Classic leMans - READMEFIRST Thread

sladey · Post by **sladey** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 10:32 am

I've started this thread up because there are so many different threads on the go. I'm not meaning to step on anyone's toes so apologies if I have. This thread is merely to pull together links to all the other threads and to act as a focus so you can come here for the latest overall position. (If this already exists then by all means delete this one Bootsy but I couldn't find it). Don't know if a moderators wants to make this one sticky, as CLM seems to be such a big thing.

3 things you need - how you're getting there, where you're staying, and how you're getting tickets

HOW YOU'RE GETTING THERE
There was a general thread on ferry crossings but this has now been broken down into the following 3:-
Portsmouth-Caen with Brittany Ferries:-
http://www.ddk-online.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=17322

Dover-Boulogne & night at Rouen
http://www.ddk-online.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=17324

Portsmouth Lines
http://www.ddk-online.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=17379

Couldn't see any thread on Chunnel Crossings - don't know if anyone's thinking of doing that or not.

WHERE YOU'RE STAYING
Thread on camping at Maison Blanche - believe this is currently full up and they are now taking bookings for camping at Karting Nord
http://www.ddk-online.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=17287

To quote Barry:-
Most people are camping (hopefully Maison Blanch), but some people are renting chateaux (is that the right plural?). There was a block reservation done for the camping (via a DDK member), but this does not stop individuals booking direct, and as the camping is basically a free-for-all, anyone can join us (or not) as they fancy.

Couldn't see any chateau-specific threads - if anyone wants to give suggest vacant chateaux then can post them here

HOW YOU'RE GETTING TICKETS
At the moment I think Bootsy is sorting out the main tickets - He recently said:- "as soon as hey are available to book Vincent in France will let me know and supply the booking form."

OTHER STUFF
Thread on things you must have when driving in france:-
http://www.ddk-online.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=17420

Hope this helps - and as I said above not meaning to tread on anyone's toes just trying to pull stuff together.

jb · Post by jb » Mon Jan 14, 2008 10:57 am

Feel free to delete this if it is in the wrong place!
After I booked the ferry I tried to book the campsite but found it was no longer accepting bookings for Maison Blanche.

So I booked a ticket there via these people - URL: www.justtickets.co.uk
I know nothing about them and I paid a premium (£80 instead of 80eur) + postage.
The invoice just says that a ticket is booked on your name. I am hopeful that it will all be ok.

Post by **Bootsy** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 11:10 pm

Spoke to Vincent in France tonight - the tickets and parade lap packages will be available from March - as soon as I get the details you will all know!

hot66 · Post by **hot66** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 9:19 am

cool

I think the camping confirmation will be around the same time.

maison Blanche is having some serious drainage / new tarmac etc being done at the moment .. it is not pretty

Almost tempted to ask for us all to be at karting Nord

Barry · Post by **Barry** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 9:35 am

Forgive my ignorance, but is Karting Nord the one almost opposite Maison Blanche (on the other side of the track)?

hot66 · Post by **hot66** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 9:42 am

Barry · Post by **Barry** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 6:32 pm

Barry's guide to camping: CLM style. (In answer to a question in a different thread, but I thought I'd copy it here as well) The question was basically what would fit into a 911, and what to take? Here's the answer ....

Last time I was lucky enough to be offered a lift with Paul (Ferryman) and we were amazed just how much gear the 911 swallowed: two small tents, chairs, bedding, clothes, camp-cooking gear including washing up bowl and stove etc etc. Even then, I'm pretty sure that it wasn't really crammed in.

Basic camping list at the bottom of this post, but these are some points that apply to LeMans:

You do a deceptive amount of walking, so decent, comfortable shoes.

The showers that I used didn't have hooks in the cubicles, so you had to put any clothes on the floor: brilliant if your next door neighbour's pubes float through onto your stuff: therefore I'm going to take a bit of bent wire, just in case I need a hook

.

Flip-flops (see above ), plus the thought of paddling bare-foot through someone else's bogey's probably isn't going to set you up well for the day

Toilet roll: the loos run out of them after a while.

A good camping chair: if the evenings are nice we'll probably be chatting well into the night.

A torch / lantern so you can see which tent you've just tripped over.

Talking of which, I seem to remember that the ground was a bit tricky for getting pegs in, so a mallet / hammer / car's jack or something might be an idea.

Lots of people bought cheap BBQ's at the local supermarket, and just left them there at the end. Also, don't bother bringing food / drink, for the same reason (except possibly sausages, which they don't seem to do).

Some people cook on site (both breakfast and dinner), but there is also the option to get food in some of the local towns and villages, as well as the circuit and on the campsite. Lots of options, depending on what you fancy.

Car: worth bring spares for anything you are doubtful about (e.g. had a recent misfire? Then consider spare CDI box, coil and points). Nearer the time you'll probably gather who is likely to take what. Clearly is would be silly for everyone to lug a large trolley jack through France, only to find no-one has any axle stands for example. You might want to bring some car cleaning stuff, if you're that way inclined.

Map or Euro Sat-Nav, legal stuff (flu. jacket, first aid etc), Euros, recovery cover, and Paul and I have found it difficult to travel far without the aid of Fruit Pastels, but that might just be us .

Oh yes: the correct DDK

.

General: much of the attraction of the event is the 24H running, therefore you might want to get up at some wierd hour and watch some of the action: so (depending on weather), body warmer/ warm fleece / coat etc. Pocket torch. BTW, this is an excellent time to grab a shower whilst they're quiet.

Here's my basic camping checklist, out of interest:

Tent: check pegs and guyropes B4 leaving. If new, put up well before leaving and allow to get wet and then dry again: they are not sold as waterproof until this has been done.

Hammer or mallet for tent pegs.

Sleeping bag: some have a pocket that you can sleep either side of, depending on temperature: ideal for CLM as it can be very hot, or barely warm.

Mattress: I started with a small (inflatable)mattress which was terrible (kept rolling of it, it was like trying to sleep on a beachball), and quickly replaced it with a full single size, which was much better.

Pillow: either rolled up clothes, or a proper one. I can't get on with the inflatable ones.

Lantern: they now do tiny ones that are very good, which take little space, light well, and last for ages.

Chair.

Cooking: if you're going to cook, then: washing up bowl (brilliant for washing plates and for storage: I take two matching ones, which take no more space than one, so as to have one for me, and one for the dishes , stackable pan set (including kettle), plate and bowl (for the home-made trifle you've just knowcked up on-site).

knife/fork/spoon/cooking knife and fishslice (for fry-ups).

Stove with spare gas.

Cooking oil, ketchup (etc), tea, coffee, sugar, powdermilk (for emergencies).

Bit of chocolate (for emergencies ).

J' cloth (washcloth) and a dash of washing up liquid. I find that all of the cooking gear except for the stove goes in the stacked washbowls, with a carrier bag to hold it all together. Easy .

Obviously whatever clothes and wash-gear you want

.

defianty · Post by **defianty** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 6:40 pm

Thanks Barry, that'll be more than useful for a CLM virgin like myself.

streetwagens · Post by **streetwagens** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 4:02 pm

Dont forget spare camera batteries/memory cards!

Also, if you smoke, there are no cigarettes sold on site, and it is near impossible to get any on a Sunday anywhere.

Post by **Bootsy** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 6:59 am

Received from Vincent last night..

"Hi Thomas,

One last meetins with Porsche is scheduled tomorrow.

Best regards
Vincent"

Then I presume the tickets will be available.

912uk · Post by **912uk** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 9:33 am

some one told me.. Oh yes Robin did that the reason it was or has been so late is because of Porsche AG, shameful they have been debating on what gifts to give people who have the package. So because of this the whole thing has been delayed..

well organsied then