[LM24] Le Mans - the FAQ's (Information Only - Not for Chat!)

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by GT6

I know to some people on here eating in a supermarket cafe/food court is not even considered, but I always find them good honest and cheap.
We always stop off at bernay on the way down for lunch, the supermarket has a lovely cafe over looking the car park so we can see when interesting cars arrive and the hand made Pizza's are very good, never manage to eat it all as the toppings are so generous.
during the classic we usually have at least one meal at the Carrefore in Le mans, again the food is good and i would recommend it, you can always tell the quality of a place by the popularity and a small group of english sitting alone outside a french cafe usually tells me that the locals would not recommend the place, whereas a suoermarket food court full of locals tells me something different.
Food snobbery by english visitors us often repaid by over priced poor quality food and worse.

Don't get me wrong Simon, I'm perfectly happy with simple fare for the majority of the time. After 24 years of largely gourmet eating at Le Mans, eating simple stuff is perfectly good for me. We tend to dine at the various grill establishments - the Hippo Grill is quite good. Our first meal in Le Mans last year was at Maccy D's! It was raining and we were starving, not having eaten since a sausage roll on the boat the night before!

At the circuit, I'm perfectly happy to live off of Sandwich Americaine Merguez - until the bread starts tearing the skin from the roof of my mouth....

But if you do get the chance, some time during the week/weekend to have a really nice meal, some of the food in nearby restaurants is superb. Personally, I've rarely eaten overpriced poor quality food in France...

[Le Vieux]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

Don't get me wrong Simon, I'm perfectly happy with simple fare for the majority of the time. After 24 years of largely gourmet eating at Le Mans, eating simple stuff is perfectly good for me. We tend to dine at the various grill establishments - the Hippo Grill is quite good. Our first meal in Le Mans last year was at Maccy D's! It was raining and we were starving, not having eaten since a sausage roll on the boat the night before!

At the circuit, I'm perfectly happy to live off of Sandwich Americaine Merguez - until the bread starts tearing the skin from the roof of my mouth....

But if you do get the chance, some time during the week/weekend to have a really nice meal, some of the food in nearby restaurants is superb. Personally, I've rarely eaten overpriced poor quality food in France...

You and I have similar ideas Ayse. - or should that be similar tastes....?

Criminal proceedings should be instigated against anyone spending more than six hours in France without sitting down to French food in a restaurant!

[GT6]

If you keep eating mergeuz at the circuit you will be sitting down for more than six hours but it will not be in a restaurant.

[Aysedasi]

Never ever had that problem Simon - nothing wrong with a merguez in my book! Now, if you were talking about saucisse, I might agree - one of those finished me off in 1987!!

[baszero]

I once compiled a Google Map for Le Mans and I'm still updating it.
It is meant for people who like to walk around and to explore.
As an amateur photographer, I also added good spots for taking photos.

http://goo.gl/maps/SRHQm

Hope this helps...

[vincegail]

Like the chestnut tree at the beginning of Hunaudieres

[Great Dane]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

Agreed. You just have to get out to Arnage in the dark. Even if you don't make it in the race, get out there for qualifying.

bring a push bike

[valedave]

Anyone know if Carrefour or Super-U do cheap camping stuff like tables etc.? If not is there anywhere that does?

[Steptoe]

Originally Posted by valedave

Anyone know if Carrefour or Super-U do cheap camping stuff like tables etc.? If not is there anywhere that does?

Carrefour do the plastic table and chairs etc.

[GT6]

Yes the big supermarkets do camping stuff but sometimes in seperate parts of the building not always within the main store. However they will run out so suggest you either get there early or purchase the stuff on the way down, presumeably you are limited with space traveling down but if you stop at alencon you will not have far to go, there is also the massive huyper market and shopping area north of Le mans near st saturin

[valedave]

Hiring a car from CDG, and looking to stop off at the Carrefour in Chartres on the way down (Wednesday evening). If they don't have any camping stuff then we'll pick up some stuff at Carrefour on Thursday morning.

Cheers guys.

[GT6]

Best to get stuff before you get to Le Mans as you might expect quite a few people are after that sort of thing in le mans and it sells out quickly

[nobster]

You can also try the Decathlon store close to the first chicane.

[GT6]

Not been there how big is it

[Le Vieux]

It's also worth mentioning that there are a couple of "serious" camping shops on the main road that leads south from Arnage Village.

Le Mans seems to be the camper van centre of western France and there are some camper van retailers along this road who also sell just about anything in the camping/caravanning line that you're likely to need. They won't be as cheap as the supermarkets, but will have a much wider range.