First Visit

[Bob U]

.....this is a "trip of a lifetime"....

No.  This is a lifetime, a way of life, an addiction.

.     Agree Lorry. First visit was 91 for a stag do. Very little interest in motor racing apart from knowing a few F1 names. Saw the cars, heard the Mazda, fell in love. Been back every year since. An addiction for sure.

[Canada Phil]

Hi Cecil,
             The pre-race build up is worth watching from a grand stand ( tribune) seat.
While not low cost they are just cheap plastic seats. Bring ear protection.....the French announcer and the acoustics are both terrible and loud. Did we mention you will need an FM radio and ear buds under those ear protectors.
Phil

[CecilPatrick]

Thanks, Phil. Somehow, I knew ear protection might be a good idea ( "it's along race" ). Has anyone used an E ticket ?

[pretzel]

Hi Cecil, when you say E-ticket, do you mean those sold this year for the first time, to be delivered to the recipient by email as opposed to having physical tickets shipped?

If so, we have done this for this year and (apart from a couple of ACO IT issues, which are not uncommon) have received ours and printed them out. I also ordered on behalf of another CA'er and have sent them to him, and he has also printed them successfully. Certainly saves any worries about shipping, and I will do the same again for next year.

Pete B.

[CecilPatrick]

Those are they, Pete. The restrictions on the paper they are printed on seems SO specific. We have a slightly different size paper  here in the "States. I just can not see getting there, and being told, "sorry lads, these are no good". We shall hope for only the best. 

[lofty]

Hello Cecil as long as the bar code can be scanned ot should be ok i would think. But i've been wrong before! Oh and normaly dress code is flip-flops and wellies.

[Canada Phil]

Hi Cecil,
           I and many others use clear ticket holders hung around our necks. Keeps the ticket flat and makes scanning the bar code easier. Word of caution with self printed tickets the ink might transfer to the ticket holder.
Are you going to Sebring?
Phil

[clkgtrlm1]

Suggest having the email backup somewhere easy to find on your cell.
If all else fails, it should be able to scan from screen?

[Lawnmower Man]

Hi Cecil,
             The pre-race build up is worth watching from a grand stand ( tribune) seat.
While not low cost they are just cheap plastic seats. Bring ear protection.....the French announcer and the acoustics are both terrible and loud. Did we mention you will need an FM radio and ear buds under those ear protectors.
Phil

I wonder if the will use the Barcode for the stands this year.  If not it's a bit open to abuse with print your own.  With regard to the ink coming off in plastic wallet.  Last year i tried out using the "Red laser" app on my phone.  If you not familiar with "Red Laser" it's designed to scan and store "loyalty Cards" but it can be used for most bar codes.  The scanned barcode for my GE ticket worked just fine at the turnstyles.  I didn't try it at the manned entrances just in case they didn't like the idea. So this year I'm going to use that and just take self printed tickets for backup. Then keep it in a plastic bag to cover for the unlikely event of rain.  :-)

t.

[pretzel]

Hi Cecil,
             The pre-race build up is worth watching from a grand stand ( tribune) seat.
While not low cost they are just cheap plastic seats. Bring ear protection.....the French announcer and the acoustics are both terrible and loud. Did we mention you will need an FM radio and ear buds under those ear protectors.
Phil

I wonder if the will use the Barcode for the stands this year.  If not it's a bit open to abuse with print your own.  With regard to the ink coming off in plastic wallet.  Last year i tried out using the "Red laser" app on my phone.  If you not familiar with "Red Laser" it's designed to scan and store "loyalty Cards" but it can be used for most bar codes.  The scanned barcode for my GE ticket worked just fine at the turnstyles.  I didn't try it at the manned entrances just in case they didn't like the idea. So this year I'm going to use that and just take self printed tickets for backup. Then keep it in a plastic bag to cover for the unlikely event of rain.  :-)

t.

Thanks for the idea Tom, might give the Red Laser thing a try ourselves.

Pete B.

[CecilPatrick]

Our E tickets are for Chinetti Tribune. I guess we could have them printed our Hotel, before we leave Paris. here, E tickets are a way of life, but the directions for Le Mans are SO specific; I can just see being turned away by someone that I had no idea of what they were saying other than NON !!!

[Canada Phil]

Our E tickets are for Chinetti Tribune. I guess we could have them printed our Hotel, before we leave Paris. here, E tickets are a way of life, but the directions for Le Mans are SO specific; I can just see being turned away by someone that I had no idea of what they were saying other than NON !!!

Hi Cecil,
              I am guessing they want A4 paper which is close enough to our 8 1/2 x 11. While easy enough to tell side by side  I doubt even a vigilant French gate keeper will be able to tell without something to compare.
However be aware it is France and this is the first year.....so it may all go horribly wrong. If it does you will not
be alone    It's all part of the adventure.
Phil

[CecilPatrick]