Club Arnage

This follows jpchenet's suggestion that Club Arnage make a block booking for camping for 2004.

Please take the time to make one choice. Please vote zero if you are not interested.

If you find it allows you to vote more than once, please don't!

This is just to get an idea of 1) level of interest (i.e. how many non-zero votes) and 2) approximate quantities which may be required. Once the site has some data, appropriate approaches can be made.

So by my reckoning, at minimum values (i,e, 5@1   7@3  4@6  5@10)

we are up to 100 camping spots already!!!  Pretty impressive!!

Maybe the ACO should allocate us our own field ( I wonder how much Airtrack pay per petch for theirs??)

Top idea, Smokes. Tickets supplied BY enthusiasts FOR enthusiasts. Someone on the inside to deal with the ACO? Wonderful. Good luck. And VOTE YOU BU66ERS!!!

jpchenet is due the credit for the idea, not me. Smokie

Terrific idea Mr Chenet,drinking a glass of yours right now,from the promotional bent glass!Which site would we want?This could be the start of something big.
Bonne chance as the French would say.
P.S Would we have our own shampoo bar?
Rex.L

 :D better than our own shampoo bar, I suggest our own wine bar  ::)

169 Camping Tickets required so far!!!

And I thought the Lotus 7 Club's booking for 90 Caterhams on Bleu was big!!

I see the caterhams book a seacat to come over (pass the bag to andy zarse).
Now theres a challenge

Yes, I've heard that from someone too. I also heard that it costs them £600 each though. Perhaps having a live band and cinema is a lttle OTT??

A couple of people have already said they would prefer to still do their own thing as far as food etc is concerned so that it isn't too regimental. Also, different ferry ports suit different people.

Is this for a better method for securing and keepng costs down the camping passes or providing a less expensive verision of Airtrack?

Camping tickets - ok. Ferries/Trains are down to location and time off work. Besides they are not exactly difficult to book and there is the possibility that they are better organised (maybe less baised?) than the ACO...

IMO, it's to secure camping passes at sensible prices, without the worry of whether we will get an allocation at the last minute, and hopefully all together in one large group.

Although some extra niceties would be good (toilets/showers/refridgerated trailer as a huge fridge)  :)

I think the general feedback is that we don't want to go to the extreme of Airtrack or MRI hospitality as fixed meal time etc etc don't suit everyone.

Although, there is someone on another forum saying he can get a 50 seater coach from London to Le Mans for £2000. That's only £40 each. MRI, P&M......are you reading this!!

If you had a CA campsite wouldn't the riot police watching over it put you off??

 :o
Yea what a good idea, the whole group could be chessed off with getting offered BEAUSEJOUR campsite, instead of the site they requested. - Why is the the only site with places still available ?

But if if it would work then YES.

Has anyone contacted/contacing the ACO about this, as a lot of us book for the following year on Monday morning (tho, I suspect nothing is done about it until March), and would save a lot of hassle for all concerned if we knew it was going ahead?

I've done the trip with the Lotus Se7en club and agree that the cost is high. Personally I'm not interested in the live band etc and not interested in the overnight stop en route. They take one or two large vans needed to carry the huge marquee, showers, bbq etc etc. Fantastic set up if that is what you want.
I think that the advise would be, keep it simple, very simple otherwise you will run into all sorts of issues with carrying kit, who does what etc etc. Book a good secure area with toilets and showers if possible, offer tickets if needed but leave folk to make their own way. If someone turns up in a bus with loads of kit then lets have a party but otherwise keep it simple
This year one of the major issues was that P&O would not release car space tickets to the travel companies, this was because they could sell direct and keep the margin.
The Lotus Se7en club have had a few problems selling the package although most tickets have now been sold. It will be interesting to see what happens next year.

Incidentally, Ive checked our records and this year we paid nearly a hundred quid LESS to go on Brittany Pompey-Caen than last years voyage from hell on the Vomitcat to Cherbourg.

We always go Pompy - Caen, normally works out around £280 for the basic crossing.  We did do Poole - Cherbourg, but the difference isnt that much any more and it is further on the other side....

we do Pompey - Caen too. The Cherbourg Peninsula may not be that big but it's a sh**ty drive!!

If only is what that simple!  Mind you I don't know what P & M, MRI etc charge, however there is I believe cost of hospitatility to arrange, need to make provision for unsold spaces on the coach, unsold tickets etc.  Come to that theres also the fact that with P&M, MRI etc you know your moneys save.  Be interesting to know what profits Just Tickets make, as they offer a service more comparable with the one proposed!

So when they sell the left over campsite and seats and say the profits are going to Charity they mean the profits after you have also subsidised their transport, band etc?

Good point Chris.

For our entertainment next year,  I will bring our gazebo, my kid's karaoke machine and disco lights (better than a band any day  ;D ) a couple of air guitars, a harmonica, triangle and tambourine   ;)

All for the princely sum of one bottle of Stella (purely to cover admin costs of course)  ;)

there is certainly a donation to charity but that comes from a variety of activities. For example when Euro 2000 was on they flogged space to watch the matches and the same with the Canadian GP. I dont know the make up of their costing system all that I can comment on was the fact that for me it was to expensive and that I was prepared to forgo the amenities. When you go with them then you do so fully in the knowledge that there are add on's that have to be paid for and that is fair enough. I choose not to pay for the add on's

Out of curiosity, what would the consensus be if the Lotus Se7en club advertised their tickets on this forum? They are about double face value but profit goes to charity. A moral dilemma for Smokie or not?

They certainly used to advertise on the old site, to a somewhat mixed reaction.

Personally, I don't mind seeing the occaisional advert for a service supplied by and for like minded enthusiasts.  As long as what the price includes and there are no special catches and is available to everyone.

Personally, its not for me.  I go with an hardcore group of friends with selected invitations to others.  But heving ended up with a complete wkerna in the group, the invitation list has been severly chopped this year.  

Your choice who you go with but little choice who you camp next to.

Dreamracers, I have tried to make contact with the ACO but no reply so far. Worst case, I have asked to meet them once I arrive on Mon 9th.

I guess it IS a bit late for next year....but I'm not going to stop yet!!!

I agree, simple approach. Main purpose being to ensure ticket allocation. Anything else can be taken on by individuals if they want, or may be it will grow over the years...

and


I bought tickets from the Lotus club last year and didn't mind payig extra as I thought the extra was going to charity.  However it would appear that that is not quite correct.  They may raise money for charity, but it appears not all the difference between the face value of the ticket I bought and the price I paid went to charity.

It appears that I might have subsidised members of the Lotus Seven club to have a large marque, live band, etc which is not what I thought I was doing.  Mind you I think that those actions may also be illegal under the Charities Act, can't remember the year!

I thought I had seen an advert from the Lotus Seven club on this board this year but might be wrong.

My understanding is that the Lotus 7 Club offer their members a package including crossing, hotels en route, entertainment and other features. The price includes an element of charity fund raising, as do some of their activities in LM (I saw a figure somewhere that they raised £24k last year...)

Because they block book tickets, they usually have some left over. How they price them I'm not sure, but Arnie Webb's adverts always say that proceeds go to charity. Why that should be in doubt, I'm not clear.

The full Lotus 7 package costs a lot, and I suspect that you'll find there is no subsidy from sales of spares.  I think they fund raise in many other ways than just at Le Mans, and I'd be surprised if they don't have charity status which, I believe, brings with it legal obligations to keep accounts etc. They have a forum where I'm sure you can ask about this, if you want. (http://www.blatchat.com/default2.asp)

I'd sooner that the discussion on this topic stopped here, as false or misleading accusations could land this site in trouble.

I don't have moral dilemmas about what goes on here. I've been asked to try to make sure that "no profiteering" happens, that's all I'm trying to do, without offending people. I'd seek advice about anything I wasn't sure - after all, it isn't my site...

Isn't there something other than ticket prices to talk about?

Keep it simple  :)
Keep it cheap  :)
Camping tickets & General admission tickets ONLY.
Everything else can be booked by the individual.

Totally agree with H3RPS, the problem is the uncertainty of the ACO ticket allocation of camping tickets.

and the problem is that clubs/societies/profiteers buy far more than their require and sell them on at a profit - even in the name of charity, I find it hard to swallow.   Whatever the cause I am sure it is noble, but it is still hi-jacking tickets at the expense of others, and that cannot be justified  There are many who cannot attend the race as they couldnt get tickets, and it is taking advantage, plain and simple.

I choose which charity I donate to, and not feel forced to donate to the charity of someone elses choice simply because I wanted to attend the best race in the world, and wasnt lucky with the ACO allocating tickets (I was lucky again this year and they have arrived now *phew*).

Well I've conactetd the ACO, they say all I can do is order tickets in the normal way. So based on the poll figures, I've ordered 300.

Requested Maison Blanche as it's my personal favourite but I guess we'll just have to wait and see. Will try to meet with them when I am there, if time permits. (Although there are quite a number of other things I'd sooner be doing!)

When I get a letter saying they want payment for 300 (will that be in November?) you lot had better pay up quick!

Nah,think I might give it a miss next year

PM

...and Wales will win the next World Cup eh PM?

I'll be on my way this time next week... ;D ;D ;D

I wonder if that donkey will still be there this year? I won't tell anyone exactly where, as I know you don't like queueing.

[attachment deleted by admin]

it's not a She then?

Oh and suppose that matters, does it??
PM

It's considerd bad form down here, if it's a he...maybe it's not down in the valleys - you just get it where you can I guess... ;)

We thought that was our donkey, (it's an ass really.) Tell me that you have not been near it, when the WS, has not been available.We thought last year that it was two timing us and now the true story comes out. That's if it is the ass in the field on the left as you head into Arnarge.
Tell us we have the wrong donkey/ass.
as some of our crew are disturbed by this thread.

Hi, Us bike engined car boys would take about 10 - 12 camping tickets :-))

HUH, NOT THAT LONG AGO YOU JUST TURNED UP , BOUGHT A TICKET AND PITCHED YOUR TENT WHERE YOU WANTED, NOW CAUSE OF ALL THE CORPORATE/ CLUBS ITS HARD FOR REAL PUNTERS TO GET A TICKET, THE CAMPSITES ARE ALL MARKED OUT AND ITS A LOAD OF PISH.
NOW YOUR JOINING IN! arrgghhhh!!! HAVING TO GET TICKETS IN ADVANCE IS A REAL PAIN IN THE ARSE  - SUGGEST YOU LOBBY ACO TO STOP ALLOWING BLOCK BOOKINGS FOR CLUBS OF WHIMPS YOU CANT CAMP!!!
 >:(

Having made an order to the ACO I am now locking this thread, and un-stickying it. Watch out through the bleak months for an update.

The Club Arnage camping ticket has finally come through, following a little prodding.

We can have up to 300 tickets on....Beasejour.

How nice of them.

Does anyone want to volunteer to:

1) partake of this offer and if so,

2) organise purchase, collection of money and distribution of tickets


I suspect everyone is sorted now so this will be a non-runner. I need to let them know asap if we require tickets.

Is Beasejour big enough to fit 300 units plus all the people they are taking on board at this moment in time. Or is this general ACO organisation ::)

yes beausejour is large enough...
... but out of interest for most of you.

Maybe we need to fix the 2005 order during 2004 PQ or in even in April.

To be fair Smokie, given the name of our little group, Beausejour is the closest campsite to Arnage village after all!!! Maybe they just assumed we wanted to be close to our fave little village!!  ;)

So perhaps someone linked with Maison Blanche should place the order for 2005 next year??  Now, who do we know with any connections to Maison Blanche???   ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

LOL, well volunteered Rick.   ;D ;D

I already tried that JP - I asked for MB in the first place, but making clear that I didn't want to jeopardise my regular allocation!!

I think we already decided that much as communal camping would be a great idea, ppl have their own preferences (and bookings!) and therefore this was not really worth pursuing.

Wonder how much I'd get on eBay for 300 tickets? Enogh for a mug each I expect...  ;)

Plenty of mugs on eBay already Smokie if the bidding for tickets and passes is anything to go by  :)

I know Smokie, just a little friendly bantering with The Rickmeister!!  :)

Thanks for all your efforts in this to tryand acquire the group booking. As it goes, I think that most of the forum are on MB anyway (in my particular case with great thanks to you!!)  :)

Smokie i put a message on a work SMALL ADS board for a lad who wants 10 tickets to call me . i have given him the web address, only time will tell.

I am now ( 2nd choise) on MB , so i may retain this allocation for a few years.

Great Idea but BJSR is miles away from insanity