The wonderful MRI hospitality...(not!)

[Russ]

This will make you smile... (if you didn't pay for MRI hospitality that is!)

Don't remember if I mentioned it... probably because I was trying my hardest to put it out of my mind... but I seem to recall sitting in the MRI hospitality just ONE HOUR INTO THE RACE when... oh...oh dear.... THEY RAN OUR OF BEER!!!      

Needless to say we didn't hang around, and only returned with about an hour of the race to go to find... oh...oh dear.... THEY RAN OUR OF BEER!!!      

I've been finding it hard to come to terms with the fact that somebody in charge of the planning for hospitality at Le Mans would over look the amount of beer required to such an extent that it didn't even last until 6:00pm on Saturday.   How dumb do you have to be???

If I see any posts inquiring about the quality and value for money of MRI hospitality, I'll be happy to relay my accurate and frank experience.

As this is not simply hear-say, and I can even quote what I was told by the bar staff..."Sorry, we have no beer left"... I'm hoping it won't get removed, and as an information resource for veterans or virgins alike, I think it's important to let people know the truth.

OK...that's off my chest... lesson learned...and duty to pass this lesson on completed.

Please use this thread to relay any other Hospitality success stories...

[jpchenet]

Well I hope you have demanded your £50 back Russ!!??!!

Try coming to the The Wine Benders hospitality village next year. Entrance is free of charge upon presentation of the correct credentails (beer). We may not have drivers giving guest appearances but you are guaranteed a good time (and MRI don't have porn!! )

[Russ]

Cheers JP,

We always pick up some one-handed cliterature for the journey, so can contribute to both...  

[jpchenet]

We always contribute to the producres of such literotica, but we also take a TV and videos  

[Kpy]

Don't (much) want to start an "I told you so" topic - but AVOID OPERATORS LIKE MRI like the plague. They promise and do not deliver.
But thet DO charge!!

[Gilles]

local operators are quite better (ok I make my own communication)...

... they provide you fridges and in echange of a single car park and 5 CA stickers they welcomed you at MB with a fresh champagne bottle !!!

[Russ]

JP, the perfect hospitality... I just hope the floor doesn't get too sticky!  

Kpy, I remember seeing comments before about MRI, but at the time, it was the only way to secure a camping pass (foolishly left it to mid February!) I now know why they had so many left!!!

In my defence, I'd say that with the threat of not getting a camping pass at all,  we opted for paying the extra just to make sure we'd all be there.. me lud!

Won't happen again, I am truly sorry for what I have done and will endeavour to rectify my behaviour in the future....

I'm sure I'll just get nominal community service from you guys for at least making sure my lot attended.  

[Lawnmower Man]

I think the trick is that everyone should boycott the commercal operators.  They buy up vast quantities of tickets and create an artificial shortage.   Whilst I tend to go to Le Mans on my own and thus only need one camping ticket it's a bit easier.  

I first went in 1980 missed out in 81 and have been every year since.  Only once did I fail to get an ACO camping site.  That was 2000.  Even then I found  a private campsite in a Motor Cycle Club behind the Tehno Park.  This year  I still managed to get extra campsite tickets for some friends that  were going to arrive later in the week.  So I my advice is take the  chance.  Or I think CA may be bying up some tickets next year.

Pesonaly I'd never pay more than Face Value for any Le Mans ticket.

Of course if your a large group then being sure that you get the number of campsite places you need can be tricky.  But one or two cars should not be a problem.

[wishy]

Just changing th subject slightly...................I noticed the comment about MRI and others doin large block bookings for tickets......It really makes me.......ANGRY........that the ACO allow tickets for the members grandstand to be sold to these companies!!!!!!!

Wishy

[Rhino]

Seems stupid because they must sell at a discount when we would pay more!

[Kpy]

You all must have guessed by now that I regard the tour operators as vermin. For the most part they add at least 50% to anything they sell and add the magic word "hospitality" when they are actually adding a sandwich or two. To run out of beer by Saturday pm, is IMHO well worth a solicitor's letter - yes seriously; if they offer free refreshments and run out before half time, they are in breach of contract. No kidding.
At least we had the pleasure of seeing at least one operator screwed by the ACO at the last minute this year, and their clients were able to find much better deals direct. Gilles and I are only too happy to offer "on the spot" advice.
See you in November??

[jpchenet]

I believe that MRI don't even give free food and drink, you have to pay for it. However, part of the deal of using them is that they have  refreshments available so you are still correct Kpy that it deserves following up.

And wasn't it nice to see Ai****ck have some problems, just like the good old public do. I managed to help out one guy with three campsite tickets and seven GA's at face value. He then boked BETTER ferry crossing for their three cars, and he still saved over £700!!

[Russ]

Looks like I lit the touch paper with this thread...

JP, your'e right, MRI charge for drinks and food. and the 'screens' for watching the action are just a few 24" TV's on stands dotted about the place.

So it seems the best hospitality is of the good old British variety... bring some beer and leave the rest to the guys who wish for nothing more than beer and good company in return... a fine example of the Brits ability to provide in a crisis... It's no wonder we fly the flags so high over the camp sites!

So is it better to get tickets direct from the ACO, or is 'Just Tickets' an acceptable alternative?

[jpchenet]

Go direct to the ACO Russ. Or grab a ticket from someone here on the forum nearer the time. This year there were plenty available.

Just Tickets are another agency who charge a fortune for normal tickets. They somehow manage to take a large allocation from the ACO, then sell them to us, the public, at a huge mark up. They then insist that you buy a minimum of two general admission tickets with each camping ticket (that's what I got told when I phoned them two years ago). These GA tickets have a face value of 50 Euros and they sell them at £50. Add that to the fact that a campsite ticket for Houx Annexe with a face value of 35 Euros is sold for £41. Then to top it all, they put an ad on their web site saying that as the pound had fluctuated with the Euro, an extra 5% would be added!!

A couple of guys I know booked helicopter flights over the circuit through them too. They were charged £99 each. When the went for the flight, they could have booked it there and then for 69 Euros each!!

So, I think my answer Russ is NO!!  Just Tickets are not acceptable.  

[Russ]

Piont taken JP, I think I'd rather throw the difference in price down my neck than into the pockets of rip-off merchants!

This reminds me of my student days... how about we take flyers next year and hand them out to those who have the 'Just Tickets' or 'MRI' ticket pouches listing how much they have paid compared to the ACO prices!!  

Talking of ticket pouches... how about some CA pouches? One for another thread perhaps...