La Chartre-sur-le-Loir

[IanS]

Has anyone ever visited this town in race week and is it worth a trip? It must be full of Le Mans history as Hotel de France was base for the 1959 Astons with team boss John Wyer and later the GT40's, so I thought it might be worth a trip 50 years later.

Ian

[geoffd]

Well I guess the Hotel de France has a lot of history,  the rest is just your usual small French town, and it's closed on Mondays!
During race week it's bound to be busy with LM visitors,  but it's not a short trip,  it's much longer than I thought it was going to be,  must have taken ages to drive backwards and forwards in the 50's!

Worth the trip? If you have a spare day maybe.

[Kpy]

It's worth the trip on the Friday, if you don't mind the 55 km drive each way from the circuit. The square in front of the Hotel de France will be full of classic cars, from pre-war blower Bentleys to recent supercars.
The bar is worth a visit for the photographic memorabilia which line the walls alone. Bit of a fight to get to the bar for a drink, but a friendly crowd of mainly English enthusiasts.
The hotel restaurant is excellent.

[Gilles]

It's worth the trip on the Friday, if you don't mind the 55 km drive each way from the circuit. The square in front of the Hotel de France will be full of classic cars, from pre-war blower Bentleys to recent supercars.
The bar is worth a visit for the photographic memorabilia which line the walls alone. Bit of a fight to get to the bar for a drink, but a friendly crowd of mainly English enthusiasts.
The hotel restaurant is excellent.

I can't do anything than confirm.

The Bar could be considered as a LM classic memorabilia place.

[Barry]

Worth a trip on the Friday if you are intrested in the history of Le Mans.

[Leftie]

This is my 'little beatie' taken outside the Hotel du France on the Fiday before the Race.



I had to park in the municipal carpark half mile away

Also Mrs Leftie notice the blonde beside me!!! my mate girlfriend luckily

It won't be there this year, but will be there twice next year 'recession' permitting.

[Christopher]

Well I guess the Hotel de France has a lot of history,  the rest is just your usual small French town, and it's closed on Mondays!
During race week it's bound to be busy with LM visitors,  but it's not a short trip,  it's much longer than I thought it was going to be,  must have taken ages to drive backwards and forwards in the 50's!

Worth the trip? If you have a spare day maybe.

I was thinking of heading there on the Friday morning before going to the gathering in Mulsanne in the afternoon. Does that sound do-able? I assume it is about an hours drive eachway from BN to La Chartre-sur-le-Loir.

Is there an 'offical' event organised for the Friday, or is just an informal gathering and beering?

[Bas]

I assume it is about an hours drive eachway from BN to La Chartre-sur-le-Loir.

Is there an 'offical' event organised for the Friday, or is just an informal gathering and beering?

Yes it's a good hours drive but be prepared it's gonna be very busy there on Friday.

Last year we went there on Thursday for lunch and at the table next to us Jacky Ickx and his daughter (not Vanina) were doing the same.

[IanS]

Thanks for all this information, definately putting it on my agenda for this year, maybe Thursday to fit in CBW.  Just been reading how in 1969 John Wyer used to allow his mechanics to drive the GT40 cars back to La Chartre post race as a treat, only for them to get lost and need to ask locals for directions.  Could a Spyker race this far!

Cheers Ian