Me an my brother have been discussing this for years but never pulled the trigger. We both decided that 2016 was going to be the year so put a plan into action.
As he's still a member of the TVRCC, he booked the tickets following advice from previous years attendees. We booked through a company called First Tickets:
http://1st-tickets.co.uk/
This included camping just outside the start/finish straight, within a fenced security patrolled compound (there are thefts every year so i'm told from the campsites). Also had the added benefit of Breakfast and Dinner being provided from Friday to Monday morning included in the price.
Had a group of 4 people and two TVR's (Orange 4.5 Cerbera and My Brothers Early 4.3 Griffith).
We set off at 4.30am on Friday Morning and headed for the Poole Ferry. Nice 4 hour sail across to Cherbourg with a full English Breakfast.
From here we took the scenic route down to Lemans arriving at around 4pm (some stunning French villages en route).
The weather was a sunny and hot 30 degrees, which helped no end when we got stuck in Friday afternoon traffic and thousands of people trying to get into Le Mans itself.
Its a very surreal experience driving around Le Mans when the event is on. Every car you pass is not your average car. Lambo's, Ferrari's, Astons etc. From the latest just released supercars to DB5's being followed by Muira's and 250GTs and then some Pre War Vintage stuff. Its quite simply Petrolhead Heaven!
Friday was spent setting up camp, drinking beer and getting into the track for a look around and to watch some of the practice laps.
Sat was an absolute scorcher. 30 Deg again but not an ounce of wind.
Sun cream on and off to the track.
As part of our ticket purchase we added on parade laps of the track and paddock entry.
At 8am we got onto the track and were allowed two laps of the circuit taking in the legendary Mulsanne Straight. Being France they don't seem to do any sort of control.
They basically let you on and then your free to do whatever you want. Cue some madness and hilarity all at the same time. We managed to enter onto the track with the Aston Martin Club, Porsche Club, Viper Club, TVRCC, Morgan Club, Ferrari Club and an odd smattering of individuals like Bentleys, Cobra Daytona's & GT40s. Brother hit 100 and backed off, the Vipers decided to race it like the proper 24 hour race and must have come past well in excess of 140, followed by DB9s and F430s! The sound at full chat........
Back spectating and some more practice laps were seen followed by the racing starting at 4.30pm. This then runs for 24 hours through to 4.30pm on Sunday. Each race is around 45 mins, plus setup, formation laps and changeover.
6 Grids of 75 cars run in year groups:
1st being 1923 to late 1939 (Bentley Blowers, Bugattis and Delahaye's)
2nd being 49 to 56 (D type Jags to Aston Martin DB2s inc a Caddy Series 61)
3rd Being 57 to 61 (Ferrari 250 GTs, C1 Vette's to Austin Healys)
4th Being 62 to 65 (Shelby Cobra, GT40's and Shelby 350 Mustangs)
5th Being 66 to 71 (More GT40's, De Tomaso and Lola's)
6th being 72 to 81 ( BMW M1, Ligier's and a good ole Charger)
Added this year was the Group C Cars 1981 to 1991 (Spice, Nissans and Porsche's) Fast and Loud!!!
Tried to make it through the night but the 6th Grid got red flagged after an incident on the Mulsanne. This led to about an hour of 0 track action. I called it quits at 1am.
Have to love the French. They put on a 24 hour event and all the catering shuts down at 11pm until 9am........So no coffee and pizza at 3am if you went for the whole 24hrs.
managed to get back in for 9am On Sunday to watch the rest of the racing until 4.30pm. More 30 degrees and sun but with a breeze at least.
Left camp at 10am Monday and went to the Le Mans Museum. Real good value at only 8.50 Euros and well worth a look. Set off at around 11.30am for the trip back to Cherbourg. Made good progress and as we had the time decided to take in Utah Beach on the way past.
Finally got back to my brother's house at 11.30pm on Monday night.
Without doubt the best event I've ever been to. They recon over 120,000 People and id expect well over 5000 classic cars from what I managed to see. TBH probably need more than 2.5 days to look at it all.
Only disappointment........The Lack of any real Mopars.
Did see a Deutsch General Lee Charger driving round but that was about it (bar the race car). Small beer issue.........Loads of Mustangs and Corvettes though, and thank god I don't have a 911..........They had an entire field and there must have been nearly 500 of them. Not exactly rare!
Anyway Photo's....................
