Courtesy of PeteP and his association and efforts with Spa Italia I've had the pleasure of attending the Spa weekend for the past 3 years running. Unfortunately this year it's looking very likely it's not going to happen so I've been looking at similar venues that can give the same on track exhilaration and social side and I've found that Trackdays are offering a fantastic deal for Le Mans on the 2nd and 3rd August.

Accommodation for myself with either be campsite/chalet or Ibis hotel so if you fancy this do please let me know as I'll be making reservations very soon and I'm sure a group booking can secure a reduction in costs

Just to add a bit of info. It is 274 miles (433 klm) from Calais ferry port to Le Man on the auto route and will take a very easy 5 hours and a fast 4 hours or less.

Non auto route is near on the same distance and would save you about £20 on tolls.

Whatever you choose its a very nice drive.
It is the start of the French holidays that weekend ,so the roads will be busy and ferry cost at their peak prices due to school holidays etc.

But there are still deals to be had. You could use another departure port or the tunnel etc.
Obvious advice would be to book early.

Which day are you thinking of booking Joe ?

I'm booking the Saturday session for the Bugatti circuit.

Price check on travel costs, ferry is around £75.00 return, Eurotunnel £95.00.

The Trackdays website has a hotel search facility, local hotels are starting at £50/night for a twin room with on site parking, and as Joe has pointed out it's the start of the French holidays so I'll be booking asap.

£75 is a great price Joe.
Seems like it could be fun. Just 3 hours up the road for me.

It is quite a bit shorter both in the UK and France for you to use the longer Newhaven - Dieppe ferry from your home Joe (CC).

It's the route I used to get to and from the UK when I lived in the Dordogne. I used to drive along the Mulsanne Straight en route.

Here you are The ferry is a bit more expensive, but the fuel cost is less.

But on the other hand, you spend so much longer going up and down, side to side, up and down instead of sitting nicely on the underground train!

Understandable coming from someone who's been used to ups and downs at one time or another

Yes, Neil has his own interpretation of circuits and bumps.

Hey, it's *years* since I last sank a boat.

Im in..

Ok, so here's the plan.

Travel down to Le Mans on Thursday 1st August crossing the channel on Eurotunnel at £94 return for one car and up to 9 (yes 9!) occupants. Then a very enjoyable convoy down to Le Mans on the French roads (French roads, not Belgian pot holed monstrosities!) of approx 420kms.

Accomodation currently being arranged for these 3 nights (Thursday-Saturday, returning Sunday 4th), will be two options of campsite with static homes, or a hotel nearby.

Open pit lane at Le Mans for Saturday 3rd August. I have negotiated a 5% discount on their listed price of £250 (so £237.50 giving a £12.50 discount for a free lunch). This is to drive the longer 2.7 mile Bugatti circuit, which is part of the historic 24 hour race circuit and an infield section. Additional drivers are only £1 too!

The main circuit is mainly public roads, and so can be driven at anyones leisure (with many excellent photographic opportunities).

Aside from the trackday on the Saturday, there are many sights to see, as well as very enjoyable socials, i.e evenings out and no doubt a big BBQ!

Sights include (and I thank Wikipedia):

- Le Mans has a well-preserved old town (Cité Plantagenêt, also called Vieux Mans), where the cobbled streets and half-timbered house fronts provided setting for Gérard Depardieu in Cyrano de Bergerac (1989) and a cathedral: Cathédrale St-Julien, is dedicated to St Julian of Le Mans, who is honoured as the city's first bishop.
- There are remnants of a Roman wall in the old town and Roman baths by the river. These walls are highlighted every summer (July and August) evening in a light show that tells the history of the town.
- Arboretum de la Grand Prée
- Jardin des Plantes du Mans
- Musée de la reine Bérengère, a museum of Le Mans history located in a gothic manor house.
- Musée de Tessé, the fine arts museum of the city, displaying painting (including artworks by Philippe de Champaigne, Charles Le Brun, François Boucher, John Constable, Ingres, Théodore Géricault and Camille Corot) and archaeological collections as well as decorative arts.

All this, before returning on Sunday 4th August.

One further thing - this is not exclusive to Coupe's, so anyone is welcome to "run what they brung"

Please confirm if you'd like to join this merry gathering by scribing your names on the list below (or updating to confirm if you wish to participate in the track day);

Appreciate if this can be done soon as is possible to reserve spaces for the track day with the organisers.

1. Countrycruising (track day)
2. HoveDan (track day)
3. Coupedummy (track day)
4. Neil & Chris (track day)
5. Minimetaller
6. Senny Dave
7. Flea (track day)
8.
9.
10.

Any queries please throw them up here...

Thanks to all involved.

1. Countrycruising (track day)
2. HoveDan (track day)
3. Coupedummy (track day)
4. Neil & Chris (track day)
5. Minimetaller
6. Senny Dave
7. Flea (track day)
8. DLT (track day)
9.
10.

Awesome

Hmmm... I'll check my diary

1. Countrycruising (track day)
2. HoveDan (track day)
3. Coupedummy (track day)
4. Neil & Chris (track day)
5. Minimetaller
6. Senny Dave
7. Flea (track day)
8. DLT (track day)
9. JBT (track day)
10.

The missus is going to kill me what with the Belgian GP at the end of August too..

1. Countrycruising (track day)
2. HoveDan (track day)
3. Coupedummy (track day)
4. Neil & Chris (track day)
5. Minimetaller
6. Senny Dave
7. Flea (track day)
8. DLT (track day)
9. JBT (track day)
10. Jon13 (track day)

[quote=jon13]

1. Countrycruising (track day)
2. HoveDan (track day)
3. Coupedummy (track day)
4. Neil & Chris (track day)
5. Minimetaller
6. Senny Dave
7. Flea (track day)
8. DLT (track day)
9. JBT (track day)
10. Jon13 (track day)
11. Proccy - probable depending on holiday being granted (trackday)

1. Countrycruising (track day)
2. HoveDan (track day)
3. Coupedummy (track day)
4. Neil & Chris (track day)
5. Minimetaller
6. Senny Dave
7. Flea (track day)
8. DLT (track day)
9. JBT (track day)
10. Jon13 (track day)
11. Proccy - probable depending on holiday being granted (trackday)
12. Crazylegs (track day)

1. Countrycruising (track day)
2. HoveDan (track day)
3. Coupedummy (track day)
4. Neil & Chris (track day)
5. Minimetaller
6. Senny Dave
7. Flea (track day)
8. DLT (track day)
9. JBT (track day)
10. Jon13 (track day)
11. Proccy - probable depending on holiday being granted (trackday)
12. Crazylegs (track day)
13. Taffy (track day)
14. TrevM (track day)
15. Gray20vt (track day)

1. Countrycruising (track day)
2. HoveDan (track day)
3. Coupedummy (track day)
4. Neil & Chris (track day)
5. Minimetaller
6. Senny Dave
7. Flea (track day)
8. DLT (track day)
9. JBT (track day)
10. Jon13 (track day)
11. Proccy - probable depending on holiday being granted (trackday)
12. Crazylegs (track day)
13. Taffy (track day)
14. TrevM (track day)
15. Gray20vt (track day)
16. Barnacle, unsure about track day at present...

1. Countrycruising (track day)
2. HoveDan (track day)
3. Coupedummy (track day)
4. Neil & Chris (track day)
5. Minimetaller
6. Senny Dave
7. Flea (track day)
8. DLT (track day)
9. JBT (track day)
10. Jon13 (track day)
11. Proccy - (trackday) - holiday confirmed
12. Crazylegs (track day)
13. Taffy (track day)
14. TrevM (track day)
15. Gray20vt (track day)
16. Barnacle, unsure about track day at present...

is there a noise restriction for the track ?

1. Countrycruising (track day)
2. HoveDan (track day)
3. Coupedummy (track day)
4. Neil & Chris (track day)
5. Minimetaller
6. Senny Dave
7. Flea (track day)
8. DLT (track day)
9. JBT (track day)
10. Jon13 (track day)
11. Proccy - (trackday) - holiday confirmed
12. Crazylegs (track day)
13. Taffy (track day)
14. TrevM (track day)
15. Gray20vt (track day)
16. Barnacle, unsure about track day at present...
17. Nismo (track day)

[quote=nismo]is there a noise restriction for the track ?

1. Countrycruising (track day)
2. HoveDan (track day)
3. Coupedummy (track day)
4. Neil & Chris (track day)
5. Minimetaller
6. Senny Dave
7. Flea (track day)
8. DLT (track day)
9. JBT (track day)
10. Jon13 (track day)
11. Proccy - (trackday) - holiday confirmed
12. Crazylegs (track day)
13. Taffy (track day)
14. TrevM (track day)
15. Gray20vt (track day)
16. Barnacle, unsure about track day at present...
17. Nismo (track day)
18. Magooagain (trackday) Clutch willing.

Iain noise check is 105db.

Thanks Pete, I did look at that route. Decided to go for the train due to the height of the car... oh and Neil doesn't like going up and down, only around and around

Two holidays and a London to Paris bike ride are going to eat up most of my holiday this year, so I won't be able to make it Have fun

cheers Joe , i'll check my car to see if i'm under it or not

doubt it lol

Round and round and round it goes, and where it stops, nobody knows!

Given that Le Mans is a quicker track than Spa, I'm a little concerned about all these 20vts with go faster bits haring past with forty mph speed differentials...

The full circuit is Neil (with it's 200mph straights!), but it's only part of the circuit and an infield section we are driving won't be so disadvantageous to you!