Club Arnage

I've been roped in on the logistics this year, and I've found myself a bit stumped  :-[ Does anyone have any suggestions for Hotels on Sunday night? Ferry's not until 8pm Monday (from Dieppe), so plenty of travelling time on Monday - don't have to worry too much about getting close to the coast.

I've found loads of places in Rouen, but would rather not have to travel as far as that on Sunday - eats into valuable eating and drinking time!

Doesn't have to be anything fancy - we're on a bit of a budget, but amenable bar staff willing to work until the small hours, and a bistro or two nearby would definintely be a help  ;D

Thanks   :)

Are you camping for the race - if so why not stay on circuit for Sunday night (like many others)
Sunday night is party night !

Really? I was planning on staying Sunday night in 2002, but everything shut down. I bought as many beers as I could carry and headed back to the campsite to find my tent had been nicked! Ended up walking all the way back to the town and getting a room...

First and last time I stray from allocated camping!

So where's the action on a Sunday then? Anywhere near Beausejour?

Sunday night last year had a spectacular fireworks display on Houx Annex. MB had fireworks set off from under dustbins. Pickies are normally going to ask before they take on Sunday but on monday the often have to be run after. Last year they tried to nick my £120 Lafuma Relaxing chair. Where are you staying that might make a difference to the atmosphere.

I'm in Beausejour (which seems to have had some less than enthusiastic press here, but was all we could get...)

I know that Gibberish stayed there last year and is back there again I suggest you PM him and ask. He might read and post on the forum shortly though

It's true to say, on the stroke of 4 pm Sunday, all the beer and food outlets shut.
But, as long as you have your evening chow / beer already, Sunday night is generally pretty amusing.

I must admit, I have no experience of Camping Merde (BSJ), but certainly on Houx Annexe we (16 of us last year) and plenty of others have a ball.
Fireworks, bonfires, hose pipes and super soakers, bbqs, oh, and BEER.

The campsite gate gestapo generally desert their posts at 4 pm, so it wouldn't harm to upsticks and move campsite.

The tea leaves / pikies can be a nuisance, but a bit of dilligence and observation on your part will save an upset.
Get to know your campsite neighbours, they'll look out for your stuff the same as you would theirs.

Better still, meet up with fellow CA people that will be on BSJ.
Gibberish will be there and should be along here soon..........

 

moving dancing lady !

MGB

I was on BSJ last year , and have moved around the sites. We always go to a restaurant on sunday for food , despite rumours its good. we then go bcak to campsite and watch the party. Try having a look aroun Houx and Blue , races galour .

Sunday is fun , then join the convoy up the N138 on monday.  

Sorry chaps, I was helping build the Titanic  :o but that's another story.  Yes was on Beausejour last year, but clered off after the race, and stayed in a motel for Sunday night.  Gonna do the same this year, so can't ofer any advice about BJR on Sunday night.  ::)

Which was my original plan... For all that it sounds like a giggle, I'm not sure the women will agree to another night under canvas when a hot shower and a soft bed are the alternative, so we may still hit the road Sunday night, and opt for the Hotel.

Gib, do you have a regular stop off point for Sunday nights, or do you just wing it?

woman???? you're taking women with you to Le Mans? Poor bastard!

cheers

Werner

Who else is gonna do the washing up, cooking, hoovering, making the beds, get the shopping......  ;D

(take cover.........)  ;D

Hear! Hear!

What's more they're not my women, so I get off scott free when mascara gets smudged, the fingernails get broken and the fur starts to fly.

Actually, I could sell tickets for that bit  ;D



<<Hides under desk>>

Tickets for that? I#ll buy one....

Well despite my best efforts, it's definitely a hotel Sunday night, preferably somewhere not too far from the circuit.

Apparently there's nothing doing in Le Mans itself, and I'd rather not go as far as Rouen, but there doesn't seem to be much else in between Le Mans and Dieppe...

Suggestions very welcome...!

Something tells me Maison Blanche will be the place to be Sunday night.

The Rickmeister's 40th birthday!!!!!!

What are you looking for? What level of comfort? how many people and which budget ?

I may find a special offer for the sunday night ...  :D

If there're still rooms available then I take one too. The budget is tight though, so no chalets or anything too confy.

MGB, try www.envergure.fr

They have all sorts of places all over France.  The type we used last year, and will be this year, are the campaniles.  they're a bit like a travell lodge with restaurant atached.  Cost for two double rooms this year (Sunday) is 157euro, but his varies with location.  They do get boked up early, and if i recall correctly their web site quotes an English speaking booking number.

Thanks all  ;D

Gilles, there will be six of us - two couples and two singles. Two double rooms and a twin would be ok. Budget up to €85-90 per room. €70 would be better, but we can be flexible I expect.

As for level of comfort, if it's better than a tent then the ladies will be happy, and provided the bar stays open late so will the chaps ;)  anything 2* or above will be more than adequate.

Thanks for the link Gibb - seems they're all booked up already around Le Mans and Alençon, but I can always try further afield I guess. I've been using http://www.francehotelreservation.com which seemed pretty good, if it's of any use in the future... It's also in English as well as French, but I speak the language either way (just in case there are some french-only websites out there that anyone knows about  ;) )

Thanks again!

I'm studying what's available and you may receive an offer in these very few days  :D

 :o  :D  ;D Top man Gilles! I owe you a beer or several  8)

thanks for the link MGB.  Best of luck.

This is a great hotel on the route back to Calais. It is right in the town center with lots of bars and restaurants nearby. There is parking at the back although only possible for cars. There are I think about 12 rooms prices are good and the breakfast (continental) was fantastic. I have stayed there a few times before and will continue to go back.

Here is the link http://www.bernay.net/berhot.htm.

Rick.  
 
 

Thanks Rick - how long does it take you to get there from the track?

Not sure how long but no more than 3 hours I suspect!

Gilles, did you have any luck finding something local? I don't mean to rush you at all, but it would be good to get booked up if we can...

Thanks again...

The three hours is inclusive of apres-le mans traffic. It can take over 1 hour to get past le mans after the race. Three hours is about twice the normal time it will take.

I will check the distance.

Rick

From : Le Mans (72, France)  
To : Bernay (27, France)  
   
Itinerary : Express Vehicle : Sedan car
Distance : 145.0 km On motorway : 42.4 km
Duration (1) : 01H48  
Fuel : 12.0 € (12 l)  
Tolls (2) :  FRA : 3.20 EUR

There you go!

Driving times are a bit unrealistic considering English Drivers!!!!!!
 
 

Thanks Rick, I'd put the three hours down to your 3.5 tonne Carrera 4 Diesel  :P and reckoned on about half that as well.

As an aside, we're in Beausejour, and I hear that it's fairly easy to get away from there without getting stuck in too much traffic. I'm definitely keeping the Bernay in mind, but would like to stay in the town if possible...

We only know in April what's left for sunay evening, because people who booked for the weekend only inform us in april/may/june if they stay the whole week-end or leave on sunday

We packed up on BJ on sunday morning last year, drove round to Mulsanne to watch end of race from there, and whammo........miles away from the circuit before anyone!

 ;D Good tip Gibb, I'll bear that in mind!

we left the circuit at 1645 hours and droove straight into town to our food place, no worries, i had more problems on Monday morning......

Just on the off-chance that there's been any news on hotels in town...

Thanks...

Hi mgb

We have always stayed at Alencon on the Sunday night at the B & B hotel there .Just to freshen up and relax.

There is also next door a "Buffalo Grill".Which in previous years has caterd for the majority of the "great unwashed" who come with us ,
Who are hesitant to try frech cuisine.

Wishy

I've never had problems getting away from the Circuit on the Sunday evening.   Since they Built the by-passes around Alençon and so on there have not been any any holdups.  By about 18:00 the vast majority of those leaving have gone  and you get a clear run to the port.   I don't think it make much difference which site you are in.   I think that the police stop cars traveling to the circuit just before the end of the race.  so the traffic clears very quickly.

T.

mgb,

if you're interested, due to some Sunday pm leavers, we've got a room with 5 single beds free on Sunday night in Saint Biez en Belin - 10-15 mins drive from Mulsanne corner. We've got to be out early on the Monday am but mail me if you're interested.

Thanks Sid, would have been perfect, but unfortunately there are six of us.  >:( . The offer's much appreciated though  ;D

No worries. As it is, our plans have since gone pear-shaped (hence post on the Sell / Swap section) and last minute replacements have been drafted in who want to stay Sunday night, so I don't think we'll have the spaces anymore anyway!

I did a lot of phoning around on Thursday as I was looking for a hotel room for the Friday & Saturday and I know at least two hotels still had rooms available for the Sunday night. One in Connere and one in Malicorne. (I don't know what they are like but surely better tham campin!!!!
E-mail me for details: theracingnut@tiscali.co.uk  :)

Thanks TRN - if we could get something in Connerré that would be blinding. You have mail!