Le Mans Classic 2022 and Mad Friday at Arnage

Delmonte

Member
Messages
878
Am off to this, this year (Finally. Been booked for 3 years due to the obvs. Going with non-Mas mates.)
Anyway am staying on the Travel Destinations “glamping site” thing at the circuit.
Never been to either LM or LMC before.
Fancy witnessing the mad Friday at Arnage thing. Is that a thing at the LMC? Should I be trying to book a table at one of those bars? Can you even do that? And how do you get to & from there from the circuit, given we’ll all be far too ****** to drive?

Any top LMC tips appreciated!
 

Gazcw

Member
Messages
7,699
Am off to this, this year (Finally. Been booked for 3 years due to the obvs. Going with non-Mas mates.)
Anyway am staying on the Travel Destinations “glamping site” thing at the circuit.
Never been to either LM or LMC before.
Fancy witnessing the mad Friday at Arnage thing. Is that a thing at the LMC? Should I be trying to book a table at one of those bars? Can you even do that? And how do you get to & from there from the circuit, given we’ll all be far too ** to drive?

Any top LMC tips appreciated!
Better class of drunk Brit at the classic. It is, as Matt says more sedate and normally a lot more Frenchies attend. A lot of car clubs too.
There used to be a bus which ran to the car parking and campsites that were on the airport from there it was a 15 min leisurely walk/stumble. I think that land has been sold for building now so it may no longer run.
 

schell70

Member
Messages
313
I will be going in the GT with an M2 for company - also a 66 Mustang & 1936 MG (we normally leave them waiting for recovery)

We've been to the Classic 3 times now (last time 4yrs ago!! due to Covid) - having decided we are too old for the 24hr and drunken Dutch Techno.

Arnage madness does still happen at the Classic but is no where near as mad as at the 24, more pizza delivery boys on mopeds plus the odd 'more money than sense' display. It can still be enertaining and no need to book a bar, you can usually just pitch up for a few beers. It's a fair walk from Porsche Curves or Bleu Nord but do-able, just watch out for the deep ditches at the side of the road, ask me how I know :)

There is usually a really good vibe in the centre of the circuit on the Saturday night, also if you like a blag you can usually manage to get into the pit lane/on the pit wall if you look as though you belong by walking through a garage from the paddock. There is no way you could get away with that at the 24hr.
 

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,593
I went once and I would struggle to go again. It just felt like a hangover from the 24hr. Noticbley quiet which had the bonus of no huge traffic jams. Some lovely cars to be seen. The racing was more of a display the older the cars got. I remember the driver in a 20’s Bentley waving as he went through Mulsanne. The village in the middle was mainly taken down as were the TV screens.

The 60’s - 90’s racing was like Goodwood, the drivers raced hard which was awesome.

This was about 2014 so maybe a decade on its bigger.

I don’t really go for the racing anymore, it’s more about the journey down and mucking about in the Gites…making our own entertainment.

Still go into Arnage on ‘mad Friday’ but based on the past few years it’s not as mad as it was maybe a decade ago.
 

midlifecrisis

Member
Messages
16,102
Was thinking of doing a 'raid' on Le mans this weekend for the MotoGP race. That used to be quite mad at the campsite, big campfires, no sleep and revving engines etc but it always rains for the race. So I'll give it a miss, but must do the Classic at some stage...
 

Contigo

Sponsor
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18,376
6 of us are going down to the Classic this year so look forward to meeting you down at Arlequin or at the track. Staying in the centre too this time which will be novel based on the fact that none of the party have actually ever visited the town and had a good **** up there. Staying 40 mins from the track is a major PITA!
 

Delmonte

Member
Messages
878
I will be going in the GT with an M2 for company - also a 66 Mustang & 1936 MG (we normally leave them waiting for recovery)

We've been to the Classic 3 times now (last time 4yrs ago!! due to Covid) - having decided we are too old for the 24hr and drunken Dutch Techno.

Arnage madness does still happen at the Classic but is no where near as mad as at the 24, more pizza delivery boys on mopeds plus the odd 'more money than sense' display. It can still be enertaining and no need to book a bar, you can usually just pitch up for a few beers. It's a fair walk from Porsche Curves or Bleu Nord but do-able, just watch out for the deep ditches at the side of the road, ask me how I know :)

There is usually a really good vibe in the centre of the circuit on the Saturday night, also if you like a blag you can usually manage to get into the pit lane/on the pit wall if you look as though you belong by walking through a garage from the paddock. There is no way you could get away with that at the 24hr.
Cool cheers. All decent sage advice. I believe we're staying at Porsche curves so that's good if it's walkable. Any particular bar for a good vantage point? And how will we know which way to head? What is Arnage anyway, a village? If so we could Google map it? and any ideal time for getting to Arnage? More afternoon, evening, or any time? Am thinking get there early before everyone imbibes too much on arrival at camp and gets too f'd to try and make it there... (which isn't me being laddish btw, just given the company ill be with, realistic....)
 

Delmonte

Member
Messages
878
Was thinking of doing a 'raid' on Le mans this weekend for the MotoGP race. That used to be quite mad at the campsite, big campfires, no sleep and revving engines etc but it always rains for the race. So I'll give it a miss, but must do the Classic at some stage...
Yeah I've heard really good things about the bike event. Bike events are generally way better for atmos anyway. I've got a scooter rally the weekend after I get back from LMC as it happens. Absolute headcases at that, old mods and ska lads who have done very little mellowing with age.... I'm genuinely nervous...
 

Felonious Crud

Administrator
Staff member
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21,013
Cool cheers. All decent sage advice. I believe we're staying at Porsche curves so that's good if it's walkable. Any particular bar for a good vantage point? And how will we know which way to head? What is Arnage anyway, a village? If so we could Google map it? and any ideal time for getting to Arnage? More afternoon, evening, or any time? Am thinking get there early before everyone imbibes too much on arrival at camp and gets too f'd to try and make it there... (which isn't me being laddish btw, just given the company ill be with, realistic....)
Yes, Arnage is a small village which is dead for 363 days of the year. It has a few bars and it's a good place to watch other cars rumbling past and occasionally making too much noise. Many police are on hand to keep things sensible, but it's worth dropping in (when it's open!)
 

MikeyMaser

Member
Messages
473
The are usually French Rozzers stationed throughout Arnage village so there is very little madness these days. A good selection of nice cars cruising past though while you munch on your overpriced frozen pizza and Kronenbourg. :cool:

It's a good 3 miles from Porsche Curves to Arnage. We take fold up bikes.
 

Delmonte

Member
Messages
878
The are usually French Rozzers stationed throughout Arnage village so there is very little madness these days. A good selection of nice cars cruising past though while you munch on your overpriced frozen pizza and Kronenbourg. :cool:

It's a good 3 miles from Porsche Curves to Arnage. We take fold up bikes.
Nice one ta. Bit too far to walk then... might have to blag a lift or something. Or do Ubers operate in that France?
Anyway that Bar Du Centre looks decent. Is that by the famous roundabout? Or that a different roundabout?
 

MikeyMaser

Member
Messages
473
Nice one ta. Bit too far to walk then... might have to blag a lift or something. Or do Ubers operate in that France?
Anyway that Bar Du Centre looks decent. Is that by the famous roundabout? Or that a different roundabout?

Yes, and l'Arlequin restaurant bar
 

Doohickey

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2,496
Nice one ta. Bit too far to walk then... might have to blag a lift or something. Or do Ubers operate in that France?
Anyway that Bar Du Centre looks decent. Is that by the famous roundabout? Or that a different roundabout?
It's a couple of miles from Porsche Curves though probably 3 back once you've imbibed. Easily walkable but the road has little street lighting so you need to be careful. The ditches are useful if you need a leak on the way back but don't fall in for the same reason!
 

Gazcw

Member
Messages
7,699
It's a couple of miles from Porsche Curves though probably 3 back once you've imbibed. Easily walkable but the road has little street lighting so you need to be careful. The ditches are useful if you need a leak on the way back but don't fall in for the same reason!
You forgot to add 'or you may fall onto Scaf'.
 

zagatoes30

Member
Messages
20,759
As above classic has a different feel and is noticeable less boisterous, probably due to the fact that SM nutters aren't there ;)

The racing can be interesting but it is more a selection of shorter races with only the most committed actually racing at the limit. However there are some awesome cars to drool over and access is normally very good and the teams and owners are happy to chat.

Overall nice but not the 24 hr