MotoGP Le Mans 21 - 23 May

[johnboy]

Hi All

I have still not made my virgin trip to France so I have rashly booked 2 general 3-day passes to the Le Man MotoGP for me and my son!

So I would be really grateful for some advice on getting there and some accomodation recomendations.

My thoughts are:

1. Ferry: Portsmouth to Caen arrival to Caen 2130 - Thursday evening or o/n to St Malo arrival 0830 Friday morning;

2. Non motorway trip to Le Mans: can anyone recomend a good route;

3. Camp at the circuit? or B&B locally. My son is 12 so either would probably do but a recomended B&B woudl probably be best;

4. Leave late Sunday afternoon for o/n Caen to Portsmouth.

Ferry price plus cabin seems to come in at £180 or £200 depending on route.

Seems simple and possibly really enjoyable.

Any advice gartefully received.

John

 

[Wapping]

Replies in bold

Hi All

I have still not made my virgin trip to France so I have rashly booked 2 general 3-day passes to the Le Man MotoGP for me and my son!

So I would be really grateful for some advice on getting there and some accomodation recomendations.

My thoughts are:

1. Ferry: Portsmouth to Caen arrival to Caen 2130 - Thursday evening or o/n to St Malo arrival 0830 Friday morning;

WHY ARRIVE IN CAEN AT 9:30 PM WITH YOUR 12 YEAR OLD SON IN TOW, HAVING NEVER BEEN TO FRANCE BEFORE? TAKE THE VERY COMFORTABLE OVER NIGHT BOAT TO ST MALO. GET A CABIN.

2. Non motorway trip to Le Mans: can anyone recomend a good route;

YES

3. Camp at the circuit? or B&B locally. My son is 12 so either would probably do but a recomended B&B woudl probably be best;

CAMPING IS FINE, OR THERE ARE LOADS OF GOOD HOTELS IN THE CITY. THERE IS A TRAM THAT WILL TAKE YOU RIGHT TO THE CIRCUIT GATES.

GOOD INFO: http://www.gpfrancemoto.com/?lang=en AND AT THE ACO'S WEBSITE: http://www.lemans.org/24heuresdumans/pages/accueil_gb.html SKIP OVER THE 24 HOURS BIT.

THE TOURIST OFFICE IN LE MANS ARE VERY HELPFUL AND SPEAK EXCELLENT ENGLISH CONTACT THEM

4. Leave late Sunday afternoon for o/n Caen to Portsmouth.

OK

Ferry price plus cabin seems to come in at £180 or £200 depending on route.

Seems simple and possibly really enjoyable.

Any advice gartefully received.

John

 

[Wapping]

Route 1.

See thread: http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=191855&highlight=mans

This brings you near enough to Caen from Le Mans.

Mapsource Garmin file is too big to attach.

Route 2.

St Malo to Le Mans.

I can do, too, in a choice of routes. Again, it's too big to attach.

PM me your email address, please, and I will send it on.

 

[johnboy]

Thanks for the reply - now you point it out my mind is now reset and o/n to St Malo will be booked. Can you camp at the circuit?

I have PM'd email address.

Route 1.

See thread: http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=191855&highlight=mans

This brings you near enough to Caen from Le Mans.

Mapsource Garmin file is too big to attach.

Route 2.

St Malo to Le Mans.

I can do, too, in a choice of routes. Again, it's too big to attach.

PM me your email address, please, and I will send it on.

 

[Gipsy]

Done the trip 3 times and always stayed with friends near the circuit. I wouldn't fancy camping at the circuit having spoken to a few guys who had money stollen while asleep at night, and equipment stollen during the day. I would suggest B&B and ride in. Good access and parking. Don't forget to carry your V5 as it is used to identify you as the owner of the bike before exiting the bike park, and thus help prevent bike theft. Also never been there in the dry, so be prepared.

 

[Wapping]

Routes on the way via email.

For every bod who has had a problem with camping, there will be another two who haven't. OK it's not the Ritz and can sometimes resemble the set from Mad Max, but it's a motorbike race, so what might you expect?

Me, today? I'd take a hotel in town only because it's easier and I can afford it but would be quite happy to camp, too.

Seriously, contact the Le Mans tourist office. They will tell you all you need to know, and more.

 

[nipcurrent]

le man

have done the moto gp and the 24 hr on a number of occasions and never had any problems. the party atmosphere at night is awesome and as such if camping don't expect a lot of sleep. watch out for the impromptu stunt riding shows on the surrounding roads. beware that the ablution facilities are not very good in the camping areas you have been warned !!!!

but remember it is a fantastic week end.

watch out for the police as you get near to the circuit with regards to speeding and drink driving. you will need all the correct paper work with you ie passport driving license, insurance, mot, and V5. keep them in a safe place at all times (i carry mine in a waterproof pouch around the neck)

have traveled both by overnight boat and also by the tunnel. if traveling by tunnel remember that if you arrive a bit early or late there is a good chance that you will be put on the next train. if you miss the ferry Tough.

have a look at the e tap hotels in France. very clean and cheap. you can Travel on the train Friday afternoon early evening and stop at say abbyville. same on Sunday night stop around abbyville and get the morning train back in blighty 30 minutes.


MOST IMPORTANT GO FOR IT AND HAVE FUN its one of lifes experiences.

stock up with food and drink on the way to the circuit at any of the excellent supermarkets job done.

access and egress from the circuit if fantastic with little or no queuing not like the UK

all thing equally will probably see you there

 

[Daffy]

I have been to Le Mans for the 24hr race and have never properly camped at the circuit.

What we have done for the last few years is early fast ferry from Poole to Cherbourg arrives in France about 10.30 am Friday morning.

Slow bimble to the camp sit, we use the camping municipal at Roeze-sur-sarth, its just over the bridge as you exit the village right next to the river and about 15 minutes from the circuit.

The site is quiet with a nice little bar just over the bridge opposite the church.

We then tend to go to the race saturday morning and sleep in an old tent behind the back of the car (or bike) in the car park (parking Bleu), this way you can have a drink at the circuit.

It's true about the toilets, if you need a dump then go early otherwise its hell.

As for ferries back on the Sunday, remember that it is going to take you something like 4 hrs to get to cherbourg, you can do it quicker but you need to watch for plod.

(interestingly some years ago, I passed what can only be described as a corrogated shed doing abut 125mph in the car, it turned out to be a plod van, I didn't even slow down - you would not do that now as they will make sure you get your collar felt)

 

[E. Buygum]

Wapping has, as ever, done a great job with routes etc. so I'll only comment on camping which I personally would do every time. I have never had any bad experience and I love the ease of the short stroll from bike/tent in the morning to the circuit. Being able to put anything vaguely valuable in lockable panniers may have helped however. It's complete mayhem at night, of course, which you can either put up with or not. With enough beer and earplugs, I find I can nod off at Le Mans with a 600 Bandit bouncing off its rev limiter a few yards away. This may not be a suitable formula for a 12 year old...

Am hoping to be there, myself, by the way + a few others, if I can organise leave at work.

 

[johnboy]

MOST IMPORTANT GO FOR IT AND HAVE FUN its one of lifes experiences.

Thanks to all for their comments: ferry now booked o/n Thursday out returning Sunday o/n - both Portsmouth Caen with a cabin

I also found a friend of a friend with a holiday property about 80k away from Le Mans - I traded the distance with the fact my sons only 12 - probably being over protective but should be fun any way.