The Classic 2025

[goldengooner]

I have done Le Mans 24 hour twice in 2019 which I found a lot better then the 100th in 2023, which to be honest suprprised me, I always do Le Mans at the start of a crazy road-trip. In 2019 was only down to Monaco via a few countries. In 2023 a crazy trip to Athens and back.
So next year I thought it's time to do the Classic on the start of my drive to Malta,
Have booked with 1st tickets, who I always use, they have given me excellent service over the years and their prices are not much more then the ACO.
So have booked my favourite grandstand T20 Leonard, Padocks as it's for the 4 days and you get to walk around them all, a video on youtube that I watched they were only allowed to go into a few, mind you was a few years back.
And something I am a bit nervous about as it's not really "Parade Laps" have done that at a few tracks and it's a convoy, this seems to be a free for all, but to be driving round the Le Man's track does seem very special mind you it's not cheap. Has anyone done the parade laps?
Also I have paid to park in the Pistonheads parking? From leaving the circuit at the end of the parade laps, is it easy to get to the pistonheads car-park thanks?
Larry

[LM240]

Parade laps were a great experience, especially to be able to drive the whole circuit. Yes, it is a bit of a free for all. I was concentrating a lot on what others were doing whilst trying to take in the experience. Take care, there are those that suddenly think they are in the 24hrs.

If I do them again, I will be last in line and slowly head out onto the track. It is very stop / start amongst other cars. Hanging back seems to reward with quite free laps.

I presume the pistonheads parking is within the club parking (inside Bugatti circuit). If so, you gather from there for the parade laps and you exit back into the club area just after the Dunlop bridge where the Bugatti circuit goes right. The other thing I liked was the actual cars in the classic also exited this way after each ‘race’, so you got a chance to see them going past slowly. Nearly got run over by a Porsche 917, not paying attention whilst walking around… would have been an interesting anecdote!

[MrC986]

I did the parade laps in 2022 (yes there was a Classic that year!!). We were some how the last out on to the track at 8am in our group. We passed a couple of cars at Tertre Rouge & then saw an empty Mulsanne & saw no other cars until we were down by Indianapolis.

I think our group was the exception rather than the norm as it was mainly Brits with very few older cars and we had a quiet chat before so everyone knew overtaking only on the left/on the straights. Yes, we made serious progress on our first lap (it is normally 2 laps you get) and you need crash helmets.

Would I do it again, hell yes - we might see the OP in 2025 but it'll be a friend driving his Portchester and I'll be spectating/taking the "team car"

[goldengooner]

Thanks for reply's
So what you are saying is, go so slow that everyone shoots past you, leaving you a open road? Which sounds more fun as then can enjoy the drive more
So the time you are given say 8am only a limited number of cars are allowed onto the track for that time-slot?
I'm doing the Friday, but don't have a clue what my time-slot will be? do they look at the car you are driving and make a decision on that? Mind you watching the vid's it does look a very varied mixture of cars.
I want to put the roof down on the Mustang and I have a crash helmet

thanks

[RGG]

goldengooner said:

Thanks for reply's
So what you are saying is, go so slow that everyone shoots past you, leaving you a open road? Which sounds more fun as then can enjoy the drive more
So the time you are given say 8am only a limited number of cars are allowed onto the track for that time-slot?
I'm doing the Friday, but don't have a clue what my time-slot will be? do they look at the car you are driving and make a decision on that? Mind you watching the vid's it does look a very varied mixture of cars.
I want to put the roof down on the Mustang and I have a crash helmet

thanks

It's a "parade lap" albeit a continental one - not to be confused with an English one

The cars out on the track will be "as they come" - 2CV to Hypercar.
It's not a track day with slow, medium, fast groups.

The pre line up before everyone leaves for the track will be in several lines of cars so it will be impossible to know if you go out at the front - meaning you get that section of clear road.

My own approach - each to their own - is to go for quality not quantity.
If you hang back, a clear road is self created to enjoy .
That's the positive.
The negative is that because of the time limit you run the potential of getting one less lap than those who leave at the front.

The reality is that it's pretty much "hit and miss" - after having done a few "parade" laps.
Sometimes there will be a traffic jam, sometimes a totally clear road appears out of nowhere.

Flags are used for "incidents" usually breakdowns and some disregard the "yellows".
Focus mainly on what's in front.
Keep to the right as much as you can.

It won't be possible to construct your session exactly how you want it to be but you can get a bit of a planned framework together before you go out.

I'd be interested to hear others approach to pre planing and their approach to the session.

[MrC986]

Yes, there is a time limit and limit on the number of cars in each parade. There is a pace car that you are not allowed to overtake (we only saw it briefly at the start as we were waiting to go on track as it was so far in front). The cars in our group were all similar i.e. sports cars and were I think all Brits.

The marshalls were filming us with their phones given we were "making progress" and we only saw the flag at the end as they took us off track just after the Dunlop bridge back in to the centre of the circuit. Crash helmets are mandatory BTW and if you are on an early session I.e. 8am, we had to be at the marshaling point I think by about 07.15 which takes some doing given roads are closed off and we were on the PH campsite so we woke a few up as we left at 06.45

[goldengooner]

So I take it 8am is the 1st run? what time is the last parade lap? Do the AOC decide who goes when?
I'm coming from Rue François de Malherbe (2ème étage), 72000 Le Mans, France about 2 miles I think? then parking in the pistonheads car-park been booked with 1st tickets
Have done track laps, done some at Castle Coombe, was a total nightmare had escorts, mini's all round me, that was the last time, these parade laps seen to be "parade" in name only :-)
thanks

[RGG]

goldengooner said:

So I take it 8am is the 1st run? what time is the last parade lap? Do the AOC decide who goes when?
I'm coming from Rue François de Malherbe (2ème étage), 72000 Le Mans, France about 2 miles I think? then parking in the pistonheads car-park been booked with 1st tickets
Have done track laps, done some at Castle Coombe, was a total nightmare had escorts, mini's all round me, that was the last time, these parade laps seen to be "parade" in name only :-)
thanks

There's a few sessions up until around 0900hrs ish. (Don't know exactly how many - 20 minutes per session I think).

Your parade lap pass/sticker will have the the time/colour on it.

Brian, 1st Tickets will let you know how and where to go on the day.

You know the track's eight miles, everything gets spread out.

There's plenty of space to pass.

The slower cars hug the right.

The course/control car at last years Spa Classic event leaves everyone standing and was then lapping people. (Never in the UK)

I not been at the front like MRC986

But, I imagine it's something a bit similar.

"Parade" on the continent doesn't equate to Parade on the UK Circuits.

There's a load of Youtube videos that give a better picture.

[MrC986]

RGG said:

I not been at the front like MRC986

But, I imagine it's something a bit similar.

LOL...I was the opposite but can encourage some dithering in the marshaling area before to try & let everyone else go on. Indeed Brian is well organised & it might be worth asking what time slots he has available although I think the earlier ones might be advantageous as the locals may still be in bed

[goldengooner]

As i'm staying away from the track, a earlier slot might be the best thing
I'm coming in from Rue François de Malherbe (2ème étage), 72000 Le Mans, So having empty roads makes sense 4 miles to the track

[pingu393]

What's a sensible price and place to get a couple of helmets?

It will be our only time using them, so I don't want to spend a fortune on them.

I'll be looking into an insurance quote tomorrow, but I think it only covers my car and damage to the circuit.

[RGG]

pingu393 said:

What's a sensible price and place to get a couple of helmets?

It will be our only time using them, so I don't want to spend a fortune on them.

I'll be looking into an insurance quote tomorrow, but I think it only covers my car and damage to the circuit.

The first time we went I bought a couple of these.

Bell Custom 500's.

https://jsaccessories.co.uk/product/bell-custom-50...

They are motorbike helmets and "replicate" the 60' 70's era, good for us.

I sprayed ours in Jacky Ickx and Jackie Oliver colours.

The requirement spec is "helmet " and doesn't need to be FIA Approved or in date.

There's no checking spec or anything before going out, they just look to see you are wearing it before entering the track.

[pingu393]

RGG said:

pingu393 said:

What's a sensible price and place to get a couple of helmets?

It will be our only time using them, so I don't want to spend a fortune on them.

I'll be looking into an insurance quote tomorrow, but I think it only covers my car and damage to the circuit.

The first time we went I bought a couple of these.

Bell Custom 500's.

https://jsaccessories.co.uk/product/bell-custom-50...

They are motorbike helmets and "replicate" the 60' 70's era, good for us.

I sprayed ours in Jacky Ickx and Jackie Oliver colours.

The requirement spec is "helmet " and doesn't need to be FIA Approved or in date.

There's no checking spec or anything before going out, they just look to see you are wearing it before entering the track.

Thanks. That is exactly what I was hoping would be the answer.

£80 helmet = £80 head

[LM240]

Whilst I do go with the ‘how much do you value your head’, I bought a couple of new but cheap open face helmets for the parade laps. Think they were Omp.

It isn’t racing and you can be as sensible as you wish. (You’ve potentially gone faster on motorways)

If you think you will do track days and use them again, perhaps invest a bit more.

Thea have been worn for 30mins and been sat in their boxes ever since. Kept in case do parade laps again.

[pingu393]

LM240 said:

Whilst I do go with the ‘how much do you value your head’, I bought a couple of new but cheap open face helmets for the parade laps. Think they were Omp.

It isn’t racing and you can be as sensible as you wish. (You’ve potentially gone faster on motorways)

If you think you will do track days and use them again, perhaps invest a bit more.

Thea have been worn for 30mins and been sat in their boxes ever since. Kept in case do parade laps again.

Have no fear, I'll be going down the "cheap enough to pass the test" route. If I could get away with a building site hard hat, I would

[Vette_1978]

Bought one MT from Motohawk, open face Skull & Roses, £61, another MT Le Mans open face off eBay for £50 (new), both meet whatever the Euro standard is for safety.

[pingu393]

I bought Moris insurance. £130 for £30k car cover and armco cover. Not too bad for peace of mind, me thinks.

All this expense, and I've still to buy a brolly and some wellies

[LM240]

pingu393 said:

LM240 said:

Whilst I do go with the ‘how much do you value your head’, I bought a couple of new but cheap open face helmets for the parade laps. Think they were Omp.

It isn’t racing and you can be as sensible as you wish. (You’ve potentially gone faster on motorways)

If you think you will do track days and use them again, perhaps invest a bit more.

Thea have been worn for 30mins and been sat in their boxes ever since. Kept in case do parade laps again.

Have no fear, I'll be going down the "cheap enough to pass the test" route. If I could get away with a building site hard hat, I would

Just checked, OMP Star open face is what I bought. Think around £70 each.

Too be honest, no one was interested in the level of helmet. As long as you had some sort of helmet on was the only criteria.

Saw plenty of very old, ropey looking ones in cars.

[RGG]

LM240 said:

pingu393 said:

LM240 said:

Whilst I do go with the ‘how much do you value your head’, I bought a couple of new but cheap open face helmets for the parade laps. Think they were Omp.

It isn’t racing and you can be as sensible as you wish. (You’ve potentially gone faster on motorways)

If you think you will do track days and use them again, perhaps invest a bit more.

Thea have been worn for 30mins and been sat in their boxes ever since. Kept in case do parade laps again.

Have no fear, I'll be going down the "cheap enough to pass the test" route. If I could get away with a building site hard hat, I would

Just checked, OMP Star open face is what I bought. Think around £70 each.

Too be honest, no one was interested in the level of helmet. As long as you had some sort of helmet on was the only criteria.

Saw plenty of very old, ropey looking ones in cars.

I think the Marshalls just want something to hold everything in if the worst comes to the worst.

[TwinKam]

...the same reason as one-piece/zip-together leathers for bike racing; less mess