Club Arnage

Morning all,

Next year will be my 11th at Le Mans which probably still makes me a newbie to some of you seasoned veterans. I have always been on Houx or Houx Annex, unfortunately for next year we have already been told both of these sites are already sold out and so we have been alocated space in Camping Bleu. I believe this site is the one next to the main entrance but can anyone tell me what it's like? We love the party atmosphere of Houx Annex and the convenience of the bar/cafe and closeness to the village of Houx. How does Bleu compare?

thanks in advance.

Bleu is opposite Maison Blanche, divided into 2 areas, main area along the road, grass with a track running through it. Can get very dusty if dry. Second area is overflow field behind, opens Wednesday, long grass that has been cut and then left. You find grass in your camping gear for months afterwards.
Its about a 10 minute walk to the tribunes, and compared to other sites I would describe it as quiet, although it has been getting noisier recently. Big advantage is that there is space to set up, especially in 2nd field, untill Friday, and then it starts getting crowded, although in 2005 it was fairly busy from Thursday, probably a combination of Aston and Pescarolo pulling in the crowds. Cosmopolitan mix of campers Uk/Dutch/Danes, even some French campers. Facilities limited, but kept clean, usual bog blocks, bring your own shower, it's easier. No power.

Best decribed as a very laid back site, rather than a party till you drop one.

I used Bleu for many years and I'd endorse all Barry has said above.  Don't know if the '7' club still use Bleu, but they usually have a big enclosure with a large 'Club Tent' - music, dancing, TV etc.

The one downside is that it is a bit more 'open' than some of the other sites - ie there is no fence around the site and anyone, including the Pikeys, can just walk in.  We got turned over a few years ago there (as we slept!!), so keep your valuables (including passport) on your person at all times or securely locked in the car.

The site is also very handy to watch the Friday afternoon burn-outs on the road between MB and Bleu.

Del

I was in Camping Bleu my first year (11 years ago!!) and again for the last 3 years.  It is now my preferred site, but I would agree that its pretty relaxed (quiet) other than burnouts on Friday.  Access in n out to Arnage/Supermarket is good and Sunday pm getaway is pretty quick too.  Worst feature is poor toilet facilities and no showers in Sud field. 

Fran

P.S.  its only a short bike ride to Maison Blanche and all the attractions of Team JPC (Tropicoma etc) and DfH (movies etc.)  ;D

Thanks for the feed back all, sounds like I don't need to be too p****d off about not getting Houx then and I've always heard about the Friday burn outs but never seen them so maybe a whole new Le Mans experience!

Couple more questions though, Is it far from the campsite to the old village/welcome area? and we usually take a big pool, are there stand pipes on the site to fill it up from?

(for someone who's been going for so many years I still seem to know so little!!)

It's about 15-20 mins from the 'Poo bar, depending on the rate of stagger.

There are stand pipes in the main part of Bleu by the road, but there didn't used to be any in Bleu Sud.  Maybe this has changed since I was last there.  Fran??

Del

Yes, there are some standpipes in Bleu Sud now.

Strangely I dont remember ever seeing a pool there tho, (perhaps they are all in the middle section - i tend to set up alongside the burnup straight - maximum dust and maximum vulnerability to pikies.... but you kinda get your favourite spot dont you!) - if you set up a pool you may find a lot of new best friends.. me first!!   ;D

Ranger

This one first crashed our pool party in 2005. You should be aware that you will need:

1) a large beer supply

2) the right amounts of chlorine and disinfectant

3) space on your washing line (or was it by your bedside, George??) for Fran's bathing suit...



Only kidding Fran  :-*

...don`t forget the bicycle stand so Fran can lock up her bike while she makes her rounds, it must be accessable to the wee hours of the morning  8)

 :D

Yep - that sounds about right....its amazing how comfy my week at LM can be with just a few essentials in the boot of my car!

However, I insist that the clouding up of smokie's pool was nothing to do with me  >:(

Fran you're more than welcome anytime but you may have to share the pool with 26 blokes!! you've been warned.... ;D

No problem Ranger - you have been warned too!  ;)

Marvelous..... :-* ;)

Some confusion on location here, there are stand pipes in the main Bleu field, but not in the second field. However long hoses were run into the 2nd field by some last year, who were then happy for others to borrow.

Sorry to disagree with u Barry, but there certainly are some standpipes in Bleu Sud too.  I camp alongside the burnup road and was within 35ft of a standpipe kinda round the back of the toilet portakabins - and there were others in the middle of Bleu Sud too.  Have been standpipes there for last 3 years since i was going. 

Unless of course the bit i camp in isnt actually called Bleu Sud!!!! but i am certain it is, and my permit said it was too!  :-\

Gonna go n check the ACO website now to double check  ???

Ok having checked various maps, they dont seem to show separate Bleu and Bleu Sud, apart from one which shows my field marked as Parking Bleu Sud!!  :-\ - anyhoo - i stand by my earlier statement ... i think...

I'll try to clear up the confusion, as I partly started it anyway.

Bleu Sud is THE main Bleu site, alonside the 'burnup road' as Fran succinctly puts it, where the toilet block is located.

The Bleu overflow field, sometime called Bleu Annexe, is a bit further down the back lane towards Arnage ( the lane between the camp site and the car park), and it is this overflow field that does not have standpipes.  However, as Barry states, there is usually someone with a looooooooong length of hose that will bring water into the field.

Hope this clears it up.

Del

Ahhh - gotcha now!   :D

Ah that's what it should be called!

Every time I type the Bleu overflow field I expect a long dissertation on the toilet facilities at Le Mans to be posted.

Surely not Barry, we're all grown ups here ya know  ;D

Yeah right ...  :P