[LM24] Le Mans - the FAQ's (Archive Thread - Closed)

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by KlBD

Edit: I forgot to mention, @whitemr2, is the autograph session on Tuesday similarly free like the open pits on Friday?

Yes it is, you only need the GA ticket, but you have to get to the pitlane early and queue up.

[GT6]

All the events like that are free, includes the concerts ( wednesday/thursday and saturday as well, as i said meet up with some of those tenthers around on the sunday and they will sort you out, the tickets can be purchased in several places but to be sure, go to the main enterance near the museum as that will be open for sure. Keep an eye on here for other things happening around the circuit/le mans, but i would recommend the classic british welcome earlier on friday before doing the pit walk.

[whitemr2]

@KIBD I feel teusday is better for pitlane visit, yes it is busy, not to say crowded (friday certainly is), but you only have to stand in line for autographs at the big teams Toyota, Audi, Porsche, the rest is fine. IMO if you are not there for autographs you have time to see all the garages and even talk to the very approachable (is that english) drivers.

[Gingers4Justice]

I've gone a bit old school and gone out and bought a Praktica SLR. Does anyone have any tips for using old cameras, or anything useful to share you learned in the past?

[isynge]

Originally Posted by Gingers4Justice

I've gone a bit old school and gone out and bought a Praktica SLR. Does anyone have any tips for using old cameras, or anything useful to share you learned in the past?

Cut my teeth in the early 90s on a Pentax ME Super - great result on landscapes, moderate when I tried to use it at Hockenheim in 1991. When starting I found fixing your shutter speed and rely on light meter and SLR to tell you what f stop to use worked, but by the same token an old colleague of mine swore by operating on the principle of leaving the f stop in one place and relying on being there and pointing in the right direction.

It's fun, I enjoyed it, but being honest, there's a reason I just carry a cellphone these days...

Intrigued about how you get on.

[Gingers4Justice]

Originally Posted by isynge

Cut my teeth in the early 90s on a Pentax ME Super - great result on landscapes, moderate when I tried to use it at Hockenheim in 1991. When starting I found fixing your shutter speed and rely on light meter and SLR to tell you what f stop to use worked, but by the same token an old colleague of mine swore by operating on the principle of leaving the f stop in one place and relying on being there and pointing in the right direction.

It's fun, I enjoyed it, but being honest, there's a reason I just carry a cellphone these days...

Intrigued about how you get on.

That's the technique I've been using, keeping the f stop in one place and adjusting the shutter speed.

The main reason I bought one was to do with Le Mans. While I was at university, my old room became a store room for my parents (naturally), and recently while clearing it out I found my parent's old photo albums from when they used to do the trip together in the late 80s/early-mid 90s.

The pictures my dad took on his old Praktica were nothing short of stunning, and of much better quality than anything he's even taken on his modern Minolta SLR, IMO. Maybe I sound a bit like one of those arty-faty types who insist on buying new releases on vinyl (mind you, if I have the money...), but there's something about the way modern cameras take pictures that I don't like. It's too much of a literal copy of what you see. There's no warmth to it at all. Too clinical.

It's quite strange, if you think about it, that we spend so much money on phones and cameras these days, and then download apps to put a filter over the top of the pictures to make them look like they were taken on something much older.

[bella]

i learnt on film cameras too (christ i'm old) and agree with you g4j. keep the f-stop as low as you can get it and tweak the shutter speed to compensate depending on what the light meter tells you and the kind of shot you're trying to take. probably a good idea to get to a clubby between now and then to have a go and see whether the light meter under or over exposes for motorsport use. personally i tended to find it overexposed a bit, everything was always a little washed out but that was on a billy-level slr nikon.

thinking about the shortcomings of digital being too literal a copy is an interesting one. perhaps those of us who learnt the ropes on film had to consider the picture we were taking a little more than the lucky digital folk?

looking forward to seeing your shots!

[ATLFalconsFAN]

At the risk of being totally cheese-ball I thought I would share something slightly Le Mans related with you all. I went last year with my cousin to France. It was his first time outside of North America and for someone who has been all over the world it was fun to experience a first trip overseas with him. Even though he drives a C6 Z06 unfortunately he gets bored with car racing and so while I was at the race he popped over to Germany for several days.

Anyway, last night he surprised me with this cool video he had put together of our time spent in France. There's a little bit of Le Mans (I conned him into scrutineering for one of the days), but really just a video of what you could expect to see if you went over for the great race and spent some extra time in Paris and other parts of the Loire region.

Anyway, if you're interested in watching someone else's travel video here you go:
https://youtu.be/P6YLtsv43HQ

[Mountain Man]

Hi

I'm thinking of 2017 trip but dont want to camp. If using public transport rather than driving, does anyone have any suggestions for a sensibly priced hotel/b&b option and how long in advance you need to book?

Thanks

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by bella

thinking about the shortcomings of digital being too literal a copy is an interesting one. perhaps those of us who learnt the ropes on film had to consider the picture we were taking a little more than the lucky digital folk?

Without any doubt bella! I still sometimes forget I can keep the shutter pressed for pretty much as long as I like, instead of composing endlessly for one shot......

[GT6]

Originally Posted by Mountain Man

Hi

I'm thinking of 2017 trip but dont want to camp. If using public transport rather than driving, does anyone have any suggestions for a sensibly priced hotel/b&b option and how long in advance you need to book?

Thanks

If you want something close to the circuit and cheap then book now for 2017, but you will have trouble finding anything cheap for certain, there are camping options that might suit you rather than DIY, some companies provide tents etc and cooked food on the sites. The tram goes to the circuit and serves most parts of the town so if you do just want a hotel or B & B then keep an eye on the various sites for the announcement of the 2017 dates and book as soon as it is confirmed. The only time i ever camp is le mans and the campsites are so friendly you only use the tent for sleeping a few hours as you will spend the rest of the time socialising with like minded race fans

[Giba]

Originally Posted by Mountain Man

Hi

I'm thinking of 2017 trip but dont want to camp. If using public transport rather than driving, does anyone have any suggestions for a sensibly priced hotel/b&b option and how long in advance you need to book?

Thanks

Welcome to ten tenths Mountain Man

Can't help you with hotels but can help if you are travelling from England by public transport as did it last year and doing it again this year by train. Feel free to ask any questions about it as going by train wasn't as bad as I expected and a good way to do it if you can't drive.

[rx555]

I have a question about driving around during the race. As I mentioned in the other thread, I'll be with 2 other guys all on our first LM. I've read all through this thread and see directions on how to get to some of the far reaches like Mulsanne Corner, etc. We'll be camping near the Porsche Curves on the inside and wondering if we should plan on walking a lot or driving. At Indy, you just have to walk but this place is 3 times the size of Indy. At Road America, for instance which is 4 mi around, you get in the car and drive from corner to corner since there's places to park and it's easy. Just wondering with nearly 250k people, how easy it is to hop in the car and go to another vantage point.

[GT6]

From where you are it is possible to walk to arnarge but during the race the traffic is pretty horrid, we tend to drive round during practice on either wednesday evening or thursday evening, you get to see the cars at those spots without having to sit in the car for hours. The route around is not difficult to follow and parking is available at both viewing points although you are supposed to purchase an additional parking permit. There is also a free bus but like cars this can take ages and is often full

[ATLFalconsFAN]

Originally Posted by rx555

I have a question about driving around during the race. As I mentioned in the other thread, I'll be with 2 other guys all on our first LM. I've read all through this thread and see directions on how to get to some of the far reaches like Mulsanne Corner, etc. We'll be camping near the Porsche Curves on the inside and wondering if we should plan on walking a lot or driving. At Indy, you just have to walk but this place is 3 times the size of Indy. At Road America, for instance which is 4 mi around, you get in the car and drive from corner to corner since there's places to park and it's easy. Just wondering with nearly 250k people, how easy it is to hop in the car and go to another vantage point.

The short and simple answer? It's not easy.

Mulsanne and Arnage are the obvious two that you'd have to drive to. I remember my first year at Le Mans I camped at Porsche Curves as well. There's no direct walking route to Arnage from there and it seems like it would be easy since it is the next turn over. Well you have to walk in a triangle basically, towards Arnage village first, and then a sharp left towards the corner. On the way we walked past car after car after car that was just idling, waiting for the traffic to move. This was at about 1am. BTW, I think it was about a 45-60 minute walk each way from Porsche Curves to Arnage.

I'm not saying this to discourage anyone, I just think it's better to have proper expectations.

Le Mans is noting like the races you go to in the US (in the most awesome of ways, in a few ways we have it a bit better here). It really does come down to the fact that it is a massive circuit, and there really is a great sea of humanity there.

As advised above by a seasoned professional, best time to venture off towards the far-flung parts of the circuit is during practice or qualifying.

Enjoy your first trip, it will not be your last!

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by GT6

From where you are it is possible to walk to arnarge but during the race the traffic is pretty horrid, we tend to drive round during practice on either wednesday evening or thursday evening, you get to see the cars at those spots without having to sit in the car for hours. The route around is not difficult to follow and parking is available at both viewing points although you are supposed to purchase an additional parking permit. There is also a free bus but like cars this can take ages and is often full

If you leave your travelling until the early hours of Sunday morning, the traffic isn't too bad at all. We leave the grandstand area for Arnage around 1 am and then on to Mulsanne Corner around 6 am. We rarely have any problems.

[whitemr2]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

If you leave your travelling until the early hours of Sunday morning, the traffic isn't too bad at all. We leave the grandstand area for Arnage around 1 am and then on to Mulsanne Corner around 6 am. We rarely have any problems.

True, we always go at arround 3.30Am and never have problems.

[rx555]

Thanks for the tips. FalconsFan, I see what you mean about the triangle toward Arnage and over. From the maps, it seem like you could walk through the inside of the circuit as it shows some small roads through there. I'm guessing they are either not there, closed, blocked or private?

How about from the P curves to Dunlop bridge or Terte Rouge? Seems to me the traffic through there would be tough too. Willing to walk but wanna use the time wisely.

[GT6]

Walking to arnarge is possible outside the circuit but not inside as security etc will stop you and there is no viewing area inside the track. As for the walk from the porsche curves back to the main area that is easily done but quite a walk, the is however a some transport organised from there each year.

[Erw]

Will there be any support races at this years race?

[ATLFalconsFAN]

Originally Posted by rx555

How about from the P curves to Dunlop bridge or Terte Rouge? Seems to me the traffic through there would be tough too. Willing to walk but wanna use the time wisely.

I saw from your previous post that you'll be camping on the inside of Porsche Curves. I think that's Basejour (or however you spell that) campsite, right?

The first year I went I was camping at the Travel Destinations site on the outside of the first turn at Porsche Curves. The people there advised us to walk back under the circuit under the bridge that is right there, then go left at the roundabout and walk down that road (past the karting track which would be on your left) towards the paddock and everything that comes after (Dunlop, Tetre Rouge, etc.). That is a pretty long walk, about 20-25 minutes until you get to the entrance near the inside of the Ford Chicane.

The next year I stayed in the same campsite but instead of going under the bridge to the inside of the circuit, we walked down the road that goes along the outside of the circuit (right at the roundabout, same roundabout that takes you to Arnage village if you go straight through it) on the other side of the bridge (the outside). This way is actually a lot quicker and a lot more fun (IMHO), more fun because you can enter at the campsite there and see all the other people's goings on and camping situations and cars and such. Plus you'll then already be at the proper side of the Ford Chicane (on the grandstand side). Then if you want to walk up to Dunlop you can walk in front of the grandstands (near the fence) and see cars the whole time, plus then you don't have to deal with the busy vendor village. Of course you miss a lot if you only go that way, but I do think it is quicker. Then once you get to Dunlop you can take the bridge back over to the other side and it is a short walk to Tetre Rouge. Some people may think otherwise, but I definitely think this is the quicker, preferred way towards the other side of the circuit from Porsche Curves.

[Mike E]

Originally Posted by Erw

Will there be any support races at this years race?

LMP3/GT3 and Ferrari Challenge on Saturday morning.

http://www.24h-lemans.com/en/race/su..._2_2_2050.html

[JoshuaLeMans]

Any update on what the trackside schedule will be this year with the extra practice sessions for the support classes?

[GT6]

There are only two support races this year a Ferrari challenge race and then the combined LMP3 and gt3's

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2016/0...-and-gt3s.html

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by GT6

There are only two support races this year a Ferrari challenge race and then the combined LMP3 and gt3's

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2016/0...-and-gt3s.html

The rest of the schedule was published some time ago..... Here's a version....

http://www.aysedasi.co.uk/2016/2016programme.htm