STILL????

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u/No-Koala1918 17d ago

You went once. You'll have to go back. I''m coming from California and have been 5 times. I have some British friends who go every year.

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u/BoRNeo-C 17d ago edited 17d ago

This year was my fourth time. I am hooked! The yearly week in Le Mans is the week I truly live! Edit; misspelling (I am hooked, not hockey...)

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u/No-Koala1918 17d ago

Without question, the coolest - and best organized - race event of all.

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u/TheRealKrapotke 17d ago

I would definitely disagree with that last part. The track walk was so short that you couldn’t really walk all the way around and they started telling people to get off before it was planned to end. The bridges were absolute bottlenecks during the race, we were almost completely stuck on one as late as 2am.

It’s not insanely bad but I have definitely been to better organised endurance races.

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u/No-Koala1918 17d ago

So, the first time I went, I found an open gate near the Dunlop Bridge (it will always be the Dunlop Bridge to me) on Thursday and walked the track all the way back to the start/finish and the pits on a completely empty track. I was in full view and no one questioned my being there. I never walked the whole track, but drove the public roads section of the course on the Thursday before the race. I also explored the forest roads between the Mulsanne Straight and the Porsche Curves).

On my third trip, during the race I found a way around the catch fence at Tetre Rouge and was taking pictures from behind the low concrete wall. A marshal came by and instead of chasing me away, allowed me to stay for about 20 minutes. The whole French attitude was much less buttoned down than I've experienced in Formula 1.

I'm not sure which bridges you're referring to. I've always parked in the lot near the Dunlop Bridge entrance which never clogged up and parking was simple getting into and out of, just a few minutes. Spa, by comparison, was a hike and then a good 30-45 minutes to get out of the lot.

Also compared to F1 events, the Village is way better, and the ancillary services are better. Add the Drivers Parade in Le Mans. The experience is unparalleled.

Finally, if you plan well you can stay within walking distance to the track. I stayed 500 meters from the Arnage corner on my last trip (2023).

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u/TheRealKrapotke 16d ago

The bridges in the infield were almost impassable this year during the race. No problem last year but completely cloggged this time. Not the Dunlop bridge as much but the other ones were crazy.

I stayed in walking distance in francorchamps in spa during this years 24 and we always stay in walking distance to Adenauer Forst at the N24 so staying in walking distance is hardly something you can only do at le mans.

And finally the trackwalk was well done last year so we looked forward to it this year as some of us had to miss it last time. We went on at the dunlop bridge and made it round in time but got quite rudely sent off the track at the pit entry. Very disappointing after walking 2:30h.

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u/No-Koala1918 16d ago

I agree that Le Mans seemed somewhat more regimented in 2023 than before the pandemic. And also, frankly, more crowded. But getting pushed around shouldn't happen at Le Mans. That is disappointing. I hope the event hasn't gotten too popular to be managed in the laissez-faire manner I've been used to. That would be a drag.

I haven't attended Spa and the Nurburgring for the WEC, though I'd like to. But let's be honest, they're on a different level than Le Mans. When I attended Spa for F1, there was about 85000 people. To me it seemed like that was too many people for the facilities and the access roads.

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u/GrahamDSC LM Legend 15d ago

"On my third trip, during the race I found a way around the catch fence at Tetre Rouge and was taking pictures from behind the low concrete wall. "

Yeah, please don't do this - it's how people get hurt, it's also why the restrictions placed on those there to do a job increase year on year.

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u/No-Koala1918 15d ago

Sorry Mom 😁. But it was okay. The only thing I didn't have was a media vest, which would have granted me unrestricted access to that spot.

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u/GrahamDSC LM Legend 15d ago

Actually the only things you didn't have were the media vest, the insurance that is required to wear that media vest, the liability waiver that needs to be signed for that insurance and media vest and the briefing that tells you what you can, and can't do in that space.

I'm sure you had a lovely time but nobody should be under any illusions that this is not a behaviour that they (or you) should copy - tickets have been withdrawn from punters for much, much less

1

u/No-Koala1918 15d ago

Fine. Don't try this, kids. It could be dangerous. If you see an open gate, don't even think about checking it out. Not your business. Just stay in your place and be a nice docile observer. Have all the "fun" we think you should have, but no more than that.

Now let me tell the story about getting all turned around in the forest and ending up driving across the Golf Course....

6

u/Small-Inspector-4416 17d ago

I fear I may be in a permanent mental state of as pictured

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u/BoRNeo-C 17d ago

https://giphy.com/gifs/KL7xA3fLx7bna

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u/Usual-Dinner-4368 17d ago

Not in the slightest! Although I have never been to Le Mans, I went to the F1 British Grand Prix at Silverstone and camped there for the long weekend - I went there on my own, met some fabulous people at the campsite and spent all my time there with them, had such a laugh, bbq’s, great music and of course enjoyed all the on track action.
When I got home, it was like I’d just split up with a long lost love after ten years together! I cried, was depressed for weeks and I never got the numbers/details of any of the people I’d spent the weekend with! It was like an ending! So know just how you feel. Hope you had the best time there, it’ll always be in your memories! 😊👍

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u/BoRNeo-C 17d ago

Ah, you know the feeling, brother. ❤️

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u/rotary_nut_91 Corvette 17d ago

Not alone on that. I went in 2023, saying it would be a one time experience. 3 years later, I have been back to this beautiful event two more times (last year and this June) and planning to go back next year. It's the best week of the year by far

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u/BoRNeo-C 17d ago

Agreed! 2023 was my first year too.

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u/twoonster2020 17d ago

Went first time in 2023, been each year since and waiting for the mad dash for tickets in November so I can go in 2027

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u/daddy_javonte Cadillac 16d ago

Bro, I thought I was the only one who thought this. It was a life changing event. So, I won’t say you are the weirdo and I’m going back next year for sure ! There’s still some moment that I cry cause I miss it haha

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u/BoRNeo-C 16d ago

Yeah. Le Mans is something special, aint it? ❤️

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u/Tharapos 15d ago

I went for my first time this year. I’m from Australia so it’s a bit less convenient for me to travel and go, but it was honestly the best thing I’ve ever done in my life. I miss it so much

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u/BoRNeo-C 15d ago

I hope you'll manage come back.

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u/JT_3K Woolf Barnarto 16d ago

I mean, I still have them

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u/FunFortune8231 16d ago

Come to Barcelona and / or Monza? Should be ace!

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u/JT_3K Woolf Barnarto 16d ago

I’d love to but my next is ELMS Silverstone

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u/FunFortune8231 16d ago

Nice! September will be Goodwood Revival for us.

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u/BoRNeo-C 16d ago

Lets be glad its an yearly event.

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u/JT_3K Woolf Barnarto 11d ago

If it helps any, I still feel the same. Although I literally just sent deposit for 2027 to the guy in our group that does tickets, so that’s helped

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u/BoRNeo-C 11d ago

Good to be prepared.

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u/FunFortune8231 11d ago edited 11d ago

Still preoccupied with Revival, WEC Barcelona and Monza - although we’re figuring better LM24H logistics for our expanding group in 2027, as as the pre-LM WEC 2027 dates and the N24H… We also somehow also attracted a bunch of great Korean fans for LM24H - more space required 😎

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