Le Mans questions
 

Who has been to the 24? Has anybody done the on-site glamping? Looking to book the trip for 2026. Any advice and experiences would be appreciated.

I've not been yet, but it has been on my bucket list. What I wanted to mention is if you can consider staying in the area for 3-4 weeks, every other year they also run the Le Mans Classic, about 3 weeks after Le Mans. This year Le Mans was Jun 14-15, and Classic is Jul 3-6. I always thought it would be amazing to do both; the next opportunity would be 2027.

Scott, a west coast-based PCAer who now spends time in our area has been going there for a couple decades. He is not a Dorki, but I can put you in touch with him via email or phone.

Had a friend who went and rented an on-site container "apartment". They haul the containers in just for the race. Apparently there is a spectrum of container furnishing, ranging from basic beds to built-in toilets.

I attended a few decades ago, the year Jacky Ickx and Derek Bell won in the 936 :)

The night racing is epic, you hear the cars long before you see them. Sleep is overrated because it is extremely loud and so much activity.

The train was the ideal transport in and out of the country side and I suspect it still is.

I went to Le Mans in 2023. I thought it would be a once-in-a-lifetime thing, but it was so good I'm hoping to go back next year. I think the schedules may line up so that Le Mans is the week-end after F1 Monaco. One plane ride for two great week-ends.
We got an AirBnB a couple of kilometers from the track, so I don't have any experience with the on-site glamping. The walk to the track wasn't bad. We used a track entrance near the Dunlop Bridge. Seeing all the great cars in the parking lot there was almost as much fun as being at the track. Dunlop Bridge is part of the permanent year-round track, at the center of the Village and paddock that allows you to walk all the way back down the track, past Start/Finish, past the Ford chicanes and on down to the Porsche curves.
We just got General Admission tickets; when we went to buy reserved seats, up-grades and add-ons, everything was sold out. If you want extra comfort and access, buy early because they sell out almost immediately when the become available.
The Village, displays, vendors, restaurants and everything about the race were a ton better than any other race I've been to. It's worth it to go a few days early-there's a lot going on at the track and the crowds are smaller than on race day. The Driver Parade in downtown Le Mans is a fantastic wild party, but without somebody's corporate hospitality access you don't really have hope of seeing drivers up close unless you get there the day before and protect your space from happy drunk race fans.
During the race there's plenty of time to use shuttles to move from corner to corner, and we found room to stand or sit on the grass most places. Great views of the cars at speed at Indianapolis and Porsche Curves, good to watch cornering at Mulsanne and Arnange. Spent most of the night watching from the grass just over the crest of the hill at Dunlop Bridge. By then you can almost get to recognize the different cars by the sound.
You can get on the ACO Le Mans Official Mailing List for lots of good information.
'Sorry to get so long-winded here - I think you can tell we had a really good time. I hope we both get there next year.

Aaron and Minta Miller go. If you want me to put you in touch with them let me know.

Never apologize for a great write-up!

There is an article in the new DV @ Scott.

Slightly off topic, but how many of us played with slot car race tracks as little kids? How many of us still do? Yes and Yes :)