Top tip's for Le Mans 2008
Discussion
Like some, I was unable to attend the 2007 event however, 2008 is a must.
Whilst this years event is still fresh in everyone's minds, have you got some top tip's for the 2008 event?
- Where to eat and drink
or not to as the case may be! 
- Where to camp, what areas within the camp site.
- When to watch the racing when to sleep.
- What must be seen and what is worth avoiding.
- Best ways to get there.
- Etc etc
Any info is invaluable to a Le Mans virgin!
Whilst this years event is still fresh in everyone's minds, have you got some top tip's for the 2008 event?
- Where to eat and drink
or not to as the case may be! - Where to camp, what areas within the camp site.
- When to watch the racing when to sleep.
- What must be seen and what is worth avoiding.
- Best ways to get there.
- Etc etc
Any info is invaluable to a Le Mans virgin!
Nonsense it was great fun. Top tip number one is bring a gazebo and stick it around the tents so you don't get wet if it does rain. Got drenched just once and that was because I was in the pitlane without an umbrella. The sun came out and I was dry within 5 minutes. If anything I was glad that it wasn't as hot as last year.
RichB said:
boycieboy said:
what is worth avoiding.
The way I'm feeling at the moment and judging by the majority of comments on here I'd say, the whole event! 
Try the Classic Le Mans instead, sounds this is an event now aimed at the true racing fans, while the modern day Le Mans is now a huge club 18-30 holiday.
Book a return crossing late on Monday afternoon/early evening and take the N138 to Rouen, the autoroute to Abbeville (non-toll so no queues) then whatever route you like to Boulogne/Calais. If you're not pushed for time you'll be OK, it's a nice lazy route and you can stop off for lunch.
I can't understand some of the negative responses - we had a truly fantastic time, the whole weekend has a had a profound affect on us.
Maybe it's because it was our first or maybe we were lucky and didn't make any mistakes.
A couple of things we did that from what I read was probably a good idea:
1. Don't camp - take a b&b, hotel, let room. Maybe not in the true spirit of le man but you can still go a site to soak up the atmosphere. You get a good nights sleep, don't get covered in mud and don't get caught in massive queues.
2. Travel back Monday - stay the Sunday night and avoid the jams.
Maybe it's because it was our first or maybe we were lucky and didn't make any mistakes.
A couple of things we did that from what I read was probably a good idea:
1. Don't camp - take a b&b, hotel, let room. Maybe not in the true spirit of le man but you can still go a site to soak up the atmosphere. You get a good nights sleep, don't get covered in mud and don't get caught in massive queues.
2. Travel back Monday - stay the Sunday night and avoid the jams.
kevin ritson said:
Book a return crossing late on Monday afternoon/early evening and take the N138 to Rouen, the autoroute to Abbeville (non-toll so no queues) then whatever route you like to Boulogne/Calais. If you're not pushed for time you'll be OK, it's a nice lazy route and you can stop off for lunch.
Yep, agree, leaving Monday is much much better than leaving Sunday. (interestingly, everyone seems to have a problem with HA Roundabout and general behavior on Friday, nobody has mentioned Sunday, which on HA was like a war zone (gas cylinders in fires, 2 inch shells (fireworks) being lobbed into camp areas)).We had a smooth run up the 28 and even just made the 2pm ferry out of Dunkirk and it was nice not to have to rush around after the race, especially considering the weather and amount of traffic.
By the way Duncan, I'm thinking Wednesday - Monday next year!
Main tip is to not miss a race !!! (what race?)
Next year will be my 23rd in a row and I'm already looking for a new car (car car car) to take next year
Oh and if you try and get someone like Viant to organise everything it's even better (thanks Rich)
although you probably will have to see him naked at some part of the weekend
..... WGOTSOT
Next year will be my 23rd in a row and I'm already looking for a new car (car car car) to take next year
Oh and if you try and get someone like Viant to organise everything it's even better (thanks Rich)
although you probably will have to see him naked at some part of the weekend
..... WGOTSOT
I haven't bee to Le Mans yet either, it is somthing I've always wanted to do, though reading some of the threads has got me wondering too.
But I've decided to ignore all the people talking about fights and Chavs and I have to go, I want to get into the atmosphere of it all and see the racing. I've really enjoyed reading peoples tales of crawling through the undergrowth and avoiding the marshalls/police to get up close to the Mulsanne Straight and Porsche Curves and seeing all the piccies of the cars and spectators.
I've already told my company that I will not be at work next June just so I can make sure I don't miss it!
Maybe we should get a convoy of complete Le Mans virgins together for 2008, all stickerd up, so we can all get lost and look daft together?
But I've decided to ignore all the people talking about fights and Chavs and I have to go, I want to get into the atmosphere of it all and see the racing. I've really enjoyed reading peoples tales of crawling through the undergrowth and avoiding the marshalls/police to get up close to the Mulsanne Straight and Porsche Curves and seeing all the piccies of the cars and spectators.
I've already told my company that I will not be at work next June just so I can make sure I don't miss it!
Maybe we should get a convoy of complete Le Mans virgins together for 2008, all stickerd up, so we can all get lost and look daft together?
bob1179 said:
I haven't bee to Le Mans yet either, it is somthing I've always wanted to do, though reading some of the threads has got me wondering too.
But I've decided to ignore all the people talking about fights and Chavs and I have to go, I want to get into the atmosphere of it all and see the racing. I've really enjoyed reading peoples tales of crawling through the undergrowth and avoiding the marshalls/police to get up close to the Mulsanne Straight and Porsche Curves and seeing all the piccies of the cars and spectators.
I've already told my company that I will not be at work next June just so I can make sure I don't miss it!
Maybe we should get a convoy of complete Le Mans virgins together for 2008, all stickerd up, so we can all get lost and look daft together?
bob1179 - you've got to go, ignore the bad press it's got on here - I liken the event to a proper city like New York, you can have a fantastic time or you can have an awful time - it's about how you do it and your attitude.But I've decided to ignore all the people talking about fights and Chavs and I have to go, I want to get into the atmosphere of it all and see the racing. I've really enjoyed reading peoples tales of crawling through the undergrowth and avoiding the marshalls/police to get up close to the Mulsanne Straight and Porsche Curves and seeing all the piccies of the cars and spectators.
I've already told my company that I will not be at work next June just so I can make sure I don't miss it!
Maybe we should get a convoy of complete Le Mans virgins together for 2008, all stickerd up, so we can all get lost and look daft together?
There's so much going on and so many variables it's about how YOU experience Le Mans - it isn't the greatest motorsport event on earth for nothing.
Have you read the other thread on here about how people loved it? forgotten the title of it now.
how we'll do it better next year:
1. Go down on the Thursday (we had to go Friday this year)
2. Get the cars stickered up
3. Stay in Arnage or Mulsanne - we were in central Le Mans and couldn't get a taxi for ages.
4. Drive to Mulsanne straight on the Sunday. We tried to walk and realised it's blocked.
1. Go down on the Thursday (we had to go Friday this year)
2. Get the cars stickered up
3. Stay in Arnage or Mulsanne - we were in central Le Mans and couldn't get a taxi for ages.
4. Drive to Mulsanne straight on the Sunday. We tried to walk and realised it's blocked.
I couldn't go this year, but went last year as a Le Mans virgin, and had a great time. All being well next year should be a goer, and rememer all these posta about the chav element are just an isolated few.
Next year is European football, so hopefully the chav types will be going to that rather than LM.
Oh and Top Tip for 2008..........................GO TO Le Mans!!!!
Next year is European football, so hopefully the chav types will be going to that rather than LM.
Oh and Top Tip for 2008..........................GO TO Le Mans!!!!
Lots of ideas but not much time to post them.
We tend to go down in a two car team, the Motorhome and the TVR (although we are seriously considering a 7 for next year).
We leave on @ the 2pm boat on the Monday and drive straight to about 70km from the track where we stay in the MH for the night. get up early and collect passes from the Welcome Centre and then pitched the tent on Houx.
We always tend to leave at about 7-8pm on the Sunday evening and have never failed to drive straight out. We again try to stop 70kmish from Calais in the MH (or at least Blighty side of Rouen) and then spend the mid morning on the moday in CdeE for fancy foods and wine.
If we didn't have the MH we would do the same but with hotels on the Monday and Sunday nights.
We tend to go down in a two car team, the Motorhome and the TVR (although we are seriously considering a 7 for next year).
We leave on @ the 2pm boat on the Monday and drive straight to about 70km from the track where we stay in the MH for the night. get up early and collect passes from the Welcome Centre and then pitched the tent on Houx.
We always tend to leave at about 7-8pm on the Sunday evening and have never failed to drive straight out. We again try to stop 70kmish from Calais in the MH (or at least Blighty side of Rouen) and then spend the mid morning on the moday in CdeE for fancy foods and wine.
If we didn't have the MH we would do the same but with hotels on the Monday and Sunday nights.
AngryS3Owner said:
RichB said:
boycieboy said:
what is worth avoiding.
The way I'm feeling at the moment and judging by the majority of comments on here I'd say, the whole event! 
TheOriginalGT40 said:
RichB said:
boycieboy said:
what is worth avoiding.
The way I'm feeling at the moment and judging by the majority of comments on here I'd say, the whole event! Try the Classic Le Mans instead, sounds this is an event now aimed at the true racing fans, while the modern day Le Mans is now a huge club 18-30 holiday.
I have never encountered any (overly) drunk or aggressive behaviour by the circuit/grandstands.
Ok, in no particular order:
- GO NEXT YEAR. Trust me, it’s nowhere near as bad as some have made it out to be. We avoided the HA roundabout, we went to the quieter bars off the main square on Friday night, and didn’t see any trouble at all. Do your research, and if you don’t like the sound of certain things, then avoid them: you will always meet a bunch of like-minded people wherever you go.
- Book your 2008 tickets now!
- Go early in the week. Firstly, this ensures you get a decent spot to camp in. Secondly, the end of the week is hectic with the Arnage meet/pit walk/parade/classic race/race build-up – go early to give yourself time to soak up the campsite atmosphere and chill for a bit.
- As previously noted, a gazebo is essential shelter and shade. Make sure you have one with sides. Also, make sure you buy a decent, sturdy one – the wind bent one of the legs on our cheapy £40 Robert Dyas contraption.
- Inevitably, you will want to V-max your car on the Autoroute. As documented in this forum, Les Flics will be out to get you, and this could cause a lot of hassle. In an attempt to avoid this, one of our convoy cruised at a safe 95-100 mph for a good few miles, whilst the rest cruised at 60 mph-ish. Once the lead car confirmed there were no speed traps and had built up a good lead, the rest could put the hammer down and catch up. We took turns being the recce car.
- If you want to see the parade on Friday, make sure you’re on the busses by 2-3pm. On the way back, take the bus at 11-12ish (I think they run to 1-1:30am) to avoid a 2.5 hour walk back!
- Over the course of the next year, make sure you become friends with a teetotal who drives a Transit/people carrier/Range Rover!
- Don’t miss the start of the race. At 11-12ish on Saturday, take a bunch of deckchairs, a couple of cool boxes full of cool beer/picnic stuff, and a pocket radio (for Radio LM) and nab your spot on the start/finish straight. Individual team members can then pop out for more beer/food as required.
- Inevitably, a supermarket trip is needed on Saturday (to stock up on ice for the rest of the w/e). DO NOT go on Saturday morning, as you’ll be stuck in traffic for hours. We went at 5pm on Saturday, and the roads were empty. However, this meant one of the guys couldn’t drink during Saturday daytime.
- Go on the Ferris wheel.
- Don’t let people peak too early on Saturday – a couple of team members drunk too much and had to go to bed at 12am during the race!
- In hindsight, our team’s ‘Cleaning is Cheating’ rule served none of us any good. Thankfully, the ‘Sh*tting is Cheating’ rule was abandoned early in the week.
- The campsites were a big, muddy, slippery mess by Sunday afternoon – lots of people had problems getting out. Anticipating this, we packed up the cars on Sunday morning and moved them to the concrete bits by the exit before all the paths got churned up by everyone else.
- On Monday, go for a day by the sea. We go to Deauville every year, which is like a much posher version of Le Touquet, and has a great sandy beach. Lots of people go to Honfleur, a quaint little fishing village (but with no beach).
That’s all I can think of for now – will maybe add some more later.
Best regards,
Chris
- GO NEXT YEAR. Trust me, it’s nowhere near as bad as some have made it out to be. We avoided the HA roundabout, we went to the quieter bars off the main square on Friday night, and didn’t see any trouble at all. Do your research, and if you don’t like the sound of certain things, then avoid them: you will always meet a bunch of like-minded people wherever you go.
- Book your 2008 tickets now!
- Go early in the week. Firstly, this ensures you get a decent spot to camp in. Secondly, the end of the week is hectic with the Arnage meet/pit walk/parade/classic race/race build-up – go early to give yourself time to soak up the campsite atmosphere and chill for a bit.
- As previously noted, a gazebo is essential shelter and shade. Make sure you have one with sides. Also, make sure you buy a decent, sturdy one – the wind bent one of the legs on our cheapy £40 Robert Dyas contraption.
- Inevitably, you will want to V-max your car on the Autoroute. As documented in this forum, Les Flics will be out to get you, and this could cause a lot of hassle. In an attempt to avoid this, one of our convoy cruised at a safe 95-100 mph for a good few miles, whilst the rest cruised at 60 mph-ish. Once the lead car confirmed there were no speed traps and had built up a good lead, the rest could put the hammer down and catch up. We took turns being the recce car.
- If you want to see the parade on Friday, make sure you’re on the busses by 2-3pm. On the way back, take the bus at 11-12ish (I think they run to 1-1:30am) to avoid a 2.5 hour walk back!
- Over the course of the next year, make sure you become friends with a teetotal who drives a Transit/people carrier/Range Rover!
- Don’t miss the start of the race. At 11-12ish on Saturday, take a bunch of deckchairs, a couple of cool boxes full of cool beer/picnic stuff, and a pocket radio (for Radio LM) and nab your spot on the start/finish straight. Individual team members can then pop out for more beer/food as required.
- Inevitably, a supermarket trip is needed on Saturday (to stock up on ice for the rest of the w/e). DO NOT go on Saturday morning, as you’ll be stuck in traffic for hours. We went at 5pm on Saturday, and the roads were empty. However, this meant one of the guys couldn’t drink during Saturday daytime.
- Go on the Ferris wheel.
- Don’t let people peak too early on Saturday – a couple of team members drunk too much and had to go to bed at 12am during the race!
- In hindsight, our team’s ‘Cleaning is Cheating’ rule served none of us any good. Thankfully, the ‘Sh*tting is Cheating’ rule was abandoned early in the week.
- The campsites were a big, muddy, slippery mess by Sunday afternoon – lots of people had problems getting out. Anticipating this, we packed up the cars on Sunday morning and moved them to the concrete bits by the exit before all the paths got churned up by everyone else.
- On Monday, go for a day by the sea. We go to Deauville every year, which is like a much posher version of Le Touquet, and has a great sandy beach. Lots of people go to Honfleur, a quaint little fishing village (but with no beach).
That’s all I can think of for now – will maybe add some more later.
Best regards,
Chris
Don't arrive at Le Mans at 18:00 on Thursday then spend 2.5 hours getting to your campsite pitch
Take a gazebo ! Great in sun or rain.
Take paracetamol / neurofen
Take the next day off work when you get back !
Don't go over 90mph on the peage (or drive on the back roads - much more fun)
Don't bank on the Carrefour being open late
Take your own bacon !
Take a proper waterproof tent with steel tent pegs
Remember to see some of the race
Mike
Take a gazebo ! Great in sun or rain.
Take paracetamol / neurofen
Take the next day off work when you get back !
Don't go over 90mph on the peage (or drive on the back roads - much more fun)
Don't bank on the Carrefour being open late
Take your own bacon !
Take a proper waterproof tent with steel tent pegs
Remember to see some of the race
Mike
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