Visiting Le Mans

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Timbob
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Visiting Le Mans

Post by Timbob »

Not Porsche but I hope it will be excused.

A mate and I are driving a Bentley Speed Six from Switzerland back to the UK in September and as Speed Sixes won in 1929 & 1930 it seems appropriate that we take it to Le Mans on the way!

Neither of us have been to Le Mans before :oops: but I know many people on here have so I am humbly asking for some advice about visiting and also whether it is possible to arrange to drive the non "public road" parts of the 24hr circuit.

Thanks
Tim
Albert Blue 72 2.4S (LHD)
Viv_Surby
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Post by Viv_Surby »

Bootsy knows a number of dodgy bars/clubs to head for :wink:
.....AKA the Welsh driving ace - Carlos Monteverdi!

1967 VW Type 2 Camper - 'Betsy'
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early_911
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Post by early_911 »

I doubt it . . . but as it's such a special car I suppose anything could happen. Perhaps try contacting one of the people who run the closed Bugatti circuit (the bit that isn't public road). . . their contact details can be found here:
http://www.lemans.org/aco/pages/contacts/index_gb.html

How about getting the Bentley owners club to approach them (assuming you're members)? (or would that stir up officialdom - i.e. concerns about insurance/liability etc :?: )

What ever happens . . . remember to post a few pic's as it sounds like a great trip.

Phi
Timbob
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Post by Timbob »

No other tips guys? Must dos?
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Bertroex
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Post by Bertroex »

Hang on a minute. You drive from Swits to Le mans. Via what route? Because....


Autostad - the Vw mothership has a section for Bentley.
Strassbourgh: the Schlumpf collection
The passes in Swits: Col St Bernard, Gotthard, furka
The place where I started driving fast: Villars-Ollon hillclimb
Any "Relais et Chateau" stop en route
http://www.relaischateaux.com/spip.php? ... me&lang=en

Book a wine trip for a red Sancerre just past Le Mans. My granddad had a chateau in Bretau and it is lovely with the right weather.there is a high speed connection now- nearly deserted. You can shotgun that thing from the sancerre to Paris in a straight line. Jabbeke high speed runs: my foot!

Reims: champagne tasting
the old circuit

Etc etc etc


Bert
-1968 912 SWB Targa LHD
-1976 911 Carrera 3.o Targa RHD
-1983 944 190bhp (augment automotive enhanced) RHD
-1979 280SLC manual LHD, 1989 500SL, 1997 SL500, 1989 Jag XJ-s 3.6, old BMW’s
-Ex 1976 911 2.7 Targa, 1979 911 SC, 1983 930,1993 964 C4 Jubi etc
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hot66
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Post by hot66 »

where are you starting in Switzerland ?

If possible drive the Susten Pass etc not far from Interlaken

Or if you are driving near to Geneva , I stumbled across this road recently ... wonderful fun & very twisty

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&sourc ... 79465&z=12

Epernay for a bit of champagne tasting :drunken: ...
James

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1993 964 C2
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Its not how fast you go, but how you go fast ;)
DIRKBROWNFINGER
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Post by DIRKBROWNFINGER »

I assume the Le Mans museum at the circuit is open outside of race-weekend? Some very nice machinery inside, and if the video booth that shows a flying lap with the original mulsanne straight is still there - watch it! I think I sat through 5 laps!

Dirk.
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Timbob
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Post by Timbob »

Thats more like it!

Route is not set at all. Start is Lausanne. Have 1 week to do it in.

Was thinking of Burgundy then Loire Valley (I like wine!) then le Mans, then up to Calais. Alternative as someone said is to head north to Germany and then through northern France. Bit of a longer route but you get some passes in...
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