Le Mans 2000 ?

[Danielsun]

You'll be Dead Vader when I'm finished with you, Dave O... Thanks for letting us know that, Liz! Can I still go with you? I'm really trying to save to get over there next year and Le Mans would just cap it all off!

[Liz]

Fine with me if LizH and Sarah agree - it is going to be one of their cars and LizH said she has a shot at taking her husband's company car so it should be roomy enough. If it looks as if you're going to be able to do it, let one of us know and we'll go from there.

Gerard, that site is great! Can anybody tell me if it is worthwhile to join the ACO? I might anyway just to get the newsletters. But I'd like to know what else you get besides good discount seats and Tee Shirts.

[Sarah]

I don't mind.

[Liz]

Well, Danielsun, you got two votes out of three. I think you may have it knocked.

Gerard, in looking at that site you posted, I notice that there is a group discount on tickets for groups of 20 or more. I bet we could get 20 people together if we tried. Are you up for looking into organizing something along these lines? If the rest of us promise to cooperate and stuff? PUHLLLLLEEEEEEEEEEEZE?

[Gerard]

Sorry Liz,
I would like to help you out on this but I really can't find the time to do that.
I'm in a managerial function and I'm working about 14 hours a day.
Sometimes even at weekends.
So, I only have about 2 free hours a day, which I mostly spend on this and some other forums.
I always try to do my best whenever I take on something, but I'm afraid I would let you and other people down on this.
And that's something I do not like to do.
But I'm sure there's someone else who has the time to look into this.

Regards,
Gerard.

[Liz]

Sorry to hear it, Gerard, but I quite understand. Anybody else like to volunteer? I am a good sergeant but not such a good lieutenant, if you get my drift; will be glad to assist if somebody wants to take command.

[Truckosaurus]

I've been to Le Mans for the past 3 years,
and definitely recommend it to everyone.

My advice is to not stay in a hotel but to
camp, not only is camping dirt cheap, it's
where all the fun is. The facilities are
not too bad as well. If you stay in a hotel
not only are you away from the action but
you'll get stuck in traffic getting to the
circuit so will have to get out of bed at
an ungodly hour on the Saturday...

The cheapest way to get tickets is through
the organisers (the ACO) whose details are
on the Club Arnage website listed in the
earlier post in this thread. They have a
dedicated English speaking telephone number.

The entry tickets are remarkable value at
£45 which gets you into the pre-qualifying
weekend, the qualifying sessions in the week
before the race and the race weekend itself.
Probably the best value motorsport event in
the world.

Campsites are around 30 quid per vehicle,
and grandstand seats at about £40 a go
(useful if you are in a large group as a
rendezvous point).

See you there. :-)

[Liz]

Is there any value in belonging to the ACO; is the discount and the special seating worth it?

As far as camping goes, I take it you are considerably under 40 if you recommend staying in a tent all night.

[Danielsun]

I'll be in it whatever the situation; Liz, please let me know...

[JUDGE]

I am looking to hire a car for the trip,so any body who would like a liftfrom the UK pls let me know.A small donation towards the gas/ferry or if you have a tent i could share is all i ask

[Liz]

Got the informatoin from the ACO - you can order it fromt the website and they are really prompt, although their English is a bit quaint. (Not so quaint as my French, I suppose ... ) Anyway, there are many many benefits to belonging, like a special enclosure where you can go and use decent loos, and a bar with a closed circuit TV and all that - and special grandstand overlooking the pits which I am most interested in seeing - and you can buy up to 6 tickets (I assume general admission tickets) at about 80 ff cheaper than the public rate. And of course you get goodies like posters, a book with all the inside scoop in it, and a framed picture of the winning car and pilotes afterwards. It costs 450 FF which in Canadian is about $100 I think, if your country's money is actually worth anything it is probably cheaper. Look into it. The address is on that website Gerard provided above.

Danielsun, we will be making our arrangements at the first of the year, i think. I will set up a group address and we will see where we get to.

[LizH]

Hi Liz, Sarah, Danielson et al
Sorry haven't been around for a while. As far as travelling goes I'll go with the flow. If I get the company car, driver, 3 passengers and associated luggage (tents?) will be no trouble. Camping does sound like fun, and if it keeps the cost down there will be more for the beer!!!

[Liz]

I am too old to camp - - or is that too decadant - but as I said I'd pay for the driver's hotel bill if you'd rather camp that will save me money too! So whatever the majority wants to do ...

[Sarah]

I don't mind if we camp or not.

[Danielsun]

I'll camp - I just hope that you're more mature than the yobbos on Year Eleven Camp three years ago... I should think you are... just so long as none of you wear Schumacher merchandise!

[Liz]

Not me - I am going to be in Rydell kit if I can get some by then! I'm not exactly the merrie woodsman type; we had one of those house-sized RVs and my mum thought roughing it was black & white TV and no cable. But of course one can do anything for a couple of days! Which reminds me, how long are we staying?

[LizH]

I thought we original were talking about 3 days. Any longer and I'll join you in a Hotel! I certainly won't be wearing schui gear. My allegience (sp?) will always be to Team Dynamics, or more precisely Matt Neal.
Danielsun, maturity along with age is a state of mind.

[Truckosaurus]

The first year I went to Le Mans our group only went for the weekend and immediately decided to go for the whole week the following year. If you are making the effort of crossing the channel from the UK (or travelling from further afield) you might as well go for the week (meaning Weds-Sun).

You get 2x 2hr practice sessions on the Wedsnesday and Thursday evenings and a pit lane walkabout on the Friday (all covered by the one standard entry ticket).

During the time not spent watching the racing the best place to be is in and around the campsites enjoying a beer with thousands of likeminded petrolheads. Staying in a hotel doesn't have the same appeal. Even the showers are pretty good except for the queues in peak hours.

We spectated from the ACO grandstand this year for the first time, very impressive, it has bars (well a fridge and a table) selling drinks slightly cheaper than the trackside bars and has plenty of very clean toilets, there were rumours of showers for the 2000 race....

[Liz]

That's why I asked; I had heard others say that a longer stay was worth it. But a lot of things depend on how much time people can get off from work, and since we are 4 travelling together from different parts of the world, it would be well to settle on something - at least to have the driver's input on the subject - so that everyone can make plans. I have to be back for the Montreal GP, but I can fly into Montreal on the Friday (or Thursday night) if necessary. The other question that must be asked if we are going to camp is: anybody got a tent?

[Sarah]

I have not got a tent and don't mind how long we stay.

[Invader]

You're very easy going, Sarah

[Liz]

Sarah watch out for his next question!

[Danielsun]

I have a three-person tent; surely you don't want me to bring that half way across the world and back? If so, tell me by e-mail...

[JUDGE]

I have just looked into the costs involved and these are this years prices as a base to work from,
General ticket :- ff320(£31) admits for all practice and race days- ff240(£23)if ACO member.
Grandstands:- ff190(£19) to 470(£45) - ACO have there own (price ?)
Camping:- ff180(£17) to 200(£20)
Also a part of the motorway route is toll charged at ff50(£5).
Sorry but i can`t get my head round how to work out the ferry charge yet,HELP!!
As the Ladies seem to be well along with their plannig i hope this will spur on the guy`s.
BTW now looking at cost of hire for a 4/6 berth motorhome so need 3 other to share,any takers??

Come on lads how about a mobile BAR !!!

[Truckosaurus]

Ferry Prices can easily be found on the websites of the various ferry companies use Yahoo to find a list.

They are clever enough to charge almost twice as much if you travel for longer than 5days which adds to the cost of going for the week.

As for hiring a camper, this is very expensive, we did it this year, and probably won't again, perhaps it would be worth it if the weather is really bad.