SV650.org - SV650 & Gladius 650 Forum - Le Mans 24hr Endurance race

Hi Richie - thanks sooo much for helping me out there!

Combatfred - Should have been at a rally this week-end, but the club have cancelled it due to difficulties within the club. Shame. Nevermind, I will be going to a rally up north at the end of the month. It is the same week-end as the Royal Wedding. Such a shame that, heading up an empty A9! haha!

Camping at Le Mans is a doddle. We've always camped at Camping Vert and the last couple of times in 'Concentration Le Houx'. This is a tents/bikes only area - no cars allowed. Your bike is right next to your tent. When you get your ticket (which you can buy almost next to the site) and enter for the first time you get three stickers - one for the bike, one for the helmet and one to carry on you (?). All three have the same unique number and it is a security measure, so that when you leave you are not leaving with somebody elses helmet, for example. If you are taking your better half, she will be delighted as the showers are better than Donington (probably wouldn't be difficult mind you). There are trailors with showers and toilets dotted about and there is always somebody in attendance, so you know they are going to be kept clean. After entering the Houx we go as far as we can into that area, where there is a breeze-block shower/toilet building that was built a couple of years ago and it is the bees knees. So get there early if you can (I think the site opens up on the Thursday, midday). The Houx is situated behind the straight that is between 'Chicane du Chemin aux Boeufs' and 'Virage des Esses Bleus' - basically the bit after the second bridge (not the Dunlop bridge). Once you are in the Houx you don't need to show your ticket to enter the track and you just walk through an open gate. If you like your sleep don't camp at the Houx or if like me you like to doze off to howling motorbikes in the backeground DO camp in the Houx!
They built a new tram line a couple of years ago and although I've never used it, it takes you into town, so if you want to go for dinner and you have already had a few 'brews' you can. Also, there is a massive Carrefour minutes from the circuit. What a crowd of us did a few years ago (we were all on bikes) is that we went down to Carrefour and loaded up on stuff. We all chipped in and bought a small BBQ, as well as feeding us, it kept us warm at night. We have had 27 degrees during the day, but it gets pretty chilly at night. Le Mans does supply tons of firewood (and French Firemen, but we won't go into that!).
When you pay for your camping ticket, you get a voucher for a hot drink, a cold drink and a massive baguette. You also get a rather nice metal Le Mans badge.
When Status Quo play, they will be playing on a stage just up from the Dunlop Bridge. So just imagine..you could be standing with a beer in your hand, on the banking, with Quo playing to one side of you and bikes howling by you on the other! Braw!
We are heading down to Spain on the ferry one week-end, going to Le Mans the following week-end and coming home via Ijmuiden/Newcastle the following week-end. We have been down Le Mans over a long week-end (up to Calais on the Sunday night) and it is do-able, but maybe not so much fun.
If you want to see what it is all about they are showing this week-ends Magny Cours 24hr race on Tuesday night at 11pm on Motors TV.
Or if you want to see Endurance racing there is an 8hr round at Donington in August. Might see you there!
I will PM you my mob. no. in case you do decide to go.