Le Mans newbie

[ccam84]

Im currently trying to get some friends together to go to Le Mans this year and having never been before, I dont know to much about it.

Im planning to drive down and camp for the duration, I assume this is the most popular way of doing things?

I just need to know some really general information before we decide whether it's a realistic opportunity.
e.g.

What other events happen besides the race?
How much does everything cost? i.e Tickets, camping...
Is the drive down fairly straightforward? (bearing in mind I'm 19 with only a couple of years experience)

Any info/advice much appreciated.
Chris.

[Hansgerd]

www.clubarnage.com is the best source for any LM related info. If you have more questions after getting through all the info try the forum at www.clubarnage.com/yabbse/index.php

[DustyC]

ccam84 said:

Im planning to drive down and camp for the duration, I assume this is the most popular way of doing things?

Camping is the ONLY way! Makes it more fun

ccam84 said:

What other events happen besides the race?

Imagine a huge stag party with 80,000 Brits abroad mand about a billion BHP and your almost there!

ccam84 said:

How much does everything cost? i.e Tickets, camping...

Anywhere between £220 and £400 each depending who you book with. Book as early as possible. Most people have already. You can get last minute tickets though, especially if you scan these forums.

ccam84 said:

Is the drive down fairly straightforward? (bearing in mind I'm 19 with only a couple of years experience)

From Cherbourg its so easy you could do with your eyes closed. Just rememeber, driver to kerb side passneger to white line.

ccam84 said:

Any info/advice much appreciated. Chris.

Website mentioned is good. also www.maisonblanche.co.uk is good for race news and their links page has EVERY Le Mans website listed you'll ever need to know.

[White_van_man]

Heres a topic i started last week

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=79375&f=25&h=0

[Tripps]

ccam84 said:

Is the drive down fairly straightforward? (bearing in mind I'm 19 with only a couple of years experience)

All depends on how much mileage you've racked up and how confident you are in general.

I've never had any problems with roads abroad as everything is pretty much common sense, it's the drivers that you have to watch out for!! And of course the old bill, who seems to especially vigilent around Le Mans time...

A co-pilot (you trust!) is a god-send for toll booths and overtaking. Also a second pair of eyes is handy if you're no so confident.

For advise on the rules of the road (such as Priorite a Droite in France - by default those coming onto a roundabout have priotity) and details on what you must take (spare bulbs, emergency triangle etc.) you could do worse than the Haynes Driving Abroad book.

[DJFish]

ccam84 said:

Is the drive down fairly straightforward? (bearing in mind I'm 19 with only a couple of years experience)

Don't think about it, just DO IT!!!!!You'll regret it if you don't.

Driving incontinent is easy, the roads are mostly in good nick.
As mentioned before, a good co-pilot is essential for map reading, opening bottles and overtake spotting(hint, if the car in front has just overtaken and is still across the road and signalling, that means it's ok to follow)

Just follow the dust trail of about 100,000 boys with toys(and credit cards) being let off the leash all weekend and you can't go wrong!

Dave

[planetdave]

I am a LM virgin too.

BUT

I have

A car

A tent

A credit card

A ticket

A sense of adventure

Anything more would be over-packing ne cest pas?

[littlegearl]

i went down as a passenger in 2002, last year i drove and it was only a few months after my 19th birthday!!!

i found driving in france one of my most enjoyable driving experiences!!! the roads are good, and apart from the young girl in the red clio who took the side off my bro's MG they're generally good drivers

when you get there, you will be blown away... i don't think i saw a french person the two years i've been... apart from at McDonalds!!!

consider the numbers, approx. 250,000 people make "the pilgrimage" and around 100,000 of these are british...

my advice, go early thursday... you get there in time to see some of the qualifying and YOU NEED TO BE THERE ALL DAY FRIDAY

if you haven't heard its refered to as "Crazy Friday"... basically anyone in a car (ranging from a Pagani to a 205 and a fookin' bus) lineup down Maison Blanche to burnout and get pulled over by gendarmes

there's a impromptue car show at indianapolis/arnage and lots of speeding round the road parts of the circuit...

and don't forget beer money, you wont believe how much you drink... not a big drinker, but in france i seem to drink shite loads...

any questions just ask any of about 90% of members on PH and they can tell you what they've learnt in much more years than what i've been going...

but i will say this, go... then again, and again and again... you will start to learn to associate "June" with "central France"

[ccam84]

Fantastic, thanks for the help so far.
Can anyone refer me to a place where I can buy tickets?

[Hansgerd]

It might be a bit late for camping and grand stand tickets now. You can get them from the ACO at [e-mail]. However, as race week comes nearer you might find tickets for sale on here or in the "for sale" section of the Club Arnage forum. Enceite Generale tickets (general admission) and parking tickets are available at the gate on race day.