[LM24] Le Mans 2007

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by Bentley03

I would STRONGLY advise against returning to the hotel on the Saturday night. The roads around the circuit are completely jammed until about half two, three o'clock in the morning. If you really do need a kip, sleep in the car. But better still, forget sleep (you have another 364 nights of the year for that!), get out and about (Tertre Rouge, Arnage, Mulsanne etc.). Only at Le Mans can you witness anything like this. The experience is pure unadulterated magic, don't miss out!

Yes and no.

I agree 100% with the idea of not leaving the circuit at all at night. If I could, I would stay there all night for sure. But, I travel to Le Mans as a Tourist (and if you don't understand what I mean you need to visit my website) and always have done. The Tourists leave the circuit to eat on Satruday evening and some ( but not all) return after the meal to watch a bit more of the race and dump me at the track for the rest of the night. Some of the Tourists see none of the racing at night. That, for me, is pure sacrilege, but we all have our different reasons and agendas at Le Mans. As Tenthers and Sportscar forum regulars we're all avid fans so we want to watch the racing - others enjoy different aspects of the Le Mans experience and being in France generally.

We have never had any problems leaving the circuit - getting back to our hotel (south of Le Mans) or returning again later in the evening. Its fair to say that we have very experienced pilotes, who can get us to Arnage or Mulsanne in the depths of the night with consummate ease (usually...). We've never had any trouble accessing the circuit in this way.

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by The Real DMN

Wow, thats a lot better than I had hoped for

Now is row E (68 and 69) towards the front or back. How does it work?

Man we're going to be close buddies - I'm Esc 4, Rang E Place 62!

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by Nordic

You can buy general entrance tickets on the gate.

Not sure what the parking situation is, you may want to give the ACO a ring and see if you can pre book into one of the car parks.

Beware of parking. For the last two years I have bought our parking tickets in advance after our huge problems in 2005 (read the story on my site if you wish). The later you arrive at the circuit - the more important the parking ticket becomes. Years ago we never had any trouble getting a ticket on the way in - even at 1-2 pm on race day. These days the rouge cars parks at least will be full by then. In 05 we had to park half an hours walk away and we were lucky to get that........ (We were also supremely lucky that my missing in action buddy Fab was able to supply me with a ticket for the rest of the weekend...... )

[Craig]

I've got a general admission ticket which I'm gonna have to sell, due to one of our party dropping out, anyone interested? Send me a PM this evening or I'll list it on eBay and stick the proceeds in the beer fund!

[neiltbag]

Originally Posted by GT6

You can get to the porsche curves using the roads at the back of the Houx campsite, just follow the road and signs for the cheap campsites. The car park at the viewing area was quite large last year, but there is nothing much there that is available to the public, no loos, beer or food. Just a splendid view of the cars

Hang on a sec... spectating at the Porsche Curves? Is this any different from walking on the outside of the track from the Ford Chicane back as far as you can go, past all the campsites with the double-decker buses and mountains of empty beer bottles? Is there an additional spectator area outside the main general admission area? Can someone mark this on a map?

[Aysedasi]

I did this quite a long time ago, but it might help.....

http://aysedasi.co.uk/2002/maps.htm

[Bentley03]

Originally Posted by neiltbag

Hang on a sec... spectating at the Porsche Curves? Is this any different from walking on the outside of the track from the Ford Chicane back as far as you can go, past all the campsites with the double-decker buses and mountains of empty beer bottles? Is there an additional spectator area outside the main general admission area? Can someone mark this on a map?

Yep, different enclosure entirely. You need to leave the circuit in order to get there. I haven't got a map immediately to hand, but the enclosure is just opposite the Beausejour campsite.

[Bentley03]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

I did this quite a long time ago, but it might help.....

http://aysedasi.co.uk/2002/maps.htm

This map actually marks the enclosure (Porsche Exterieur)

[neiltbag]

Ah, got it. Cool, never knew it existed, might be worth a stop on our way to Mulsanne at 2am. Or is it a better daytime vantage point?

[Aysedasi]

I've been there two or three times during the day but I haven't been at night which I hope to do this year. Its quite pleasant there in the relatively early morning though.....

[The Real DMN]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

Man we're going to be close buddies - I'm Esc 4, Rang E Place 62!

I'll bring some extra beer with me then, I'll be with my old man (the tribune tickets are a surprise for him) so be sure to say hi.

[Aysedasi]

It'll be a pleasure - remember to look out for me - white and blue floppy hat, green camera bag, overweight, balding - and, after walking up those steps to the stand, almost certainly gasping for breath.......

[isynge]

Thanks for all the advice - all well heeded.

Hopefully see some of you at the 10/10ths gathering on the Saturday (where it'll be good to put faces to names).

As far as hotels went I had no problem getting rooms at the Tours Holiday Inn, where they even accepted my frequent guest points - which says to me they've got more rooms than they know what to do with.

[Mal]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

I've been there two or three times during the day but I haven't been at night which I hope to do this year. Its quite pleasant there in the relatively early morning though.....

It a good spot at night except the floodlight there is really bright and is shining into your eyes a bit, which is a bit distracting.

[Austinspace75]

Anyone know whether Radio Le Mans are covering the legends races properly this year?... the entry is so good!

Last year's race was brilliant but got virtually no coverage at all which was a bit of a shame.

[Aysedasi]

I don't know yet but I know a man who will........

[GTfour]

Does anyone have any idea yet on how strict the officials are gonna be with apointing camparea's?
Our group will be arriving from wednesday afternoon 'till as late as friday night,and we'd like to make a joined camp like all previous years.
Would it be an idea to let the one who's arriving first carry all the campingtickets?

[bernard b]

Originally Posted by GTfour

Does anyone have any idea yet on how strict the officials are gonna be with apointing camparea's?
Our group will be arriving from wednesday afternoon 'till as late as friday night,and we'd like to make a joined camp like all previous years.
Would it be an idea to let the one who's arriving first carry all the campingtickets?

that would for sure be a good way to convince "controleurs"!
but you'll have to get out to give the tickets back to your buddies or they won't get in...

[Jamesd]

Hi

Not sure if this is right place to post, but I will be watching most of Le mans from home, but I was wondering why on Motors tv their covage starts on the monday before, what stuff do they show before the actually event.

James

[Truckosaurus]

We found in previous years that they take your word for how big your group is, but that was for either one car reserving 3 spaces or 2 cars from 4, so if you were one person from a large group they might kick up a fuss.

Perhaps the best solution would be to photocopy the group's tickets to prove the total number.

[Truckosaurus]

Originally Posted by Jamesd

Not sure if this is right place to post, but I will be watching most of Le mans from home, but I was wondering why on Motors tv their coverage starts on the monday before, what stuff do they show before the actually event.

Ahoy James,

MotorsTV show the scrutineering on the Monday and Tuesday and have interviews with many of the drivers.

And, of course, there is qualifying on Wednesday and Thursday.

Who knows what they show on the Friday...

[Jamesd]

Do they show what they are doing to the cars and stuff like that in scrutineering, do they show practise sessions.

James

[Jamesd]

Hi

Also I was wondering if anybody on here has every been a le mans mechanic, (what I want to do), what is the atmosphere like there.

James

[The Real DMN]

Originally Posted by Jamesd

Do they show what they are doing to the cars and stuff like that in scrutineering, do they show practise sessions.

Last season they had full coverage of the scrutineering. It was slow and didn't make for good TV, but still worth a watch.

[Ranald]

Originally Posted by Jamesd

Hi

Also I was wondering if anybody on here has every been a le mans mechanic, (what I want to do), what is the atmosphere like there.

James

I have just started working for an LMS team to gain a bit of experience. I am a Motor Sports Engineering student but joined too late to attend Le Mans this year, boo hoo! The mechanics say that it is incredibly hard but still an unbelievable experience.
The days are ivery long and the work is very hard. In fact on the Friday the whole car has be completely rebuilt which means working until about 2 on Saturday morning. Saturday then starts at 6am to get the car ready for the warmup. The team then works through until about 8pm on the Sunday. All that with only a few cat naps for breaks.