2024 experience
Discussion
MiniMan64 said:
That is supposed to be a thread about crowd levels, not the 2024 experience. They aren't exactly the same thing..... 
Had a great experience overall, only downside the sheer number of people and queuing for toilets. It seemed no matter what time I went behind the grandstands to the loo the queue was 30 mins long or more, so I had to join the guys lined up on the wall.
Im sure the number of pit walk passes issued meant it was less busy on Friday public pit walk day, which was a small bonus.
Been going over 20 years with a break from 2008 for a few years due to health issues. We always reminisce about the crazy days of the mad roundabout near Houx Annex, but on the other hand im 20 years older now and its nice to stay somewhere where I dont worry about someone attempting to perform donuts in the gravel next to my car
Im sure the number of pit walk passes issued meant it was less busy on Friday public pit walk day, which was a small bonus.
Been going over 20 years with a break from 2008 for a few years due to health issues. We always reminisce about the crazy days of the mad roundabout near Houx Annex, but on the other hand im 20 years older now and its nice to stay somewhere where I dont worry about someone attempting to perform donuts in the gravel next to my car
Aysedasi2 said:
Despite health issues this year that cut down the length (and manner) of my trip, plus the less than desirable weather, I hugely enjoyed it. And yes, all things being well, I plan to be back for a 38th time next year.
38! WowBack for my 20th time next year.
Looking forward to it.
38 and 20….. respect indeed. Think I am only 7, but spread over the last 24 years so an interesting barometer of how things have changed….along with me.
Great fun, really enjoyed it.
Yes crowds were busy and queues long, there is still a crepe with my name on it in the village if anyone wants to collect it, but that is part of the madness.
I was still able to get into the AOC bar and drink in the grandstand watching the race, still able to get a table in a bar for food, still able to get into arnarge for dinner and beer, they even had a half decent GnT.
Yet I still remain convinced that it is the people you go with that make the trip. This year was no exception. Thank you friends.
Great fun, really enjoyed it.
Yes crowds were busy and queues long, there is still a crepe with my name on it in the village if anyone wants to collect it, but that is part of the madness.
I was still able to get into the AOC bar and drink in the grandstand watching the race, still able to get a table in a bar for food, still able to get into arnarge for dinner and beer, they even had a half decent GnT.
Yet I still remain convinced that it is the people you go with that make the trip. This year was no exception. Thank you friends.
markcoopers said:
Yet I still remain convinced that it is the people you go with that make the trip. This year was no exception. Thank you friends.
^^^^This^^^^12 visits since 2010 (2 Covid years off)
Cons - Weather not great, Crowds, Tram organisation (shutting Tetre Rouge stop) Gendarmerie traffic control after the race sabotaging our run out to Hotel De France, ACO restricting members to 2 tickets each on early sale scuppering booking our group as a group in the stands.
Pros - Cycled the track on Friday, saw the Mulsanne show for the first time, Genuinely close and competitive race, Le Mans city on Friday still a great laugh,
Overall , as ever, brilliant, a learning process about the ACO every time so hopefully find a way round that next year.
361 Days to the next one
s, so I ended up going on my own again. I definitely enjoyed this year. In part, that was down to the mates I went with, but outside of the circuit it all felt quite nice and relaxed.
What I really don't understand is the ACO's approach to organising things. For example, why scan GE tickets in and out of the campsites? And more so why bother when, after I skipped being scanned out, they had no issue scanning me back in? Just seemed to create unnecessary queues.
This was my 15th trip in 17 years, and I've found I move around inside the circuit during the race a lot less than I used to. I guess that's down in part to the massive crowds, in part due to having a grandstand seat, and in part that I've been to most parts of the circuit now. I did joke to the guys that we'd spent a week in France to watch most of the racing on a giant TV screen, but there's some truth to it!
What I really don't understand is the ACO's approach to organising things. For example, why scan GE tickets in and out of the campsites? And more so why bother when, after I skipped being scanned out, they had no issue scanning me back in? Just seemed to create unnecessary queues.
This was my 15th trip in 17 years, and I've found I move around inside the circuit during the race a lot less than I used to. I guess that's down in part to the massive crowds, in part due to having a grandstand seat, and in part that I've been to most parts of the circuit now. I did joke to the guys that we'd spent a week in France to watch most of the racing on a giant TV screen, but there's some truth to it!
Output Flange said:
....why scan GE tickets in and out of the campsites? ...
Indeed. They only need to scan at the entrance to Houx as that's an entry point to the circuit, and could easily move that scan to the inner gate from Houx to the main circuit area.Speaking of which, if you went in via the Houx entrance there were no bag checks, whereas 100yds up the road at the Glamping entrance they were scanning you with wands, patting you down, rifling through your bag.
I was down at Mulsanne when the safety car came out for the barrier repairs when the BMW crashed, and there was a huge queue to be scanned out as there were only 2 people manning the 'out'.
Finally... Was there ever a drone show? Loved it in 2023, but no-one in our group saw anything - was it too windy?
Truckosaurus said:
Indeed. They only need to scan at the entrance to Houx as that's an entry point to the circuit, and could easily move that scan to the inner gate from Houx to the main circuit area.
Speaking of which, if you went in via the Houx entrance there were no bag checks, whereas 100yds up the road at the Glamping entrance they were scanning you with wands, patting you down, rifling through your bag.
I was down at Mulsanne when the safety car came out for the barrier repairs when the BMW crashed, and there was a huge queue to be scanned out as there were only 2 people manning the 'out'.
Finally... Was there ever a drone show? Loved it in 2023, but no-one in our group saw anything - was it too windy?
So no security check at Houx to stop the general public ransacking the campsite? Speaking of which, if you went in via the Houx entrance there were no bag checks, whereas 100yds up the road at the Glamping entrance they were scanning you with wands, patting you down, rifling through your bag.
I was down at Mulsanne when the safety car came out for the barrier repairs when the BMW crashed, and there was a huge queue to be scanned out as there were only 2 people manning the 'out'.
Finally... Was there ever a drone show? Loved it in 2023, but no-one in our group saw anything - was it too windy?
Yeah. Great idea.
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