Autistic visitor to LM

Autistic visitor to LM

Author
Discussion

roca1976

Original Poster:

582 posts

122 months

Monday 20th November 2023
quotequote all
my best friend has offered for me to go with him to LeMans 24hr next year, my only reservation is how to regulate my autism! I am worried it will be a noisy 24hr party with no escape...
The proposal is to camp at the Porsche curves.
I have never been before and would appreciate advice if it is possible to find a quiet space to regulate and whether there is scope for sleep, etc.
I generally only like to go to events I have a certain amount of control over, LM is a very alien proposition!

JamesW

195 posts

239 months

Monday 20th November 2023
quotequote all
You can make the weekend pretty much what you want, and there are plenty of places around the track where you can sit and watch and enjoy without being "peopled out" (although the few hours of the start when everyone is watching from everywhere is busy).

It is noisy (especially around Porsche curves), and I'd really suggest earplugs for use at night (and maybe earbuds with Radio Le mans playing during the day - to drown out the general noise)

gt6

1,463 posts

192 months

Monday 20th November 2023
quotequote all
If you need somewhere quiet at the circuit during the race the museum is somewhere you can go usually cooler that outside as well

giveitfish

4,097 posts

221 months

Monday 20th November 2023
quotequote all
If you need a controlled, predictable space to call home you might be better off looking at off-circuit options. Or White Rabbit Racing which is expensive but as calm and spacious as camping gets within walking distance of the circuit.

It’s all a bit full-on in terms of noise and people, especially as it’s a sell-out again. It was pretty claustrophobic in places last year (eg behind the grandstands everyone was funnelled through too narrow a road).

If you’re going in a normal car, hiding away there with the windows shut and aircon on might give you enough respite but it won’t kill all the noise.

Only you know what your limits are, perhaps have a look on YouTube and find some fan blogs from last year to give you an idea?

Outside of the first and last hours it’s possible to find space to spectate on your own, especially at Mulsanne and Arnage corners in the early hours. You might find that the Saturday is a bit much, but by 11pm through to 9am the character changes as spectators reduce to just the hard-core and it gains a really special atmosphere. Conversely this is the worst time to get any sleep on the campsites lol.

Hope you go and I hope you enjoy it - if it’s up your street it can become a life-long obsession!


FredericRobinson

3,938 posts

239 months

Monday 20th November 2023
quotequote all
Maybe get a set of radio ear defenders, they tend to be more noise blocking than many standard ear defenders, and you’ll be able to get Radio Le Mans too.
If you’re camping at Porsche Curves it will be noisy whenever cars are on track, pretty much non stop from 9am to 11 or midnight Wednesday and Thursday, again Friday morning and then 9 Saturday morning until 4 on Sunday afternoon, your neighbours on the campsite may well be noisy later than that, depending on which site you’re on

roca1976

Original Poster:

582 posts

122 months

Monday 20th November 2023
quotequote all
Many thanks some great advice. I shall search YouTube for vlogs to get an idea of what can be expected.

FredericRobinson

3,938 posts

239 months

Monday 20th November 2023
quotequote all
roca1976 said:
Many thanks some great advice. I shall search YouTube for vlogs to get an idea of what can be expected.
Which campsite? This is likely to make a substantial difference, it it’s Travel Destinations or Village on the Curves you’ll have a private viewing area, although I’m not sure how good the view is from village on the curves, Travel Destinations site has a viewing bank and will give a better view, so you can stay away from the general crush if you want, and are much less likely to have noisy neighbours that on a public site.
Do you have experience of other motorsport events?

RL17

1,335 posts

100 months

Monday 20th November 2023
quotequote all
Village on the Curves has view through fences before Porsche Curves (outside bar & restaurant area and also part of campsite) and its 2 mins up to Porsche Curves bank with good view over fencing for entry line and first half of first curve. Pretty sold out a while back I understand

Is it now Motorsport Travel Destinations branding for the outside of the curves camping - assume also fully booked - probably best to check asap

Headphones with digital FM radio and a jack to phone for music are a good bet - it's the smaller noises in nights with no racing like snoring and generators than are more annoying