[LM24] Le Mans 2008 (merged)

[Spyderman]

The ACO has confirmed Le Mans for the 14th and 15th June.

[The Real DMN]

Time to book holiday tomorrow then.

[paul-collins]

Originally Posted by Mal

I dont really see what the P2 weights have to do with it as I dont believe the P2 cars will be competitive at le mans with or without the weight changes.

It's not the weight, it's the changes. Dyson appreciate not being slapped around by seemingly arbitrary rules changes, after getting assurances that the rules would NOT be changed.

Both Chris and Rob have raced at Le Mans before; I'm sure Chris will have a go at it in the next 3 or 5 years, but I think this coming year is unlikely. (I'd love to be proven wrong on that, though.)

[HORNDAWG]

Also confirmed is the test day June 1st. I was of a mind that they were going to make it a shorter interval between in order to keep the reserves in play longer.(?)

L.P.

[Justin Moran]

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

Also confirmed is the test day June 1st. I was of a mind that they were going to make it a shorter interval between in order to keep the reserves in play longer.(?)

L.P.

2 weeks not short enough?

[AstonGeoff]

Especially as it isn't really 2 weeks! With Scrutineering on Monday and Tuesday of LM week it's really only a week after the test day, so doesn't give much time at all to do any rectification! How much closer could the test day be?????

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by Spyderman

The ACO has confirmed Le Mans for the 14th and 15th June.

Always good to have confirmation that the days you booked for leave weeks ago were the right ones! Thanks Spyderman.

[Spyderman]

Any time Aysedasi! I only wish I could be there with you guys!
Maybe 2009.

[minimangler]

ok, say i'm a uni student who might be looking at this for the first time this year;

how much time/money do i need to budget?

any help is useful cheers

[Aysedasi]

It depends how you choose to do it.

I reckon one of the cheapest ways is to MRI it over on one of their cheap and cheerful coach trips.

However, the first experience is very important. You don;t want to be hurried while you savour the sights, sounds and smells of the Le Mans experience (and I'm not talking about the bally diesels either...... )

[Truckosaurus]

Originally Posted by minimangler

ok, say i'm a uni student who might be looking at this for the first time this year;

how much time/money do i need to budget?

any help is useful cheers

MM,

First off, track down a copy of the Club Arnage Guide from this year, it's as good as (indeed, better than) most other guides out there.

In a nutshell, your options range from:

1) Cheapo - Get a cheap crossing (eg Norfolk Line or Speedferries £50 return), a car full of mates, a couple of tents in the boot. Travel down on Friday, back on sunday evening/Monday morning. You'll need a camping ticket per vehicle (£50-ish, either from the ACO direct or a spare via the Club Arnage forum) and a general entrance ticket each (£40? available on the door). Only extras are food and drinks. (Might work out as low as £60 a head if 3 or 4 of you to a car)

2) Pricey - goto the website of a tour operator, open wallet, tubby-boo-hoo when bank statement arrives. This is the only option to get certain camp sites (£150-200).

3) Average - Book your own ferry crossing, travel on Tuesday or Wednesday, buy camping, grandstands, entry tix from the ACO (with member's discount if there is a group of you) and live it up for a week, should cost around £100 per head..

The sites you should look at:

http://www.lemans.org - Official Site
Club Arnage - good forums
Pistonheads.com has a Le Mans forum
Here.

[minimangler]

Cheers, Trucko' (how do you shorten truckosaurus to save finger time??), looks like i might have to leave it for this year

Probably still do Spa though, not sure yet.
We shall see!

[Truckosaurus]

Originally Posted by mrsmangle

how do you shorten truckosaurus to save finger time??

I'll answer to anything

Originally Posted by MM

looks like i might have to leave it for this year

For shame! Check out the options anyway, there must be a way of getting there whatever the time/money budget - there's also discounted youth fares on the Eurostar/TGV as another way of getting there.

[minimangler]

Not a bad idea, the Eurostar idea; but i'm 18 now, so i'm not sure that'd work.
Could see if anyone else around the uni wants to go, i suppose.

[Justin Moran]

Originally Posted by minimangler

ok, say i'm a uni student who might be looking at this for the first time this year;

how much time/money do i need to budget?

any help is useful cheers

Jake, The Speedchills option is still open! I PM'd you about it a while ago, trust me it doesnt get any cheaper than that! They pay for your ferry, accomodation, food and drink whilst you are on duty and a race ticket!
A truly great team and a fantastic laugh with the punters! Trust me, I know, Im one of the guys who went this year and Im down to go next aswell!
Cant ******* wait!

[minimangler]

i'll get hold of them

that'd be good.

[Tim the Grey]

C8? Would you drop ME a note about this???

Ta,

[Roel_Ooms]

When will the A.C.O. open their box office for the 08 edition? This year I was a bit late with reserving, we almost ended up with grand stand 22 tickets...

[Justin Moran]

Originally Posted by Tim the Grey

C8? Would you drop ME a note about this???

Ta,

No probs Tim, Check your PM's.

[AstonGeoff]

Originally Posted by Roel_Ooms

When will the A.C.O. open their box office for the 08 edition? This year I was a bit late with reserving, we almost ended up with grand stand 22 tickets...

Contact them NOW to reserve your tickets! Ticket reservations for next year started just after the test day this year, and the ACO were taking bookings at this years race ready for next year, so it may already be too late to get exactly what you want...

[Le Vieux]

Originally Posted by minimangler

ok, say i'm a uni student who might be looking at this for the first time this year;

how much time/money do i need to budget?

any help is useful cheers

Time? As much as possible. For my first five visits, I was restricted to having to return to the UK on Sunday moring, so only saw the LM 13 hours. My initial visit was a car, a tent, a credit card and an open mind.

Cost? Over the years, the trip has become extended. It's Thursday to Monday; it's anything up to 20 people and six cars; it's a gastronomic weekend (Roast Beef and Yorkshire Puds for Sunday dinner after the race!) and the total cost per capita is still under £100.

Do it by whatever means you can. You won't regret it, but be warned - it's addictive. Like many other contributors to this forum, my LM trips now number well over 20.....

[Spyderman]

In 1999 I turned 40 and was residing in Portugal. My 40th anniversary present from my good wife was to give us flights to Paris and tickets (with pit walk) to Le Mans.
All I had to pay for was car rental, hotel (2 nights before and 1 after) and food.
It was magnificent! A realization of a life long dream! (As well as the recognition that I had married one of the best women on the planet)
The only drawback, and much to my chagrin, was that 1999 was the 1st year that Porsche pulled out! (So my dream hasn’t been fulfilled in its entirety).
On the other hand, we were present in the year that the Mercedes behaved much like flapjacks down the Mulsanne straight.
We spared no expense!
I would very much like to return in 2009, and live with the hope that maybe, just maybe, my dream will be wholly fulfilled.

[The Real DMN]

Well I'm not going for the first time in 7 years. Le Man is the same weekend as the Isle of Wight Festival and everyman and his dog has already booked the time leading up to it off.

[minimangler]

that is not good. Come to Spa 24 instead!

[Justin Moran]

Originally Posted by minimangler

that is not good. Come to Spa 24 instead!

Failing that why not try the Silverstone 24Hr? Brilliant laugh!