Le Mans 24-hour advice needed

I've been a couple of times, once in 71 and then again in 80. So you should take my comments with a shaker of salt. Rental car is the way to go, and you'll most likely spend some time sleeping in it. A lot of people use campers or tents, but that probably will not be an option for you. Count on hotels in the environs to be booked. Tickets can be bought on the way in from vendors; in fact, you'll have to have tickets to keep moving towards the parking areas. The French cops have it all well-organized and traffic moves in pretty quickly. I've only bought general admission tickets which have allowed me to wander all over but not to sit in the grandstands. I think, but cannot clearly recall, that one can buy bleacher seats once on site.

The quality of your experience will probably depend on the weather. My first time the weather was great. I still recall sitting on a hillside overlooking some "esses" and watching the Ferrari Daytonas wallowing through with exhausts snapping and popping. Then again, I was with a couple of Army buddies, we were ****-faced most of the time, and at age 23 who cared about comforts? We racked out in the car. I think.

The second time I was with a GF, which was a big mistake. She didn't like roughing it and clearly was expecting something a little less painful. It rained most of the time and was chilly. I recall the incredibly noisy Mazdas with their nasty rotary engines, and all the cars throwing up rooster tails of spray. My overriding memory, however, is of standing ankle-deep in mud in long lines to use the totally revolting toilet facilities. And then the really FRIGID ride back to Belgium, where I lived.

SO: much will depend on the weather, your pain threshhold, your sense of humor, and who you're with.

I'd certainly like to see the opinions of folks who have been there more recently and who didn't do it on the cheap.

Cheers, Mark

 

The 24 Heures Du Mans is right up there as one of the best events I have ever attended. Better than Monaco or Monza. Too bad there aren't many Ferraris running the race. If you are not planning on getting there at least 6 hours before the event, don't go by rental car.

There should be a TGV from Paris that stops in Le Mans, drops you off around 15-20 minute walk from the facilty.

Are you planning on staying all night, or are you planning on going back to Paris later the same day? Its not a fun drive back at night, so another reason to take the train. First time I went with my then 16 year old daughter, told her we would leave an hour after I watched the cars at night. Well, it doesn't get dark until about 11PM in June in France, so we did not get back to Paris until early in the morning. Signage was not the best.

First advice, take the train. Second, the food at the concessions is the best race track food you will likely ever find. The fresh corn at Road America is great, but French fast food is better.

I found the place to be clean, orderly, and full of friendly race fans. Blend in, don't try to impress. Its just a good time.

 

Sorry forgot some things. Forget getting a room. At this late date, it may be hard to find good seats, so enjoy walking around from turn to turn. You have plenty of time!

Not speaking French is not a problem, just make an attempt at some basic words and remember you are in somebody else's back yard. Respect that.

 

Simple. First thing is to get yourself recognised:

http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=52027

Then look out for others

http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=32173

 

I was there in 2000, and it is worth it.

It's a big track. To view other than the main gate sites, you must have a car, and a MAP (I found the organization to be very poor, with limited signage and clueless gendarmes).

You'll need a parking space for the main gate area (try Page and Moy/Enlgland), but elsewhere parking is ample (once you find it)

You'll do a lot of walking and driving. Crowds are a bit rowdy at times. Not sure you wife will like you after a few hours. I would discuss whether she might want to leave you at the track and go to the hotel for a while. My girlfriend wanted me dead after 12 hours.

Hotels are hard to find locally. Consider the city of Tours. Maybe an hour away -- fun drive through the county. If you have the money, there are local chateaus that offer royal treatment

Essentials: Map, radio with earpiece for 'radio LeMans' info 24hours, earplugs, hiking boots (water resistant, in case it rains), toiletries (bathrooms among the worst I have ever seen -- some just open trenches). Le Mans issue of Autosport gives you all the details

This is not a spectator experience akin to the US events. It is an adventure.

 

Oh, and the most fun viewing site: Mulsanne, if you can find it. It took me a least an hour of driving to locate the area, and then a walk through the woods at midnight, following drunken Englishman and the engine roar.

But standing 10 feet off the track with prototypes coming by at 200 mph is pretty cool. Sadly, there are barricades now whereas there used to be none. But you can still get a view if you climb them