Start/Finish area with G/A Ticket?

[tommy84]

As we planned Le Mans with only 30 days to go, we only got G/A Tickets.

The problem is now: Where to watch the start?

My dad was at LM in 1978 and there he could stay in front of the grandstands.
Is that still possible or do you have any other tips where we can watch the start as well as the preparations? (I didn't want to say Hawaiian Tropic Girls)

Thanks

[Bob U]

You can still stand on the terraces in front of the tribunes with a GA ticket, although it does get very crowded and you would need to get there a couple of hours before the start to bag a descent spot.
 Before I started to by grandstand seats I always watched the start just before Tetre Rouge on the inside the track and that was pretty good with the cars up to speed and fighting for the first lap lead.

[tommy84]

Wow, that forum rocks.

Well, getting there early is just as normal as it is on other races like the Proximus 24hrs at Spa

THANKS

[Fran]

the Proximus 24hrs at Spa

I am hoping to get to that race this year... to further my education 

Any tips or recommendations would be appreciated.

F

[Lorry]

The area around the upstream grandstands becomes one big people jam about an hour before the race.  This place gets seriously packed, but has to be experienced

I'd give it more tha two hours, and take folding chairs or a chilli bin full of cold ones to sit on, or even stand on.

Anywhere from Ford to Dunlop will be good.

[Lawnmower Man]

The G/A tiket gets you everywhere apart from the grandstand on Race day The Padock/Pits and of course the "members/invited Guest/Hostpitality" only places.

enjoy.
t

[Snoring Rhino]

If you cant get (or afford them like me) Tribune seats, the terraces are the place to be, you do need to be there at least a couple of hours beforehand and if its sunny take some shade and plenty of liquide(= beer), if it is or looks like rain take a brolly, you will get very wet. The atmosphere is fantasic and worth the wait (and so are the Hawian Tropic Girls).

[Gordonwr]

You'll need to give a LOT more than two hours to get a decent spot near the front, more like four!!
 Tommy, I see you're going to Zolder for the 24hr race. As normal I shall be marshalling it again this year, may see you there as I and my crew are the only British marshals that ever do it!!

[Rob]

last year we watched the start from arnage corner - its a bit of a trek, but if youve got transport(we used bikes) its worth it - there are good photo opportunities as it one of the slowest parts of the track

[Chris24]

On a normal year when the race starts at 4pm we normally get to the start finish terraces at around 9.30 to 10.15 ish, not sure what difference the later start will make though.

Its already starting to fill the best spots at that time.

Take a few folding chairs, pick your spot and then take turns going for walks and always leave someone to watch all your gear. Make note of your location so you can find it later when the place is packed.

One piece of advice is that only a certain amount of the terracing is concrete, the rest is just dirt and gravel, and lets face it, if you are sitting there for at least  7 - 8 hours, then you want to be on the concrete.

The concrete runs out pretty much opposite the gate on the pitwall that is about half way along the pits and usually has a Eurosport logo painted on the wall.

[Rhino]

We watch from Mulsanne corner, probably pop into arnage on our ride back. Always plenty of room at the start at Mulsanne corner, could be taking a cricket set again this year to entertain us before the start!

[tommy84]

Sure I'm in Zolder again. I really like Belcar and will one miss this weekend's "Home Race" 

But as a true endurance-fan I'm used to get early for the start. I think 4-5 hours is fine.
Getting up, watching warm-up and having breakfast and then off to the S/F area

But hey, I don't care whether it's gravel or concrete or what ever. We decided to go to Le Mans at last weekends LMS race, so it will be total chaos for us as we would've normally went to the Nurby 24.
So one of our collegues has to work monday 0715 which means we have to leave midnight latest. Thans lord he lives right at the german/belgian border

Is that true with glass bottles being forbidden?
Is it only at the track or also on the camping?
Well camping can't be if I remember the beermountaineers, but at the track no glass?

Man, this means shopping in belgium as we germans have to pay a 25 cent deposit on beer cans

[termietermite]

I've never had any problems with glass bottles - except the day I fell over in the car park and got a piece of one embedded in my hand, that is!

[Christopher]

Just down from Dunlop bridge is a good viewing point, becasue the gravel banks provide a natural veiwing vantage over the heads of others.

Also the hill (covered in pine trees) over looking the S bits before the run to Tetre Rouge is good, becasue you are higher then the fence.

But as said, most places fill up a good couple of hours before the start.