Taking a first timer

[MicMax27]

So next year, my step dad has decided to join me at Le Mans for his first time. He’s not a massive motorsport fan, so I’d like to make an impression on him. It’ll be my 4th time at Le Mans, so I have my preferred spots to watch the start, finish and everything in between.

But if you could attend for the first time, what would be your top spots/things to do.

I’m thinking Start/finish on pit straight, Indianapolis/Arnage at night and the ferris wheel as a baseline for race day.

Any suggestions welcome.

[gt6]

Must do the museum at some time, plus walk up towards tertre Rouge and watch at various places on the way during the race.

[Strasse]

This was from last years guide it might be helpful - https://www.le-mans-guide.co.uk/what-to-see

Also have a look at - https://www.le-mans-guide.co.uk/the-le-mans-experi... It might put things in perspective

Regards
Strasse

[loughran]

I've only ever been to the Classic so maybe not relevant but my abiding memory is sitting amongst the trees on the banking at Arnage once the sun had gone down.

After the heat of the day, you can sit in the balmy, pine scented evening air with excellent company, listening to the awesome sound of cars approaching through the forest from Mulsanne to Indianapolis and you're in the perfect spot to watch them charge into the 90 degree Arnage corner, brake disks glowing, before they haul off towards the Porsche bends.

[fatboy18]

MicMax27 said:

So next year, my step dad has decided to join me at Le Mans for his first time. He’s not a massive motorsport fan, so I’d like to make an impression on him. It’ll be my 4th time at Le Mans, so I have my preferred spots to watch the start, finish and everything in between.

But if you could attend for the first time, what would be your top spots/things to do.

I’m thinking Start/finish on pit straight, Indianapolis/Arnage at night and the ferris wheel as a baseline for race day.

Any suggestions welcome.

Will you have a car with you?

OK, I've been going more on than off since 1982! Sadly for me the place has lost its magic by becoming far too corporate with company hospitality at the expense of the true race fans but hey ho.

If you plan to do the start of the race and you don't have any grandstand tickets then make sure you get a spot early and prepare to defend it. I prefer to be on the outside of the circuit opposite pit lane for the best view. near the start line. Another good spot is just before the Dunlop bridge (again on the outside of the track) there is a big screen opposite to see whats coming up the hill and in the beginning of the race there are usually a few who over cook it.

Tertre Rouge corner is another place (infield) if you go towards the end of it you see the cars shifting up gears as they enter the mulsanne straight.

The Tertre rouge bar on the outside of the track (not within the ACO controlled circuit) is a great place for cheaper food and beer and has a large marquee outside with a big screen and cheaper beer than ACO prices, you can walk down to the gate (infield) at tertre rouge corner and scan your ticket out, then turn left under the tunnel and have a couple of hours in the Tertre rouge bar (it has local bands on too over the weekend).

Another place I like to go is the Hotel Arbour by the second chicane on the mulsanne straight. Now to get there when no racing is on is easy as you would drive down the mulsanne straight, but that's a bit tricky with a race on You have to drive towards the town of mulsanne via Ruaudin using the D140 TER then make a left turn up a single track road ( La Closerie) where a rozzer will be waiting at the end, you then turn right and head towards the hotel where you pay something like 10 euros and that gets you into the hotel carpark directly by the side of the track (and I mean the side of the track) with your entrance fee this also gets you a Baugette or beer, once you have stood trackside for a bit wonder around the back of the hotel and into the woods where there is a track which takes you to the outside saftey fencing of the second chicane cars will cone into view thundering around the chichane, the cool bit about the hotel Arbour is its not ACO controled which means you don't have to pay the ACO to watch the race!

Mulsanne is a good viewing area, I normally go there for an hour on Sunday mornings, Arnage at night is also good.

Friday there is normally a car show down at Mulsanne and the Mulsanne straight is sometimes opened to allow movement of traffic.

Friday Morning (if you get up early enough) there is a fantastic gathering of classic and sports cars at St saturim called the great British welcome, https://www.classicbw.org/en/program/
I like to get there early and leave by midday, I usually make my way back to the circuit then dump the car and get on the tram to see the drivers parade in Le mans town centre, grab some food in the old historic cobbled streets near the cathedral. Another fantastic place for the true french life is Bar Le Vin, 8 Rue du Cornet (just off the square Republic (where the tram pulls up) its a small place and all it sells is wine and cognac and cured meats and cheese you can order a meat and cheese platter sit around a barrel and work your way through some fantastic liquid! (it might get messy) then back on the tram and nip back to the tertre rouge bar for a nightcap Race day your head might hurt a bit! haha

Another option on the Friday is to head to La Chartre-sur-le-loir where you will find the Hotel De France, this Hotel you will often find Derek Bell or Jackie Ixx floating around and the hotel is lined with many pictures of Le mans motor sport history. Don't expect to get a meal in the hotel, its normally packed with package tour motor sport fans who have pre-booked a meal but there are other places to eat around the square.

Right that'll do that's my six pennyworth. Have a good time, I'm not going in 2025. Oh and a good idea not to speed as there are now more and more village speed scameras than ever before!




edited for spelling

Edited by fatboy18 on Sunday 8th December 16:05

[sahajesh]

loughran said:

I've only ever been to the Classic so maybe not relevant but my abiding memory is sitting amongst the trees on the banking at Arnage once the sun had gone down.

After the heat of the day, you can sit in the balmy, pine scented evening air with excellent company, listening to the awesome sound of cars approaching through the forest from Mulsanne to Indianapolis and you're in the perfect spot to watch them charge into the 90 degree Arnage corner, brake disks glowing, before they haul off towards the Porsche bends.

I'd never refer to the surrounding people at Arnage (at the main event) as 'excellent company'

[sahajesh]

Get grandstand tickets, he won't enjoy getting to a viewing spot VERY early and having to defend it, especially if it's raining or really hot.

Don't bother driving to Hotel De France - it's a painful drive, the hotel bar will be crowded and you'll see a small number of maybe-interesting cars parked outside. If you want to see famous ex-drivers, then Goodwood FoS is far better.

Agree with Hotel Arbor, well worth it and I think the ticket includes a beer and snack/sandwich (from memory).

Edited by sahajesh on Sunday 8th December 16:02

[Dukla2000]

Plenty of suggestions above for viewing points during the race.

My 6p - Le Mans is not just 24 hours but a whole week festival. Get there early, go to scrutineering for a couple of hours, try the Tuesday pitwalk to show how accessible it is (If it happens in 2025, Friday is insane). Get to one of the surrounding villages for their shows - we tend to do Ruaudin on Wed & Mulsanne on Friday. Walk/run/cycle round the track on Friday (assuming that is possible in 2025 seeing Mustang & Porsche races as well).
Traditionally the Ceremony of the Hands downtown - not my thing at all but may be an idea.

Also bear in mind his tolerance of heaving crowds (race day on the pit straight - my pref is to be well away for the start but to go sit on the near-empty concrete steps opposite the pits about 19:00) and baking hot (or sopping wet) weather - try set expectations. As well as for your campsite of choice. Younger first-timers can be full of the joys of youth and oblivious to the challenges: older folk may well be fairly cautious/apprehensive so try explain as many of the logistics as you can. Listen for questions etc.

[MicMax27]

Thank you so much for your very detailed replies. I think we will definitely be looking at Hotel D’arbor. I didn’t even know it was possible to get to places like that. The cheaper beer and baguettes sound perfect to me.

[fatboy18]

Tell him to wear a very comfortable pair of hiking boots or trainers because there is one hell of a lot of walking involved and a bit of Vaseline to ease chaffing in various regions! And beware of the barbecued red sausages!
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Edited by fatboy18 on Tuesday 10th December 18:02

[Pitre]

Assuming you're driving down, visit the 'Classic British Welcome' in St Saturnin (on Friday morning), which is a village just outside Le Mans. It's free and there are best part of 1,000 cars on show. Not to be missed.

[Pitre]

https://www.classicbw.org/en/homepage/

[Pitre]

Friday afternoon in the centre of Le Mans is the driver's parade, which is quite fun but very crowded. Everyone should do it once!

https://www.grande-parade-des-pilotes.com/

[RONV]

Try to book at Hotel de France in La Chartre-sur-le Loir full of race history.

Edited by RONV on Wednesday 11th December 14:54

[fatboy18]

RONV said:

Try to book at Hotel de France in La Chartre-sur-le Loir full of race history.

Edited by RONV on Wednesday 11th December 14:54

I wouldn't! I have stayed there when le mans is not on and its fine, BUT on the race weekend its another matter, generally a set menu, terrible service as the kitchen can't cope, I got a full refund the last time i visited. for a drink yes its fine, but as i said to the OP the place is usually booked up by motor sport companies, as is the main square for their members parking!

[MicMax27]

fatboy18 said:

Tell him to wear a very comfortable pair of hiking boots or trainers because there is one hell of a lot of walking involved and a bit of Vaseline to ease chaffing in various regions! And beware of the barbecued red sausages!
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Edited by fatboy18 on Tuesday 10th December 18:02

Luckily he’s in the Navy and is used to marching recruits across Dartmoor, so hopefully a drunken stroll back to Village on the Curves will be a piece of cake for him. As for the red sausages, I’ll let him find out the hard way, as I did haha.

[Porkieboy]

Village on The Curves has shuttle buses so walking is Limited and easy access to Beusejour roundabout via the walkway next to the allotments.

[MicMax27]

Is walking from the allotment cut through to Arnage/Indianapolis achievable?

[Dukla2000]

MicMax27 said:

Is walking from the allotment cut through to Arnage/Indianapolis achievable?

Yes.

But if the track is in use then the last place to get from inside of the track (where I think the allotments are?) to the outside of the track (where the Arnage viewing is) is the road that goes past Beausejour and the Porsche Curves. In theory there are the (free) Navettes, depending on the length of the queues and traffic jam/accidents (as per 2023) walking can be faster even though you have to take the D92 most of the way into Arnage itself and then the D140 back out to Virage d'Arnage.

[Porkieboy]

Fortunately Village on The Curves runs night trips to Arnage.corner.