[LM24] Le Mans 2016 - Who is Going?

[CTD]

Originally Posted by Piritos

Thank you for the nice welcome.

Actually it's quite hard to convince someone to come with me... I don't have many friends who love motorsports (I'm a girl and mostly have female friends ), and those who do only like F1.
There are some people who might be interested but they say it's too expensive for them, which I can understand. If you're not a real fan, going to Le Mans just for the sake of it is really expensive for an average Hungarian person... (wages and prices are much lower here than in Western Europe.)

Anyway, I'll be there next year, even if I have to travel alone. I'm sure I can meet some nice people there.

Originally Posted by GT6

Well the first thing for you to sort out is where you are staying, many on here have had first timers staying with them on the campsites, we usually have a mixed site (male/female) but my daughter might be missing next year (first time in many years) as her new school needs teachers to be present, however we will have several other females within our group, Ken has a more organised group of international guests but not sure of the mix. If you are on your own let me know nearer the time and i am sure we can sort something out, as long as we get our camping passes this year. However do not worry something will get sorted it always does.

As Simon (GT6) mentions, the International Camp, where I stay myself, is a very good option.
The last three years we have had at least three or four newcomers, who have come alone. This year will most likely be the same . (together with a lot of regulars of course!)
There is an official thread here:
International Ten-Tenths Camp III

[Piritos]

Thank you so much guys! You've definitely made me more confident about next year's trip. I'll check out the International Camp, sounds like a good option!

[Giba]

Originally Posted by Piritos

Thank you so much guys! You've definitely made me more confident about next year's trip. I'll check out the International Camp, sounds like a good option!

This time last year I also was looking at going to Le Mans but had no plan. However in June I was part of the international camp and it was fantastic and would definitely recommend it to a first time visitor.

[nobster]

Tickets arranged for next year through ticket&travel : no campsite tertre rouge unfortunately but back to Houx for 2016, grandstand tickets for Dunlop, first time on that grandstand ( time for a change)

[Coach Ep]

Originally Posted by Giba

that's sad news. I ate there the Monday after the race but sadly I was the only one in the restaurant. The food and service was excellent and hoped to go back there again in the future. I wish I had taken more pictures of the inside of the restaurant as it was magnificent.

And no more Le Mans Legends burgers...

[vincegail]

Originally Posted by nobster

Tickets arranged for next year through ticket&travel : no campsite tertre rouge unfortunately but back to Houx for 2016, grandstand tickets for Dunlop, first time on that grandstand ( time for a change)

I put 3 Tertre Rouge eggs in the Ticket+Travel basket as well, but they hatched 3 Garage Vert tickets

Furthermore, I put 3 TR eggs in the Nadine basket as well. No news about hatching for the moment.

[GT6]

i have not heard from Nadine yet either, but still hopeful that i will get my usual allocation

[GT6]

As if by magic, Nadine just sent me the forms so hopefully they will be with her ready for the 3rd November, but need to renew ACO first

[Aysedasi]

I'm reliably informed that Houx is now sold out. So if you want a space you need to use an agency....

[CTD]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

I'm reliably informed that Houx is now sold out. So if you want a space you need to use an agency....

No surprise there

[vincegail]

Nobody here played ACO roulette yesterday? Lots of comments of happy customers on their facebook page

[nobster]

almost all decent campsites are prebooked by ticket agencies nowadays...

[batmobile]

Originally Posted by vincegail

Nobody here played ACO roulette yesterday? Lots of comments of happy customers on their facebook page

I did

[batmobile]

Originally Posted by nobster

almost all decent campsites are prebooked by ticket agencies nowadays...

Not only campsites but places in grandstand 17 and 18 are reserved for other ACO agencies. ( why other because there is no onse more in Le Mans)

[Mal]

I have just booked our group into T4 Panorama for 2016. Has anyone had any experience of this stand?

[isynge]

Originally Posted by Mal

I have just booked our group into T4 Panorama for 2016. Has anyone had any experience of this stand?

Sat there in 2015 - quite liked it. Good view as you'd expect, but a little exposed to the elements (which of course isn't a problem) - also quite fun it being Audi's stand in the run up to the start and getting to hold up their big flag.

[Kpy]

Originally Posted by batmobile

I did

Just the same experience as you, I suspect Eric.
Impossible to book Members' Grandstand seats. I booked two Dunlop instead before all grandstands were fully booked.
Worse with the camping - each time I selected Houx the software put Epinettes
in my basket.
When I phoned the ACO ticket office they were very unhelpful - seems it was my fault that I couldn't get what I wanted at 10.00 am on Tuesday, i.e. 10 minutes after booking opened, and I could have Epinettes or nothing (well Beausejour)
Now I hope to find someone local who will offer me space in their drive or garden for my caravan. Maybe that's too much to hope for.

[batmobile]

Originally Posted by Kpy

Just the same experience as you, I suspect Eric.
Impossible to book Members' Grandstand seats. I booked two Dunlop instead before all grandstands were fully booked.
Worse with the camping - each time I selected Houx the software put Epinettes
in my basket.
When I phoned the ACO ticket office they were very unhelpful - seems it was my fault that I couldn't get what I wanted at 10.00 am on Tuesday, i.e. 10 minutes after booking opened, and I could have Epinettes or nothing (well Beausejour)
Now I hope to find someone local who will offer me space in their drive or garden for my caravan. Maybe that's too much to hope for.

Oh they dared say it was your fault!!!
I know that places are kept for the french territory ACO agencies but I suspect the ACO to sell more and more places (grandstands and camping) to ticket agencies as Nobby said. Last year, I was told they could access to the site at the same moment than us..................and even they have contracts with some ticket agencies .

[CTD]

Originally Posted by Kpy

Just the same experience as you, I suspect Eric.
Impossible to book Members' Grandstand seats. I booked two Dunlop instead before all grandstands were fully booked.
Worse with the camping - each time I selected Houx the software put Epinettes
in my basket.
When I phoned the ACO ticket office they were very unhelpful - seems it was my fault that I couldn't get what I wanted at 10.00 am on Tuesday, i.e. 10 minutes after booking opened, and I could have Epinettes or nothing (well Beausejour)
Now I hope to find someone local who will offer me space in their drive or garden for my caravan. Maybe that's too much to hope for.

I'm very sorry to hear this Christopher!
Will this mean you won't be camping with the danes this year in the same spot as the last years?

[Kpy]

Eric, there is an ACO agency quite near me at Rouen and years ago I contacted them to try and set up a supply of tickets when the "members priority " system was introduced, but the very nice lady manager found that she was allowed no more tickets than the allocation she already had for her regular customers.
I'm seriously considering giving up my membership and putting the subscription towards tickets from an agency.
My contact at the agency I am in touch with in the UK is a lot more polite than the fonctionnaire I spoke to at the ACO

[PascaLM]

I luckily booked a Lagache grandstand for Vincent as there were only three free seats. I had to pay the price of the delivery, so I hope I won't pay the delivery twice, one time for this ticket, one time for the tickets of the usual reservation coupon.

[vincegail]

Benefits of being an ACO member rapidly rapidly being outweighed by the hefty yearly fee. Will reconsider renewing my subscription come next September.

[Giba]

Originally Posted by vincegail

Benefits of being an ACO member rapidly rapidly being outweighed by the hefty yearly fee. Will reconsider renewing my subscription come next September.

How much is ACO membership? As after going on at beginning of Friday and getting one of the last tickets from a stand opposite the pits, I'm tempted to get ACO membership for next year

[Kpy]

Originally Posted by Giba

How much is ACO membership? As after going on at beginning of Friday and getting one of the last tickets from a stand opposite the pits, I'm tempted to get ACO membership for next year

Currently 105 euros per annum.
Be warned that membership does not necessarily give you the right to a seat in one of the members' stands (18 and 19). That proved impossible for me and for other members I know this year, even though I logged on as soon as the on-line booking office opened. Same applied to Houx campsite.

Membership is worthwhile for the Classic - you get good rates for paddock entrance (used to be free) and reduced prices on grandstands, but that is held only every other year

[Giba]

Originally Posted by Kpy

Currently 105 euros per annum.
Be warned that membership does not necessarily give you the right to a seat in one of the members' stands (18 and 19). That proved impossible for me and for other members I know this year, even though I logged on as soon as the on-line booking office opened. Same applied to Houx campsite.

Membership is worthwhile for the Classic - you get good rates for paddock entrance (used to be free) and reduced prices on grandstands, but that is held only every other year

Thanks Kpy, did not expect it to be so much but plenty to think about for next year.