Club Arnage

ok, I'm in last resort mode here...

Basically my friend and I are planning on going to Le Mans with a self drive package that includes camping etc. With the two of us it's not really cost effective, however if we have three people in the car it is cheaper and four; even cheaper. Is anyone at all interested? If we get a third person we figure it would be around £180 - £200 per person for everything, travel, camping, tickets and food which really isn't that much. With four as I said it's even better.

We're looking for someone preferably in the south/south-east of England but could go further afield, we'd pick you up and drop you off so no need to worry about any logistics, just bring what you need and have the cash.

If you're at all interested PLEASE message me! I'm totally gutted our plans have fallen through and this was to be my first trip to Le Mans.

This is the package we're looking at: http://www.motorracinginternational.uk.com/le%20mans%20self%20drive.html  Obviously we want to book sooner rather than later having missed out on ACO tickets already.

Also can anyone tell me why Camping Bleu, Expo & Houx Annexe are cheaper? My friend says they're worse and places aren't reserved...

Cheers,
Tom

Hi,
Firstly I would say 2 is the perfect number to have in any car, unless you have a large estate or MPV then 3 or 4 is going reduce the boot space for tents etc. It may reduce the costs slightly but having an extra person, let alone 3 in your car if its been a hot one will not make it pleasant.

Secondly, most sites do have numbered pitches, Houx Annexe for sure is all numbered this year and I think Blue and expo are as well. All 3 are very close to the track. (Numbered pitches have a size restriction on them, normally too small for a car + 4 tents, the link makes no mention if you have one pitch or 2)

I would say dont bother with motorracing international and do it of your own back. Get a cheap ferry, should be under £100 dover calais, find a camping pass on ebay or this site, (there will be more coming up over the next few weeks) try to avoid paying over face value!

Entrance tickets you can get on the gate and fuel is not really that bad now, factor in a bit for tolls etc

I think your figure of 180 - 200 pp is pretty optimistic tbh as the prices quoted on MRI dont seem to include entrance tickets do they?

Probably because you don't have access to the MRI hospitality marquee. Check out the CA Guide (http://www.clubarnage.com/caguide/) for more info on the different campsites.

£260 for ferry & campsite pass isn't exhorbitant but as per Rup you can pocket the MRI margin if you DIY.

...the numerous unofficial “off circuit” campsites... (http://www.motorracinginternational.uk.com/le%20mans%20self%20drive.html) que? Is that what they call the ditch between MB & BSJ with people lying in it?

I agree - download the CA guide (print at work - cheaper) and sort out the trip by DIY.

Oh yea and don't forget to donate (if you want to) to the Charity fund - see http://www.clubarnage.com/forum/index.php?topic=9566.0

Thanks for all the advice guys, we're still deciding how to organise it. My friend is quite keen to nip it in the bud with the agency however it would be nice to save a few pennies! Personally I've set myself a limit of £250 for the whole trip which I think is reasonable and should be easy to achieve.

MRI are quoting £169 pp for 2 people with euro tunnel, parking and camping. Then it's just whatever general admission is on top.

hhhhmmmm, don't forget fuel and tolls both ways, and food and drink, I'd be surprised if you could do it all for £250!!  £85 for MRI, £60'ish for GA (if you're not an ACO member), so you are upto £145 already.

How long are you intending to go for, the campers amongst us will tell you what to roughly budget per day for food and drink,  and don't ask me about fuel costs, my old Aston does about 14mpg if I'm lucky, so I'm guessing you'll be in something a lot more fuel effecient, so maybe £75+ for fuel (each).

I'm not trying to put you off,  but I'd rather you went with your eyes open,  cos it's never a once in a lifetime trip,  more like once a year, or twice when the Classic is on ;D

Thanks Geoff, we're using my friend's company car so fuel is quite sneakily paid for! ;D I'm easy to feed and will probably try and take lots of food with me anyway. My £250 figure should be all inclusive as long as I moderate myself with all the extras which I'm used to.

Just to confirm:
£165 - MRI (Eurotunnel, camping, parking)
£65 - General Admission
£20 - To play with, could probably afford more if I need to. Food as I said is pretty much paid for and tolls my friend was going to pay but he said they weren't much.

Am I missing anything major?   ???

Booze!!

Del

haha, I'm 18 years old and surprisingly not a big drinker.

You are definately gonna need more than £20!  Trust me and the rest on that one!

Tom -

It's up to you how you spend your money, and what you include in your budget. You don't say how long you're going to be away, so allowing nothing for food and drink may or may not be a good idea. Check that your friend's company will refund him for fuel purchased in France and that the vehicle is insured for use in France. You will need the vehicle registration document, written consent of the vehicle's owner (unless your friend is the registered keeper) and the insurance certificate for production to the French police if you happen to be checked. Tolls are roughly €27 each way.

You've chosen to spend most of your budget on MRI, although you'll have no access to their "hospitality" without paying £49.50 each for it plus the cost of snacks and drinks you buy from them. You could put a DIY package together for about £50 each for crossing and campsite, using ACO on line - Pincenardière isn't hell incarnate- and LD Lines Dover-Boulogne (depends on crossings). That way you'd save over £100 each, which I have a sneaking feeling you'll need.

£20 for spending money - having a laugh, aren't you?

KPY is right about the company car abroad stuff, it should not be problem as long as the company are aware and given written consent and you have the insurance stuff with you. Make sure it has european breakdown as well, some company polices exclude it, companys dont take to well to if their car is stranded in France!

Even with company fuel paid for I doubt you will get the Lemans and back to English soil on one tank of fuel. so you will need to allow at least one top up on the french side so unless your friend has a european fuel card or is allowed to submit french recipts, that will take care of your £20 with the tolls.

Trust me, you will need more than £20!

i used to have to get a form from the leasing company, instead of the log book, to prove who owned the car, and that the car was registered in the Uk, and the VAT had been paid.  I've a feeling the AA provided the form, but that was 15 years ago

We had to get a similar form to take a company car out the country, as the car was leased.
A letter from your company is not sufficient if it's leased.
The lease company sorted it all out and the form was valid for one year.
It did take them a long time to process the paper work, so get onto them now, to be safe.
It's about 550 miles return from Calais to LM, so if you have a diesel with a big tank you might get there and back on one tank if you top up at Dover, but you have to allow a few miles for running around while you are there.

£20 = about 4 lagers at the circuit, unless you are bringing all your own food and drink, it's not enough.

The form you require is a VE103B  (Vehicle on Hire Certificate).   
The leasing company I use send it to me first class post so I get it the next day.   

t.

Ok, I'll have to check up on all the vehicle stuff.

Our new plan is to get Houx camping tickets from here hopefully (See my thread in the trade section) and with enough Tesco clubcard vouchers the Eurotunnel will actually be free! Then of course GA and the rest of it...

Considering how much food I plan to take £20 spending money is easy as pie for me, I'm used to it plus I'm not really limiting to that.

Edit:
My mate says the company car is absolutely fine, he's been taking it abroad for years and totally knows the drill.

Also, we're torn between Houx and Mulsanne now... Slightly mismatched but we have various reasons. What's the consensus on Bleu Nord?

As about 80% of CA are camping on BN, I doubt you will hear many negative comments about it. ;)

Depends on the year!!

Last year no-one wanted it (apart from one CA Goddess  ;) ;)) - suddenly this year it's the best thing since sliced bread.

If you want to be near the action, go to BN.  You'll have to drive everywhere from Mulsanne (except the corner of course).

Del

Who has deserted it this year.

Last year no-one wanted it (apart from one CA Goddess  ;) ;)) - suddenly this year it's the best thing since sliced bread.

Del

[/quote]

Thats not the case. We have favoured BN for several years now, we may not have raved about it, but thats because you never advertise a good thing too much do you.

Hi Tom,

Welcome to CA.
We used MRI the very first time we went to LM - 1996 - have done it ourselves every year since.
Much better to do-it-yourself.

£250 is a very tight budget however - suggest that you make sure there's some reserve cash on the credit card if you only have 20quid remaining.

My Budget this year -

Camping - Pincenardiere €49 = £45
Ferry crossing - Newhaven / Dieppe Return = £124
Fuel - Approx 2 1/2 tanks of Diesel (Oxford to Lemans) = £113
This is between 2 people therefore £129.50 p/p
GA Ticket €62 = £56

TOTAL = £185 per person

Food - £20 per day = £140
Beer - £50 per day = £350
Fags - £5 per day = £35
Nic-naks and other tat around curcuit - £10 per day = £70
Prostitutes - Errr,, Ahh,, No! = ??

TOTAL - £595
Grand Total = £780

Right, I think I'm starting to get my head around this:

Fuel: Free, yay!
Tolls: £30
Eurotunnel: £83
1st-Tickets Houx camping/GA: £128 x 2 (2 people)
Food: Already paid for
Beer: I don't drink
Fags: I don't smoke either!
Extras: Le Mans museum... £5 isn't it?

Overall total: £379
Total per person: £188

From there I've got spending money for any few things I might want... How many prostitutes can you get for £62 again?  ???  ;D

So, who have you got to cough up for your food?
You'll need some sort of fluids,  soft drinks aren't much cheaper than beer!  Hence everyone drinks beer ;D

Great if you can do it for those costs,  and lucky that you are getting company fuel,  glad its not my company!  Do you think they'd pay for my fuel????

You still haven't said how long you are going for!

It doesn't matter how much you spend, you'll have a great time!!!

BTW, it depends on the quality and quantity of prostitutes.....
Mine costs me a lot more than that,  but then all wives do ;D

Oh yes, we're leaving thursday evening and returning sunday evening.

I will easily be able to take three and a half days worth of food. I weigh 45kg and therefore really don't take much much to feed. Plus we can always go to the supermarket. Water is about the only thing I drink although I will have to sort out a way of making tea and coffee, a camping stove perhaps.

Best of luck to you Tom - you'll enjoy it.  But beware - it's addictive.  I first went when I was your age and did the trip on a shoestring  (although I have never NOT drank, and havn't been that weight since I was about 9!!).  I've been back a time or two since then of course  ::) ::)

Many of the members on here go for much longer to participate in
a) the other race-oriented activities (scrutineering, practice sessions etc) and
b)the many social activities which occur throughout the week.

All of which gobbles up a few more euros.

As you will see, a lot of money is spent on booze, flags, booze, food, booze, fireworks, and errr.....booze.  And if you are there for a week or more (as some of us are), there's no way you can transport that amount of sustenance from the UK, either liquid or solid.

Put it in your diary for next year - you'll be back.

Del

Tom, do you have a cousin called Paula?

Just a suggestion.

Why take all that food with you when there is a great supermarket a few hundred yards from the track, as they say Carrefour will provide.

All that space in the car freed up, less (free) fuel burnt. Food in Carrefour is as good, if not better than Tesco and fresher.  Anything brought in ther UK will have to be tinned whereas local can be fresh and BBQ'd. Please, please don't say you were going to take raw meat with you from the UK....It will be rancid by Saturday AM. As you will find the Le Mans loo's are the the place you want to spend the LEAST amount of time in thinking about that 50p you wished you had not saved.

Anyway have a good time and come back after the race and tell us how you got on.

Simon

PS take your own loo rolls (helpful hint no1)

Do you mean they don't sell loo rolls in Carrefour, or Auchan or Super U?

I've never understood why people take a load of stuff that they could have bought locally, and as you say at least it'll be fresh (unlike Tescos...), it's part of the trip, surely, to wander around a supermarket buying stuff at random and on impulse!  Super/Hyper U in Arnage here we come ...

I think that the general meaning of this, is that you should always have some loo roll in your pocket  >:D It was something my group learnt very early on, as often the toilets are rather short on luxury items like this  :o

I tried not drinking one day many years ago.  I didn't like it so I drunk ever since.  >:D >:D >:D >:D

I don't tend to run a budget as such for my trip.

Time was I wouldn't get a grandstand seat as I thought there are a bit over priced.  Particularly when you compare them to the cost of Entrance and Camping.   But these days I just view the whole cost as one and say it's ~€200 for camping and Entrance and Grandstand.

If I'm at home I'd have to buy food anyway so don't worry about the cost of that.
I have to admit I find it bizarre that some people take the food with them.  I personally prefer fresh food. 

I do take the Loo roll though but only so I have it available on the trip down.

To my mind the most important item is the Credit Card.  Then if you have a need for anything a quick trip to the Super market fixes that.  :)

t.

Not the monogramed super super soft type my brother demands to keep his privates soft and smooth!! ;D

However Mr. Invisible, has the correct idea from SL's post, its wise never to venture to far from a ready supply of loo roll as the supply found in the toilets can vary!!!

(Saw on guy taking his own private toliet seat into the traps one year)

Nope, sorry!

Cheers for the loo roll advice, I'm a bit of a hygiene person so that'll come in handy. Chances are we probably will get most food locally, raw meat hadn't even crossed my mind!

Lawnmower Man, I'm absolutely sure I'll be find without drink. I'm a rare breed that really doesn't like being drunk, it's a bonus money wise and I'll definitely enjoy it more that way.

Quick update, 1st Tickets didn't have any Houx but are expecting some more soon. My mate booked us on BN with the provision that we will be moved directly over to Houx should they get more passes.

Just thought I'd ask, some of the older members of the site might understand why, I thought that Paula and Felix might be relations. ;)

Leffe - the drink of Kings  ;D

What will you do for Breakfast.  Bier is the only legit Breakfast in Le Mans.  >:D >:D >:D >:D

t.

Cider has it's advocates as well. ;D

Indeed it does.  Cidre Brut for breakfast, lunch, and dinner as far as I'm concerned.  No need for food.   ;D

Dx

You'll be dead before Saturday ;D

I can think of worse ways to go.    ;D

Dx

Ugh, our booking confusion continues...

Question: If I listed 1 x BN and 2 x GA at £220 would they sell?

Cheers!
Tom

Only if thats cost price dude.

IN general the rule is no profiteering. 

These tickets have a face value of €179 so that is quite a markup.

t.

Absolutely, £220 would actually be a little bit less than what we're paying for them from 1st tickets. Basically we booked BN with them on the basis that should they get Houx passes we would be transferred automatically. Now I've had a Houx pass offered to me and there's really no guarantee that 1st Tickets will be able to put us on Houx, I figure it's worth buying the Houx pass as the cancellation fee with 1st Tickets is 80% of the price for tickets booked.

All a bit of a pickle to be honest...

Personally I wouldn't bother camping on Houx unless you have a motorhome/caravan. There's no point.

Also, I doubt you'd get the £220 for your tix, there's loads out there on the market at much lower cost, so it's a huge risk you'd be taking. Stick with what you've got if I was you.

Edit, here's a Camping Bleu ticket on ebay. One day left to run and it's at £22...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LE-MANS-BLUE-NORD-CAMPING-TICKET_W0QQitemZ160333123662QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Tickets_Tickets_LE?hash=item160333123662&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1688%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

 Agree with above.

 With 4 or so weeks to go most people will have arrangements in place by now. Anyone still looking or last minute change of plans can grab a bargain from EBay, there are quite a few available.

 BN is as good as any if you are on a tight budget, whilst you are at LM take a look around the other sites so you are prepared for 2010 in good time.

 Simon

Word has obviously got out that I have moved on to Expo this year.... Bleu is SO passe!   8)

F

I have to say I'm not at all sure why people feel the need to be on one site or another.
Obviously Members here like to be together.  But if your new to LM then IMNSHO the campsite is a bit irrelevant.

t.

I agree up to a point T - but a newbie would no more want to be stuck out in the ar*e end of nowhere than an experienced LM attendee would.

I would rather be in Pincenardiere than not attend at all if that was my only option ...........but I have a lot of other sites I would prefer to be in given the chance!

F

Yep so why go for Houx over BN?  :-)  BSJ has to be one of the more out of the way places and even that isn't that bad.

I've stayed on Houx a number of times and personally find it a bit of a trek.  IMHO the hassle of getting though the Village to the Stands is the worst part of being in Houx, HA, KN and BSJ if you take the Bus.

t.

Well now its much more convenient for the tram to town and Carrefour!  :)

F

Hmm, I've missed all the recent posts being at work and have also bought the Houx pass today. To be honest it's the site we'd decided to go with and if a lot of what I've read has some grounds then it'll be good for us. We're first timers so it's a safe bet despite the extra cost and has all the extra bits tagged on for comforts sake. Perhaps in later years once we know what it's all like we can venture onto other sites.

Now we have the BN pass and one GA at £155 which isn't ideal. I'll list it here and elsewhere anyway and with a bit of luck we can sell them, it's all turned out a little less straight forward than I'd hoped though  :(...

EDIT:
That BN pass on eBay isn't high now but the last couple hours will see change. Here's one from completed listings;
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LE-MANS-BLUE-NORD-CAMPING-TICKET_W0QQitemZ160331630510QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Tickets_Tickets_LE?hash=item160331630510&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2

And it's not the only one!
http://completed.shop.ebay.co.uk/items/?_nkw=le+mans&_in_kw=1&_ex_kw=&_sacat=1306&_okw=le+mans&_oexkw=&LH_Complete=1&_udlo=&_udhi=&_samilow=&_samihi=&_sadis=200&_fpos=Postcode&LH_SALE_CURRENCY=0&_sop=1&_dmd=1&_ipg=50&_rdc=1

Hope it all goes well.

We are on Houx as well, look out for 1 Nissan with 3 people squeezed onto a non numbered site.

If u need any further guidance please PM your mobile no and we can meet up.

Simon

TOM,

The best advice is - to get the best deal you can, F**K where you are staying.
Keep your money in your pocket and use it to enjoy the week whilst you are there.

The first year is a very big learning curve for a newbie, but make the most of it.

Take the advise from LM veterans - most people you ask on circuit, will give good advice.

Dean

Does that mean the Jag has been 'retired'?

No, it means sadly the E Type is close to it's insured limited mileage, a LM trip may take it over. (Also with 3 people it will be very cramped.)

This year will almost certainly see the return of the 200SX though.