Page 1 of 1
Visiting Le Mans
Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 4:11 pm
by Timbob
Not Porsche but I hope it will be excused.
A mate and I are driving a Bentley Speed Six from Switzerland back to the UK in September and as Speed Sixes won in 1929 & 1930 it seems appropriate that we take it to Le Mans on the way!
Neither of us have been to Le Mans before
but I know many people on here have so I am humbly asking for some advice about visiting and also whether it is possible to arrange to drive the non "public road" parts of the 24hr circuit.
Thanks
Tim
Posted: Thu Aug 06, 2009 4:41 pm
by Viv_Surby
Bootsy knows a number of dodgy bars/clubs to head for
Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2009 8:54 am
by early_911
I doubt it . . . but as it's such a special car I suppose anything could happen. Perhaps try contacting one of the people who run the closed Bugatti circuit (the bit that isn't public road). . . their contact details can be found here:
http://www.lemans.org/aco/pages/contacts/index_gb.html
How about getting the Bentley owners club to approach them (assuming you're members)? (or would that stir up officialdom - i.e. concerns about insurance/liability etc
)
What ever happens . . . remember to post a few pic's as it sounds like a great trip.
Phi
Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2009 3:13 pm
by Timbob
No other tips guys? Must dos?
Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2009 3:39 pm
by Bertroex
Hang on a minute. You drive from Swits to Le mans. Via what route? Because....
Autostad - the Vw mothership has a section for Bentley.
Strassbourgh: the Schlumpf collection
The passes in Swits: Col St Bernard, Gotthard, furka
The place where I started driving fast: Villars-Ollon hillclimb
Any "Relais et Chateau" stop en route
http://www.relaischateaux.com/spip.php? ... me&lang=en
Book a wine trip for a red Sancerre just past Le Mans. My granddad had a chateau in Bretau and it is lovely with the right weather.there is a high speed connection now- nearly deserted. You can shotgun that thing from the sancerre to Paris in a straight line. Jabbeke high speed runs: my foot!
Reims: champagne tasting
the old circuit
Etc etc etc
Bert
Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2009 4:03 pm
by hot66
where are you starting in Switzerland ?
If possible drive the Susten Pass etc not far from Interlaken
Or if you are driving near to Geneva , I stumbled across this road recently ... wonderful fun & very twisty
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&sourc ... 79465&z=12
Epernay for a bit of champagne tasting
...
Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2009 4:47 pm
by DIRKBROWNFINGER
I assume the Le Mans museum at the circuit is open outside of race-weekend? Some very nice machinery inside, and if the video booth that shows a flying lap with the original mulsanne straight is still there - watch it! I think I sat through 5 laps!
Dirk.
Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2009 5:02 pm
by Timbob
Thats more like it!
Route is not set at all. Start is Lausanne. Have 1 week to do it in.
Was thinking of Burgundy then Loire Valley (I like wine!) then le Mans, then up to Calais. Alternative as someone said is to head north to Germany and then through northern France. Bit of a longer route but you get some passes in...