches, carrying a chair, etc and they also missed the campsite banter. So if one or both of them returns in 2023 it will be back to the luxuries of a campervan on-site.
Grandstand seats are good options especially for a first / only visit. If your dad is quite active then you'll have an excellent time, and even if he isn't there is still plenty to see and do to soak up the atmosphere without having to stray too far. If you're with others who have a car then getting to Arnage, the city centre and St Saturnin are all achievable.
Grandstand seats are good options especially for a first / only visit. If your dad is quite active then you'll have an excellent time, and even if he isn't there is still plenty to see and do to soak up the atmosphere without having to stray too far. If you're with others who have a car then getting to Arnage, the city centre and St Saturnin are all achievable.
I’ve been going with my dad for a number of years and he is now into his 70’s and in good health.
However, the recent trips and altered from some of the earlier ones. No more sleeping trackside or really long, late nights at the track.
Personally I would think of the trip as a nice weekend in France with Le Mans included, rather than just Le Mans. Think comfort and enjoy French culture whilst making targeted visits to the circuit.
I would stay off circuit within 30mins of the track (south of circuit for easier access). Stay in a proper bed and enjoy restaurants when not at the circuit. Buy nice food to take into the track on route to the circuit.
Target a few hours at the circuit at the start and finish. Grandstand seats on the pit straight up to Dunlop. You can park at Expo with easy access (and exit) from south, then cross the road through main entrance and be virtually at your grandstand.
I really enjoy making the most of nice evenings out with good food and wine and making it a comfortable trip. It is tiring anyway…. Sod being in a tent (or anything branded ‘luxury’ located at the circuit). The bonus being it also costs far less.
However, the recent trips and altered from some of the earlier ones. No more sleeping trackside or really long, late nights at the track.
Personally I would think of the trip as a nice weekend in France with Le Mans included, rather than just Le Mans. Think comfort and enjoy French culture whilst making targeted visits to the circuit.
I would stay off circuit within 30mins of the track (south of circuit for easier access). Stay in a proper bed and enjoy restaurants when not at the circuit. Buy nice food to take into the track on route to the circuit.
Target a few hours at the circuit at the start and finish. Grandstand seats on the pit straight up to Dunlop. You can park at Expo with easy access (and exit) from south, then cross the road through main entrance and be virtually at your grandstand.
I really enjoy making the most of nice evenings out with good food and wine and making it a comfortable trip. It is tiring anyway…. Sod being in a tent (or anything branded ‘luxury’ located at the circuit). The bonus being it also costs far less.
Some of the private campsites are very close to the track and have facilities. PH is on the interior of Tetre Rouge and is a short stroll to a viewing area. Likewise the sites around Porsche Curves. Perhaps motorhomes are the way to go at one of these sites?
All other options will mean a lot of walking unless you use the tram and road trains/navettes to access the circuit.
All other options will mean a lot of walking unless you use the tram and road trains/navettes to access the circuit.
quarryman111 said:
Definitely do the Classic instead! It’s an age thing…like drinking wines and French cheeses….maturity brings taste!!
The 24hrs has been running every year (give or take) since 1923.The Classic has been running every 2 years (give or take) since 2002.
I know which one i'd say has the age and maturity (and no endless field full of identical Porsche 911s/people wearing head-to-toe Porsche branding).
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