[LM24] Le Mans 2021 21/22 August - Who Is Going?

[Simmi]

Have ordered two antigen test kits so have a backup on site. Will be taking mine at earliest opportunity.

The site AstonGeoff shared has a calculator for when you should take your test. But it literally is just 3 days before your departure time - https://www.c19testing.co.uk/rapidtravel/#antigencalc

[bella]

Originally Posted by Truckosaurus

The example on the UK website suggests that a Friday test is valid for Saturday, Sunday and Monday departures.

The belt-n-braces solution might be to do the local test on Friday and the self test on Saturday with the expectation that the Friday test is good for Monday and the Saturday test covers you if there is some issue and you have to return on Tuesday.

the govt advises it’s 72 hours, not measured in days. of all the gambles i’d take that’s absolutely not one of them! i travelled on 70 hours the other week and it made my arse sweat. the lady checking my paperwork had a good hard look at it.

humble advice from someone who’s done a fair bit of faffing now. pick your battles and keep it simple. don’t lay traps for yourself. they’re expensive to get out of.

that said i think i’ll be using that service next time i’m travelling off my own back, particularly in france, and especially if astongeoff’s had good experiences with it.

[Bentley03]

Thank you very much everyone (AstonGeoff, Bella, Truck et al) for info, it's great, and very reassuring, to have access to such a font of knowledge from people willing to take the time to share their opinions with options/suggestions/solutions...Tenths is a truly amazing support network for those of us needing advice and reassurance about 'technicalities', however experienced/knowledgeable we may think we are ourselves!

I think I've concluded the same as Rich, that AstonGeoff's original suggestion of taking self test kits is probably the least disruptive option, in terms of potentially missing track action to get a test done. I'm going to order two different versions, to allow for my probable inability to understand the instructions of exactly what I need to do to self administer and post the result online (I prefer to underestimate my abilities in these things . I'll order further tests as necessary for once back in the UK, once I know what the government intends to do with France's listing (which will hopefully go to Amber from Amber Plus).

[Bentley03]

Originally Posted by batmobile

Actually on holiday out of Le Mans but I'll try to find a pharmacy maybe the one near home not so far from your accomodation that could make antigen tests without booking to get an immediate result.

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Eric, enjoy the rest of your holiday, mate, and don't worry about 'Les Rosbifs' in a pickle about their Covid tests!!!

[Truckosaurus]

Originally Posted by Michel Vaillant

I feel it will be a big challenge to keep a negative test after a journey at 24 …

Indeed. All this talk of hour many hours a negative test is valid for, if it comes back Positive you're sunk (and stuck in France?).

I guess the silver lining is that if you catch something in the crowd it might not show up in the test before return travel.

As always, those endeavouring to attend have my admiration.

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by Truckosaurus

I guess the silver lining is that if you catch something in the crowd it might not show up in the test before return travel.

As always, those endeavouring to attend have my admiration.

This is (and has been for a long time now) the killer for me. It's just not a risk I'm able to take, double-vacced or not. It depresses me no end and I shall be like a bear with a sore head for the second year running, but I have become fairly risk-averse over the last year and a half and I just can't take the risk of bringing any unwelcome 'souvenir' back with me....

[bella]

SO. for “reasons” i just spoke to somebody on the 119 number. he’s just told me very confidently from guidance in front of him that france will be standard amber from monday…

i can’t find ANYTHING to support that at all, anything refers to a potential change later next week….

[Michel Vaillant]

Originally Posted by bella

SO. for “reasons” i just spoke to somebody on the 119 number. he’s just told me very confidently from guidance in front of him that france will be standard amber from monday…

Standard amber = no quarantine ?

[Peter Mallett]

Must be true, she used capitals and punctuation. Either that or she's been abducted by aliens.

[AstonGeoff]

Originally Posted by bella

SO. for “reasons” i just spoke to somebody on the 119 number. he’s just told me very confidently from guidance in front of him that france will be standard amber from monday…

i can’t find ANYTHING to support that at all, anything refers to a potential change later next week….

He didn't say which Monday though

I doubt it's this Monday, could be the next one though as the decisions on traffic light changes are made mid next week. Allegedly.

As long as it's before Monday 23rd August we'll all be happy!

[bella]

he did but i’ve left out a lot of the conversation for risk of leaving myself in a pickle i can’t find anything at all to back it up, like not even a rumour. the only thing that does back it up is flight prices and availability to the warm bit…

[sunny_hi]

Originally Posted by Anyopenroad

In a predominantly online world, France in general and the ACO in particular are wonderful throwbacks to an age when people phoned each other to get things done. Call them! I know, charming right?

Originally Posted by Gerard C

Charming or not, middle age or modern world, go for any solution that would produce results, only the result matters if I'm right.
Carrier pigeon anyone?

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

It works for me, but then I've emailed them quite a bit over the last few years. Address your message to Hélène......

I guess they're pretty busy right now.

Appreciate the previous replies. Did finally call them and they were very helpful over the phone. All things got sorted.

This forum is amazing. Hope to meet most of you at the event. Can I score a decal as well? I think I saw someone posted here about it.

[Kpy]

Originally Posted by Michel Vaillant

I feel it will be a big challenge to keep a negative test after a journey at 24
There will be 50 000 spectators, so a little crowd. And peoples who are not fully vaccinated can easily transmit the virus. With the Delta, even with masks and lotion for hand, it seems difficult to be spared. Don’t forget vaccines are effective to prevent serious cases and hospitalisations, but not really the infection…

How right you are.
My eldest daughter, who's in her late 40s was vaccinated twice back in the spring and recently had a bout of Covid which was not pleasant. Without the vaccine it would have been worse of course

[batmobile]

Originally Posted by Bentley03

Eric, enjoy the rest of your holiday, mate, and don't worry about 'Les Rosbifs' in a pickle about their Covid tests!!!

I was confirmed the pharmacy where I go will make antigen tests on August 23rd. I was invite to recall one week before to be sure. But normally it will work.

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[Gerard C]

Hope all the Brits attending will be granted a specially stamped medal by ACO, what an obstacle course it is for you all. May be for all spectators would be great.

[Bentley03]

Originally Posted by batmobile

I was confirmed the pharmacy where I go will make antigen tests on August 23rd. I was invite to recall one week before to be sure. But normally it will work.

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Eric, thank you very much for your continued help, it's very much appreciated!

In the end, I think we might take self testing kits with us from the UK, it takes all the guesswork out of the situation, so we won't be worrying about it once we arrive (if we arrive ).

[Bentley03]

Originally Posted by Gerard C

Hope all the Brits attending will be granted a specially stamped medal by ACO, what an obstacle course it is for you all. May be for all spectators would be great.

You know, Gerard, I think it's not quite as complicated as we're managing to make it seem (not everyone maybe, but me for sure ), we just need the rules and restrictions on travel between our countries pinned down for the duration of Le Mans week, and to understand the necessary actions and documentation to make the trip. It's the uncertainty, I believe, rather than obstacles.

And now this morning I'm reading about the next potential twist on the UK/France travel rollercoaster ride, with the UK government set to introduce YET ANOTHER category on their traffic light system, the 'Amber Watchlist' for countries which could be transferred to the Red List at short notice, with France, Spain and Italy the most likely countries to go on this new list. Yikes!!!

Everything will hinge on what the UK government announce at their next (and presumably last before Le Mans) travel update on the 4th or 5th August.

But we remain positive......for now.

[Michel Vaillant]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

This is (and has been for a long time now) the killer for me. It's just not a risk I'm able to take, double-vacced or not. It depresses me no end and I shall be like a bear with a sore head for the second year running, but I have become fairly risk-averse over the last year and a half and I just can't take the risk of bringing any unwelcome 'souvenir' back with me....

All the more , in France, mask is no longer required in places when there is a "pass sanitaire" mandatory.

https://www.francebleu.fr/infos/sant...ire-1626775382

At Le Mans, "normal life" is almost income. Good for us, but for Brits, it could be a problem with your own rules about "contact cases" and self isolating after your journey in France...

[bella]

a lot of us are big on preparation, planning and sorting things out ahead of time so we don’t get into bother or have to stress about it on the day, so that makes it look a lot worse than it is!

this is the only part i’m angry with the uk government for messing up. lots of things that haven’t turned out to be correct have been situations we haven’t faced in living memory. this amber plus nonsense with reunion itself not even on the red list is an insult.

what i’d say about masks is that i’m really cautious now because i can’t afford to catch it (iykyk), and wear one whenever people are remotely close, inside or out. there’s lots of others who do the same in france and the uk, you don’t feel out of place, and i would say that this is the best way to keep yourself safe. find a good ffp3 mask that’s comfortable for you and bulk buy. they’re more resistant to sweat and rain, and more reusable than the surgical style.

[Michel Vaillant]

Yes, i agree,
I think it will be a good idea to buy a good mask, and a little bottle of alcohol lotion always in the pocket

For my part, i decide to renounce this year. Ok, for me, it's not a logistical issue, i live at La Sarthe

But, i fear this year, the atmosphere will be disappointing and ponderous, cause sanitary rules.
I hope to see the "true" Le Mans next year. With huge crowd, full campsites, pesage in town, parade des pilotes, sun, fun-fair, concerts. And overall, without masks and social distanciations

[Samoan Attorney]

And for those brave souls amongst you who are going, news just in. Always going to be a challenge to get the right people in France during August.

Sarthe. More than 400 positions still to be filled for the 24 Hours of Le Mans


https://www.ouest-france.fr/pays-de-...o_euid=3826049

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by Michel Vaillant

I hope to see the "true" Le Mans next year. With huge crowd, full campsites, pesage in town, parade des pilotes, sun, fun-fair, concerts. And overall, without masks and social distanciations

Hallelujah to that, Michel. I have to be back next year.....

Originally Posted by Samoan Attorney

And for those brave souls amongst you who are going, news just in. Always going to be a challenge to get the right people in France during August.

Sarthe. More than 400 positions still to be filled for the 24 Hours of Le Mans


https://www.ouest-france.fr/pays-de-...o_euid=3826049

That's a little worrying with so little time to go.....

[bella]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

That's a little worrying with so little time to go.....

feels like a product of the french employment system to me, and not just the august factor!

Originally Posted by Michel Vaillant

But, i fear this year, the atmosphere will be disappointing and ponderous, cause sanitary rules.
I hope to see the "true" Le Mans next year. With huge crowd, full campsites, pesage in town, parade des pilotes, sun, fun-fair, concerts. And overall, without masks and social distanciations

been thinking hard about this, and for me, being a part of these strange le mans events is just as important as the big pre-covid events. this is a part of history too. especially this one. i understand why people aren't interested and the ballache/gain balance is tipped towards pain for them, and i fully 100% respect that - it would have been my view too as a spectator. it's a lot of money, effort and organising to do for something that will be barely a quarter of the event we normally enjoy.

[Aysedasi]

Not a lack of interest from me Bella, far from it.... Although I do wonder just how good the experience will be. It's simple risk as far as I'm concerned.

[batmobile]

Originally Posted by Michel Vaillant

Yes, i agree,

I think it will be a good idea to buy a good mask, and a little bottle of alcohol lotion always in the pocket



For my part, i decide to renounce this year. Ok, for me, it's not a logistical issue, i live at La Sarthe



But, i fear this year, the atmosphere will be disappointing and ponderous, cause sanitary rules.

I hope to see the "true" Le Mans next year. With huge crowd, full campsites, pesage in town, parade des pilotes, sun, fun-fair, concerts. And overall, without masks and social distanciations

We always have little bottles of alcohol at the meeting when we are close to each others to chat. Well! I conceed not so little.

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