Anything about Le Mans. If you're going to the 24 Heures du Mans in June 2006 or the Le Mans Classic in July 2006 - talk about it here.

The Annual 24 Hour Race, this year over the weekend of 17th/18th June 2006

A group of us are thinking about either the normal Le Mans in 2006 or the Classic Le Mans, can anyone tell me which one is the better event and what are the pros and cons of both? Not having been to either we are all at a bit of a loss as to which to attend bearing in mind we do love the classics but also are into racing of any variety. Can anybody help?

Cheers,

Ian.

To start with - what's wrong with doing both!

Which is best really depends on what you personally are looking for/interested in.

Le Mans 24hr
Very big, very packed, very drunken, very loud (the cars), very good laugh. Oh, and you get to see some very expensive metal on the road down/back - much of it stopped paying speeding fines to the local policeman.

It's best to treat it as a week sat in a field full of (happy) drinking Brits and Germans, with a race thrown in.

Camping tends to fill up fast and, with the exception of Houx is first come first served. Get down early (Wed./Thurs.) and tape out your plot and your fine. Turn up on Fri./Sat. and you have to squeeze in where you can.

The atmosphere, both around the circuit and in the camp sites is great. It's so busy, it's infectious. Add to that watching LMP1 cars glowing their break disks at 5am for Arnage corner, while you have a beer in one hand and a coffee in the other and you will have a great time.

Le Mans Classic
Quite small (compaired to LM24), but no less friendly.

You don't get 24hrs continuous racing, but something like 8 age based classes with a break between each class (which I found a little annoying personally).

What you do get are loads of classic cars, both on and off track.

Either way you get a good few days sat in a (hopefully) sunny French field drinking beer and relaxing

Agree with Mark.
But if you cant do both then the 'Classic' would be your best intro to Le Mans.
It was my First visit to the classic last year and once bitten..... its now a firm date on my callender.(sorry international)
Best to go with an organised trip such as the club had last year (hows the plans going for next year Phillip and Team)
You get to see a varied range of racing from 30's cars to late 70's + everything imaginable inside the circuit car wise + you can pay to do a couple of laps of the track in your own car!!!* insert scared faced smilie* and rub shoulders with the likes of Jonny Herbert... All in all a great long weekend in excellent company.
Dave

Plans are going great... NOT!

We should have started about 8-9 months ago.......

Colin

re lmc 2006, all we really need is a campsite. everything else will follow on. or is the campsite the prob?????

j

Back from 'oop north' then Colin.....
Did suggest that we got things under way towards then begining of this year!...
Bet the Morgan clubs booked up everything in site.
The offer of help is still on if i can be of any assistance?
Regds
Dave

I may very well take you up on that offer.

The camping is the most important, we wanted to try to pursuade the organisers to let us have a field to ourselves. if we can guarantee a minimum attendance.

Ferries is the other quandry. Do we try to offer a standard crossing and fill it with Triumphs, or do we say 'free for all, see you there'

Colin (on his way back 'opp north')

Hi Colin,
There will be a group going from the North East, at least 5 cars I would think. Given the distance we have to go just to get to the ferry we have in the past got the 10pm ish sailing overnight on the Thursday returning on the leaving France on the 6-7am Monday sailing.
Might be worth putting out a request in the Courier for interested people and collect deposits to be sure of numbers.
Would this fit with a large group booked ferry? We could get to Portsmouth earlier but it is an 8 hour plus trip whenever we set off. Also would we be able to get discount through the club or are the ferry companies going to up all prices like they do for the full 24hr?
Like the sound of a field full of Triumphs. Cannot wait to do a circuit lap either!!

yours
Mark

There are only 3 choices of ferry terminus now available.

Dover, Portsmouth and Weymouth/Poole.

I don't think that Newhaven will be available next year unless another compnay takes it over or the local French government see sense and offer the subsidy, also assuming the subsidy isn't ruled illegal by the EU, but then it is France so teh illegality doesn't matter.

If we have a confirmed field then going later doesn't matter.

For the normal 24hrs, if you aren't camped by thursday morning you're a bit stuffed.

I beleive there is a friendly contact in P&O at Portsmouth so a block booking may be possible, but if cabins are involved, the price shoots up and the chances are they are already booked out for next year anyway.

As for the return, most people I would guess look to have a quiet Sunday night getting drunk and leave LM monday morning.

Depends on when you have to be back at work. I always make sure I am off work Monday and Tuesday in case of breakdown/tiredness etc.

Does anybody else have any thoughts??

Cheers

Colin

Section : Le Mans 24 Hours

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