Le Mans 24Hrs 2009

Dale, it's not a big deal really, the driving is easy and the lack of traffic is very welcome.

When I went to the 'Classic' I used Speed Ferries. They were cheap but I had delays both ways, especially returning home. The time can add up, it's already a slow process to queue, load the ferry and sail across (that's about 2 hrs). We then had an hour delay on top.

Sat Nav (with speed camera info) was very useful at the French port (Bolougne) and Le Mans because I arrived at night. It takes the pressure off driving on the right and trying to find your way at the same time. Try to get to Le Mans with plenty of daylight left because it'll be very busy at the campsite. Allow about 4 hrs from landing in France (to be safe).

The ground where we stayed was VERY hard to get pegs in, you really need a hammer and 6" nails NO KIDDING. I thought Sean was joking, BE WARNED.
 
Speed Ferries is no more !

Try SeaFrance to Calais or Norfolk Line to Dunkerque? I think you'll find Brittany Ferries and P and O quite expensive but look around for deals if you want to land at Le Havre / Caen / Cherbourg / St Malo / Roscoff.

Arrive in daylight and do bring long nails and more than a rubber mallet to knock 'em in with !
 
Thanks chaps, this is all helping. :thumbs:

Read a good tip on PH.........'ear plugs incase you want to sleep during the night of the race'! :p

So, when will you be there from Sean? And have you ever been to this event?
 
yep ....i'm up for this ....

will need 2 ticket's and camping ....

many thank's wozzer ...

..
 
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Drinking lots (and ear-plugs) helps sleeping !

No, I haven't been but frankly, Saturday morning, I perfer to watch the older cars racing around the track than 'hanging about' - have you seen a D-Type being thrashed through some fast corners, driver turning the wheel frantically keeping the car under control at high speed ? Friday for me is last bit of grub shopping, wonder around the campsites which are classic car shows by themselves and don't forget that most visitors appraoch Le Mans via the north (UK, rest of the world and Paris) coupled with the parade in the town centre and loads of day visitors Saturday, the traffic jams from there to the campsite will be horrendous !

Your choice but I won't be going. The parade is worth seeing too but get there early and bag a place on the route.

Wozzer - glad you've edited your post 'cos it's all here :

http://www.lemans.org/24heuresdumans/pages/accueil_gb.html

does that mean that you want me to get your tickets then ? And what can you bring to the group ?
 
sorry but i will not beable to make this meet.. as i will be on hoilday in spain ....

sorry wozzer ....

...
 
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Thanks for the link Sean. Oh, and thanks for the package too by the way. Got it this morning, it's great! ;)

Looking at the options so far, I think Transmanche Ferries from Newhaven to Dieppe is the best one. I might have the use of a property on the south coast, just twenty miles from the port which I could use for a stop over the night before. I reckon that's a sensible plan! :)

Another question though. What time is the race due to finish? Or when do people tend to head home?

Ta
 
Go home when you want - some people go before midday, others Monday morning.....

Race finishes at 15:00 Froggie time ! For me, it depends on family but also if the race is close after 11:00, is the positions can change, accidents/breakdowns excepted !
 
They're not expensive atm !

Logically, all freight and passengers will travel by rail on the shortest route between the UK and real-time Europe - it's just a question of time.

The tourist route boats, ie everything west of Le Havre will still operate but won't be cheap ! Watch Brittany Ferries shares - they're bastards for charging loads of money !
 
I can recommend the trip its a fantastic weekend, Sean that was me in my 72 240Z, I couldn't believe it when the first proper car I saw when I arrived at the Camp Site was your 240. I was staying with the Morgan Owners Club as a mate of mine is with them, they were pretty good considered they had a Datsun in their Camp!! Mind you most of them turned up in 4x4's etc!

The Dutch Corvette Club Guys were behind us and they were complete loonatics, they had a firework display on the sunday night consisting of a full blown rocket display mounted on the back of a moped being ridden round the Campsite!

My only recomendation is to take ear plugs...do not forget them unless you don't wan't any sleep at all.
 

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Morgan owners don't consider datsuns as competition old boy !

It gave me as much pleasure to see another 240Z turn up - one of the rarest sports-cars at Le Mans wouldn't you say ?

Can't say I appreciated the mobile firework display - a few too many loved cars too close together and volatile tents........maybe they'd laugh if I lit a few bbq parafin cubes under their C5s.
 
It was great to see another 240z there, I cannot make it back this year due work commitments but am thinking of going to the Classic next year. I am fitting a 305 SBC in mine at the moment (Don't cringe!) so am busy getting it ready for the summer!
 
Whatever floats yer.........keeping the auto box ?

I'll be taking bookings for Le Mans Classic 2010 after this summer - keep in touch !
 
Well, I've just booked the ferry. So long as there are no delays and I don't get pulled over for anything :p, should arrive in Le Mans about 7pm ish on the Thursday. Woo hoo! :thumbs:
 
Very, very urgent !

SeanDezart said:
I've already received the invoice for the advance tickets but if you get a wiggle on - I can include you too. ASAP please.

Cheers,
Sean
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Well, they've hept me hanging on but finally stated that Campiong Expo is full and that if I don't pay before the weekend, my order (done at the end of of September) will be cancelled !

This means that I have NO camping tickets for anyone atm ! I can order more entrance tickets but see NB below.

Options :

1) you cancel your trips - c'mon, don't do that !

2) you book elsewhere at the circuit and be dispersed (I can order elsewhere for you I think)

3) I get you into the camping on our passes and your cars stay there or you use our passes to come and go (shopping.....see the parade in town on Friday afternoon/evening)

4) As above except that I book you parking places in the car-park 'red' just opposite which would allow you to visit Arnage and Mulsanne corners during the race.

5) You try to book through a ticket agency for Camping Expo.

3 and 4 have been done before and work.

NB : I can order and/or buy reduced entrance tickets but if you order through a ticket agency, they won't accept your order without buying entrance tickets.

I'm sorry but this prooves just how popular the race is and how well placed Camping Expo is. I started this thread in July last year - I hate to diasappoint and those who know me know that I'll do whatever I can to make sure that your visit to Le Mans 24hrs is a great one.

But help me to help you and reply with your preferred course of action. I will be sending my payment to the A.C.O tomorrow at midday. If I don't hear from you re . entrance tickets, I won't be ordering any for anyone here. I can buy them at the track still at a reduced price !
 
So are you saying you can get me the entrance tickets, but not camping passes? Or just not camping with everyone else?

I'd rather not cancel, as the ferry cost isn't refundable, but......
 
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