2006 help for American newbies

[smokie]

I'd say if you are't getting in until Thursday morning you'd be best off to get to the campsite and get set up. The camps tend to get busy on Thursday, and you'd want to be set up in time to see night practice (7 pm till midnight with an hour break, but often there is an earlier practice for an hour of whatever is running in the support race).

Save the sightseeing till later...

[Gilles]

so I can't advise on driving to Le Mans except I understand a town about half way, I think it is named Chartres (sounds like Chart) is supposed to be worth a visit for out of towners like you and me.  That may not be the right name, maybe Gilles can clear that up. 

That's the good spelling John. Chartres has a wonderful cathedral to see (just a few more beautiful than the Le Mans' one)

Road Trip advices are quite difficult, depending your interest and those from your passengers... however may i suggest a Wine trip in the south of the Sarthe and the Loir Valley (Yes Loir is different of Loire) You even may drive south to Saumur, its cellars with its famous sparkling wine, its world-recognized horse school and its armoured vehicles museum.

[Bob U]

 If you get a chance check out Chartres cathedral in the late afternoon. The stained glass windows with the sun shining through them is a site never to be forgotten. I saw this en route to my first Le Mans and it stood out as one of the highlites of the trip.

[Jonnyspa27]

This is all really great info! I've not even been to an endurance race, but I have been a fan all my life. So I'm starting at the top of the list for my first race to go to, I suppose it's all downhill from here out. I take it that it would be best if I'm renting a car to go through a travel agent and get that sorted out before I even head over there? I'm planning on going with a buddy of mine so it sounds like a mini-van would be in order? I hope they rent diesel versions? I had a few questions myself:

What would a general admission tic normally run? A grandstand tic?

If we purchase a grandstand tic will we have the same access to the rest of the track as well?

I'm planning on packing light with just having supplies in my back pack. Basically the only thing that will need to be purchased at Le Mans will be food, ice and beer correct?

I haven't purchased airfare yet or race tics is it too late as of Oct 6? Hope not, after last years race I don't want to miss this! Cheers!

[BigH]

Hi there JonnySpa27,
Well, I suppose it's goodbye to good old Jonnyspa26, it was a wheeze while it lasted.
Congratulations on getting here, you've found the right place, and you seem to have you priorities about right. That is to say, you already seem worried about getting enough beer.
On to your little query:
1. A general admission ticket is 45 Euros, (a Euro is about 0.6 English pounds, or about 1.2 USD, or two camels scrotums in a bazaar in downtown Cairo) and will get you into all the trackside spectator areas around the circuit, as well as the toilets (Smokie, the moderator on this site, is our resident expert on Pissoir Logistics), but not the pits or grandstands. You will be able to get into the grandstands during the qualifying however, and there is pit access for all on Friday 'artnoon.
2. Grandstand prices vary, but are around 95 Euros. Thats a pretty good goat in Istanbul.
3. Travel light, you can buy all you need in nearby supermarkets. Especially beer.
4. Try ordering race tickets now from the ACO, you might get lucky. Alternatively, there will be many tickets, but no livestock, coming up for sale on this site nearer the time. There's always e-bay and the specialist travel agencies; in other words, if the ACO can't help, you'll still get tickets, but maybe at a premium. Or possibly a bargain.
5. Live chickens are a good idea, you don't have to feed them much, and they won't go off in the heat. String 'em out and put them in a sandwich when you need them. The guys next to us had turkeys, but that's not really necessary.
Good luck!!
 

[DelBoy]

Hi JonnySpa27 - welcome to CA. 

I thought I had better translate some of BigH's comments and to explain - if Smokie is the resident moderator (and pissoir expert), then H is our resident, Jaguar-driving comedian!!

The general entry tickets are available at any time on the gate - there is no necessity to get these beforehand and, as H says, gives you access to all spectator areas.

The grandstand and camping tickets are a different matter, and you should order these as per H's para 4 above.  You don't say where you will be staying - camping/hotel/sleeping rough?? If you want a camping ticket, you only need one ticket per vehicle, regardless of how many people in the car.

You should also plan to get there as early in the week as you can - half the fun is over before the race even starts.  Depending on where you will be staying, you will always be able to hook up with some regulars to show you around.

Hope this helps

Del

[Jonnyspa27]

Hi JonnySpa27 - welcome to CA. 

I thought I had better translate some of BigH's comments and to explain - if Smokie is the resident moderator (and pissoir expert), then H is our resident, Jaguar-driving comedian!!

The general entry tickets are available at any time on the gate - there is no necessity to get these beforehand and, as H says, gives you access to all spectator areas.

The grandstand and camping tickets are a different matter, and you should order these as per H's para 4 above.  You don't say where you will be staying - camping/hotel/sleeping rough?? If you want a camping ticket, you only need one ticket per vehicle, regardless of how many people in the car.

You should also plan to get there as early in the week as you can - half the fun is over before the race even starts.  Depending on where you will be staying, you will always be able to hook up with some regulars to show you around.

Hope this helps

Del

Thanks guys for the warm welcome. I especially like the XJR-8LM classy ride it was Yes I failed to mention we would be camping it for our first stay at le Sarthe. I had thought about doing the pitwalk but it is pretty cashy to do that. I'd just like to have the shot at flirting with Vanina  Seriously though I'd love to get an up close look at the cars while they're being prepped. Is there an autograph session I wonder? I also see that Le Mans is much like a midwestern tradition here, The Knoxville Nationals. I'm used to the long days and even longer nights of week long drinky drinky. On the camping subject does anyone know what is still avail? I have mailed the ACO to see but haven't received word yet. Thanks again guys.

[Bobblehat]

Welcome! JonnySpa27

I would do the pits on Friday afternoon, its free for starters and there is a great atmostpher, did anyone else see the Elvises? (or is Elvi?) I would also recomend a beer in the bar behind the paddock on Thursday PM as the "LM Legends" race cars have to drive past to get to the track. In 2004 we had the Group C cars rumbling just past our noses, and ended help push a few to the assmbley area, top momment.

Enjoy 2006

[Barry]

I would also recomend a beer in the bar behind the paddock
 

Is that the bar you pass near the access stairs to the Pits grandstand, Bobblehat?

[Bobblehat]

If you are thinking of the one as you walk down the road towards the paddock facing the back of the grandstand on the right. Then yes, I think...

But the beer does funny thing to the memory........................

[Barry]

If you are thinking of the one as you walk down the road towards the paddock facing the back of the grandstand on the right. Then yes, I think...

But the beer does funny thing to the memory........................

Sounds like the one, on the right just after a gate, sounds like a good spot on Thursday afternoon around 5 o'clock.

What beer? Don't remember ever trying the stuff

[Bobblehat]

Gates, gates! I could I forget the gates,

yep thats the place. I do belive they do water too..........

[Barry]

I do belive they do water too..........

Only with pastis I hope.

[Jonnyspa27]

I just got a letter back from the ACO tic office

"Dear Sir,
 
We have no prices yet for 2006 but I send you herewith the details of 2005. No order is registered yet, we can't tell you the availability, not before beginning of next year.
 
Yours faithfully.

Service Réservation / Booking Office
Circuit des 24 Heures
72019 Le Mans Cedex 2
FRANCE
Tel: (0033)(0)892 697 224 (0,34€/min)
Fax: (0033) (0)2 43 84 47 13
www.lemans.org/ticket

Have you guys been able to book for camping yet? Since the paddock will be open on friday I will probably just not get the pit pass and enjoy the festivities the easy, cheaper and old fashioned way 
 

[DelBoy]

Have you guys been able to book for camping yet?

 

Hi Jonny.  Many of us book 14-15 months in advance, while others book during race week for the following year.  This is necessary in order to get tickets for the "best" sites.  I use quotes as everyone's "best" is very subjective.  When we book, we always get a response from the ACO similar to the one you received.  We are sent an invoice just before Xmas telling what has been allocated and how much.

There are several camp sites around the circuit, some close to and others not so close to the action, and all have the basic facilities required, water, toilets, showers, although there is never enough of the latter two during peak times.  Look at http://www.clubarnage.com/forum/index.php?topic=274.0, there is a mine of info here. 

At this point in the year, probably the only campsite tickets available from the ACO will be for BSJ (Beausejour) which, I understand, is as good as any other but it is a bit of a trek from the main action (over 30 mins walk).  However, it is right on the Porsche curves which make an excellent viewing area.  Tickets for other sites are also available from the pirates (sorry, I mean the commercial travel companies such as Just Tickets) but at a premium.  Many folk on here, and my prefered site is MB (Maison Blanche).  As I said earlier, wherever you end up, you will easily be able to hook up with regulars, especially if you are partial to a drop of (in no particular order) beer, wine, whiskey, pastis, gin, brandy, or anything with an alcoholic content!! 

Another way to get a ticket is to watch the 'Sell or Swap' forum here on CA.  Once the tickets have been allocated, there are always some surplus ones available that are sold at cost (rule of the site) + expenses - I will probably have a spare for sale myself.

Best of luck

Del