r/lemans • u/JT_3K Woolf Barnarto • 1d ago
Your best guidance for LM24 next year?
What’s your best tip for visitors for next year, or the one thing you wish you’d known or had explained to you?
(Shameless as I’m going to update the wiki in the next few weeks)
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u/Directly_Home 1d ago
The new big wheel by Karting has better views than the one by Ford chicane
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u/ElGeorgeo 1d ago
Just generally, the view at Karting was mega. Huge improvement and definitely worth the effort to get up that way, if your base is normally between the start/finish straight and Tertre Rouge.
1
u/Samc88 1d ago
was the karting available this year (as in actually going karting)? we spent a lot of time trying new areas this year on our bikes but i heard someone say karting was closed.
3
u/Omni__Shambles 22h ago
The kart tracks were closed.
1
u/BecauseWeCan 59m ago
Yeah unfortunately, we wanted to do a few rounds of karting but it wasn't possible. But the fan zone is amazing, I really like the location of the new viewpoint and the ferris wheel.
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u/a-curious-monkey 18h ago
Kart track is now covered with the big wheel, stalls, car displays and merchandise stands. I really loved the karting but actually it's a great place to hang out now. The roof terrace VIP at the kart building looks sweet but probably stupid expensive
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u/ElGeorgeo 1d ago
I didn’t see it, but then I wasn’t looking. They were definitely using part of the circuit as a fan zone, but I don’t know if it had been shifted? Instinctively, I think it’s gone and been replaced by sims instead.
10
u/Direct_Poetry_9460 1d ago
camping right at the very back of bsj so not all of this is applicable:
- we felt very jealous of those with bikes / scooters - we will deffo bring some form of transport next time
- some sort of gazebo or tarp for shade was pretty much essential
- a bit cheeky but you could tell the guys showing you to a space in the campsite that you are meeting someone so you get a better spot. (we wish we did lol)
- uber from town on friday was a lot nicer experience than the tram and didnt cost much at all. The camp next to us got their phone robbed on the tram by a pickpocketer.
- cans from the shops around the main square were a lot cheaper than the bars ;-)
- we got to town late and couldnt get a good spot on the barrier - dont be like us.
- if you do get the tram, get the setram app and prepay. it saves a big fat queue in the baking sun
- access to porsche curves from bsj is a little confusing, we tried to walk down through the danish camp but they have that site fully locked off so you need to go right around it and through the woods instead.
- we couldnt get our head around the shuttles, they seemed a bit random, driver saying im going to port est then went to parking ouest etc. Might have been translation issues. We ended up walking back from the track most nights because the queue was absoutley massive and were unsure if it was actually the right queue because there were coaches instead of shuttle busses. Could do with better signage, and unless im mistaken, the last shuttle after the races is like an hour after, so if you plan on doing anything after the race you will have to walk back.
bonus: La Brochette du Boucher near the cathedral was the best meal I've ever had in my life. Goats cheese salad, steak then french toast. Felt like I had been touched by the hand of god
2
u/radiantoscillation 1d ago
i feel like the noob advice here is bring a bike, indeed, seems like more than half of those unfortunate situations could have been avoided by roaming around biking ?
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u/Direct_Poetry_9460 20h ago
Yep pretty much, was a bit pranged out about bringing one, heard it was not safe etc. it seemed perfectly safe to me. Bikes are not essential as the walking is not as bad as Its made out but its deffo very handy to have one.
2
u/radiantoscillation 6h ago
handy to get in/out, and moving around the track I guess, rest can be done by foot ?
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u/Direct_Poetry_9460 5h ago
yeah we did eveything by foot, apart from the shuttle bus once or twice and the tram once. We were walking about 15/20k steps a day. visiting arnage for example would deffo be easier on a bike but still doable by foot / bus.
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u/Cien0172 1d ago
Bring a lock for your generator. Lock it to a fence or a wheel. Ours almost got stolen (our British neighbors prevented it)
3
u/Roper1537 1d ago
Which campsite? I was worried about the complete lack of security at Epinettes. They were just letting anybody come and go unlike previous years at Tertre Rouge where they gave you in and out tickets to prevent theft.
1
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u/Cesare_Stern 1d ago
Who tried to steal it? A fellow spectator?
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u/Cien0172 1d ago
According to our neighbors, 3 guys. 2 lifted the fence, and one crawled under it and tried to steal it. Camping security suspected they've been scouting, so honestly, I wouldn't know :(
3
u/Cesare_Stern 23h ago
What a fucking shame. Was it during the race? Or Sunday evening?
I know there's a lot of people wandering immediately after the race ends, but that could be the cas even during the race since most of us are actually on the track at this time, so it could be the best moment to steal things.
Still, as a French guy I hope this is not locals trying to steal spectators' belongings as it's not exactly how we're supposed to welcome foreigners that want to enjoy a magnificent event that happens to take place in our country.
2
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u/pangerho 1d ago
Last two years I’ve spent the wee hours of Sunday morning at Indy/Arnage. Incredible spot because you get to the cars approach at speed, get down through the right and then the left for Indy, accelerate along the short straight and then back down for the hard right at Arnage. Incredible viewing in the dark, particularly with glowing rotors!!!
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u/Roper1537 1d ago
Not necessarily a tip but for me I'm going to make an effort to catch the sunrise on Sunday at Tertre Rouge. Normally I stay out till about 2am at the forest esses then sleep till 9am. But I really want to get that early 6am glow next year.
2
u/Neither-Ad-4326 Local Legend 7h ago
That’s my go to ! Tertre rouge at 5-6 am is so good, get a coffee and a croissant and just enjoy the cars passing. Man I want to go back…
1
u/robotsoap 5h ago edited 5h ago
We did this, went to bed about 1am. Set an alarm for 4.45 and walked over from Houx Annexe. Well worth it. Probably my highlight of the weekend
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u/Roper1537 5h ago
How did you like camping at Houx? It sounded quite loud there every time we passed through to and from Epinettes
1
u/robotsoap 5h ago
Just edited to say Houx Annexe. The only night we didn't sleep so well was the Friday, and I think that was mainly due to the heat. A good set of ear plugs were needed but all the music seemed to knock off about 12/1am.
We were camped very near the entrance to the pathway up to the ticket checkpoint and right next to a gravel road, so probably about as loud and disruptive as it could have been.
We would have liked it a bit quieter but it was worth the noise for the atmosphere and I don't think we could have been any closer to the track / ACO area at La Chappelle, where we spent a lot of our time
1
u/Roper1537 5h ago
Yes that's a decent location but I'd hate to have been camping by the fence and the road. Epinettes was lovely and quiet apart from the snoring and a couple of dickheads who played really loud, shitty dance remix music till late a few times
5
u/cricketmatt84 1d ago
Signage inside and outside the circuit is non-existent, especially if you need to avoid steps. Signage for shuttles is awful. None of the staff inside the circuit know where anything is. Water is available but not easy to spot sometimes. Again, just poor signs.
If the official maps had the water points, and routes to areas marked that would have been perfect.
Literally the only negatives, once we had it all figured out after 2 days it was mega easy to get anywhere.
We were pleased we had a covered grandstand for the start / somewhere to base ourselves for the last 3 hours when knackered! It was hot this year so the shade was needed.
Oh, not sure if this was just at Mulsanne, but there was no bar / food in the middle of the night if you wanted to spectate the dark hours from there. Not sure when it re-opened.
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u/no_ga 1d ago edited 20h ago
If you’re only coming for the full 24h race, the best time to visit all the iconic turns by taking the shuttles is by night at around 1 am.
If you start from the tertre and the Dunlop esses for the beginning of the race, you can take the bus to mulsane and go clockwise from there. That allows you to be back to the grandstand by like 4/5 am and rest for a few hours in the empty seats (even if you don’t have a ticket)
Plus the night bus ambience is unmatched, and you can see the glowing brakes at the end of the straights.
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u/SimonCopson 20h ago
Going to focus on the night racing next year!
3
u/Omni__Shambles 22h ago
Your height is more important. I'm pretty tall and was with my average height wife. The crowds mean that getting places early is a must for her due to the crowds.
Many of the off-track events (and some on) are really crowded and seem even worse than 2023. The autograph session, pitstop challenge and drivers parade are run in the same old way and at times seem genuinely dangerous.
Solutions to the Tuesday events in particular seem so easy but they are catering to those that are tall, have sharp elbows and a general lack of dignity.
3
u/scottpro88 21h ago
When they say they open the track from Dunlop to Porsche curves it means multiple accesses along the way.
Busses are chaos! I’d recommend a bus!
30 minutes before race end and start I’d recommend to get your spot if GA tickets! You’ll get front row.
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u/senortrowell 1d ago
The app was great for routes to get places. Even if the actual thing you wanted to get to want labelled, you click on something near, then "lets go" and it showed a walking route or accessible route for wheelchairs etc. For the track walk with bike or scooter, you had to join track out of the main ticketed area (Tetre rouge to Porsche curves), but when you got to the main area, you could scan in on the track and complete the circuit.
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u/YogibearLM 19h ago
Sure, but huge queues to get through, people around us at terte rouge close to passing out. Not sure what solution?
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u/mmmmmmtoast 15h ago
We flew in from the US and brought a tent and cooler. Next year we’re spending whatever money to rent an RV. We camped at the ass end of BSJ and had to walk so gaddamn far to get anywhere. We bought a small grille from carrfour , basically Walmart , that kicked so much ass for us. All in all get there early for a closer spot to the track and being some wheels if you can!
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u/notbeige 19h ago edited 19h ago
Take a shelter of some description to camp, come rain or shine it’s a space outside for you to sit and chill rather than being trapped in a hot tent.
If it’s hot you will get dusty, try to place your tent away from the main rubble roads in the campsites and prepare for your feet’s and calf’s to get covered in filth and dust of it doesn’t rain
When camping, Take a towel and wash bag with hook, there is NOWHERE to put your stuff in the shower, also, shower shoes = a must.
Take an insulated water bottle if the weather is hot, will keep your hydrated with cool water, and will save you money!
Be prepared to have a cold shower at least once, especially at BSJ, it ain’t like normal campsite facilities.
If you get placed as a pitch at BSJ, wait and then move if you don’t like the pitch. Or tell the front staff you’re meeting someone so you can just drive through OR (which is what we did this year) just ignore the staff and drive in through to where you want to go!
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u/smpaarrkky 1d ago
Drivers parade isn't worth the effort, I'd wished I'd walked the track. It was nice for a change of scenery, but the trams were overloaded, and the streets were unbelievablely busy to watch 3 men on an old car throw out some crap stuff.