Le Man's camp site alternative advice?

[Mr Nu]

Hi all

In need of some help/advice from all you experienced Le Man'ers.

I am thinking of going next year, but dont fancy the camp site option (not snobbish, but one terrible holiday under canvas in the South of France has tainted my fondness for camping in a severe way).

The question I have, is do any of you stay off site (in one of the local regional hotels) and if so are there any serious negatives in doing this? I wondered whether trying to obtain access to the track on the day of the race mirrors the queues of Silverstone a few years back etc. and also can you get a decent parking location at the circuit if you're willing to pay? Any advice / tips would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks

Nath

[E36GUY]

Not camping at Le Mans is sacriledge I'm afraid. You would lose 80% of the whole atmosphere if you slunk off to a hotel at the end of the day. Not to mention that option being a pain in the arse cos you have to travel back and forth in the hellish traffic.

Get a massive tent (£150 tops on ebay (Gelert Vancouver 8 is what I use) that you can stand up in and has lots of space, a gazeebo structure (£10 argos) for outside in case of rain and you are good to go.

[lowdrag]

If you want to book a hotel then frankly you'll have difficulty finding a room within 25 miles of the circuit. Most hotels are permanently booked by the same bunch/agency and if one drops out they find another to take his place. Living here I have french friends at Mulsanne who do B&B if that might help but otherwise you might as well get prepared for camping. As aforesaid, it is the only way to really experience the event and getting to and fro the parking is a nightmare. On Fridays and Saturdays the queue stretches from the circuit at least 5/10 miles north back up the N138 towards Alençon and coming from other directions, while not as bad, is still a nightmare. Remenber that Le Mans is normally a town of 150,000 souls, enlarged to nearly 400,000 during the event.

[996tom]

I have just booked my 14th trip & stayed in a hotel everytime. Try one of the ticket agencies (just tickets/ Page & Moy etc)but you will need to put down a deposit in the next few weeks. They will get the tickets & car parking passes for you & if you want the ferry or the tunnel. Places like Alencon are very nice to stay in. They have there own atmosphere (e'g no england shirts & water pistols) and you probably get more of a chance of seeing some exotic motors.


Getting in on the saturday is not to much of a problem.
As long as you are in before about midday. The other approach to getting in ,is to leave it until the last hour (3pm or 4pm) and driving straight in from the city centre (lemans) . Its very strange as there is hardly any traffic going in.
I'm sure what ever you do you will have a fantastic time. Lemans is a different experience to all.

[E36GUY]

996tom said:

I'm sure what ever you do you will have a fantastic time. Lemans is a different experience to all.

I second this motion but it's still cheating!

However this I can't

996tom said:

and you probably get more of a chance of seeing some exotic motors.

Have you been round the campsites Tom? Possibly the finest collection of varied exotica to be found anywhere in the world to be found within!

Edited by E36GUY on Wednesday 19th September 17:54

[Vette_1978]

E36GUY said:

Have you been round the campsites Tom? Possibly the finest collection of varied exotica to be found anywhere in the world to be found within!

Quite right Guy, in 2006 we stayed on Houx Annex, reknowed as THE rowdy campsite, and there was a Mosler MT900 parked up in there.

[Willo M900]

Vette_1978 said:

E36GUY said:

Have you been round the campsites Tom? Possibly the finest collection of varied exotica to be found anywhere in the world to be found within!

Quite right Guy, in 2006 we stayed on Houx Annex, reknowed as THE rowdy campsite, and there was a Mosler MT900 parked up in there.

That would have been me then



And again in a rather wet 2007 in Houx:

Edited by Willo M900 on Monday 24th September 09:36

Edited by Willo M900 on Monday 24th September 09:40

[The_Doc]

E36GUY said:

Have you been round the campsites Tom? Possibly the finest collection of varied exotica to be found anywhere in the world to be found within!

2007 Houx Annexe:


you gotta bring it to LeMans

[E36GUY]

The_Doc said:

E36GUY said:

Have you been round the campsites Tom? Possibly the finest collection of varied exotica to be found anywhere in the world to be found within!

2007 Houx Annexe:


you gotta bring it to LeMans

Excellent pic.

Do you see the little black sticker on the side of the rear spoiler?

Nothing cooler could wear my logo!

[Greensleeves]

Fairly close second?

[E36GUY]

:lol:

Excellent

[Mr Nu]

Hi all

Just a quick one to thank you for all your responses.

It seems whatever option one takes for their Le Mans experience the one unifying thing is you'll return with an abundance of fantastic memories, new friends and an even longer wish list of automotive exotica!

Thanks again to one and all!

Best wishes

Nathan