Le mans 2009: The cheap way.

[Ziggy]

Don't worry about that - bikes are easy!

I'll report back this eve...

[BadDave]

Nice one Dave, how long will it take you to get to there?

I'll be there by 7pm ish at the latest on Wednesday,unless i'm held up with roadworks,contraflows or average speed camera's.

I'll be somewhere near the Borders/Cumbria/Lake district on Tuesday night as i'm leaving Aberdeen just after i've finished work, and i'll find somewhere quiet to park up and then sleep in the car.

The hotel i've booked,is in Whitfield, which is a couple of miles North West of Dover,just off the A2/A256,so only about 10mins away frrom the meeting point

It works out at about the same price as the Premier Inn or Travelodge Tom mentioned in an earlier post.

I'll have a look for that carpark meeting point when i get down there, if i fail to find it, I'll be at the passenger terminal as you enter the ferry terminal.
Mine's the L plated sterling silver tourer with the St Andrews cross on the number plate and 316 badge on the tailgate

I'll arrange for a wake up call about 4am ish.

[Sanchez]

Mine's the L plated sterling silver tourer

You better pass you test quick then Dave

[Ziggy]

Clearly the saddle'll be off/down & the wheels will be off, it's also not the right bike (just the first that came to hand) but I can't see a need for a light board/plate.

[Jon_Bmw]

Oh yeah, that rack is fine. I'll try the two that we have got on Wednesday. Roof rack bike rack is not an option now, as it will exceed the 2.4 metre height restriction!

That bike being top spec, discs innit, would last 2 seconds in Le mans!

[tomson]

I still cant decide to stay the night near Dover or just leave Bristol at midnight or so and drive through..... Jon, what's your rough route to Dover, I assume your "calling" for Ziggy on the way there? I was thinking if we do go through the night I might drive to yours and follow you to Dover, it would be nicer than the M4 & M25 jaunt that is the other option for me!

Bloody CV joint to do on the iX before we leave too, along with lots of other things that I've half started! On Saturday, I was considering just buying another car for the trip, found a lovely M5 on ebay

[Ziggy]

That bike being top spec, discs innit, would last 2 seconds in Le mans!

Rides nice too - did you recognise it?

I still cant decide to stay the night near Dover or just leave Bristol at midnight or so and drive through..... Jon, what's your rough route to Dover, I assume your "calling" for Ziggy on the way there? I was thinking if we do go through the night I might drive to yours and follow you to Dover, it would be nicer than the M4 & M25 jaunt that is the other option for me!

At that time of night I'm pretty sure we'll do the motorways anyway - the coast road takes blimmin ages. You're still more than welcome to start from Southampton (although I can only offer floor space if you're planning on getting any sleep!) if you can be ar$ed!
I expect Jon'll be starting from Erin's place - about 5 mins from me.

Bloody CV joint to do on the iX before we leave too, along with lots of other things that I've half started! On Saturday, I was considering just buying another car for the trip, found a lovely M5 on ebay

The Volvo last year was great! Was tempted again this year - if that white 535i hadn't needed so much to get an MOT, it would have been going. As it is, it got picked up this morning by the scrap man

[BadDave]

Daft question

Buttttttttttt


Is anyone going to be using european breakdown cover???

[tomson]

Daft question

Buttttttttttt


Is anyone going to be using european breakdown cover???

It is something I am going to look into tomorrow as I think it's safer to have it than not! Do you have any Dave?

[Ziggy]

Daft question

Buttttttttttt


Is anyone going to be using european breakdown cover???

Did on the E30, but braved it on the Turdo last yr

I'll see how much it costs - a lot of them don't like older cars though...

[BadDave]

i did price some up earlier
Came out about £55 for the 5 days

[tomson]

Thats not too bad, who was it with? I did look briefly the other day but Google was not very helpful

[BadDave]

That was with the AA iirc.


I'll have another look tomorrow and see what i can come up with

[Jon_Bmw]

I got around £47 with the RAC but mine is a bit newer than your old scrap

Although, if only the RAC realised the potential dramas you could have with a 540i compared to an iX. I'll take a towrope, unless anyone has a bar as recovery services are not allowed on the toll roads, although I am not sure how GEN DAME would take to improvisation.

Jon, I 100% didn't realise it was the frame I picked up in brizzle for you, I am proper thick, like. I tried out a rack, and it fits almost identically to yours, so that is good.

This year I will be setting of from Salisbury most likely as my co-pilot is from these parts. Tommo, you can crash at mine as there is a sofa bed upstairs, although it could get a bit cosy with a mate. Probably meet zigster at Winch or fleet services, and leave salisbury around 1.30 ish?

Finished my Finals today, fucking party.

[BadDave]

AA want £55 and the RAC want just shy of £60
seems alot of them won't cover cars over 15yrs


Coonts

[JayPee]

Evening all, just noticed this thread. Me and a few friends will be heading down on Tuesday and Camping in Bleu Sud, we will be sure to give any other e30's a big wave! I did a big load of searching for Breakdown Cover and in the end went with my insurers (Direct Line) for 38 quid for 7 days. Another good one is quote LM09 to AA when you ring up and you get an instant 30% discount! HTH. Here's a few pics of our 'LM Edition' chariot

[BadDave]

I did a big load of searching for Breakdown Cover and in the end went with my insurers (Direct Line) for 38 quid for 7 days. Another good one is quote LM09 to AA when you ring up and you get an instant 30% discount! HTH.

Thnks for that.
Unfortunately the code doesn't work on the website.
will try phonong them and see if it works that way.

Also had a look at the alledged weather forecast for race weekend
Looks quite good if the forecast is reasonably accurate

http://www.metcheck.com/V40/UK/FREE/eur ... ionID=1758

[JayPee]

Apparently it has rained very heavily there, and the campsites do not deal well with lots of water! Hopefully it will dry through the week but anybody going down early could get soggy! I am off out to get some wellies I think!

[BadDave]

I can confirm the LM09 code does work if you call the AA.
The website will not accept it though as
Quote
"the website prices are already discounted"

Works out at £49 something pence. all in for 5 days cover

[Jon_Bmw]

I got my RAC cover for £38 in the end. Pretty good, went for the comprehensive one that has no excess on vehicle repatriation(spel?) should it be required.

Got myself a cheap electric cool box as well, might help a small amount, but I guess I'll just freeze a lot of the food and drink the night before.

Jaypee, we'll probably see you down there as your car will be hard to miss!

The forecasts are shocking, they change ever single day, and drastically! I'm going no matter what and the car is big enough to house me if it gets really bad.

[BadDave]

I'm currently in the process of packing everything into the car just now.
Got the essestials in there already(beer/Jim Bean/food/tent/stove/kettle) etc.
I'll get the rest packed tomorrow night,so I'm ready for the off, as soon as i'm finished work on Tuesday.

Jon
Pm on it's way shortly

[tomson]

So I have a tent, obviously, but what is everyone else taking in the way of camping equipment ? ? Are we going out into town at all in the evenings and if so are there any dress codes ? ? I got to sort the car out tomorrow and looks like I need to go shopping on Wednesday!

Jon, by the looks of it its not worth staying at anyones house but cheers for the offer. We will drive to yours for whatever time you want to leave on Thursday morning, I think this will be best.....

[Jon_Bmw]

So I have a tent, obviously, but what is everyone else taking in the way of camping equipment ? ? Are we going out into town at all in the evenings and if so are there any dress codes ? ? I got to sort the car out tomorrow and looks like I need to go shopping on Wednesday!

Jon, by the looks of it its not worth staying at anyones house but cheers for the offer. We will drive to yours for whatever time you want to leave on Thursday morning, I think this will be best.....

Cooking utensils, if someone has a pair on tongs that would be good, I lost mine at UBMW last year!
Eating utensils
Anyone bringing a BBQ, Jon?

You'll be on a muddy campsite, so i wouldn't bring anything too nice in terms of clothes!

Probably go out on Friday evening to town, but its not like a Friday night down brizzle with shoes only!

I am probably going to freeze some meat(bacon!) to take down as its nice to have some food before getting straight to the supermarket. You'll want something soft to sleep on(airbed) as the ground is fairly unforgiving.


I am 99% picking up Dan318is from Woking on route, but that is only about a 15 minute detour I guess. I think we need to leave mine at about 12.30am. We can probably leave it slightly later, but if we aim for 12.30.

[Jon_Bmw]

Just realised the map was all wrong. Here should be the rough right one.

click here

Might be worth printing off if you don't have EU sat nav.

Tom, sent you a PM with my postcode.

[march109]

If I was going again this year there are many things I'd do differently. Next year for definate chaps I won't be at this hell hole I call work anyway!

Pack bog roll for gods sake.

Wreckomended!

Car
Tools, brake fluid, spare fuel can (empty), oil, flourescent jackets, decent spare, warning triangle, red bull.

Eating
Hob/BBQ/Charcoal,or at least a water proof lighter and your best ray mears impersonation,
Look out at Aldi this week they have some awesome camping stuff in store.
at least one knife, fork, bowl, spoon, mug per person.

Sleeping
sleeping bag, blanket (it can get cold!), air bed, electric pump, tent, torch.

If I was doing it again I'd also bring a leccy gennie, mini fridge, leisure battery, solarpanel, solarshower, loooots of junk food, and a lot of other creature comforts.


Good luck everyone, I'm very jelous.

[Ziggy]

Hi-viz and warning triangle are now compulsory!
Last year you only needed them if you had an accident, but they can now hand out fines at any point.

We'll have a BBQ.

[Ziggy]

& I can do tongs.

Still taking the gay-ze-bo Jon?

[BadDave]

So I have a tent, obviously, but what is everyone else taking in the way of camping equipment ? ? Are we going out into town at all in the evenings and if so are there any dress codes ? ? I got to sort the car out tomorrow and looks like I need to go shopping on Wednesday!

Jon, by the looks of it its not worth staying at anyones house but cheers for the offer. We will drive to yours for whatever time you want to leave on Thursday morning, I think this will be best.....

Mattress or airbed,sleeping bag,stove,cooking utensils,KFS,bog roll,torch or lamp of some sort,spare fuel can,maps or satnav and your general spares kit for a long weekend abroad.

I have maps/satnav,a spare stove(incase one decides to play up).
Some Euro's wouldn't go amiss either

I've got the car packed,apart from a couple of little things,i'll throw in tomorrow morning.

[Sanchez]

Have fun guys drive safe, take loads of pics for us that are staying behind.

[tomson]

Christ, it's lucky I asked, I was going to bring a tent and some clothes! ! !

Finish fettling the car tomorrow and definately going shopping on Wednesday ! !

[Jon_Bmw]

Christ, it's lucky I asked, I was going to bring a tent and some clothes! ! !

Tom, like me, you were never in the Boy scouts were you!

Jon, i'll bring the gaybo, but if you have a spare 'foot' that would be good, or i'll get Dan to steal one, just like that tenner.

Drive safely Dave as you'll be leaving soon I guess. I am still not sure on Bikes, I want to, but I don't want to.

Also I am slightly worried about the horizontal straps as they have to secure onto glass.

Gareth, blanket?


Passport, passport, passport and a credit card.

[march109]

Fook off! last year I froze to death, woke up with rain IN my tiny one man coffin shapped tent almost died several times on the journey there and back, almost permanantly had the squits, almost watched my driver get crushed under the car more than once though funniest was jacking the car up in a wet field and climbing under! Got so pissed I couldn't find my way back to the campsite one night and lost one of my trainers, oh and arrived sunday avo to find nothing open and I had no food.

Next time I'm doing Le Mans I have a plan, and I can assure you I won't make any schoolboy mistakes again.

Thats doesn't mean it wasn't fookin ace though, I'm gutted I'm not there this year!

[Dan318-is]

Jon if you bring a bike, i wont have one! and what about your mate?

cant we rent bikes out there or something?

I have a plug adapter by the way!

Does anyone no what the pre-race 'race' is? Last year was group C, year before was very old cars, any ideas this year?

[Ziggy]

This year is 'very old' again! '49-'65 IIRC.
Good news that you're coming Dan!

Jon, any 'feet' I have would probably be in my Mum's garage I'm afraid - won't be over there before tomorrow night but I'll have a look here...

This 6am ferry is a blimmin antisocial idea BTW! Better be worth it when we get to t'other side...


So everyone's got a triangle & Hi-viz???

[Jon_Bmw]

You see, thats why I am thinking about not bringing them Dan. It is you that has upset it! Three bikes on my rack is asking for trouble, so I don't think I will bother. Plus its not really fair on Tommo and Dave.

Good news on the adapter, i've been turning my house upside down for it, to no avail. I've just bought two brand new Dunlop sport rear tyres. They'll start the journey with 10mm I wonder what they'll return with.

I have got so much shit to sort out tomorrow. I sorted out the Ferry yesterday night so you are on it. Went to tesco today and the meat is currently freezing until Thursday AM.

ACO website has it all listed, but I have forgotton what it was now.